took on flesh and so that me and you could be
one with God the Father. How could we in our
humanity and brokenness share space with such
a holy God other than to be introduced by the
holiest one which is Jesus. So I know he died
so that me and you could share space with the
holy god and the creator of the universe and
that we could be be be brought back into union
with what man messed up i know why but the song's
still here the song's still here but i'll pray
we'll jump into it y 'all ready to get into the
word today thank y 'all you know they even got
the blood on the day the red Father, I gotta
thank you for today, and I just thank you for
this opportunity to come and to minister to your
people. I just thank you for this sweet atmosphere,
this convergence of generations. This is what
we believed for, this is what we prayed for,
and I'm thankful, God, to be in this moment with
both those who have been in the faith and those
who have just been introduced to the faith and
just sharing. what has been rich for generations.
Thank you, God, for bringing us together and
having us here and experience what has been good
for generations. Thank you for today. Thank you
for loving us and inviting us into this moment
with you. As we open up your word, we are asking
your spirit to guide us to illuminate the text
and reveal to us what you have for us today.
We cannot expect to come to you without your
spirit being the guide and walk away with truth.
But we pray that today your spirit invade this
atmosphere, invade this moment, and remind us
of who we are and what you've done and just the
precious promises you have for us. And I just
pray in the mighty name of Jesus that this moment
be glorifying to you, Father. In your precious
name, I pray the name above all names y 'all
say with me jesus. Amen with love on your neighbor
and Amen y 'all go ahead and turn over to ephesians
chapter four And um, we we did all of chapter
three last week, right Y 'all was excited about
that Hope y 'all excited about that because we're
gonna do chapter four today. So hey, there you
go Let's keep the let's keep it going and so
turn me to Ephesians chapter four and and I am
I am grateful for your your hunger and thirst
for truth, you know, that's how I see it that
um, you have a hunger and thirst for truth and
So as much as I could say a lot of things, truthfully,
the most powerful thing that will happen in this
service is what God will say to you as it's happening.
And so as we read the word, my expectation is
for the word to do what I don't even have the
eloquence to speak. And so I pray you guys don't
get dull of hearing the word of God being read
to you. Amen. But just to set some context, right,
that one of the. Awesome things about Ephesians
chapter four is it actually is a crossover, right?
there's six books in the in Ephesians and the
first three actually laying a spiritual foundation
and Then when we get to four five and six Paul
gets extremely practical about how we are to
live what we just learned and so it is important
that we take everything that we've heard these
first three chapters and kind of kind of live
from there right and Understand this that as
you're hearing this, you know, the truth is designed
first check this out to to confront before it
transforms the fruit truth confronts before it
transformed and so I say that so that you don't
Feel like it's a it's a it's a wrong thing It's
actually the right thing that as we're reading
the word and you're like man that I don't know
about that That's that's this beginning of transformation
that there's confrontation before this transformation
y 'all rocking with me And so we're not reading
the word so it just lines up with us We're reading
the word so we can find what's in us. That's
that doesn't belong there and the word can begin
the transformation of it of it of it No longer
being connected to who we are but the fees and
chapter four just to give you guys some I'm even
I'm holding on to it, you know, because once
it's out there it's out there and so I'm hoping
I'm saying enough to say with the title of today's
messages, but it's already gonna hit you So it
might as well just be what it is But when you
look at a vision chapter four, especially the
lens we'll be looking through today It's saying
something really powerful that I think we all
need to hear today and it's simply this people
aren't your problem people aren't your problem
and i know i'm no different than a lot of you
guys i probably spend a lot of my day just saying
to myself it's these it's the people y 'all be
leaving me all by myself in certain moments but
it's okay i know it's true a lot of times you
sit down at the end of day like you know if i
just have some better people around me Some people
that would agree with what I see or just you
know But at the end of the day you come to this
conclusion that people are the problem but as
you read Ephesians chapter 4 it challenges us
because it lets us know that People aren't your
problem So go ahead look at your neighbor. Let's
just practice it right y 'all know I love for
us to practice say it say hey neighbor people
Aren't your problem? Matter of fact Ephesians
begins to challenge us to not only stop seeing
people as the problem But to see people as a
part a part of what could possibly be Your growth
And so here we go and Just to kind of put this
here right Ephesians 6 and 12 tell us where we
do not wrestle Against flesh and blood but against
principalities and spirits in high places. So
it always lets us know put this in Context, you
know when and one of the benefits that this truth
is giving us is for us to be free from people
Because as long as you believe people can be
your problem. It's hard to be free from people
And so the Bible is trying to get you free but
it has to address how you see people in the the
weight you give them to what God is doing in
your life and and It's wanting to make sure that
you give appropriate rate weight to the relationships
and the people that Surround you y 'all. All
right But a fees is chapter 4 starting in verse
1 it says therefore I'm reading the ESV Says
I therefore a prisoner for the Lord. That's Paul
talking urge you to walk in a manner Worthy of
the calling to which you have been called and
right there Just we're gonna pause just to sell
a context right that that that we're even seeing
Paul Apply that same principle right there. He
says a prisoner for the Lord Paul wasn't mad
at the people who put the chains on them He's
already taken this condition that many of us
would see as as as as As a challenge and he's
