Ephesians 4:25-32
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. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
I. OUR MAKE-UP
1. Trichotomy of Man
1 Thessalonians 5:23
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Spirit - God Consciousness
Body - World Consciousness
Soul – Self Consciousness
a. Our Brains are made to prioritize emotions
b. Electrical Signals enter your brain at the base near the spinal cord but must travel to your frontal lobe (behind your forehead) before reaching the place where rational, logical thinking takes place.
c. They pass the limbic system before reaching the frontal lobe (Place where emotions are produced)
d. You experience things emotionally before reasoning joins in (you feel before you comprehend)
e. The rational brain can’t stop the limbic system but they work together
f. We must learn to recognize emotions in us and others and use them to manage our behavior.
II. PREFERRED DEMEANOR
1. Truthfulness – “Put away lying” “speak truth”, sincerity, integrity
a. Being able to face and deal with reality
b. Being more concerned about what’s real that what people think is real
c. We lie to cover up shame, falsehood…not to look bad.
Eph 4:15
but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ
One lie leads to many lies
Col 3:8-10
Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him
2. Control Anger
Eph 4:26-27
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil.
Ecclesiastes 7:9
Be not hasty in your spirit to be angry: for anger rests in the bosom of fools
Proverbs 16:32
He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
Proverbs 19:11
The discretion of a man defers his anger; And it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
a. Resolve the issue when/if you can
b. Forget it when you cant
c. Use scripture when you are weak
Wrath gives place to the Devil…
Neither give place to the devil (μηδε διδοτε τοπον τῳ διαβολῳ [mēde didote topon tōi diabolōi]). Present active imperative in prohibition, either stop doing it or do not have the habit. See Rom. 12:19 for this idiom.
3. Personal Responsibility
Eph 4:28
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
Stealing is trying to get something without paying the price
Entitlement Mentality
Mindset that you deserve more than you earn
Blame Game
4. A Clean Mouth and a Pure Heart (saprós); to rot. Bad, rotten, putrid.
Luke 6:45
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Talk that tears down
Talk that’s Revengeful
Talk that’s meant to cut
Talk that’s venting without regard to the other person
III. HOW TO CULTIVATE CHRISTIAN DEMEANOR
1. Learn the Rule Book
2. Learn and rehearse scripture contrary to negative emotions.
Psalm 1:1-3
Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper
James 5:16
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
3. Ask God to show you WHY you react this way
4. Ask God to help you and heal you
5. Acknowledge your faults to those close to you and ask for prayer
6. Stay in Faith
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