Kingdom Living

Introduction

Last week we talked in very shallow terms of putting off the old clothes and putting on the new ones…but tonight we are going to shoot a bit deeper in and see what Paul meant by that.

Truth Matters

Truth keeps unity and depth in relationships

Believers especially are supposed to be truthful towards one another in love. OTHERS WILL CATCH A GLIMPSE OF WHAT HEAVEN LOOKS LIKE WHEN WE TREAT EACH OTHER LIKE JESUS WOULD. Jesus said to love your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. Then he said what? Love your neighbor as yourself. Love everyone the way you want to be loved. And tell the truth! Because you would want others to do the same for you. When we put away lies in the body of Christ and tell the truth we are operating for the kingdom in the way God intended and we extend our witness to everyone around us in how people are supposed to treat each other. (Ex. If your eyes see a snake does it deceive the rest of the body to not respond to what it has just seen?)

Rage is a fire

Jesus himself was angry, but it was not unjustified and misdirected. His anger never led him to sin by lashing out at those who are vulnerable or innocent. His emotions were kept under perfect control. Don’t let your anger be a result of wounded pride.

Don’t be a pressure cooker. (Tell the story of when I opened the pressure cooker of beans at mamaws house) Pressure cookers simmer over time…building…pressure, imagine that. However, if the lid is taken off before the pressure has been properly let out it will blow up. Paul gives great instruction over your anger. He says not to let the sun go down on your anger. Don’t stew over things and allow yourself to slip into sinful thoughts that turn into sinful actions. When you do that what does Paul say that it does?

When you stew and build up feelings and resentment that might have started as righteous anger brewed over time becomes out of control, malicious, explosive, and ultimately gives opportunity to the devil to reek havoc in your relationships and gives opportunity for those that watch you to call you a hypocrite. Anger that is unresolved makes it impossible for you to reconcile with someone or a group of people. Resentment sets in and you in your own mind can no longer reconcile those relationships. Guys this is huge. You can’t let this become a problem or it will ruin relationships and your ability to even step foot in the church many times. It has to be dealt with in prayer and in person.

Work Honestly

Never be afraid of hard work and excellence, because that’s part of our worship. The way you practice and play a sport, an instrument in band, your voice in chorus, how you stack up and clean up on sunday mornings and wednesday nights, how you sweep the floors at your job, how you study for tests, how you do your homework is all part of our worship every day to the Lord. We work hard because God is honored by it. 1 Thess. 4:11 “and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,” 2 Thess. 3:10-12 “For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.”

The Christian motive for earning is not merely to have enough for oneself and one’s own, but to be able to give to those in need. There is no room for selfishness or personal profit for those that are believers. GIVING BECOMES OUR MOTIVE FOR GETTING AS A CHRISTIAN. Acts 20:34-35 “You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Speak carefully

Get rid of all bad language. Bad language spreads bad language. (ex. rotten fruit rots other fruit…CUT IT OUT) We shouldn’t just test our words to ‘Am I keeping my words true and pure?’ but ‘Are my words being used to give grace to those who hear them?’ Luke 4:22 “And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, ‘Is not this Joseph’s son?’” Colossians 4:6 “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

Don’t Grieve the Spirit

Right after the instruction on anger there is a warning to not allow a place for the devil…then right after the instruction on Christian conversation there is a warning to not grieve the Holy Spirit. What does that mean? Bringing personal sorrow to God when we are called to fellowship with him. The Spirit claims to find expression in the words of Christians and the misuse of speech is a wrong thing to do and is felt by the Spirit who claims to control it. Think about the two words that we describe the third person of the Trinity of the Godhead. “Holy” and “Spirit”. It is the Spirit that lives within us but we have this adjective attached to the front… “Holy” The Spirit of God is just as holy and set apart as Jesus and the Father is. It seeks to make us pure and more like Jesus. It desires to accomplish that every day in the way that we live, think, AND speak.

Think about this guys. The Holy Spirit is not only what sanctifies us…but it is the evidence that we are promised eternity with Jesus when we either die or see the Lord’s return. That singular thought should lead us to purify our lives in it’s whole entirety.

Purify the thoughts

In order to get rid of all evil words and actions in your life you have to purify your thought life. Your thoughts without being taken captive will eat you alive. They will eventually turn into action and bear out into sin and brokenness. Take every thought captive. Take the standard that you’ve been given and size up your thoughts to them. Don’t allow the small to grow into something deadly. STOMP IT WHILE IT’S SMALL. (Small trees—>big problems.

Speak positively of others, be tenderhearted and be kind to each other. Have a heart of sympathy and love towards others. Let that be your first reaction. Not judgment and eye rolls.

Forgive each other in the same way that Christ forgave you. SO FORGIVE BIG. What do I mean by that? Make it a practice in your life to show empathy and understanding towards others (walking in their shoes and circumstances) and forgive radically the way that Jesus forgave us. God is very clear that the unforgiving heart cannot receive the forgiveness of God.

Conclusion/Application

Your actions and your words matter. The way you live represents heaven and your savior.