A New You

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.

When you study the Bible be sure to make notes of the VERBS. Verbs tell us what do do and how to live. They are the action of life, the doing and being of life.

“Let” is a transitive verb meaning that it is connected to a direct object.

3 NEW Changes of being NEW IN Jesus.

NEW: Wrath. 26-27

Can you be angry and not sin?

Is being angry all the time sin?

Today's Best Illustrations, Volumes 1-4 (Anger Is Its Own Reward)

One morning Ralph woke up at five o’clock to a noise that sounded like someone repairing boilers on his roof. Still in his pajamas, he went into the back yard to investigate. He found a woodpecker on the TV antenna, “pounding its little brains out on the metal pole.” Angry at the little creature who ruined his sleep, Ralph picked up a rock and threw it. The rock sailed over the house, and he heard a distant crash as it hit the car. In utter disgust, Ralph took a vicious kick at a clod of dirt, only to remember—too late—that he was still in his bare feet. Uncontrolled anger, as Ralph learned, can sometimes be its own reward.

Today's Best Illustrations, Volumes 1-4 (How to Deal with Anger)

“When you get really angry, stick your hands in your pockets.”

ANGRY

New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries: Updated Edition (3710 ὀργίζω (orgizō))

ὀργίζω orgizō; from 3709; to make angry:—angry(4), enraged(3), moved with anger(1).

WRATH

New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries: Updated Edition (3950 παροργισμός (parorgismos))

παροργισμός parorgismos; from 3949; irritation:—anger(1).

Ephesians: An Introduction and Commentary (b. Truth and Love to Replace Falsehood and Bitterness (4:25–5:2))

The danger of anger is that it gives an opportunity to the devil. It gives him ‘a half-open door’ (Moule, CB), an opportunity of fostering the spirit of pride or hatred.

ANGER ALLOWED TO REMAIN GIVES SATAN A CHANCE TO HARM YOUR LIFE AND HOME.

Ephesians: An Introduction and Commentary (b. Truth and Love to Replace Falsehood and Bitterness (4:25–5:2))

Sudden instinctive indignation against injustice or wrong, good in itself, if retained and nursed (NEB) as a grievance, will let the devil lead his victim on to unkind thoughts, words and actions, and so work havoc with personal relationships. The devil is to be resisted (Jas 4:7), and given no place whether it is the individual’s spiritual life, or the welfare of the fellowship that is in danger (cf. 1 Pet. 5:8–9).

Many times Anger is just a selfish outburst. Anger can be righteous.

James 1:20 KJV 1900

For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Micah 7:9 KJV 1900

I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him, Until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: He will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.

3 ANGER DANGERS:

The Anger Danger of Bitterness.

Hebrews 12:15 KJV 1900

Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

Ephesians 4:31 KJV 1900

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

The Anger Danger of Unforgiveness.

Matthew 6:14–15 KJV 1900

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

The Anger Danger of Satan:

Don’t give Satan a “place” in your life or home.

We flea from Satan and we fight Satan.

James 4:7 KJV 1900

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

1 Peter 5:9 KJV 1900

Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

There is a place for WRATH: Not “IN” You.

Romans 12:19 KJV 1900

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

New Cyclopaedia of Prose Illustrations (144. Anger, Nature Of)

There is an anger that is damnable: it is the anger of selfishness. There is an anger that is majestic as the frown of Jehovah’s brow: it is the anger of truth and love. If a man meets with injustice, it is not required that he shall not be roused to meet it; but if he is angry after he has had time to think upon it, that is sinful. The flame is not wrong, but the coals are.

Anger can be contagious...

Today's Best Illustrations, Volumes 1-4 Anger Can Be Contagious

In his autobiography, Number 1, Billy Martin told about hunting in Texas with Mickey Mantle. Mickey had a friend who would let them hunt on his ranch. When they reached the ranch, Mickey told Billy to wait in the car while he checked in with his friend. Mantle’s friend quickly gave them permission to hunt, but he asked Mickey a favor. He had a pet mule in the barn who was going blind, and he didn’t have the heart to put him out of his misery. He asked Mickey to shoot the mule for him.

When Mickey came back to the car, he pretended to be angry. He scowled and slammed the door. Billy asked him what was wrong, and Mickey said his friend wouldn’t let them hunt. “I’m so mad at that guy,” Mantle said, “I’m going out to his barn and shoot one of his mules!” Mantle drove like a maniac to the barn. Martin protested, “We can’t do that!” But Mickey was adamant. “Just watch me,” he shouted.

When they got to the barn, Mantle jumped out of the car with his rifle, ran inside, and shot the mule. As he was leaving, though, he heard two shots, and he ran back to the car. He saw that Martin had taken out his rifle, too. “What are you doing, Martin?” he yelled. Martin yelled back, face red with anger, “We’ll show that son of a gun! I just killed two of his cows!” Anger can be dangerously contagious. As Proverbs puts it, “Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man … or you may learn his ways” (Proverbs 22:24–25).

