Apr 26, 2020
Authentic Spirituality, Pt 9
Avoiding Sin’s Downward Spiral
By Louie Marsh, 4-26-2020
1) Take God’s MATURITY TEST!
14 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 in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Ephesians 4:14-16 (ESV)
BIG ONE HERE
Do EVERYTHING in love – not just speaking! Word speaking not in the Greek!
2) Sin’s Downward Spiral - Evil’s adoptive process.
17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. Ephesians 4:17 (ESV)
SHOW PICTURE ON CUE!
The book is "Rainbow Party" by juvenile fiction author Paul Ruditis. The publisher is Simon Pulse, a kiddie lit division of the esteemed Simon & Schuster copyrighted 2008.
The main characters in the book are high school sophomores supposedly typical 14- and 15-year-olds.
A "rainbow party," you see, is a gathering of boys and girls for the purpose of engaging in group oral sex. Each girl wears a different colored lipstick and leaves a mark on each boy. At night's end, the boys proudly sport their own cosmetically-sealed rainbow you-know-where bringing a whole new meaning to the concept of "party favors."
In the end, the kids in the book abandon plans for the event and news of an epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases rocks their school.
Bethany Buck, Ruditis' editor, told USA Today
"Part of me doesn't understand why people don't want to talk about [oral sex]," he said. "Kids are having sex and they are actively engaged in oral sex and think it's not really sex. I raised questions in my book and I hope that parents and children or teachers and students can open a topic of conversation through it. Rainbow parties are such an interesting topic. It's such a childlike way to look at such an adult subject with rainbow colors."
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Romans 1:21 (NIV)
referring to the natural tendency of human beings to employ intellectual pride, rationalizations, and excuses —Life Application Bible Commentary
18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. Ephesians 4:18 (ESV)
Lit – “the covering with a callous”
ignorance that is in them…
agnoia, ignorance of divine things
They are darkened in their understanding
lit. to darken or blind the mind. This is a process – present tense.
alienated from the life of God
estranged from God, “to shut our from one’s fellowship and intimacy.”
19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. Ephesians 4:19 (ESV)
Lost all sensitivity – “being past feeling – to cease to feel pain.”
Given themselves over – “to give alongside” Today – sell down the river.
3) How I can avoid all this –
20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, Ephesians 4:20-21 (ESV)
Paul here is reminding them of things they had already been taught – remember that!
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8 (ASV)
11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. 13 In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also. 2 Corinthians 6:11-13 (ESV)
22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, Ephesians 4:22 (ESV)
Take it all off – don’t play with it, or do it half way!!
24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:24 (ESV)
23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, Ephesians 4:23 (ESV)
A present infinitive – a daily inward spiritual renewal – Quiet Time vital!
ananeoō, to make new (young) again; though only here in N.T. The spirit (tōi pneumati). Not the Holy Spirit, but the human spirit. —Word Pictures in the New Testament
How do we continue to do God’s work without burning out? By letting the Lord make us young again! Now that’s a wonderful concept to aging Baby Boomers like me! Whooo Hooo – God can make me young again!
Not chronologically of course – there’s no going back on that one! You only get older not younger till the day you die or Christ returns!
BUT – your mind and your spirit CAN be renewed
He’s saying that while we all get old, we can, should and must stay young in the spirit of our minds – thinking young, being open to new things, staying excited about what God can do, and refusing to live in the past!
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