“Learning How To Walk A New Way”
Ephesians 4:1-10 May 31, 2009
OPEN: Last week we started on this study in Eph. 4 and we are learning how to walk a new way. It doesn’t matter what your age is – there should always be something new entering into your walk with the Lord. If you are not experiencing ongoing change in your walk with the Lord – I would suggest there is something wrong. “I learned how to do it right way back when and I’ve been doing it right all along since then.” What a prideful thing to say. “I don’t need to change anything about my walk with the Lord, I’ve already got it all figured out.” “I don’t need Bible study, Sunday school, worship service – my walk is A-OK.” What a total lack of humility. Exactly the opposite of what God calls us to.
There are five characteristics that start us off on our journey – five baby steps if you will that have to be in place if we are going to walk properly. If we are going to reach our full potential as believers and as a church we have to deal these basic concerns first. And last week I noted that these steps are progressive in nature. You have to focus on step one before you attempt to move on to step two. This isn’t hop-scotch. You don’t get to jump over one to get to another. “The humility thing is kind of hard for me – so I’ll skip that and come back to it some other time.” It doesn’t work that way. Here’s why – God doesn’t work that way. He’s recorded these issues the way that he wants us to deal with them. You might want to jump over one so you can move on to the next – but that doesn’t mean he’s going to agree with your approach. None of us get to pick and choose which parts of God’s Word we want to follow and which parts we want to ignore. Now I called these baby steps – and I guess I probably need to find another way of expressing that – they are first steps – but that doesn’t mean that any of these issues are simple steps.
* Walk Worthy of Your Calling. Last week we said that the word “worthy” is means to balance out the scales. We have in the first three chapters the rights and the honors and the privileges and now in the last three chapters he says, “Here are the requirements. If you want to be a meaningful part of God's church, if you want to be somebody that matters in His church, if you want to advance the Kingdom- if you really believe in this then here are the standards by which you are to walk. – Here’s how the scales balance out according to God’s point of view.”
So last week we started on just the first one. Humility is dealing with yourself honestly before God. It
is honest self-awareness. And this is where it all starts. Humility begins with an honest person begins seeing himself honestly before God.
By the way, how do you think Paul learned that the first step in the life of the believer is always
humility? It was the very first lesson Jesus taught him – Paul could have easily pointed at his credentials and said: “I’m already qualified.” (Phil 3:4-9) If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.
7But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider
everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. We all want to point back to our prior experiences – our prior education, our credentials, our prior positions and say, “Just look how qualified I am” Paul says, “In humility I had to throw all that away - then I was qualified to be used by Christ. I had to get honest about who I was before God before God could really use me.”
The way Jesus starts out in the Sermon on the Mount – His first sermon starts with the issue of humility. Blessed are the poor in spirit – for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn. Blessed are the meek. Blessed are they who know they don't have anything so they hunger after and thirst after righteousness. The scribes and Pharisees in the crowd that day would consider themselves rich in spirit - rich in spiritual knowledge, rich in spiritual piety, rich in spiritual activity. When it came to spiritual accounts - they didn't need anything from Jesus or anybody else. Jesus says – “I can’t work with people like that – Because what they are really doing is desiring people to acknowledge them – to look at them –to remember them. They are competing for His glory. Their piety is really rooted in pride. – I want to spend a little bit of time on this today. My temptation was just to go along in this book and follow my outline – but I really feel God has slowed me down. These topics are just so important in all of our lives.
What Does God Say in His Word About Pride? What is God’s attitude about pride – the Bible is very
clear about this issue – God hates pride – he hates it – anything God hates is a danger to us
Proverbs 6: 16 “There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil” haughty eyes are a sign of conceit - we might say snooty or stuck-up – a sign of self-importance
Proverbs 8:13 “To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech”
Proverbs 16:5 “The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.” Several other verses in Scripture saying the same thing – but these make it clear enough.
Whatever God Hates Does Not Belong In Our Life.
“But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6) Of all the things that will put a limp into your walk - this is one of the most difficult issues – Most difficult to identify – we don’t like the idea that someone would think that we are prideful – very quick to deny its presence in our life and we are normally the last ones to see it. Whatever God hates does not belong in our lives - it is ultimately going to bring us down and cause us to stumble.