The Christian’s life is New “IN” Jesus.

NEW: Wrath. Prolonged anger or selfish anger is sin.

NEW: Work. 28

Replace stealing with working.

Replace taking with giving.

Replace coveting with contentment.

SATAN Was a Thief...

John 10:10 KJV 1900

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

YOU ARE NEW AND DIFFERENT AS A CHILD OF GOD.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Nine: Take off the Graveclothes! (Ephesians 4:17–32)

Even honest labor could become a selfish thing, and this Paul seeks to avoid. Of course, it was a fundamental rule in the early church that “if any would not work, neither should he eat” (2 Thes. 3:10). A lazy Christian robs himself, others, and God. Of course, Paul was not writing to believers who could not work because of handicaps, but with those who would not work.

Sometimes the type of work/job you can do changes with the economy, physical and mental limitations, and other factors.

New Testament 4:17–5:2—Living the New Life

Judaism valued laboring with one’s hands and sharing with the poor. Although Greek artisans no doubt prided themselves in their work, the aristocracy throughout the Mediterranean world disdained work with one’s hands as the duty of the lower classes.

Doing Good.

Give to people in need.

It’s OK to “HAVE” in order to be able to “GIVE.” We don’t work to accumulate or merely have but to be able to give.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 4

that he may have to give—“that he may have wherewith to impart.” He who has stolen should exercise liberality beyond the restitution of what he has taken. Christians in general should make not selfish gain their aim in honest industry, but the acquisition of the means of greater usefulness to their fellow men; and the being independent of the alms of others.

BTW: Students and Young Adults are learning WORK ETHIC. You do not want to live the rest of your life as a “Dependent” depending on the charity of you parents, mooching off friends, or taking advantage of people. You want to be once a GIVER.

GIVERS ARE PRODUCERS. They produce wealth (Does not need to be much”) to live on and some more - to GIVE. Don’t Just “Get By’” Have a little more to be able to GIVE.

Giving carries the idea of sharing.

Who “Needeth?” That is like the Scribe/ Lawyer asking Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?”

Needeth = someone that is missing something that he really needed in order to stay alive.

“It is always better to be Generous than Stingy when it comes to giving.”

like the fun Christian song: “Give it away.” Two types of folks, takers and givers.

The Christian’s life is New “IN” Jesus.

New Wrath, New Work: and NEW Words.

A firing squad was prepared:

The first convict they push against the wall. The captain says "ready, aim..." and the first convict screams "tornado!" so everyone runs away and he escapes. The second convict is next, so they push him against the wall. The captain says "ready, aim..." and he screams "earthquake!" so everyone runs away and he escapes. The last convict is pushed against the wall. The captain says "ready, aim..." and the convict screams "fire!"

Having the right words at the right time, with the right tone said the right way are a godly thing.

NEW: Words. 29, 25

Truth instead of lies.

Building up instead of tearing down.

Grace instead of dictatorial law.

Truthful Words.

Truth matters.

Truth matters in relationships.

Truth matters in the body of Christ “members one another”

Ephesians 4:15 (KJV 1900)

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Edifying Words.

Corruption is unwholesome or rotten.

Avoid rotten conversation:

Putrid topics.

Discouraging conversation.

Selfish talk. Some people only talk about their problems and don’t stop talking long enough to hear a solution. That’s rotten.

CONTRAST: Build People Up. Edify.

One church had a “Say Something Nice” Day. We could have a “Say something nice week, or month.”

Graceful.

What’s on the Menu today? We are Serving up (minister) grace in our conversation today.

Hearers should know more about God’s grace because they have heard our talk.

WORD CHANGE IS A BIG CHANGE:

James 3:8–11 KJV 1900

But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

I enjoy watching the Canadian Geese. They will be back flying overhead before you know it.

6,000 Plus Illustrations for Communicating Biblical Truths (Interesting Facts about Geese)

Interesting Facts About Geese Researchers have discovered some interesting truths about geese as follows:

1. They fly in a “V” formation because it takes 71% less energy compared to flying solo. So, church people need to stick together!

2. The lead goose has the difficult job of breaking the wind barrier, so they rotate leadership. So, let’s share the hard jobs at church!

3. Geese honk as they fly. If one drops out and breaks the efficiency equation, the others honk encouragement to the leader. In church, let’s honk some encouraging words!

4. If a goose is hurt in flight, two others accompany it to the ground and give help. In church, let’s take care of each other!

The Christian’s life is New “IN” Jesus.

NEW: Wrath: Work, Words:

Response:

Quick to anger? Wrath festering?

Are you a hard worker, motivated by glorifying God and giving to help others?

Are your words moderated with truth, love, encouragement, and grace?

Are you IN? are you saved?

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