7 Steps for Putting off the Old Man and Putting on the New Ephesians 4:17-24

Saints and Friends,

Here are the notes from today's sermon.  Please remember, these are rough notes and have not been extensively edited.  An audio copy of the sermon can be obtained by contacting the church offices at 270-828-3454.

7 Steps for Putting off the Old Man and Putting on the New

Ephesians 4:17-24

Our need to change should be evident from even the most casual reading of the Bible.  Even the world acknowledges that Christians are to be different.  The last time we were in Ephesians we covered these save verses to understand the doctrine of change.  Today, I wish to take that doctrine and walk through a practical application.

Change is hard.  Change, when it comes to sin is even harder.  Because sin is so powerful, you cannot change on your own.  The reason Christians are to stand out as changed people is that the change is unattainable through secular means.  The Holy Spirit is required to be the strength for our change.  He is our conscience, our motivator, our giver of wisdom.

1. Spirit led

            Make your change a matter of worship.  Not a matter of pride, health, or performance)

            Give glory unto God. Romans 8:1- 14, 1 Corinthians 10:31

2. Scriptural Based

            Ask God to lead you to corresponding scriptures, and make them real in your life.  Your change needs a doctrine behind it. PS 119:11, Matthew 13:18-24

3. Prayer

            Prayer confronts the inner man.  Use your verses as a means of prayer. Psalm 66:18, James 5:16-18, 1 Peter 3:12

4. Form a new habit in place of the old.

            Replace sensuality with self-control, thieves must now work to help others. Romans 12:1-2, Ephesians 4:28

5. Consistency

            Plan to keep a covenant with God.  Know your heart and weaknesses. Be prepared. James 1:14-15, 1 Corinthians 10:112-14

6. Repent-work-repent as necessary

            Have a plan for when you fail to get up again and not quit. Matthew 4:17, 1 John 1:9

7. Accountability

            We need a brother’s keeper.  This is part of church covenant membership. 2 Thessalonians 3:13-16, James 5:19-20

Sermons notes Lord’s Supper Am I Ready?

Lord’s Supper Am I Ready?

And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. "The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: 'God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 'I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.' "But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!' "I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luk 18:9-17)

As part of preparing yourself for the Lord’s Supper, we are to examine ourselves as in 1 Corinthians 11.

Jesus tells a relevant parable to our situation.

How do you see yourself?

How do you see others?

This deals with righteousness.

·         Am I justified before God?

·         Have I fulfilled my duties?

·         Am I without excuse?

·         Outward appearance or inward condition?

·         What is the standard by which I judge myself?

Pharisee

Stood by himself- lack of fellowship

Standing-common form

God I thank you that I am not like other men- superior, unteachable, judgmental

Extortioners, unjust, adulterers, - lists many sins that would be attributed to tax collectors.

Or even like this tax collector.- starts to single himself out above others. (lacking grace, compassion, or humility)

            Begins to show God why favor should be bestowed.

I fast twice a week- only prescribed fast was Day of Atonement.

I give tithes of all that I get- But when Jesus heard this, He said, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. "But go and learn what this means: 'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

(Mat 9:12-13)

But

The Tax Collector- hated and despised as a traitor of his people to serve the Romans.

Stood far off-

Would not lift his eyes- contrite heart

Beat his breast saying “God be merciful to me, a sinner!-

I TELL YOU

This man went down to his house justified, rather than the other.

Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.

                                   

Now look at the very next part of the story;

And they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them. But Jesus called for them, saying, "Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. "Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all."

Not only are we to be humble towards God and man, but children also.

How are we to receive the kingdom of God?

            Like children.

                        Childlike, not childish.

The Inner Man; Ephesians 3:14-22

Below you will find the sermon notes for Sunday October 19, 2014.
As posted these notes are in rough draft form, and may differ significantly from the actual delivered sermon.  When the sermon is prepared, often room is left for flexibility of delivery and time constraints.

The Inner Man Ephesians 3:14-21

Last week we covered Paul’s motivation and position of the heart to pray for the Church.

I do hope that this week you applied a likewise attitude, that you simply made room in your life to pray for the church.  This is crucial.  There has never been a more urgent time in North America to pray for the church.

