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Read Ephesians 4:22-29

Summary of living out the truth of Christ—It’s not about you!

Truth, wisely spoken, leads to thriving relationships. (25)

• We are to get rid of any words or actions that can be misleading, deceitful, or completely contrary to truth—a lie.
  
  
• Jesus is truth and his people are to live as he lived.
  
  
• Truth (Jesus and his Word) is the spotlight on our deceitful thoughts; therefore, we need to test our thoughts before we speak.
  
  
• Wisdom will not only consider the truth of our words but the motive, spirit, and timing of our words.

Words are a leading cause of anger. (26)

• James 3:5 says our tongue is like a spark that can consume an entire forest.
  
  
• Anger begins as an involuntary emotion that can become sin.
  
  
• Sinful anger happens when:
  • It consumes your thoughts and dictates your perspective.
  • It chooses the desired outcome of an encounter.
  • When our words are spoken to wound and not build.
  • Retaliation is the motive…“I bleed…You bleed.”

• Deal with your hurt and anger, do not nurture it.
  • The “sun going down” charge is not a license to wake up your spouse or friend to “have it out” so that you can then sleep in peace.
  • This is a charge to not let the anger percolate, but to deal with it in truth and spirit before God.

• Nurturing your anger gives a platform for the Devil to do his work to transform you into his likeness. (27)

We work to increase our capacity to give to others.  (28)

• Confronting stealing with the charge to consider other’s needs.
  
  
• This where truth confronts our deepest motives.
  
  
• Such a transformation will affect what we say and do.

Guard the gate of your mouth.  (29)

• saproV- rotten, putrid, foul, vicious, corrupt.
  
  
• We are not to let “any” such word be spoken.
  
  
• We are to “only” speak words that build up others.