Being built up... (21)

Making the most of every opportunity...

This morning, we’re going to look at Ephesians 5:15-20. Paul has a way of putting a lot of meat into a few verses. Before we read our Scripture, I came across a cute story. You might find it comical.

One blistering hot day when they had guests for dinner, Mother asked 4-year old Johnny to return thanks. “But I don’t know what to say!” the boy complained. “Oh, just say what you hear me say” his mother replied. Obediently the boy bowed his head and mumbled, “Oh Lord, why did I invite these people over on a hot day like this?” (SC)

I wonder if the moral to that story is, “Be careful what you ask for...”

Let’s read

Ephesians 5:15–20 NLT

15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

If what Paul wrote is true, I believe that it applies just as much to us today, if not more since the day of Jesus’ return is that much closer.

Paul states,

Be careful how you live...

The NKJV puts it this way,

Ephesians 5:15 NKJV

15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,

Here’s the New English Bible,

The Message of Ephesians 3. The Nature of Wisdom (Verses 15–17)

‘Be most careful then how you conduct yourselves: like sensible men, not like simpletons’ (NEB).

In this passage, how we live and how we walk are interchangeable.

Psalm 1:1–3 NIV

1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.

We are all faced with the decision as to whom we take our advice on how we should walk or live.

Do we seek worldly advice on how we should treat others or do we go to God’s word and seek godly advice from others.

You don’t have to go very far to find advice. The coffee shop crowd would love to give you advice, or myriads of people on google, but only God’s word has stood the test of time or will stand the test. Jesus not only taught us how to live, but He demonstrated how we should live.

This what Paul said in

1 Corinthians 11:1 NKJV

1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

There are two roads, two paths that we can take. We need to make the decision as to which one we want to walk.

Matthew 7:13–14 NIV

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Maybe you feel like the Christian walk is a hard one. There aren’t too many on the same path as me. How can I make it? How can I walk this walk.

He gives more grace. Do you need more power to overcome? He gives more grace to overcome. If you are going through a test or a trial, He gives more grace.

Even Paul the apostle had what he called,

A thorn in the flesh...

Obviously, it irritated him. Have you ever had a thorn in your flesh that you couldn’t get our. Maybe you got into a patch of Canadian Thistle, or you got a sliver in your hand.

One time I got one under the fingernail of my right index finger. I was in considerable discomfort, so I used salt water to finally get it out, but I ended up losing my nail.

Here’s what Paul said after he had experienced a powerful encounter with God.

2 Corinthians 12:6–10 NIV

6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

It’s imperative that we pay careful attention to how we live. Not as fools but as those who are wise.

Proverbs 1:7 NIV

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 9:10 NIV

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

What does godly wisdom look like?

Let’s start by seeing what it isn’t and then what it is...

James 3:13–18 NIV

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

There are certain things wise people do...

1. Make the most of every opportunity...

Ephesians 5:16 NIV

16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

The NKJV puts it this way,

Ephesians 5:16 NKJV

16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

The Bible doesn’t promote being workaholics. The Bible does teach us to work hard. It teaches us not to waste time. Procrastination doesn’t please God. The saying, “Rome wasn’t built in a day” might be true, but that doesn’t mean that we should leave things for some other time that God is calling us to do today.

1 Peter 3:15–16 NLT

15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. 16 But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.

2 Timothy 4:2–3 NLT

2 Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. 3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.

It’s never the wrong time to do what is right. Make the most of the time you have. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but we know we are in God’s hands.

2. They understand what the Lord wants them to do...

Ephesians 5:17 NLT

17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

It can be so easy to get sidetracked with getting the job done, and yet we need to be doing the task that God wants us to do.

For many we have earthly bosses and a heavenly boss. When we are at work, we need to do the job to the best of our ability to bring glory to God.

Sometimes, we might try to separate our job and what God is calling us to do. We can’t separate our job from God’s calling on our lives. If God has given us a job, let’s do it to the best of our ability, and with integrity. Let’s not cut corners or work half-heartedly. No matter how big the temptation is to be a slacker, let’s please God with all of our heart by how we work.

If your job is forcing you to lose your integrity, pray that God will supply you with a new job.

Philippians 4:19 NKJV

19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Everything that we do needs to be with intent, and that is to please God.

Wise people

3. Seek to be filled with the Spirit...

Ephesians 5:18 NLT

18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,

Worldly wisdom says, “If it feels good, do it.” You deserve to get drunk. It will drown your sorrows and your worries. Drunkenness leads to debauchery which is wild, uncontrolled parties.

Excessive use of alcohol has ruined a lot of lives, and not just the lives of the person that got drunk. It has caused great loss from accidents where not only the impaired person is hurt or killed, but their family is affected as well as many families that have lost loved ones from a drunk driver.

Let’s not seek to over indulge in the pleasures of this world but let’s seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

When you are filled with the Holy Spirit, it’s not just a one time experience. Many look back at how they felt when they were first saved, and want that brand new experience again. Others who were baptized in the Holy Spirit long for that experience again.

Paul would say to each of you,

Be filled with the Spirit...

Keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit. Don’t be satisfied with yesterday’s experience, but seek to know God’s will for your life, and that is to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

It’s not just for a few, it’s for you.

4. Wise people worship and give thanks to God...

Ephesians 5:19–20 NLT

19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let’s make worship a part of each and every day! For some, this might mean listening to Christian music. This might mean singing to God through a cappella.

I believe that the Lord indwells and inhabits our praise and our worship. Some might play instruments and worship the Lord with your instruments. Let everything that has breath, Praise the Lord.

Individual praise is important, but as important as individual praise and worship is important, we need to come together to worship.

Hebrews 10:24–25 NIV

24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Let’s encourage each other to come together to worship. Let’s make the most of every opportunity to encourage each other as we worship our King and our God.

Wise people

Give thanks for everything to God...

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT

18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6 NIV

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

When we give thanks to God the Father, we are told to give thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We have so much to be thankful for: Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, forgiveness of sins, the fact that God cares for us, and the He has blessed us with every spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus.

We can give thanks to the Lord for He is good, and His mercies, His steadfast love endures forever.

We can be thankful for the blessing of health, a roof over our heads, food on our tables, and clothes on our backs, and more in the drawer, and if not in the drawer, maybe on the floor.

We can give thanks to God in Jesus’ name for our families, and friends, the ability to work, and the work that we have.

How can we begin to give thanks for all we have and all He has done?

A good start is to say thanks and to show it by doing what pleases the Lord.

Let’s pray!