SERIES: EPHESIANS: THE CALL AND CONDUCT OF THE CHURCH, WEEK 35

TITLE: FROM PRINCIPLE TO PRACTICE, PART I

TEXT: EPHESIANS 4:25-28

INTRODUCTION: (1) THE SINS OF LYING, ANGER AND STEALING HAVE GREATLY IMPACTED OUR WORLD, AND ALL OF OUR LIVES.

* THERE’S PROBABLY NOT AN ADULT IN THIS ROOM TODAY WHO HAS NOT BEEN LIED TO BY SOMEONE, WHO HAS NOT BEEN IN THE FIRING LINE OF SOMEONE’S ANGER, OR WHO HAS NOT HAD A POSSESSION STOLEN.

** TAKE A QUICK POLL – HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN LIED TO, ON THE RECEIVING END OF ANGER OR HAD SOMETHING STOLEN?

*** NOW CONVERSELY, THE QUESTION WITHOUT THE RAISING OF HANDS MUST BE ASKED, HOW MANY OF US HAVE LIED TO SOMEONE AND HURT THEM?

**** HOW MANY OF US HAVE EXPLODED AND HURT SOMEONE BY OUR ANGER, OUR WRATH?

- AND HOW MANY OF US HAVE STOLEN SOMETHING IN OUR LIFETIMES?

(2) AND THE ANSWER TO THOSE QUESTIONS IS, JUST ABOUT ALL OF US.

* NOW FOR MOST OF US, B.C., BEFORE CHRIST SAVED US, THOSE THINGS WERE NATURAL.

** BUT A.C., AFTER CHRIST, THOSE SINS ARE NOT NATURAL, FOR THE SUPERNATURAL PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT INDWELLS US, AND HE IS THE HOLY SPIRIT AND NOT THE UNHOLY SPIRIT.

(3) AND THE POINT I WANT TO MAKE IS, THE SINS OF LYING, ANGER AND STEALING ARE NOT NORMAL RESPONSES FOR CHRISTIANS. THEY ARE ABNORMAL.

* AND IF THERE IS ANYONE IN OUR WORLD THAT SHOULD BE HONEST, IT SHOULD BE A CHRISTIAN, OUR WORD SHOULD BE OUR BOND.

** TRUTH IS THE PATTERN OF OUR LIVES. FOR JESUS IS TRUTH, HIS WORD IS TRUTH AND THE SPIRIT IS TRUTH.

*** AND IF THERE IS ANYONE IN THE WORLD THAT SHOULD NOT BE CHARACTERIZED BY UNCONTROLLED ANGER IT SHOULD BE BELIEVERS, WE ARE SLAVES AND HAVE GIVEN UP OUR RIGHTS.

**** AND IF THERE’S ANYONE IN THIS WORLD WHO SHOULD NOT BE A THIEF, IT SHOULD BE A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST, FOR STEALING IS CONTRARY TO GIVING AND OUR LIVES SHOULD BE CHARACTERIZED BY GIVING.

(4) AND I WONDER THIS MORNING HOW SENSITIVE WE ARE TO THOSE SINS? HAVE WE HARDENED OUR HEARTS TO SOME OF THOSE THINGS?

* HAVE WE ACCEPTED SOME OF THOSE THINGS AS NORMAL BECAUSE IT’S SO PREVALENT IN OUR SOCIETY?

** HAVE WE BEEN GUILTY OF MINIMIZING THESE SINS AND MAXIMIZING OTHER SINS LIKE MURDER, IMMORALITY AND DIVORCE?

*** AND BELOVED, WHEN WE YIELD TO THOSE SINS, LYING, ANGER AND STEALING, ARE OUR HEARTS GRIEVED AND CONVICTED THAT WE IMMEDIATELY CONFESS THOSE SINS, FORSAKE THEM AND MAKE THE WRONGS RIGHT?

