10_29_2023 - Ephesians 4:25-32 - Reject the World Not the Lord

(Opening Prayer)

(Sermon Introduction)

Today we continue our “Ephesians” series.

(AG Reminder)

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(Ephesians Context)

The books of Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon are what we call the “Prison Epistles.”

Paul is writing Ephesians during his first imprisonment in Rome around 60 AD (recorded in Acts 28).

Like Colossians, this letter was carried to the province of Asia by Tychicus (Eph. 6:20-21).

This explains the similarity of doctrinal content, the same ideas being fresh in the apostle’s mind as he wrote these letters.

On Paul’s second missionary journey he planted the church of Ephesus (Acts 18:19).

On his third missionary journey Paul pastored the church of Ephesus for three years (Acts 20:31).

Paul finishes his third missionary journey and stops in Ephesus to say goodbye as he made his way to Jerusalem and ultimately to prison in Rome where he is writing this letter to them.

(Series Recap and Sermon Title)

Since July, we have been going through the Bible book of Ephesians.

In Ephesians 1 we focused on the calling of Paul and the nature of the gospel.

In Ephesians 2 we focused on the impact of God’s love, mercy, and grace upon us and the people around us and how being “in Christ” changes us.

In Ephesians 3 we focused on the mystery of Christ being played out in the Church.

In Ephesians 4:1-16 we spoke of “Unity” and how Christ has positioned the Church to grow in Him through the gifts (people) that He has given to the Church.

Last week, Pastor Robby, spoke from Ephesians 4:17-24 about being renewed by His Spirit.

Today we are in Ephesians 4:25-32 and have entitled the message, “Reject the World Not the Lord.”

Ephesians 4:25–32 (ESV)

25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,

27 and give no opportunity to the devil.

28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.

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.

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Before we begin today it is important to state that it is truly impossible for you to do any of this today if you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

You may be able to reject the world for a while and choose the Lord’s ways, but if you do not know Him it will be short-lived.

Only knowing Jesus Christ will truly set you free to do these things.

People who claim to know Jesus should be walking this road of rejecting the world and accepting the way of the Lord.

Today’s sermon may sound like a bunch of do’s and don’ts, and the world typically tunes it out.

In fact, most non-believers and even those who have walked away from the faith will say, “Christianity is a list of do’s and don’ts.”

The truth is, Christianity is a relationship.

Those who have become followers of Jesus Christ have entered into a relationship with Jesus Christ.

A relationship with Jesus Christ changes those who are in relationship with Him.

Those outside of that relationship say, “It’s a list of do’s and don’ts,” but those inside the relationship realize that it is a relationship that changes us.

(Marriage vs. Dating Relationship Illustration)

For those of you who are married you understand that dating and marriage are two very different things.

When you are dating you were enamored with the person that would become your spouse.

You were beginning to figure out who the other person is and what they were all about.

While dating you are in investigation mode.

Walking into marriage there is still very much an investigation that is ongoing to learn more about the person that you married.

However, there is also this deep understanding that there is a process happening that you did not experience fully until you stepped into the marriage relationship.

Within marriage there is this mystery that is seen in the two becoming one.

Later in Ephesians 5 we will talk about what this really looks like, but the important thing to know now is that Paul says that marriage is a picture of Christ and the Church/the Bride.

When we walk into this relationship with Jesus it is very much a journey of us becoming one with Jesus.

We are in Him, and He is in us.

The Christian life is a journey of transformation to reflect Jesus, the One Who has saved us and brought us into relationship with God.

This means that we will look different than the world.

The Christian life is not a list to complete but a transformation to be realized.

1. To Follow Christ is to Reject the World

Do not lie (v. 25).

The devil is the father of lies and we don’t belong to him anymore.

All deceit is an offense to God.

Lies do not breed harmony but discord among the people of God.

Lies do the work of the enemy

Do not let anger control you (v. 26).

Commentary Quote

Those who nurse their wrath to keep it warm may not realize that they are giving the devil a golden opportunity to exploit their cherished indignation to gain his own ends. But he must be allowed no room, not the slightest foothold, within the Christian’s life.

The Epistle to the Ephesians: A Verse-by-Verse Exposition.

Do not break God’s commands (v. 28).

Paul’s point here when he tells the thief not to steal anymore is not only specific to those that steal but to anyone doing what the commands of God forbid.

Do not destroy others with your tongue (v. 29).

Proverbs 12:22 (NLT)

22 The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth.

Proverbs 10:18 (NLT)

18 Hiding hatred makes you a liar; slandering others makes you a fool.

Do not reject the Lord (v. 30).

The Lord has given believers the Holy Spirit as a guarantee and deposit of their faith and Paul is urging them not to reject His voice that rejects the ways of the world.

Do not let your passions rule (v. 31).

So, lest the Spirit be grieved, let everything be put away which attacks unity of heart and the mission of God among believers.

Outbursts of rage, public quarreling and slanderous whispers and all other forms of maliciousness and ill-will must be rejected.

James 3:13–18 (ESV)

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.

15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.

17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

James 4:1–4 (ESV)

1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?

2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.

3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

2. To Follow Christ is to Accept The Way

Tell the truth (v. 25).

God is the God of Truth.

We are not liars but Truth-Tellers.

Speaking the truth in love is how the body of Christ is built up (Eph. 4:15).

Truth is a building block of the Kingdom.

Have self-control (v. 26).

Psalm 4:4 (ESV)

4 Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah

Even if it is not practicable before sundown to seek out the person who has brought about the anger, one can still be reconciled with him at heart by taking it all to the Lord and leaving it with him.

Obey the Lord (v. 28).

Christians should not resemble the world but should appear as aliens and foreigners in the eyes of the world.

Instead of breaking the commands of God we should seek to uphold them.

We should champion the desires of the One whom we are in relationship with—God.

Build others up (v. 29).

Colossians 4:6 (ESV)

6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Ephesians 4:15 (ESV)

15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (ESV)

11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Accept the Lord’s way (v. 30).

The Holy Spirit was sent by Jesus to guide us into all truth, to convict the world of sin, to remind us of what Jesus said (and the Scriptures), and empower us to do the mission of God and to remind us who we belong to and how we are to live.

Rejecting the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives is like trying to navigate a city you have never been to without a map or locating device.

Live out the fruit of the Spirit (v. 31).

We cannot live a life filled with the cares and approach of the world.

We cannot carry offense and sin within us and expect to have a healthy relationship with Jesus Christ.

For us to live out the relationship we are intended to live with Jesus Christ we must reject and let go of those things that would want to destroy our relationship and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

We need His fruits active in our lives.

Model the gospel (v. 32).

(Instrumental Music)

Ephesians 4:32 (ESV)

32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

James 4:6–8 (ESV)

6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

All of this is so that we can model the gospel to a lost and dying world that desperately needs a relationship with Jesus Christ.

We are called to live from the life-giving nature of Jesus Christ, model it, and share it to others.

When we love someone they are never far from our hearts, minds, and lips.

When something has changed our lives, we find it hard to keep it secret and want the whole world to know about it.

Jesus Christ saved us not the world.

Therefore we must reject the world not the Lord.

(Sermon Recap)

Reject the World Not the Lord

To Follow Christ is to Reject the World

To Follow Christ is to Accept His Way

(Closing Tension)

(Response Card)

(Closing Challenge)

(Response)

(Invite Prayer Team)

(Closing Blessing)

Numbers 6:24–26 (ESV)

24 The Lord bless you and keep you.

25 The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.

26 The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.