sexta-feira, 15 de agosto de 2008

FOOTPRINTS part 2

Footprints > > > > >
> > > >


Part 2 Ephesians 5:8-14


A. WHO ARE WE? > > > > >

If we are going to walk in Gods footsteps and leave a path for others to see and follow, we must fully understand who we are. Look at the first verse of our text in Ephesians 5.

1. What we were….

Ephesians 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

There was a time that we were totally in sin. We were controlled by it, without forgiveness from it, and having no power from God to fight it. We were not just in sin, we were sin. Ephesians 5:8 tells us this….. another 5:8 tells us this in Romans 5:8.

Romans 5:8 But
God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

2 Corinthians 5:21
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.


Jesus Christ allowed sin to be put on him, our sin! He paid for it all with his own blood as he died on the cross. He had to do it because he was the only one who could. We cannot pay for sin because we are sinners. That would be like trying to pay off debt with more debt. An angel cannot pay for our sin because angels are not human and neither are they capable of sin. A human being who is able to be tempted with sin just like us is the only person who could pay for our sin. This is why God became a human and lived a sinless life.

John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Hebrews 4:15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.


2. What we are now….

Ephesians 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

Now we are to be a light to shine for others to see Jesus through us. This is what Jesus tells us in…

Matthew 5:13-16
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.


Paul tells us this in

2 Corinthians 6:14-18

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” Therefore“Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” “ I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty.”


B. WHAT IS NATURAL FOR US? > > > >

Is it natural for a rabbit to leave dog tracks, or is it natural for a duck to leave moose tracks? Of course you would laugh and say,” Of course not, that is crazy to even think it.”
Is it natural for a Christian to leave ungodly tracks? Of course a Christian can still sin, but the sin is no longer the dominant force in our lives, and is quickly confessed the closer we are to God. Christians should have certain fruit in their lives, just like certain animals leave certain footprints.

Ephesians 5:9-10
(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.

These fruits (footprints) of the spirit are given in more detail by Paul in Galatians chapter 5 and contrasted with what are not fruits (footprints) of a Christian. Hmmm, same author, same topic, same chapter number (Paul, footprints. Chapter 5 of Romans, Galatians, and Ephesians) coincidence?…. Not with God!

Galatians 5:16-26

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.


1. Footprints of a Christian > > > > > > >

Goodness
Righteousness
Truth
Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Faithfulness to God and people
Self Control
Gentleness
Humility
A life dedicated to Christ

2. Footprints of someone without Jesus, lost, unsaved > > > > > > >

Evil
Unrighteousness
Lies
Hate
Sorrow
Strife
Bad Temper
Anger
Meanness
No care about God and people
Out of control
Harsh
Prideful
Nasty
Unkind
Cruel
Callous
Spiteful
Heatless
Malicious



Ephesians 5:11-14

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”

WHAT DO YOUR FOOTPRINTS SAY ABOUT YOU?

Um comentário:

  1. boy oh boy, if I need to answer what my footprints say about me, it can only mean they are not speaking for themselves at all LOL !!!

    Again, its clear to see what lack of purity can do to someone, check this out:


    Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

    ~~~~

    Adultery or prostitution is the 'power house' of the fruits of flesh.Before any other rotten fruit appears , this is the 1st one, why???


    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    1 Cor 6:18-20
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


    ~~>Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. <~~

    For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

    ~~~~~~

    No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does.WHY???

    ~~>Because sex is the one of the most ultimate ways to show your undivided love to the one you love and also God rejoices in it into marriage and He knows He is glorified when it happens this way.

    But when....
    -----------------
    -----------------

    ~> we are involved in any kind of immoral sexual sin,its like we have built an altar before another kind of god an every time we do whatever we want to our bodies [cuz some of us think its not big deal], we end up doing what that other religions in Corinth[which was a notourious city for its immorality] :

    ~~>In Corinthian culture, they have worship rituals in the temple of Aphrodite,as known as the temple prostitutes,which they would worship this godness by offering their bodies while having intercourse with other people from that temple.

    We think is crazy to think someone would do that at that time and we can even tend to think we don´t do the same . Just cuz its not one of our rituals, it doesnt mean we cannot fail in purity matter.

    Purity is not something God said we could have it. It was never an option.


    -------------------
    Who may go up on the mountain of the Lord?
    Who may stand in his holy Temple?
    Only those with clean hands and pure hearts,
    who have not worshiped idols,
    who have not made promises in the name of a false god.



    ~~> WOAH!!!! We see how purity is a serious topic here! and the idols he is saying in Psalm 24 are not only statues.Its anything that can take God´s place in our heart.

    Lets surrender and commit our hearts to God so may our speaking,thinking,seeing,feeling,
    touching and doing be for His glory and we wont be ashamed of our footsteps :)


    Blessings!
    Gi =!)




    ~~>Set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. / Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. ( 1 Tim 4:11b,15-16)

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