put it in context of who God is once you start
putting things in context of who God is you get
the filter to be able to Live and see things
the way God wants you to be that's where we're
last. We just give me a second Y 'all remember
just give me a second so I can I can put this
in the context of of who God is And so he says
prison floor. I urge you what to walk in a manner
Worthy of the calling to which you have been
called and so just to do some some fine -tuning
right there When he says walk in a manner he's
speaking of us Living a life of faith when he's
speaking a walk they talk about walking and they
mirror walking to living And so while he's saying
I want this is the way that you should be living
say hey neighbor You should be living Worthy
of the calling Now we get here that calling that
Paul begins to break down as we go through Ephesians
chapter 4 isn't talking about Like, you know
a lot of times we think about my calling my calling
what what Paul is referring to is the called
The call that if you responded to Jesus and said
yes to his calling you are now the called and
So he's speaking to every born -again believer
that if you said yes to Jesus you answered his
call and now you are what church Boy, y 'all
are good. Y 'all are sharp You are the calling
him say hey neighbor you are the called and so
he's saying, you know Understand that you may
have individual gifts But as the call there's
a way we should walk That as a person who was
snatched out of darkness into God's marvelous
light that you were called into the kingdom There
is a generalized way in which you should be living
Right. There may be nuances based upon your your
personal gifts and within it but as the call
look you say hey neighbor as the called There's
a universal way that oh y 'all gotta say all
that When I pause it's supposed to be a break
-in I thought I went over this before y 'all
remember this a few weeks ago. I said hey when
I pause this I'm giving space to disconnect the
repeating If Paul is saying this because he doesn't
want anybody here what else is about to be said
to say that ain't me And so that's really why
that's there that none of us can escape the truth
that's coming So verse 32 he says with all humility
and gentleness and patience Bearing with one
another in love eager to maintain the unity of
the spirit in the bond of peace so Paul begins
to say that there are virtues attitudes that
as the call We should be walking in three of
them are witches humility gentleness and patience
He also asked us ask us there to bear one another
in love Eager check this out. This is the key
to this eager to what church? Maintain the unity
of the spirit in the bond of peace. This is where
revelations first starts to hit us Paul doesn't
say to obtain unity He says to maintain unity
and this right here gets me so excited when you
realize that Me and you don't have the assignment
of obtaining unity with one another. We actually
have the assignment of maintaining unity I'm
gonna say it again that we don't have to wear
the weight of trying to bring us together That
if you're thinking how can I bring us together?
You've already missed the revelation The revelation
is we are already Together the question is how
do we maintain? That unity you've obtained unity
That's so good because I know as we think down
our family trees all we can see is the vision
But we have to realize that in Christ You are
all you've obtained unity that if you want to
bring your family together Introduce your family
to Jesus Jesus has obtained Unity for us one
of the incredible benefits about being a born
-again believer is we don't have to fight to
get Unity we have to maintain the unity we've
been given That's why we have this body that
we live in and we are all parts in particular
But we have to maintain what we've obtained but
you don't have to strive for unity You don't
have to strain for unity. You don't have to fight
for unity You just have to remind people they
need to maintain what they've obtained We are
one look at your neighbor. Say hey neighbor We
are one We want But of course, that word maintain
now carries new weight. Because if I don't have
the burden of creating unity, that means I do
have the responsibility of maintaining what I
obtain. Someone else already did the hard work,
but now must Maintain what was obtained Right,
it's like somebody gives you a house that's paid
for you still have taxes and so you have to maintain
what someone else obtained for you your house,
but did you pay the taxes because if you don't
pay the taxes you can Lose what was obtained
but check this out maintenance is always a fraction
of what it takes to obtain and So if we had to
ask Jesus to do one thing for us, I would say
do the work of obtaining the unity We can handle
the maintaining say hey neighbor Let's handle
the maintaining And he uses these three virtues
these three attitudes he says humility gentleness
patience that those three virtues and the prioritization
of those three virtues and Attitudes is how you
maintain what you've obtained What does that
let me know that lets me know that unity begins
to break down When pride shows up Because pride
is the opposing attitude humility It lets me
know that when aggression shows up division can
show up because Aggression is the opposing attitude
to gentleness It lets me know that when I become
impatient that Impatient is a force that breaks
what was obtained Y 'all alright And so he's
saying hey listen we stay Maintaining what we've
obtained when we continue to develop in humility
Have a gentle attitude and practice patience
What you'll also see here This is bearing with
one another in in in love Love and I love this
because look at him say hey, you're been in love
with somebody If you ever been in love I Mean
I'm talking about that good love You mean you
know, it's an it's an atmosphere That it's not
just an action It's an atmosphere That that love
in its greatest expression isn't an act. It's
an atmosphere That that that you created a safe
space for me to exist That that that in love
means that there is an atmosphere that is cultivated
for unity to permeate So Paul's not asking us
to do of love he's saying cultivate an atmosphere
of love say hey neighbor you was caught up because
it wasn't just what they was doing it was the
air you was breathing they had you in an atmosphere
you was just every time I turn around love I
mean I'm in love and But why am I saying this
because if we are to maintain we have to realize
we are maintaining an atmosphere not just acts
He's not asking us to just do things different.
