Eph 4:25-5:2

Let us pray.

Holy God, we thank you so much for this time.

Thank you so much for your favor, your grace, your power, your mercy, your might.

Holy God, we ask tonight that you would send your Holy Spirit, that your word would be

elevated by the power of your Holy Spirit, that I would decrease and you would increase.

That you would prepare the hearts of your people to hear whatever you have to say.

Lord, may the word of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight.

My rock and my redeemer, in Christ's name we pray, amen.

Reading from Ephesians 4, verse 25 and 29.

Ephesians 4:25

Oh, in your pew Bibles, it is page, it is nine what?

Nine, seven, eight.

Thank you.

Praise nine, seven, eight.

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor,

for we are members of one another.

Verse 29.

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up,

as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

That it may give grace to those who hear.

There's a television show on Netflix called House of Cards.

I think it's an intriguing show.

I've been watching it now for about two years.

Well, not two years.

I'm on the second season.

The story follows the lives of a politician named Frank Underwood and his wife, Claire,

played by actors Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright, respectively.

What happens in the story is you see them ruthlessly or ascend or rise through the ranks of government

to ultimately, or seeking to become ultimately the president and the first lady of the United States.

The title of the show is a metaphor or a figure of speech.

This figure of speech, House of Cards, highlights the arc or the overall theme

and the story of the television series.

So that what we are observing when we watch this show are thoughts, actions, and characteristics

that define the culture or the atmosphere of what can be considered to be a house of cards.

To put it more plainly, the definition of a house of cards is an organization or a plan that is very weak

and can easily be destroyed.

So what we are witnessing in this television world is a house, a political house, being constructed.

This house, so to speak, is a house being built by Frank and Claire Underwood and their associates in the world of politics and government.

And we are being led to believe that when it is finally finished, it will bear the mark or the distinction of being what a house of cards is,

which is fragile and vulnerable and ultimately destined to fall apart.

Which begs us to ask the question.

Once we start to understand what's being built in this imaginary world,

what then makes up the foundation of such a house?

This house of cards.

Well, if we observe the narrative and the story of Frank and Claire, some of you may be familiar with the story,

but we can see quite clearly what this house of cards is built upon.

It's built upon lies, deception, pride, lack of genuine grace.

In other words, I'll do for you, but you got to do something for me or else.

Mindset.

It is also built upon mercilessness and even murder.

In Ephesians 4, 25 and 29, and really throughout the letter of Ephesians,

instructions are given to the house of God or to the ecclesia or to the church.

God's people.

We are the audience of Ephesians.

We who follow Jesus are who the writer is talking to.

And contrary to being a house of cards, we are set up to be just the opposite.

We are a house or a church built on a firm foundation.

And this foundation is Jesus Christ, who John's gospel declares is full of grace and full of truth.

And it is worth noting that here in this text that we're going to read today,

that we're looking at today, actually, both words, truth and grace,

are referenced when describing what should come out of our mouths as members of Christ's body,

as members of this house and the universal house.

These are also characteristics that should define the church in relation to the world.

The first characteristic is truth or what is real and not false.

The second is talk that builds up and that is full of grace,

as opposed to talk that tears down.

First, let's look at truth.

Ephesians 4, 25 starts off,

therefore, having put away falsehood.

Now, falsehood is a fancy word for lying.

Just like any other way to say,

another way to say therefore is for this reason.

So for this reason, having put away falsehood,

or as a result, having put away falsehood.

Now, we can infer or we can gather from this language,

therefore, or for this reason,

that we, you and I,

have been given something that gives us the power or the access

to the power that we need to put aside such behavior.

It also assumes that something about practicing falsehood

was customary to our way of life

before we had access to this power.

Some clues are given earlier in this chapter

to what this power is.

First of all, Ephesians points out that as followers of Christ,

Christ, as a church,

we are not ignorant anymore.

Or our understanding is no longer darkened

because we are not alienated

from the life of God as we used to be.

Or we did not know Christ.

So given what God has done,

we are now hyper-aware of sin

in our lives, as sin,

because of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives,

in a way that we had not been before.

Because of the life of God

that we have been exposed to in our relationship with Christ.

This is because of that.

We are not ignorant anymore.

So, for instance,

since we're talking about falsehood,

where a little white lie

was considered okay or customary

if no one got hurt, so to speak.

