Holy Habits

Sunday Service

Holy Habits

Ephesians 4:25-32

THEME:  Everyone knows this is the time of year when we all start to think about aras in our lives that need to change and we begin formulating our New Year's resolutions. For those of us who are Christians, changing is what being a Christian is all about, and we have an advantage over those who don't know Christ since we have something they don't have; the indwelling Holy Spirit who helps us change. The process by which we change is called sanctification. At the risk of oversimplifying the sanctification process, it really all boils down to breaking and making habits. In this passage, Paul explained FIVE EXCHANGES that are representative of the kinds of changes every Christian must make with the help of the Holy Spirit to show we are new creatures in Christ. Each of these exchanges has three elements: 1) what to put off; 2) what to put on; and 3) the reason why the exchange must take place. Essentailly, these are bad, ungodly habits that need to be broken and five good, godly habits that need to replace them.

1. TELLING LIES WITH TELLING THE TRUTH (v. 25)

2. UNRIGHTEOUS, UNRESOLVED ANGER WITH RIGHTEOUS, RESOLVED ANGER (vv. 26-27)

3. STEALING WITH SHARING (v. 28)

4. CORRUPT SPEECH WITH CONSTRUCTIVE SPEECH (vv. 29-30)

5. MEANNESS WITH KINDNESS - BITTERNESS WITH FORGIVENESS (vv. 31-32)

SIX STEPS FOR REPLACING AN OLD HABIT WITH A NEW HABIT

1. Discern a bad habit that needs to change (i.e., put off)

2. Determine the biblical alternative to it (i.e., put on)

3. Develop a deliberate plan to change (i.e., resturcture your life for change - activities, surroundings, associations, etc.)

4. Draw on the strength of others who can help you change (i.e, spouse, parents, kids, brother, sister, pastor, friend)

5. Discipline yourself to change (i.e., practice, practice practice; do it over and over again until it becomes habit)

6. Depend on the grace of God and the power of His Spirit to change you through constant and persistent prayer.

Thank God for creating you with the capacity to make and break habits. Ask Him to grant you His grace to break the bad, ungodly habits in your life and replace them with good, godly habits so your life will be more pleasing to Him and a better reflection of Him to those He has called you to reach with the good news that their lives can be changed too through a relationship with Christ.