He's asking us to maintain our worlds differently
He's telling us to allow humility be what they
breathe allow gentleness to be what they breathe
allow patience to be what they breathe not I
was patient with you that's interesting that
sounds more like an act than an atmosphere and
so when we talk about maintaining he's saying
make this the atmosphere say hey neighbor Let
patience be the atmosphere. Let gentleness be
the atmosphere. Let humility be the atmosphere.
Don't stop at the act. Let it be the atmosphere.
Woo! Some of y 'all already got a playlist for
it, Pastor. I got the perfect song. I'm going
to put it on as soon as I get home. I'm going
to just... Let it let it permeate Verse 4 he
says There is one body and one spirit just as
you were called to one hope that belongs to who's
called Your call there is one Lord one faith
one baptism one God and one father of all who
is over all and through all and in all right,
and so we see this one one one one one and Paul
is highlighting us to us What are our unifying
characteristics? He's not just saying things
randomly He's actually giving the manuscript
by which we are united the one thing that we
should see the same is There's only one spirit
That's the spirit of god That there is one lord
his name is jesus There is one faith There's
one baptism. We all been baptized there is one
God and in a father of us all who is overall
and in all and What is he also letting us to
know and this is the part that we want to be
clear about that If there's going to be division
it's because we don't unify in the ones Because
there are now we got to sit this on what we've
been learning so far. There are people who aren't
what? spiritually alive and Because they're not
spiritually alive. They are dead to what God
is doing and When someone is dead to what God
is doing that means they're also not alive to
that spirit of unity This is important for you
to hear too Because we have to understand salvation
is a critical act because it starts the process
of unity Without Christ we cannot be unified
Without Christ we don't have the strength and
the power to see the same things the same way
We can't even start talking about one faith and
one Lord and in one spirit because we haven't
been baptized by one Jesus This helps us because
oftentimes we're fighting for unity in places.
It will never develop And you can find yourself
straining and striving and fighting and Struggling
and throwing away all your peace Trying to obtain
trying to obtain what we've only been called
to maintain We haven't been called to obtain
unity We've been called to maintain a unity that
exists in Christ So until you're in Christ, there's
no point in me fighting for what you don't have
these eyes to even see Y 'all rocking with me
So this is my first like, you know is us in our
little truth questions. I have reason to praise
right? I'm gonna see if y 'all see this is a
reason to praise y 'all may or may not But Christ
makes unity possible So reason the praise Christ
makes unity possible that man And I was really,
really just thinking about this. And I believe
anybody that has experienced moments of success
or achievement, I believe they can bear witness
to it, is that you realize success and achievement
without community doesn't bring wholeness. Success
and achievement without community doesn't bring
wholeness Y 'all don't like that I'm trying to
figure out which party you was arguing with it
your flesh and just it's just making its way
That Success and achievement without community
will not result in wholeness. You will achieve
the thing. You will get the thing. You will have
the thing, but wholeness won't be present until
you're sharing it with who God called you to
be with. There will always feel like there's
this piece missing. Like it was good, but then
there's that asterisk. And so when we're hearing
this It's not just about having people around
you. It's about you experiencing wholeness in
life That as believers when he says you were
called to one body He's also letting you know
that unity is a part of how you now find peace
That it's actually hard Sleep well when I'm at
odds with those I'm supposed to have peace with
That it's actually extremely difficult for me
to call the day good when I've been arguing with
people I love That it's it's it's a it's a difficult
thing It's like I can be where I'm at and bills
paid house paid for but if I'm yelling at the
people I'm supposed to be dwelling here with
there's no wholeness so Paul is trying to get
us to expand from our carnal way of thinking
because many of us have spent our whole lives
trying to isolate ourselves because we determined
that people are the problem and the less people
that's around me the more peace I have and you
can have temporary peace but if you're looking
for permanent wholeness Y 'all ain't got to tell
me I've been there before I've been on the beach
Watching the waves Under read all the little
descriptions right now. You should feel at peace
and all I can think about is I Just don't understand
why they feel like that You ever broke up somebody's
moment you was in paradise and you ain't want
to break it up But you just couldn't shake it.