**** OR HAVE WE BECOME USED TO THOSE SINS AND ALLOW THEM TO BOTHER US ONLY A LITTLE.

(5) TO ILLUSTRATE WHAT I MEAN, I READ YEARS AGO OF A MAN THAT SOME YEARS AGO BECAME WIDELY KNOWN FOR HIS POWERFUL AND MOVING TESTIMONY. BUT AFTER SEVERAL YEARS, HE STOPPED.

* WHEN ASKED WHY, HE REPLIED WITH SOME DEGREE OF INTEGRITY, “OVER THE YEARS I EMBELLISHED THE STORY SO MUCH THAT I NO LONGER KNEW WHAT WAS TRUE AND WHAT WAS NOT.”

** AND I WONDER HAS THAT HAPPENED TO ANY OF US?

*** AND YES, WE AS CHRISTIANS ARE MORE THAN CAPABLE OF COMMITTING ANY OF THESE 3 SINS THAT I’VE MENTIONED, AND MOST OF US HAVE.

(6) BUT WHEN WE DO, DO WE LIKE PETER GO OUT AND WEEP BITTERLY? DO WE HURT? ARE WE CONVICTED? DO WE IMMEDIATELY CONFESS IT AND FORSAKE IT?

* AND ALTHOUGH MOST OF US HAVE YIELDED TO THOSE SINS, LET ME SAY NONE OF THOSE SINS SHOULD BE NORMAL OR THE PATTERN.

** FOR IF THEY ARE, IF THOSE THINGS ARE THE NORM, THE PATTERN, THE REGULAR RESPONSE, THE HABIT OF OUR LIVES, THEN WE ARE NOT A TRUE BELIEVER ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE.

(7) FOR NO. 1 LIARS WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD, REVELATION 21:8 (READ)

* NO. 2 THOSE WHO ALWAYS LOSE THEIR TEMPERS AND ARE CONTROLLED BY ANGER WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD, GALATIANS 5:19-21.

- GALATIANS 5:19-21 - NOW THE DEEDS OF THE FLESH ARE EVIDENT, WHICH ARE: IMMORALITY, IMPURITY, SENSUALITY,

20 IDOLATRY, SORCERY, ENMITIES, STRIFE, JEALOUSY, OUTBURSTS OF ANGER, DISPUTES, DISSENSIONS, FACTIONS,

21 ENVYING, DRUNKENNESS, CAROUSING, AND THINGS LIKE THESE, OF WHICH I FOREWARN YOU, JUST AS I HAVE FOREWARNED YOU, THAT THOSE WHO PRACTICE SUCH THINGS WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

** AND NO. 3, IF STEALING IS THE NORM RATHER THAN THE EXCEPTION IN YOUR LIFE, YOU WILL NOT GO TO HEAVEN, I CORINTHIANS 6:9-11 (READ THEM).

(8) NOW AGAIN, WE ARE ALL CAPABLE OF THESE THINGS, BUT WHAT IS THE PATTERN, THE NORM IS THE ISSUE, AND WHAT IS OUR RESPONSE WHEN WE YIELD TO THOSE THINGS IS THE ISSUE.

* FOR WE’VE LEARNED THAT A TRUE BELIEVER IS A NEW MAN, A NEW CREATION IN CHRIST. AND BELIEVERS HAVE PUT ON THE NEW MAN, AND THE OLD MAN IS DEAD, SO WE WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE AND ARE GROWING IN CHRIST LIKENESS.

** AND BECAUSE OF THAT WE HAVE A NEW WALK, WE ARE NOT WHAT WE WERE, AND WE ARE TO LIVE OUT WHAT WE ARE, TO MATCH UP OUR PRACTICE WITH OUR POSITION.

*** TRUE BELIEVERS HAVE PUT ON THE NEW MAN AND PUT OFF THE OLD AT CONVERSION. THE RAGS OF THE OLD HAVE BEEN PUT OFF AND NOW WE WEAR THE ROBES OF THE NEW.

