
Ephesians 4:1-24
Paul and the Lord (Bride and Groom) says this:
• Don’t walk in futility of mind; Excluded from the life of God; Hardness of Heart; Callous; Giving oneself over to Sensuality; Every kind of Impurity and Greed.
• That’s not You! This is your old life!
• Be renewed, put on the new self/man. Which was created in Righteousness and Holiness of truth.
Ephesians 4:25 - 32
1. Be
OLD SELF - Falsehood / Masks
- Will the Real You Stand Up? Are you being honest and open and vulnerable with OTHERS?
- You will never know true love unless you are vulnerable.
- The church is a “lab to practice unselfish, sympathetic love.”
- When was the last time you shared your faults with someone?
- Telling on Yourself VS Being Real and Authentic
HEALTH CHECK - Lay aside the mask, speak heart-truth with someone; We are one family.
2.
OLD SELF - Close up or Blow-Up
- Anger/Resentment is usually the strong root of being upset that something won’t change or didn’t change.
- Red Flags and Green Flags - Good to know why, so you can bring change, or repeat.
- Don’t let the sun go down on your anger. Presence, Power, Process - Consider outside help.
- Unresolved issues can open the door to demonic oppression.
HEALTH CHECK - Own and deal with your heart. And be that friend to others…
3. Giver &
OLD SELF - Taker, Useless, Relationally Lazy
- Why so strong Paul?
- Christianity is about Giving. Acts 20:32 - 35
- At some point in your natural life in relationships, you stop being the son or daughter and become the father and mother.
- Stop taking AND start contributing, working, serving, giving.
- In your family, in your church, in your tribe, where can you give of what you have…money, time, energy and bless others?
HEALTH CHECK - Live the Otherness Principle. Serve, Give, Help. Community is mutuality, a two-way street. Where is Jesus calling you to serve/give?
4.
OLD SELF - Complainer, Negative, Don’t Care
- Be gracious with words, generous with compliments and consideration. Build others up.
- People don’t care what you know, until they know that you care.
- Your words are life, solutions, redemption.
- Compliment, encourage, reassure.
HEALTH CHECK - I am a Good News speaker. Highlight what is good. Who can you encourage this week?
5. Compassionate &
OLD SELF - Callous Hard Heart & Rude
- Empathy - Understanding, Compassion, Responsive.
- “Your safe here” - Does anyone care for me?
- The church is Jesus’ people. It’s Jesus with skin on…
- Coaching Culture is Curious Listening and actually allows the other person to become safe/secure & free to bring to surface their own wellness and solutions.
HEALTH CHECK - Be there for someone. Listen curiously and empathetically, ask some good questions. (Jesus asked over two hundred questions…connecting!)
6.
OLD SELF - Bitterness & Ledger Principle (grinchy)
- We will fall short and so will others. We all struggle with common problems. Don’t be so judgy.
- We must walk in forgiveness. Christ has forgiven us.
- Stop judging the world, if you judge the body, judge yourself first.
- Embrace the cross. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
HEALTH CHECK - Let it go. Forgive others. Keep a Clean heart. Give God room.
7. Holy Spirit
OLD SELF - Me-Centered VS Spirit Centered.
- What is He saying? We must not grieve Him, or quench him.
- Are you walking like you have a Dove on your shoulder?
- Where are you violating your conscience?
- Where has the Holy Spirit convicted you to do something, and you haven’t done it?
- We lose our peace in the Holy Spirit and open ourselves up to anxiety when we don’t live in sensitive obedience to HS.
HEALTH CHECK - Holy Spirit Sensitivity. Where are you grieving yourself and Holy Spirit?