So you're like hey, you think they still mad
at me Wow Talk about that out here right now
You know, but what am I saying? That in grain
in me in you deep I should say stronger than
that Deposited in me in you by way of the spirit
living in us is a desire to be unified with the
people God has called us to That you could have
hated people before you met christ you meet jesus
you now are starting to develop a love for people
a compassion for people that you want to see
those who are estranged Those who are far away
being brought near to what you are experiencing
the love that you have i'm saying this because
we shouldn't give up on unity we just need to
appropriate how we maintain unity now now understand
that Christ is going to bring it together Christ
is the unifier praise be to God that I don't
have the responsibility of creating unity I just
have the obligation to maintain what Christ has
obtained so when Christ brings it together I
know the part I'm supposed to be playing Y 'all
alright, there is no way I don't think we're
gonna make it What is he saying he's saying our
unity isn't based on similarity is based on a
shared identity in Christ Our unity isn't based
on similarity is based on a shared identity in
Christ We are one because we have a single belief
system as it refers to who we are in Christ So
we are unified in Christ. We are unified in his
Identity. We are very different people We don't
need sameness we need alignment What are you
saying like Christianity is not about finding
people who you will finally agree with everything
upon It doesn't mean that we all agree on everything
but we all believe in one unifying Jesus And
as long as you are pursuing him I am pursuing
him It's impossible for us to develop division
in route You you maintain I Maintain and we continue
to enjoy what he obtained My father say like
this like it's it's not a kingdom issue The truth
is if it's not a kingdom issue it shouldn't be
a division issue Well, what are the kingdom issues
one Lord? one God one spirit one baptism one
faith soon as you start talking about many spirits
that spooky spirits and you got too many gods
and What is who is Jesus to you is he the Savior
and the Redeemer of your soul or historical figure
that you consider sometimes Because if you consider
him a historical figure not the savior of your
soul. Well, my friend we have an actual kingdom
issue Anything other than that Jesus has obtained
our unity He said but grace was given to each
one of us According to the measure of Christ
gives therefore it says when he ascended on high
He led a host of captives and he gave gifts to
men and saying he ascended What does that mean?
But that he had also descended into the lower
regions the earth he who descend is one who ascends
far above all the heavens that he might fill
all things and he gave the apostles the prophets
the evangelists the shepherds and teachers to
equip the saints for the work of ministry for
building up the body of christ until we all attained
the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of
the son of god to mature manhood to the measure
of the stature of the fullness of christ So that
we may no longer be children Tossed to and fro
by the waves and carried about by every wind
of doctrine by human cunning by craftiness and
deceitful schemes This is so good. So right and
so now we are getting that new life say hey new
life neighbor the new life why it is prioritized
to Maintain what Jesus has obtained that Paul
is making it clear. It is Difficult impossible
for me and you to mature without each other What
are you saying that you can develop in isolation,
but you only can mature in community so we need
one another. There's a there's a why to why the
maintaining is important because you will remain
immature in isolation. If you are going to mature
into this body mature and to Christ has called
you into you have to Maintain what he is obtained
which is the unity of the body that as much as
you want to do your own thing Doing your own
thing will result in an immature you That's what
they say people aren't your problem their opportunity
to grow It's hard to be patient without a who
to be patient with. It's hard to develop humility
without me having to find somebody not to be
prideful. You think you know everything. I was
thinking the other day, man, it be getting too
real sometimes. Where he at? Is he in here? Is
he listening? If somebody around my nephew Gregory
tell him not to listen to this. Was talking to
this man the other day I Had to flip my script
I Was like maybe he's here so I can exercise
humility This brother think he know everything
And I'm fighting to maintain what Jesus is obtained
because all I'm thinking is Ain't even nothing
what neff Neff hear me and hear me clearly But
then I was thinking or maybe God is helping me
To walk in humility And and maybe Patience isn't
an act in this moment. It's an atmosphere that
needs to be cultivated Because I can say well
I gave him plenty times to get it right Well,
that means patience is an act not an atmosphere
if it has a if it has a limitation on usage It's
an act if it's an atmosphere. It's indispensable
Lord help me help me just maintain what you've
obtained Can we say that together I? Just felt
the spirit of God on that like y 'all just same
say Lord Help me to maintain What you've obtained?
