ephesians Archives | Core Church LA

Living a Life of Joy in the Last Days

Joy That Survives The Last Days

When you look around, joy feels rare. News feeds stir fear. Culture grows dark. Many hearts feel numb.
Yet Ephesians 5:19–20 paints another picture:

“Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things…”

Paul just spoke about being filled with the Spirit. Now he shows the fruit. The Spirit does not just give power for hard tasks. He gives a new song.

Living a life of joy does not mean you live in denial. It means you see Jesus more clearly than the storm around you.

Living A Life Of Joy Starts With Your Heart

Notice where the music comes from. It starts “with your heart to the Lord.”
You may sing out loud. You may not. Yet deep down, your heart hums praise. The Spirit tunes your inner life.

Joy in the Bible is not a fake smile. It rests on truth.
Psalm 118:24 says:

“This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

God made this day. So you can rejoice in Him even when this day feels hard. You give thanks that He still rules, you trust that He still loves, and you lean on His promise to stay near.

Living a life of joy grows as you preach truth to your own soul. You remind yourself who God is, you recall what He did at the cross, and you cling to what He said about your future.

Joy Flows From Being Filled With The Spirit

Paul links joy to being filled with the Spirit in Ephesians 5:18–19. The flow is clear: Spirit filling leads to singing, praise, and thanks.

When you live dry and empty, worship feels heavy. Songs seem flat. Prayer feels forced. When the Spirit fills you, praise rises more free.

Living a life of joy does not mean you never feel sad. The Spirit does not erase grief. He meets you in it. He gives you strength to praise when you hurt, and He lifts your eyes when tears blur your sight.

Think about Paul and Silas in Acts 16. They sat in a dark jail. Their backs hurt from a beating. Yet they prayed and sang hymns. Other prisoners listened. God shook the prison. Chains broke. Doors opened. Joy in hard places shines bright.

Thankfulness As A Way Of Life

Verse 20 says we should be “always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.”

That sounds hard. “All things”? Does that mean we like pain? No. It means we trust God in it.

You thank God for who He is, even when you do not like what you face, and you thank Him that He works “all things together for good” for those who love Him (Romans 8:28). You thank Him that He will wipe away every tear one day (Revelation 21:4).

Living a life of joy grows as you choose thanks over grumbling. You can only think one way at a time. When thanks fills your mind, fear and self-pity lose space.

Try this:

Start and end your day by naming three things you thank God for.
Thank Him for small gifts: a meal, a hug, a verse, a sunset.
Thank Him by faith in hard spots: “God, I do not see the good yet, but I trust You.”

As you do this often, joy becomes more natural.

Joy In Community, Not Just Alone

Paul speaks of “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.” Joy grows in the body, not just in a corner alone.

Church should be a place where worship rings loud and hearts lift. Your song helps others. Their song helps you. When you sing truth together, your faith rises.

Living a life of joy means you plug into God’s people:

Show up.
Sing, even if your voice feels weak.
Share what God is doing.
Pray with others.

When you do not feel like going, that might be when you need it most.

How To Take A Step Into Joy Today

You cannot make joy by force, but you can open space for it when you walk in ways that welcome the Spirit’s work.

Try these simple steps:

Ask the Spirit to fill you again. Do this in simple words.
Open God’s Word. Read a psalm and turn parts of it into prayer.
Sing a song of praise. Do this in your car, home, or walk.
Practice thanks on purpose. Speak it out loud to God.
Encourage someone. Send a verse or kind word to a friend.

Living a life of joy will not erase every tear. It will change how you walk through them. In dark last days, joy in Jesus stands out like a light. That is the kind of life the world needs to see in us.

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Always Being Filled With The Spirit

Why God Compares Alcohol And The Holy Spirit

Ephesians 5:18 gives a strong command:

“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit…”

God draws a sharp line. He sets two ways to live side by side. You can live under the pull of alcohol. Or you can live under the lead of the Spirit.

One path numbs you. The other path fills you.
One wastes your life. The other makes your life count.

Many people drink to escape pain, fear, or stress. They feel weak. They feel small. So they reach for a bottle, a pill, or a screen. The buzz feels bold. The quiet feels safe. Yet the cost comes later. Shame. Regret. Broken trust.
That is why the text calls it “dissipation.” The word points to waste. Squander. Throwing away.

