Living In Christ Part 2: Bearing Fruit
Text: Eph. 4:25-32
Introduction
1. Illustration: There are no short cuts to maturity. It takes years for us to grow to adulthood, and it takes a full season for fruit to mature and ripen. The same is true for the fruit of the Spirit. The development of Christ-like character cannot be rushed. Spiritual growth, like physical growth, takes time. When you try to ripen fruit quickly, it loses its flavor. In America, tomatoes are usually picked un-ripened so they won’t bruise during shipping to the stores. Then, before they are sold, these green tomatoes are sprayed with CO2 gas to turn them red instantly. Gassed tomatoes are edible, but they are no match to the flavor of a vine-ripened tomato that is allowed to mature slowly. Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002, 217).
2. One of the main objectives that Jesus has for His church is that we bear fruit.
a. John 15:16 (NLT)
You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.
b. Fruit bearing is the sign of a healthy tree or vine, and God desires us to be healthy.
c. "The fruit that comes from a person’s life-his actions-proves whether a person is yielding to the sinful nature or to the Holy Spirit" (Rossier, CBL: Ephesians, 145).
d. Just as growing tomatoes is a process, discipleship is also a process.
e. However, as with any process, there needs to be a starting point and a continual moving forward.
3. Paul gives us some practical ways that we can move forward in the fruit bearing process. His commands are practical because he not only tells what we shouldn’t do, but he gives us an alternative to replace it.
a. Be Honest
b. Be In Control
c. Be Generous
d. Be Encouraging
e. Be Kind
4. Read Ephesians 4:25-32
Proposition: We must put forth an effort towards becoming fruitful.
Transition: First, Paul tells us to...
I. Be Honest (25)
A. Stop Telling Lies
1. In my opinion, it is no coincidence that Paul begins by telling us to be honest.
a. Considering that fact that it is an election year, and we all want and expect to hear the truth, indicates that people today still have a problem with lying.
b. Illustration: A USA Today poll found that only 56% of American teach honesty to their children. And a Louis Harris poll turned up the distressing fact that 65% of high school students would cheat on an important exam. Recently a noted physician appeared on a network news-and-talk show and proclaimed, "Lying is an important part of social life, and children who are unable to do it are children who may have developmental problems." (Daily Bread, September 1991)
2. In verse 25, Paul says "So stop telling lies."
a. The first thing that we notice, is that lying was a problem in Paul’s day.
b. The second thing that we notice, is that lying was also a problem in the Church because that’s was to whom Paul was writing.
c. The last time I checked, if you have to tell someone to stop doing something, they have to still be doing it.
d. Zechariah 8:16 (NLT)
But this is what you must do: Tell the truth to each other. Render verdicts in your courts that are just and that lead to peace.
e. Just because a person comes to believe in Jesus as savior doesn’t mean they all of the sudden become perfect.
f. Like I’ve already told you, you can’t catch a cleaned fish!
3. Instead, Paul tells us "Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body."
a. Paul indicates that we have a mutual responsibility to one another. Yes, you are your brothers keeper!
b. Because we are members of one body, we must not do anything to the body that is destructive.
c. Lying to one another distrupts unity, creates conflict, and destroys trust.
d. Truthfulness, however, opens the door to understanding. To maintain unity, the believers must be completely truthful with one another (Life Application New Testament Commentary).
e. So we are to stop lying and start being honest.
B. Honesty
1. Illustration: Honesty does not come from out of nowhere. It is a product of your moral convictions. But what do you do when your convictions are challenged? It is faith that gives you the strength to go on believing...Live your faith. Don’t wear it on your sleeve; roll up both sleeves and do something about it. --(Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy’s)
2. We must be honest with God.
a. If you sin, confess it. God already know you did it anyway.
b. If you need help, admit it. God already knows what you need, even before you ask.
c. You can fool some of the people some of time, and some of the people all the time, but you can’t fool God.
3. We must be honest with one another.
a. While it is true that the truth hurts, living a lie because no one was honest with you hurts even more.
b. As your Pastor, I am not doing you a favor by telling you it’s ok to commit adultery, or it’s ok to cheat on your taxes, or it’s ok to have sex before marriage, or it’s ok to not pay your tithes.
c. If I don’t tell you the truth, you will go on living a lie, and God will hold me responsible.
4. We must be honest with our neighbors.
a. They may not like you for it; they may reject you for it; but you have to tell them anyway.
b. You are not doing them a favor by telling them that they can reject Jesus and still make it to heaven.
c. You are not doing them a favor by telling them that all gods lead to heaven.
d. Acts 4:12 (NLT)
There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
e. If you don’t tell them the truth, they will still go to hell, and God will hold you responsible.
Transition: Next, Paul tells us to...
II. Be In Control (26-27)
A. Don’t Sin By Letting Your Anger Control You
1. The next thing that Paul deals with is anger.
2. In verse 26, he says "And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.”
a. There are differing opinions as to what Paul meant here.
b. Some believe that Paul is saying that it is okay to be angry, as long as you do not sin.
c. After all, Jesus got angry with the money changers in the Temple, right?
d. While there is certainly some truth to this argument, there is one slight problem; we’re not Jesus!
e. Jesus had a lot of things under control that we do not.
