First Steps in The New Nature
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Someone once stated: “If you want to fly, you have to give up what weighs you down.” This statement is true of our Christian walk as well.
Fortunate for us, we are not left wondering what is is that we need to “give up”. As we continue in this letter of Ephesians Paul clearly lays out for you and I those things we need to let go of, … and even gives things we should grasp in order to help propel us forward!
As we have been digging into chapter 4 we have recognized:
We are walking and living in this world…
Paul declares not to walk as the world does…
He then states that we are to take off/shed the old nature and put on the new nature…
This is a renewed way of thinking.
Throughout this letter Paul states we are in Christ… as such there is an expectation as children in God’s family
We are expected to live as light in a dark world…
Our walk is to be counter culture
Our belief & faith are to create behavior…
Our passage today is giving us practical first steps to take as we walk in the light… as we walk in step with our Savior.
Let me remind you also what Paul stated about how this is directly from the Lord, NOT JUST HIS OPINION!
It is not complicated… as we are putting on the new nature we are no longer to:
Lie and Steal… no more
Let anger control us… no more
Speak unwholesome talk… no more
Grief the Holy Spirit… no more
There are six vices we are to let go of
These are replaced with three virtues wrapped up in Christ Example
Our passage is very direct so I will spend much of our time with some very practical application… and may I caution you, don’t be too quick to dismiss any of these things in your life.
Ephesians 4:25 gives us our first step in a forward direction…
So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.
Falsehoods
Falsehoods
STOP!… Do not do it. I find it absolutely amazing how often CHRISTIANS try to justify a LIE! It’s just a little one, … that’s like putting poop in brownie mix and saying eat up… it’s just a little.
White lies (chicken poop illustration)
Deceiving someone
Maybe just a half truth, hold back some things
Plagiarism, making it yours instead of the rightful person
What about flattery
Breaking a promise (to family, spouse, children, work)
Calling in sick when you’re not
Exaggerating facts (making the story bigger for effect)
Saying a falsehood for the greater good (illustrate with bible smugglers)
REPLACE WITH: … speaking the truth!… scripture cautions us to be those who speak the truth “in love”
REASON: … we are part of the Body of Christ… “in Christ”… one of the I AM statements in scripture of Jesus is, “I AM the way, THE TRUTH, and the life.”
Ephesians 4:26-27 helps us take another step as we feel the freeing weight lifted through the truth…
And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
From Sinful Rage
From Sinful Rage
Interesting enough the actual phasing here is “BE ANGRY” … and do not sin. There are things in this world we NEED to be angry with, angry at!!!
Sinful behaviors
Moral corruption
Those things that anger God…
A righteous indignation! (Jesus angry at death and sin)
The emphasis here is that we are to NO LONGER allow ANGER = to control us
You allow now with the NEW NATURE the Holy Spirit to control you.
You keep that emotion controlled
REPLACE WITH: controlled anger / brief dealings in anger
It is amazing how lack of sleep brings you to a place to resolve things
Short dealings allow for resolution
No grudges, no festering, no stewing over something,
Don’t let it roll over and over in your mind and heart
We cease to be historical in our anger towards others
REASON: we don’t give the devil any room to work. Time in anger gives the devil more to work with in your hearts
A calm spirit, a heart at peace with the Lord is a place the enemy has a difficult time working in
Ephesians 4:28 is helping the church now begin to walk at a more rapid pace… the truth is on our lips, our hearts are controlled by the Holy Spirit… let’s consider our hands!
If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need.
Dishonest Gain…
Dishonest Gain…
I know right away some of you are thinking… I am no thief.
Maybe we don’t have any bank robbers, shoplifters, or embezzlers (maybe we do)
But… stealing is simply put, taking what is not yours for personal dishonest gain
“Borrowing” something not yours
Wasting company time
Failing to pay a fair wage to someone
Taking time from spouse, children
Subtle adjustments on taxes or not sharing all the information
What about that vehicle you buy and put how much you paid… for tax purposes
The cause is the heart of the OLD NATURE… SELFISHNESS
REPLACE WITH: working hard with your hands… hard work is not a part of the curse of sin. It is healthy, beneficial, it removes selfishness!!!
REASON: you can now GIVE!… a giving heart, a giving spirit is not inclined to steal!… In fact we are most like our God, Our Savior when we give!
Let me just pause for a moment… How do we deal with Lies, Anger, Stealing with those in the body of Christ?… We need to confront the sin… with GRACE and a heart to help the other person.
Churchill illustrated this beautifully:
During dinner for Commonwealth dignitaries, the chief of protocol approached Churchill and quietly informed him that a distinguished guest had slipped a silver salt shaker into her pocket. Rather than confront the dignitary about the salt shaker, Churchill guided her out of earshot of the other guests and pulled out the matching pepper shaker from his pocket. “Oh dear,” he said in a guilty-sounding voice, “We were seen! Perhaps we’d better both put them back.”
