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.