**** WE HAVE PUT OFF THE GRAVE CLOTHES OF THE OLD LIFE AND HAVE PUT ON THE GRACE CLOTHES OF THE NEW LIFE.

(9) BECAUSE OF THAT WE NEED TO LAY ASIDE CERTAIN THINGS. IN FACT IN EPHESIANS 4:25-32 WE MOVE FROM OUR POSITION TALKED ABOUT IN CHAPTERS 1-3 AND 4:20-24, TO OUR PRACTICE.

* WE MOVE FROM THE ARGUMENT TO THE APPLICATION. AND WHAT IS TRUE ALREADY IN PRINCIPLE, VV. 20-24 MUST NOW BE MADE REAL IN ACTUAL PRACTICE, VV. 25-32.

** SO I’VE TITLED OUR MESSAGE THIS MORNING, “FROM PRINCIPLE TO PRACTICE.” AND AGAIN THE IDEA IS LIVE OUT WHAT YOU ARE; LIVE LIKE A SON OF THE KING.

(10) AND UNDER THAT THEME WE’LL LOOK AT 3 THINGS WE SHOULD DO AND WILL DO TO A CERTAIN EXTENT AS TRUE SONS.

* NO. 1 LAYING ASIDE LYING, V. 25; NO. 2 LAYING ASIDE ANGER, VV. 26&27; AND NO. 3 LAYING ASIDE STEALING, V. 28.

** AND WITHOUT FURTHER INTRODUCTION, LET’S MOVE INTO THE BODY OF OUR MESSAGE TODAY BY SEEING LAYING ASIDE LYING. LOOK AT V. 25 PLEASE.

I. LAYING ASIDE LYING, (READ V. 25)

A. NOW V. 25 BEGINS WITH THE WORD “THEREFORE” ONE OF SEVERAL THEREFORES FOUND IN THIS CHAPTER.

* AND THIS WONDERFUL THEREFORE TAKES US BACK TO THE TRUTHS WE STUDIED LAST SUNDAY, THE TRUTHS THAT WE AS BELIEVERS HAVE PUT OFF THE OLD MAN AND PUT ON THE NEW, SO LIVE LIKE IT, ACT THIS WAY, LIVE OUT WHO YOU ARE, WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE.

** TO PUT IT ANOTHER WAY, ON ACCOUNT OF WHO YOU ARE, THEREFORE, LAY ASIDE FALSEHOOD. SINCE YOU ARE NEW, DON’T BE ANGRY AND SIN BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT WHAT YOU WERE, DON’T STEAL.

*** SO THE WORD THEREFORE TAKES US BACK TO REMIND US WHAT WE’VE LEARNED.

1. NOW SINCE WE ARE NEW, WE ARE TO LAY ASIDE FALSEHOOD. AND THE PHRASE LAYING ASIDE LIT. HAS TO DO WITH DISCARDING, STRIPPING OFF AND CASTING AWAY.

* IT IS THE WORD IN THE GREEK USED OF THE JEWISH LEADERS IN JERUSALEM WHO, AS THEY WERE STONING STEPHEN, “LAID ASIDE” THEIR ROBES AT THE FEET OF A YOUNG MAN NAMED SAUL IN ACTS 7:58.

** AND THEY LAID ASIDE THEIR OUTER GARMENTS SO THEY COULD MORE FREELY DO THEIR WICKED WORK.

*** WELL, LIKEWISE, WE AS BELIEVERS LAY ASIDE FALSEHOOD SO THAT WE CAN BE FREE TO DO THE RIGHTEOUS WORK OF THE LORD.

**** WE PREACH THE TRUTH AND SHOULD LIVE THE TRUTH, AND THERE SHOULD BE NOTHING FALSE OR PHONY INVOLVED IN THE WAY WE LIVE.

2. AND BELOVED, GOD’S ECONOMY IS BASED ON TRUTH, AND HIS PEOPLE, EITHER AS INDIVIDUAL BELIEVERS OR AS THE CORPORATE CHURCH, CANNOT BE FIT INSTRUMENTS FOR HIS WORK UNLESS THEY LIVE IN TRUTHFULNESS.