Help me to grow from acts to atmosphere I Just
don't want to do Patient acts I want to be a
patient person I Don't want to just act to have
acts of humility. I want to walk in humility.
I Want when I show up humility cultivates the
atmosphere? Like like everything star now pride
begins to crumble because I've shown up as the
atmosphere of humility. I'm not just thinking
about what I'm doing. I'm thinking about how
I can cultivate an atmosphere that responds to
what God is doing. Y 'all hear what I'm saying.
God, just give me the strength to maintain what
you've obtained. You create, you died so that
we could have one God. We can have one faith.
We can have one Lord. Baptism you aligned us
at all the major things. Let me not put down
our Discredit the minor things that keep the
atmosphere good You obtain the foundation for
unity by giving us one Lord by giving us one
God by giving us one Spirit by giving us one
faith you did the grunt work so let me just do
let me just do you know just the I was thinking
elves because Christmas factory and the elves
work with Santa I Was telling somebody the other
day there they always says where do you get the
examples from us? I don't write down the examples.
I Just let the Holy Spirit do it every once in
a while one of those comes out And that's that's
the result of not having written them down. I
was thinking How can I make this plain? You know
Santa he got elves But he needs the elves to
maintain, you know anyway I'll bring it back
in November. See if the season won't let it hit
better. I don't knows Somewhere like he called
us else I didn't call you don't mean your elves,
but I Don't know I'll leave it alone second service.
I'll have something better for y 'all. I'm telling
you I'm telling you But he's saying right that
you have these these check this out now if you're
reading that list You'll also notice that there's
a there's a there's a there's a there's a there's
a gift not on that list That gift is the gift
of a deacon deacons are on that list on that
list is actually the teaching gifts And on that
list he's letting us know which course goes Man,
it's just just rips up all of the cultural things
that people say today But unless you know right
that you can without a doubt you can Develop
in private and that's what I was even talking
about last week that some of y 'all need to get
away You need to get spend a lot of time with
Jesus so that you can develop develop so that
when you get into This unity this community you
are now just maintaining what you have clear
sight of a Lot of times it's hard for us to maintain
because everyone's in this community unassigned
And so he says there's teachers there's there's
prophets there's a villain evangelist that there's
gifts within the body Say hey neighbor, it's
difficult to maintain what you haven't been assigned
Right that in that community as we're there that
that everyone has this role that they play and
they have this thing that they're bringing But
I also find it I do I do I do because if you
know a deacon is responsible for maintaining
the house And I do I find it just all striking
striking that a deacon isn't on this list Which
leads me to believe that when Paul is speaking
of that unity of the body that we are all called
to maintain That in this context no one is above
the maintenance and no one has a different assignment
We all should be opening doors at the house Is
what i'm saying we all should be picking up groceries
and we all should be cleaning stuff up And we
all should be making sure it's not a wreck when
Boy ain't nothing worse than coming over to somebody
house and it's dirty and they trying to say well,
it's not my week Well, is it your house? What
are you doing to maintain? What was obtained?
You know, sometimes I'd be thinking y 'all be
getting so spiritually deep. I got to bring this
thing right on back Just bring it right on back
it ain't my week That sounds like an act not
an atmosphere are we trying to maintain cleanliness
are we the folks only clean up when people come
in I'm gonna look down on that way Boy, I took
all time boy ain't no house cleaner than the
day the hours before people come over But ain't
no house as dirty as the the moments after they
leave It's like you will clean every little jot
and tittle for destruction to take place But
then live in something that's not reflective
of what you've obtained Man He says rather speaking
the truth in love. We all grow Up in every way
and to him who is the head into Christ from whom
the whole body joined and held together By every
joint with his equip when each part is working
properly If you happen to be here with your family
or some of your family are they across the room
just make eye contact with some family Hey mama
When each part is functioning properly it makes
the body grow Makes the body grow And that is
what's so awesome about Spiritual family what
you come to find out is that um, it's not here
We'll get to it as we keep reading but I know
it it fits best right here is that many people
come to christ with broken families and it is
the assignment of the church to step in as spiritual
family for the broken places so that we can all
be a functioning body that many of the things
that we hear are actually not out of context
that they are actually spiritually good and what
god wants to see that you know i don't know i
think amber thinks she has like 30 uncles now
you know She calls everybody in a certain age
bracket her uncle, you know and auntie and she
just runs around and she got many different Family
members that aren't blood but we are all on the
same foundation and So although we are not bound
by last name we are bound I ain't gonna do it.
