attention back to Paul's letter to the believers in Ephesus. We're working through and we're in the section now where he's describing or giving various descriptions of what it means to put off the old man and to put on the new. And we're at verse number 29 this morning in Ephesians chapter number 4, where he tells us, under the fallible inspiration of the Spirit of God, 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." So as I just mentioned, we're continuing in Paul's various descriptions of what it means to be a new creation in Christ Jesus. If we're putting off the old man and putting on the new, There are certain things we should be doing. We saw one of them over a period of weeks in verse number 28 in reference to laboring and what we have to do with the resources the Lord blesses us with. But now we're in verse number 29. And here in this verse, I just repeat something that I mentioned. I think each time we looked at the three parts of verse 28. Here's another verse that shows how sadly so many people are when they say that the Bible is not practical. How many people show how ignorant they are of the scriptures when they say, oh, well, this is the 21st century. The Bible doesn't have anything to say to men in the 21st century. Well, we saw in the previous verse that how false that was. And we should hopefully see it in this verse as well, because how different would this world be if men took seriously what came out of their mouths. The use of our tongues, a theme, a teaching that is found in many different portions of the Scriptures, both Old and New Testament, and we'll be referring to a number of them this morning, especially from the book of Proverbs. But if ever there was evidence that we need to be new creations in Christ Jesus, let's be honest, How many of us have ever misused our mouths? Said things, well, I wish I hadn't said that. We need the enabling and empowering and filling of the Holy Spirit to do that which the Scriptures tell us we are to do if we confess Christ as Savior and Lord. We need to be new creations in Christ Jesus to have lips that are honoring to Him. And we need to be that new creation because notice what James says about the tongue. well-known passage in James chapter 3 referring to the issue of the tongue. He talks about teachers in the opening verse of chapter 3 in James 3. My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. The word master could also be translated teacher. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put vits in the horses' mouths, and they obey us, and we turn about their whole body. Behold, also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so, the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth, and the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity, so is the tongue among our members, that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind." Notice verse 8, "...but the tongue can no man tame. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison." If ever there was an evidence that men need salvation, it is what comes out of their mouths. And here's the testimony. Men, by themselves, cannot have tongues that are honoring to God, beneficial to themselves, as well as honoring and glorifying to God. Verse 9 of James 3, Therefore bless we God, even the Father in There with curse we men which are made after the similitude of God, out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Why? Because if we're new creations in Christ Jesus, we're to seek to apply the truth of the word of God with reference to our tongues. And what is one of those directives of the scriptures? The verse we're looking at this morning, 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." Let's be honest, how many non-believers don't care what comes out of their mouths? It doesn't bother them. But if we confess Christ, if we confess to be followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, we should desire lips that please Him. We should desire to speak in ways that please Him, and one of those ways is clearly shown here. I don't remember the Puritan who said this, but it was one of those pithy sayings that the Puritans were so good at saying, and he said, say something, I want to see you. Say something, I want to see you. When we start to speak, we reflect who we are. What we say to others displays whether or not we are truly regenerate or not. What we say. What does our Lord say in Matthew 12.34? In a word of warning, a generation of vipers, how can ye being evils speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. The power and the ability and even the condition of the tongue is described in many verses in the book of Proverbs. So before looking at this verse in a little bit of detail, just consider this is not the only place in which we are guided and instructed by the Word of God concerning our tongues. In Proverbs 6, verse 17, preceding it by verse 6, in which our Lord says, These six things that the Lord hate, yet seven are an abomination to him. What are one of those things that the Lord hates? A proud look, a lying tongue. saying things that are not true, lying to other people. And I'll illustrate that point in a moment. But then Proverbs 10.20, the tongue of the just is his choice silver. The heart of the wicked is little worth. Well, how is the wicked heart seen? In what they say, in what comes out of their mouth, out of the abundance of the heart. The mouth speaks. Proverbs 10.31, the mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom. It's a King James word for perverse or perverted. Tongues shall be cut out. God will judge men for what they say. Proverbs 12, 18. There is that speaking like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise is held. You can hurt people. You can crush people with what comes out of your mouth. It's a little thing. It's a powerful thing. Proverbs 12, 19, the lip of truth shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. And when I started to prepare this message, I didn't know that the particular book that I was reading, historical book about a man would have reflected on this truth. I believe most of you here know or have heard of a man by the name of Bernie Madoff. Back in 2008, he had a Ponzi scheme that resulted in thousands, if the number is correct, over 16,000 people were affected. But notice, is but for a moment, he eventually got caught. It all collapsed. A lying tongue is but for a moment. He was lying to people saying, oh, I'm making money for your money. And all it was, was he was taking the money that was coming in to pay the people that wanted it at the other end. And that, and it was just, it's but for a moment. You know. Beware, your sin will find you