* IN FACT AS WE MOVE ON IN V. 25, PAUL SAYS WE ARE TO SPEAK TRUTH, EACH ONE OF US WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, FOR WE ARE MEMBERS OF ONE ANOTHER.

** AND THE WORD NEIGHBOR IS DEFINED BY THE PHRASE MEMBERS OF ONE ANOTHER AND IN THIS CONTEXT MEANS FELLOW CHRISTIANS.

3. NOW OBVIOUSLY WE ARE TO SPEAK TRUTH TO EVERYONE AND IN EVERY SITUATION, BUT WE HAVE A SPECIAL MOTIVE TO BE TRUTHFUL WITH OTHER BELIEVERS, BECAUSE WE ARE FELLOW MEMBERS OF CHRIST’S BODY, THE CHURCH, AND THEREFORE MEMBERS OF ONE ANOTHER.

* AND TO ILLUSTRATE THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PHRASE, MEMBERS ONE OF ANOTHER, JOHN MACARTHUR IN HIS COMMENTARY ON EPHESIANS SAID THIS:

** “OUR PHYSICAL BODIES CANNOT FUNCTION PROPERLY OR SAFELY IF EACH MEMBER DOES NOT CORRECTLY COMMUNICATE TO THE OTHERS. IF OUR BRAIN WERE SUDDENLY TO START GIVING FALSE SIGNALS TO OUR FEET, WE WOULD STUMBLE OR WALK IN FRONT OF A MOVING TRUCK INSTEAD OF STOPPING ON THE CURB.

*** IF THE BRAIN FALSELY REPORTED HOT AND COLD, WE COULD FREEZE TO DEATH BECAUSE WE FELT TOO WARM OR BE SCALDED IN A HOT SHOWER WHILE FEELING CHILLY.

- IF OUR EYES DECIDED TO SEND FALSE SIGNALS TO THE BRAIN, A DANGEROUS CURVE IN THE HIGHWAY MIGHT APPEAR STRAIGHT AND SAFE, AND WE WOULD CRASH.

- IF THE NERVES IN OUR HANDS AND FEET FAILED TO TELL OUR BRAIN THAT INJURY WAS OCCURRING, OUR FOOT COULD BE MANGLED OR OUR FINGERS BURNED WITHOUT KNOWING IT. AND THAT IS PRECISELY THE GREAT DANGER OF LEPROSY, INJURIES, DISEASE AND OTHER AFFLICTIONS THAT DEVASTATE THE BODY BECAUSE NERVES FAIL TO SEND DANGER SIGNALS OF PAIN.” (END QUOTE.

- NOW IN ESSENCE IN THIS QUOTE BY JOHN, THE BODY IS NOT BEING HONEST WITH OTHER PARTS OF THE BODY.

4. SO WHAT DOES ALL OF THIS HAVE TO DO WITH THE LOCAL CHURCH, THE ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE PHYSICAL BODY?

* WELL, A LOT. FOR THE CHURCH CANNOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IF ITS MEMBERS SHADE THE TRUTH WITH ONE ANOTHER OR FAIL TO WORK TOGETHER HONESTLY AND LOVINGLY. THE LOCAL BODY WILL NOT BE HEALTHY.

* LYING DOES NOT BUILD THE CHURCH, OR PROTECT THE CHURCH, IT TEARS DOWN THE CHURCH, AND THE CHURCH CANNOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. IT CREATES DISEASE AND DIVISION.

** AND DID YOU KNOW THE FIRST RECORDED SIN THAT WAS JUDGED IN THE EARLY CHURCH WAS LYING ACCORDING TO ACTS CHAPTER 5 WHERE ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA LIED TO PETER AND THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THEY BOTH DIED.

5. NOW I THINK THAT’S A PRETTY CLEAR MESSAGE THAT OUR LORD DOES NOT WANT LYING IN HIS CHURCH, A HOLY GOD WANTS A HOLY CHURCH.

