Ephesians 4:25-32

[Shield]

Shield> Hello and Welcome everyone
Shield> tonight we will continue our study on Ephesians 4:25-32
Shield> so lets get to it....
Shield> Ephesians 4:25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
Shield> we remember that the section is dealing with the body metaphor
Shield> as members of the body of Christ....
Shield> we are too be truthful
Shield> God is asking us to put off falsehood and lying
Shield> let me tell you...
Shield> in life this seems to be an issue in communities...not only in the early church....
Shield> but today as well
Shield> yes indeed
Shield> the Lord desires that we be truthful in word and deed
Shield> and that we not be hypocrites
Shield> Ephesians 4:26 "In your anger do not sin": {26 Psalm 4:4} Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
Shield> here is an interesting verse
Shield> the text says...in your anger do not sin
Shield> and do not let the sun go down on our anger
Shield> any thoughts?
Sparrow___> lol...God knew I needed just this very verse
* +salti_busy is thinking
Shield> seems to me we all probably need it from time to time
+Sparrow___> I'm sure
Shield> the apostle is giving practical instructions
Shield> for godly living in community
Sparrow___> with your family
Shield> Paul himself had to deal with his own anger
salti_busy> Anger causes us to sin and further seaparates us from God.. and its the same as words spoken.. they can do so much harm.. can pull us so far away from the Lord due to the consequences of sin.. guilt.. etc..
Shield> yes indeed Sparrow___
Sparrow___> that's the major way we sin when we are angry...at least with me...through words
Shield> Sparrow___ => very true
Shield> the book of James is helpful in that regard
Shield> I want to spend a moment on this verse....
Shield> and do so in terms of practical application
Jedi> james 1:19
-ChatBot:#Cross_Talk- [Shield] James 1:19 -- Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
Shield> good one Jedi
Shield> let me ask you folks...
<Shield> personally and privately
Shield> is there anger in your heart?
Shield> or bitterness?
Shield> don't let the sun go down on it
Shield> this is the mandate of the biblical text
Shield> this is the mandate of the Lord God
Sparrow___> mandate is right
Shield> the verb used here is an imperative
Shield> there was no option
Shield> Paul was inspired by the Spirit of God to give very clear and practical instructions on this issue
Scarlet> what other verses relate to this one?
Shield> our responsibility is to allow the Spirit of God to work it out in our lives
Shield> well James defininately deals with how we speak
Jedi> yuppers shield
[Shield> can any of you think of other verses that relate?
Jedi> thinkin
Shield> Psalm 4:4 In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.
Shield> theres one
Scarlet> Nehemiah 9:17
Shield> Ephesians 4:27 and do not give the devil a foothold.
Shield> hmm
Shield> Nehemiah 9:17 They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them,
Jedi> col 3:12... compassion,kindness,humility,gentleness,and patience
Shield> God desires for us to have His character
Shield> Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Sparrow___> man that is important the scripture about not giving the devil a foothold. You don't know what you allow the enemy to do while you sleep
Scarlet> these scriptures are so important in today's world-everyone seems angry at everyone else.
Scarlet> it's hard not to respond the same way
Shield> Matthew 5:22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother {22 Some manuscripts brother without cause} will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca, {22 An Aramaic term of contempt} 'is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.
Scarlet> but with God, all things are possible
Shield> 23 "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
Shield> Corky do you have a question sis?
Corky> I do.... but I will take you backwards so if you want to wait til the end that is okay
Shield> Matthew 5:24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
Shield> what verse Corky?
Corky> verse 26
Shield> ok lets go there
Shield> Ephesians 4:26 "In your anger do not sin": {26 Psalm 4:4} Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
Shield> there:)
Shield> whats the question?
Corky> okay.... I think its one of those version questions.... as the NAS says
Corky> Eph 4:26 Be angry, and {yet} do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
Shield> yes
Shield> most translations would handle it that way
Shield> the sense is this
Shield> anger itself is not being identified as sin
Shield> yet...
Shield> it definitely can be a catalyst for breeding sin
Corky> uh huh
Shield> so in the original
Shield> we see the writer saying
Shield> Be angry
Corry> the longer you hold anger in the more harm it can do. is this right?
