A Masterpiece that Shines
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· 11 viewsTheme: Our Mission is to shine the light in the darkness. Purpose: That we live in the Holy Spirits Wisdom and not the foolishness of our desires. Gospel: Holy Spirit empowered living. Mission: Building Disciples
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Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children
and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
But 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.
Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
Therefore do not be partners with them.
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)
and find out what pleases the Lord.
Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.
But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.
This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,
making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,
speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,
always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
25 - The Way of Darkness
25 - The Way of Darkness
• Paul Ties - Sexual Immorality, impurity and Greed - These are all loves of Idols - Definition
• Sexual imorality is not the only idol though - we make idols out and greed out of - money, stuff, drugs, ideologies, anything that would serve our self-interest to the expense of others.
• And he says it should not even be mentioned amongst Christians - Is this about repressiveness? He talks about no coarse joking?
Obviously Paul is talking about it, he is not being specific....But he is talking about language that feeds into a deterioration of the honor of others, that feeds our objectifying the things we want.
• How Idols mess us up - They consume us, they become more important and control our lives above others, and therefore make God and others unimportant - just tools for fulfilling our own desires which will not satisfy.
But, you may say, it is not unconditional, what about that part of those who practice sexual immorality/impurity/Greed not inheriting the Kingdom part?
-Great Question: God’s Kingdom is a Kingdom, a home if you will of this true unconditional, self-sacrificing love. And as such his home must exclude the idolatrous love, that love that is destructive to others, and his creation. It can not come into his Kingdom.
-God’s Unconditional love is for those who struggle with these things, but If we love them more than God, if they are our god, then god let’s them be our god, and they consume us - God does not let us bring them into his Kingdom and bring their destructive power, so those people who do not receive God’s true love that transforms them, and strips away these destructive loves from their life will be outside the Kingdom - This is what we call Hell.
Story of Church Discipline
Paul calls us to a different way of life.
Being Light
Being Light
26 - Being the Light
26 - Being the Light
Discerning the Will of God and living it out. Imitating God
The Contrast - instead of approaching people and things as objects for our taking or to meet our desires…We approach people and things from a posture of gratitude...
God created all of these things, and has a proper place for them in our life. We can be grateful....
The Contrast - instead of approaching people and things as objects for our taking or to meet our desires…We approach people and things from a posture of gratitude...
The Contrast - Not getting drunk - Paul suggests it leads to license to living out our selfish desires. It is not wrong to drink, but to drink too much (for those who struggle with alcoholism it is wise not to drink, and friends of them to not encourage it be drinking near them). Filled with the Holy Spirit...
Both under an influence - Co-worker who was an atheist and It told him about being filled with the Spirit....
Different results - darkness out of the first, and singing, encouragements, thankfulness from the other
Is this what we look like, is this how we are characterized?
1. How does one become light? How do we find out what pleases or displeases other people? By asking them, by spending time with them, by becoming interested in what interests them. To illustrate this idea, tell the story of the Car accident that brought Cindy and I together. He has a personality; he has preferences. If we love him, we will care to get to know him, and that means doing what pleases him.
Finally the Contrast of using people for our desires vs. freely chosing to submit to one another - Coach Katte - The person who is in most control knows when to give it up.
But why Be light? That seems much harder...
27 - Our Mission is to Shine the Light in the Darkness
27 - Our Mission is to Shine the Light in the Darkness
Reminder - Cosmic Gospel. We are God’s Masterpiece, and he wants his masterpiece to shine? Remember the big language he used in Chapters 1-3 - We are Christ’s Body and Christ who fills all and is in all and is head of all, and in which God Dwells, and we are like the temple being built up - The Church is called to be the place where heaven and earth meet until Christ comes and restores all things. We are called to be a foretaste of the Kingdom of God...
This is how he suggests that happens - Light demonstration....
Somehow, but the Church living differently, those living in darkness will be exposed (not by judgments or pronouncements) but by a way of life. This will cause them to either retreat further into darkness want to be healed and enter the light.
Of course we will talk about the hope we have in Jesus, but will they notice first - The Holy Spirit oozing out of us.
19 Q: What about those who fail to keep fully
Scripture’s teaching on marriage and sexuality? How
should we view them?
A: We must first remember
that “they” are us!
38
We are all sinnerss
aved by God’s
extravagant grace.We must therefore see all people with the eyes of Jesus,who looks on us with compassion.We must also remember that we should not expect people who are not disciples of Jesusto act as though they are.Indeed, Scripture teaches us that we should expect to interact and associatewith those who are idolaters and sexually immoralas part of our daily life in this world.
39
But as disciples of Jesus, we are also calledto teach, rebuke, correct, and even discipline one another,
40
for we know that without discipline,we dare not call ourselves the church of Jesus Christ.
41
And we do not love one another in this way merelyfor the sake of following the rules or keeping human traditionsbut
because God’s life
-giving Spirit empowers and equips usfor a life of faith and gratitude,
42
for which we were made and to which we are called.
Conclusion: A Chance to pray and receive the Holy Spirit.
Reference the Reformed Confessions: The Reformed Confessions are statements of faith written to clarify the Gospel at times when the Church was in crisis. Heidelberg Catechism: Q&A 3-14, 32, 43, 76, 86, 92-115, 122-124 Belgic Confession: Articles 14-15, 24 Canons of Dort: Head I, Articles 1, 13: Head II, Article 1: Head III&IV, Articles 1-5; Head V, Articles 12-13