God offers a better way: always being filled with the Spirit.

What “Always Being Filled With The Spirit” Means

The Spirit comes to live in every believer at new birth. Paul says:

“Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16)

If you have trusted in Christ, the Spirit lives in you. That is settled.
Yet Ephesians 5:18 speaks of a different thing. The verb points to “keep on being filled.” You live in ongoing surrender, stay open to His lead, and you seek fresh strength.

Always being filled with the Spirit looks like this:

You listen to God’s Word.
You say “yes” when He points out sin.
You say “no” when flesh tempts you.
You ask for His help, not just your own willpower.

You do not just try harder. You lean harder on Him.

Always Being Filled With The Spirit Brings Power

Jesus spoke about this in Acts 1:8:

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses…”

The word “upon” there comes from the Greek “epi.” It points to power that rests on you for action. You still feel weak in yourself. Yet God’s power shows up as you obey.

Always being filled with the Spirit changes how you speak. A shy heart can share Christ. A bitter tongue can bless. A fearful person can stand firm.

This does not mean you turn perfect. It does mean you do not fight sin alone. The Spirit gives you strength to turn from lust, lies, or rage. He builds new habits where old ones held you bound.

What Robs Us Of Being Filled

The Spirit grieves when we hold on to sin. Ephesians 4:30 says:

“Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God…”

You cannot stay full of the Spirit and cling to known sin at the same time. One will push the other out.

Some sins look huge and clear: sexual sin, theft, abuse. Some sins look small: sharp words, white lies, cold hearts. Both kinds grieve Him.

Even good things can crowd Him out. Sports, hobbies, and work can grow big. They are not evil in themselves. But they turn harmful when they rule our time and heart.

Always being filled with the Spirit means you check your heart:

Is anything owning me right now?
Does something get my best time more than Jesus?
Do I reach for a screen, a drink, or a game when I feel low instead of God?

When you see that, you bring it to Him. You confess and turn. You ask Him to fill those empty spots with His real life.

How To Seek A Fresh Filling Today

You do not earn the Spirit’s filling by trying to be “good enough.” Instead, you come empty and honest. You come low.

Here is a simple path:

Ask God to search you. Pray Psalm 139:23–24 in your own words.
Confess what He shows. Name sin as sin. Do not make it small.
Lay down control. Tell Him you want His will, not your own.
Ask Him to fill you. Ask for a fresh work of His power and love.
Step out in faith. Obey the next little thing He shows you.

You may not feel a rush. That is okay. You walk by faith, not by feelings. As you keep saying “yes” to God and “no” to sin, you live in the flow of His life.

Always being filled with the Spirit gives you strength that does not come from you. It gives you joy that does not depend on your day. It turns weak people into bold witnesses. That is the life God wants for you.

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Walking with Wisdom in Evil Days

Walking With Wisdom When The World Feels Dark

The Bible calls us to live “awake.” That sounds simple. It is not.
Ephesians 5:14–17 says:

“Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

God tells us the days are evil. He does not hide it. You see it in the news, and in your city. And you may even feel it in your own home.
In times like this, walking with wisdom matters even more.

What “Walking With Wisdom” Really Means

“Walking” in the Bible often means “how you live each day.”
“Walking with wisdom” means you live with your eyes open. You do not drift. Instead, you think, pray and choose.

You do not just follow feelings or copy culture. You follow Christ.

That word “careful” in verse 15 points to watching your step. A wise person looks where they walk. They think about where each step leads. Every choice shapes a path.

You ask:

Will this draw me close to Jesus?
Will this dull my heart to Him?
Will this help someone see Christ?

The wise walk aims at eternity, not just comfort today.

Walking With Wisdom In Evil Days

The text says, “because the days are evil.” That feels true right now.
Paul told Timothy what the last days look like (2 Timothy 3:1–4). People love self and money. They brag, and they hate what is good, chasing pleasure over God. That reads like a news feed.

God told Daniel that in the end “knowledge will increase” (Daniel 12:4). We see that too. Tech grows fast. Devices change each year. Knowledge grows, but wisdom shrinks. People become clever sinners, not holy saints.

You live in that world. Your kids grow up in that world. This is why walking with wisdom matters so much.

You cannot stop the last days. You can live wise in them.