With this in mind it is time for the next step along this new walk we have in Christ… Ephesians 4:29 speaks about our speech:
Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
Unwholesome Speech!
Unwholesome Speech!
“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will… (HURT!!!, TAR APART, DESTROY!!!) that is the worst poem ever!
UNWHOLESOME = gives the concept of something rotten, putrid, decaying. GROSE!
This is speaking to far MORE THAN just cursing...
Vulgar phrases or conversations
Crude or crass jokes
Sarcasm that is improper
Unkind words or mean spirited statements
Social media is flooded with these things, for ALL to see and read
These things have NO PLACE IN GOD’s FAMILY!
REPLACE WITH: Good and helpful words! OH… that makes sense. Season your speech with grace and love, genuine care…
REASON: the same lips that can TEAR DOWN… have the same ability to BUILD UP!
Use your words to encourage others
If the other talk is going on… counter culture you speak up and encourage
You be the one others will know will speak wholesome words
BE THE ENCOURAGER!!!
Paul seems to sum up something before moving on… he writes about the Holy Spirit who indwells each and every believer, every child of God… Ephesians 4:30
And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
You Can Hurt God
You Can Hurt God
The way we live… OUR WALK… can either bring a smile to our God or it can bring tears to His face, cause His heart to break.
REMEMBER… Paul calls to their memory that they were “sealed with the Holy Spirit” they were purchased by the sacrifice of Christ. He reminds them… YOU ARE GOD’S CHILD… act like it.
I appreciate the words of young princess Victoria of England who was told that she would one day be queen. Her response because she was of the royal family was simply “then I will be good”.
We are children of the most high God, do not bring Him sorrow by how you live!
We close this morning with six vices we can find ourselves struggling with if we walk in the OLD NATURE (Things that GRIEVE the Holy Spirit)… and Paul encourages his readers to take hold of three virtues to counter them (To Walk In The Spirit!!!)… Ephesians 4:31-32
Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
FORGIVNESS
FORGIVNESS
6 Vices…
bitterness: an attitude that harbors resentment and rejects reconciliation
rage: a deep-seated rage that fails to subside
anger: an uncontrollable temper with explosive outbursts
harsh words: loud outcries that disrupt peace and cause confusion
slander: destroying the reputation of another through gossip
malice: harming others through intentional acts of wickedness
These VICES are so destructive to the individual who is gripped by them. Most often these individuals are those who have not let go of something in the PAST...
Grudges or unresolved wrongs
Undealt with pain
Hurt feelings
Essentially… those who are withholding forgiveness…
Voice of the Martyrs Article:
The most powerful part of ...the stories in this magazine is not their commitment to Christ at any cost, but their willingness to forgive. Mariatu's stand is truly heroic; and yet her forgiveness is beyond that - it is supernatural, a behavior from another world. As such, it shouts ETERNITY! in a way that cannot be easily dismissed by ever the most skeptical. Mariatu forgave her abusers, Yousef forgave the ISIS militants who imprisoned and tortured him, and Sabina Wurmbrand forgave the Nazi soldiers who murdered her family. In the same way, Christ has forgiven us. Who must we forgive?
3 Virtues… Paul writes out the antidote for these vices right after it!!!
kindness: acting graciously and mercifully toward others, just as God has with us
tender-heartedness: offering care and comfort to those in need, just as the Holy Spirit has come alongside us as our Helper
forgiveness: extending reconciliation to those who have offended or harmed us, just as Christ has forgiven us
Who is it you are harboring unforgiveness to
While we were sinners… Christ died for you and I
Don’t wait for the apology
Forgive them and give them to God
Undealt with and you will find yourself a victim of those vices… you will find yourself the one breaking God’s heart, grieving the Holy Spirit, not following the example of our Savior Jesus Christ
I appreciate the words of Fredrick Buechner:
‘Of the Seven Deadly Sins, anger is the most fun’… “Of the Seven Deadly Sins, anger is possibly the most fun. To lick your wounds, to smack your lips over grievances long past, to roll over your tongue the prospect of bitter confrontations still to come, to savor to the last toothsome morsel both the pain you are given and the pain you are giving back–in many ways it is a feast fit for a king. The chief drawback is that what you are wolfing down is yourself. The skeleton at the feast is you.” ― Frederick Buechner
Pause now let this sink in…
We are called to this WALK in the new nature
Maybe you’re here realizing your not even in this walk… TODAY YOU CAN…
By GRACE He extends a relationship through Faith
What is it that is weighing you down? What undealt with sin?
Falsehoods / Lying
Uncontrolled Anger
Dishonest Gains / stealing
Foul / Unwholesome speech
Unforgiveness
Whatever it is that burdens you in this walk God has called us to… lay it down at His feet.
