Season 3 Episode 7 Commitment to Christ’s likeness

Ephesians 4:17-32

1) The Christian must be aware of deceptive philosophies and traditions that place a greater emphasis on individual importance over the written Word of God.
     a) Satan’s first lie to Eve began with “humans can become like God”.
     b) A Salvation experience in Christ is the beginning of a transformed life not the apex.
     c) Education has no ability to enhance human behavior separated from the Moral Law Giver (God) and His Moral Law (The Word of God).

2) Christians can cause the Holy Spirit pain (Grieve the Spirit) when we ignore His promptings and presence.
     a) Individuals who are bent on a destiny without God are given over to idolatry.
     b) Those who desire to be full of the Spirit, must be willing to pay the full price of obedience to the Word of God.
     c) The Holy Spirit is a surgeon of Holiness.  He will cut away the self sins: lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life. 

3) The Holy Spirt does not want to hurt your pride.  He wants to kill it.
     a) Reaching a lonely place of brokenness where your flesh has nothing to depend on is where you start encountering the deep love of God.
     b) A vessel full of flesh needs to be emptied before it can become a vessel full of the Spirit.
     c) The carnal man wants medals and happy experiences. He places himself on a path to bondage with a full fledged pursuit of pleasure and self promotion.  The Spirit filled man is content with the presence of the Lord and sinful wounds that have been healed with scars.

Discussion Question:
Scars tell a story of pain and healing.  In what ways has Jesus Christ pulled you out of the miry clay and set your feet on solid ground?