Please turn with me to Ephesians 4 - starting at verse 25.  This morning we’re coming back to our look at Ephesians 4 and what it means to walk the walk - or put differently - how do we live as Christians in a confused world?

Last week House Speaker Dennis Hastert changed the name of the Capitol Holiday Tree back to the Capitol Christmas Tree.  Have you been following this?  The debate over whether or not to call a Christmas Tree a Christmas Tree?  Cities all over the country are putting up Holiday Trees not Christmas Trees.

Barry Lynn - the Executive Director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State - Barry Lynn has said that using the term “Christmas Tree” excludes people of other faiths and backgrounds.  Looks like a Christmas Tree.  Smells like a Christmas Tree.  Has lights and ornaments like a Christmas Tree.  But, let’s be sensitive to people of different faith traditions a backgrounds - let’s not call it a Christmas Tree - especially during the Holiday Season.

And suddenly - it seems - that there are Christians who are up-in-arms about this - threatening lawsuits - claiming religious discrimination.  All of which has its place. 

I want to be really careful about what I say here.  Calling it a Holiday Tree is really offensive.  But not unexpected.  Especially in a society that - for the most part - especially as we celebrate Christmas - this is not unexpected in a society that has no clue who Jesus is.

Let me ask you a question.  What is the greater priority for us as Christians - to fight over what a tree is called or to live out the Gospel in such a way that people will understand who Jesus is?

As we’ve been looking at Ephesians 4 we’ve been talking about how the world we live in is a spiritual battleground.  Satan against God - demons and angels - a spiritual battle with eternal consequences - the eternal destiny of humankind.

The evidence of that battle is seen in families that are in deep trouble - a society that’s unraveling - hearts that are broken - lives that are crushed.  People are living without hope and purpose - confused - deceived - without truth - without answers.  Satan’s doing a number on humankind.

We’ve been looking at - here in Ephesians 4 - we’ve been looking at the crucial importance of how we as Christians live in the midst of this society.  Paul’s written about the importance of unity in the church.  About the importance of spiritual maturity.  The importance of listening to God and walking together in His truth. 

Coming to Ephesians 4 at verse 25 - what we’re coming to today is Paul’s application of all that to the daily stuff we deal with.  What does it look like when we walk the walk - live life in Jesus in the every day stuff of life.

Ephesians 4 - verse 25:  Therefore - because of everything Paul just wrote in chapter 4 - therefore - this is what I want you to do…  Laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with His neighbor, for we are members of one another.

Lying is a pretty basic temptation - isn’t it?  It comes pretty naturally.  Most of us don’t go to a school to learn how to lie.  To bend the truth.  To tell little white lies.  Lying goes all the way back to the Garden - “Did God really say that?”  We deceive ourselves.  We deceive others.  We live in a society where people don’t trust each other.  There’s almost an expectation that we’re being lied to or that we’re suppose to lie to others.

Paul writes, “lay that aside.”  Don’t go there.  Reject it.  Instead - speak truth.  That’s practical.  If we’re speaking truth then we’re not lying.

Paul writes we’re to speak truth with our neighbor.  By neighbor - here - think no farther than the person next to you.  That’s where the neighborhood starts.  Speak truth to your neighbor.  Why?  Because we’re members of one another. 

Ever run across someone who’ll have nothing to do with a church or has left a church because of something that was said in the church?  Or, something that wasn’t above board.  Or, some underhanded way of dealing with things?  We’ve been in Merced for about 3 years and I’ve heard once too many times this statement, “I thought Christians were suppose to be different.”

When we lie or bend the truth the whole church suffers.  The whole ministry of the church - our relationship together - our witness - it all goes into the dumper when we lie.

Paul takes on anger in verse 26.  How many angry people are there around us?  Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.

There is such a thing as righteous anger.  Jesus throwing the businessmen out of the Temple.  Most of us are a long way from there.  Justifying our anger as righteous is pretty risky.  But we also need to be honest.  We do get angry.  Anyone here never get angry?

Not letting the sun go down on our anger means we don’t harbor anger - hold onto it - let it rattle around inside of us - fill us with bitterness - let it begin to tear us apart - and damage our relationships with others.  All of which gives Satan an opening to turn us against each other.

God’s people deal with anger.  We resolve it - quickly.

Isn’t that a contrast to the society we live in?  Speaking truth - honesty.  Dealing with what angers us.  Resolution rather than ongoing division.  

Verse 28:  He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.

Who’s Paul writing to?  Christians - Christian thieves.  Christians are to stop stealing.  Fudging on our tax returns.  Padding our expenses.  Borrowing without returning.  Withholding on our giving to the Church.  Doctoring the books.  Asking for money under false pretenses.  Cheating on tests.  Shady business deals.

