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Ephesians 5:1-13
Message No. 0647 | Twitter @GodandUs | www.wisdom-speaks.ca
When a new child is born, other than sighting the baby, there’s a specific sound he or she is expected to make. Until the baby cries, neither the hospital staff nor the parents of the baby are happy. Isn’t it amazing how crying is a trigger of joy? Everyone knows what a bell looks like, and if you ask anyone, even children, they know what sound comes out of it. It’s the same knowledge and expectation we have for a piano, guitar, drum, trumpet, or any other musical instrument. If a bell sounds like a drum, everyone around would probably block his or her ears. No one wants to listen to ‘abominable’ sounds.
When a person gives his or her life to Christ, there are expectations on how the person should behave. This expectation is a combination of how the person appears and how the person speaks or acts. In Ephesians chapter 5 verses 3-7, Paul told the Ephesians:
But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them.
Just as a newborn child changes the routines and itineraries of a family, so does a new life in Christ change the ways of a believer. This is the reason why 2 Corinthians 5:17 says if anyone is in Christ, he or she is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. When you give your life to Christ, though you remain the same physical being, everything else changes.
If you used to dress anyhow before, something begins to tell you to be more conscious of your appearance, because your identity has changed. It is not uncommon to dress, look at the mirror, change your mind and pick different clothing instead. This is because the Holy Spirit, working with your conscience, is checking on you and asking you to be more careful. This is the reason Romans 8:14 says as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the sons (and daughters) of God.
If you used to go to some places before, the Holy Spirit begins to tell you to stop. If you were a night crawling partier and frequent pub visitor, you begin to feel very uncomfortable living in this manner. The next time you want to go out at night, something tells you ‘Don’t.’ You may resist this for a little while, but eventually you hear in your spirit ‘Enough.’ This is because 2 Corinthians 6:14-16a says:
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God.
If you used to talk anyhow before, you’ll discover that a new language will be in your mouth. You no longer curse the way you used to curse or talk about people the way you used to. Something is pulling you back and saying, ‘Don’t talk like that.’ You begin to choose your words carefully as you do not want to hurt people with your words or trigger profanity in any way. You remain human and can still make mistake but those become very infrequent as you are constantly evaluating your words and making amends every day.
If you used to watch certain kinds of video (no need to mention), your spirit begins to say No to those. You receive a strong inner caution against them. Sometimes in resistance, you may keep those videos for some time, but you will eventually delete them as your spirit continues to detest them. If you listened to certain music in the past, you may now discover that they begin to irritate you.
There is no exhaustive listing of what you will experience when you give your life to Christ, but you, as well as people around you, will certainly see that there’s a new owner in charge of your life. The Holy Spirit will recondition your life in ways that no one will be left in doubt that you have changed. You do not need to write on your forehead that you are now a Christian, but your behavior will sell you out. When the society watched the disciples of Christ over a time period in Antioch, they called them Christians, because they walked and talked like Christ. Are you exhibiting the sights and sounds of the new life in you?
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PLEASE ACT NOW:
If you are yet to give your life to Christ, you do not have a covenant with God and His promises do not apply to you. To come under these promises, please surrender your life to Christ today, by praying this prayer:
Lord I know that I am a sinner and I am unable to save myself. I am sorry for my sins and I pray that you please forgive me. I am aware that Your Son Jesus died for my sins and I accept Him as my Lord and savior. I surrender my life unto you from this moment. Please take control of my entire being and help me to be obedient to your Word, going forward. Thank you, Lord, for hearing me. I have prayed in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you prayed the foregoing prayer, you have just been born again. Please find a Bible believing church in your area and ask to see the pastor. Let him or her know that you have just given your life to Christ and s/he will guide you on next steps in your journey as a child of God. The Lord bless you!
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