A life of Grace: How stuff works

while everyone else in the us is watching superbowl, I....

1)lay in my bed sick

2)work on some valentines for friends(www.emptywalletdesign.blogspot.com)

3)process the sermon from today(www.mrpc.com)

Things i walked away with:
*Through Christ i am able to fight sin

*the gospel is not to entertain but change us

*the Word clearly shows the affects of our sin and it starts in our minds(Eph 4:17-19)

*if sin starts with my thoughts.. what do i spend most of my time thinking about?

*challenged to mediate on scripture rather than believing my thoughts to be true

*Challenged by this question: what sin do you believe won't hurt you?

*"its the gospel that gives us balance"

*thankful for the calling to put off the old self...aka: putting off bondage

*thankful for the reminder that "putting off/putting on " is a process, does not happen overnight

*Thankful that Christ did not come to make me a zombie or robot, looking the same,acting the same, but gave us all different personalities and gifts to make one body.

*its not great talent God blesses-(PTL!)

*righteous and holiness do not have to be dull (why do i live like it is??)

*i want to learn how to rest in righteous and holiness that is radiant (aka:resting in Jesus)

* "The thief comes to steal,kill, and destroy but I have come to give you abundant life"-John 10:10 (pray that i would be eager to share this with someone who does not know this abundant life)

*so thankful this is the Lord who i trust and follow:Psalm 103"Praise the LORD, my soul,and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s."

*quote i saw on twitter: plattdavid: 6,000 people groups unable to worship Christ this morning b/c they've never heard gospel; may our worship drive us to go to them. - ( i want this for my life)


For those of you interested ....


Notes from sermon:A life of grace: how stuff works- Ephesians 4:17-32


Eph 4:17-19
 ¹⁷ 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.

Sin: 
1) attacks the mind- you can not think clearly
ask yourself: *What sin do you believe will not hurt you?*What sin do you think you can control?
2)Darken in understanding- you can not see..then becomes separation from God
3) Heart  hardened- become ignorant
4)lose all sensitivity- you long to taste again, yearn to feel.
But "indulge" in every impurity to try to "feel" again
ex: this is why people cut, makes them feel alive again.

question: what are you several steps down this list in? (ex:control,lust,comfort,greed etc)

Grace: v.22-24
"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;  to be made new in the attitude of your minds;  and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."

1) put off old(which is being corrupted by its decietful desires)
2) put on new( created to be like God)
* the gospel isn't take off old self so that you can feel inscure.. the gospel is grab onto whats beautiful and loving which is Christ.
*v.24 "created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." - Christ did not come to make you zombies or dull. He came to make you radiant in joy and laughter..

Because of the Grace given we can live:
"Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

Life:
1)put off: falsehood,anger,stealing,gossip,bitterness,rage,brawling,slander and every form of malice
2)put on: speaking truth in love, encouraging words to build up one another, Be kind, compassionate,&forgiving.