Ephesians 4:29 “Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for edification according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear.”
Last Sunday, Pastor Herk continued in his sermon series through the Epistle of Ephesians stating that our words that we speak can either be constructive or destructive. Destructive words are seriously dreadful because we cannot take those words back. Just like when you should look before you leap, you should carefully think before you speak. The old saying goes, “sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me” … physically. Words stay in your mind, don’t fade, torment and never go away or disappear. We may learn to not allow them to affect us, get by them and live despite them, but destructive words always leave a mark. Psalm 64:3 says, “They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows.”
Earlier in Ephesians 4:22-24, we read that, “in reference to your former way of life, you are to rid yourselves of the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you are to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” Put on Christ, the author and perfecter of your born-again life and dress the new part, acting accordingly. In Ephesians 4:25-28, the Apostle gives practical instruction of putting off falsehood speak truth because we are parts of one another. Be angry in righteous indignation, and yet do not sin. Put off laziness and selfishness. No longer steal; but rather put on a Christian work ethic and labor,
producing with his own hands what is good and share with those in true need.
In Matthew 22:36-40 a Pharisee lawyer asked Jesus, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Upon these two commandments hang the whole Law and the Prophets.” Our spiritual gifts from the Lord are for glorifying God and edifying others. In putting off the old self, we must first stop speaking corrupt words. Let no corrupt word come out of your mouth. The Greek word for “corrupt” here is “sapros”, meaning rotten, putrefied, unfit for use, worthless (literally or morally). Jesus said in Matthew 7:17-20, “Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Take off the old corrupt self and put on the new righteous and holy self. The word “corrupt” is defined in the 1828 Webster’s dictionary as: To change from a sound to a putrid or putrescent state. To vitiate or deprave; to change from good to bad. Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners - 1 Corinthians 15:33.
Jesus said in Matthew 13:47-48, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet which was lowered into the sea, and gathered fish of every kind, and when it was full, they dragged it up on the beach; and they sat down and sorted out the good fish into baskets, but the worthless [sapros – unwholesome and unfit for use] ones they threw away.” So, we need to put off and stop the use of any words that are not useful o0r beneficial to other people. Upcoming in Ephesians 5:3-4, the Apostle instructs us that “sexual immorality and all [moral] impurity [indecent, offensive behavior] or greed must not even be hinted at among you, as is proper among saints [for as believers our way of life, whether in public or in private, reflects the validity of our faith]. Let there be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse [obscene or vulgar] joking, because such things are not appropriate [for believers]; but instead speak of your thankfulness [to God].” Watch your mouth and hold your tongue. James 3:2 says, “For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.”
Let's continue Pastor Herk's message on the "Words" that we speak in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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