How to become personally effective
Eph.4:25-5:2
Last week, we reviewed what it means to become effective for God, we discovered together many Christians are not living effective lives, and for the most part it is because they often stop at the law, when asked, why don’t lie, don’t murder, all they can say, is because the Bible says so.
In my series on freedom in Christ, which I preached on this year, we know that law only brings death, does not give life, does not warm us up to follow passionately after God. The road to being effective is to concentrate on relationship. That is why God gave His Spirit to live in us through faith in Jesus. And that is why God came in the flesh through Jesus, did not come down as a set of rules or he would become a word-processor, or worse a lawyer but he came in the flesh, he met with people, related to them as one who loves unconditionally, who warmed hearts of many, steered away from rigid interpretations of the law, into love of God an neighbor and that is why we need to be taught as Ephesians 4:21 in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. Not truth in law, person of Jesus, who lived life here, who walked here, whom we can relate to as a person, not a set of rules. Today we continue with that thought, how to become personally effective.
Joan Sparks told this story:
One day a wise man came to small town. he needed a place to stay so he went to the first church he found. Inside, a small group of people argued about how they could best please God.
“I’ll help you” the man said, “but you must promise to use what I do to glorify God.”
“oh we will,” the people assured him. “we will”
he gave each of them gifts - one was to be a pianist, another a flutist. To one he gave a cello, to another a violin and yet to another he gave the role of toe-tapper.
The people worked long and hard to prepare a song of praise for the church. The music became more and more beautiful.
One afternoon during practice the violinist said to the pianist, “I’m so glad I have the important job of playing the violin. I’d sure hate to be only a toe-tapper.” The toe-tapper was so hurt he went home.
The next day, when the group met to practice, nothing came together right. Finally, the flutist said, “Without the toe-tapper here I don’t know when to come in for my part.” They started over time and time again, but the music sounded terrible.
It was then that the violinist spoke up in a very sad voice. “I’m sorry. This is all my fault. I thought it was so important that I didn’t need the help of the toe-tapper. I was wrong.”
So he led the way to the toe-tapper’s house and asked him to come back with them. The toe-tapper agreed and once again the music was beautiful. Then, one Sunday, they played their music in church. God looked down and smiled. I think he even winked at the toe-tapper.
This is a great parable. In world wracked with the ugly horrible sounding music of racism, violence, crime, hatred, bigotry, snobbish attitudes, where people think they are good when they are evil comes Jesus. This was the world in which Paul wrote about in Ephesians, a world that is clearly divided between Jew and Gentile, a world of dark given over to sensual lust of every kind, very much like our world
Instead of a wise man coming to a small town, it is God who came to our small world, revealed Himself in the person of Jesus. (Hebrews 1:1-3) “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.” Came to us revealed that the church was his grand idea of making the ugly music go away with the beautiful music of his unconditional love and his romance wooing of the church and he found a place to stay in the church. Paul writes in Ephesians 2:22 that the church is people of God “built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.” Have you not heard that the church is not a building, piece of real estate or some kind of property, but is about people, God’s people. That is why Paul prays “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” That is why Apostle Paul wrote in the Bible in 1 Cor.3:16,17 “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you.”
So POINT 1. See Jesus in each believer, do not see merely outward, see the work of God in progress in each one. Recognize Jesus is among us. His Spirit dwells in the church, within you and I. This has tremendous ramifications: if God is in us, and if we are to respond to the truth that is in Jesus, then we are to treat each other with the greatest of love, respect and honor. That is why you read in our text today centered on personal relationships
Precept (-ve) Principle of restoration Person
Put off lying Put on truth Why? Members of one body
Unresolved anger In anger do not sin at someone
steal work, useful share with needy
unwholesome talk say only what is helpful build others up - their needs
Remember story of the sheep and goats in Matthew 25
hungry gave something to eat
stranger invited me in
needed clothes you clothed me
in prison you came and visit me
“whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me”
“whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me”
depart from me, you who are cursed into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels…
And that is why Paul attaches this warning as well in 1 Cor.3 passage: “If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred and you are that temple.” Did you get that? Because of the church is dwelling place of the Spirit of God, as he dwells in each life and heart, it has profound impact upon God Himself. One of which is anyone who will harm the church, is therefore harming God and so the warning is issued God will destroy anyone who dares to do harm to it. Why? Because He is totally in love with the church. Ephesians 5:25 clearly states that “Christ loved the church and gave himself for her.” In the romantic language of marital love, God declares that the bride, the church is his and no one is to touch her. Like a jealous, smitten lover he guards his bride and no one must assault her.
