(Eph 4:29) “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.”   There are certain persons one avoids, simply because you feel drained after a time with them. Others, you look forward to their company, for you know you are doing to be uplifted by the experience. If it doesn’t uplift the other person, we should not discuss it. We should not communicate it. In other words, many of those conversations we have with others could very well do them and others harm – not good.  Be an up-lifter!  

WATER   (Eph 4:28) “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.”  If stealing is something a believer was enslaved by, as one freed from that sin, they were now to do the opposite – work to give to others in need. Should that not be the result of each of our enslaving sins? Consider, if I was a lair, I now speak the truth in ALL things. If I was full of sexual lusts – I now seek to be the purest of brother or sister in Christ. If I was a gossip, I now am the most trustworthy of confidents. If I was lazy, I work the hardest.

WATER  (Eph 4:27) “Neither give place to the devil.”   This verse brings to mind another, (1Pe 5:8) “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:  Notice it doesn’t say he is seeking someone who he “will” devour (will would refer to his ability), but whom he “may” devour, which speaks of permission given. When we participate in that which our God has forbidden, we are inviting Satan into our lives, giving him permission to harm us. Do not step back (give place) into that old life you have been saved from.

WATER   (Eph 4:270 “Neither give place to the devil.”  Do not give Satan a foothold in your life. Every time you and I put ourselves first before the Lord, His desires and will, we are giving Satan a foothold in our lives. The only reason we react wrongly in verse 26 in anger, is because we are putting ourselves first. Any time we lie or steal, we are putting ourselves first. The Lord has promised to meet our needs: we need not steal. The Lord has promised to bless us if we do right: we need not lie. Were you able to be in church and yet did not go? You need to put Jesus first. Have you had a time in His Word? Put Jesus first in your life. We are “bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God’s” (1 Cor 6:20).  

(Eph 4:26) “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:”   There are those who think it wrong to be angry. No, it is not wrong to have the emotion given by God, but…..it is always wrong to respond in a way that would not honor the Lord Who saved you! Get face it, speak rightly that which should be spoken, “You have offended me”; do that which you need to do, taking stands you need to take; but never, ever, are you to do it in a way determined to hurt another person. Yes, speaking the truth will at times hurt the other person, but the Bible tells us we ate to speak the truth in love (15). Don’t go to bed with it allowing it to fester into sinful thoughts and later actions. Face it now. Do right in a way to honor your Savior!   

WATER   (Eph 4:25) “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.” There is such an absence of truth today that even among Believers we do not always trust what they say to us. If we have formed an opinion of something, even when that person says truth to us regarding it, many times we don’t believe them, falling back upon our assumption. This is sin. We are to accept the word of a fellow saint unless they prove themselves to be liars. Speak truth one to another. Truth might be uncomfortable, but in the long run it is always best; and it is what our Lord expects from us.

 (Eph 4:22) “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.”  How does the the precious truth of verse 24 agree with the need of verses 22-23? Verse 24 is our position before God in Christ – what He has done for us. Verses 22-23 is our condition while still in this sinful flesh. We are to bring our physical and mental condition in align with our spiritual condition! Praise God, it is possible! Walk the walk as you talk the talk, dear one.

(Eph 4:22) “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;”  The mind, how we think about things, how we see things, must we reshaped into seeing and thinking in agreement with God’s Word. That only comes through desire, bowing to His Lordship over us, and love for Him enough to want to please Him. It takes effort on our part and dedication to the reading of God’s Word. It takes sitting at the feet of a godly teacher and the seeking out of a church where the Word of God is held up as being the rule of faith. Not all churches and preachers put what God thinks first. So, we must seek such godly men and churches.

(Eph 4:22) “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;”  I have heard people say to a lost person, “You don’t have to worry about changing your life. Just come to God as you are.”  We do come to God as we are, but one’s life does change through the rebirth and we are called upon to continue to change. They instinctively know that. Plus, we are told to “count the cost”. Jesus is worth it! So, be honest and forthright with them, “Yes, you need to forsake your sin. Jesus give you a new heart which will desire to change. Come to Him and be saved.”