EPHESIANS 4:25-29 PUT OFF THE OLD MAN AND PUT ON THE NEW MAN PART 2

Eph 4:25 Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another. 26 "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

Number one, you exchange lying for speaking truth.

Eph 4:25 Negative Therefore, putting away lying, Positive"Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," Reason for we are members of one another.

      1. The "old man" thinks nothing of lying

      2. The "new man" puts away lying, and in its place speaks truth with his neighbor (especially to those who are members of the same body)

The "old man" gets angry and lets it linger, or get out of control

The "new man" may get angry, but does not...Let it linger ("do not let the sun go down on your wrath"

Reason Eph 4:27 nor give place to the devil.

Allow it to prompt sinful behavior ("nor give place to the devil")

"Horace was right when he said, 'Anger is momentary insanity.' . . .

"'Anyone can become angry,' wrote Aristotle.'But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way—this is not easy.'"

Second, you exchange unrighteous anger for righteous anger.

Eph 4:26 " Positive Be angry, Negative and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath,

3^rd you are to exchange stealing for sharing.

Eph 4:28 Negative Let him who stole steal no longer, Positive but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, Reason that he may have something to give him who has need.

1. The "old man" is willing to steal

Instead of stealing, work so you can give to other people. In other words, be a Robin Hood, only without the stealing part. Instead of stealing to get, work to give. Great thought.

Three features of the speech of the new man, verse 28.

You can tell a lot about somebody's heart by what comes out of their mouth.

Psalm 141:3 says: "Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth and keep the door of my lips? Listen, if Jesus Christ is the doorkeeper of your lips, then He'll be the one to determine what comes out.

The "new man" not only avoids "corrupt communication", but seeks to speak that which is uplifting to those who hear

First, it should be edifying which is good for edifying. Whenever you talk if the Lord is keeping watch over your lips and you open your mouth, whatever comes out should build other people up, edifying means building up. It should build them up.

Secondly, it ought to be necessary. It says in verse 29, the little phrase - to the use. And literally it means as it fits the needs. Listen, my mom used to say to me when I was a kid, I'd start to say something - Hey, mom, do you know what so-and-so, And she'd say - Now is that necessary? If we just said what was edifying and necessary people would flock to be near us.

Third, gracious, the end of verse 29: "That it may serve grace to the hearers." It's coming out like water And giving them a feast of grace. Is there sweetness in what you say that blesses and currys favor. You know, every time you open your mouth it should be building, it should be fitting and it should be gracious. That's the way we ought to talk. That's what ought to come out of our mouths, not filthy communication. We have a new heart and out of the abundance of a new heart should come a new speech.

I love what it says in Luke 4:22: "And everybody bore Jesus' witness and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth." Oh, I love that. When Jesus opened His mouth graciousness came out. And when He spoke it was edifying, it was necessary and it was gracious.