But sadly, many in the church today are assaulted, and from within too, and are guilty of destroying God’s temple just as it was in the setting in which I Cor.3 was written. People were bickering, so much so that Paul says this of them: “I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly - mere infants in Christ.” True too, in context of Ephesians where there was no peace between Jew and Gentile. That is why Eph.2:14-18 was written to explain that there is a ceasefire and there is a peace because of Jesus, truth that is in Jesus. I see that happening, our youngest two fight … It disturbs our sanctification when they do this. Oh the noise, screaming, there is no peace. Everyone gets upset because fighting over trivial things, like who gets the first piece of bread, to go to the washroom, squeeze the toothpaste, even to pray… Probably never happens in your experience, just in pastor’s families.
However, our oldest two not so much, I believe, it is because they have grown up a bit more and feel more secure, and I hope because they’ve grown to know that they’re unconditionally loved and forever will be loved and bear my name and my image, so I know why Paul uses the term “mere infants” in I cor.3 passage because it shows that they have not grown up at all, they were as in today’s language spiritually challenged, and did not even know it. They thought they have graduated to at least the undergraduate level of spirituality. Look at how Paul puts it: “I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. Indeed you are still not ready for it…. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? For when one says, “I follow Paul” and another “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men?” trivial things…
In other words, Paul is saying, if he is Southerner, “y’all pagans.” Mere men. Not some nice super hero name like X-men, mere men, pagans! Today we find…
I follow Bill Gaither, Fanny Crosby, Martin Luther, Wesley, you know good old standards and then I follow Delirious, DC talk, Michael W. Smith. Six Pence None the Richer, and if Paul were here he’ll say “”y’all pagans” mere men arguing, complaining, bickering over trivial things bringing disruption disunity, discord and becoming ineffective to reach a world that desperately needs a solution to the disruption disunity, discord that they feel in their lives. Look at the world, how they could not get along, each day more murders, robberies, hate, people blockades in France because of high fuel prices, where tempers flare, people in rural towns in BC feel betrayed by health system, providing more misery to sick folks and we who have the good news seem oblivious to it by adding more misery to each other. One of the most disturbing things you hear as you gather in pastors’ gathering all across N. America is this fight between two different styles of worship: hymns and modern songs. Listen where does it say in the Bible “you must sing in worship only those songs written by Europeans in 17th and 18th and 19th centuries.” Where does it ever say in the Bible that you must sing only songs composed in the last 5 years? As the world goes to hell, folks are arguing about hymns and choruses. I believe, God will say, will you just cut this foolishness out.
If God has loved us unconditionally what do you want to do for your brother and sister. Think carefully about what you are saying what the motive is because it is a serious thing to bring someone down instead of building up. God does not like it one bit when the church or someone in His body is shattered to pieces or discouraged or not built up because of unloving unkind words. God does not like it one bit when we all we’re after is “look how spiritual I am, ask the tough questions, give my opinion and how good it makes me feel when another is
hurting.
Like the story, Bickering about how they could best please God, they displease God, please hear warning: don’t destroy the bride that Jesus fell in love with.
Will you see with brand new eyes Jesus in each person… respond to the truth that is Jesus. …
If we view that the Lord is there right there in front of you, will you treat him with anger, contempt… Will you tell him I don’t why you do this, let go tirade of angry words
Enuff said.
Let’s go to point 2: Give of the gift of yourself. Use the gifts already given by Christ to its fullest potential.
Wise man in our story help the church to figure how best to please God by giving gifts. You know what that’s exactly what Christ did, will you please read with me Eph.4:7,11. However, they still have to work hard so that the music became more and more beautiful.
Paul in Romans 12:1 “offer bodies as a living sacrifice” but trouble with living sacrifice is that it walks off the altar. That’s physical work! Actual human limbs! Paul uses this to counter the prevailing thought that if we obey God mentally, that is being spiritual, but how does Paul say in the Bible what is spiritual worship. totally in service to God. Work hard at it. Go out of your way to serve. Glad to see Fall festival volunteers go out of way to serve, glad to see pioneer club go out of their way to be here for kids, so is Sun Sch, so ESL, some give up hearing my sermons, which I have to say sometimes are real stinkers, bombs Jr. Church, look at how Paul sums up the text, to imitate God he went out of his way, to love us and gave Himself for us, ultimate in giving of yourself, e ultimate in offering body as a living sacrifice, we are to imitate him. We are to challenge our tired, stressed out, lack of exercise bodies and offer it to God and Paul says when we do that , it somehow translates to spiritual worship. It affects God, touches Him, pleases him.
