Ephesians 4:29 says, Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. This verse hardly needs explaining, but I feel like the world needs to hear it right now.
I have to be completely honest and confess that I struggle with this. I have been known to make cutting remarks behind someone's back, to use the occasional mild swear word, to say things that don't build people up and make them feel better. I'm not proud of it. I have asked God to help me with it and he has. Our words are so important. Here are some other Bible verses about them: Matthew 12:36 People will have to explain about every careless thing they have said. Matthew 12:37 Your words will be used to judge you—to declare you either innocent or guilty. Proverbs 21:23 People who are careful about what they say will save themselves from trouble. We should use words that are loving to God and loving to others because that is our purpose in the Christian life. This doesn't just refer to the words we say, it also refers to the things we write. I don't read the comments on social media posts because people are so mean. Then someone says something mean to the person who said the mean thing, then someone else says something mean to them and it just goes on and on. This week pay attention to your words and judge whether your words are good, helpful and encouraging.
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Ephesians 4:28 says, Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. Most people don't think that they are guilty of stealing. Have you ever stolen a chocolate bar from the supermarket? Have you ever taken a handful of sugar sachets from a fast food chain with no intention of using them all? Have you ever taken stationery from work or school? Have you ever slacked off at your part-time job when you should have been working? These are all examples of stealing.
Paul said that we should work hard so that we will be able to share with those in need. Stealing is selfish, but working hard to help others is selfless. Which end of the scale are you? Do you steal (even if it's just small things)? Or, do you work hard and share with others? Ephesians 4:26-27 says, Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
Here are some other Bible verses about anger: Everyone must be quick to listen, but slow to speak and slow to become angry. Human anger does not achieve God's righteous purpose. James 1:19-20 Anger is cruel and can destroy like a flood. Proverbs 24:7 Fools are quick to express their anger, but wise people are patient and control themselves. Proverbs 29:11 Anger is a nasty little beast. It can blow up really quickly and get way out of hand. It also gets in the way of us behaving like God wants because when we're angry, we do things we normally wouldn't like yelling at someone, or hitting them. That's how it gives the devil a foothold. It's also Biblical to forgive people quickly and not stay angry after the sun goes down. Next time you feel angry, do some deep breaths, take some time to pray and maybe journal about it before you do anything. Fools are quick to express their anger, but wise people are patient and control themselves Ephesians 4:22-24 says, Put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. When I read this passage I get the image of someone taking off their old, dirty, tattered clothes and putting on clean, new clothes. The old clothes represent our selfish, sinful ways of thinking, speaking and acting. The clean clothes represent Christ-like ways of thinking, speaking and acting. Becoming a Christian is both immediate and a life-long process. You are immediately saved, but becoming like Jesus is a lifelong process. This process is driven by the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, but it also requires some effort on our part. We have to put off our old self and put on the new self. I believe that we do this through the spiritual disciplines such as reading the Bible, prayer, fasting, worship, gratitude, service, giving, fellowship and confession. What are you going to do today to take off your old clothes and put on new ones?
The words for worship in the Bible mean to bow down, serve, and fear or respect. We often think of worship as singing to God, but that is just one way to express worship. According to www.vocabulary.com, 'to worship is to show a lot of love and adoration for something.'
Ephesians 4:17 says, Do not continue living like those who do not believe. Their thoughts are worth nothing. The previous verses were talking about growing to be like Jesus which is the goal of all believers. Paul warns Christians not to live like unbelievers. When people look at your life, it should be obvious that you belong the Jesus. Paul explains that their thoughts are worth nothing or futile. That's because they worry about money, success, fame, material things, happiness, and themselves. The Bible says that we should fix our minds on the things above (Colossians 3:2) - on God's plans and purposes, loving God and loving others, helping the poor, visiting the sick and lonely, etc. Do you live like a believer or is it a bit hard to tell?
Ephesians 4:13 says, This will continue until we are united by our faith and by our understanding of the Son of God. Then we will be mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like him. This verse relates to verses 11-12 which talk about the purpose of teachers and pastors is to equip God's people to serve. Verse 14 goes further to explain that it also helps us to be spiritually mature and grow more like Christ.
The goal of the Christian is to be more like Jesus. So, what is Jesus like? According to https://bible.org Jesus is:
Are you growing more like Jesus in these characteristics? Part 2 of this study to follow later this week. Ephesians 4:11-12 in the NIV says, So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.
Here is a brief explanation of these giftings: Apostles - God's delegates, representatives or ambassadors. Prophets - who speak the words of God. Evangelist - who are gifted to teach the Good News of Jesus to non-believers; missionaries. Pastors and Teachers - who shepherd the flock and provide Bible teaching. The purpose of these gifts are to build up the church, in number and maturity. God doesn't give these giftings just to people employed by the church, he gives them to many lay people as well. It's like God gave you a broom - you're not meant to hang it on the wall and admire it, you're meant to use it. What gifts do you think God has given you? How can you use them? Ephesians 4:3 says, Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. Peace is important - it's mentioned 249 times in the NIV Bible. Satan loves destroying peace in families, friendships, relationships, churches, communities, and countries. Because the church is made up of broken humans, division creeps in. Things like the type of worship music, the format of the youth group, arguments over doctrine, jealousy, anger, and hurt all cause division. The Apostle Paul urges us to bind ourselves together with peace. How do we do that?
Ephesians 4:1-2 says, I beg you to live the way God’s people should live, because he chose you to be his. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient and accept each other with love. The way we live should reflect the fact that your are one of God's people. It should affect every aspect of our lives - what we think, what we say, what we do, what we listen to, what we watch, etc.
Verse two tells us four ways to do this:
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