Empowered October 24, 2021
Pastor Pete Keirstead

Ephesians 4:1,17 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling. Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused.

Ephesians 5:1-3 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are His dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered Himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people.

• I really love you AND real love can say, “NO”.

Ephesians 5:4-7 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes – these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For the greedy person is an idolater, worshipping the things of this world. Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey Him. Don’t participate in the things these *people* do.

Romans 12:1-2 (MSG) Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him. Don’t become so well adjusted to your culture that you fit into it even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always, dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

• Love stands firm in opposition.

1 Corinthians 13:7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Ephesians 5:8-9 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

• Remember who I was before Jesus. Now live the opposite.

Ephesians 5:10-14 *Carefully determine* what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”

• Jesus uses our “No” to highlight His best “Yes”!

John 8:4-5 “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”

John 8:7-11 “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

• Love does not condemn, nor does it condone.