Eating Broccoli in a "Krispy Kreme" World - Part 2

Ephesians 4:17-24 (AMP)
17 So this I say and solemnly testify in [the name of] the Lord [as in His presence], that you must no longer live as the heathen (the Gentiles) do in their perverseness [in the folly, vanity, and emptiness of their souls and the futility] of their minds.
18 Their moral understanding is darkened and their reasoning is beclouded. [They are] alienated (estranged, self-banished) from the life of God [with no share in it; this is] because of the ignorance (the want of knowledge and perception, the willful blindness) that is deep-seated in them, due to their hardness of heart [to the insensitiveness of their moral nature].

Yesterday I was asked by a friend as we talked about the economy and politics: "What's wrong with this country?"
"Sin", I replied. My friend didn't want to accept that answer, rightly stating that sin has always been present, but things have never been this bad.
"O.K. Then it's the absence of God in people's lives", was my next reply. He agreed

Unfortunately I believe we have become a nation and a Christian people who more closely resemble the gentiles described in this passage. The admonition from Paul is that we "no longer live as the Gentiles". His accusation against them was that they were living from the "emptiness of their souls and the futility of their minds." I think that is a pretty good description of the church today. Paul further goes on to state that they are "estranged, self-banished from the life of God with no share in it because of their ignorance.

Paul is making the case that there were folks in the church who were living far below the potential that God intended for them. When I read about those times when God is actively moving in the hearts of a nation or group of people, there is great hope: not futility.

Paul further says that this spiritual dilemma is because of the hardness of their own hearts. It's not because of a some outside variable that we are the victims of. It is because of the hardness of our own hearts that we live beneath God's intended level of spiritual life.

Sometimes when I gain weight, I reach a point where I "just don't care" and say I'd rather be fat and happy! That's the physical equivalent of hardening my heart to the idea that there is a better way to live. But that better way takes discipline. I have to say yes to broccoli and no to Krispy Kreme and that's hard sometimes! In a physical sense, to experience God's best requires personal discipline on my part. Far more importantly, if I want to live at the level that God has for me spiritually, it takes discipline.

Paul said "Hard Hearts" was the cause. I'm not sure how to soften a hard heart, but I suppose you would soak it! Soak it in His Word! Soak it in His presence! Make Him my priority!

Father,
I am one who has allowed myself to live far beneath your provision for my life. I've allowed the cares of this world to take priority over your things, and have thus developed a hard heart. I ask your forgiveness and your help today that I could begin anew to soak my heart and allow you to soften it. I've allowed hurt and bitterness to build a wall around my heart and separate me from You and Your people. Help me to simply soak in you today. As I do, I pray you would soften my heart so that I can once again live where you called me to live. I cannot do it alone! Without your help I will fail. Please meet me where I am and take me to where You want me to be!

Eating Broccoli in a "Krispy Kreme" World

Ephesians 4:17-24 (AMP)
17 So this I say and solemnly testify in [the name of] the Lord [as in His presence], that you must no longer live as the heathen (the Gentiles) do in their perverseness [in the folly, vanity, and emptiness of their souls and the futility] of their minds.
18 Their moral understanding is darkened and their reasoning is beclouded. [They are] alienated (estranged, self-banished) from the life of God [with no share in it; this is] because of the ignorance (the want of knowledge and perception, the willful blindness) that is deep-seated in them, due to their hardness of heart [to the insensitiveness of their moral nature].
19 In their spiritual apathy they have become callous and past feeling and reckless and have abandoned themselves [a prey] to unbridled sensuality, eager and greedy to indulge in every form of impurity [that their depraved desires may suggest and demand].
20 But you did not so learn Christ!
21 Assuming that you have really heard Him and been taught by Him, as [all] Truth is in Jesus [embodied and personified in Him],
22 Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion;
23 And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude],
24 And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness.

It is so easy to gain weight! It is much easier to gain weight than it is to lose it. I know! I've lost an entire person in my lifetime and yet I'm as big as I've ever been! Gaining weight takes very little effort and no restraint. All I need to do to gain weight is to listen to my body and give it what it wants! But to lose weight, I can't give in to all those desires. I have to deliberately change my way of life to produce the desired outcome. I have to be aware of my weight. I have to constantly monitor it. If I gain a couple of pounds, I must immediately take steps to correct it and lose the weight, or slowly, a pound at a time, I lose the battle.


Paul writes in Ephesians 4 and tells the people that they are looking more like "their old fat selves" than the "healthy body" that they were born-again to be.

19 In their spiritual apathy they have become callous and past feeling and reckless and have abandoned themselves [a prey] to unbridled sensuality, eager and greedy to indulge in every form of impurity [that their depraved desires may suggest and demand].

As I've read this passage and studied for the upcoming sermon, I am shamefully aware that Paul's words apply as much to me as to the Ephesians. Paul is genuinely concerned for the Ephesians because they are losing their first love and he is trying to "shake them up"! Later, in the book of Revelation, we find Christ talking to the same church and pronouncing judgment, saying "I have somewhat against you because you've lost your first love."


The instruction from Christ in Revelation and from Paul in Ephesians 4 is:

21 Assuming that you have really heard Him and been taught by Him, as [all] Truth is in Jesus [embodied and personified in Him],
22 Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion;
23 And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude],
24 And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness.

I must return to the place of repentance from dead works and embrace, put on, the new life of holiness, righteousness and truth. I must determine to "lose the weight and the sin which so easily trips me up" and continually monitor my progress in becoming like Christ. Paul said "be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind". Through Satans deception, I have fallen woefully short of this instruction. I, we, must stop comparing ourselves to ourselves in order to feel good about ourselves, and start comparing ourselves to the "Author and Finisher of our faith" - Jesus Christ.


Using my weight analogy, my goal shouldn't be to be thinner than someone else. It should be to look like Jesus!

I Know My Redeemer Lives

Job 19:23-27 (ESV)
23 "Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book!
24 Oh that with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever!
25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.
26 And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God,
27 whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!


We live in a crazy, busy world! With all the things going on at work, at school and church, it is very easy to lose sight of the really important things in life. I/m somewhat of an adrenaline junkie, and seem to operate better when things are on the edge of disaster. If I have an assignment with a deadline, I will often wait till the last minute to get the thing done. It's like I enjoy the pressure.


But does God want us to live these out of control, on the edge lives? My answer is "I don't know!" God made us all unique so there probably isn't a "one size fits all" answer. I can learn something about handling life, though, from our friend Job. Job's world is totally crashing. Nothing is going his way. Everyone thinks he's a failure and that his failures have brought all this doom into his life. He doesn't have much to be cheery about! He wasa very wealthy and successful man who "lost it all". If I had been Job, I would have been determined to overcome all these obstacles and prove everyone wrong!


It's a good thing Job isn't like me, otherwise we wouldn't have this great example to learn from. Job didn't try to fix everything on his own. He examined himself, was honest with himself, and turned to God. He put his confidence in what he couldn't see with his eyes, but with spiritual eyes he knew the most important thing: "I know my redeemer lives! I know at the last He will stand upon the earth and in my flesh I will see God!"


Don't let the craziness of your life hide the truth that we should walk in as a child of God. If you feel things are spiraling downward, stop and asses your own life. Be honest. Am I pursuing my relationship with God or have I been too busy? Take a step back and realize that our only hope is in God and stand on His Word. Even though this life deals me hard stuff, I know my Redeemer lives!