Read with me v.25 members of one body, one body, implication don’t beat up your own body, most normal people don’t go around taking chains and sticks and stones start whacking themselves on the head. They groom themselves, like you all do, wear nice clothes, name-brand stuff, brush your teeth, maybe you didn’t this morning, perfume, do nice things, do not purposely go out looking for e-coli to infect your body, therefore, the church is one body, look after it. Don’t say mean things about the body, criticize it, will you work hard at grooming it, make it look beautiful, help it make great music. That is why we should not have lingering simmering anger v.26, that is why Paul writes no stealing do something useful that will help the church, especially those in need. It makes the body beautiful. Ugly things that go on in church must stop, but you say I don’t do that, been here helped so much, but the easiest way to get someone is verbal abuse. Disguised as constructive criticism.
A government employee found an old brass lamp in a filing cabinet. When he dusted it off, a genie appeared and granted him 3 wishes. “I’d love an ice-cold beer right now.” Poof! A beer appeared. Next the man said “I wish to be on an island, you know like Survivor, but with no snakes or rats insects and the most beautiful woman in world for my wife there.” Poof he was on the island with the most beautiful woman there with him. Oh man this is the life, the guy thought. I wish I never have to work again. And poof! He was back at his desk in his government office.
Think carefully what you say. Often, foot in mouth disease can get you into trouble. A long while back I visited old school mate, commented looks like you’re expecting a child. And you know what? She said: No. I can’t find a place fast enuff to hide. We all say things hurt, can’t take it back, Jas. 3:2 “We all stumble in many ways, if anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man”
Proverbs 10:20 is instructive. Listen to what it says:
“When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who hold his tongue is wise.”
Really nothing good to say, zip it up!
Really get scared of folks, when they begin to say “I hope you don’t take this the wrong way…” know what’s coming.
“It hurts me more to say this than it hurts you….” Yeah sure!
False intimacy helps no one. Like the violinist in the story we say things we regret.
Yet don’t hold back when there is something good to say.
Look at Proverbs 10:22
“The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment.”
Words are important, they have real power. James warns that though the tongue is but a small part of the body, it has the power to corrupt the whole person. Read James 3. Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue”
Prov.15:4 “A soothing tongue is a tree of life”
But today we make heroes out of wise-cracking movie stars, profanity filled tirades from rap stars, applaud it, that’s art, verbal abuse of worst kind.
Make people feel more hatred… solve no one problems, pouring more oil into the fire.
I really believe the church ought to be the place where we hear not false praise or dressed up words but love the way Jesus did, love with no strings attached, give words with no thought of payback. He just gave himself totally for us, body and all. That is what Paul envisions church to be Eph.5:15 make most very opportunity , filled with Spirit to say good things to one another like psalms hymns and spiritual songs, submit to one another, not criticizing, not throwing barbs at each other.
When you find something good someone has done that caught your eyes, encourage him/her good, don’t hold it back, give that away.
If your idea of encouragement, is to catch people with every mistake they make instead of praise them for every step of progress, we will create a paranoid atmosphere. afraid to try, for fear of criticism, fingers wagging, I told you so… making a big boo boo, fearing someone will chew you out, with a bad look.
Why not Catch people at their best, not at their worst, and tell them build up according to needs that it may benefit them just as the Bible says. Toe-tapping is good, it helps us all… I like your toe-tapping don’t be too high and mighty and holier than thou, remember all in same boat, and if it were not for Jesus we won’t have church at all, we’ll be killing each other some where else.
Do this and no way will grieve HS, SEE sealed for day of redemption, remember that Spirit is in them, i.e. non turning back, and say I suspect he is not a Christian, let’s gather up a posse beat him to death, where in the NT do we find this idea at all!! highly effective Christians are ones grow deeper in community, who imaitate God, just as the Three Persons in One, Father, Son Spirit is in community, yet one God .
Look at the text how many times community is mentioned members of one body, share with those in need, build others up, 4:32 be kind and compasionate to one another, forgiving each other.
Real acid test of how I am becoming more effective is this: do I experience deeper community? How am I imitating community of my God, I profess to love and serve. Creating distance? With my sullen expressions, that say don’t come near me, or creating community unity being One in the Spirit, One in the Lord, unity is restored and they’ll know we are Christians by our love. Do the hard work, offer bodies as living sacrifice to one another, that is great spiritual, that’s beautiful, that’s evidence God’s at work, that’s imitating God, that’s living life of love that’s how you can become effective personally for him!