Redeeming The Time: How To Use Your Days Well

Ephesians 5:16 says, “making the most of your time, because the days are evil.”
The Greek idea behind “making the most” is like buying back. You “redeem” time from waste, pull it out of the grip of sin and flesh, and use it for God.

You only get so many days. Only God knows how many.
So ask:

What steals my time with God?
What robs my mind of peace?
What dulls my heart to His voice?

Maybe it is endless scrolling, or a hobby that grew too big. Maybe it is friends who pull you from Christ.

When you start walking with wisdom, you say “yes” to what feeds your soul. You say “no” to what drains your spirit.

Knowing God’s Will In A Confused World

Verse 17 says, “So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
God’s will is not a guessing game. He makes key parts very clear.

1 Timothy 2:3–4 says:

“This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

God wants people saved. He wants them to know truth. He sent Jesus as the one Mediator and ransom (1 Timothy 2:5–6). When you live in line with that, you live wise.

You share hope, and you warn in love. You invite people to Christ. And you stand for truth, but with a broken heart, not a hard one.

How To Start Walking With Wisdom Today

You do not need a PhD to start walking with wisdom. But you do need a soft heart.

Open your Bible each day, even if only a few verses.
Ask the Spirit to show sin, and then turn from it.
Watch your steps. Think about where choices lead.
Keep eternity in view, not just this week.

You will not do this perfect. None of us do.
But when you fall, do not stay down. Get back up. Keep walking with wisdom with your eyes on Christ.

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Walking in the Light

Ephesians 5 does not just tell us what to leave. It shows us how to live. God calls us out of darkness and into a bright, clear way of life.

Paul writes:

“Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light…” (Eph. 5:7–8)

You once were darkness. Not just in darkness. You were part of it. Now, in Christ, you are light in the Lord. This change calls you to start walking in the light.

Walking in the Light as Children of God

Notice Paul’s words. He does not say, “Try to become light.”
He says, “You are Light in the Lord.”

Your new identity sits in Jesus. You shine because He shines in you. Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world” (John 8:12). Later He says to His followers, “You are the light of the world” (Matt. 5:14).

When you came to Christ, God took you out of the kingdom of darkness and placed you into the kingdom of His Son (Col. 1:13). So now you live as a “child of Light.” That means your life should match your new home.

Walking in the light means you:

Bring hidden things into the open before God.
Refuse to join others in works of darkness.
Let your choices reflect God’s goodness.

The Fruit of Walking in the Light

Paul explains what this light looks like:

“(for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth)” (Eph. 5:9)

Three key traits grow when you walk in the light:

Goodness – You act for the true good of others. You help, serve, and bless, even when no one sees.
Righteousness – You do what is right according to God’s standard, not culture’s mood.
Truth – You speak and live with honesty. You do not fake it. You stand on God’s Word.

As you practice these, people around you notice. They may not like it at first, but they cannot deny it. Light always makes things clear.

Walking in the Light Means Testing What Pleases God

Paul adds:

“trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.” (Eph. 5:10)

You do not live on auto-pilot. You test by asking, “Does this please Jesus?”

Ask that about:

What you watch.
How you date.
How you handle money.
What jokes you laugh at.
How you treat enemies.

Romans 12:2 says we should not be “conformed to this world,” but be transformed by the renewing of our mind, “so that you may prove what the will of God is.”

You learn what pleases God as you soak in Scripture and obey what you read. Each act of obedience trains your heart to know His voice.

Exposing Works of Darkness

Paul does not stop at personal holiness. He writes:

“Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them, for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.” (Eph. 5:11–12)

Darkness produces “unfruitful” deeds. Sin looks fun at first. In the end, it leaves you empty. It bears no lasting fruit.

Walking in the light means you do not join in. You also expose dark works, not by harsh pride, but by shining a different way. Your clean life, pure speech, and steady love bring hidden things into view.

Verse 13 says:

“But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.”

Light reveals. Once you bring a thing into God’s light, He can heal, cleanse, and change it. That is why confession matters. When you confess your sins, you agree with God about what He already sees.

1 John 1:7–9 ties this together:

“if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light… the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin… If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive…”

So you keep short accounts with God. You do not hide.

A Different Way to Love the World

Walking in the light does not mean you hate people in darkness. It means you refuse to bless the darkness that hurts them. You remember that you once walked there too.

