In discussing sins of speech within the Christian community, what exhortation does Paul share about the presence of the Holy Spirit with believers? Ephesians 4:30.

Paul simultaneously offers a daunting warning and a heartwarming promise. Our sins against one another in the church are not minor misdeeds with little consequence: what grieves the Holy Spirit is our misuse of God’s gift of speech to tear down others (Ephesians 4:25-27, Ephesians 4:29, Ephesians 4:31-32). That Paul echoes Isaiah 63:10 underlines the serious warning: “But they [Israel] rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit; therefore he turned to be their enemy, and himself fought against them” (ESV).

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In a reassuring promise, Paul affirms that the Holy Spirit seals believers from the day they accepted Christ (Ephesians 1:13-14) until “the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30). The Spirit’s relationship with the believer is not fragile but durable. When believers disregard the indwelling presence of the Spirit by weaponizing God’s gift of speech, the Spirit is not said to leave but to grieve. The Spirit intends to remain present with believers, marking them as owned and protected by God, until Christ’s return.

Paul underlines the full divinity of the Spirit as “the Holy Spirit of God” and highlights the personhood of the Spirit by portraying the Holy Spirit as grieving. (See also Romans 8:16, Romans 8:26-27; 1 Corinthians 2:10, 1 Corinthians 2:13; 1 Corinthians 12:11; Galatians 5:17-18.)

We must tread with care in discussing the mystery of the Godhead. The Spirit is both One with and distinct from the Father and the Son. “The Spirit has His own will and chooses accordingly. He can be grieved and blasphemed against. Such expressions are not fit for a mere power or influence but are characteristics of a person. Is the Spirit then a person just like you and me? No, we use limited human terminology to describe the divine, and the Spirit is what human beings can never be.” — Paul Petersen, God in 3 Persons — In the New Testament (Silver Spring, MD: Biblical Research Institute, 2015), p. 20.

<–Tuesday Thursday–>

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You can view an in-depth discussion of Christ-shaped Lives and Spirit-inspired Speech in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. Click on the image to view: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4UzBPFvA3c&w=560&h=315]

With thanks to

Hope Channel – Television that will change your life.

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Monday’s section of this week’s Sabbath School lesson asks, the question, “What is the difference, the crucial difference, between learning about Christ and learning to know Christ?” 

This question reminded me of a conversation I overheard at an Oklahoma camp meeting way back in 1991.After recently getting baptized and becoming the first person in his family to become a Christian, an older gentleman brought his 13-year-old son to camp meeting. Jesus, Christianity, church and camp meeting were all brand new to this teenage boy. While most everyone else was staying in tents or a nearby hotel, I was driving back and forth an hour and half every day between Wewoka Woods and my home in Tulsa. So one afternoon, when I was a little tired, my friend let me have her tent to myself so I could take a little rest. Right outside of the tent, her 13-year-old daughter was talking with the young boy who had come to camp meeting with his grandfather. While I could hear them, I had pretty much tuned them out so I could rest, but then the boy asked the girl the question, “What is this Jesus stuff about anyways?” 

Immediately my ears perked up. I was very interested to know what this young teenage girl was going to say. Would she begin with Daniel 9 and the 70 weeks? Would she begin with John 1 and how the Word as in the beginning can became flesh? 

Image © Pacific Press

As I was now intently listening to a conversation I had previously tuned out, I can remember the girl’s answer like it was yesterday. She said, “Before my mother and I met Jesus, all we did was argue and yell at each other, and I couldn’t stand being home. But now that my mother and I know Jesus, we don’t argue and yell at each other. We love each other and now I love being in my home.” 

“Wow!” I thought. My friend’s daughter didn’t just know about Jesus. She knew Jesus. She didn’t have to go to Daniel or John to tell her friend about Jesus, because she had experienced Jesus for herself. Jesus had radically changed her life and as she out off the old life and received the new life like putting on hew clothes. 

