Jul 22, 2010 - Category: General

PRACTICAL PROGRESS IN LIVING AS CHILDREN OF THE LIGHT

This past Sunday we talked about some very practical ways to live as children of light. Ephesians 4:20-32 calls us to put off the old self and to put on the new self. This new self is “created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (v.23).


There is no getting around the fact that God wants us to be transformed. This transformation is often called the process of sanctification. We, as apprentices of Jesus, are to lay aside those things that characterized our life before Christ and to put on the “new” characteristics which are in line with the nature and life of Jesus.


Some of these character traits are laid out in Ephesians chapter four in a forceful fashion almost like bullet points in a presentation: Don’t do that, do this; Don’t do that do this. Once mentioned it is intuitively evident to the Christ follower that each of these is true and right. Let’s look together at how we are to live.


DON’T LIE, TELL THE TRUTH.
Falsehood has no place in the life of the redeemed. We are to put aside lying and speak truthfully to one another. We are, after all, members of one another. We are part of the same body. A body in which the parts lie to each other is a body in real trouble. Just as our physical body functions properly as each part “tells the truth” to the other parts, so the body of Christ functions properly as its members speak truthfully.


DON’T HOLD ON TO ANGER, DEAL WITH IT.
Anger is not always a sin, but we are told not to hold on to our anger. We are to deal with the anger and let it go before the day passes. When we hold on to anger, it can develop into bitterness. Anger can become the focus of our life and through anger the devil can gain a foothold. We do not want anything in our life that would give the devil a place. So when you are angry, do not sin, rather deal with the anger and move beyond it.


DON’T STEAL, WORK AND GIVE.
In every generation, all types of people come to faith in Jesus. Some come from a life of stealing. Those who are saved out of a life of stealing are to go to work. They are to work not only to provide for themselves, but also so that they may give to those who are needy. Salvation turns a taker into a giver.


WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE.
Don’t let bad things come out of your mouth. This includes profanity and hurtful words. “Bad” is the same word used to describe a bad tree that produces bad fruit. The book of James asks if fresh water and salt water can come from the same spring. No, they cannot. So why then do we bless God and curse our brother with the same mouth? Our words are to be designed to build up the need in another’s life. Our words are to benefit those who hear them.


DON’T DO ANYTHING AGAINST THE SPIRIT.
As those who have put their faith in Jesus, we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit for the day of our ultimate redemption. We are not to do anything that grieves the Spirit. We are to surrender control of our lives to the Holy Spirit. We are to walk in step with the Spirit.


PUT ASIDE YOUR FORMER WAYS.
We are to lay aside all those sinful things of our former way of life: bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander, and every form of evil. None of these should be in our lives now.


EXTEND GRACE TO OTHERS.
Kindness and compassion are to flow from our lives to those around us. As recipients of God’s grace, we are to be givers of grace. We are to freely forgive others as we have been freely forgiven.


God’s plan for his children is that they be transformed into the likeness of his son Jesus Christ. Putting off the old self and putting on the new self is part of this plan. Let each of us tell the truth, deal with anger, work and give, speak words that build up, walk with the Spirit, put aside our old ways, and extend grace to each other.


Pastor Ron