1 Corinthians 6:11 says, “Such were some of you.” You came out only by grace. So you show that same grace. You do not stand above sinners. Instead, you stand beside them and point to the Savior.

You love, serve and tell the truth. Also, you invite and you pray.

Jesus did not come to condemn the world but to save it (John 3:17). As you walk in the light, you reflect that same heart. You refuse to call evil good. But you also refuse to give up hope on anyone.

One day, the end will come. God will judge every life. Until then, He calls you to shine. He calls you to wake up, step out of the shadows, and live as a clear, bright sign that Jesus is real.

This is your call today: rise up, start walking in the light, and let the world see Christ in you.

To watch the full message and bible study on this topic, CLICK HERE.

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Not Allowing Deception

Ephesians 5 does not just call us to love and holiness. It also gives a strong warning. Paul speaks with clarity about sin and about lies that make sin feel safe.

He writes:

“For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words…” (Eph. 5:5–6)

If we want to walk with Jesus, we must commit to not allowing deception in our hearts.

Not Allowing Deception About Sin and Salvation

Paul says, “this you know with certainty.” He does not leave room for fuzzy views. He links a lifestyle of unrepentant sin with no share in God’s kingdom.

Sexual sin, impurity, and greed show a heart that bows to other gods. Paul even calls the covetous person an idolater. That person worships desire more than God.

We cannot rewrite this. Culture may change, but God’s standard does not. What was sin 2,000 years ago still stands as sin today.

This does not mean that if you ever fall, you are lost. Paul speaks about ongoing, willful, unbroken patterns. The person who refuses to repent proves they do not want Christ as Lord.

1 Corinthians 6:9–10 lists fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, practicing homosexuals, thieves, drunkards, and others as those who will not inherit the kingdom. But verse 11 gives hope:

“Such were some of you; but you were washed… sanctified… justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ…”

Grace changes people. True faith leads to true turning.

Not Allowing Deception from Empty Words

Paul warns:

“Let no one deceive you with empty words…” (Eph. 5:6)

Empty words sound smooth. They feel kind. They go like this:

“It’s just sex.”
“Everyone does it.”
“If you love each other, then it’s fine.”
“God cares about your heart, not your body.”

These phrases hide the truth. They try to dull the sharp edge of God’s Word.

Not allowing deception means you judge every message by Scripture, not by feelings. You treat God’s Word as the final voice.

1 Thessalonians 4:3–5 says:

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality…”

God’s will stands clear. He calls us to flee sexual sin, not see how close we can get. You do not ask, “How far can I go?” You ask, “How can I honor God and honor this person?”

Sexual Sin Cheats Us Out of God’s Best

Deception cheats you. Sin always over-promises and under-delivers.

James 1:14–15 explains how sin works. Desire draws us away. We take the bait. Sin grows. It brings death.

When you give in to sexual sin or impurity, you feel a rush. Soon after, shame comes. Guilt comes. Distance from God follows. You cheat yourself of joy and peace.

The Holy Spirit will pull on your heart. He uses guilt and sorrow not to crush you but to bring you back (2 Cor. 7:9–10). If you fight His voice and keep going, your heart grows hard. The tug grows faint. That is the real danger.

So if you feel conviction today, thank God. That means your heart is still soft.

Turning Point: Repentance and a New Path

If you have crossed lines—porn, sleeping with your boyfriend or girlfriend, living together, secret chats—you can stop. Today can mark a new line in the sand.

Repentance means you:

Agree with God that your sin is sin.
Turn from it, not just feel bad about it.
Take real steps to cut off access (change numbers, delete apps, end wrong ties).
Ask trusted believers to walk with you.

1 Thessalonians 4:7 tells us:

“For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.”

God calls you higher. He does not call you to shame. He calls you to freedom. When you choose purity now, you sow trust, respect, and honor into your future marriage. You start to build a clean story from today on.

Hope for Singles and the Married

If you are single, wait for a man or woman who honors God with you. If someone pushes you past God’s lines, they do not love you; they love themselves. Real love protects.

If you are married and intimacy feels dead, ask God for help. Plan time. Turn off screens. Show affection. Rekindle the gift God made for you both (1 Cor. 7:3–5).

If porn grabs you, cut off the source. Do not play with it. It trains your mind to see people as objects. It makes real love harder. Get help. Bring it into the light.

