R373 Rags and Robes, PT.2

God has an encouraging word for you and me today. The Bible-based preaching of Dr. Don Wilton part two rags arose the messages call rags on roads we have a choice as we study the word together. Another were available for you at 866-899-WORD 866-899-9673 now Dr. Don Wilton chapter 4 Paul's letter to the Ephesians in chapter 4.

If someone was to come to you today and say to you, could you tell me what a Christian looks like I wonder what you would tell. I remember being on a mission trip in 1/3 world country when a group of people basically lost me that question.

I had been standing there telling them about Christians and they said to me, what is a Christian look like, how would you describe a Christian the way they look. Paul said we must be in the world but not all the world are we meant to look any different when you're in Ephesians chapter full full tells us something wrong, the remarkable don't you think he tells us that when Jesus Christ comes into our hearts that we exchange rags for Rose infecting Ephesians 4 from verse 20 through 24 and I'm not going to read those verses. That's what full tells us he says we put off the old self and we put on the new super listen from verse 25 because from verse 25 and in fact right through chapter 5 full tells us about what these rooms look like.

He tells us what Christians look like he tells us how we are distinguishable from those who have yet to give their hearts and lives to Jesus Christ. Therefore in verse 25. Each one of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body in your anger do not send all be angry and do not sentence a Kaman, followed by a qualification. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry and do not give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must feel no longer, but must work doing something useful with his own hands, that he might have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to the needs in order that it might benefit those who listen and do not grieve the Holy Spirit, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice rather be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you if someone came to you this morning and said could you tell me what a Christian looks like what would you say to that, we have some marvelous experiences here in our congregation. Children tell us a lot of things. One of the dearest man in our congregation is one about deacons Mr. Harold. Mr. Harold takes up the offertory did in the early service to diameter he stands at the end of the pews and I'll just like you see deacons do as we receive God's gifts in the services.

Well the Chuck Wallington family as they all this morning here today regarding our service and they have the dearest little boy by the name of Paul and the mom Wallington. Linda turned a box and said to him, now cocci I I want you to give something to God this morning and of course being a dutiful little boy sitting on her lap. He wanted to do that. And so when the offertory plate came by with Mr. Harrell. Standing at the end of the he very dutifully put in his contribution for the Lord's work and like any little boy he followed the plate as it went down the line and when he did so his daddy turned to him and sent them cowpox my son, do you understand what you just Fox looked up at ease.

Daddy and Chuck said to him, son, you just given some money to God and with that parks looked up and gazed into the face of Mr. Harold. Said God, I wonder what Christians look like if you were to try and describe God, what would you say what is God represented one of the families the other day said television commercial came on last year they son looked up and said mommy and daddy looked is God to which daddy said no son that's not the will to you know we will have these definitions of what God what Jesus what heaven looks like.

But what is a Christian look for sales. You put all your rags and you put on the roads of God's righteousness.

They're all distinguishing features I'm going to just list the first four or five for you because we covered them number one I Christian person is put on the roads of God's righteousness. There is a hearing and a receiving of truth about them. They have received the truth of God. They all walking symbols and examples of the truth of the living God. They will close all the robes of God's truthfulness. Verse 20 and 21. That's what Paul says. He says that that you were taught in him in accordance with truth that is in Christ Jesus. Number two.

A second characteristic of mock of a born-again believer wearing the robes of God's righteousness. There will be an understanding of what is happened to the old so if you want to know what a Christian looks like what a Christian sounds like a Christian, a person who has trusted Jesus Christ, according to verse 22 is someone who has an understanding of what happened to their rags, if you please to the old cell full puts it like this. He says in verse 22.

You would talk with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old so that carries with it the implication of the understanding that something previously happened that no longer is something new has begun.

That will be and will continue with us.

There's an understanding of the old cell number three. The third characteristic of someone who is given their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ is that there is an interactive right there in verse 25. Therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully wasn't talking about just being truthful in what you're saying he was saying that you as a believer are a living example of someone who no longer has a need to be hypocritical about your spiritual condition. That's very easy to be truthful in America today about our relationship with God and church makes it very easy because we all dress up though. Will put on the part that you think I look quite sharp this morning, we all do, that we all get up and wash our hair brush our teeth and put on our Sunday best and we come to church and we we sing songs and we smile at one another, but there are people who go to church who are living a lie and say is that the mark of a believer is that I believe a believer no longer has a need to act out something that he or she really is not because you come to know the truth you've an understanding of your old so number four there is a change in reaction.

I believe I has a change in the way in which he or she reacts to this world, look at this incredible verse your in verse 26 be angry but do not sin. We talked about it last week. It's an imperative, followed by qualification and the word for anger here is a deep seated and rooted conviction about spiritual truth. Paul is saying here you will have a change in the way in which you respond to the world. When you are a believer a believer re-ask differently. I believe it is no longer willing to just allow things to rot and die.

