Ephesians Series #28
“The Power of Truth”
Ephesians 4:24
I. Our Wealth and Worth In Christ 1-3
II. Our Worthy Walk in Christ 4-6
A. Live in Unity 4:1-16
B. Live in Newness of life 4:17-24
C. Live in Love 4:17-24
1. Speak truth not falsehood 4:25
REVIEW / INTRODUCTION
Ever since Lucifer lied to himself about being like the “Most High God” and becoming the father of lies, falsehood and deception have become deeply ingrained in the human race.
The Bible has more to say about lying and falsehood than almost any other subject.
It destroys lives. It ruins communities and churches. People tell lies about what someone did or said. Ministries have been ruined with just false accusations. Marriages have been ruined because of lies and distrust. Companies have fallen through cheating and deception. There is a whole psychology dealing with denial and lying to ourselves. Truth is that which corresponds to reality. Falsehood is anything that does not. Even the reality shows are not real. They are contrived and manipulated for entertainment purposes. Of course people try to lie to God but that is futile.
We lie or distort truth for a variety of reasons.
1. Self-Protection – avoid pain or discomfort
2. Self-promotion – make ourselves look better than we are (pride)
3. Possession – acquire something we didn’t earn
4. Punishment – to hurt someone
5. Politeness – we lie to avoid hurting someone’s feelings.
Satan is a master of deception. The core lie that he has perpetuated throughout the earth from the beginning is that we can find life apart from total dependence on God. It is what he tried.
It is his intention to gather as many followers as he can who will live the same way. It doesn’t take much to see the destructive nature of living in deception either in relation to ourselves or in relation to others.
Living and speaking the truth of God promotes the purposes of God.
Contrary to the way many translations translated this passage, the main command here is not, “Don't lie.” The passage should actually be translated therefore (because you have been become new through the work of Jesus Christ), having lain aside or left behind falsehood, continually speak truth into one another's lives. Speaking the truth flows out of a transformed life. When Paul talks about speaking the truth I don't think he is primarily talking about truth telling.
Although telling the truth is implied, I think Paul has a greater function in mind. I think Paul is talking about speaking the truth of God into one another's lives on a continual basis. It is important not to lie about events or feelings or issues but the point of this passage I think has to do with sharing the truth of God with one another. The motivation for speaking truth has to do with the fact that we are members of one body. Earlier, in this very same letter, Paul made clear it that the community of Christ grows in direct relation to the members speaking the truth of God with one another in a context of loving relationships.
Here, Paul reminds them that living according to the lies that the enemy tells is a thing of the past and we are now people of the truth. Just as there is destructiveness in falsehood, there is power in living and speaking truth.
Living and speaking the truth of God promotes the purposes of God.
There is only one reliable place to discover the truth of God and that is in the word of God.
So when we’re talking about speaking truth, we're talking about speaking the things we discover in the word of God. The Bible is absolutely clear about the power of God's truth.
The truth protects
God's truth is both defenses and offenses in our battle against the enemy. Paul calls for us to put on God's armor. One of those pieces armor is the belt of truth. The truth of God defends us against the destructive lies that Satan will tell about ourselves, himself, God, others and the true source of real life. Later in that same passage he talks about the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. Here, truth is an offense of weapon against Satan and his attacks.
When Jesus stood against Satan's temptations he effectively used the word of God to counter every temptation the enemy brought against him. He didn't argue or reason, he simply quoted the word of God -- "It is written."
When our feelings get all messed up…When we get confused…We need the sure footing of the word of God to stand against the lies of the enemy.
When the enemy comes with his condemning thoughts…When the enemy tells us that God hates us and that we been cast aside... we need to clear truth of the Word of God to keep a stable. We need to remember that the word of God clearly states that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. We remember that nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. We need to remember the promise that he said he will never leave us or forsake us. Whatever lie the enemy brings, there is a powerful corresponding truth from the word of God.
Living and speaking the truth of God promotes the purposes of God.
Not only its purposes in our lives but in those around us.
The truth Purifies
One aspect of the word of God that demonstrates it's a power or ability is its ability to need to cleanse and purify. Stinking thinking makes stinking living. Paul urged the Romans to be transformed by the renewing of their thinking to the word of God. That renewal would enable them not to be conformed to the polluting influence of the world around them. Jesus prayed for all believers.
