Such truth in the word of God! That which everyone in the world says they want. We want a government that speaks truth, a church that speaks truth, spouses and other family that speak truth, our employers to speak truth, but when it comes to the word of God, the world would rather not hear it, even though there is not one word, jot or tittle that is not absolute truth. I would be a liar if I told you that every word that comes from the Bible brings great joy to my soul. No, there are many, many words in the Bible that grieve my spirit and heap conviction upon my heart because that’s what truth does. But I read it and weigh it against my life so that I may draw closer to Christ. And if it grieves me that’s okay… because I grieve the Spirit of God on more than one occasion on any given day.
Ephesians 4:30 says “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
Sealed. Just like the tomb for which Jesus was laid and rose from again the third day, we have had a seal placed upon us, that as a child of God we too will be raised again in the newness of life for eternity where there will be nothing but truth, and we’ll live with Him who is truth. But until that day, we live with liars. Often times our biggest issue is with the one in the mirror that doesn’t want to face the reality of truth that comes from the word of God. That would be me.
When you read Ephesians 4:30, you like I may shout, “Yeah, stop hurting God’s feelings you bunch of scoundrels!” But if you read the verses preceding and following it, which describe what grieves God’s spirit, you might just discover it’s you.
Ephesians 4:20-32
20 But ye have not so learned Christ; 21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil. 28 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. 29 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. 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
- Lying
- Anger
- Stealing
- Corrupt communication
- Bitterness
- Wrath
- Anger
- Clamor (outcry)
- Evil speaking
I consider 8 of the 9 issues of the mouth. Each of those, with the exception of stealing, usually have words associated with them and most people in the world are guilty of most if not all in some form. When James said in the book of James 3:8: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” He knew of what he spoke.
We tell children “if you don’t have anything kind to say, say nothing at all.” But tune into most adult conversations and they are filled with gossip, judgment and anger.
This morning I caught myself in one of those conversations where I was ashamed that the words came out of my mouth. There was a person that was hurt physically by someone and I said to David, “It’s no surprise to me someone smacked him, most people want to kill him.” What an un-compassionate knot-head I was! That surely grieved the Spirit of God. And I thought nothing of the statement until it left my lips and then I realized that person was God’s creation. How dare I speak evil of them. And then I thought back to many conversations I had had this week. Many were good, God glorifying conversations. But each of those could have been undone by someone hearing other conversations.
I have an issue of the mouth. Praise God it was covered by the blood. But I am still without excuse for hurting and grieving, my Father. He who blesses my soul beyond measure…
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