I had a conversation with someone here a couple days ago.  We were talking about his business and how many families were supported by that business.  There was a day when employees were loyal to the company and the company felt responsibility to the employees.  People don’t talk like that today.

Today everything is focused on self.  Do what it takes to take care of yourself - whatever the cost - whoever gets hurt.  Just don’t get caught.  And if you get caught - blame someone else.

Christians aren’t to live like that.  That’s part of who we were before we knew Jesus - being focused on ourselves.  Instead, Christians do honest work so that others benefit.  We work to give - to help others.  The focus is on others.

That’s a contrast with the world.  Its not just that we don’t steal.  But, Christians are known as those who work honestly and give generously to others.  Try this with me, “We work for others.”  

Verse 29:  Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth

During Winston Churchill’s last year in office, he attended an official ceremony.  Several rows behind him two gentlemen began whispering.  “That’s Winston Churchill.  They say he is getting senile.  They say he should step aside and leave the running of the nation to more dynamic and capable men.”  When the ceremony was over, Churchill turned to the men and said, “Gentlemen, they also say he is deaf!” (1) 

Paul says, “Let nothing evil come out of your mouths.”  In 5:4 he gives more of an explanation of what he means:  “no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which is not fitting.”  That covers a lot of conversation.  Doesn’t it?

It is amazing how many people cannot put together a complete sentence in the English language which does not contain at least one swear word or one derogatory use of God’s name.  The conversation around us is filth.  Music, dialogue on TV - in movies - what’s emailed and blogged - what a few years ago would have been embarrassing - ridiculed - reserved for some “adult” theater - is now acceptable communication.

Even in the Church.  How we speak to each other - and about each other - is often no different than what we hear in the society around us.  Even Christians use the name of the Almighty and loving God of creation and His Son, Jesus Christ, in vain.

We need to be reminded from time to time that there is something wrong when a Christian says, “Well, I know I swear occasionally.  Maybe once in a while I use God’s name in vain.  I’ve done that for years.  You just have to kind of overlook that.  We all have our little areas of struggle.”

Paul says, “Let no evil talk come out of your mouths.”  No matter how innocent they may seem to us - these words are destructive - to us - to others - and especially to the witness of the church.

Paul goes on in verse 29 - rather than unwholesome words - speak - only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

Speech - Paul reminds us - is a gift of God.  It has God given purpose.  Our words are to edify - to build others up - according to the need of the moment.  That means listening to what others say.  One mouth - two - what?  Ears.  What’s the other person feeling?  Where do they need encouragement?  What will help them?

Paul says that our words are to give grace to others.  Meaning that when someone deserves to be leveled - we don’t.  Our words express forgiveness - love - encouragement - what helps our neighbor to move forward in their relationship with Jesus.

Bottom line:  The purpose of Christian speech isn’t about us.  Its about others.  Try this with me, “We speak for others.” 

In today’s world that’s revolutionary.  The world needs to hear Christians who testify of Jesus in their speech.

Verses 30 to 32 are a summary of what Paul has been writing.  Verse 30:  Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Underline that verse - its the heart of what Paul’s writing.  We’ll come back there in a moment.

Verse 31:  Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.  Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Bitterness is a deep seated feeling of resentment towards others - feeling like we’ve been treated unjustly.  Wrath is inner boiling temper.  Anger is the desire to strike back.  Clamor wants to just verbally level somebody.  Slander comes from the Greek word “blasphemia” - blasphemy - to speak with disrespect - gossip that tears someone down.  Malice - is an evil desire to hurt someone.  Tough list.

Paul writes - “put them away from you.”  Don’t go there.  Reject it.  Instead, be kind to one another - literally, be gracious to one another.  Don’t level the other person even though you think they deserve it.  Be tender-hearted.  The Greek word is “ensplagchnoi” which is related to the word for “guts.”  In other words, at the deepest level of who we are - from a heart tender towards others - we’re to compassionately connect with each other.  And, we’re to forgive each other.  Not just the little things.  But the big offenses.  Follow the example of how God has forgiven you.

We have this Guinea Pig named Peanut.  Peanut lives in a cage right next to our kitchen table.  So, when we sit down to eat Peanut goes nuts.  In fact just about any time anyone starts doing anything in the kitchen that has something to do with food Peanut starts making this “weep weep” sound and climbing up the sides of his cage.  You know the sound?

Why?  Because he’s a pig.  He wants food.

Eventually someone takes pity on poor Peanut - who is getting rather large - someone will give Peanut some food.  Peanut has us well trained.  Make the “weep weep” sound - climb around - and someone will be along shortly with food.

