How To Get Rid Of Dragon Breath | Ephesians 4:17-32

Takeaway Verse: Ephesians 4:30

Remember, He has identified you as His own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

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Transcription:

Welcome to The Bible for Busy People. I’m Erica Parkerson. This is the place where we meet up to read half a chapter of God’s Word together and remember how loved we are. Jesus extends an amazing invitation to us in the Bible. He says, come to me and I WILL give you rest. This is us RSVPing: Yes!! to that invitation. So, take a deep breath and let’s get started.

The title of today’s episode is, “How to Get Rid of Dragon Breath”. Oh yeah, more on that in moments. But first, before we dive into God’s word in the second half of chapter four, in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, join me in a word of prayer. Father, we come to you in the mighty and powerful name of Jesus. Lord, sometimes we feel so weak, so inept at everything, but Lord, you are powerful. You are strong and you make us strong. You tell us when we are weak, we are actually strong in you. So God, we dedicate these next few minutes to you. We’re busy people, Lord, we’ve got to-do lists a mile long, but we pause right now and invite you into this space. Thank you for your word. Thank you for being willing to be with us. Please open up our eyes and our hearts to what you want us to see and understand in your word today. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus, we pray. Amen. 

Aren’t you so glad that we can talk to God like that? Jesus opened the way. The cross is the bridge back to God and it means we can just talk to God, friend to friend. It’s amazing to me. God can be your friend. And he’s the friend that sticks closer than a brother, as the word says. All right, here we are. Second half of Ephesians chapter four. Paul is writing to the church in Ephesus from jail. Always keep that in the back of your mind, Paul was imprisoned for his faith. But he is encouraging the people who go to church in Ephesus, and he is encouraging you today, right now, here we go. 

Ephesians chapter four, beginning in verse 17. “With the Lord’s authority I say this, live no longer as the Gentiles do for, they are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness. They wander far from the life God gives because they have closed minds and hardened their hearts against him.” Quick thing, Gentile simply means non-Jew. So, whenever you hear Paul refer to the Gentiles, it’s just, non-Jewish people. “They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity, but that isn’t what you learned about Christ. Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature created to be like God, truly righteous and holy. 

“So, stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. And don’t sin by letting anger control you. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. Don’t use foul or abrasive language. Let everything you say, be good and helpful so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not bring sorrow to God’s holy spirit, by the way you live.” 

Here’s our takeaway verse, verse 30. “Remember he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.” That’s good news. “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted forgiving one another, just as God through Christ. Has forgiven you.”

Whew, some powerful words there today, but God has identified you as his own. And Paul is telling us, throw off those old ways. Ah, right. And it made me think of one of the Chronicles of Narnia. Have you ever read them? I recommend them so highly, CS Lewis wrote them and whenever I tend to feel far away from God, I will read those stories or listen to them. And I remember that God is actually really close. 

There’s a character named Aslan. Who’s a lion, who’s kind of like the Christ figure in these series of stories. And today I wanna tell you a scene from, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. It’s about a boy named Eustace, and I love it because CS Lewis says he pretty much deserved that bad of a name. He was just a mean kid, a bully. And so, in the story, he actually turns into a dragon, and he realizes that it was really an outward picture of what his heart looked like on the inside. And the only one who could turn him back into a human was Aslan the lion. And there is this powerful scene in the story when Aslan comes and rips off the dragon skin and it hurts a little bit and it’s hard, but then Eustace is brand new. But he’s not only brand new on the outside and clean, he’s brand new on the inside, and clean. 

And that is what the Lord is asking us to do through these words he gave to Paul. Throw off those layers of sin and embrace the new life that he has given to you and given to me. God has identified us, you and me, as his own guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. He is the only one who can make us clean. I’m so thankful. Can’t wait to dive into Ephesians chapter five with you tomorrow.

Thank you so much for listening to the Bible for Busy People. If you need prayer or you’re ready to go a little deeper in your faith, we’ve posted some resources for you in our show notes. We’d love for you to share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review. It helps us reach even more people with the hope of Jesus. This podcast is part of Purposely, a podcast network designed with practical podcasts to help you find and live in God’s purpose for your life. Find more podcasts that will recharge you at onpurposely.com.