in your Bibles to the New Testament book of Ephesians. Ephesians chapter 4. Ephesians chapter 4. It's found on page 1127. Page 1127 in your pew Bibles. Ephesians chapter 4. Beginning with this chapter, Paul sets forth practical ways to fulfill God's purposes for the church. And from verses 17 on, Paul does this by contrasting light and darkness with verses 25 through 32, particularly focused on the dark and light elements of speech. So that'll be our focus as well, verses 17, no, verses 25 through 32, but we'll begin reading at verse 17 and read through the end of the chapter. Ephesians 4, beginning at verse 17, hear God's word. This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart, who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness to work all uncleanness with greediness but you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard him and have been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus, that you put off concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, putting away lying, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. Be angry and do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God by whom you are sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. As far as reading God's word, as I always do, I encourage you to keep your Bibles open to this passage, as we'll be looking at it throughout the message this morning. Brothers and sisters in Christ, if you spend any time online, you're certain to encounter vulgarity in its endless forms and expressions. And sadly, of all the English-speaking countries and regions, the United States leads the world in the use of online vulgarity, whether it's blasphemous profanity or cursing, whether it's racial and ethnic slurs, obscenities, scatology, and all the rest. And this torrent of sinful, wretched language broadcasts the depths of human depravity. This image bears of the triune God who is a relational and communicative being. We humans are by nature speaking and communicating creatures. And what we say and don't say is something that our holy creator cares deeply about. In Matthew 12, verse 37, Jesus warned, by your words you'll be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned. And so this morning, as we look at what Paul wrote concerning our verbal and written communication here at the end of Ephesians 4, we're going to be considering three important questions. Three questions. And the first question we should think about is, have you set a guard over your mouth? Have you set a guard over your mouth? Looking here in our text to verse 29. Paul writes, let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth. So here we have a strong, straightforward command from God through the apostle Paul. Let no corrupt talk come out of, proceed from your mouth. Or as the old NIV has it, do not let any unwholesome talk come from your mouth. However it's worded, this command calls for 100% control over all of our words. A feat that entails constant attention, Relentless self-control and relentless self-discipline. A Herculean challenge, even if we didn't have an old sin nature to contend with. But of course, we do. Back in verse 22 here in Ephesians 4, Paul warns us about our old sin nature, calling us to put it off. as it is being corrupted through its deceitful lusts and desires. So when it comes to how we communicate, we need to be honest about what we're up against. We need to accept what God tells us in his word concerning the power and evil of our mouths. The apostle James writes, The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, reptile and sea creature has been tamed by mankind, but no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil full of deadly poison." Now obviously our words whether spoken, written, or texted, originate not with our tongues, but in our minds and hearts. In Matthew 15, beginning in verse 18, Jesus said, the things that come out of a person's mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander. And so you see our words are a heart issue. And even for believers who have been given a new heart through the Spirit's regenerating work, we must daily battle our old corrupt and sinful natures. At the same time, also fight against our soul's other enemies, namely the devil and his fallen legions and our corrupt world. And so, of course, on our own, we are badly outmatched. Considering that, the psalmist prayed, And so Paul's command here in Ephesians 4 implies a humble reliance upon the Lord's power and grace. Simply put, we must pray. We must pray constantly. Paul's exhortation implies and assumes that we constantly seek God's grace and help, doing so through earnest prayer, due to our tendency to sinful speech. Young or old, male or female, whatever our personality, we all need God's grace and assistance in this. Again, verse 29, let no corrupt speech, no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth. Now the Greek word here that the New King James translates as corrupt is a colorful one. It's an adjective that was used to describe fruit and fish that had gone bad and it's spoiled. Later on in this epistle and also in Paul's letter addressed to the church in Colossae, The apostle gives us types and examples of this foul and rancid kind of speech. In Colossians 3 verse 8 and Ephesians 5 verse 4, Paul identifies obscenities, foolish talk, coarse jesting, and filthy language as expressions or flavors of this corrupting communication. Those categories include then profanity and swearing. It includes language that trivializes terrifying realities like hell and damnation, and