A New You Series

INTRODUCTION

In Ephesians 4 and 5 we discover how to experience real and lasting life change. God has a plan to create a new you. And your part in his plan is to join him bringing change in your life.

1. A New Way of Thinking.

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:22-24)

What you think has an incredible influence on the shape your life is in.

We sow our thoughts, and we reap our actions; we sow our actions, and we reap our habits; we sow our habits, and we reap our characters; we sow our characters, and we reap our destiny (Author/historian: Erasmus).

If you want real life-change you need to start with your mind. God’s wisdom must fill and guide your thinking.

Just like you do with food, you need to watch what you take into your mind. You might drink pure filtered water, eat low calorie food and exercise your body often – and that’s great. But why is it we often don’t take that much care of our mind. You’re cautious about what you take in through your mouth – but what about what comes in through your eyes and ears?

God has a plan to transform your life into the one he intended for you right from the start. Your part is to join him in creating a new you in your own thought life.

2. A New Way of Speaking.

Have you ever annihilated your Christian witness because of something you’ve said? Your words carry a tremendous weight don’t they? That’s why the Bible says ...

... each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body (Ephesians 4:25 NIV)

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen (Ephesians 4:29 NIV).

Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving (Ephesians 5:4 NIV).

Jesus pointed out that the mouth and the heart are intimately connected.

... out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34 NIV).

That’s why when the Lord changes someone’s heart and they become Christian, we expect to see a change in their language.

Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving (Ephesians 5:4 NIV).

God has a plan for his world and your part in it is to speak the truth and to communicate encouragement and joy. You can start today by joining God in transforming each word you speak.

3. A New Way of Acting/Behaving.

One thing that speaks louder than our words are our actions.

One environment where we can find it hard to match our actions with our beliefs is at work – where you spend most of your day. It’s such an issue that Paul singles it out here in Ephesians.

He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need (Ephesians 4:28).

The Bible lifts your work to a higher level. This is because the purpose of your work is not just to feed and clothe you and your family. The purpose of your work is “so that you may have something to share with those in need.” Even an honest days work can be done for selfish reasons – if all you’ve done is meet your own need. That is one purpose of work; but we also work so that we might be able to help others.

As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do (Author: Andrew Carnegie).

Conclusion:

God has a plan to create a new you from the inside out. Your part is to join him in that process of change wherever you can. God doesn’t promise to change your circumstances – but he does promise to change you.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26).

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