By Jerrel Venable

 

We have been studying through the book of Ephesians and in the first three chapters we have found the blessings which God has bestowed upon us in Jesus Christ:

Last Sunday we spoke about Walking Worthy and how we are to Walk in the Light:

17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind …

20 But you have not so learned Christ, 
22 (therefore) put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 
23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 
24 and … put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

25 put away … lying
26 wrath
28 stealing
29 corrupt words

5:3 fornication, uncleanness, coveteousness
4 filthiness, foolish talking, coarse jesting,

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light …

Obviously there is a difference between being a Christian and not being a Christian. There is also a difference between being a Christian and living like a Christian. There is also a difference between knowing you should do something … and knowing how to do what you know to do! (Knowing you should change the oil in your car, and actually doing the work of changing it is two different things!)

The first step in making a change in our lives is to know what we want to become! Do you want to become more like the person you are already … or do you want to become like one of the movie stars you’ve seen on TV … or do you want to become more like Jesus. Becoming a Christian is an option which you have the right to chose or to refuse. In the same way, following Christ in your daily life is also an option. In either case, however, there are consequences to the choices you make! It’s surprising to me, but some Christians have yet to determine that they want to be like Christ!

The first step in change is to know what we want to become. Next … is the decision to make a change!

4:17 … you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk.

 

Can you tell the difference in your life and the life of those who are not Christian? Paul defines the lifestyle of those without Christ as … 

Lying Angry Stealing A mouth full of corrupt words
Fornication Immoral Coveting Filthy language
Foolish talking Coarse jesting

That is a short list of what a non-Christian is like, and all non-Christians are not the same. Some are better and some are worse! In comparison, the lifestyle of Jesus Christ is one of Truth, Gentleness, Honesty, Encouraging words, Purity, Generosity, Love, Joy and Peace! It really doesn’t take a long time to think about which one of those list is a healthy way for a family to live! Or a community! But this is an individual choice! To be like Jesus demands a positive choice.

The first step in change is to know what we want to become. Next we must decide we will make a change! After this we need to learn Jesus.

4:20 - 24 … 
you have not so learned Christ … so put off the old man … and be renewed in the spirit of your mind … and put on the new man.

Notice that Paul didn’t say we need to learn the Bible. Yes, we do need to learn the Bible! But more than learning the Bible we need to learn Jesus. This is an invitation to a personal relationship of learning how Jesus thinks, His emotional response to our lives, and His goals and ambitions. You will find the stories of Jesus in the Gospels where He is speaking, acting, reacting, teaching and living, and from these we can begin to develop knowledge of who Jesus is. The next step is to spend time talking to Him … and listening.

In the process of conversing with Jesus with the Bible in your hand, something will begin to happen in the “spirit of your mind!” That is an interesting phrase -- renewed in the spirit of your mind. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon explains it as:

the faculty of perceiving divine things
the ability to recognize good and to hate evil
to be so changed that the spirit which governs the mind is renewed

The Apostle Paul explains it like this …

Rom 12:2
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Transformation will be evidenced in your life by the putting off of the old tattered clothing of the old man, and the putting on of the refined garments of God’s presence! The old man is taken off and the new man is put on, like the changing of a coat! The change in your life is incredible! The joy is super abounding! The peace is powerful. The transformation has begun!

The first step in change is to know what we want to become. The second step is to decide we will make a change! The third step is to learn Jesus. And then we need to be filled with the Spirit.

Eph 5

17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 
20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.

The will of the Lord for you and for me is this: to be filled with the Spirit! There are two aspects of being filled with the Spirit. One is being baptized in the Holy Spirit as the disciples experienced on the day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit came upon them and they began to speak in new languages, prophesy, and give glory to God! That is one aspect of being filled with the Spirit.

The other aspect and I believe it is the one Paul is bringing to our attention, is living a daily, Godly, “Spirit-filled” life. Paul makes a comparison of a Spirit-filled life to the occasion of being drunk with wine, which he describes as dissipation, or excess. In Luke 15:13 the same word is translated “wasted” as Jesus describes the life of the prodigal son.

In comparison, there is an anointing of the Spirit that affects us in much the same way as the affect of alcohol upon us, but it doesn’t “waste” us! By the Spirit our emotions are changed, our nervous system is affected, and our thinking is modified! There is a reckless joy the burst forth of our emotions and we want to sing! We begin to gather with people of like spirit and we sing to each other with psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs! We are being transformed!

The result of being filled with the Spirit is thanksgiving to God and a desire to honor one another. As we honor one another we submit to ideas, corrections, and encouragements that continue to transform our lives. We begin to grow in Christ! Praise God!

The question we must ask then:

Do you know what you want to become?
Have you decided you will make a change?
Are you willing to learn Jesus?
Are you ready to be filled with the Spirit.

 

 

 

                       By Jerrel Venable