out. How many people lie with their lips and then try and cover it up with what? Another lie. And then another lie. Before long, it becomes difficult to know how to cover it all because you've lied so much. Proverbs 15.2, the tongue of the wise uses knowledge of right, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolish. Proverbs 15.4, a wholesome tongue is a tree of life, reflected in the verse here in Ephesians 4.29, but perverseness therein is a breach of the spirit. Proverbs 16.1, the preparations of the hardened man and the answer to the tongue is from the Lord. What comes out of our mouth shows whether or not we are regenerate or not, are still dead in trespasses and sins. Proverbs 17.4, a wicked doer give it heed to false lips and a liar give it ear to a naughty tongue. Proverbs 18.21, death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. The impact of what we say. Just to make a brief reference again to Bernie Madoff and the book I was reading. The impact of his years of lying. At least 20 years, if not more. There's a debate as to when he started lying to the people he was saying he was helping. But not only was it economic ruin for so many people, Three people committed suicide. One of them was his own son. Because he had been lying to his sons and his brother for 20 years. And the whole thing collapsed. And he just couldn't take it. The impact of lying, of what comes out of our mouths. Proverbs 21.6, the getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death. Proverbs 21.23, whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. How many say, I wish I hadn't said that, I wouldn't have got myself into the problems I'm in if I had just kept my mouth shut. Proverbs 25, 15, by long forbearing is a prince persuaded and a soft tongue breaks the bone. A gentle answer. Proverbs 26, 28, a lying tongue hates those that are afflicted by it and a flattering mouth works ruin. Proverbs 28, 23, he that rebukes a man afterwards shall find more favor than he that flatters with the tongue. The scriptures are full of references to how powerful in a positive way or in a negative way the tongue can be. But as I said, if we're new creations, if we're putting off the old man, we're to be putting off the old tongue. And we're to be putting on a new tongue, created in the image of Christ Jesus. We're to have a new discipline. And what's that new discipline according to this verse in Ephesians 4.29? Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth. You are to be concerned about what you say. Now the word corrupt used here is a word that the Lord uses when He declares that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks, whether it's rotten or useful. It's a reference to good fruit or evil fruit. Useful fruit or you can say rotten fruit. Matthew 12.33, either make the tree good and his fruit good or else make the tree corrupt. And is fruit corrupt? For the tree is known by its fruit." And that's why he says, "...for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." I mean, is what we say corrupt? Is it rotten? Is it not beneficial, as we'll see in a moment, to other people and even to our own souls? So we should ask ourselves, do we want to give evidence of being true believers in Christ? And we should be concerned. What is coming out of our mouths? What are we saying to one another? As I said, people who are not concerned about how they use their tongues are not being guided by the word of God. Because what does this first portion say? Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth. There's no excuse. But we're great at making excuses after we misuse our mouths. Oh, I was tired. I was annoyed. It was just a slip of the tongue. It's not that serious. Not that serious. Not that serious in light of what Jesus goes on to say in Matthew 12, 36. But I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Matthew 12, 36 and 37. Not that serious. It's very serious. Is what is coming out of my mouth something I want repeated on the Day of Judgment? Is what I am saying something I would be ready to answer eternity saying? For how many of the things we say in a day, and how many things do we say in a day? How many of the things we say in a day would have the stamp of approval or disapproval of this one verse of Scripture on it? Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth. You see, we shouldn't rationalize the misuse of our mouths. Oh, I was tired. Oh, I was annoyed. Oh, it was just a slip of the tongue. Oh, it wasn't that serious. We shouldn't rationalize it. We should recognize for what it is, sin, and then repent. about the misuse of our mouths. Lord, forgive me. And if you have to seek out someone that you've spoken in a way not in accordance with this verse, you seek them out and say, oh, it was serious. I shouldn't have said that. It was wrong. Will you forgive me? What is the prayer of the psalmist? Psalm 1914. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, the acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks, Lord, may what I am saying be acceptable in thy sight. If you were sitting right beside me, if you were standing right in front of me, let me live out what I am saying as though you are, and you are. He hears every one of our conversations. He hears everything that comes out of your mouth. And dear brethren, although this verse has reference to helping others, as we'll see in a moment, the profitable and beneficial use of the tongue, let's be honest. He hears us when we're by ourselves. He hears us. He hears what comes out of our mouth when we're annoyed at this or frustrated at that or angry at somebody and they're not there. He's right there. He hears. There are no secret conversations. Can even go back before a word is what? On my tongue, thou know it entirely. So do we, not from a negative standpoint, but from the standpoint of being a blessing to ourselves and others, as we'll see in a moment. But notice this verse follows the same pattern of verse number 28. It tells us what we're not to do. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of our mouths. But then it tells us what we are to do. But that which is good to the use of edifying, and it gives us a reason that it may minister grace unto the hearers. You don't become mute. Well, let no corrupt communication come out of my mouth and so I just better, I won't say anything. I'm never going to open my mouth again and this can be quiet. No, because there's a positive thing you are to be doing here. I think it was an old Disney movie. I think it was a rabbit or a bunny. He said, if you can't say nothing nice, don't say nothing at all. Is that what this verse is saying? You shouldn't say anything. But that which is good. But that which is good to the use of edifying. We're not just not to steal, but we're to labor that which is good. Why? So we might have something to give to those who have need. We're not just to let no corrupt communication proceed out of our mouths, because if you just wanted to apply the first part of this verse, you could just go to a hardware store, buy a big roll of duct tape, and put a piece of it across your mouth every morning, and you'd be doing the first part of this verse. But that's not all that this verse says. Not just do not let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but labor to speak the things that are good for the purpose of edifying. I'm sure maybe it wouldn't surprise me if most of you remember this children's rhyme. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me. Ever heard that rhyme? That's not a correct rhyme. It's a defensive rhyme for a child who is being called names by bullies or whoever. Bones may heal, but how many unedifying things can be remembered years after the bones of a physical injury have been healed? We're seeking to apply this verse There's something we need to labor to say less and less. I wish I hadn't said that. Please forgive me for saying that. Now, the idea behind the word edifying is that of building up. Not tearing down. You can tear somebody down with your lips. You can tear somebody down with what comes out of your mouth. Watch. Why does Paul have to tell us this? Why does Paul have to tell us to let no corrupt communication proceed out of our mouths, but rather that which edifies? Because he's being infallibly guided by the same Holy Spirit that guided James. He knows what a battle this can be for some people who shoot others from the lip. The spirit lusts against the flesh and the flesh against the spirit. You want to know the true nature of the spiritual battle in one way? Just think about what's coming out of your mouth. How many stop and think before they speak? We can speak so quick. We don't stop and say, I'm not to let any corrupt communication come out of my mouth. I'm going to speak that which will benefit another person, will edify them. He has to tell us what not to do, which will not benefit ourselves or others, and what we should be doing that will. Do we remember this little word, but? The word but of this verse? I'm not to let any rotten speech come out of my mouth. But. that which will build up and benefit the one I am speaking to. Before you butt in, is what you are butting in with going to break the first part of this verse or fulfill the second? Because let's be honest, we're speaking, we're having a conversation with someone. We might be having a debate or even an argument with someone. We might be disagreeing with someone. Things get moving along a little quickly. And what happens before long? Do we think of this verse? The next thing I'm going to say, I'm going to say it because I want to build up the person I'm saying it to. I want to edify the person I'm saying it to. No, I want to get even with them for what they just said. I want to make a point. Even if it doesn't benefit them, I want to win the argument. All you need to do is talk to my wife to know how committed I am to that at times, to my own shame. Do I stop and say? Do I stop and say? I'm not to say this just so that I can win the argument, but is it going to benefit the one I'm speaking to? Because dear brethren, it's amazing. I mean, it's just an illustration, We have the teeth and we have the lips. And how easy it is for that tongue to break past those two barriers when we're angry or frustrated or something and totally forget the truth of this verse. We are to labor to control our tongues. But why? What's the reason that we should labor to control our tongues. Well, let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying that is the reason. This is why we're to do it. That we may win the argument. That's not what it says. Well, I'm going to win this argument. I don't care how long it takes me and how many times I have to speak. I'm going to win this argument. That it may minister grace unto the hearers. other person oriented. The reason we are to labor at that which is good so that we can help those, the reason we are to labor not to allow corrupt communication to come out of our mouths, rather the labor to speak that which is edifying, is so that it may minister grace unto the hearers. When we open our mouths, we're not to be thinking about ourselves. We're to die to self. We're to concern ourselves with blessing and benefiting the person that we are speaking to. Not just, how do I get back at them? They've made a cutting remark to me. I'm going to have to figure out how to say something back to them. That's not what this verse says. Is that bumper sticker, I don't get mad, I get even? No. That it may minister grace unto the hearers. Now, one of the meanings of grace is what? In the context of the gospel, it is God giving us what we do not deserve. It's giving us salvation. It's giving us new life in Christ. that it might minister grace unto the hearers. Yes, they may say something cutting to me, a soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. They may have said something that hurt me, even cut me, and the flesh wants to respond in kind. But it may minister grace unto the hearer. What can I say that will manifest the fact that even though they may be hurting me, even though what they have said to me may have hurt me and is hurting me. Because think of it for a moment, dear brethren. Think of the things that were said to Jesus when he was on the cross. The things that were spoken to the Son of God as he was dying for the sins of his people. all the corrupt communication that was directed His way. What did He say? Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. What did Stephen say as they were stoning Him to death? Lay not this sin to their charge, that it might minister grace to those who hear. God alone knows the impact that that had on that man known as Saul, as he hears this man being pummeled to death by the stone, saying, Lord, don't lay this sin to their charge. Grace to the hearers. What can you say to someone who has wronged you in some way? I forgive you. Do we care for our own souls? Do we care for the souls of others? Do we care for the souls of one another? Then there's something we should do. We should actively monitor what comes out of our mouths. 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. Will the things we say between now and next Sunday testify to the truth that we've heard this verse? Or we haven't? Even the rest of today. You as ears to hear, let him hear of the Spirit. sets the churches. That's right.