Put Off the Old You

Because of who we are, we must not:

Ephesians 4:25-31

• Not lie
• Lying is speaking untruthfully, misleading or deceiving. There are a lot of forms of lying. Paul tells the Ephesians to put it away and replace it with truthfulness. Tell the truth, be honest. Jesus always told the truth.
• Not sin while you’re angry, because it gives the devil a foothold in your life
• A woman tried to defend her bad temper by saying, “I explode and then it’s all over with.” “Yes,” replied a friend, “just like a shotgun—but look at the damage that’s left behind.”
•  “Anyone can become angry,” wrote Aristotle. “But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way—this is not easy.”
• Proverbs 15:1 “A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger”
• If we blow up when we are angry, it becomes very hard to show and share Jesus with those who just saw us lose control.
• Not steal, but work
• Put away stealing, and all the forms of stealing and replace it with good hard work. 
• He gives a reason for working, so we can give. One of the ways of showing Jesus is by giving.
• Not have corrupt speech, but use speech that builds up
• Our tongues are powerful weapons. If we are to live as children of God our words can’t be used to tear down, our words are supposed to build others up.
• James 3:3-6 “ Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.  Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.  Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.”
• We must guard our speech if we are to live like Jesus.
• Grieving not the Holy Spirit
• The Holy Spirit, who lives inside those that are saved is grieving if we continue acting like the old man, the old us.
• Do not have a bitter attitude. Put it all away and leave all the characteristics of the old man behind
• Leave behind the attitudes and characteristics, wickedness and evil of the old you, Paul says.
• If we continue to live like the old us, we are not living set apart like God intended us to live. If we are living and acting just like the rest of the world how will we show them Jesus? Which is what our #1 priority should be, showing Jesus.