* AND SCRIPTURE IS FILLED WITH COMMANDS NOT TO LIE FROM THE 10 COMMANDMENTS, THOU SHALT NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, TO PROVERBS 6:17 WHERE GOD HATES LYING, TO PROVERBS 12:22 WHERE IT SAYS “LYING LIPS ARE AN ABOMINATION TO THE LORD, BUT THEY THAT DEAL TRULY ARE HIS DELIGHT.”

** THEN THERE’S THE COMPANION VERSE OF EPHESIANS 4:25, COLOSSIANS 3:9&10A WHERE IT SAYS, “DO NOT LIE TO ONE ANOTHER, SINCE YOU LAID ASIDE THE OLD SELF WITH ITS EVIL PRACTICES AND HAVE PUT ON THE NEW SELF.”

*** AND BELOVED, LYING WAS A PART OF THE OLD MAN, NOT THE NEW, SO LET’S LIVE OUT WHAT WE ARE AND LAY ASIDE LYING.

6. AND ONE LAST THING BEFORE I MOVE ON TO V. 26, AND THAT IS LYING INCLUDES MORE THAN TELLING DIRECT FALSEHOODS. IT ALSO INCLUDES EXAGGERATION, CHEATING IN SCHOOL AND ON INCOME TAX RETURNS, MAKING FOOLISH PROMISES, BETRAYING A CONFIDENCE, FLATTERY AND AT TIMES, MAKING EXCUSES ARE ALL FORMS OF LYING.

* AND LYING AGAIN IN OUR LIVES MUST BE LAID ASIDE FOR WE ARE CHILDREN OF THE TRUTH.

** NOW LOOK AT V. 26, WHERE WE’LL SEE SOMETHING ELSE THAT MUST BE LAID ASIDE, AND THAT IS ANGER. THIS IS CONVICTING. LOOK AT V. 26 PLEASE.

II. LAYING ASIDE ANGER, (READ V. 26)

A. NOW IT APPEARS FROM WHAT IS SAID IN V. 26 THAT THERE IS AN ANGER THAT IS SIN AND AN ANGER THAT IS NOT SIN. FOR IT SAYS, “BE ANGRY AND YET DO NOT SIN.” THE NIV SAYS: “IN YOUR ANGER DO NOT SIN.”

* NOW HOW CAN THAT BE DONE? WELL, AS WE LOOK AT THE LIFE OF OUR SAVIOR, THERE WERE TIMES THAT HE WAS ANGRY, BUT WE KNOW THAT HE NEVER EVER SINNED.

** THE REASON BEING, HIS ANGER WAS A RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION, ANGER AGAINST EVIL. IT IS THE ANGER THAT HATES INJUSTICE, IMMORALITY AND UNGODLINESS OF EVERY SORT.

1. JESUS EXPRESSED RIGHTEOUS ANGER AT THE HARD-HEARTEDNESS OF THE PHARISEES WHO RESENTED HIS HEALING THE MAN WITH THE WITHERED HAND ON THE SABBATH IN MARK 3:5.

* IT WAS A RIGHTEOUS ANGER THAT CAUSED JESUS TO DRIVE THE MONEYCHANGERS OUT OF THE TEMPLE IN MATTHEW 21.

** AND JESUS WAS ALWAYS ANGERED WHEN HIS FATHER WAS MALIGNED OR WHEN OTHERS WERE MISTREATED, BUT HE WAS NEVER SELFISHLY ANGRY AT WHAT WAS DONE AGAINST HIM. (AND THAT IS THE MEASURE OF RIGHTEOUS ANGER).

*** WHY ARE WE ANGRY? BECAUSE GOD HAS BEEN OFFENDED OR BECAUSE OUR RIGHTS HAVE BEEN VIOLATED?

2. AND LET ME SAY, IN CONTRAST TO RIGHTEOUS ANGER, SINFUL ANGER NORMALLY COMES WHEN WE BELIEVE OUR RIGHTS HAVE BEEN VIOLATED – (ILLUST. DRIVING, AT HOME, AT WORK, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE TREATED A CERTAIN WAY.)

