Do not walk like those in the world…  (3 things)

• 1^st – The walk of the world… vs. 17-19
  • Do not walk like those in the world – they are confused… vs. 17
    • People who do not know Jesus have no idea what life is all about…
      • The world can ask the question ‘what is the meaning of life’ – but has no answer…
      • They hold that we are an accident of evolution – live – then die and cease to exist!
      • In fact there is a famous British comedy that said that answer is ‘42’…
      • Why 42 – a joke – because without God there is no answer to the question!
      • They just exist from day to day – with no idea why they are alive!
      • And if we are listening to – hanging out with – looking to those in the world…
      • If we choose to follow them – then we are going to be as confused as they are!
    • These people we are looking to follow – are not even going to heaven…
      • Idolaters/fornicators/adulterers/homosexuals – sexual immoral…
      • Thieves/covetous – those who are always looking for more money – more stuff…
      • Drunkards/abusers/swindlers – those whose lives are out of control…
      • They need to receive the wisdom of Christ from us – not us from them!
  • They are Confused because – their minds are full of darkness… vs. 18
    • The reason is because they reject the light that comes from knowing God…
      • In order to see where we are going – we need to have light…
      • If we refuse to turn on the light – then we are left to wander in darkness…
      • John 8:12 – “I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
      • If we believe in Jesus the answer to the meaning of life is simple…
      • We were created to have a relationship with God – John 17:3…
      • And God gave us this life to choose – make a decision about our eternity…
      • But those who reject Jesus refuse that light – and are left to wander in darkness!
    • The reason they reject the light is because their hearts are calloused…
      • When I first learned guitar – my fingers bled from pressing on the steel strings…
      • But eventually with lots of use – they grew calluses and became tough…
      • When we first commit a sin – we bleed with conviction from the Holy Spirit…
      • But if we continue to sin – we can create a callous on our hearts – fell nothing…
      • Hebrews 3:13 – “Exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
      • Sin is devastating – if we refuse to repent of our sin – it will harden our hearts…
      • We end up rejecting God – because we prefer to live on in our sin!
  • As a result they have no shame… vs. 19
    • Those who are calloused – no longer feel any conviction from God…
      • They seek to please themselves sexually – given over to unbridled lust…
      • They seek to gain as much money as they possibly can – full of greed…

• Because when it is over – there is nothing – we cease to exist…
• There is no right – there is no wrong / there is no heaven – there is no hell…
• So we mind as well live it up – eat / drink / and have all the fun we can!
• But they are wrong – and there is a day of judgment coming…
  • They are storing up wrath for the day when they will stand before Jesus…
  • And because they chose to look away – spend eternity separated from God in hell!
    
• 2^nd – What we learned from Jesus… vs. 20-24
  • Listen to Jesus… vs. 20-22
    • How do we hear Jesus – through His Word…
      • He teaches us to throw off the old – corrupt ways – which we used to live by…
      • There are only two option how to live our lives – walk like the world / or like Jesus!
      • Romans 12:2 – “Do not be conformed to this world…”
      • This world does all it can to convince us it has everything we need to be happy…
      • All we need is more money / better job / more possessions / a different relationship
      • Everywhere we look we see the standards of the world – TV / radio…
    • One must ask the question – if that is true we should be able to see it…
      • If the answer truly was in the world – then we should be able to see examples…
      • If we look to those who have ‘worldly success’ are they content / full of joy…
      • When we chase after the things of this world – conform – it brings momentary bliss
      • It is a shallow fulfillment though – every bought something new – does not last… 
      • Solomon put it best – it is like grasping for the wind – Ecclesiastes 2:10-11…
      • It is not a matter of striving for the impossible – you are reaching for nothing!
      • It is an empty – pointless life – it only leads you from one dry well to another!
  • Therefore instead let the Spirit give us a new attitude… vs. 23-24
    • Both the throwing off the old ways – and getting a new attitude – ‘passive voice’…
      • Meaning something causes us throw off the old and receive the new…
      • As we realize that the world has no answers to life – only empty promises…
      • And as we get into the Word – and grow in our relationship with Jesus…
      • We will find the Spirit changes our heart – gives us a new outlook…
      • No longer living for the pleasure of the moment – but living with an eternal view!
    • The results is we have a ‘new attitude’ – we are a ‘new man’…
      • With a new character formed by God – no longer living in the sin of this world…
      • A holy character – set apart from this world – ready to be used by God…
      • Our old man – our old sinful nature – was crucified and buried with Jesus…
      • We were then ‘raised from the dead’ – no longer the old sinful man we once were
      • We were given ‘new life’ – freed from sin to live for God!
      • II Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

