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Making The Best Use of Our Time Ephesians 5:15-21

Making The Best Use of Our Time Ephesians 5:15-21. Queen Elizabeth I – 1603 “ All my possessions for a moment of time .” Be very careful how you are using your time. Two parts in this text: The Warning: Be Careful How You Live The Command: Be Filled with the Spirit.

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Making The Best Use of Our Time Ephesians 5:15-21

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  1. Making The Best Use of Our TimeEphesians 5:15-21 • Queen Elizabeth I – 1603 • “All my possessions for a moment of time.” • Be very careful how you are using your time. • Two parts in this text: • The Warning: Be Careful How You Live • The Command: Be Filled with the Spirit

  2. 1. The Warning: Be Careful How You Live • Ephesians 5:15-16 [ESV] - Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. • Ephesians 4:1 [NIV] – “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received” • Last week: some real specific direction on how to “live as children of light”

  3. Now a warning - Be careful how you live. • Literally Watch closely how you walk. • Life has purpose and direction. • Ephesians 5:16 [ESV] – making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. • Other translations: “redeeming the time” • “redeem” means “buy” or “purchase” • v.16 – “buy up every opportunity”

  4. a. Not Unwise But Wise • Wisdom is a gift from God. • 1 Kings 3:7-10 [NLT] – “Now, O LORD my God, you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around. And here I am in the midst of your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted! Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong…” The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom.

  5. 1 Corinthians 3:19 [NIV] - For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. • Ephesians 1:17 [NIV] - I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. • James 1:5 [NIV] - If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

  6. b. Not Foolishly but With Understanding • Ephesians 5:17 [ESV] – Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. • Foolish  ignorant • To live wisely  not intellectual knowledge but moral and practical wisdom • “understand what the will of the Lord is” • God reveals His will in His Word.

  7. c. Not Drunk but Filled with the Spirit • Ephesians 5:18 [ESV] - And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit. • Drunkenness leads to “debauchery”  behavior which shows lack of concern or thought for the consequences of our actions • Drunkenness leads to a waste of the precious time God has given us to make the most of.

  8. 2. The Command: Be Filled With the Spirit • Do we as believers have some kind of control over how the Spirit of God moves in our lives? • The Bible talks about being filled with: • grief (John 16:6); joy (Acts 13:52); knowledge (Romans 15:14) • “The intent [of this command] is that the person should be characterized by wisdom and live in tune with God’s Spirit…the Holy Spirit is the controlling influence motivating and directing the lives of believers” • (Snodgrass, Ephesians NIV Application Commentary)

  9. Does the Holy Spirit have a monopoly on your life? • A monopoly implies total control. • This is a continual process. • Evidence of a Spirit Filled Life: • a. We Have Spirit Filled Communication • Ephesians 5:19 [NIV] - Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord.”

  10. Singing and music are a natural expression of the joy God brings to our lives. • Psalm 100:1,2 [NIV] - Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. • Our worship in song has two audiences: • God is our primary audience – we praise Him for who He is and what He had done • God’s people are also part of the audience – we sing to edify and build up the body of Christ. • Paul says, “make music in your heart to the Lord.”

  11. b. Spirit Filled Thanksgiving • Ephesians 5:20 [ESV] – “…giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” • Thanksgiving is key to the Spirit filled life. • Colossians 3:17 [NIV] - And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

  12. Failure to give thanks is one of the root causes of sin. • Romans 1:21 [NIV] - For although [the wicked] knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. • Thanksgiving is acknowledging God’s faithfulness and His purposes in doing good. • We thank God “in the name of Jesus” • “on the basis of” who Jesus is and what He stands for and has accomplished

  13. c. Spirit Filled Submission • Ephesians 5:21 [ESV] - Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. • submit  literally means to “arrange under” • we submit to God’s law (Romans 8:7) • everything will be subjected under Christ (Ephesians 1:22) • ALL Christians are to submit to EACH OTHER. • “out of reverence for Christ” or “fear of God” (NKJV)

  14. “fear of God”  an Old Testament term describing the covenant relationship between God and His people. • A characteristic of those who love God. • “fear of God” and “love of God” are often used synonymously to describe the motivation for obedience. • Christ demonstrated submission to the Father’s will. • He set the example for us to follow.

  15. Philippians 2:1-3 - If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

  16. John 10:17–18 [NIV] The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” • Submission is a act of our will that we choose to do out of obedience to God but also out of love for Him – out of reverence for the example of obedience and submission Christ showed us.

  17. We live in times that are evil. • Are you making the best use of your time? • to serve God by making wise decisions about how you use your time • to using your time to grow in your understanding of God’s will • to avoid getting caught up in things that distract you; that cloud your judgment • We need God’s help!

  18. He has provided His Spirit • He gives us wisdom • He guides our daily decisions • But firstwe need to put aside our personal agendas, our personal schedules, and let the Spirit be the controlling influence motivating and directing us. • Let’s be filled with the Spirit so we can make the best use of our time!

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