In all this, not allowing deception means you cling to truth, even when it costs. You trust that God’s way leads to life every time.

To watch the full message and bible study on this topic, CLICK HERE.

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How to Be an Imitator of God in Everyday Life

We all wake up every day. We crawl out of bed, grab coffee, check our phone, and start our routine. But God calls us to a deeper wake-up. He calls us to wake up spiritually.

In Ephesians 5:1–2, Paul writes:

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us…” (NASB)

So what does being an imitator of God really look like? How can simple people like us live this way?

Being an Imitator of God Starts with Identity

Paul does not say, “Imitate God so He will love you.”
He says, “Imitate God as beloved children.”

You already stand loved in Christ. That is your starting point. God sees you in Jesus. He calls you His child (1 John 3:1). You do not earn that place. You receive it by faith.

Because of this, being an imitator of God flows out of who you are, not who you try to be. You act like your Father because you belong to your Father. Children copy what they see at home. In the same way, you copy what you see in God.

So the first step is simple: stay close to Him. Open your Bible. Talk to Him. Watch how Jesus acts in the Gospels. That is how your Father looks.

Being an Imitator of God Means Walking in Love

Paul links imitation of God with love:

“…walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us…” (Eph. 5:2)

Love defines how God acts. John tells us, “God is love” (1 John 4:8). Jesus shows this love when He gives Himself up on the cross. True love gives. It serves. True love costs something.

You walk in love when you:

Forgive people who wrong you (Eph. 4:32).
Speak words that heal, not words that crush (Eph. 4:29).
Show kindness when others show anger.
Choose to do good when no one thanks you.

This kind of love does not feel easy. Many days it feels like death to self. Yet that is the point. You love “just as Christ” loved you. He did not wait for us to improve. He loved us while we were still sinners (Rom. 5:8).

Ask this in each hard moment:
“Right now, what does love look like?”

Then do that. That is what it means to walk in love.

Holiness Makes Our Witness Strong

Paul moves from love to holiness:

“But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.” (Eph. 5:3)

Sexual sin, impurity, and greed break trust. They harm people. They confuse the message we preach.

Egypt in Scripture often pictures the world (Lev. 18:3). God told His people not to live like the nations around them. In the same way, we live in this world, but we do not copy its ways. Jesus calls us to be “perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt. 5:48). Peter echoes this:

“Be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” (1 Pet. 1:15–16)

Holiness here does not mean fake perfection. It means a life set apart. It means we say “yes” to God in every area. People see our choices. They listen more when our lives match our words.

When you choose purity, you speak loudly, even if you say nothing with your mouth.

God Uses Flawed Imitators

You might say, “I can’t do this. I fail too much.”
Look at Peter.

He spoke out of turn, was bold and then fearful, and then he denied Jesus three times (Luke 22:54–62). Yet Jesus restored him (John 21:15–19). Peter preached at Pentecost, and about 3,000 people came to Christ (Acts 2:41).

God did not pick Peter because he was perfect. God saw what Peter would become when filled with the Spirit. And God sees you the same way.

1 Corinthians 1:8 says Jesus will “confirm you to the end, blameless.” He holds you, shapes you, and He finishes what He starts (Phil. 1:6).

So do not give up. Keep repenting, trusting and walking.

Imitate God in Speech and Conduct

Paul even mentions how we talk:

“there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting…” (Eph. 5:4)

Filthy talk, foolish jokes, and crude humor do not fit a child of God. Words reveal the heart (Matt. 12:34). Your speech should show light, not darkness.

Ask:
“Would I say this if Jesus stood in the room?”

If not, then do not say it. Instead, give thanks. Speak life.

As you do, your neighbors, coworkers, and friends will notice. They may not know what changed. But they will see something different. That “something” is Someone. They will see Christ in you.

This is the call: wake up, and live being an imitator of God. One choice at a time. One word at a time. One act of love at a time.

To watch the full message and bible study on this topic, CLICK HERE.

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Read more in the Core Truth blog when you CLICK HERE.

Putting On the New

Why Putting On the New Must Follow Letting Go of the Old

Putting on the new comes right after we let go of the old. Ephesians 4 does not stop with, “Strip off the old self.” It tells us what to wear instead.

Ephesians 4:24 says, “Put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” God does not just call you away from sin. He calls you into His own life, His own character, His own joy.

