Be A Blessing!

Speaking of Which…

Text: Ephesians 4:29, Matthew 26:70-75

Paul is still giving us specific examples of how the Christian life will look different from the lives of the pagan world all around, in the city of Ephesus. And there’s another. Christians SPEAK differently.  You should be able to recognise a Christian believer by the way that he or she speaks. Let’s explore that idea…

1 Be Careful What You Say! Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth,

Christians do not swear – do not curse, do NOT use bad language. Here’s why:-

1. Your words indicate the condition of your heart.  The word ‘corrupt’ is σαπρός (sapros) – it was a horticultural word, used by growers and sellers of vegetables and fruit, – it described produce that has gone well past its sell-by date, and is now black and stinking and putrid and uneatable. That’s what the pagan language was like. It was rotten. But these Christians had been converted, they had been brought into Christian fellowship, with new friends and new family, – into relationships where the language was completely different. It was wholesome, and without swear-words, or dirty jokes. It was that new heart that was the underlying reason for this change. READ Luke 6:45 A new heart equals a new voice. And that means that…
2. Your words are part of your Christian witness. How will people know if you are a Christian? People often say that actions speak louder than words, but if your words betray your actions, then your witness to Christ, your testimony, is ruined.  

So. As believers in Christ, our speech will reflect the condition of our hearts, and it will be a testimony to our conversion.  The basic principle is that a Christian will be different from the pagan world – the applied principle, – they will know we are believers, by the fact that our speech patterns are greatly different from theirs. We don’t use bad language, or make filthy jokes, or use sexual innuendo, or corrupt speech. Sometimes that will mean that we must:-

2 Learn a New Language.  but that which is good to the use of edifying

This is practical. Remember that these specific examples of Christian living are IMPERATIVES. They are things that we must do so that God is glorified in our lives. So, we should look at our speech, and ask God to search our hearts. What way do I talk? What about bad language, what about filthy jesting, what about taking the Lord’s name in vain? Using the name of God or the Name of Jesus as a swear word, or a casual profanity? The common way that people around us use the ‘OMG’ phrase, – you hear it everywhere, even in TV advertisements. We are to identify speech patterns in our own conversation, and perhaps ask ourselves, “Is what I am saying glorifying to God, – is it good, is it true, is it necessary, is it kind.”  Our speech is to edify others – to build them up, rather than put them down. 

Now, since this is something we MUST do, how will we attain this proficiency in edifying speech?

1. Prayer! Of course we must seek the face of God for help with this. READ Psalm 19:14 Maybe it would even be a good thing, if you remember, to pray before you speak! And of course listening to God’s word in the Bible, daily reading the word of God. 
2. Perceptiveness! Simply be aware of what is going on around you. Novels, etc
3. Practical mind training! I know that sounds a bit ‘new-age’ like – but I’m not thinking of ‘mindfulness’ or ‘meditation techniques…’ But we do need to train our minds, to think in a godly manner, – because if we are thinking unworthy and unedifying thoughts, – and our minds become accustomed to those thoughts, how easy would it be for them to roll easily off the tongue in an unguarded moment.  READ Philippians 4:8  The mind is a weak spot, a target for Satan to attack us, and often with great success. To be sure, we will all fall foul of temptation and the devil’s wiles from time to time. When the mind is empty, and off guard, that’s when the devil attacks. So Paul advises us to FILL our minds with positive good thoughts, to guard our minds, and thus guard our speech.

This may be a difficult task for some of us. Some of you may have been brought up in Godly homes, where you were not surrounded by coarse speech. You may have gone to a good school, with perfectly polite pupils. Others, will not be so blessed. You will have heard oaths and curses and blasphemous references to God throughout your childhood. It will be a hard task, but an essential one. James admits the difficulty we may face in James 3:8-10  Let’s deal with this like true believers in Christ. Let us walk worthy of the of the calling wherewith we have been called. (4:1)

3 Make Your Words a Blessing to Others. that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Have you noticed a common thread running from verse 25-29? When Paul teaches the Ephesians about lying and truthfulness, he finished by reminding them of their responsibilities to the church, V25  When he teaches about living an honest and productive life, instead of a life of theft he tells them to share what they have with others, V28  Now, teaching about our speech he says that we are speak blessing to others. V29 The connection is that the noticeable difference between a pagan life and a Christian life, is that in every area of our character, we are to be a blessing to other people. To our Christian brothers and sisters, to the less fortunate, to those who with whom we converse. There’s a challenge for us. Is what I say, a blessing to others? Titus 3:1-2  

You may be asking, “What’s this got to do with me? I don’t swear, or curse, or use sexually inappropriate language.” But this verse is in the Bible for a reason, – 2 Timothy 3:16  So maybe you don’t use bad language – but what about our social media posts? What about what we write on Facebook and Twitter? How edifying are they? What do people think of you and me when they read what we write on public forums. Even when we are exposing error and revealing truth, we must be sure that Christ is exalted in our words. 

So, watch what we say, for our words are an indication of the condition of our hearts, and they are read by the listeners, and our Christian character is judged by what we say. Because of this we must pro-actively work, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to develop godly speech and language, so that everything we say, will be a blessing to others, and not a hinderance.

© Bob McEvoy