It's right there his name Paul wants to know
that it's good because it's how we grow It's
how we mature I Love this he says so that you
don't become tossed to and fro from every wind
and wave of doctrine Because truth is sometimes
you need someone who loves you enough to challenge
your version of reality Sometimes you need someone
who loves you enough to challenge your version
of reality That many believers become agitated
by the assignment of the body to mature them
into who they are and So they take that agitation
and they move to isolation Don't want nobody
to say that to me and I don't want Nobody who
are they and who is he and who are you and who
are us? And just all the things that try to dismantle
that it was truth that was shared And every once
in a while you need somebody to challenge your
version of reality You do know you have your
version of what's happening in your life and
it might not be accurate You have aversion Here's
the truth. It may not be accurate Well, how do
I not get tossed to and fro by every wave winner
doctrine? You have people who will tell you what
you just said ain't it? Lot of times people couldn't
means like that's what God told me I said, is
that all he said? Please tell me it's more because
if this is what we got to work with We got we
got one God and one baptism and one spirit and
one faith And it don't sound like what you said
came from any of them ones. I know What do you
say it faster Brian that it helps right it helps
our feelings not become facts and Help us not
take assumptions and make them into convictions.
It's not preferences become doctrines It doesn't
let our wounds become lenses like girl I know
it hurt but you can't live life through what
happened to you. Who is that talking to you?
That's someone who understands the faith the
baptism the spirit the calling and what God can
do Y 'all rock you with me Let's rock oh But
Paul begins to speak about love he says love
it tells the truth love bills and What else does
love do? Give me a second It's up here Love bears
with people Y 'all doing all right Let's keep
going. I think we can do this. We can look at
him say yes, we can He says now this I say and
testify in the Lord that you must no longer walk
as the Gentiles do and the futility of their
minds they are darken in their understanding
alienated from the life of God because of Ignorance
that is in them due to their hardness of heart
They have become callous and have given themselves
up to sensuality greedy and practice every kind
of impurity But that is not the way you learned
Christ Assuming that you have heard about him
and were taught in him as the truth is in Jesus
to put off your old self Which belongs to your
former manner of life which is corrupt through
deceitful desires and to be renewed look at their
say hey neighbor be renewed The spirit of your
mind and to put on this new self created after
the like I didn't pause And to put on this new
self Created after the likeness of God and the
righteousness of holiness Therefore put away
falsehood let each one of you speak The truth
with his neighbor for we are members one of another
and I love this I love this so much because paul
speaks about what we make so difficult so simply
That he's like, hey, hey just put that off That
whole that whole old you just just take that
off and hey just put on this new person Like
just put it on he's referring to things like
as if they're clothes like like you can just
wake up and put on your new self and you can
take off your old self like he's not putting
this whole world of like struggle to become who
God has called you to be like Christianity is
the most difficult thing you could have ever
embarked on struggle struggle struggle mode no
he's like yo just wake up and put it on put on
your new self put on that new attitude and and
be renewed in the spirit of your mind and and
be a to what God is saying is good y 'all rocking
with me what am I saying that here's the truth
and I have to say the truth is you will never
experience wholeness while fighting against what
God calls good and God calls this good and since
he calls it good I can't fight with it and expect
fruitfulness I align with what he calls good
so I can live in the fruit of good I don't fight
what he calls good and also don't make difficult
when he said it's simple. He said put it on Just
put it on Whoo, what is he speaking like and
I love this I love when the Bible speaks to us
as though we're finished work That if going back
to Ephesus chapter 2 if I have all spiritual
blessings in heavenly places Then what is happening
as I live is I'm now having to ex From what I've
already obtained like I already have it in other
words You already have meekness you already have
gentleness. You already have patience. You already
have joy You already have long suffering. You
already have these things. You just need to put
it on Why am I putting it on because Because
no matter how much you achieve, and no matter
how much you obtain, you will never have success,
or how much success you have, or how much you
achieve, you will never have wholeness where
there is no unity. But in order for unity to
form and be maintained, we have to put it on.
