Today's Passage - Ephesians 4:25-28

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Ephesians 4:25-28   "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.  "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.  He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need."   Paul taught us many things that are practical for believers' life.  First, he said we ought to put off falsehood and speak truthfully.  We can easily understand this teaching, but it's hard to put it in practice in our life.  The problem is that we don't understand what the "truth" according to the Bible is.   We think that it means we ought to say whatever we think of.  Not only will people not be edified, but we will cause even bigger problems.  In the Bible, the word "truth" really means the Word of God.  God wants us to speak His Word in all circumstances in life, and to understand the will of the Holy Spirit and to speak what He wants us to say at Hid time.  As long as you understand this truth, you won't easily use your words to hurt others; you will speak cautiously and be more responsible for what you say.  James 3:1 says: "Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly."   Next, "in your anger do not sin."   We thank God because He didn't say we can never get angry, but to sin when we are angry means that we hurt others physically or mentally when we are angry.  When we are angry, it's easy for us to say the wrong thing, curse others, or even physically hurt others.  It could easily happen to people who are nearest to us, like spouses or children.  One time we discussed this passage in the cell group, and the leader asked which the most difficult thing to do is.  Everyone said it's "in your anger do not sin."  Therefore, we decided to put this into practice for a whole week.  Later on, a brother testified that on their way back home, his wife told him that his son was really misbehaving in the children program.  He was really mad and wanted to spank the boy once he got home; however, he thought about the topic of "in your anger do not sin" that they just studied, so he prayed to God for wisdom.  Once he reached home, he didn't spank the boy, but he took him to the room and asked him whether he knew what he had done wrong.  The boy nodded, so they both knelled before God to pray and confessed their sin.  He said that was the first time he prayed with his son and it was wonderful.  Brothers and sisters, did you know that following God's Word can give you a wonderful experience?  Are you willing to practice it today?                                                                                   Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, I thank you because you are the momentum in our daily living and source of our life.  Please help us to keep our months in check, so that we often speak God's Word and never "put off falsehood."  Let us never sin in our anger and don't allow our mouth and body to hurt anyone.  Keep our hearts in you so that we can be pleasing to you.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!