3. The point that Paul is making is not that it is okay to sin, but that we must not let sin control us.
a. This verse may presuppose the possibility of anger without sin, 5 but its emphasis is not on "righteous anger."
b. Rather, it is on preventing anger from causing sin (Snodgrass, NIV Application Commentary, New Testament: Ephesians. By Klyne Snodgrass, 250).
4. Apart of keeping anger from causing us to sin is to deal with immediately. Paul says, "Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry..."
a. According to Deuteronomy, sunset was the time by which wrongs against God and against others should be made right (Deuteronomy 24:13, 15) (Life Application New Testament Commentary).
b. If we allow it to fester it will cause us to become bitter, hold grudges, and cause dissention.
c. So they way we keep that from happening is to deal with it immediately.
d. Don’t wait until tomorrow, or the next, but deal with that day - before the sun goes down.
5. Allowing anger to fester and get the best of us because "for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
a. The word "foothold" in verse 27 is literally "place." That is, we must not give the devil room in our lives to operate (Snodgrass, 250).
b. In other words, anger usually leads to other sins.
B. Taking Care of Business
1. Illustration: An umpire named Babe Pinelli once called Babe Ruth out on strikes. When the crowd booed with sharp disapproval at the call, the legendary Ruth turned to the umpire with disdain and said, "There’s 40,000 people here who know that the last pitch was ball, tomato head." Suspecting that the umpire would erupt with anger, the coaches and players braced themselves for Ruth’s ejection. However, the cool-headed Pinelli replied, "Maybe so, Babe, but mine is the only opinion that counts."
2. We must be in control of our emotions.
a. Allowing our anger to control us only benefits the Devil.
b. Allowing our anger to control us can lead to a bad witness, hard feelings, and broken relationships.
c. Yes, Jesus got angry, but he was able to control that anger.
3. We must be in control of our responses.
a. We will all get angry from time to time.
b. The question is how do we react when we get angry?
c. We can control our anger, or we can let our anger control us.
4. We must control our decisions.
a. The way to deal with our anger is to deal with our anger.
b. We must go to the person to whom we are angry with and settle things with them as soon as possible.
c. Pr 19:11 — Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.
d. Deal with it before it becomes a problem. Deal with it before it causes you to sin.
Transition: Next Paul tells us to...
III. Be Generous (28)
A. Quit Stealing
1. The next area that Paul tells them to do away with is taking what belongs to someone else - stealing.
2. He says, "If you are a thief, quit stealing."
a. In most cases, a reference to stealing or to a thief in the New Testament concerns a bandit or a person who engages in stealing as a livelihood (Life Application New Testament Commentary).
b. Stealing was a way of life for many Ephesians Christians before their conversion, and based upon the fact that Paul has to tell them to stop, some of them still had a problem with it afterwards.
c. Ex 20:15 — “You must not steal."
d. Stealing does more than just cause some one to lose their stuff. It leaves with a sense of being violated, and takes away their sense of security.
e. Stealing from someone is not just a sin against their belongs, but is a sin against their very self.
4. Again, Paul gives us practical advice on how to turn their lives from negative to positive. He says "Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need."
a. Paul explained that such a person who became a believer had to “throw off” that old lifestyle and make a change, turning to honest work in order to make a living.
b. Stealing and idleness go together; thus, Paul’s charge was not only to stop stealing but also to begin honest work.
c. All believers should work hard, do their part in the community, hold their own, and not expect anyone else to support them (Life Application New Testament Commentary).
5. Paul’s encouragement is turn it completely around. Instead of taking give.
a. Instead of leaving them feeling as though they’ve been violated, leave them with a sense of self-worth.
b. Instead of leaving them feeling insecure, leave them with a sense of someone cares about me.
c. Instead of leaving them feeling as though they are cursed, leave them feeling that they have been blessed.
B. Use Your Hands For Good
1. Illustration: A man called at the church and asked if he could speak to the Head Hog at the Trough. The secretary said, “Who?” The man replied, “I want to speak to the Head Hog at the Trough!” Sure now that she had heard correctly, the secretary said, “Sir, if you mean our pastor, you will have to treat him with more respect—and ask for ‘The Reverend’ or ‘The Pastor.’ But certainly you cannot refer to him as the Head Hog at the Trough!” At this, the man came back, “Oh, I see. Well, I have $10,000 dollars I was thinking of giving to the Building Fund.” Secretary: “Hold the line—I think the Big Pig just walked in the door.”
2. Giving to others makes them feel good about themselves.
a. Let’s them know that someone loves them.
b. Let’s them know that someone cares.
c. Let’s them know that there is still hope.
d. Let’s them know that God has not forgotten about them.
3. Giving to others makes us feel good about ourselves.
a. We feel good because we know that we have done the right thing.
b. We feel good because God has used us to make a difference.
c. We feel good because it gives us a sense of purpose.
Transition: We have been blessed to be a blessing. Next, we are to...
