Changing The Course of Your Life

Sermon Notes, May 29, 2016 AM

Changing the Course of Your Life

Steve W. Reeves

INTRODUCTION:

A. The story is told of a ship sailing off of the east coast one stormy evening. The 

    commander was told that they were approaching another ship. He took the radio

    microphone and demanded the other vessel to change its course. Immediately the

    terse reply said, “You change your course.” The infuriated commander said, “What is

    your rank?” The voice replied, “Petty officer, third class.” “I’m a commander, and I am

    ordering you to change your course.” The Petty officer replied, “You must change

    your course.” By now the commander was red faced. “I’m a battleship. Change your

    course.” The other voice said, “Sir, I’m a lighthouse. You change your course.”

    1. Many people are resistant to any type of change. Sometimes we must change.

    2. There are times when our lives are not on a proper course and we need to change

       directions.

    3. There are times when our attitudes need to change. There are occasions when we

       need to abandon certain behavior and initiate new behavior.     

B. Ephesians 4 is filled with practical instruction for charting a new course in your life.

    1. Paul begins this chapter by urging Christians to walk in a manner worthy of our

       calling. He explains that this means having an attitude of humility, gentleness and

       maintaining the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

    2. He issues a challenge for every Christian to recognize their giftedness and their

       calling to ministry. Ministry is not limited to a few while everyone else watches.

    3. In verses 17-23 the Holy Spirit uses Paul’s pen with the accuracy of a laser to

       reveal the change of course that must occur in our lives as Christians.

So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. ¹⁸ They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. ¹⁹ Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

²⁰ That, however, is not the way of life you learned ²¹ when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. ²² You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; ²³ to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

C. What does Paul say about “changing the course of your life?”

I. WALKING DOWN THE WRONG PATH

    A. Paul instructs these Christians that they are to no longer live as the Gentiles do, in

       the futility of their thinking.

       1. Being a disciple of Jesus means there must be a change in our conduct.

       2. We are not to live like people who do not know God. Their lives are futile. The

           definition of “futile” is, “incapable of producing any useful result.” The greek word,

           “mataioteti” means ‘vanity” or “futility.”

    B. What are the characteristics of this futility? Paul gives us a four part description 

       in the following verses.

       1. Ignorance. Verse 18 says, “They are darkened in their understanding and

           separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to

           the hardening of their hearts.” This ignorance is the result of three things.

           a. Darkened understanding. As I look over the religious landscape of our nation I

               see a lot of darkened understanding. Most Americans will readily tell you they

               believe in God or some “higher power.” What people believe about God varies

               widely and demonstrates a great deal of darkened understanding. 

           b. Separated from the life of God.  What is this life?

               1.) John 1:4 – “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.”

               2.) John 14:6 – “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No

                    one comes to the Father except through me.’”

               3.) Ephesians 2:11-12 – “Therefore, remember that formerly you who are

                    Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves

                    “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)—

                    12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded

                     from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise,

                     without hope and without God in the world.”

           c. Hardened hearts. The longer a person lives in rebellion to God the harder their

               heart becomes.

       2. A loss of sensitivity. In verse 19 Paul said, “Having lost all sensitivity, they have

           given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity,

           and they are full of greed.”

           a. Paul spoke of those whose consciences have been seared with a hot iron in

               1 Timothy 4:2.             

           b. Some years ago I heard of a man who was paralyzed and had no feeling from

               the waist down. He was in his kitchen one day talking on the phone when he

               realized a casserole was burning in the oven. Without thinking he rolled over

               to the oven, took the hot casserole out and placed it in his lap. He felt no pain

               but received serious burns. Millions of people have allowed their hearts to

               become hard and have suppressed their hunger for God. Are you one of

               them?

       3. Giving themselves over to sensuality.  Since they have lost their sensitivity Paul

           goes on to say in verse 19 “they have given themselves over to sensuality so as

           to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.”

           a. The people of whom Paul was speaking were engaged in pagan religious

               practices filled with immoral behavior.

           b. Ephesus was a center of worship for the fertility goddess Artemis or Diana (the

               Latin name). The temple of Artemis was said to be one of 7 wonders of the

               ancient world.

           c. Dr. Everett Ferguson, long time professor of Bible at Abilene Christian

               University wrote, “All kinds of immoralities were associated with the [Greco-

               Roman] gods. Not only was prostitution a recognized institution, but through

               the influence of the fertility cults of Asia Minor, Syria, and Phoenicia it became

               a part of the religious rites at certain temples.” (Dr. Everett Ferguson,

               Backgrounds of Early Christianity, Wm. B. Eerdmans, p. 70).

       4. Full of Greed – vs. 19. They were only concerned with fulfilling their own lusts

           and desires.

    C. One of the greatest challenges we face as Christians is getting away from this

       path that leads to destruction. It is not an easy thing to do. Jesus said, “wide is the

       gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.”