You do not walk around “half dressed” in the Christian life. And you do not just stop bad habits and then leave a hole. You replace them with new, holy habits. God gives you a new wardrobe in Christ.

Putting On the New Self in Your Mind and Heart

Putting on the new begins inside. It starts with a new heart that loves what God loves. It grows with a new mind that thinks like Jesus.

Colossians 3:9–10 speaks of the same picture: “You laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him.” Your new self keeps growing. God keeps shaping you to look more like Jesus.

You do not make yourself new by trying hard. God already made you new in Christ. Now you live out what He did. You choose what fits the new you.

New Words: From Rotten Talk to Words That Build

Ephesians 4 gives very clear examples. Verse 25: “Laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor.” You do not just stop lying. You start telling the truth.

Verse 29 says, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification.” “Unwholesome” means rotten. Dirty jokes, harsh insults, and cruel gossip all rot the air. New life cannot live in rotten talk.

You put on new speech with kind, honest, wise words. You speak to help, not to harm, and you use your tongue to heal, not to cut. If you cannot say something that builds, you stay quiet until you can.

New Responses: From Anger and Revenge to Peace and Grace

Anger hits us all. Ephesians 4:26 says, “Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.” You will feel anger at times, but you cannot let it rule you. You do not hold it overnight, but deal with it before it turns into hate.

Verse 31 says, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.” Instead of that, verse 32 tells you what to put on: “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”

God measures how you forgive by how He forgave you. He forgave you at the cross, and He paid your full debt. He did not wait for you to earn it, or keep a list. You put on that same kind of forgiveness.

You do not have to like what people did. However, you choose not to hold it over them. You give them to God, and trust Him with justice. You walk free.

New Habits: From Stealing and Laziness to Work and Giving

Ephesians 4:28 gives another sharp picture. “He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.” You do not just stop taking. You start giving.

When God changes you, He changes how you see money, time, and work. You see work as a gift, not just a burden, and you use your job to bless your family and to help people in need. You use your skills for good, not for greed.

Sometimes putting on the new means getting a job. It means doing your work with a good heart. Sometimes it means opening your hand to share.

Do Not Grieve the Spirit as You Put On the New

Ephesians 4:30 warns, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” The Spirit sealed you. He marked you as God’s own. You hurt His heart when you choose the old life again and again.

Putting on the new means you listen when the Spirit says, “No,” listen when He says, “Yes,” and you follow His lead in small things and big things. You let Him guide your talk, your screens, your money, your home, and your time.

Will you do all of this perfectly? No. You will fail. You will sin. Yet you keep returning. You keep putting on Christ again and again.

Romans 13:14 says, “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.” You put on the new by putting on Jesus, remembering who He is, and what He did. You remember that your life now belongs to Him.

As you keep putting on the new in these simple, daily ways, you will learn to walk like Jesus. People around you will see the change. They will not just hear your words. They will feel your love, your peace, your truth, and your grace. And God will use your new walk to draw them to Himself.

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Laying Aside the Old Life

What Laying Aside the Old Really Means

Laying aside the old sounds simple. It does not feel simple. The old ways feel safe. The old sins feel close. Still, God calls us to let them go.

Ephesians 4:20–22 says, “But you did not learn Christ in this way… that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit.” The “old self” means who you were before Jesus saved you. That old self chases lies. That old self loves sin.

Laying aside the old means you stop carrying that dead life. You strip it off like filthy clothes, and do not fold it up and keep it in the closet. You throw it out.

Why the Old Life Does Not Fit You Anymore

When you come to Christ, God makes you new. He does not just shine you up. He changes what you are at the core.

Second Corinthians 5:17 says, “If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” In Christ, you become a new creation. The old life, with its loves and habits, no longer fits who you are.

Think about Lazarus in John 11. Jesus called him out of the tomb. He came out “bound hand and foot with wrappings; and his face was wrapped around with a cloth” (John 11:44). Jesus said, “Unbind him, and let him go.” Lazarus did not stay in grave clothes. They took them off. New life does not belong in burial wraps.

You now live as someone whom God made alive (Colossians 2:13). Sin held you. Jesus freed you. Those grave clothes must go.

Laying Aside the Old and Choosing Real Repentance

Laying aside the old never stops at saying “I am sorry.” It turns. It changes direction. The Bible calls that “repentance.”