• 3^rd – The walk of the new man in Christ … vs. 25-32 (5 things)
  • 1^st – Do not lie – tell the truth to each other… vs. 25
    • There are no levels of lies – no little lies / or white lies / or half truths…
      • There is just the truth – and then there is a lie – no middle ground…
      • If we are not telling all of the truth – then we are telling a complete lie!
    • Is there ever a good reason not to tell the truth…
      • Such as if it keeps someone from having hurt feelings – ‘how do I look’ – ugly!
      • End does not justify the means – its as much about the journey as the destination
      • There is never a good reason to lie – it is depending on our efforts / wisdom…
      • Better to be honest – tell the truth – and trust in/depend on the Lord!
    • We are to always tell the truth – because we are part of the same body…
      • Imagine if you told you foot to walk – it said OK but it lied – and instead stood still…
      • The whole body would end up falling down – because one member lied…
      • We are all one family – we all belong to the Body of Christ – church of God…
      • A pastor lying about taking money – does not just affect one man – hurts many…
      • Therefore we should not lie – be dishonest with each other…
  • 2^nd – Do not be ruled by your anger… vs. 26-27
    • Because uncontrolled anger – leads to bitterness / hate…
      • Jesus is said in Matthew 5:21 – to have hate for someone is equivalent to murder!
      • Matthew 5:22 – “If you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment!”
      • Will be in danger of THE Judgment – before the White Throne of God…
      • Because if we are not willing to forgive – God will not forgive us – Matthew 6:15
    • If you are angry with someone – deal with it before the sunsets…
      • Talk to the person you are upset with – before your anger turns to bitterness…
      • That bitterness becomes hatred – and that hatred begins to control your life!
      • We might even find we misunderstood something that was done or said…
      • Simply taking the time to talk to the person resolves the problem…
      • Or if there is sin and they repent – then their is forgiveness – I John 1:9
    • If we try and ‘ignore’ the problem – we give an opportunity to satan…
      • Satan would love to cause division within the church – bitterness and hate…
      •  II Corinthians 2:11 – “lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
      • Do not let satan rob the church of the forgiveness and joy Jesus has provided…
      • If you are upset / angry with someone – go / now / today and talk to them!
        
  • 3^rd – Do not steal – instead give to those in need… vs. 28
    • Literally – stop taking things from other that do not belong to you…
      • We can call it anything we like – borrowing without asking / ‘hulam lang ko no’
      • We can justify it any way we like – they already have a lot / they will not miss it…
      • Everybody may do it – owner may be more embarrassed than the one who took it…
      • If it is not ours – we have no right to take it – it is stealing – stop it!
    • Instead work so you can afford to give to others…
      • Acts 20:35 – “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
      • Giving shows we are more concerned about others than ourselves…
      • Giving shows we are more concerned about the eternal – than the temporary…
      • And when we give – we will find we end up with more anyways!
      • Luke 6:38 – “If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running…”
  • 4^th – Do not use harsh speech – grieving the Holy Spirit… vs. 29-30
    • We need to be very careful what comes out of our mouth…
      • James 3:5 – “The tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do…”
      • When we choose to pass on the latest juicy stories – gossip…
      • When we use sarcasm – trying to be funny – but instead cutting those we love…
      • When we blurt out things in anger – things we wish we had not said…
      • When we tell ‘green jokes’ – sexual humor to try and get a laugh…
      • When we curse – swear words / or using the name of God in vain…
      • We need to be very careful what we say – the hurtful words we speak…
      • You have heard the old saying – ‘if you have nothing good to say – say nothing’…
      • Because we will have to answer one day for every idle word – Matthew 12:36
    • The result of which is to grieve the Holy Spirit…
      • Have you ever been listening to a conversation – when it turns offensive…
      • You suddenly become uncomfortable – you want to quickly get away…
      • If we are not careful with our words – we can offend the Holy Spirit…
      • Making Him ‘uncomfortable’ – so that He does not want to be around us!
    • Instead use your words to do good…
      • Say those things that will bless others – give grace to those who listen…
      • In others words – let the Word of God be what flows from your lips!
      • The way to do that is to make sure you are ‘full of the Word of God’…
      • Luke 6:45 – “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”
  • 5^th – Do not be bitter or angry – instead be kind and forgiving… vs. 31

• When we are hurt by someone – and refuse to forgive – it plants a seed in our heart…
  • Can quickly grow into bitterness – we become consumed with what ‘they did to us’!
  • Its roots can grow down deep – poisoning and hardening – separating us from God…
  • The ‘fruit’ in our life makes us sour and bitter – eventually brings spiritual death…
  • With un-forgiveness in our hearts – God does not hear our prayers – Mark 11:25
• The only solution – look to Jesus – He can remove our un-forgiveness!
  • Jesus went to the cross to pay for our sins – ALL of our sins…
  • How then could we not forgive someone for the little sin they have done against us…
  • Forgiveness is not just for the one who did us wrong – it is also for us…

It sets us free – we do not dwell on the past – we get to move forward in Jesus!