8/4/2019

Pastor Rusty Milton

"Grieving or Gracious Words"

Ephesians 4:25-30

Our words must not give grief, but grace to those who hear. In Ephesians 4, Paul warns the church of Ephesus that unwholesome talk grieves the Holy Spirit. This grief rebounds onto us, blinding our eyes and deafening our ears to the Spirit. Likewise, he exhorts the church to speak words which give grace to those who hear (Vs 29)--building them up and meeting their needs. To be in a position to do this, we must be intimately involved in the lives of others: knowing their needs, listening to them, and making ourselves known to them as well.

Ephesians 4:25-30 English Standard Version (ESV)

25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.