Pride & Consequences You know the Scripture is clear about the consequences of pride in a person’s life. Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
Proverbs 13:10 “Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.”
Proverbs 11:2 “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”
Universal Rule - The Lord Gives the Proud Opportunity to Humble Themselves - if they refuse – He will arrange circumstances in their life to bring about humility Let’s turn to the book of Daniel for moment to explore this a bit more: (review of Dan. 4)
Daniel 4: 28 “As the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, ‘Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?’” -- (Interesting how many people get into trouble while walking around on/in their palace looking down at others. – And you don’t have to have a big palace to do this!) Look at the first person pronouns in verse 30: Note the pronouns: I … my … my. And the boastful words: “I have built … by my mighty power … the glory of my majesty.” One of the most egotistical pride-filled statements in the entire Bible. Pride is a kind of plagiarism. It attempts to grasp for ourselves the glory which belongs to another. Nebuchadnezzar took all the glory for the greatness of his kingdom; he did not give glory to God.
“Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like cattle. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.” (Daniel 4:33).
It’s a long way down from being the king of Babylon to being a beast in the field. The reason God made Nebuchadnezzar act like an ox that eats grass, with hair as long as eagles wings and nails like a bird's claws -- the reason he did that was to show us the bestiality of pride. When man tries to become like God he becomes like an animal. Pride puts man in a class with the beasts of the field. The man roaring like a lion in his home at his wife and children, demanding that his authority be recognized. The woman roaring like a wounded bear – at her children and her family – outraged that her authority is not respected and honored.
That's the point of Nebuchandnezzar's insanity. One moment he is surveying his royal kingdom, the next he is ripping off his clothing, making strange snorting noises, and galloping on all fours. He was changed in an instant from a beauty to a beast. Soon he is running on all fours down the main street of Babylon, totally naked and stark, raving mad.
Satan uses pride more than anything else when he tries to destroy a person. He uses it so much because it works so well. All he has to do is put one word in our mind. (me – mine – my) Satan is going to tempt you to be proud in your abilities, your economics, your words that you say, your class, your strata of society, your appearance, the position you hold, your history, your social desires, your spiritual life, your intellectual knowledge and all of these things are going to tear right out of your hands humility. He’s going to try to get you to stand back and say – “look at this great kingdom that I have built with my hands – and even though we don’t say it out loud – for my glory. My home – my education – my experience – my history – my knowledge – my family – my glory!” I hear pastors bragging about how many people they have coming to their services – as long as it’s two people more than the church down the road – I’m glorified. The entire time that I’ve been in ministry -When I talk about reaching others – the words that almost always come back – “what about me?” And it’s not just congregations – because as I was studying this I felt the hand of the Lord on my shoulder as well. “how many times have you felt self-sufficient and cranked through your work in the ministry with out full-hearted dependence upon me?” The battle with pride – it’s a struggle for all of us.
Now don't make the mistake of saying to yourself right now, “Well pride is surely not my problem, because I'm a loser. I don't feel self-suffient at all. I don’t have anything to brag about. And I don't expect anybody to exalt me because I am so ugly or unintelligent or weak. So pride is not my problem.” Be very careful here now. Don't let Satan trick you. Pride isn’t necessarily the achievement of self-sufficiency or the achievement of self-exaltation. Pride is the enjoyment of them, the delight in them, the desire for them. You may see your life as a total failure and feel crushed this morning and still have pride as the driving force of your life. The very pain you feel at being a failure may be owing to the desperateness of your desire to look successful and to taste the glory of human praise. You might not have achieved anything of historical note from a human viewpoint, but if you feel cheated that you haven’t, pride is still the controlling factor in your life.
One person may go to a party and brag and boast and draw attention to himself and his achievements. Another person may go to the same party and be so fearful and insecure that he hides in corners and tries to avoid people. And both of these persons may be driven by pride. The strong person doesn't believe the grace of God is needed; the weak person doesn't believe the grace of God has been sufficiently given to him/her. The strong person says – look at what my hand has accomplished. The weak person says - I have been cheated – my God has robbed me of being able to brag and say to the others look at what I have done – my God is insufficient to the task. And since God is not their portion, man is -- the longed for esteem and praise of man. One person, fearful that he won't get it, hides. Another person, hopeful that he will get it, brags. Same disease, different symptoms. And all of us have it.