I heard about a man who had trained his dog to go out in the morning and get the paper.  Treats for doing the right thing.  Discipline for doing the wrong thing.  Eventually the dog got the idea.  Bring in the paper - get a treat.  Which worked fine until the dog got the idea - more papers - more treats.  The dog had to be trained not to bring all the papers in the neighborhood to the house.

So many people understand Christianity that way.  We get rewards for the actions we perform.  If we do the right stuff - live the right way - then God’s going to bless us.  Do the wrong stuff and God hits the smite button.  We get zapped - pestilence or plague or something.

It would be so easy to come to what Paul writes here and think that Paul is giving us a list of actions to perform so that God will reward us - bless us somehow - or at least we’re not going to get zapped.   And that that’s living the life of a Christian - walking the walk.  So many Christians are trying to live the life because of the rewards or to avoid penalties - fire insurance.

What happens when we think like that is that we set out to do all these things that we think will please God and then we fall flat on our face.  Ever done that?  Comparing verses.  There are more times than not that in our hearts we’re feeling like verse 31.  Verse 32 is a pipe dream.  

“I’m gonna stop lying.”  “I’m never gonna get angry like that again.”     We try so hard - and we fail.  We think we’re never gonna get this.  We get depressed.  We begin to doubt our relationship with God and the even the truth of what God says.  People look at us and they don’t see Jesus - they see people that look at themselves as failures and who act like hypocrites.

That’s not what Paul is talking about.  That’s not what God expects of us.  And, that’s why verse 30 is at the heart of what Paul is writing here.

Years ago in the Reader’s Digest, Terri Spaccarotelli wrote about her work in a busy dental office.  There was a patient who was always late.  Terri wrote, “Once when I called to confirm an appointment, he said, ‘I’ll be about 15 minutes late.  That won’t be a problem will it?’”

“No,” Terri said, “We just won’t have time to give you an anesthetic.”  Of course the patient arrived early. (2)

What Paul is writing about is what goes on deep down in our hearts.  Not our actions.  But what moves us to action.  What shapes our behavior. 

When we come to salvation in Jesus Christ the Holy Spirit enters into us - takes up residence in our hearts.  He changes us - our hearts - from being  spiritually dead to being spiritually alive - begins a process of transforming the very core of who we are - filling us and empowering us to live the life that God has for us. 

Paul tells us that the Holy Spirit seals us.  We seal envelops to protect the contents until they reach their destination.  Our destination is heaven.  The work of the Holy Spirit is to work in us - as we go along through the stuff of life - to be right there with us - dealing with us deep down inside - to bring us to the end God has for us.

Hear this:  It grieves the Holy Spirit when we make choices that lead us away from what God has for us.  It grieves the Holy Spirit when we make choices that limit what He desires to do in us and through us.

The Holy Spirit sees the struggle in our hearts.  He knows when we harbor these self-destructive attitudes.  He grieves.  Like a parent that sees their child going down the wrong path.  The Holy Spirit still loves us.  He’s not going to leave us.  We’re sealed.  But He grieves.  There’s sorrow there.

Always His desire is that we’ll choose to turn to Him - to open ourselves to His work in our lives - deep down where we need it.  When we choose to “lay aside” the lying and the anger - the stealing and the unwholesome speech - and “put away” all the garbage that we try to excuse and justify - when as we’re confronted with choices we choose to not go there but to open ourselves up us to the Holy Spirit - the more we surrender ourselves to the Holy Spirit we begin to open our inner selves up to His attitudes - His character - and He produces the actions - the walk - the life of a Christian in us and through us.

Bottom line:  Within us is the Holy Spirit at work.  The choice - at its basic - root level - is to allow the Holy Spirit to do His work in our lives. 

That’s what people need to see.  Not us muddling along trying to be Christians - with a list of do’s and don’ts.  What kind of hope and life is that?  People need to see God at work in us and through us.  To see the reality of what life in Christ is all about.

I don’t know what you’ve come here with today.  What’s rattling around in your heart.  I know some of the issues I struggle with.  You know what’s deep down.  If you don’t know, ask God.  He’ll help you see them.  But today, stop trying to live the Christian life on your own power.

“God - I choose to lay aside my bitterness.  Make me to be a forgiving person.”  “God I choose to lay aside the garbage that’s coming out of my mouth.  Make my speech words that edify and build others up.”  “God, I’m laying aside my lying and cheating.  Make me to be a person of honesty who puts others first.”

________________________
1. Barbara Hatcher, Vital Speeches, March 1, 1987
2. Terri Spaccarotelli, Reader’s Digest, June 1992

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible®, © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.  Used by permission.