A believer is not willing to follow a philosophy that he or she is going to get everything they can matter who gets in the way you got a different reaction. But there's a first area here that is a characteristic of a believer. There is a resolve against site look at verse 27. You see it's very interesting here that viewport apostle Paul says that the believer has a different reaction in that he or she becomes angry, but sin is not an important not to sin does not allow the sun to go down on the anger.

Why, because simply this, if you allow the sun go down on righteous anger. You may be justifiably angry at the immorality or whatever it is that is contrary to the word of God.

But if you allow the sun go down on your anger, it gives the devil a foothold because righteous anger. My friend is just one heartbeat away from becoming sin. If Satan gets a hold of it. So what is a Christian look black. What is a Christian do what kind of robes does he wear a born-again believer has a resolve against site. I am not going to allow Satan to get a foothold in my life. That's why not repeat this many times and I'll never get tired of repeating it. That's why I'm so proud rather safe about young people for the stand that our young people make for righteousness and for godliness. They have a resolve in the heart.

What are they saying when they do these things. Like true love waits they are saying listen, I am making a commitment in order that I'm not going to allow Satan to get a foothold in my life.

I'm not going to do. I'm not going to go to a place I'm not going to associate with the people I'm not going to read this.

I'm not going to look at that I am not going to allow Satan to get a foothold in mama, that's what the Bible says about someone who wears the robes of God's righteousness but there is a six characteristic about a Christian, he or she there is a change of habit there's a change of habit. Verse 28 he who has been stealing my steel no longer, and the word JavaScript from which we get the word kleptomaniacs now what is he talking about just stealing the what Paul is saying here, my friends, is that when Jesus Christ comes into your heart and you put off the old self and you are close by putting on the robes of God's righteousness. You no longer have to resort to doing things that are displeasing to God because God is with you and what God is telling you, my friends, he is saying he is taking you as a nobody and he's making you anger somebody he's taking you out of the gutter existence of your life and he's putting you on the throne of God's righteous. That's what Paul is saying.

Please forgive the eruption will be back with the rest of today's message rags will robes with Dr. Don Wilton in just a few moments. Dr. Don Wilton remind you that we are available to connect with you in the participation of a conversation not just a presentation right now for interconnecting keyboard keyboard on our website@twonline.org for some much excitement about this unique time of praying for our country. The book resources call 31 days of prayer for my nation. You haven't seen it. Take a look@ourwebsitetewonline.org. Discover how you can get your copy that and other resources, including the book Dr. Wilson just wrote about his time with Billy Graham call Saturdays with Billy is all available on our website that's T EW online.org hope to connect today.

Now start back in today's great teaching with Dr. Don Wilton about rags.

Will robes and he uses as the illustration a beautiful illustration of using your hands, very good at my hands are cold, just ground that if ever, and I plan to do this.

One of these guys go down to Brazil to help build churches will go to mold Jess, I want you to know brother. If you would just allow me one thing. Just let me break you know why because if I start getting those nails in the writings, the floods, that church is flat on our promise. You know why I'm not very good regarding know what Paul was talking about talking about three things sign get busy. The bulk of the believer is someone get busy himself.

Number two.

Just get busy and do something as a believe you're not safe to sit decide to serve and number three. Share what you have with others. That's what polls he says you no longer have a need to borrow from others.

You no longer have a need to plagiarize you no longer have a need to steal from others due to why because God is taken you and yes you may have been a nobody which we all are outside of Jesus Christ buddies made you some somebody that's what he's done is put your marriage back together. He's huge a broken heart. That's what he's done for you, but there's a severance characteristic full says if you are a believer you can tell a believer because they will be a different conversation about their look at verse 29.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth.

Now this is interesting here because Paul uses the word Supercross SU PR OS do not Supercross means Supercross means corrupt or foul. That's what it means and it's often associated with rotten fruit. That's what that word is full. Says you listen there is the essence of what is good that is in you, but because you are not in Christ Jesus you do not have a license to expel rotten fruit from your being. David put it like this in Psalm 41 verse three he said safe God over my mouth and keep watch over the door of my lip. How would you describe a Christian if someone asked you to describe one of the ways Paul says you can tell a person is a Christian because there is no unwholesome talk comes out of the mouth.

Have you ever met somebody who goes to church on Sunday but as soon as I get mad on Monday. Things start coming out of the mouth. Have you ever met someone he goes to church on Sunday but when I get on the golf course on Saturday.

Unwholesome talk begins to come out of the mountains. It's a challenge. What Paul is talking about your he says a foul mouth means you got a foul heart.

Matthew chapter 12 and verse 34, the mouth speaks out of that which means the hall.

That's what Paul is starting Paul is saying you want to describe a born-again believer. They got on the close of the robes of God's righteousness and one of those features is what comes out all of them out but then number eight.

There is an effort to please God. There is an effort to please God. One distinguishing feature about Christian people is that they do not want to grieve the Holy Spirit. Look at verse 30 and do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Why is that a distinguishing characteristic of a believer someone whose clothing bonds righteousness simply this. Folks, because what ever violates the will of God and the holiness of the heart will grieve the third person of the Trinity.

