March 3, 2013 Scripture Readings Ephesians 5:1-20 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 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. 3 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. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 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.[a] 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. James 3:1-12 Page 1 of 11 1Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. 3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water Morning Message “House Cleaning: Time to Throw Out Some Junk” #2 - “Behaving Badly – Thoughts, Words, Deeds” Last Sunday we began a new series of messages titled “House Cleaning”, and I encouraged you to join with me in identifying things in your life that keep you from experiencing the fullness to life offered to us by God thru Christ. Being the Lenten season of the church year I felt it to be an appropriate time for us to “give up” certain behaviors and attitudes that threaten the healthiness of our restored relationship with God and our relationships with one another. Last week I shared how one extra cookie a Page 2 of 11 day (40 calories more than we need per day) can over time lead to weight gain that threatens health. So too, small daily behaviors and attitudes, over time, distance us from God and one another. So, if we want all that God offers us in Christ we need to identity, confess, and change those things that lead to unhealthiness; aware that in Christ those things are forgiven and through the Holy Spirit’s power we can be healed of those destructive behaviors & attitudes. In many ways it is easier to identify the obvious sins of our lives which too need to be confessed and repented of, but what about those subtle sins that many have come to dismiss as “common human nature”; what Craig Groeschel refers to as “toxins” in his book Soul Detox. We need to identify and deal with these subtle sins to experience all God offers to us. If you grew up in the Church, or every received serious instruction in the Christian faith, you probably remember this definition of “sin”: “Sin is all in thought, word and deed that is contrary to the will of God.” Since God is perfect so is his will. When we veer from God’s will, we sin. God’s will offer the world love, holiness, light and life. Our sin produces hatred, wickedness, darkness & death. But as we yield our lives to God’s plan of salvation and redemption; giving ourselves to God’s will we become agents of love, holiness, light and life. For that to happen we must get rid of the thoughts, words and deeds that pollute our lives. Page 3 of 11 1. Thoughts When we think about “thoughts”, remember Philippians 4:8 8 …. whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. In writing these words, the Apostle Paul is encouraging what we might call “God-thought”; an orientation to thinking characterized by love, hope and faith. It is thinking founded in God’s sovereignty and promises. It is thought which stands in sharp contrast to the worldly thought characterized by fear and cynicism. I so appreciated Thoreau’s observation; in our Thought Before Worship: Thought is the sculptor who can create the person you want to be. Henry David Thoreau When our thoughts center on that which is of God, we become more godly, but when our thoughts center on that which is of the world we become more worldly. As we remembered last week, the Apostle Paul instructed Christians in Rome: Romans 12:2 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Page 4 of 11 If we want to stop sinning by knowing and live in God’s will, we have to first change our thoughts and thinking: Will we continue to let the world confuse our thinking or will we let the truth in God’s Word define our reality? Let me push one example. How do you think about life and life’s difficulties? Do you view life as good, and wonder why God lets bad things happen? Or… Do you view life a precarious because of human sin, and thank God for blessings amid life’s difficulties? How we think about life in general will affect our relationship with God. (Is God the source of difficulty or blessing?) If we look closer at specific thoughts; negative, untrue and impure thoughts, we discover their adverse effect on what God wants to do with our lives as well. - God’s Word declares His love for you, but you may think that no one can love you. - God’s Word tells us that Jesus freed us from sin, but you may think that you can never be free from some immoral or destructive behavior. - God’s Word tells us that God will provide for our needs, but we think we need to take care of ourselves so we grab whatever we can, whenever we have the chance. Such specific thoughts need to be uncovered and labeled “wrong”. We need to trust in God’s Words; and make God’s thoughts our thoughts. How would life be different for you if you thought: I am….. Page 5 of 11 .. God’s masterpiece…. created anew in Christ Jesus, (to) do the good things he planned … long ago. (Ephesians 2:10 NLT) What thoughts keep you from embracing this truth? Can you name them and confess them this Lenten season, then allow God to forgive and heal you? How we think in general, and how we think specifically, will either draw us closer to God or slowly & methodically pull us away from God and all He offers us in Christ. The same can be said about our 2.