HOW TO USE OUR WORDS
EPHESIANS 4:25-32
Part 2
Introduction:
We have dealt with how we can use our words to DECEIVE or to be OPEN AND HONEST and how to stay ANGRY OR TO APOLOGIZE, and PUTTING DOWN or LIFTING UP. The second part of this study deals with to HURT or to HEAL the wounds AND to HATE or to FORGIVE.
IV. TO HURT OR TO HEAL
Ephesians 4:31, “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:”
1. Clamour, (A CONTINUED NOISY COMPLAINT), Acts 22:22-23, “And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live. 23 And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,”
2. Evil speaking, ( SLANDER, detraction, speech injurious to another’s good name):
a. One that sows DISCORD, Proverbs 6:19, “A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”
b. One who has HATRED in his life, Proverbs 10:18, “He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.”
c. One who CAUSES deep wounds, Proverbs 18:8, “The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.”
3. All MALICE, 1 Corinthians 5:8, “Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”
V. TO HATE OR TO FORGIVE
Ephesians 4:32, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
A. The Three Positive commands:
1. To be KIND (lit., “what is suitable or fitting to a need”), Romans 12:10, “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;”
2. To be COMPASSIONATE, 1 Peter 3:8, “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:”
3. To be FORGIVING ( BEING GRACIOUS ), 2 Corinthians 2:7, “So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.”
B. The REASON for these positive commands is…
1. That in Christ GOD IS KIND, Ephesians 2:7, “That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”
2. That in Christ GOD IS COMPASSIONATE, Mark 1:41, “And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.”
3. That in Christ GOD IS GRACIOUS, Romans 8:32, “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
CONCLUSION
The conclusion of this whole matter is that we must glorify our Lord in our words as well as our deeds. The things mentioned above must be considered in a positive way. Our words should be constructive and honoring to the Lord.