You’re A Mean One
In week 2 of our mini-series “Don’t Be A Grinch”. In our final message of the year we are looking at how to not be “A Mean One”.
Our world is full of bitterness, anger and strife and while this season has been called “the most wonderful time of the year” for many it is a time of fighting and just plain meanness.
In Paul’s letter to Titus he encourages him to remind the saints in the church to live a Christian ethic. “submit to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness to all people.” (Titus 3:1)
These are tendencies of a life changed by Jesus but you and I well know this is not how most people act, nor is it how we often act! The reason we often live lives that don’t honor God is because we live them in our own power – absent from the love and grace we can give ONLY through God's Spirit.
As we discover the markers and the solution to a Grinch-like heart, It’s important to understand, The birth of Christ has given us the opportunity to have transformed hearts, minds, and actions. Because Christ transformed us through the Holy Spirit, we don’t have to live with negative attitudes.
HOW TO NOT BE A MEAN ONE.
First we need to know our tendencies. For seven seasons I coached football. One of my favorite parts of that job was breaking down the opponents tendencies. When you know how the team you’re playing wants to attack you, you can strategize your best chance at victory.
The same is true with defeating the enemy of our flesh and the Devil. We need to know that a life absent of the power of God is one that is as Titus 3:3 says, foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and detesting others. This is the result of a life lived in sin.
On our own we find ourselves people shrouded in “Grinchy”, and worse, behavior. Focused solely on our own world and our own selves. One of the greatest works of satan in our generation is to work in a group of people to become focused only on ourselves.
So what is the solution?
Titus 3:4-7 “But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, 5 he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. 6 He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.”
A solution to a Grinchy spirit, a life marked only by our focus on ourselves is only found in the Holy Spirit. Living a life through the power of the Holy Spirit is the solution to living a life of foolishness, disobedience, walking in deception, being enslaved to passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy and being filled with hate.
God’s Holy Spirit is the method of delivery that we are given the power to overcome sin in our lives. It is the Holy Spirit who gives us wisdom, understanding, power to resist sin and helps us know God’s will.
Jesus said of himself in Luke 4:18 that he came to set free captives. This is still his mission in our life. In Christ we can be set free from our bitterness, hatefulness, anger, lust and foolish behavior. In Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit we can step into all God has for us.
Questions for Further Discussion:
What is one thing that stood out to you from this week's message or your small group?
Share with your student something you have encountered that you need to the Holy Spirit to help overcome. Ask them if they have had something they are working through or have come through with the power of God’s Spirit.
As followers of Jesus we often know how we should live but do we always live that way? What’s the difference in striving to be better and surrendering to allow the Holy Spirit to work in us to be more like Jesus?
Pray together that the Holy Spirit would work in your life and theirs to help you both live more like Jesus and not be “a Mean one”
