EPHESIANS 4 This I say therefore and testify

EPHESIANS 4 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, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 17 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you 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 that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. 20

EPHESIANS 4 Verse 17 - 19 “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, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. ” Romans 1: 18 -32 “…although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools…” “Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves…”

EPHESIANS 4 (Rom 1: 18 -32, continued) “For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. ” (Lev 20: 13 – abomination – penalty death). “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. ”

EPHESIANS 4 Let’s test our walk today. I am going to ask questions just to provoke thought. I am not necessarily going to say what I believe is right or wrong in these areas I will mention, but instead I am trying to help us all better understand what God’s standards are, and what “a walk” like that of the Gentiles (the world) is compared to a walk worthy of the upward call of Christ. These issues are always very convicting to me and I am sure they will be for you too. I will also provide a number of verses to meditate on. Proverbs 23: 7 says: “For as a man thinks in his heart so he is” and in Matthew 12: 34 the Lord says: “How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. ” What do you talk about with your friends? Your speech reveals your heart. Guys, Do you like to talk about girls? Girls, Do you like to talk about guys? What is your focus? Good looking guys, chicks, movies, sports, politics, books, music, or a focus directed at our Father in heaven and His will?

EPHESIANS 4 How many of you have ever spent two and a half hours straight - reading God’s word? And if so, how often? How many of you have spent two and a half hours straight watching a movie of sporting event? How often? What do we hear people talk about all the time? Movies, actors actresses, ungodly musicians, ungodly sports figures, or “he’s soooooo cute”. … “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…” This type of focus is futility. It is a waste of time. I am not saying we should never watch sports or movies. But let’s be VERY selective because these things put our minds on things of the world and not the things of God.

EPHESIANS 4 Question: Would it be wrong if someone because they got cut off in traffic screamed and cursed the Lord at the other person? Why? God says so!

EPHESIANS 4 What if instead: Ø They just think the words in their head? Would it be wrong to go to a place – like the First Satanic Church of Tyler, knowing their services were mainly chanting curses at God? What if instead: You just went to a movie that you knew would have probably have people cursing your Lord? Ø Does a movie or music or a book with cursing feed the flesh or the spirit?

EPHESIANS 4 Question: Would it be wrong for a person to live a homosexual lifestyle, or commit adultery or fornication? Why? God says so!

EPHESIANS 4 What if instead: He or she went on dates and talked and joked about committing adultery together? Ø He or she sought out pornographic movies to satisfy this burning desire? Ø Ø He or she sought out pornographic pictures? He or she just dreamed and fantasized about it OR just looked at another with those eyes of desire? Ø He or she just watched movies with brief nudity for entertainment? Ø Does a movie or book containing lustful fantasies or nudity feed the flesh or the spirit?

EPHESIANS 4 Question: Would it be wrong if I took my 357 magnum pistol an shot my neighbor’s yard man for running a irritating blower on Sunday afternoon? Why? God says so!

EPHESIANS 4 What if instead: Ø I paid someone else to do it? I got out my aggression by going to a place were people just kill people for entertainment (coliseum – lions)? Ø Ø I just cursed him and said I hated him? I got out my aggression by playing a very realistic video game allowing me to act out shooting him over and over? Ø I just came in and watched a movie with vengeful killings of all the guys that caused others grief or trouble? Ø Does a movie full of violence and killing feed the flesh or the spirit?

People rarely will read their bible or pray for two and a half hours but will cheerfully go to a movie, watch a TV show, a concert, or a sporting event with: Half Nude Cheerleaders Sex Pride Innuendo Degrading Speech Cursing Murder Violence Nudity What do you do when these things pop up? Close your eyes, turn your head, get up and leave? The damage is already done. What if your child is with you? The damage is already done.

EPHESIANS 4 Don’t we promote such things by standing around talking about them with others? 1 Corinthians 6: 9 -11, 15 -17 The Lord is with you wherever you go. Where do you take Him? He knows your every thought. What has He been hearing? Let’s make sure we are not falling into the trap of the world: “having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. ” (Eph 4: 18 -19)

EPHESIANS 4 We learned earlier that we should walk in the Spirit and we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh (Gal 5: 16, 25). Our battle is the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life – these things are of the world (1 Jn 2: 16). If we feed these things through entertainment or improper thoughts we quench the Spirit of God (Eph 4: 30). We try and justify it by saying – it only has a few bad parts.

EPHESIANS 4 A little leavens the whole lump (1 Cor 5: 6). How many of you have images from pictures and movies stuck in your mind that you wish you could get rid of? How many of you have lyrics of songs in your head you wish you could forget?

EPHESIANS 4 Eph 4: 20 -24 “But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. ” Once you accept Christ you are a new creation old things are passed away – you are made new (2 Cor 5: 17).

EPHESIANS 4 How should this walk look? Eph 5: 3 -12 Why do Christians fall into sin? James 1: 14 -15 It’s a battle over the mind. We need to yield to God and ask Him to give us strength to overcome the temptations that arise. But we must also make right choices. We need to stay away from situations that cause us to think impure thoughts, whether its people who dress in a way to draws our eye, or if we need to avoid the internet, or movies, or books, or people who talk about things that cause us to think impure. We cannot keep saturating our mind with the depravity around us by choice (quenching the Spirit) and then ask God to use that same Spirit to give us the strength to keep pure. (read Prov 8: 13)

EPHESIANS 4 We are to “walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory” glory (1 Thess 2: 12) We are an epistle to those around us (2 Cor 3: 2 -3 – “You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart. ”) We represent our Lord everywhere we go! 1 Jn 3: 2 -3 1 Cor 9: 27 1 Pet 4: 1 -5

EPHESIANS 4 What do the most popular actors, musicians and sports figures have in common? Not surprisingly, they walk like the world. Also, what is the message of most worldly kids today? Disrespect of adults, no love, no appreciation, . . . 2 Tim 3: 1 -5 - “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” away!

EPHESIANS 4 I think upon examination you will find that most of today's entertainment seers the conscience and feeds the fleshly lusts. If you do not believe it, get completely away from it for a time then watch it and see if the Lord convicts you. The Lord tells us to “put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in righteousness and true holiness. ”