That's what God is saying here he is saying that grieving can lead to quenching and quenching leads to a forfeiture of power and blessing why the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. What is the Bible say the Holy Spirit has intellect in first Corinthians 2 verse 11. The Holy Spirit has feelings in Romans 827 the Holy Spirit has will in first Corinthians 1211 the Holy Spirit works in first Corinthians 1211 he searches in first Corinthians 210. He speaks and acts 13 to he testifies in John 15 in verse 26 he teaches in John 14 verse 26 he convicts in John 16, eight through 11 he regenerates in John 35. He intercedes in acts 826 he guides in John 1613.

He glorifies Christ in John 1614 any direct service to God, and acts 16 67. That's the whole Paul says do not grieve the Holy Spirit. Why do not grieve the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit is God's personal mark of authenticity upon the believer. Gary says it very clearly with whom you were sealed all spam for the day of redemption. If you read the Holy Spirit you not wearing the clothes of God's righteousness, but there's a final one is a change of character. There's going to be a change of character you say how can I describe a Christian. A Christian's character trying. He talks about it in verse 31 and 32, he says, you undergo a character brittleness.

What is business, it's smoldering resentment for a brooding grudge for says it's wrong. He talks about anger not the same, and he spoke previously of this is the kind of anger that is internal and it is smoldering it is. I'm angry kind of anger.

He talks about clamor a shop during our cry abstract. It is a public verse, Paul says, one whose clothing God's righteousness that is gone. He talks about's longer blasphemy which comes from the heart.

It is an ongoing differ in their defamation, rising from a brittle heart against God of the person to whom you longer blasphemy.

It's the same word. What is foresight. He says you want to describe Christian there it is in verse 32. Be kind and compassionate to one another. That's what he said, forgiving one another.

That's why I'm so glad were in God's house onto would you bow your heads this morning.

Every head bowed. We going to give you an opportunity to respond to the Lord Jesus Christ today. He is so wonderful. You know, when we look at some of these passages and we all ask ourselves questions like Lord, how in the world cannot ever measure up to their if someone was to come to you today and say to you, I know that your Christian because I see every day. The robes of God's righteousness on your life, would people be able to say that to you. Please note, Paul doesn't say the robes of God's perfectness doesn't say we perfect were spotless.

He says we wear his rose. That's where Jesus Christ is gone for a stream said it best of all told us how that God gave his life broken rooms throughout France. He allowed his body to be broken in order that we can be made whole.

What a wonderful it is wonderful to even listing the teaching of Dr. Don Wilton, our pastor here The Encouraging Word. It is our prayer that as we have understood truths of God's word. We understand the way that applies to each of us. It's living in it cuts our hearts and are sold to open us to new, fresh perspective, and perhaps today God is used his word from the book of Ephesians and the teaching of his servant Dr. Don Wilton to prepare you for a decision, a choice you need to make a sector that is been preaching to the pulpit. I pray you open your heart to what he wants to share as he steps into the studio next you're ready to give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ. I'm so happy to hear that wanted to pray this prayer with me today. Dear God, I know that you love me very, very much and I know that the Lord Jesus Christ came God on the cross so that I might be forgiven today. I repainted my I confess my sin. And I invite you to come and Jesus name if you prayed that prayer that may be the first one to welcome you to the family of God. This is one I hope that you know how much I'm going to be praying for you. How very important call us so we can talk to Nick to life ice you can begin this wonderful journey in just a moment. I'm in a come back with the final if you just gave your life to Jesus Christ that he rededicated your life, you need to share that with somebody and we pray you share with us, you can call us right now in 866-899-WORD would love to rejoice with you. Pray with you and put some free resources in your hands. The doctor done what you have at 866-899-WORD again. The numbers 866899673 with other pray with you, pray for you baby help you connect with a local church. Just know that we're here for you at 866-899-WORD 9673 and also online at tewonline.org he the place will discover great resources like this prayer and our founding fathers understood everything and everything that we are is really we're on our own. God has a very serious next page for America this month for your gift of amounts of The Encouraging Word broadcast received colorful applicability stuck 31 days of prayer from 90 days to resource that will provide encouragement now and for the days ahead. You will have a renewed focus on the promise and power of prayer and for your freedom, Lance at 866899 word that's 866-899-WORD 96732 request free indeed and 31 days of prayer for supporting The Encouraging Word as we continue to proclaim the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ to a nation in desperate need of biblical truth, the number again is 866-899-WORD not just for those great resources but also for prayer any time day or night. That's 866-899-WORD 9673 before we get away closing… Here I am again one of Davidson's brain. You know, one of the things I want to say is let's like you know we got so many means to be able to do that you can dress in my life be found directly in front of us. We all were a family together.

We stay connected so many way and your life is very nice and God shows and I want to be a more relationship growth needs in mind. I'm working and I want to frighten, please don't stop cordless rock. Just keep praying. Keep giving. Keep connecting keep rejoicing, keep celebrating, keep striving God is on.

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