"Instructions for Living a Christian Life"

“Instructions for Living a Christian Life”

 

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.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.         Ephesians 4:29-32

 

These are instructions concerning the behavior of those who profess to be a CHRISTIAN, which the Apostle Paul gave to the TRUE BELIEVERS in Ephesus.  They are instructions for the TRUE BELIEVERS of today, as well. 

 

Some of these things might prove to be difficult for some, nevertheless, we MUST STRIVE to live the way GOD wants and expects us to live.  The first thing he tells us is:  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.  In other words, DO NOT use ROTTEN, FOUL, UGLY language, DON’T say things INTENTIONALY to hurt or BREAK DOWN or CRUSH a person’s spirit.  But use words that will ENCOURAGE, EDIFY and BUILD UP another person.  Then those that are around you will LEARN from your GODLY EXAMPLE.

 

The next instruction, which Paul gives is:  Do NOT grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the Day of Redemption.   Now, you might ask:  “How can you GRIEVE the Holy Spirit of God?”  Well, first of all, you GRIEVE the Holy Spirit by being DISOBEDIENT, the Holy Spirit helps guard your speech, and whenever you use UNWHOLESOME, DEGRADING, ROTTEN, FOUL, UGLY, or DECEPTIVE WORDS, you are being DISOBEDIENT and you are GRIEVING the Holy Spirit of God, and you will be held ACCOUNTABLE for EVERY IDLE word you speak. 

 

Paul tells us to GET RID of:  ALL BITTERNESS, RAGE, and ANGER, BRAWLING and SLANDER (telling a lie about someone in order to CRUSH them), along with EVERY FORM of MALICE (ill will, the desire to harm another, spite), (Webster’s Dictionary).  These are things that will GRIEVE the Holy Spirit of God. 

 

Paul then says that we SHOULD:  Be KIND and COMPASSIONATE to one another, FORGIVING each other, just as in Christ, God FORGAVE YOU.   If you are a TRUE BELIEVER, you NEED to be STRIVING to follow Paul’s INSTRUCTIONS for LIVING a CHRISTIAN LIFE. 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are NOT a TRUE BELIEVER, and you are LOST and without the FORGIVENESS of God.  You are living a DOOMED LIFE, one that is headed for an ETERNITY  in Hell, unless, you TURN AWAY from your SINFUL LIFESTYLE, and TURN TO God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, CONFESSING your sins to Him and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and FOLLOW THESE instructions, so you are NOT GUILTY of GRIEVING the Holy Spirit of God.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!