* BUT LET ME REMIND YOU THAT AS BELIEVERS, WE ARE SLAVES, AND SLAVES DON’T HAVE ANY RIGHTS AND WE NEED TO DAILY SURRENDER OUR RIGHTS BACK TO THE LORD AND HE WILL GIVE MANY OF THEM BACK AS PRIVILEGES TO ENJOY.

** AND WHEN WE GET ANGRY, AN ALARM, AN INDICATOR THAT IT IS SINFUL ANGER SHOULD BE THE REASON FOR OUR ANGER.

*** BELOVED, ANGER THAT IS SIN IS ANGER THAT IS SELF-DEFENSIVE AND SELF-SERVING, THAT IS RESENTFUL OF WHAT IS DONE AGAINST ONESELF. AND IT IS THE ANGER THAT LEADS TO MURDER AND TO GOD’S JUDGMENT, MATTHEW 5:21&22.

3. AND ANY ANGER THAT GETS OUT OF CONTROL IS SINFUL ANGER. WE MUST BE TEMPERATE AND UNDER THE SPIRIT’S CONTROL.

* AND ANGER THAT IS SELFISH, UNDISCIPLINED, AND VINDICTIVE IS SINFUL AND HAS NO PLACE EVEN TEMPORARILY IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.

** BUT ANGER THAT IS UNSELFISH AND IS BASED ON LOVE FOR GOD AND CONCERN FOR OTHERS NOT ONLY IS PERMISSIBLE, BUT COMMANDED.

4. BUT GET THIS, EVEN RIGHTEOUS ANGER CAN EASILY TURN TO BITTERNESS, RESENTMENT AND SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS.

* SO PAUL SAYS AT THE END OF V. 26, DO NOT LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON YOUR ANGER. AND OH HOW PRACTICAL THIS STATEMENT IS.

** FOR ANGER MUST NOT BE CARRIED OVER FROM ONE DAY TO THE NEXT. ANGER THAT IS NOT DEALT WITH RIGHT AWAY TURNS INTO BITTERNESS.

*** BELOVED, WE MUST KEEP SHORT ACCOUNTS. AND IF OUR ANGER HAS BECOME SIN, WE ARE TO DEAL WITH IT NOW, NOT TOMORROW. (ILLUST. BEING ANGRY WITH YOUR MATE AND GOING TO BED AND NOT SLEEPING WELL.)

- AND THE POINT AGAIN IS, DON’T LET THINGS BUILD UP, TAKE CARE OF THEM, AND IF WE DON’T V. 27 COMES INTO PLAY. LOOK AT V. 27.

B. READ V. 27. NOW IF WE DON’T PUT ASIDE ANGER BY THE END OF THE DAY, WE GIVE THE DEVIL AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACT, WE GIVE HIM A FOOTHOLD TO EXPLOIT US; WE GIVE HIM A PLACE TO WORK IN OUR LIVES.

* BELOVED, SINFUL ANGER THAT IS NOT DEALT WITH GIVES SATAN AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LEADING US INTO FURTHER SIN. OUR ANGER BEGINS TO CONTROL US AND WE BECOME ANGRIER AND BITTER AND SOMETIMES RETALIATE AND BECOME VENGEFUL.

** BUT WE MUST FORGIVE, CLEAR OUR CONSCIENCE, YIELD OUR RIGHTS BACK TO THE LORD AND ASK HIM TO FORGIVE US.

*** AND IF WE DON’T, WE GIVE THE DEVIL WHICH MEANS SLANDERER A PLACE TO WORK IN OUR LIVES, AND MANY TIMES WE BECOME SLANDERERS. (ADVANTAGE SATAN.)

*** AND THE SCRIPTURES ARE FILLED WITH WARNINGS TO PUT AWAY ANGER, TO CEASE FROM IT, PSALM 37:8, PROVERBS 25:28, JAMES 1:19&20. (READ THEM).

* AND FOLKS THE MESSAGE OF THESE WARNINGS IS DON’T LET YOUR ANGER GET OUT OF CONTROL AND BE A SINFUL ANGER.

