DO NOT GRIEVE THE HOLY SPIRIT

Passage: Ephesians 4:25-32

Key verse: 30

NIV

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully(A) to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.(B) 26 “In your anger do not sin”[a]:(C) Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.(D) 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work,(E) doing something useful with their own hands,(F) that they may have something to share with those in need.(G)

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,(H) but only what is helpful for building others up(I) according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,(J) with whom you were sealed(K) for the day of redemption.(L) 31 Get rid of(M) all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.(N) 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another,(O) forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.(P)

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Footnotes
  1. Ephesians 4:26 Psalm 4:4 (see Septuagint)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you (A)speak the truth with his neighbor, for (B)we are members one of another. 26 (C)Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and (D)give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather (E)let him labor, (F)doing honest work with his own hands, so (G)that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29 (H)Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give (I)grace to those who hear. 30 And (J)do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, (K)by whom you were sealed for the day of (L)redemption. 31 (M)Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 (N)Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, (O)forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. 'Therefore…' (25-28)

What do we do when the gospel comes to us? We become new creations. However, Satan tries to get a foothold on us at all times. But we must not give him a foothold. We shouldn't speak falsely to our brothers and sisters in Christ. We shouldn't let anger control our behavior and lead us into sin, but we should forgive whoever made us angry. We shouldn't steal, but rather work to earn our keep and to have something to share with those in need. When we live like this, we do not allow the devil to get even a foothold in this world.

2. Build others up (29-32)

James teaches that the tongue is a world of evil (Jas 3:6). We should tame our tongue and use it to build others up, not tear them down. We should not be bitter or angry toward others but forgive them when they wrong us. For our Heavenly Father forgave us our multitudes of sin. By doing these things we please the Holy Spirit, and do not grieve him.

Prayer: Lord, help me to live my life that others may see your light in me. Help me to be compassionate toward others and use my tongue to build them up.

One Word: Live in such a way that we please God