The Power of a Renewed Spirit

Power of a Renewed Spirit

Ephesians 3:17-32

Text: Ephesians 4:17-27

Series: Power for Life

Title: Power of a Renewed Spirit

Date: July 20, 2014

Introduction:

Have you ever tried to run an appliance without it being plugged in?

Toaster/vacuum cleaner/coffee pot/ drill/ hair dryer/ tv….

The power that we need to live our lives for the glory of God requires that we stay plugged in to the power source!!!

That Power Source is the Lord Jesus Christ!!!

Power for life is available: Word of God, presence of God, Holy Spirit, Serving Him through His local church

The power of God’s Holy Spirit working in the life of a believer will guide that believer to follow God.

The importance for each believer to be completely surrendered to the Holy Spirit cannot be over emphasized!!

See Luke 4:1

Luke 4:1

1- And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness

It is God’s Will that every believer is making progress to becoming more like Christ.

Romans 8:28-29

28- And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

29- For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Note – We have also seen that due to our fleshly nature, the only way it is possible to become like Christ is through the working of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 4:24 challenges us to “Put on the New Man”. This indicates that the change in our lives is to be evident to a lost world all around us.

In other words, God wants each of us to have godly influence. In this sense he has called each of us to be servant leaders. Truly, Christ-likeness will always manifest itself in godly leadership.

If we will live out the Spirit filled life, then we must allow God’s Spirit to lead us every step of the way…

I. We Will Walk A Different Walk v.17

Note – God intends for the behavior of a believer to be radically different than the behavior of an unbeliever.

Note- we will grow frustrated and quit if we attempt to live Christ like without allowing God to make the changes….

Note – Paul’s description of the unsaved world

A. The World’s Darkened Condition – verse 17-18

1. Empty philosophies (Vanity)

Col 2:8-9

8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

2. Darkened Understanding

2 Cor 4:4

4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Ill –Some men believe that after death they will return to this world in animal form, others believe that man is intrinsically good and does not need a savior, and others believe that man is a god.

3. Blindness of Heart – verse 18

Note – Without God’s Holy Spirit, Man is alienated from an understanding of God.

B. The World’s Depraved Nature –verse 19

Note – “Past Feeling” – Speaks of the numbness of soul that a God rejecting person begins to experience.

Ill – The sense of pain is vitally important for our health. I have heard Doctor’s say that it is vital to not totally put someone out of pain if they will adequately diagnose the extent of injury.

Note-Those who embrace the wicked philosophies of this world soon lose their sense of what is right and wrong. They engage in demonic or lustful activities with no conscience.

A Christian knows that their bodies are the temple of the Lord…

(Christian teens know that their body is the temple of the Lord.)

(If you are thinking about getting a tattoo, I promise you that if you will sincerely seek God’s direction you will not allow your body to be marked up)

Many a person that has gotten a tattoo at some point in their life tell me know that it is a constant reminder of a time in their life when they were rebelling against God…many of us have scars(emotional&physical) to remind us of times that we decided to disobey God!!!

Had a young man (Claimed to be a Christian) tell me that because of his piercings, tattoos that he could reach people that I could not…I told him that he was wrong…1. I can still reach the people that he claims to be reaching…2. He can never reach 95% of the population because of the way that he looks!!

Cannot imagine Jesus Christ getting a tattoo, smoking, drinking, going to a bar,etc…He is to be our pattern!!!

Mark 7:22-23

22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

Note –The word “work”- means to take pain, to do your best. Many people today really work at being vile. (Ill- Body Piercing, tattooing, provocative clothing, drug sales)

II. We Will Be Different to Make A Difference

A. We Must Put Off The Old

1. The Old disposition (Conversation or manner of life)

Note – The Holy Spirit creates a new disposition within us.

Col 3:9-10

9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

2. The Old Desires – 22b

Note – The old desires are corrupt according to deceitful lusts.

Note –The old man will only produce corruption in your life.

3. The Old Direction –verse 23

Note – The direction of our life can be traced to the way we think.

Note – The Holy Spirit Gives A New thought life to the Believer.

Phil 4:8

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

B. We must Put on the New v.24

Note – the “Old man” is after the Adamic Nature, the “New Man” is After the nature of Christ.

We inherit Adam’s nature at birth, and we receive Christ’s nature when we are born again.- verse 24

1. A Transformed Tongue – verse 25

Note – the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth

John 15:26

6 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

2. A Transformed Temper – verse 26

Note – There is nothing wrong with being angry for a righteous cause. To be honest most of us get angry because we do not get our way!!

Note – Anger is a sure way to give place to the devil. (verse 27)

Ill -

III. We Must Love Christ If We Will Be Different – vs 20-21

Note – Someone may wonder how they will remember what to “Put off” and what to “Put on”.

A. Jesus will Be Our Teacher

Note – The Apostle Paul is not pointing them to a creed, He is pointing them to a person.

Note – Christianity is Christ! (John 14 – I am the way the truth and the life)

Ill –Christianity is a relationship, not with a religion, but with a person.

Deut 6:5-7

5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Deut 6:12

12 Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

Note – When Moses gave these verses to Joshua, he knew that Joshua was about to lead God’s people and that that responsibility must be taken seriously.

Note- A right relationship with Christ will give us victory over the mental and spiritual darkness of this world. Jesus will clarify our thoughts, quicken our consciences, and strengthen our resolve.

Note- a right relationship with Christ will allow His Spirit to lead, direct and give us the power to live for God.

Note – Certainly, David knew his need for God.

Ps 63:1-6

63:1 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

2 To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.

3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name

5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:

6 When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.

B. Jesus Is the Truth – Verse 21

John 1:14

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Note – The way of the world ends in defilement, decay and death.

Conclusion - Illustration - A Pastor from England who lived during World War II, would often see businesses that had been ravaged by bombs. Often the owner of the business would clear away the rubbish, and place a sign out front that said, “Business as usual”. When God saves us, His desire is that we would put out a sign that says, “Under New Management.”

We must decide to allow God’s Spirit to work in our hearts and minds if we are to walk and live differently…

We must decide to Love God with all of our Heart, soul and mind!!!