the consuming holiness of our holy God. Paul also forbids and condemns dirty talk and joking, words that degrade our bodies and sexuality. In addition, we're not to use speech that is used to attack, offend, or injure. or in some way diminish other image bearers. Verse 31 here in Ephesians 4, Paul writes, let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice. So children, young people, God calls you to carefully guard and control your speech in online communication. You're not to name-call, insult, belittle, bully, or tear others down. It's true, isn't it? We all know how a cruelly crafted insult can scar for life. I remember back in middle school, joining others and using a nickname for a classmate based on some of his facial features. And though we liked him, Use the nickname endearingly. He would beg us not to call him by that name. Thinking back, it's clear that that nickname was unkind and using it was unchristian. That's because insults hurt. They stick with us. They damage us. In Heidelberg Catechism, question answer 105, we confess in connection with the sixth commandment that I am not to belittle, insult, or kill my neighbor, not by my thoughts, my words, my looks, or gestures, and certainly not by actual deeds. In verse 29, let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth. We spend a moment and consider There are many similarities between rotting fruit and fish and corrupt speech. Both come about so easily and naturally, and only with great care and effort can they be prevented. They're hazardous, if not deadly, if consumed. and they contaminate everything around them. One rotten potato stinks up an entire pantry. Rotten food and rotten and corrupt words are worse than worthless. They're destructive. But most importantly, such rancid and rotten speech offends our Lord and maker. Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouth. You see, with that command, the Lord is summoning us to stand guard over our communication. And so the question for each of us this morning is, how vigilant am I? What is slipping past us at home, at school, at work, or when we're out and about? This is no small thing. This is no minor thing. You see, our words reveal our hearts, our commitments, and our loves. The Apostle James summarizes this pointedly when he wrote in chapter 1, verse 26 of his epistle, those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues, deceive themselves." And their religion is worthless. Think about it. Have you set a guard over your mouth? Well, a second question to consider is, is your mouth a source of grace? Is your mouth a source of grace? Turning here to Ephesians four, again, verse 29, let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearer. And so in this verse, The apostle not only forbids certain speech, but he also sets out the content of proper Christlike and praiseworthy communication. Here Paul describes such speech as that which serves as a means or channel of God's grace and goodness. In other words, the words that we speak are to be Christlike words. the fruit of Spirit-awakened hearts that are bonded to our Savior by faith. In Luke 4, verse 22, we read of Jesus, that all spoke well of Him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from His mouth. Jesus. His every word was, of course, the very word of God, he being the incarnate son of God. And so all that he said was absolutely true, holy, wise, and was filled with grace. Verse Peter 2, verse 22, he, Jesus, committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. The Apostle Paul exhorts Christians to let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. Colossians 3 verse 16. Then he adds, let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each person. Objects of God's saving grace speak and communicate with grace-filled words. Ephesians 2 verse 10, So what then does it mean to impart grace through our spoken and written words? Well, grace as spelled out with the acronym, God's Riches at Christ's Expense. Grace, God's grace exists in the context of sin and its consequences. And only those who have received and value the grace of God can and will respond in kind. Gracious words are Christ-like words. gracious in their kindness, their wisdom, their truthfulness, and their gentleness. They are thoughtfully tailored and restrained. They are mercy-filled. They are marked by healing and gentleness, and also by prayer. So again, what do your words, what do my words, spoken and written, reveal about us? and what we have received from Christ. Paul writes, let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification that it may impart grace to the hearers. So an all-important element of Christ-like and gracious words is that they edify. that they build up and encourage those addressed, doing so according to their individual needs and best interests. This means that they're an expression of the speaker's love for the one being addressed. And so such words, our words, will convey goodwill. Again, they're designed for the hearer's well-being. 