       1. Too many people who have said Jesus is Lord are still living like the Devil.

       2. We have been captured by our culture. Instead of cutting across the grain we are

           going with the flow. Instead of swimming upstream towards a higher calling we

           are allowing the current to carry us along.

II. CHARTING A NEW COURSE

    A. God has a new course charted for us. Notice verses 20.-21. “That, however, is not

       the way of life you learned ²¹ when you heard about Christ and were taught in him

       in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.”

    B. Have you ever needed a new wardrobe? Perhaps you have bought new clothes as

       we moved from winter to spring? Perhaps you’ve lost weight and have had to

       change your wardrobe. Paul used this idea of taking off the old and putting on the

       new to illustrate the new course God intends for us to have.

       1. In verse 22 he said, “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to

           put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires.”

           a. Following his teaching on baptism Paul wrote in Romans 6:6 – “For we know

               that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be

               done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.” 

           b. In Romans 12:2 Paul continued, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world,

               but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

           c. Using the same, “Put off / put on” language as he does in Ephesians 4 Paul

               says in Colossians 3:8-10, “But now you must also rid yourselves of all such

               things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your

               lips. ⁹ Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its

               practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in

               knowledge in the image of its Creator.”

    C. The imagery of changing clothes to signify a new course is also found in the Old

       Testament book of Zachariah.

       1. Zachariah (6the century B.C.) had a vision of the High Priest, Joshua, clothed in

           filthy garments standing before the angel of the Lord. Satan is also in this vision

           hurling accusations at Joshua. Then the angel of the Lord commanded that

           Joshua’s dirty clothes be taken off and he be given new, clean clothes and a

           clean turban for his head.

       2. When you become a Christian this is what happens. God takes your dirty

           clothes, your righteousness that is like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) and gives you an

           entirely new wardrobe of righteousness that comes through Christ.

       3. Just as your mother would tell you when you put on your new best clothes, “Don’t

           go out and get dirty,” God says, “I want you to change the course of your life.” He

           promises to help us but we must exercise our free will and make that decision.

CONCLUSION:

A. Tolstoy said, “Everybody thinks of changing humanity and nobody thinks of

    changing Himself.”

    1. It is much easier to demand that others change their course than to admit we need

       to change ours.

    2. Until we change we cannot expect the world to change.

B. If it is time to change the course of your life we hope you will come to Christ today.

  

Your Place In The Body

Sermon Notes, May 22, 2016 AM

Your Place In The Body

Steve W. Reeves

INTRODUCTION:

A. Everett and Gladys Christine were an elderly couple who lived in DeWitt, Arkansas.  

    Everett was a retired mechanic with a large shop next to his house. He was a quiet

    man who loved working with his hands. He loved helping people with projects in their

    homes. Gladys was a heavy set woman with bad knees that required her to use a

    walker. She was a wonderful cook who baked delicious pies. Whenever there was a

    sickness or a death in the church or community she would bake a pie and send

    Everett to deliver it. Neither of them had any higher education. They lived in that

    small community their entire lives. They did what they could and made a difference in

    the lives of others.

B. If there is one message the church needs to hear and practice today it is the

    message of Ephesians 4.

    1. Paul is writing to urge Christians to live in a manner worthy of their calling.

       a. In verse s 2 and 3 of this chapter he says that we do that with a spirit of humility,

           gentleness, patience and a passionate desire for the unity of the body.

       b. In verses 4-6 he says, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were

           called in one hope of your calling; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God

           and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.”

    2. There is more, however, to walking in a manner worthy of our calling.

       a. In the following verses (7-13) Paul says it is essential that we use the abilities we

           have been given.

       b. You must get involved to have an impact. No one is impressed with the won-lost

           record of the referee. It’s the ones involved who make the difference.

C. God has created you as a special, gifted, one-of-a-kind individual. Just as there are

    no two identical snowflakes there are no identical people. Even identical twins are

    unique. Paul gives four inspired sights regarding your place in the body.

I. THE REALITY OF YOUR GIFT

    A. In verse 7 he says, “But to each one of us grace was given according to the

       measure of Christ’s gift.”

       1. Please notice the phrase, “each one of us.”

       2. Let none of us say, “I have no gift.” Paul, writing by inspiration of the Holy Spirit,

           says, “each one of us” has received grace.”

       3. The words grace and gift go hand in hand. In Romans 12:6 Paul said, “Since we

           have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise

           them accordingly.”

    B. In many schools there are “Gifted and Talented” programs (these are established

       for the bragging rights of grandparents!) God’s “gifted and talented” program is

       called “the church.”

       1. God did not call a select few to do his work and tell everyone else to be a

           spectator.

