Let's Talk

How to communicate God's way!
Ephesians 4:25-32 "Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

I. BE HONEST. (vs. 25)

A. Stop speaking lies - speak the truth. Ephesians 4:15 "But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:" Speaking the truth in love is a part of spiritual growth in Christ.

B. Stop claming up - speak the truth. Ephesians 4:15 Claming up is a refusal to speak the truth in love. This stops communication all together. Problems are not solved but rather are added to.

C. What you don't say can speak just as loud as what you do say! Don't lie by masking your real words.

II. KEEP CURRENT. (vs. 26, 27)

A. Solve each day's problems that day or you are:

1. guilty of sin - v. 26
2. opening the way to resentment, hatred, and bitterness - v. 27
3. distorting the real problem
4. endangering every relationship - sex and others
5. opening the door for the devil - v. 27

III. ATTACK PROBLEMS; NOT PEOPLE. (vs. 29, 30)

A. Bad communication always by-passes the problem and zero's in on the person.

B. Bad communication always grieves the person (v. 29) and the Holy Spirit. v. 30, I Peter 3:7

C. Good communication always zeros in on the problem and calls for the help of people to solve it.

D. *Watch getting weak solutions to problems - some solutions are problems all over again. Solve, don't hide, cover, or create new problems.

IV. ACT GODLY; DON'T REACT IN AN UNGODLY WAY. (vs. 31, 32)

A. Reactions = bitterness; claming up; wrath; anger; slander, and cutting words.

B. Actions = kindness; edifying words; tenderheartedness; forgiveness; remembering that God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.

C. Arguments are only possible if two parties react: If one reacts and the other acts godly, it will not leave the door open for the sin to grow.

NO MATTER HOW IRRESPONSIBLE THE OTHER PERSON ACTS,

YOU MUST ACT RESPONSIBLY!