1 Thessalonians 5 verse 11, Paul writes, Therefore encourage one another and build each other up. And Solomon wrote, Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. It's Proverbs 12 verse 18. that comes out here in Ephesians 4, verse 32. Paul writes, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Parents, I'm sure you know how impactful your words are upon your children. It is said that it takes 10 words of encouragement to overcome a single word of criticism. And so as Christian parents, we must carefully guard against speech that puts down, that discourages, that snaps at, that compares or confuses or bullies or provokes our children. Of course, that doesn't exclude biblical correction, something that our children certainly need. No words marked by grace include those that confront sinful and destructive behavior. Proverbs 25, verse 12, like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man's rebuke to a listening ear. Proverbs 27, verse 6, wounds from a friend can be trusted. Revelation 3, verse 19, our Lord said, Those whom I love, I rebuke. Those whom I love, I rebuke. So again, the motivation behind every word we speak ought to be Christ-like agape love. There's an acronym based on the word think that's helpful for addressing our speech. Before you speak, ask yourself, And what am I about to say, whether it is T, true, H, helpful, I, inspiring, N, necessary, and K, kind, is what I am about to say, true, helpful, inspirational, necessary, and kind. Think. We are to ask ourselves, prior to speaking and writing, is what I am communicating a means of grace? Is my spoken and written words Christ-like, and so both gracious and edifying? Both gracious and edifying, along with, of course, being true. And so we've looked at two questions. Have you set a guard over your mouth? And then second, is your mouth a source of grace? Finally, let's consider whether or not your mouth is a source of grief, a source of grief. Verse 30 here in Ephesians 4, Paul writes, And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. So the grief that Paul identifies here isn't that of those we are communicating with. No, it's the grief of God, the Holy Spirit, this one who indwells us as his people, this one who lives within us. You see, he, like any other person, can be grieved and offended by what others do. With these words here in verse 30, Paul is drawing upon Isaiah 63, verse 10, where the prophet describes Israel's rebellion and how it grieved the Spirit. These texts, among others, offer irrefutable evidence, scriptural evidence, that the Holy Spirit is indeed a person. He is the third person of the Holy Trinity. And as a person, rather than simply a force, the Holy Spirit can be wronged and aggrieved. And because this Spirit dwells within us, when we sin, we never sin against God from afar. No, all of our sins are up close and personal to the Lord. they are done before his face. He sees, hears, and knows every thought, word, and deed committed by each and every one of us. God's scrutiny is all-encompassing. He's ever and instantly aware of our every sin and offense. That means there are no secret sins. It means there is no place to hide from God. And so when we pretend that the Lord isn't present, we deceive only ourselves. And in doing that, we succeed only in grieving the gracious spirit. Now when God's people sin, especially with willful sins, It's as though we are rubbing our sin in the Spirit's holy face. Imagine how your spouse or loved one would feel if you publicly ridiculed and demeaned him or her right in front of them. It's horrible. It's evil. It's grievous. Remember, the one against whom we sin is perfectly and eternally holy and righteous. And being such, he is perfectly sensitive to every sin and to every evil word that comes from our mouths or is typed onto a screen. And the sin committed by his beloved adopted children must sting and aggrieve him all the more. So before we speak, before we write or text, we need to bear in mind who is ever and always present, and that any manner of corrupt, filthy, cruel, or blasphemous words are antithetical to the Spirit's holiness. He hates sin. It grieves him. Again, verse 30, do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. So when we communicate with corrupt words, we work against the Holy Spirit. Earlier in this letter, Paul describes the Spirit as a builder, as an edifier. Back in chapter two, beginning in verse 19, Paul wrote, so then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone in whom the whole structure being joined together grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In Him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. In Him you also are being built together into a holy place, a holy dwelling place for God by the Spirit. Those who refuse to reign in their words, whether those words are spoken or written, serve as witting or unwitting agents of the enemy, the cruel and murderous father of lies. Cursing along with careless, deceptive, crass, and cruel words, grieve the Holy Spirit. They are antithetical to his holiness, and they impede his gracious work of building up Christ's people and church. Here's a riddle. What am I? I am more deadly than a screaming cannon shell. I win without killing. I tear down homes and churches. I break hearts and ruin reputations and wreck lives. I never forget nor forgive. My victims are as numerous as the sand of the sea. What am I? I am gossip. I am gossip. You see, we owe our gracious and holy God everything, who through Christ our Savior made us, his beloved children. So let us not grieve the Holy Spirit through corrupt, crass, and cruel speech. No, instead, let us confess, repent of, and grieve over what grieves our Lord. And let us diligently ask ourselves, have I set a guard over my mouth? Is my mouth a source of grace or is my mouth a source of grief? Grief for God, the Holy Spirit. Let's also prayerfully ask the Lord for his help to guard our lips so that our words would be a channel of grace and edification unto God's eternal praise and to the spiritual well-being of his beloved children. Amen. Let's pray.