a.) D.Y.O.R. (Do your own research!) My problem is thinking just because I went to preacher school, thinking I know it all. I DO NOT! Always learning here. Always searching for deeper understanding of Scriptures, it’s cultural background for the various books. It is truly amazing. Sixty six books all with their own audience, and purpose, background. The idea of tasking verses out of context, using them to fit and support our own beliefs is not a safe way of studying. We condemn others for doing this, but we do it ourselves. Shame. Yet a word of encouragement … we are basically on target. Have an open mind. “Familiar Scriptures demand that we consider them over and over.” Who knows we may learn more.
b.) I say all this because when it comes to the book of Ephesians, we need to research the cultural context and it’s influence on why it was written by Paul. D.Y.O.R.!
c.) Specifically looking at the verses in the title:

1. WATCH YOUR WALK!
A. Very simple idea Paul presents… since we all being part of the “body” of Christ, have a great influence on others who are in the body. Each one has a specific strength to add, a specific contribution to make to the over-all strength of the body. What’s your part? Not doing your part, not using your Spiritual gifts, not growing in grace, simply means a deep loss to the over-all body of Christ.
B. “No longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk…”
i.) “Futility” (useless, offering no hope)
ii.) “understanding darkened” (seeing everything through an evil lense).
iii.) “alienated from the life of God”
iv.) Reason behind this? Because of their own ignorance. Because of their own
blindness of their hearts. THEY JUST DON’T WANT TO SEE, UNDERSTAND,
CHANGE.
v.) “Past feeling,” “Given over to lewdness, to work all uncleanliness with greediness.”
This is so bad. Just think of this. NO FEELING, NO CONSCIENCE, NOT CARING.
Doing something so much you come to accept it as a “so-what?!”
Scary isn’t it? Dear God, keep us from this hardness of heart!
C. Letting our guards down, accepting things that are wrong, accepting an attitude towards
our own lives that “we are just humans.” We stop trying to really grow. We preach that
others need to “repent,” while never repenting ourselves. HYPOCRITE!
i.) My own struggle is just this. It is a daily struggle to be genuine and grow.
ii.) Tempted to give up, stop trying.
iii.) I must WATCH MY WALK. My own walk MUST MIRROR THAT OF JESUS.
2. GETTING TO SPECIFICS
A. “Put off CONCERNING YOUR FORMER CONDUCT…”
i,) Time to stop and think of my PAST CONDUCT. I don’t like it, regret it, stupid choices.
ii.) The old man continues to be more corrupt… deceived by lust (DYOR). Lust=desiring
and letting the flesh control. Allowing sinful desires to not only surface but dwelling
on these… day dreaming… tempted… dragged away (again) into sin. Our cycle must
be broken if we are to be free in Christ. Lust is deceitful…
B. “Be renewed in the spirit of your mind.”
i.) EVERYDAY is a battle for the mind… EVERYDAY! Almost EVERY MINUTE…
ii.) I admit it. I struggle. This is my battle.
iii.) “Put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness
and holiness.”
C. HOW???
i.) CONFESS – To God (forgiveness) He promises to forgive… I Jno. 2:1f
ii.) CONFESS – To another brother you trust (healing) Jms. 5:16 “Confess your
trespasses to one another, pray for one another, THAT YOU MAY BE HEALED. ”
Does it work? Yes! Is this easy? No! You want to be healed? Yes! So DO IT! No more
excuses. Time to break the cycle of sin in life.
iii.) RUN! Time to exercise! Joseph (Gen. 39) Joseph had to deal with Mrs. Potiphar.
HE RAN FROM HER!
I missed for so long the need to RUN! LEAVE! GET OUT! Quit playing ‘footsies’ with
Satan thinking, it’s ok. It’s not! A wise man knows where his weakness is. A foolish man
knows and plays anyway. Read Proverbs 5:1-10ff
3. BACK TO THE BUTTERFLY AND SPIDER.
A. Let’s be honest with ourselves. Romans 7 speaks of a war going on. As long as we are
in this world, we will have to be involved in this ward with the flesh. Our flesh.
Our struggle.
B. In our lives, we cannot give in to the “spider” (flesh)(old man), that always seeks the
dark places. “We are only as strong as we are honest” (with ourselves).
C. Strive for spiritual growth (butterfly). Put off/put on. Strengthen the soul and mind.
Follow after (focus your eyes on) Jesus (Heb. 12:1-2) .
D. Come on people. Let’s do this. Pray for me, pray for yourself.

GROW IN GRACE!