HOW TO USE OUR WORDS
EPHESIANS 4:25-32
Part 1
Introduction:
There is a real need among Christians to choose their words with care. One of the most irritating things in this world is to hear someone berate another person or to hear someone you vile language.
Here in America there is an epidemic of bad language among God’s people. Perhaps we hear it so much that we become caught up in it. It is tragic how professed Christians dishonor the Lord with their mouth.
I. TO DECEIVE OR BE OPEN AND HONEST
Ephesians 4:25, “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.”
A. To deceive, conscious and intentional falsehood.
1. One who loves evil more than good, Psalm 52:3, “Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness.”
2. A lying tongue is one of seven things God hates, Proverbs 6:17, “A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,”
B. Speak truth, Ephesians 4:15, “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”
1. Determine to speak the truth always, Proverbs 8:7, “For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.”
2. Hereby we demonstrate that we have been redeemed, Proverbs 12:17, “He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.”
3. For we are brethren in Christ, 1 Corinthians 12:12, “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.”
II. TO STAY ANGRY OR APOLOGIZE
Ephesians 4:26, “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:”
A. To be angry at sin, John 2:13-16, “And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, 14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: 15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; 16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.”
B. But don’t be provoked, Ecclesiastes 7:9, “Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.”
C. Keep short accounts, Deuteronomy 24:15, “At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee.”
D. Apologize, Ephesians 4:31-32, “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
III. TO PUT DOWN OR TO LIFT UP
Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”
A. Corrupt communications, Ephesians 5:3-4, “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
1. These things grieve the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 4:30, “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
2. Not only is the Holy Spirit offended, but God’s people are ashamed, Psalm 25:3, “Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.”
B. Communication that edifies, (edification: the act of one who promotes another’s growth in Christian wisdom, piety, happiness, holiness), Psalm 37:30-31, “The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. 31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.”
CONCLUSION
We will deal with part 2 of this subject next Wednesday night.