Now, for us at least,

it's no longer okay.

Next, Ephesians tells us here

in verse 21

that being in Christ

and being taught in him

exposes us to the truth

that is also in Jesus.

So then as the body of Christ

or the church,

that truth

is then an essential element

of who we are.

because Christ was

and continues to be

full of truth.

As is himself,

and he is himself

our essential element

in whom we live and move

and have our being.

What is an essential element?

Really, what is that?

And what does it have to do with Ephesians?

Let me tell you where I get it from.

Essential element is a phrase

used in film finance.

Maybe other places too,

but here's how it works

from a film finance perspective.

If you and I want to put together a movie,

and some of you may know that

I'm used to,

well, I'm still in the movie business,

so this is what I'm saying

is credible

in terms of essential element.

Now, essential element is a phrase

used in the film finance business.

Now, if you want to put together a movie,

right,

you need insurance

for the production

in case anything goes wrong.

Now, there is insurance

that for everything

from the equipment to the actors

because

if something unfortunate occurs,

and we call it Murphy's Law in film,

the insurance is in place

to cover any losses.

Now, apart from the regular insurance,

there is a special insurance

that covers what is designated

or identified

to be the essential element

of that production,

and this insurance is called

essential element insurance.

So this is a special insurance

that typically covers an actor,

an actor specifically,

who because of his or her presence

in the film,

this allows the film

to be more sellable

or bankable in the marketplace

in an almost guaranteed sort of way,

although nothing is guaranteed,

in an almost guaranteed sort of way.

So when the film is completed,

because this individual

has a strong built-in audience

or out there

or they are just a movie star,

pretty much,

this essential element insurance

covers them.

Now, if anything happens

to this person,

then the production will shut down

and it will cease

to be a production.

And it will not matter

if anything

or anyone else

is insured.

So let's say

you're trying to put together

a movie with me,

Pastor Nick,

and Denzel Washington.

Who do you think

will be considered

the essential element?

You are absolutely,

100% correct,

Denzel Washington.

So anyone who is considered

worthy of being

the essential element

in a film

then is critical

to the life of the film

from start to finish.

In a similar way,

Jesus Christ,

who is full of truth,

is critical

to the life of the church

and therefore

truth and speaking truth

is and should be

an essential characteristic

extending from Christ

our essential element

that is practiced

in the life of the church.

Why?

The first answer is truth

is part of Christ's character.

He's overflowing with it.

And we no longer

are alienated

from the life of God

because our connection

with him.

But another reason

is that we need

to speak truth

to one another

for the sake of unity.

The writer of Ephesians,

speaking to the church,

tells us that

after we put away

falsehood,

then our next step

is to speak the truth

to our neighbor.

Our neighbor being referenced here

are our fellow believers.

Well, how do you know?

Because we are told

that the people

who are speaking,

we are speaking truth

to our members

one to another.

Members of the same body,

the church.

unity of the church

is strengthened by truth

because on the contrary,

as one commentator explains,

falsehood,

lying,

can cause dissension

and alienation

within the body

as one commentator explains.

Now, so,

we can see that

there is dissension

and alienation

that causes distrust

and fear,

pride,

lack of grace

or genuine grace.

All this because

lying works against

the spirit of unity.

And if there's anywhere

in the world

that we need to hear

the truth about something,

then it should be the church.

We owe it to one another

to tell the truth.

And people should trust

what we say

as Christians.

And putting away falsehood

is something

that requires practice

because we will play

how we practice.

It has to be our practice

to one another.

Now, putting away a falsehood

and speaking truth

is not easy sometimes.

I can admit that.

If we're honest.

Because speaking

or even hearing the truth

can at times be

inconvenient.

Especially when hearing it

about ourselves.

This is where you and I

most likely have

the biggest problems

with truth.

When it is directed

at us personally

to correct us.

Even if we accept

that what is being said

is true.

Because although truth

is a blessing

it can be an inconvenience

but

in its inconvenience

it can be a powerful

and life changing

blessing.

Try to imagine

when you've heard

an inconvenient truth

from someone you know

who loves you

or at least

cares about your well-being.

a loving parent

a loving spouse

a close friend

a sibling

someone who loves you

or at least likes you.

A brother or sister in Christ

who is trying to look out

for us

because we are members

one to another.