Today I believe we need to take on Paul’s second concern of his prayer message to us, the need to be concerned with The Inner Man.

Let us read Ephesians 3:14-21

Paul’s concern is not about health, or even evangelism, but that as a man, one would be totally given over to God-in the Holy Spirit.  This is our goal.

The concern for the Inner Man is the concern for the spiritual.   It is well beyond the superfluous of the flesh.  It is a kingdom minded prayer that is concerned with the heart and very being of a man or woman.

Church fathers and Puritans called the care of the Inner Man- Soul care; the taking care of the very soul of people.  If you gain the whole world and yet lose your soul, you profit nothing.

What is the Inner Man?

The Inner Man is essentially who you are.  It is the seat of thought, emotion, and reasoning.  It is your heart nature and propensity toward sin or holiness.

People sometimes say, “I need to find myself,”  “I need to discover who I am.”  What this means is they are restless and empty.  They long to discover what will make them happy, what will take away their sorrow.  They try all sorts of manmade distractions.  Satan will even provide a few.  A self-seeker is usually on a course of finding how to best please the self. 

However, the inner man that Paul speaks of goes to the heart in a deeper fashion.  Paul addresses that longing of man, but he takes a short cut.  Rather than utilizing the resources of King Solomon to try every desire and be found lacking, Paul shows us in scripture that the only way of satisfaction in the Inner Man is to find Christ.  Paul shows that the heart is the root cause of all our longing, and by addressing the Inner Man one is made complete.

When we are born, our soul lacks Christ.  And we are helplessly unaware of that need.  This is the state of sinful man.  This person desperately needs Jesus;

• ·         For faith
• ·         To become rooted and grounded in love (Desire for Christ)
• ·         For comprehension (Understanding of Christ)
• ·         Knowing Christ (Experience)

The filling of Christ that is given prepares a man for verses 19 (complete in Christ) and 20 (Becoming a worshipper of Christ).

A failure to discipline the Inner Man , for the Christian, results in disaster.  As Christians, our Inner Man REQUIRES change.  The change from the old man to the new man requires action.

The Christian is quite the opposite of the fleshly man.  The Christian is completely aware of a need for Christ; the greater your spirituality, the greater your recognition of your need for Christ.

This is them evidenced in your soul by

• ·         Reliance upon God
• ·         Spiritual Fruits (Love, Joy, Peace, patience, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control)
• ·         Humility and an aversion to talking about yourself.
• ·         A solid prayer life
• ·         A desire for the word of God
• ·         A life of worship.
• ·         Perseverance
• ·         And giving grace and mercy to even those who do not deserve it.

Soul Care of your Inner Man requires;

• ·         Confession of sin
• ·         Repentance of sin
• ·         Expressing the heart in prayer
• ·         Honesty before God
• ·         Thankfulness
• ·         Rest
• ·         Faith in God
• ·         Love at all possible levels of Agape, Philleo love
• ·         Cleansing your life from sinful influences
• ·         Seeking God for direction
• ·         Focusing on important issues rather than trivial
• ·         Hope being placed in Christ rather than on worldly desires
• ·         Standing on the promises of God.

Soul Care requires that the inner man be of great concern.  Religion cannot do that, neither can a lazier fair attitude. 

Do you not desire for your soul, the essence of who you are- to be complete in Christ?  To find joy?  Then, you must work for it.  Fight, sacrifice, pursue, and God will make a way. 

The Inner Man must yield to Christ.  You cannot love Christ and the world.  Flee the world and pursue Christ.

Christ saves and begins working on the inner man- You have hope.

• ·         Romans 12:2 Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Essentially transformation of the heart.
• ·         James 1 Ask of God and He will give you wisdom to stand under the trials of the day.
• ·         Colossians, put off the old and put on the new.
• ·         Pray without ceasing, is to keep your mind and heart constantly Kingdom Oriented.
• ·         Philippians 4:8-9 Think on these things
• ·         Mathew 6:33 Seek ye first the Kingdom of God.

The inner man finds his peace when He is mindful of the spiritual.  This is the bulk of Romans chapter 8.

All of these verses share the implied severity of a need to be disciplined in working our inner man to conformity with Christ.

Therefore, what will you do with your Inner Man?  How will you manage your own soul care?