** BELOVED BECAUSE OF WHO WE ARE WE MUST PUT AWAY SINFUL ANGER AND NOT LET SATAN GET AN ADVANTAGE FOR WE ARE NOT IGNORANT OF HIS DEVICES, II CORINTHIANS 2:11.

* WHICH LEADS US TO OUR LAST POINT TODAY IN V. 28, LAY ASIDE STEALING. LOOK AT V. 28.

III. LAYING ASIDE STEALING, (READ V. 28)

A. NOW THE 3’D COMMAND THAT PAUL SETS FORTH IN THIS TEXT DEMANDS A CHANGE FROM STEALING TO SHARING.

* AND IN THE FIRST CENTURY AS TODAY, THEFT WAS A VERY COMMON SIN. AND ESPECIALLY TODAY AT WORK, WITH TAKING THINGS FROM WHERE PEOPLE WORK, TO STEALING TIME, TO STEALING MERCHANDISE FROM A STORE OR IN THAT DAY FROM A MARKET PLACE. (TAKING SOMETHING THAT IS NOT YOURS – STEALING IS FORBIDDEN.

** AND THAT REMINDED ME OF A MAN MANY YEARS AGO TELLING ME THAT HE TOOK FROM THE PLACE HE WORKED ENOUGH MATERIAL TO MAKE A LOG-SPLITTER, THEN GOT SAVED OR CONVICTED, (I DON’T REMEMBER WHICH) AND TOOK IT BACK.

*** AND BY THE WAY TOLD ME IT WAS MUCH HARDER TO GET IT BACK IN THAN OUT – AN ILLUSTRATION OF STEALING FROM YOUR EMPLOYER.

1. AND BELIEVERS ARE NOT TO STEAL ANYTHING. AND THE WORD STEAL HERE IS THE GREEK WORD KLEPTO FROM WHICH WE GET OUR WORD KLEPTOMANIAC WHICH IS A PERSON WHO STEALS WITHOUT ECONOMIC MOTIVE. IT’S FUN, IT GIVES THEM A RISE.

* BUT STEALING GOES BEYOND THAT. IT AGAIN IS TAKING ANYTHING THAT IS NOT YOURS, EVEN MONEY OR THINGS GIVEN TO YOU BY MISTAKE. (ILLUST. TOO MUCH CHANGE, TWO OF ONE ITEM, DOESN’T CHARGE ME ENOUGH.)

2. NOW AS WE GO BACK TO EPHESIANS 4:28, OBVIOUSLY SOME OF THE EPHESIAN BELIEVERS WERE INVOLVED IN STEALING AT ONE TIME, SO PAUL SAYS STEAL NO LONGER, YOU ARE NOT WHAT YOU WERE.

* AND THE ALTERNATIVE TO STEALING IS TO LABOR. IT IS GOD’S PLAN FOR MEN TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES, TO WORK UNLESS THEY ARE PHYSICALLY UNABLE, II THESSALONIANS 3:10, I TIMOTHY 5:8.

** BUT ON TOP OF THAT, NOTE OUR LABOR SHOULD BE IN WHAT IS GOOD ACCORDING TO V. 28, IN WORK THAT IS HONEST, HONORABLE AND PRODUCTIVE. FOR THE TERM GOOD IN THE GREEK LIT. MEANS THAT WHICH IS GOOD IN QUALITY AND HERE REFERS TO GOD-HONORING EMPLOYMENT.

*** AND BELOVED, A CHRISTIAN SHOULD NEVER BE INVOLVED IN A JOB, PROFESSION, WORK, OR BUSINESS THAT DEMANDS COMPROMISE OF GOD’S STANDARDS, THAT DISHONORS HIM, VIOLATES HIS COMMANDS, OR MISLEADS OR HARMS OTHERS IN ANY WAY.

3. BUT ALSO NOTE THAT THE PHRASE PERFORMING WITH HIS OWN HANDS STRESSES THE TRUTH THAT THE NORM IS FOR EVERY PERSON TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS OWN PROVISION, AND EVEN MORE, TO SHARE WITH THOSE WHO IN SPITE OF HARD WORK OR BECAUSE OF DEVASTATION OR INCAPACITY, ARE IN NEED, THAT LAST PART OF V. 28.

