Learning To Walk Worthy Of Your Calling Series Series

Learning to Walk Worthy Eph 4:17-24 NKJV 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;

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

20 But you have not so learned Christ,

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

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.

1. According to verse 17-19; the believer is not to walk as the Gentiles, that is, as worldly people.

They call Christians "a new race," a race distinct from Jews and Greeks.

The point is this: believers are not to walk as other men walk. Why?

Because believers are new creatures in Christ Jesus, and the walk of worldly people does not please God.

2Cr 5:17 NKJV Therefore, if anyone [is] in Christ, [he is] a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

What is it that other men do that does not please God?

This passage gives five characteristics about unbelievers that displease God.

Remember: believers are to have nothing to do with any of these characteristics.

They are never to return to the paths of their former life.

Unbelievers walk in the futility of their mind (v.17).

The mind includes the ability to will and to do the truth as well as know the truth; it includes morality as well as reasoning and understanding.

The word "futility" means empty, vain, senseless, aimless, unsuccessful, worthless.

When people push God out of their minds, their minds are not only void and empty of God but also His truth and morality. God is not in their thoughts.

Their minds are ready to be filled with some other god or supremacy.

There is room for their minds to be filled with the things of the world:

List some worldly things that could fill our minds and hearts.

worldly pleasures.

worldly religions.

worldly possessions.

worldly ideas.

worldly power.

worldly honor.

worldly position.

worldly gods.

Psalm 10:4 NKJV The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek [God]; God [is] in none of his thoughts.

Psalm 94:11 NKJV The LORD knows the thoughts of man, That they [are] futile.

Pro 6:16-19 NKJV 16 These six [things] the LORD hates, Yes, seven [are] an abomination to Him:

17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood,

18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil,

19 A false witness [who] speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.

Pro 15:26 NKJV The thoughts of the wicked [are] an abomination to the LORD, But the words of the pure [are] pleasant.

The mind of a worldly person walks after these things, neglecting, ignoring, and rejecting God.

Once you truly receive Jesus Christ the believer must never return to the walk of an empty mind; he/she must never again allow his/her mind to become empty of God.

Unbelievers walk with their understanding darkened (v. 18).

To understand means to grasp, comprehend.

To be darkened means to be blinded and unable to see.

The unbeliever does not grasp or understand God; his understanding is darkened and blinded and unable to see God.

He understands this world and the things of this world, and he gives his life over to the things of this world.

But he is not able to understand God and His eternal plan for the world through the Lord Jesus Christ.

The believer is not to allow his understanding to become darkened.

Believers are not to return to the world of the spiritually blind, the world of those who walk with darkened understanding.

Psa 82:5 NKJV They do not know, nor do they understand; They walk about in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are unstable.

Pro 2:13 NKJV From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness;

Pro 4:19 NKJV The way of the wicked [is] like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble.

Act 28:27 NKJV For the hearts of this people have grown dull. [Their] ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with [their] eyes and hear with [their] ears, Lest they should understand with [their] hearts and turn, So that I should heal them."