We have to put on. our new selves and take off
our old self the old you was divisive the all
you was confrontational the all you was aggressive
prideful the old you was destructive the all
you found a problem with everything but the new
you the new you finds life and peace and joy
and patience and long suffering and it sees these
things as good and you have a choice every day
to just put it on be renewed in the spirit of
your mind and let Christ be alive in your everyday
walking around life and I love this because Paul
doesn't picture this or position this as this
difficult thing he says you put it on just as
you put on your clothes to come to church this
morning today look at him say hey neighbor today
I will walk in I'll be patient with you. And
he's speaking to you like you're finished work,
like Jesus has already obtained these things.
And so we just maintain what he's obtained for
the sake of unity and the sake of wholeness and
the sake of maturing and the sake of not being
caught and tossed up to and fro, because if you're
isolated, you're also going to find yourself
deceived. He says be angry and do not sin that's
crazy But look how he's talking to us like I
know you mad but you know just don't sin I love
because he says be angry He didn't say don't
be angry he says be angry but don't sin Like
Paul is teacher for the perspective of actually
having having to live this faith. I Found out
that immature people think that like they will
say immature people be like don't be angry Mature
people know you're gonna be mad sometimes but
don't let it change what you do Don't let it
factor in who you are Take that anger off and
put on your joy Just take it off. It's connected
to a mentality be renewed in the spirit of your
mind Do not allow your mind to continue to think
about things that aren't taking you in the direction
of who your new self is Right that that that
that you I know you're mad, but don't stay mad.
Don't don't don't foster mad Don't water mad
don't develop mad and definitely don't make it
seem like you mad at me You may be mad at what
I did, but you know, I've done some things that
I've been influenced by That's the first year
somebody always look at you. You made me do it
Boy nothing like somebody look at you, but you
made me do it. I Know what I did, but you made
me do it Look at that and give no opportunity
to the devil. Let the thief no longer still let
the thief no longer steal Let the thief no longer
steal put that joker in jail don't let him rob
you of your joy and rob you of your peace and
rob you of what God has done he's obtained so
many things don't let that thief no longer steal
let the thief no longer steal but rather let
him labor doing honest work with his hands so
that he may have something to share with everyone
he he was actually speaking of like people who
steal things but we also don't even let devils
rob us but if you still in stop stealing y 'all
that that doesn't it doesn't work well with community
because if you rob and they're gonna say we was
you know complicit let no corrupt talk come out
of your mouths, but only such as what's good
for building up as it fits the occasion and That
it may give grace to those who hear and do not
grieve the Holy Spirit of God by whom you were
sealed by the day of redemption Let all bitterness
and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be
put away from you along with malice be kind to
one another tender heart of forgiving one another
as God in Christ forgave you Say this last thing
to you And we'll go to chapter 5 next week, but
he says here this truth is Maturity allows you
to recognize that someone can hurt you without
requiring you to hate them And he's working that
maturity in us Getting us to value the right
things maintain what I love this because I get
the question all the time and prayerfully as
you're hearing this you're hearing the answer
to the question I get all the time and what is
that Pastor Brian? People oftentimes they'll
come to me and tell me of some great tragedy
that has occurred or offense that has happened
to them and their question is what should I do?
And Paul's saying maintain. It's maturity to
be able to allow somebody to be able Someone
can hurt me and I not hate them That's the mature
believer that's what Paul is working them to
To understand that people aren't my problem and
I've been called to maintain Hey, man Look at
him say you did it Ephesians chapter 4 Father
God, we thank you for today and I just thank
you for this opportunity to come into Read your
word before your people. I pray that um It stirred
them up. I pray that it challenged them. But
at the same time I pray that it freed them I
pray that they leave here In a Deeper intimacy
with you. I pray that they leave here with an
understanding of who you are and what your expectations
are of them I pray that they leave here excited
stirred up About that God we talked about at
the end of Ephesians 3 and 20 who can do exceedingly
abundantly Above all we could think ask or imagine
and I know many of them Think that there are
people There are places and situations That are
far beyond your reach of restoration But I declare
boldly here today God To whom the Sun says free
is free indeed So we free that condemning mindset
we free that that that that mind that says that's
not all things some things are possible No, we
free ourselves to all things are possible to
them that believe and father God we are believing
for a healing from what people have done to us
a healing from what being around people has caused
us to bear and Father God, I pray that you I'm
restoring us Restoring us a new heart and That
you give us new thoughts that will prioritize
what you call good and just trust you For the
working of it all We will not lose heart We will
not lose hope We will not cave in we will not
quit We will not let people become a problem
But we will fight for this thing you call unity
because you call it good Will believe You are
the god of the impossible And you can make all
things new And father God Thank you For correcting
us and challenging us today so that when you
make it new We know how to maintain what you've
obtained that as you bring people back and restore
broken relationships and broken friendships and
broken business relationships that Satan has
been working overtime to stir up division amongst
the call and father God I'm speaking that you
begin to cast out that spirit of division and
begin to to work back together the knitting of
the brothers the sisters the aunties the uncles
the grandparents the grandchildren We will walk
in what you've obtained you've obtained unity
and we will walk in unity Our households will
behold We know that that's not something that
is easy, but all things are possible to them
that believe And so we believe God We believe
God Will walk in this unity we will get the fruit
of unity and You thank you God for loving us
so much That you'll reach down into us and talk
about things we don't even want to hear about
but we thank you God for loving us so much that
you care about that that in the midst of all
that you've created that you look down into our
lives and care about the relationships that matter
to us we thank you for caring about us in that
way If there's anybody here today, and you aren't
saved, you haven't said yes to that call, I would
like to take this moment this time to give you
an opportunity to say yes to Jesus. He's a friend
who sticks closer than a brother. And if that's
you today, and you're saying, Pastor, I want
to say yes to Jesus. I'm gonna say a prayer.
