Message 5b – Trading Trifle for Treasure
Five Categories in Which Tongue Transformation Takes Place
(Review):
1. A True Christian is to Replace LYING With LEGITIMACY - Ephesians 4:25
2. A True Christian is to Replace RAGE With RESTRAINT - Ephesians 4:26, 27
3. A True Christian is to Replace STEALING With SHARING - Ephesians 4:28
4. A True Christian is to Replace DESTRUCTION With CONSTRUCTION - Ephesians 4:29-30
5. A True Christian is to Replace GRIPING With GRACE – Ephesians 4:31, 32
Six Specific Gripes to Replace With Grace:
• Bitterness
• Wrath
• Anger - Romans 12:19
• Clamor - Psalm 47:1
• Evil Speaking
• Malice
Three Proactive Steps to Taming the Tongue:
1) Be KIND - Ephesians 4:32; 1 Peter 2:3; 1 Peter 4:22-24
2) Be TENDERHEARTED - Ephesians 4:32; 1 Peter 3:8
3) Be FORGIVING - Ephesians 4:32
How Does God Forgive Us?
•He Made the Decision to Live With the Painful Fact of Another’s Person’s Sin
• He Cancelled the Debt We Owed Him
• He Has Determined to do Good, Rather Than Evil - Romans 12:20-21
Five Myths About Finding Forgiveness:
• Forgiveness is Not Forgetting
• Forgiveness Does Not Mean the Absence of Feeling Pain
• Forgiveness Does Not Mean You Cease Longing for Justice
• Forgiveness Does Not Mean You Make it Easy for the Offender to Hurt You Again
• Forgiveness is Rarely a One Time Climactic Event