We tend to receive truth

much better

from

those kind of folks

in our lives

because we know

that somehow

such culprits

of even inconvenient truth

spoke it to help us

to make us better

to keep us moving forward

something

in a something healthy

and in a way

that's

towards something healthy

and away from

anything that would be unhealthy

and unity is essential

to keeping the church healthy.

So putting away falsehood

fosters a healthy church

that is continually nurtured

and cultivated

by this truth telling

not only operating

on one accord

in unity

but also

powerfully

operating

in our calling

and responsibility

as a church

of the living God

who Paul

when writing to Timothy

in 1 Timothy 3.15

designates to be

a pillar

and buttress

of truth

in the world.

A pillar

is a firm

upright support

for a superstructure

a buttress

likewise

an architectural

structure

which serves

to support

or reinforce

a wall

and in order

to be a pillar

and buttress

of truth

we have to be

practicing truth

with one another

and in any aspect

of our lives

individually

so the church

can be unified

and healthy

totally unlike

a house of cards

that's built

upon deception

we have another

responsibility

in the house

of God

verse 29

warns us

keep away

from corrupting

talk

one translator

says

unwholesome

talk

another

expands

on the word

and its meaning

and calls it

worthless

talk

another

goes even

more in

with the word

and writes

let no evil

talk

come out

of your mouths

this is not

just cussing

or saying

a cuss word

it goes much

deeper than that

the word

use

word use

sorry

of corrupting

here is

interesting

because the

same idea

is used

earlier in

scripture

to describe

decaying

trees

that produce

rotten fruit

it can also

describe

withered flowers

or rancid

fish

rancid meaning

unpleasant

or distasteful

it depicts

a certain kind

of speaking

that goes

beyond

hurting

someone's

feelings

it is

speaking

that can

literally

destroy

something

or in

this case

destroy

someone

from the

inside out

but not

only that

it can

produce

rotten fruit

in their

lives

and I

don't know

anyone

who likes

loves

or enjoys

being around

rotten fruit

except for

fruit flies

and no one

likes to be

around fruit

fries

or rancid

fish

or anything

that's rotten

if you ever

smelled

rancid

or rotten

fish

you get

the idea

and what

is really

interesting

is that

the writer

of Ephesians

is not

referencing

the speech

of unbelievers

he is talking

to

what my

pastor in

Los Angeles

would characterize

as people

who are saved

sanctified

filled

with the

Holy Ghost

and on their

way to heaven

anyhow

these are

Christian folks

so we as

Christians

can be

party

to the

production

of

rotten

fruit

in the

lives

of other

people

and Ephesians

saying to you

and I

don't do

that

now I

don't know

if you know

someone whose

life has been

shipwrecked

by the

corrupting

words of a

Christian

devout

Christians

but I

do

sometimes

it can

occur

or happen

in a

marriage

situation

where what's

being said

can be

characterized

as emotional

abuse

it is

destroying

something

in that

spouse

and unfortunately

in the

children

who would

witness it

I

know

people

who've

been

the

target

of

corrupting

and

unwholesome

language

by devout

believers

sincere

believers

maybe during

their childhood

from a

Christian

parent

or both

parents

or another

relative

who is also

a Christian

and often

the trauma

inflicted

from such

an experience

if they do

not seek

help

and in many

cases

professional

help

they can

become

extremely

difficult

to be

around

much like

something

that is

rotting

now

like

rotten

fruit

there is

hope

for their

healing

and restoration

at the

feet of

Jesus

there is

hope

but that

could take

some time

and meanwhile

life can

become

unnecessarily

difficult

for them

and even

for people

who they

may have

to interact

with

and there

are also

some who

because of

their experience

with corrupting

words

coming from

a believer

have chosen

not to be

involved

with the

Christian

faith

nor have

anything

to do

with the

church

so in a

sense

unwholesome

talk can

and will

hinder

our

Christian

witness

but here

in Ephesians

we are

given an

option

in the

phrase

but only

meaning

that

there is

never a

reason

to use

corrupting

talk

there is

never a

reason

to tear

down

someone

even if

you and

I feel

like in

a specific

situation

someone may

quote unquote

deserve it

truth is

they never

deserve it

now if you

never felt

this way

about a

situation

of someone

well all I

can say

is keep

on living

because you

will

but the

Bible is

telling us

we should

not choose

this path

of speaking

even if

