Mark 2:1-12

How to Be a Person That Won't Allow Those Around You to Stay the Same:

1 - The Bible says the friends climbed, removed, dug, and let the friend down. There is effort and uncomfortability in the process of seeing a miracle come to pass. If you're not willing to climb over any obstacle, dig out any barrier, and remove any hindrance... your effectancy will be limited, The hard work is often the heart work, and the costs we are willing to pay often deteremine the levels we are able to climb.

2 - Are you a "seeing their faith" person??? Jesus' response was based on the disposition and devotion of the friends who knew what their brother needed... who then made a conscious choice that they would not allow themselves to quit until they exhausted every possible avenue for him to be healed. People who get close to you should not be allowed to remain the same just by your mere presence around them. You're either gas or water, and your habits, disciplines, and rhythmic walking with God are what determines that.

3 - Your souls formation is foundationally connected to miracles taking place... it is the closeness and fullness that we walk in that gives us the strength to remove the obstacles, and carry others to the feet of Jesus. The spirit must be in us, for others to get close through us. My life is an overflow of my time and attention. If he has both those characteristics of my personhood, a byproduct is a person who tears off roofs, and lowers people to the feet of the One that we gaze upon, and rhythmically follow... beholding is becoming and proximity develops potency.

Ephesians 4:17-32

How to Not Be a "Your Zippers Down" Christian:

1- Truth. (Eph. 4:25)

Functioning Properly: We put on and practice truthfulness, and people would describe us as real and authentic.

Functioning Improperly: our words cannot be trusted, we cannot be counted on, and people don't know if they can believe or trust us to follow through on what we say.

2- Anger (Eph. 4:26)

Functioning Properly: We are allowed anger towards sin, not anger that becomes sin

Functioning Improperly: Our anger renders us out of control, and alienates people from us, we cannot control it and it’s outbursts undermine our identity as a follower of God.

3- Delight (Eph. 4:28)

Functioning Properly: We take delight in the work of your hands and that our production within our gifts and talents are used help others

Functioning Improperly: We will do anything to anyone in order to feed unhealthy desires (in this passage references stealing directly).. We look for shortcuts to gain more for our desires, and our pursuit of more typically never involved anyone other than ourselves.

4- Words (Eph. 4:29)

Functioning Properly: The words we choose are to build up and strengthen ourselves/others.

Functioning Improperly: We seldom use our words for anything positive and are known for tearing others down, gossip, slander, and destabilizing people with our presence.

5- Conviction. (Eph. 4:30)

Functioning Properly: We must follow the conviction of the spirit inside us. (vs 30)

Functioning Improperly: We grieve the spirit by not following its voice inside as it leads our life in what we know is biblical and true, and in turn we become a slave to our desires and impulses.

6- Bitterness, Wrath, Malice (Eph. 4:31)

Functioning Properly: We are self-aware of any areas of bitterness, wrath, malice (intention and desire to do evil), and we seek to dispose of before it disposes of us.

Functioning Improperly: Our feelings become our truth, and we rationalize why we are allowed to feel how we feel and will not push ourselves towards a pathway of healing.

7- Tenderhearted (Eph. 4:32)

Functioning Properly: We are kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving, and those around us describe us as so.

Functioning Improperly: We are not kind to others, we do not practice empathy, and we do not forgive or ever ask for forgiveness.

Ephesians 4:1-16

How to Grow in the Right Things So We Are Remembered for the Right Reasons:

1- A life lived worthy of the call of God consists of humility, gentleness, patience, tolerance in love, unity and peace. Can thee words be used to describe me?? We feel empty when these attributes are absent. If you will take serious the process of God's character becoming your character, don't be surprised when God's power becomes your power... you don't need a thousands reps once... you need one rep every day for a thousand days.

2- Jesus' resurrection and ascension was about being able to give the gift of filling all of us with His Spirit... this Spirit is for us to walk in the fullness of Jesus' example, and to equip and to build up others to do the same. Rhythmic exposure to both private and corporate times of the Spirit and Scriptures is what turns a common life into an uncommon one, and makes an uncommon difference within the common activities and interactions of your day to day... equip and build yourself unto equppiing and building others.

3- We are to be built in love. There is no theology apart from love, no tricks of success that can cover the activity of love, or ways of functioning that can replace the action of love. IF those around you question the love you walk in they cannot receive the love you want to give. Love grows us in all aspects at once, and a deformed faith is one that allows you to pick and choose the love you walk and give to others based off your feelings of the day... the who and how of your love has a direct impact on the when and why of God’s will for you.