Dakota Community Church
Ephesians 58, Grace at Work 28
October 20, 2013
Words of Grace 2
Ephesians 4:29
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.
We are given six behaviors we are to discontinue - because they destroy unity.
We are given six replacement behaviors which will foster and protect unity.
To date we have covered:
Instead of lying; speak truth
Instead of outbursts of wrath; righteous anger
Instead of stealing; working and contributing
Instead of gossip and slander; encouraging, grace filled words
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. (Ephesians 4:29-30)
What is “corrupting talk”? Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths
The Greek word (sapros) is used in only one other context in the New Testament, namely, the places in Matthew and Luke where Jesus says, "It is not the good tree that bears bad fruit."
Where the church community is concerned - WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY?
Not some silly higher vision driven nonsense where you cannot disagree with leadership; but on a family level, how do you talk about the church?
I don’t like those folks? They aren’t my kind of people?
If God chose me, them and you and put us all together in this little fellowship; do you think maybe He has a purpose in that that just may be more important than our petty preferences concerning personality?
Now two weeks ago as I was wrapping up the first half of this message I said something I wish I could have worded differently.
I said, “If you have been taught that your words are framing your future, be here today because I am going to debunk that notion.”
That is way to arrogant a statement, not the way I want to discuss these important issues at all.
Like most error there is a grain of truth at the core.
In many ways we see what we are prepared to see.
It is also true that if you tend toward a positive outlook and speech you will generally have a more positive experience in life than if you go around complaining and curses everyone out.
So what’s wrong with “Word Power”?
The problem of positive confession theology
(1.) It is based on a misunderstanding/twisting of God’s character and His Word.
Genesis 1:3
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
Genesis 1:26-27
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
The theory goes like this, God speaks things into existence, God made us in His image; therefore we like Him, can use our words as a creative force.
Being made in the image of God is not being made the same as God.
A finite man is not the same as an infinite God.
Being made in the image of God does not equal having the power of God.
What will happen if we lock Joel Osteen, Benny Hinn and Joyce Meyers in an isolated room without food or water for 30 days?
Unless two of them eat the third one they will all die.
They do not possess the power to speak food and water into existence to save themselves.
Jesus could have turned the stones into bread because He is God - you aren’t and you can’t.
If the 100 fold return works, why aren’t televangelists asking you to send in your address so they can sow money into your life?
Why do they always need you to send them cash?
Hebrews 11:1-3
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
Did God require faith filled words when he spoke the universe into existence?
Faith requires an unknown.
I have $20 in my wallet. (Show) No faith required.
The $20 in my wallet belongs to me. Faith required, you do not know if it really is mine.
There are no unknowns to an omniscient God.
Affirmations and denials: We deny that God is limited in any way.
(2.) It is an excuse not to care for those in need.
“Under the circumstances? What are you doing under there?”
In Bible College I had an exchange with an older lady in the class who had a difficult life and marriage. Her husband was wheelchair bound, angry about it much of the time, and not a believer; besides that at least one and I think two of her children were rebelling against God.
One day in our chapel time, after she said she was sick of hearing about my “Divine health” and Divine provision” and “Divine marriage”; she told me I wouldn’t be so positive if I came to live in her shoes for while.
Without missing a beat I told her that “her life would be better by now if I lived in her shoes.”
She broke down crying and I honestly thought - “Oh come on, suck it up.”
I didn’t feel the need to pray for her, or to offer help of any kind. Why not?
All of this was her own fault in my mind.
If she would just agree with the Word, if she would just line up her confession, if she would just believe God - everything would improve.
The problem of positive confession theology
(2.) it is reason to lie when times are difficult.
Don’t make a bad confession, “The doctor says it’s cancer but I am listening only to Dr. Jesus.”
So where does that leave us?
In light of the gospel we just lie and gossip and say anything we want because it’s all under the blood? Of course not:
Paul is addressing how we speak to each other as believers to build unity instead of indulging the flesh in corrupt talk.
Instead of gossip and slander; encouraging, grace filled words
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. (Ephesians 4:29-30)
Four ways we are to speak to each other in light of the good news:
Words that build up the Body. - but only such as is good for building up
You know what it is to encourage and edify, I don’t need to say a lot about that; however Paul adds this rider to that:
Words that “fit the occasion”. - as fits the occasion
The point is to edify and build up the Body.
This means we don’t just blow sunshine all the time.
There will be times when the Body is built up by correction, by rebuke, and by discipline.
The point of all of these is to lead to:
Words that give grace to the hearer. - that it may give grace to those who hear.
Galatians 6:1
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
Words that do not grieve the Holy Spirit. - And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God
- Taking the name of the Lord in vain.
PowerPoint available (Free of charge) on request dcormie@mts.net
Follow Dan on twitter: @DanCormie