17 "Sanctify (purify) them in the truth; Your word is truth. John 17:17
Later, Paul compares the ministry of Jesus to that of a husband.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. Ephesians 5:25-27
Jesus is actively engaged in the purification of the church through the continual teaching of the truth. The truth of God cleanses from the lies and deceptions of the enemy.
The truth sets free.
31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." John 8:31-32
Notice the sequence here. They first believed. Jesus encouraged those who believed to continue to believe His word. Those who continue to believe His words are the ones Jesus considers His true disciples. The continual exposure to God's word brings about a deeper knowledge of his truth. The deeper knowledge of that truth results in freedom.
Lies enslave. Truth releases from captivity.
24 The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:24-26
First comes the speaking of truth. Next is the necessity for a heart change. That heart change makes it possible to come to the knowledge of the truth. The knowledge of the truth enables them to return to their senses. The return to biblical thinking brings about a freedom from the Devil's snare and lies.
The truth brings about growth.
Justice Paul affirmed that the speaking of truth in loving relationships brings about growth for the body. Speaking the truth in love. What other ways do people speak the truth? Pride, anger, revenge, callousness, selfishness. Speaking truth motivated by love for others promotes growth in the body.
Peter encourages us to develop a hunger for God's word that will bring healthy growth.
1 Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, 3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. 1 Peter 2:1-3
A closer look at this passage may actually teaches that all true believers already have a hunger for the word of God just like a little baby can't wait for that next bottle.
The thing that interferes with that hunger is infection or sickness. Maybe, that's why Peter tells us to first put aside the infection of sin so that the natural hunger for the word of God can emerge resulting in healthy development and growth.
Psalm 19 lays out the powerful affect the word of God has in our life.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether.
10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward. Psalms 19:7-11
Does your soul need restoring? You want become wiser? Do you want joy to return to your heart? Join us see things more clearly? You want to live purely? You want to avoid the pitfalls and the traps of the enemy? You want great reward?
The answer to all of these things is the word of God.
Living and speaking the truth of God promotes the purposes of God.
So what does Paul mean by speak the truth to one another?
What is our responsibility to one another in regard to the truth?
There is something about interacting with the word of God in the context of loving relationships that has the power to change lives.
Some of the most effective speaking of truth comes out of personal sharing of what God is doing in your life. We don't have many opportunities for such interaction. The place that should be the safest place on earth yet oftentimes it becomes the most dangerous. Yet the body of Christ has an obligation to be speakers of the truth.
Now there are many places in the Bible that talk about the manner in which we should share truth. So often those regulations are violated and rather than healing we find harm. Rather than insight we generate insults. Paul amplifies this theme in just a couple verses. I want to touch on that verse now because it relates to how the body should go about speaking truth into one another's lives that brings about growth, healing, freedom and purity.
29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29
The word translated "unwholesome" could also be translated worthless, rotten, bad or corrupt.
There's a lot of worthless talk in the Christian community. I don't mean necessarily that it's bad, but it has no eternal value. Again there are words that cut deeply. Proverbs reminds us that life and death are in the power of the tongue. There are death words and there are life words.
Whoever said sticks and stones will hurt my bones but words will never hurt me was a liar.
Words kill. Words hurt. Words can sap the energy right out of the soul.
Paul calls us to use words that will encourage, build up, and strengthen. He recognizes that people have needs in their life that words can minister to. He is asking us to speak truth into one another's lives in our times of need. What is the result of those words? Paul tells us that those words give grace. What does it mean to give grace?
Grace can also be translated power or ability or favor. Hebrews tells us to come to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. He's telling us to come to the throne of grace for energy and strengthening. Paul tells us that our words can energize others. We can energize people with our words. We could probably spend the rest of our time recalling times when people's words of encouragement completely changed our outlook and progress energy. In this New Year, may we give great thought to how we can change our conversation from surface talk to deep soul talk that will energize one another and stimulate one another to love and good deeds. May we learn the power of speaking truth into one another's lives.
Living and speaking the truth of God promotes the purposes of God.