       2. The idea of a “Clergy-Laity” system is a holdover from Roman Catholicism. The

           word, “Clergy” comes from “kleros” which had to do with an allotted portion or

           something allotted to a few. The word “Laity” comes from “Laos” meaning

           people. Thus, “Clercy- Laity” draws a distinction between the a special allotment

           and the common people. This idea is foreign to the New Testament.

       3. In 1 Peter 2:9 we read, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy

           nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the

           excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

       4. God’s work is not limited to paid professionals. Church is not about coming to

           watch others perform. It is about using the gifts and talents we have been

           given.

II. THE UNIQUENESS OF YOUR GIFT

    A. In verses 8 through 10 he makes reference to Psalm 68 which speaks of a

       victorious warrior distributing gifts in triumph. In the same way Christ who is

       victorious over death and has ascended to sit at the right hand of God, has given

       gifts to us.

    B. In verse 11 we notice something extremely important about our gifts. They are not

       all the same. “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as

       evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers.”

       1. Apostles were the special messengers who had known Christ.

       2. Prophets were the mouthpiece for God.

       3. Evangelists were heralds and proclaimers of the Gospel.

       4. Pastor-Teachers (hyphenated) was a reference to leaders also known as elders

           or overseers.

    C. I love to watch baseball, football and basketball. They are “team” sports. A

       quarterback is an important part of the football team. What is going to happen to

       him if he doesn’t have a good offensive line? A quarterback may have the best

       passing ability in the league but suppose he has no receivers.   

    D. The same principle is true with an orchestra. Have you ever seen an orchestra

       where everyone played the same instrument and part? There are woodwinds,

       percussion, strings and brass. The famous conductor, Leonard Berstein was once

       asked the most difficult instrument to play. He responded, “second fiddle.” Without

       it, however, there is no harmony.

        

III. THE PURPOSE OF YOUR GIFT

    A. What are you going to do with your gift?

       1. Are you going to hide it?

       2. Are you going to use it selfishly for the advancement of your own agenda?

       3. How much better it would be for you to combine your gift with the gifts of others

           for a higher purpose.

    B. In verses12-13 Paul says God gave us these unique gifts, “for the equipping of the

       saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; ¹³ until we all

       attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature

       man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”

    C. Dr. Bruce McLarty occasionally reads a story called, “The Legend of the Stone

       Soup.” Here is an abbreviated version.

Once upon a time in a small European village there was a great famine in which people jealously hoarded whatever food they could find, hiding it even from their friends and neighbors. One day a stranger wandered into the village and began asking for something to eat.  "There's not a bite to eat in the whole province," he was told. "

"Oh, I have everything I need," he said. "In fact, I was thinking of making some stone soup to share with all of you." He pulled an iron cauldron from his wagon, filled it with water, and built a fire under it. Then, with great ceremony, he drew an ordinary-looking stone from a velvet bag and dropped it into the water.

By now, hearing the rumor of food, most of the villagers had come to the square or watched from their windows. As the stranger sniffed the "broth" and licked his lips in anticipation, hunger began to overcome their skepticism. "Ahh," the stranger said rather loudly, "I do like a tasty stone soup. Of course, stone soup with cabbage -- that's hard to beat." Soon a villager approached hesitantly, holding a cabbage he'd retrieved from its hiding place, and added it to the pot. "Delicious!" cried the stranger. "You know, I once had stone soup with cabbage and a bit of salt beef as well, and it was fit for a king."

The village butcher managed to find some salt beef . . . and so it went, through potatoes, onions, carrots, mushrooms, and so on, until there was indeed a delicious meal for everyone. The villagers offered the stranger a great deal of money for the magic stone, but he refused to sell and traveled on the next day. The moral is that by working together, with everyone contributing what they can, a greater good is achieved.

    D. When you do what you can do and I do what I can do the result is a healthy,

       growing, effective body.

IV. THE IDENTITY OF YOUR GIFT?

    A. May I give five steps you can follow to help determine your giftedness. 

       These ideas were suggested by Paul Little in his book, How To Give Away Your

       Faith.     

       1. Begin with prayer. Ask God, “What is my place?”

       2. Your gift is not tied to a program. Gifts do not have to be “programized” to be

           exercised.

       3. Talk to mature Christians you trust. Ask them for candid observations of your

           talents and abilities.  

       4. Look for opportunities. Find people who do what you want to do and shadow

            them.

       5. Jump in! You will never realize the full impact of your giftedness until you give it

           your best effort.

    B. What happens when everyone is working together utilizing the gifts we have been

       given? In verses 15 -16 Paul says “but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up

       in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, ¹⁶ from whom the whole body,

       being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper

       working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of

       itself in love.”

CONCLUSION:

A. Edward Everett Hale wrote, “I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but

    I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the

       something that I can do.”

B. I want to challenge you to do what you can do. Janice Ragsdale tells her students, “If

    it doesn’t challenge you it won’t change you.” May we accept God’s challenge to use

    our gifts and find our place in the body of Jesus.