You say it with us. Just know that as you say
this prayer the bible says if you confess with
your mouth and believe in your heart that jesus
died and rose again you are saved so let's say
it together church say father I thank you for
your son jesus I believe he died and he rose
again I believe when he rose rose my forgiveness
my redemption my sanctification and I am now
a son a daughter of god No longer a sinner I've
been saved by grace I'm a child the most high
God And I have a home heaven I Have a hope Jesus
Amen, let's celebrate people that said that prayer
for the first time and Also would just like to
you got well we can receive today's offering
and Here reveal the truth. We believe in our
cheerful givers. What does that mean? We believe
that No one should be forced or coerced or talked
into giving but giving is the fruit of what your
relationship with God has produced that you speak
to God and as he speaks to you you respond to
what he said and You do so with excitement joy
cheerfully because you understand that god is
not trying to get anything from you But god is
always always in the business of supplying for
you. And so we give cheerfully with expectation
um because of a faithful god that we can trust
and um, amen amen Well family, I also would like
to um take a time and just you know, I know every
county is a little different but Several counties
are going back to school this week teachers are
going back to school this week, you know Kids
are going back to school this weekend You know
that My prayer is that our children walk in the
spirit of unity this year that they um Don't
allow division to disrupt their education that
they realize that they're not too young to be
patient and they're not too young to be gentle
that if they are saved they have the spirit of
meekness within them and I pray that our students
walk in that meekness walk in that gentleness
and walk in that kindness and that their teachers
are teaching them with gentleness and teaching
them with kindness and teaching them with meekness
and that Our schools be an atmosphere That love
invades y 'all can pray with me about that but
father God I thank you for our teachers our students
that are returning to school this week Father
God, we pray that your spirit invade every classroom
and we pray that there will not be any hurt harm
or danger that comes to our students our teachers
Father God, we pray that this will be a peaceful
school year that 26 27 will be a glorious year
for our students and that you're removing any
distraction the Satan is trying to set up and
the Spirit of God is Ruling and reigning in every
way the Bible tells us that you turn the hearts
of kings to and fro So father God, we know that
you are the head of this school year and you
are the head of these these institutions and
they all bow down to your authority and father
god we pray that your will will be done and your
will will reign and the father god i just thank
you that this year will be exceptional i pray
that our students will speak of peace and our
kids will come home full of joy and I pray that
this destructive plan that Satan has been trying
to put in place to corrupt what is innocent,
I pray that it is brought to nothing and that
every stronghold that Satan has been trying to
develop in the lives of our young ones is destroyed,
Father God, and that they will. be kings and
priests and represent you well i pray that they
can our students can live a year where they are
not ashamed of their faith but they are proud
of their faith where they can boldly speak of
who you are in their lives and i pray that this
the teachers are sensitive to who is in front
of them that they see each life as one in particular
and i pray that their needs are met that these
teachers aren't going without that they have
what they need so the students can get what they
need and that success is the end result of this
school year father god i pray that as your people
we be sensitive to how you're leading us to meet
some of those needs that we don't just pray to
a god that we're not willing to be the hands
for and i pray father god that we aren't afraid
ashamed Be the hands and feet that you need us
to be during the school year that we show up
that we show up That we show up And we don't
just leave our students to anybody But we are
proactive in the lives of our young people To
God be the glory this year Amen Well, I love
you guys and I thank God for you guys you're
impressive Chapter 3 chapter 4 chapter 5 next
week y 'all like this What's the benediction
now what to him Who is able to keep you from
falling? to present you faultless before the
presence of of his glory with exceeding joy to
the only wise God our Savior be glory and majesty
dominion and power both now and forever amen.