Turn with me for a moment to Psalm 73 - written by a guy named Asaph – he was one of the embers of the tribe of Levi whom David put in charge of the worship music that was performed at the tent of Meeting before Soloman built the Temple in Jerusalem. Question: when the land was divided between tribes – what land did the tribe of Levi receive as an inheritance? None – God was their portion. So the question the Levites constantly had to deal with is – Is that enough? Was the blessings that come from serving God enough? One of the things that make Asaph so attractive in the Scriptures is is honesty about himself and what he saw around him. He has the same struggles we do – he had to deal with his own pride from time to time.
Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I
had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from the burdens common to man they are not plagued by human ills. He begins by acknowledging God is good – he ends that way also. But that didn’t mean he didn’t have struggles. “But as for me.. I nearly lost my footing.” What’s his problem? He got envious of others – they had something he didn’t have. And his pride begins to rise up – “I deserve what they have don’t I?
Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence. From their callous hearts comes iniquity; the evil conceits of their minds know no limits. They scoff, and speak with malice; in their arrogance they threaten oppression. Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth. Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance. He looks at other proud people – they wear their pride like jewelry around their neck. They have no struggles- they are healthy, free from burdens, and they seem to get away with it. They scoff and boast about their pride.Their mouths lay claim to heaven – they plagiarize the blessings they have received from God.
They say, "How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?" This is what the wicked are like - always carefree, they increase in wealth. Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence. All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning. If I had said, "I will speak thus," I would have betrayed your children. When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me They are carefree – mocking God. Asaph asks the question: “What’s the point in being godly?” What’s the advantage of being a Christian if those who are not a Christian get what I want and I don’t get it? It seems as if I am being punished for trying to be good!
till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies. This is the turning for Asaph in the Psalm. He says all this until I entered the sanctuary of God - pride began to reign in his heart until he got a fresh glimpse of God. Until he began to get a new perspective. What gave him a new perspective? Final Destiny. He longed beyond the immediate – to the eternal. Check this out – Now they are not the center of attention. Neither is Asaph the center of his attention – What the center of his attention? God. That’s what gives him a new perspective. He was reminded that apart from God he would perish – along with all the those who pridefully reject God in their life.
When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. Notice what he calls himself here – a brute beast. And animal has no real awareness of God – and acts like an animal. He spends time with God and now He’s got a new awareness of himself. He recognizes his pride as senseless and ignorant. And he begins to recount the blessings that come from God. I an with you – you guide me – you will reward me in glory – What else would I want?
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds. Now notice how Asaph resolves his struggle with pride – he settles the issue by recognizing that God is portion. Remove pride from your life by recognizing God is your portion. God is better than all the wealth, health, honor and peace which we envy in the world.
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to
love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8) God has blessed you with Himself – that’s the richest treasure you can possess. Ill. Why I think every person should go to a third world country on a missions trip – just to see how spoiled we actually are in this country. Do you know why people want to go back time after time? Because they know – they know we live like kings and queens in this country, no matter what our economic situation is like. You’re rich beyond their wildest dream. Their perspective has been changed. Walk worthy – eliminate every vestige of pride in your life.
When you lose humility you've lost ingredient number one in a worthy walk.
I’m sorry if I’ve talked longer on this than you would want – I talk longer on the things God is working in me the most. It might be a sad situation that you have to endure messages on the issues on which God is dealing with me. But that’s the way it is. And my guess is that if He’s working on me on particular topic – he might just be working on others as well.
CLOSE:
This Week:
1. Start each day asking God to reveal an area of pride in your life which you have not given over to Him.
2. Resolve to change your attitude as the Lord brings this area to your attention.
3. Memorize Psalm 73: 23-26
Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail,but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
* PowerPoint slides may be available for this message. Some slides I use have copy write restrictions on them - others are slides, which I’ve created. If this sermon has slides I’ve created, I’d be glad to pass them on to you for your use. Please feel free to email me at: timvamosi@charter.net
