Happy New Life
Ephesians 4:29-32
Emmanuel Christian Church
INTRODUCTION: We’ve been considering strategies for facing the new
year these past several weeks. Seeking God’s will, coping with change and
trusting in God have all been in focus.
This week, I’d like to shift our focus to what I believe to be our
greatest desire in facing each new year. It’s expressed in the first word
many people speak as they ring in the new year- “Happy” New Year.
PROPOSITION: In his letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul gives the
secret to this happy life by calling us to “Do the don’ts” and “Do the do’s”.
Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your
mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their
needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy
Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with
every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another,
forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
I.Do the Don’ts
A. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths”
1.“Unwholesome talk” - People have bad breath when they fail to
remove the rotting food from between their teeth. As bad as bad
breath is, this is even worse- it’s literally “rotten talk”.
2. What did mom say? “Brush your teeth!” and “If you can’t say
anything nice...”
3. Us your words to build others up according to their needs. (Too
often we use our words to build ourselves up instead.)
B. “do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God”
1. This relates back to the way we use our words.
2. Your words don’t just affect others, they affect God!
3. Here, the concern is that your words will make God sad.
C. “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along
with every form of malice.”1. Look at the list:
a) Bitterness (pikria- salty, bitter)
b) Rage (thumos - fury)
c) Anger (orge - hostility)
d) Brawling (krauge - shouting)
e) Slander (blasphemia - malicious talk)
f) Malice (kakia - evil)
2. Paul says- “Take away all of it from your life.”
a) No Christian would argue with the goal.
b) Yet for many Christians, this is easier said than done.
TRANSITION: Why do we have such a hard time doing the “don’ts”? I
believe it is because we’ve failed to do the “do’s”!
II. Do the Do’s
A. Verse 32 gives us the two “do’s”
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in
Christ God forgave you.
B. The only way you’ll do the two “do’s” of verse 32 is if you do the “do’s”
backwards!
1. Before you even get to the two “do’s” of verse 32, you have to
remember one very important fact: “...in Christ, God forgave you.”
Matthew 18:21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many
times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven
times?”
Matthew 18:22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-
seven times.
Matthew 18:23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who
wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the
settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him.
25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife
and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
Matthew 18:26 “The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with
me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master
took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
Matthew 18:28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow
servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to
choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.Matthew 18:29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be
patient with me, and I will pay you back.’
Matthew 18:30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man
thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants
saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told
their master everything that had happened.
Matthew 18:32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked
servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me
to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had
on you?’ 34 In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be
tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
Matthew 18:35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you
unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”
C. Second “do” of verse 32- “Forgive each other.”
1. This is not an option- it is a test of our devotion.
2. When we make the choice to be unforgiving we are actions
communicate some ugly things to God:
a) My wounded feelings are more important to me than Your
wounded Son.
b) My injured pride is more important than the fact that Jesus
humbled Himself and came to earth to rescue me.
c) My loss of possessions means more to me than the One who
had no place to call His home and no place to lay His head.
D. First “do” of verse 32 - “Be kind and compassionate to one another”
1. What might at first have seemed impossible to you is no big deal
when you remember “...in Christ, God forgave you.”
2. When you love the Lord for having loved and forgiven you,
unforgiveness will never again stand in the way of your kindness
and compassion for others. The chains of bitterness, rage, anger
brawling, slander and malice will drop from your wrists and free you
to accept from God a peace and happiness that others and this
world cannot take away.
CONCLUSION: Don’t settle for a “Happy New Year” when God wants
to give you a happy new life! If you want free from your unforgiveness
toward others, the secret is to first find your personal forgiveness
from Christ.