"WORD WALKERS"

Preached by Rev. Ed Brouwer at The Gathering Place, Osoyoos

Pulpit Series Volume 22, Issue 3     January 22, 2012

Ephesians 4:17-32  “With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity. But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God —truly righteous and holy.

So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tender hearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

NO LONGER WALK LIKE THE REST OF THE GENTILES

They walk “in the futility of their mind”.  That starts with the “hardening of the heart” which leads to “ignorance within”.

Such ignorance causes “alienation from the life of God” and that results “having their understanding darkened”.

WALK IN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRUE HOLINESS
“But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

This is how you learned Christ
As you heard Him and were taught by Him.  For you were taught to “put off” the “old man”.  That is, your “former conduct”, how you behaved before you were saved.

Colossians 3:5-9  “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds.”

Putting off the old man is needed because

it is never content, but “grows corrupt

according to the deceitful lusts”.

And to “be renewed in the spirit of your mind”.  Which is the key to true “transformation”.

Romans 12:2  “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

You “renew” your mind only as you “set your mind on things above”.  Colossians 3:1-2

And to “put on the new man” a new man “which was created according to God”.  Colossians 3:10

A new man, “in righteousness and true holiness”. 
Colossians 3:12-17

In giving the admonition “No longer walk as the

rest of the Gentiles”, Paul made it clear that it

involves both a “putting off” and a “putting on”.

Our “Walking In Truth And Holiness” is not just a bunch of “Thou Shalt Nots”.  There are also some “Thou Shalts”.

To illustrate further the difference between how the unsaved walk and how Christians are to walk, we find Paul making over 24 points of change.

CASE IN POINT: LYING... (v 25)
1.  The “old man” thinks nothing of lying

2.  The “new man” puts away lying, and in its place speaks truth with his neighbor (especially to those who are members of the same body)

CASE IN POINT: ANGER... (v 26-27)
1.  The “old man” gets angry letting it linger or get out of control

2.  The “new man” may get angry, but does not...
       a. let it linger….“do not let the sun go down on your wrath”
       b. let it lead to sinful behavior “nor give place to the devil”

CASE IN POINT: STEALING... (v 28)
1.  The “old man” is willing to steal

2.  The “new man” not only stops stealing, but works so he can help others who may be in need!

CASE IN POINT: CORRUPT COMMUNICATION... (v 29)
1.  The “old man” doesn’t care what comes out of his mouth

2. The “new man” not only avoids “corrupt communication”, but seeks to speak that which is uplifting to those who hear

We need to put on those things befitting the “new man”.

“Being kind, tender hearted, forgiving one another just as God forgives us in Christ.”

What if all those in the church truly became Word Walkers?

Let’s be eager to have God “put us on”, like a good pair of shoes, and walk out His Love and Mercy to those in our circle of life.

Pray earnestly that the Holy Spirit will find our attitudes to be less and less in keeping with the “old man”.

Rather may we be:

WORD WALKERS — walking in “righteousness and true holiness”.