Biblical Communication 12

This corrupt speech we have been looking at in Ephesians 4:29 might be miscommunication. The person is hearing something very different than intended. If they do not have the entire context, then the message is corrupted. We need to be clear in our communication.

We do not want to grieve the Holy Spirit of God with our speech and communication. Ephesians 4:30. We only want to use words that will be helpful and build up others. We want to be encouragers. We want to speak good words: sweet words and minister grace.

Someone once said, “A man who truly loves God would not talk about a friend like that.” Being tired, frustrated, and provoked is not a real excuse.

Let’s use words that affirm, build up, not tear down. Let’s encourage one another. We desire to use edifying words that minister grace. Ephesians 4:29 Ministering grace gives the idea of causing rejoicing. It is the very sweetness of the Lord God of Heaven.

Our goal as believers is not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God Ephesians 4:30 but to instead be filled with Him. Our sin affects God. We do not lose our salvation because we have been sealed for the day of redemption.

Lying offends the Holy Spirit, and we see that from the story of Ananias and Sapphira. Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote, “Sin has many tools, but a lie is the handle that fits them all.” The Devil filled their hearts to lie to God. That is why we must so carefully guard our hearts Proverbs 4:23-24. As someone said, “If we are insensitive to the hurt we cause God, we are insensitive to the hurt we do to others.”

We can also quench the Holy Spirit I Thessalonians 5:19. That means that we extinguish, smother, stifle, snuff out what He is saying to us. We ignore His work and warnings in our hearts. We ignore the Scriptures and His commands for us.

We can quench the Holy Spirit by living rebelliously, being complacent, having the wrong friends and influences in our lives, or serving in our fleshly strength.

Grieving, Ephesians 4:30, means to make Him feel sorrow or sadness. Our un-sanctified mouths grieve Him. When we have a hateful spirit, we grieve Him. When we are unkind or unforgiving, we grieve Him.