Repentance means you agree with God about your sin. You do not blame others or excuse yourself. You admit, “Lord, this is wrong, and I want to stop.” Then you act by walking a different way.

You may still feel the pull of old habits. You may still face strong temptation. That draw does not mean you stay stuck. You bring your sin into the light. Confess it. Ask for help. Choose obedience again and again.

You do not fight alone. The Holy Spirit lives in you. He teaches you, He convicts you, and He gives you power to walk in a new way.

Renewed in the Spirit of Your Mind

Ephesians 4:23 says you must “be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” God cares about how you think. He does not just change your actions. He changes your thoughts, your desires, and your will.

A renewed mind thinks like this:

“What does God say about this?”
“How can I please Jesus here?”
“What does the Bible call good?”

Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” The world wants to press you into its mold. God wants to shape you into the image of His Son. He renews your mind as you take in His Word and trust His ways.

You cannot fill your mind with filth and hope for holiness. You cannot feed on lies and hope to love truth. A renewed mind grows as you fill it with Scripture, prayer, and worship, not just with noise.

Common Old Clothes We Need to Strip Off

We see many old “clothes” in Ephesians 4 and in our own lives:

Secret sin you hide from others
Bitterness and unforgiveness
Sexual sin you refuse to give up
Pride that never says, “I was wrong”

Laying aside the old touches every part of life. It may mean deleting apps, ending a sinful relationship, or cutting off a habit that keeps pulling you down. It may mean going to someone you hurt and asking for forgiveness.

You do not have to do all of this in one day. God walks with you step by step. He leads gently. He also speaks clearly. When He says, “This must go,” then it must go.

Hope for Those Who Feel Stuck

You might say, “I tried to change. I still fail. I feel trapped.” You do not stay trapped in Christ. Although you still struggle, you fight with hope. Even though you fail, you rise again. You repent, yet you do not give up.

Philippians 1:6 promises that God will complete the good work He began in you. You did not save yourself. You will not grow yourself by your own strength. Jesus holds you. His grace trains you to say “no” to sin and “yes” to Him.

Laying aside the old may hurt. It may cost you friends. It may cost you a lifestyle. In the end, you gain Christ. You gain freedom. You gain a clean heart, a clear mind, and a life that matches the One you love.

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Watching for Trickery: How to Guard Your Walk

Why Watching for Trickery Matters So Much

Watching for trickery may not sound very fun. It may sound harsh. Still, the Bible calls us to do it. God cares about how we walk with Him every day. He cares about what we believe, what we follow, and who we listen to.

Ephesians 4:14 says we should no longer be “tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men.” That picture feels strong. One day you stand. The next day you fall over. One day you feel sure. The next day you doubt everything. That happens when we do not guard what we believe.

God wants you strong. He wants you steady. He wants you close to Him, not pulled away by smooth words or smart lies.

What “Winds of Doctrine” Look Like Today

“Doctrine” means teaching. “Winds of doctrine” means ideas that blow through the church. The ideas change. The truth does not.

Today you may hear things like:

“God just wants you happy, no matter what.”
“Love means we never say any behavior is wrong.”
“If it feels right, it must be right.”

These ideas sound kind. They sound soft. But they do not match the Bible. They do not match Jesus.

Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick.” Our feelings trick us. Our hearts lie to us. When we build our whole life on feelings, we fall hard.

Jesus warned us in Matthew 7:13–14. He said the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction. Many people walk there. The gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life. Only a few find it. Lies feel wide and easy. Truth feels narrow and hard. Yet truth leads to life.

Watching for Trickery in Church and Culture

You do not need to fear every teacher or doubt every sermon. You do need to test what you hear. God calls you to that.

The believers in Berea did this well. Acts 17:11 says they “received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” They listened with open hearts, and they also checked the Bible. They did both. You can do both too.

So ask simple questions:

Does this match clear Bible verses?
Does this make sin look small?
Does this make me feel okay to disobey God?

If a teaching tells you that sin is not really sin, it brings trickery. If it says you never need to repent, it lies. Scripture says we must repent. We must turn. We must lay aside the old way of life (Ephesians 4:22).

How to Grow Strong in Truth

You grow strong in truth by feeding on truth, not on spiritual junk food. You need God’s Word every day.

Colossians 2:3–4 says that in Christ “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” and that Paul writes “so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument.” Beautiful words and smart talk can still deceive you. Jesus never deceives you.