IV. Be Encouraging (29-30)
A. Good and Helpful
1. Paul moves from what we do to what we say.
2. He says "Don’t use foul or abusive language."
a. The word "foul" in verse 29 is used of spoiled fish or rotten fruit, but it is also used to describe stones that crumble.
b. Although obscene speech may be in mind, the concern for "building up" later in the verse suggests "destructive" language (Snodgrass, 251).
c. This kind of language is worthless, spreads worthlessness, and leads those who hear it to think about worthless things.
d. Just like the old saying, "If you can’t say something nice about someone, don’t saying anything at all."
e. Matthew 12:36-37 (NLT)
And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”
3. Once more, Paul gives us a healthy alternative. He says, "Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them."
a. Literally the text is, "that it may give grace to the hearers" (Snodgrass, 251).
b. Instead of speaking words that tear others down, let us speak words that build them up.
c. Words that encourage and not discourage.
d. Words that make people hope and not dispair.
4. The reason we should do all these things is so we "do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption."
a. "This is a particularly awful and fearful saying. It reminds us of what he said to the Thessalonians: ’Whoever disregards this disregards not man but God.’ If you say an arrogant word, if you strike your brother, you have not merely hurt him, but grieved the Holy Spirit" (Chrysostom, Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, vol. 8, 170).
b. The presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is one of the main proofs that we belong to Jesus.
c. To do anything that would discredit the Holy Spirit or Jesus would cause us to bring sorrow to the Holy Spirit.
d. We don’t want to do anything that would same our Lord, and so we must strive to rid ourselves of anything that would bring sorrow to God.
B. Be A Barnabas
1. Illustration: There was a believer in the early church named Barnabas. He was one of Paul’s closest and dearest associates. His name means "Son of Encouragement." I am convinced that Paul had Barnabas in mind when he wrote this letter. He calls us to be a Barnabas.
2. A Barnabas speaks things that builds others up.
• Instead of saying they are useless, they say they are useful.
• Instead of saying they are worthless, they say they are valuable.
• Instead of saying they’ll never amount to anything, they say that person has purpose.
3. A Barnabas looks for the good in people instead of the bad.
a. It is easy to find something wrong with someone, but it is sometimes more difficult to look for something praiseworthy in someone.
b. We must look for the positive instead of always looking for the negative in a person.
c. Philippians 4:8 (NLT)
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
d. This should hold true for not only what we think, but also what we say, for Jesus said "out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks."
Transition: We must also strive to...
V. Be Kind (31-32)
A. Be Kind To Each Other
1. Paul goes back to what he has been saying since v. 17: "if it’s a part of your old way of life get rid of it!"
2. He tells us to "Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior."
a. None of these attitudes and activities have any place in a believer’s Holy Spirit-filled life; indeed, they foster dissension today and are the opposite of how believers should act (Life Application New Testament Commentary).
b. Bitterness is a spirit that refuses reconciliation, where as the Christian is supposed to be ambassadors of reconciliation.
c. Rage is outburst of anger that are totally out of control, but the Christian is to be self-controlled.
d. Anger is a continuous attitude of hatred, however, Christians are to be characterized by love.
e. Harsh words are spoken by angry people determined to their grievances know, but Christians are to speak words that are lovely, like apples of gold.
f. Slander is destroying another persons reputation by telling lies and spreading gossip, but Christians are to be encouragers.
3. Instead, we are to "be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you."
a. Emphasis here is all upon what God has done for us.
b. We are to be kind because God was kind to us.
c. We are to be tenderhearted because God was tenderhearted toward us.
d. We are to be forgiving because God has forgiven us of so much.
e. In other words, we are to be imitators of God.
B. Just As God
1. Illustration: A woman testified to the transformation in her life that had resulted from a conversion experience. She declared, “I’m so glad I got religion. I have an uncle I used to hate so much that I vowed that I’d never go to his funeral. But now, why, I’d be happy to go!”
2. We are to be kind because God was kind to us first.
a. He was kind to us before we deserved it.
b. He was kind to us when others wouldn’t expect him to.
c. He was kind to us so, we must be kind to others.
3. We are to be tenderhearted because God was tenderhearted toward us first.
a. Matthew 9:36 (NLT)
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
b. He was compassionate to people who rebelled against him.
c. He was compassionate to people who constantly rejected him.
d. He was compassionate to people who showed him nothing but contempt.
e. He was compassionate to us, so we must be compassionate to others.
4. We are to be forgiving because he forgave us first.
a. Romans 5:8 (NLT)
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
b. He forgave while we were still sinners.
c. He forgave us while were still his enemies.
d. He forgave while we were still rebellious.
e. He forgave us, so we must forgive others.
Transition: Let us follow God’s example and allow people to see our fruit.
Conclusion
1. We must be fruit bearers. We must bear the fruit of:
a. honesty
b. control
c. generosity
d. encouragement
e. kindness
2. How is your fruit today?
a. Is your fruit good or bad?
b. Is it the fruit of your new life or your old life?
c. Is it fruit that pleases the Holy Spirit, or does it grieve the Holy Spirit?
