3/7/21

THE WORD FROM THE LORD

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Ephesians 4 17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;

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1 3/7/21

Ephesians 4 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

20 But you have not so learned ,

21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in :

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Ephesians 4 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

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2 3/7/21

Ephesians 4 25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.

26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,

27 nor give place to the devil.

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Ephesians 4 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

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3 3/7/21

Ephesians 4 30 And do not grieve the of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

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March 1, 2020 Message: Pushed Beyond Their Comfort Zone!

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4 3/7/21

Jesus’ Parting Assignment? To… “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in , and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8

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“For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son…” John 3:16

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5 3/7/21

Did the disciples obey Jesus? Chapter 2 – Jerusalem Chapter 3 – Jerusalem Chapter 4 – Jerusalem COMFORT Chapter 5 – Jerusalem ZONE Chapter 6 – Jerusalem Chapter 7 – Jerusalem Chapter 8 – GOD changed that!!!

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Acts 8:1 – “…at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles…” Pushed out of their comfort zone! Acts 8:4 – “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.” 12

6 3/7/21

Since Last March, Have We Been: Pushed Beyond Our Comfort Zone?

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How Has Our Behavior Changed re: • Putting Christ First? • Reading? • Reaching Others for Christ? • Entertainment? • Priorities? 14

7 3/7/21

3 in 5 never or rarely read the Bible

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8 3/7/21

Communion Celebration Reminds Us, Monthly: We’re Living in History… In His Story!

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OVERVIEW: PART OF GOD’S PLAN FOR HUMAN HISTORY – THIS IS REALITY! (Israel has a Major Role) Jesus Christ E E The Word of God T 1 T King of Kings N E Close to 4,000 years… 2 E E 1 Lord of Lords R R C W N R TOWER KINGDOM R 1 1000 N GRACE I E OF YEARS J YR C I RETURN C K T A THE BABEL E T T TO H I R Y T FALL EXILE S U R N E Y THE SLAVERY ISRAEL G I AT U R I A FLOOD @ EGYPT C D F BABYLON S O O à B T P EXODUS H M U A N I T 7 F S I O U Approximately 6,000 years… yrs T N N R A E L HISTORY (PAST) PRESENT Jdg WE ARE APPROX. HERE!!! 18

9 3/7/21

JANUARY, 2021: WAKE UP! WISE UP!

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“TIME Is Running Out!”

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10 3/7/21

Last Sunday: STEPS TO A NEW BEGINNING

Each One, Reach One – With Good News of Hope, Also With Warning 21

Why this History?

“… be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22

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May this not be true of us!

“Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them..” Ezekiel 33:32

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IF I SAY THAT I AM A CHRISTIAN, A “BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN,” AND AT CHURCH, MY COMMUNICATIONS ARE…

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12 3/7/21

SCRIPTURE VERSES

SWEET TALKING

KIND WORDS

GENTLE WORDS

SOLEMN PRAYERS

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BUT, IF, ON THE WAY TO CHURCH AND BACK HOME FROM CHURCH; IF AT HOME, WORK, SCHOOL, RELAXING, OR ON SOCIAL MEDIA, MY COMMUNICATIONS ARE…

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13 3/7/21

CURSING YELLING LYING HOLDING BACKSTABBING SPEECH

DIRTY “JOKES” FLATTERY

IGNORING RIDICULING

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I HAVE A PROBLEM!!! The Bible says, (Matthew 12) “34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things..”

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14 3/7/21

The Bible also says, (2 Corinthians 5) “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” And again, (1 John 1) “[6] If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth…”

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WHAT DO YOUR COMMUNICATIONS REVEAL ABOUT YOUR CONDITION BEFORE GOD???

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15 3/7/21

DO YOU KNOW THAT JESUS SAID (Matthew 12) “[36] But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. [37] For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”

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GOD has called us (1) To Salvation (Repent!) a 1-time decision (2) To Discipleship (Renew) a daily walk…

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16 3/7/21

5 C’S OF CHRISTLIKE COMMUNICATIONS

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Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:17-32

• -3 à Our Position, Our Privileges, God’s Plan for Us – in Christ; Paul’s Prayers for Us… • Ephesians 4-6 à Our Part…

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5 C’s of Christlike Communications Ephesians 4:20-32 1. Be Cleansed 2. Be Correct 3. Be Current 4. Be Constructive 5. Be Controlled

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5 C’s of Christlike Communications 1. Be Cleansed (Change Content) Fundamental “Laws:” Change the root to change the fruit! Garbage In à Garbage Out

“Eph. 4[21] If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him… [22] … ye put off … the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; [23] And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” 36

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This Output was from Old Input INPUTS - Music - Worldly Advice - TV - Internet Chat ======- Bible - Christian Media - Godly Friends New Input must be GOD’s WORD!

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5 C’s of Christlike Communications 2. Be Correct Eph. 4[25] Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour…

Daily, Put Off the Old, Put On the New!!!

Remember it’s possible to lie while being silent!!! Stop lying!!!

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5 C’s of Christlike Communications 3. Be Current (& Cautious) Eph. 4[26] Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Holding a grudge will destroy you… and set you up for an explosion!!! [27] Neither give place to the devil… Husbands… Wives…

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5 C’s of Christlike Communications 4. Be Constructive Opposite of “Constructive?” Eph. 4[29] Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. We can tear down – or we can build up. Christlike Communications builds up!!! 40

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5 C’s of Christlike Communications 5. Be Controlled – Stop Negatives Exercise Self-Control, empowered by the Holy Spirit à don’t let circumstances control you Eph. 4[31] Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: Philippians 4[13] I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 41

5 C’s of Christlike Communications 5. Be Controlled (and Caring) à Replace Negatives with Positives! Exercise Self-Control, empowered by the Holy Spirit à or I will grieve the Holy Spirit! Eph. 4[32] And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

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5 C’s of Christlike Communications Ephesians 4:20-32 1. Be Cleansed 2. Be Correct 3. Be Current 4. Be Constructive 5. Be Controlled

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HOW CAN I DO THIS?

BIBLICAL IS A DAILY WALK – WITH GOD, NOT A WEEKLY RITUAL!

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C #1 of Christlike Communications “Be Cleansed” (Get GOD’s Help at Start of each Day) Fill up on HIS Word: a chapter+ a day… Word In à Christlikeness Out Ask His Help: Ps 141:3 “Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.” Ps 143:8 Follow Through, by His Strength: “…be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” James 1:19 45

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