KSB Youth Conference 2001

Wednesday morning, 12 December 2001

Rev E. Stegen

Ps 119:9 & Eph 4:22 - 28

What you do while you are young will determine your future. Therefore take heed and listen to God's Word.

Here in Ephesians we read that we need to take off the old man and put on the new. In Greek this word 'taking off' means an action happening immediately and not dragging on and on. It is troublesome if you call yourself a Christian, but the old hasn't passed away.

Some try to put the old over the new, but that will not work. First get into the bath and scrub yourself and get rid of the old rags. We read in the Bible that circumcision and baptism isn't what matters, but a new creature.

In verse 25 we read how we ought to put away all lying/falsehood and speak the truth.
Ex: There was once a young man that went to the bank and withdrew some money. As he walked home, he was overcome by thieves who took everything they could find from him and then made him swear that he had no money left. As they ran away he still found R10. Immediately he called after them that he had made a mistake and still has R10. They were so amazed at his truthfulness that they asked him for forgiveness and returned everything to him.
God blesses the truth and curses a lie. Be known as one that always speaks the truth. Cast off all lying. We Christians are people of the truth.

v 26: "Be angry and sin not":
We find a good example in Jesus, who did become angry, but never sinned, for example when they made merchandise of His Father's house and also in Mark 3:5.  Jesus never got angry when people went against Him personally (for example when they caused Him to suffer, He said: "Father forgive them ..."), but He got angry when they blasphemed God.
It is easy to see when anger is sinful:  usually when your ego is touched and it leads to grudges and hatred, it is a carnal anger, not godly.
"Don't let the sun go down on your anger":
Righteous anger should subside quickly. God doesn't allow us to go to bed with it.

v 27: "Do not give place to the devil"
One gives place to the devil when you slander.

v 28: "Let him steal no more"
Stop stealing. The Bible says that he who doesn't work must not eat. Be industrious and support those who cannot support themselves.