Shield> Corry yes the next verse bears this out
Shield> sorry the end of the verse
Shield> even if you are legimately angry
Shield> perhaps for some evil perpetrated on an innocent
SuzieR> sometimes its hard to let it go tho
Shield> the Bible declares we should not let the sun go down on our wrath
Shield> I agree Suzier
Shield> but here is the consequences if we allow anger to stay
Shield> NIV Ephesians 4:27 and do not give the devil a foothold.
Shield> NAU Ephesians 4:27 and do not give the devil an opportunity.
Shield> NRS Ephesians 4:27 and do not make room for the devil.
* @Corky wonders if there is justifiable anger
SuzieR> amen
Sparrow___> we wrestle not against flesh and blood...the enemy is behind most of the things that cause our anger
Corry> amen
Sparrow___> therefore we should fight him
Corky> not that I am looking for an excuse to be angry
Tok> "indignation" - but that is rare
Shield> the scripture says flee temptation
Shield> and resist the devil
Shield> seriously now....
Sparrow___> When Jesus heard they had killed his cousin John the Baptist....you know what he did?
Corky> What of the Lord and the money changers?
Shield> true
Sparrow___> he went out and started healing people
Sparrow___> he fought the enemy
Shield> but did Jesus become bitter?
Tok> Jesus, of course, was the God of the Old Testament, and God can have anger in a manner that we are not to
Shield> God never contradicts Himself though
[22:32] <+Tok> right
Shield> if God says be Holy as He is Holy...
Sparrow___> when we are angry because of things done to innocent we can pray and our prayers are effective against the enemy
Shield> and have this mind which was in Christ....
Shield> surely God set the example of how to handle anger
Shield> true Sparrow___
Corky> I am not meaning to take us on a tangent.... but.. I got a temper I have to deal with all the time
Shield> so lets continue then
Sparrow___> Corky...something that I have found is that the closer I get to the Lord the more He takes that out of me
Shield> Ephesians 4:28 He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is
Sparrow___> He changes me
Shield> good, so that he will have something to share with one who
Shield> has need
Sparrow___> Our job is to stay close to Him...abide in the vine....His job is to change us
Sparrow___> I cannot change myself
Shield> obviously the Bible says we shall not steal
Shield> amen Sparrow___
Shield> the Bible also declares that we shall not covet what is not ours...
Shield> any thoughts?
Sparrow___> You have to make a point to get alone with Him every day
Sparrow___> Well, of course you shouldn't covet
[Shield> :)
Shield> yes of course
Sparrow___> that's all I could think of lol
Shield> :)
Corky> Eph 4:29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such {a word} as is good for edification according to the need {of the moment,} that it may give grace to those who hear.
Shield> ok
Shield> in other words
Shield> we need to watch our speech
salti_busy> If we keep the commandment not to covet.. it can keep us from other sins.. like anger.. coveting leads to many other sins..
Shield> because what we say affects others
Shield> very true salti_busy
Sparrow___> jealousy
Jedi> jealousy is a big one
Corky> Eph 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Shield> when we speak words of hate....
Shield> and we allow our anger to vent in such a way that we hurt others
Shield> we grieve the Spirit of God
Shield> simple as that
Shield> our words do count
Shield> they mean something
Shield> whether in chat or offline
Corky> Eph 4:31Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
Corky> Eph 4:32 And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Shield> let me ask you something
Shield> and i ask this with a heavy heart
Shield> i can only speak for myself...
Shield> coz i don't know your hearts
Shield> i never want to grieve the Spirit of God
Shield> i doubt you do either
Shield> but if there be any risk...
Shield> coz we have somehow let slander enter our speech
Shield> or hatred
Shield> or bitterness
Shield> or whatever
Shield> please
Shield> consider the Word of the Lord
Shield> and ask Gods forgiveness
Shield> and be reconciled to those with whom you need to reconcile
Shield> lets pray
Shield> Our God and our Father
Shield> its not by mistake that you have ordained this moment....
Corry> yes Lord
Shield> nothing escapes your notice
Shield> our thoughts, intents and motives are laid bare before You Lord God
Shield> search us Lord
Shield> see if there be any wicked way in us
Shield> purify our hearts
Shield> mold our character
Shield> make us men and women of God...
Shield> who are pleasing vessels of honor
Shield> and forgive us for the wrong things we have done
Shield> we love you God
Shield> make us more like you
Shield> in Jesus name amen