Seize The Opportunity (Youth)

Introduction

July 12 pool party

How much easier would the game have been, if you had seen the list beforehand and been able to prepare your questions?

Read Ephesians 5:15-18

Ephesians 5:15–18 ESV

15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

Opportunities

Making the best use of

The Greek phrase used, literally means to “redeem, buy back, or purchase”

It is saying to redeem.

Redeem what?

So redeem the time because the days are evil

Time

When we hear the word time, we tend to think of linear time (in the context of minutes and seconds, days and years)

It’s this progression on a timeline

The word in Greek for this kind of “time” is “kronos”

Our word “chronological” comes from this root

But that’s not the word that is used here!

The word used in this passage is kairos - which means opportunity

You can never buy back more kronos time.

Pay attention for the Kairos(opportunities) within the kronos (time you have)

Redeem the opportunities because the days are evil

The days are evil

What does it mean the days are evil?

The Faithlife Study Bible says it this way: “The current time is characterized by disobedience and the corrupting influence of satan.

Concerning Christians:

Ephesians 2:2 ESV

2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—

In a sense here is what Paul is saying!!! We need to take advantage of every opportunity we can for righteousness, because this sinful world takes every opportunity it can to produce death!

I’ve heard it said that “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.”

Sin is intentional in destroying us....it doesn’t coast, and we likewise can’t coast as Christians.

The enemy will take advantage of every situation in your life to create fear, anxiety, doubt, bitterness, unforgiveness, lust, apathy.

Health Crisis - “A good God wouldn’t have let this happen”

Buried a family member - “If God really loved you, this person would still be alive.”

Chaos of our world - “Everything is spinning out of control, let me introduce you to anxiety, your new best friend.”

Unsolicited suggestive image - Sin is right their crouching at the door enticing you with one click that leads to another, that leads to another.

Angry and insensitive word - Pride, anger, and insecurity want to rise up.

The enemy will take every opportunity he can to stunt your growth in Christ, to cause you to be ineffective as a child of God, and ultimately lead you down a path of destruction and death.

My Bible says in John 10:10 that “The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, I have come that they may have life and have it to the full!”

My Bible says in Romans 5:20 says, “Where sin has abounded, grace has much more abounded!”

What Paul is saying in this passage in Ephesians is to take those opportunities that the enemy want to use for his purposes, and redeem them for the purposes of God!

God’s will for your life

What are the opportunities in your life right now?

Ephesians 5:16 says redeem the opportunities because the days are evil

And it goes on to say don’t be foolish, but understand what the will of God is

Why is it that we always think of God’s will for our lives as a future event?

It’s almost as if we don’t believe God has a plan for us now!

God’s will for your life does not unfold by God revealing a big master plan to you, with detailed step by step instructions for the next 50 years.......God’s will is revealed in your life from one opportunity to the next!

Application

So get this: God’s will for your life is not a future event, it is your current opportunity!

My Brother

And those opportunities become clear as we walk in wisdom as verse 15 tells us, and as we are continually filled with the Spirit.

For all of us - Whatever season of life we are in, what are the opportunities before us?

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