Seed Faith For Seekers 2, Put off and put on

WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY?

[Mat 12:43-45 ESV] 43 "When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. 44 Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation."

[Mat 12:38-42 ESV] 38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you." 39 But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.

Analogy of demon possessed man illustrated the … National problem Physical issues, and Spiritual things EMPTINESS is a TARGET!!

Emptying oneself is modeled and taught [Phl 2:5-8 ESV] 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Changed Himself… By taking the form of a servant Humbling himself Becoming obedient

Emptying oneself is modeled and taught [Luk 9:23-25 ESV] 23 And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? [Luk 12:15, 23 ESV] 15 And he said to them, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." ... 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.

Emptying oneself is modeled and taught [Luk 9:23-25 ESV] 23 And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? Like our Lord, we must CHANGE to accomplish our mission.

The result of NOT changing? [Eph 4:17-19, ESV] 17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. Walking “as the Gentiles” results in… Sinful thoughts Sinful hearts Sinful actions

What is the Answer? Put off the old self Be renewed in mind Put on the new self What is the Answer? [Eph 4:22-24, ESV] 22 …to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Examples of this principle in action? [Eph 4:25 ESV] 25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Falsehood vs. speaking truth

Examples of this principle in action? [Eph 4:26-27 ESV] Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. Falsehood vs. speaking truth Sinful anger vs. self-control

Examples of this principle in action? [Eph 4:28 ESV] 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Falsehood vs. speaking truth Sinful anger vs. self-control Stealing vs. sharing

Examples of this principle in action? [Eph 4:29 ESV] 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear Falsehood vs. speaking truth Sinful anger vs. self-control Stealing vs. sharing Corrupting talk vs. edifying speech

Examples of this principle in action? [Eph 4:31-32 ESV] 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Falsehood vs. speaking truth Sinful anger vs. self-control Stealing vs. sharing Corrupting talk vs. edifying speech Reactions vs. thoughtful actions

It is commendable to want a clean, orderly life But an empty life is just asking to fall back into the world [2Co 5:17 ESV] 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.