And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. Galatians 3:27 NLT 

In his book on Transformation and Biblical Spiritual Metamorphosis, Dr. Allan Machado shares,

To know the story of Jesus and to live with Christ and for Christ are very different things.- Dr. Allan Machado, Transformation: Biblical Spiritual Metamorphosis, Page 30

My friend’s daughter did not just know about the story of Jesus, she lived with and for Jesus. Thirty-two years later, she still does. To this day she lives with and for Jesus and is always sharing Christ with all those she comes in contact with in her community. She does not just know about Christ; she has put on Christ like putting on new clothes.  So, if someone asked you, “What is all this Jesus stuff about anyways?” What would you say? 

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Which of Paul’s words of counsel with regard to the use of speech among believers is the most important to you just now? Why? (Ephesians 4:25-29).

Paul repeatedly uses an interesting structure in Ephesians 4:25-32, which is illustrated by Ephesians 4:25 (NKJV): a negative command (“putting away lying”); a positive command next (“let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor”); and then a rationale (“for we are members of one another,” which seems to mean “because we are members of one body and so related to one another as parts of that one body”).

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Paul’s exhortation to “speak truth” is not an invitation to confront other church members with a tactless recitation of facts. Paul alludes to Zechariah 8:16, which exhorts speaking the truth as a way of fostering peace.

Since in Ephesians 4:31 Paul banishes anger and angry speech, his words in Ephesians 4:26 provide no permission to exercise anger within the congregation. Rather, Paul concedes the possibility of anger, while limiting its expression with the sense, “Should you become angry, do not allow it to bear fruit in full blown sin.”

Paul appears to interrupt his theme of speech with a negative command about thieves: “Let the thief no longer steal” (Ephesians 4:28, ESV). Positively, the thief is to “labor, doing honest work with his own hands” (Ephesians 4:28, ESV; see also 1 Corinthians 4:12, 1 Thessalonians 4:11) based on the rationale, “so that he may have something to share with anyone in need” (Ephesians 4:28, ESV). Perhaps Paul includes this word about thieves here because of the connection between theft and deceptive speech as illustrated by the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11. Paul’s faith in Christ’s transforming power is so strong that he envisions thieves becoming benefactors!

Paul then commands, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth” (Ephesians 4:29, NKJV), which describes a destructive word making its seemingly unstoppable way toward the lips to do its damaging work. Positively, Paul imagines any negative expression not being just stopped, but replaced by a statement that exhibits three criteria: It (1) “is good for building up,” (2) “fits the occasion,” and (3) gives “grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29, ESV). If only all our words could be like that!

<–Monday Wednesday–>

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The book of Ephesians does show us “How to Follow Jesus in Trying Times”: 
Hymn 623 – I Will Follow Thee, My Saviour, so that our actions will always speak louder than our words.

There are unfathomable changes to our lives, we see during our studies this week, when we follow our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. We may sing of these changes in L
ove Divine – Hymn 191, particularly in verse 4. This may happen as we diligently study our Bible and see 
This Is The Threefold Truth – Hymn 202 where change is seen in verse 3.

In the Bible readings on Sunday we see the request 
Come, Ye Sinners – Hymn 280 where we may then say 
I Lay My Sins On Jesus – Hymn 298  knowing that our request of 
Forgive Our Sins As We Forgive – Hymn 299 is heard and completed by Jeus. Our conviction shows that we are redeemed: 
Hymn 179 – The Wonders Of Redeeming Love, 
Hymn 337/338 – Redeemed and then 
I Will Sing of My Redeemer – Hymn 343.

To help with our dramatic change (Monday) we will relish Sitting At The Feet Of Jesus – Old Hymnal (pre-1985) number 618.

Wednesday shows the
Spirit of God – Hymn 266 is a wonder in our lives if we ask 
Come, Holy Spirit – Hymn 269 and 
Hymn 268 – Holy Spirit, Light Divine.

As we watch and wait, it will be with stunning joy that we will see “the day of redemption” Ephesians 4:30 as we sing in 
Watchmen, On The Walls Of Zion – Hymn 601 verse 3.  

We are to speak “Kindness (Not Bitterness)” says Thursday’s study: 
Hymn 81 – Though I Speak With Tongues after we ask 
Forgive Our Sins As We Forgive – Hymn 299.

So, dear people, be encouraged to go forward and
“Lift up the trumpet and loud let it ring, Jesus IS coming again” – Hymn 213.

To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/

Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org/Search and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.

 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

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