* NOW GET THIS, FOR THIS IS A WONDERFUL CHALLENGING TRUTH, A CHRISTIAN’S DESIRE TO EARN MORE SHOULD BE FOR THE PURPOSE OF BEING ABLE TO GIVE MORE AND HELP MORE.

** I MEAN BEYOND PROVIDING FOR HIS FAMILY’S NEEDS, HE GAINS SO HE CAN GIVE. GIVING BECOMES THE MOTIVE FOR GETTING, HELPING OTHERS IN NEED, NOT CONSUMING MORE ON SELF.

*** AND UNFORTUNATELY MANY TIMES WHEN A BELIEVER GETS SOME OVERTIME, A BONUS, A RAISE OR A PROMOTION, WHAT IS NORMALLY DONE WITH IT? MORE FOR SELF.

4. BUT LET’S BE CHALLENGED TO GIVE MORE, TO SET ASIDE MORE FOR THE NEEDY THAT IN TURN OUR MOTIVES CAN BE PROPER, THAT GIVING BECOMES THE MOTIVE FOR GETTING. (WHAT A CHALLENGE).

AND AS I WRAP UP THINGS TODAY: (1) THIS ENTIRE TEXT IS A CHALLENGE BECAUSE WE HAVE WANDERED AWAY FROM SOME OF THE BASICS IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.

* THE NORMAL CHRISTIAN LIFE IS ABNORMAL AS FAR AS OUR HOLY GOD IS CONCERNED.

* AND THINGS LIKE HONESTY SHOULD BE A GIVEN FOR US. SINFUL ANGER MUST BE LAID ASIDE, AND ANY KIND OF STEALING IS TABOO.

** WE MUST LAY ASIDE THESE THINGS BECAUSE OF WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST. AND BECAUSE WE ARE NEW THE OLD HAS NO PLACE.

*** THE OLD MUST BE REPLACED BY THE NEW AND FOLKS LET ME SAY THAT WHEN THESE TRUTHS ARE REALITIES IN OUR LIVES OUR WITNESS AND OUR EXAMPLE WILL GO TO THE NEXT STEP, IT WILL BE DYNAMIC.

(2) THE IMPACT AT WORK AND AT HOME WILL BE AMAZING. I MEAN IF YOU HAVE AN UNSAVED MATE OR HAVE AN UNSAVED BOSS AND YOU DON’T BLOW UP ALL THE TIME, WHAT AN IMPACT THAT WILL HAVE.

* IF WE ARE HONEST AND DO NOT STEAL, WHAT A TESTIMONY THAT WILL BE TO THE UNSAVED, WHEN WE GIVE MONEY BACK.

** AND WHAT A TESTIMONY IT WILL BE THAT WE DON’T WORK HARDER TO GET MORE, BUT TO GIVE MORE.

(3) AND DO YOU THINK BY APPLYING THESE BASIC TRUTHS THAT PEOPLE WILL NOTICE? YOU BETTER BELIEVE THEY WILL? AND NOT ONLY THAT, YOU’LL EXPERIENCE GREAT JOY AND NOT BE A BITTER, SOUR PERSON.

* BUT ALSO, DON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON YOUR WRATH. DO YOU NEED TO TAKE CARE OF SOME ANGER TODAY, THEN DO IT. CONFESS IT, FORSAKE IT AND CLEAR YOUR CONSCIENCE IF IT HAS AFFECTED SOMEONE ELSE.

** DON’T GIVE SATAN A FOOTHOLD. BELIEVER LET’S LAY ASIDE LYING, LET’S LAY ASIDE ANGER AND LET’S LAY ASIDE STEALING. WE ARE NOT WHAT WE WERE. LET’S BEHAVE LIKE IT!!! LET’S MOVE FROM PRINCIPLE TO PRACTICE.