Tators.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery is a common saying. What does that mean? Why is it flattery if someone is acting like you? When I was a kid, I wanted to be cool. I wanted the Nike Shoes. Those to me were more cool than cool. Oh sure, I wanted Legos, or GI Joes, or whatever new Nerf Item there was. But I wanted to be that kid who had Nike brand emblazoned on his feet. After all, who didn't want to strap on a pair of Air Jordans and jump from the half court line to make a perfect dunk?
In America right now, there is a dangerous problem rising. Political correctness. Most often, we are so worried about what you will say to us if we call you out on something, that we are silently sending you to hell. We pastors are so concerned with not offending someone because they may "leave" the church or the group we lead. We silently endorse sin so that we don't have to deal with it.
GOD doesn't want your political correctness, he wants Holiness.
How can we get it? we can't. We can't ever get close enough on our best days to God to even rate with His lowest points. As I was reading this week, I noted
The first key to being holy is to be a tator, by that I mean imitator.
Just like I wanted to be like Mike (Jordan, not my brother), we need to be so in tune with Christ that we, like He, are willing to give up our very lives as a sacrifice. Spiritually, that means we are in a CONSTANT state of submission to the authority of God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
The second key is inward change. If you read the verse, the thing that Paul references in verse 3 starts at the heart, not at the body. Your body just doesn't get itself into positions of compromise and sexual impurity by itself. That saying "the heart wants what the heart wants" is total BS... It should be "My thoughts that I have been harboring for the X time period have finally gotten the better of my moral decision rubrick." Or better still, "I have finally justified my actions enough that I don't feel guilty about it right now." The same with Greed, greed starts at the heart, so does idolatry (v.5). After just going through CPR/FIRST AID, I have a great analogy for this. Sin is so prevalent, that it is like we are constantly walking around with Ventricular Fibrillation and don't know it. When you have abnormal sinus rhythm(heart problems), the symptoms and signs are different for everyone. The same with Sin, how we act towards sin is different. While some may get hung up pornography, others may get hung up on living an addicted lifestyle (debauchery), or just rebel against authority, or just murder.
When you have a ventricular Fibrillation there is really only ever one solution. Shock the crap out of it, or it will stop working altogether. How does that translate? Self denial... I have been Crucified with Christ... (Gal 2:20) Get so far along the path of self-denial (allowing your wants and desires to be replaced) that your sin nature goes into shock and you are finally back into the right heart rhythm.
Stay tuned for PT 2 of this as we disect more of Ephesians 5.
In America right now, there is a dangerous problem rising. Political correctness. Most often, we are so worried about what you will say to us if we call you out on something, that we are silently sending you to hell. We pastors are so concerned with not offending someone because they may "leave" the church or the group we lead. We silently endorse sin so that we don't have to deal with it.
GOD doesn't want your political correctness, he wants Holiness.
How can we get it? we can't. We can't ever get close enough on our best days to God to even rate with His lowest points. As I was reading this week, I noted
Ephesians 5:1- 21
1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. 4Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.[a] 6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7Therefore do not be partners with them.
8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10and find out what pleases the Lord. 11Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:
"Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."
15Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
21Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
The first key to being holy is to be a tator, by that I mean imitator.
Just like I wanted to be like Mike (Jordan, not my brother), we need to be so in tune with Christ that we, like He, are willing to give up our very lives as a sacrifice. Spiritually, that means we are in a CONSTANT state of submission to the authority of God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
The second key is inward change. If you read the verse, the thing that Paul references in verse 3 starts at the heart, not at the body. Your body just doesn't get itself into positions of compromise and sexual impurity by itself. That saying "the heart wants what the heart wants" is total BS... It should be "My thoughts that I have been harboring for the X time period have finally gotten the better of my moral decision rubrick." Or better still, "I have finally justified my actions enough that I don't feel guilty about it right now." The same with Greed, greed starts at the heart, so does idolatry (v.5). After just going through CPR/FIRST AID, I have a great analogy for this. Sin is so prevalent, that it is like we are constantly walking around with Ventricular Fibrillation and don't know it. When you have abnormal sinus rhythm(heart problems), the symptoms and signs are different for everyone. The same with Sin, how we act towards sin is different. While some may get hung up pornography, others may get hung up on living an addicted lifestyle (debauchery), or just rebel against authority, or just murder.
When you have a ventricular Fibrillation there is really only ever one solution. Shock the crap out of it, or it will stop working altogether. How does that translate? Self denial... I have been Crucified with Christ... (Gal 2:20) Get so far along the path of self-denial (allowing your wants and desires to be replaced) that your sin nature goes into shock and you are finally back into the right heart rhythm.
Stay tuned for PT 2 of this as we disect more of Ephesians 5.
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