Move that Bus
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Text: Ephesians 4:17-24
I asked a question about if people are really Christian. Ever wondered “where’s the change?” God has a call for his people. Live the life of a new creation! How?
1) Stop living like the lost!
V18 - “separated from the life of God” The lost are alienated. Separated, banished, estranged from a life of God! Blessed – hope – assured – joy - How are you living?
The lost live like this:
A) Aimless - V17- can’t think straight - always another scheme. ”This is what the LORD says: "What fault did your Fathers find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.”
B) Blinded - V18 - ”The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
C) Petrified - V19 - unable to think outside of their fear!
D) Greedy - V19 - Feeding frenzy of selfishness and fulfilling sinful desire - “ They are living focused on the material rather than the spiritual, the temporal over the eternal.” Get all you can, can all you get, and sit on the can! They are never satisfied!
Them and us - Is God coming through? Or is the world? We are to live the life of a new creation!
2) Start living like the saved!
V20-24 - Conversion, change! Old is gone, new has come!
A) Heard - where faith comes from! Finally heard!
B) Taught - how disciples are made! Jesus said, “follow me I will make,” “Go and make disciples.” There is a change! OF MIND! Repentance - thinking differently - can see the old way. “The old Mark would have . . .” You are born again!
V23 - ”to be made new in the attitude of your minds” - Spirit of mind - The word changes you
”For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” - Heb 4:12
New values! New direction! New creation! The mind of Christ, not the culture - The heart of God, not the world!
C) Live! - As God created you. Literally V24 according to what God is . . . Righteousness and Holiness!
Conclusion
Extreme makeover - God edition. What if we all moved the bus? Let the world see a real Christian? That’s the call if you’ve been saved! Move that bus!