provoked

because that

moment of

irritation

is never

worth the

long term

consequences

or rotten

fruit that

will come

from damaging

people with

our words

it's never

worth that

instead we

ought to speak

with the

goal of

building

others up

and even

doing that

requires wisdom

because verse

29 goes on

to say that

whatever we

say that

is good

ought to

fit the

occasion in

which we

say it

in other

words if we

are given

the opportunity

to build

someone up

that we

ought to

have made

sure that

we took

the time

to fully

assess what

the need

is or

what is

lacking that

needs to

be built

up and

often times

making this

assessment of

need is

most effective

when we

have taken

the time

to build

relationships

with people

and in

this case

with other

members of

the body

of Christ

this is one

of the reasons

why discipleship

of small

groups is so

important in

a local

church family

it makes

the church

smaller and

more personal

Christianity

is not a

faith that's

meant to

live be

lived in

isolation

there is

no such

thing as

a lone

wolf

Christian

daily

encouragement

is needed

community

is essential

we all

need to be

built up

and identified

by one

another

because it

is a fight

of faith

that we

are involved

in and

we need

one another

for this

fight

but the

Bible says

it's a

good fight

now

often times

building up

that area

where there

is lack

in someone's

life

that can

become that

one moment

that could

change the

trajectory

of that

life

just like

corrupting

speech can

lead to the

rottenness

or rotten

fruit

edifying

speech

can lead

to an

individual

lead an

individual

toward

gloriously

fulfilling

their

God

given

purpose

and

being

fruitful

in the

body

of Christ

and in

the world

finally

we do

this

we do

all this

wholesome

speaking

so that

grace

can be

given to

those

who hear

the grace

that he

is given

yes

is a

charitable

act

sorry

and in

this

generous

act

called

grace

the

recipient

of

wholesome

words

coming

from us

is

enabled

by

and

through

our

words

to

grow

spiritually

and

in

maturity

it's

interesting

because

one

commentator

describes

the church

presented

in

Ephesians

is a

growing

dynamic

organism

the church

is still

a growing

dynamic

organism

it hasn't

changed

in order

for this

growth to

occur

the first

has to

continue

to be

unity

that

contributes

to the

equilibrium

or the

health

of the

body

and out

of this

unity

and the

truth telling

that has

cultivated it

wholesome

speech to

one another

should follow

and be

practiced

and if

we know

that unwholesome

words lead

to rotten

fruit or

things that

decay

then words

that are

carefully

expressed

through

discernment

of an

individual's

need to

build

someone up

should lead

to that

person's

growth

and therefore

contribute

to his

growing

this

growing

dynamic

organism

called the

body of

Christ

or the

church

so this

grace that

is passed

along through

speech is

helping men

and women

to grow

spiritually

to mature

to see

themselves

how God

sees them

but how

does God

see us

verse Peter

2 tells us

when he

declares

you are

a chosen

race

a royal

priesthood

a holy

nation

a people

of his

own

possession

that you

us the

church

may proclaim

the excellencies

of him

who called

us out

of darkness

into his

marvelous

light

in closing

I declared

it as

Christians

as a

church

we are

citizens

of an

unshakable

kingdom

we are

not a

house

of cards

vulnerable

to

destruction

because of

falsehood

and evil

speaking

the church

is built

on the

firm

foundation

of Jesus

Christ

we are

required to

be truth

tellers to

one another

to be men

and women

whose words

do not act

as a

decaying

force

but as

an edifying

platform

of edification

this has

to be our

practice by

the power

of the

Holy

Spirit

so that

by the

time the

world

which is

itself a

house of

cards

is encountering

us whether

individually or

as a community

bearing the

banner of

Jesus Christ

representing

that unified

healthy and

dynamic organism

called the

church

what they

meaning the

world

are coming

face to

face with

is a people

who are

operating or

playing successfully

in the field

of truth

and edifying

speech

because we

have been

practicing

this way

all along

to the glory

of God

and when that

happens

lives will be

changed and

we will march

forward as the

unshakable

pillar of

pillar and

buttress of

truth

that we are

called to be

in this

world

amen

have

done

in this

minute

process

and

ask

to find

the

team

and

who

and

even

in this

time

have

opened

ray

Russel

and

hear

until

Mueller

Wenn

worthy

from

other

videos

of

for closing worship.