Hebrews 5:14 says that solid food belongs to the mature who, because of practice, train their senses to discern good and evil. That means you learn to spot lies as you study, obey, and practice God’s Word. You learn as you walk with Him, not just as you read about Him.

Reading your Bible builds your “truth muscles.” Talking with other believers helps you hear blind spots. Learning from good teachers builds your mind and heart. Obeying what you read grows your faith.

Watching for Trickery With Love, Not Pride

Watching for trickery does not mean we walk around angry. It does not mean we feel better than other people. Ephesians 4:15 tells us to “speak the truth in love.” Truth and love must stay together. Hard truth without love hurts people. Fake love without truth leaves people in danger.

You can say hard things with a soft heart. Also, you can point to the Bible, not to your own pride. You can cry for those who wander, even as you refuse to call darkness light.

As you keep watching for trickery, you protect your own walk with God. You also help others stay close to Jesus. Do not just try to win arguments. Try to win souls. Honor the Lord who gave you truth, and you’ll walk steady, even as the winds blow.

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A Purpose in Our Call: More Than Just Getting Saved

God did not call you to Christ so that you could sit, soak, and wait for heaven. He called you to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him. There is a purpose in our call, and that purpose touches every part of your life.

Ephesians 4:1–3 sets the tone:

“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love,
being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Your calling is not only about what you do in church. It is about how you walk every day.

A Purpose in Our Call: One Body, Many Lives

Ephesians 4:4–6 says:

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.”

We belong to one body, the body of Christ, with one Lord, Jesus. All of us share one faith, the gospel. And we share one baptism, into His name.

Denominations may have different labels. Cultures may have different styles. But the real church is one. God calls every believer into that one body. He calls each one with a purpose.

That means your job, your family, your singleness, your school, your skills—none of this sits outside your call. God wants to use all of it.

Colossians 3:23–24 says:

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,
knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance.
It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”

So you can sweep floors or lead teams or teach kids or run a company “for the Lord.” Every task becomes worship when you do it with faith and obedience.

Everyday Faithfulness: The Hidden Side of Calling

We often look for a huge moment, a big stage, a special title. But most of the time, God works through small, steady acts of faith.

You show up at work on time.
You do honest work when no one sees.
You honor your spouse with love and respect.
You raise your children with patience and truth.
You live pure and focused in singleness.
You serve quietly in your local church.

1 Corinthians 4:2 says:

“In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.”

God cares more about “trustworthy” than “famous.” He cares more about “faithful” than “flashy.”

When you live this way, you show that you believe there is a purpose in our call. You see your whole life as kingdom ground. You see every relationship as a chance to show Christ.

Always Ready to Answer

1 Peter 3:15 gives one of the clearest pictures of daily calling:

“but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts,
always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you,
yet with gentleness and reverence.”

First, you set Christ apart as Lord in your heart. You give Him the throne inside you. Then you stay ready to answer. You may talk to a coworker, a neighbor, a family member, a stranger.

You do not need big words, but a real story. Simply share what Jesus did for you and what He promises in His Word.

You speak gently, not with pride. You speak with respect, not with mockery. People push back. They test. People watch your life. When they see steady hope, they start to ask questions.

Serving as Christ’s Hands in a Broken World

God works through people. He works through you. He uses your words, your gifts, your time, and your love.

2 Corinthians 5:20 says:

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us;
we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

An ambassador lives in one land but speaks for another. You live on earth, but you speak for heaven. You carry the King’s message into your school, job, home, and city.

When the church understands this, the world feels the impact. People hear the gospel. The poor receive care. The broken find hope. The lost find truth.

Walking Worthy of the Call

A calling is not a feeling you chase. It is a life you live. Ephesians 4 shows the pattern:

One body, many members.
Many gifts, one purpose.
Steady truth, deep love.
Ordinary people, eternal impact.

There is a purpose in our call, and it begins with Jesus Himself. He calls you by grace, saves you by His cross and fills you with His Spirit. He sends you into this world as light in the dark.

So ask Him:

“Lord, where do You want me to serve?”
“Who do You want me to love?”
“How can I use my gifts for Your glory today?”

Then step out. Obey what you know. Be faithful where you are. Trust God to take your small yes and use it for His great plan.

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