Walk in Wisdom - Ephesians 5:15-21

Introduction: I love being a dad. But one of the stressful parts of being a dad is training your kids to drive. One of those things, however, at least in the moment is not teaching my kids to drive. I genuinely look forward to being a grandparent in the very near future, but my kids are on their own when it comes to teaching their kids how to drive!

There’s so much a new driver has to learn — how to brake smoothly, how to check their mirrors, how to merge onto the highway — but perhaps the most important overarching lesson is this: they must always stay alert. It’s not enough to know what you are doing; you have to constantly scan the road, aware of what’s happening around you.

When you finally hand the keys to your newly trained driver and watch them pull out of the driveway, what do you say? “Be careful.” “Pay attention.” “Pay Careful Attention.”

That’s exactly the kind of instruction Paul gives us in Ephesians 5:15 in the ESV when he writes, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise.” Just like a good driver must stay alert on the road, a follower of Jesus must look carefully — paying attention to the direction they’re going, aware of the influences around them, and being intentional about walking in wisdom rather than drifting foolishly.

As I stated, Paul tells us to look carefully how you walk, not as unwise but as wise. He calls us to pay attention and walk in wisdom. There is a desperate need for careful, calculated wisdom as we travel the roads of this world. Foolishness abounds in our culture. And as the people of God we need to be reminded that “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” — 1 Corinthians 1:18

For those of us who are followers of Jesus, we have been given the Spirit of Wisdom. We are wise so by God’s grace we can walk in wisdom. Biblical wisdom is living skillfully according to God’s perspective, revealed fully in Christ.

Read Text: Ephesians 5:15-21

Background: This is the seventh and last time since the beginning of Chapter 2 that Paul uses the verb “to walk “in the book of Ephesians to help the believers to live the Christian life.

1- Eph. 2:2 “you once walked, following the course of this world.” 2-Eph. 2:10 “walk in good works” 3- Eph. 4:1 “Walk according to your calling.” 4- Eph. 4:17 ”no longer walk as the gentiles do.” 5- Eph. 5:1 “Walk in Love” 6- Eph. 5:8 “Walk as children of Light” 7- Eph. 5:15 “walk carefully in wisdom”

Essentially the wisdom Paul talks about here is the intimate practical, ourworking of knowing who we are in Christ and what his purposes are for our lives. Today we see how the wisdom that is ours in Christ works itself out practically in our lives.

Textual Idea (MPT): In our passage today Paul outlines how God’s people can carefully walk in wisdom by redeeming the moments, realizing God’s will, and relying on the Holy Spirit.

Sermon Idea (MPS) : 3 steps “like a staircase” to carefully walk in God’s wisdom.

1- Redeem the moments. 2- Realize God’s will. & 3-Rely on the Holy Spirit.

Step 1: Redeem the Moments. (v.15-16)

Explanation: v15.God’s wisdom teaches Christians how to live in our daily lives. Not as unwise but in wisdom. Behave like the wise people we are in Christ. v16. “Making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” to redeem or buy back the time from it’s evil bondage.

There are two primary words for time in the NT. Chronos which is the word for chronlogical time and Kairos which refers to every passing opportunity.

Wise people live knowing that time is a precious commodity that is to be stewarded well. This word means a moment of opportunity. An opportune time. A term often used in business. The moment of the opportunity to score a deal.

In those moments of opportunity, moments that are pregnant with purpose. We need God’s wisdom. Our worldly insight and experience is not enough. every day is an opportunity to serve and honor Christ. I

f you are young or old, in Christ, we can live in the ways of Christ, taking advantage of the opportunity in front of us. Using our gifts for the glory of Christ.

Days are evil- 1- Can use the time to sin. Flesh, the world, the devil. Our days can be used for Christ or for evil. 2- Days are fleeting, today is an opportunity. Do not function out of shame and guilt. Function in hope and power. Use your days for his glory.

Psalm 90:12 “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

Don’t succumb to the busy distraction of our age. Focusing your self on everything other than the things of God.

Argument/Resistance: In our day, the flesh, the world the devil tells us how to use our time.

Illustration: Bryson wanted to be a b-ball player when he was younger. All his buddy’s on the travel team played constantly on the weekend’s. I said we would play two Sundays a year. Today Bryson’s thoughts on bball, it was a massive waste of time and $.

2- Workaholism

3- Recreational Retirement

4- Busyness- CS Lewis said “Busy people are lazy people.” where other people are deciding your schedule for you rather than you carefully using your time most effectively for the glory of God.

These are all identity things- they are about our kids, or our own identity or self glory.

Different personalities respond to me preaching on this topic differently

1- Some respond to this with guilt and shame.

2- More carefree, don’t really engage it seriously.

3- Some may get irritated and angry.

4- As followers of Jesus you are wise in Jesus, pay attention, be attentive.

Application: Number your days. Seek the LORD in how to use your days effectively. As followers of Jesus your are wise so seek Jesus, encourage one another and use your days for his glory. Repentance and faith.

1- Redeem the Moments.

Step 2: Realize God’s will. (v.17)

Explanation: v.17 “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” To avoid foolishness and understand and grasp hold of God’s will so one can practically live out the LORD’s will. Let’s go back to Ephesians 1:7-12 to get a sense of how to understand this verse about understanding God’s will. “7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory” The purpose of God’s will is that those who know and love God and live for his glory. Go back to

Ephesians 5:1–2 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

1 Corinthians 10:31 “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

Paul in his letters lays out for the believer that their purpose as people who are in Christ, to live out their identity as son’s and daughters of Christ together as the family of God for His glory.

Illustration: Luke on the bench sharing his favorite verse.

Argument: We are tempted to fool ourselves, we say we are doing, our motives get mixed and we are not carefully paying attention to walk wisely, so stop, be careful, eyes wide open. Am I living my life for his will and purposes. If your motives are mixed with self interest and and self-glorying repent and believe.

Application: Identify mixed motives in your life, self-interest and seeking glory for yourself. Repent, believe and glorify God. That is where you will find the most joy when you are living for the LORD and not yourself.

1- Redeem the Moments. 2-Realize God’s will.

Step 3: Rely on the Holy Spirit. (v.18-21)

Explanation: v18. “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,” Don’t be filled with wine to the point it controls you but be being filled with the Spirit. Debauchery is shameless and dishonorable. Seek the filling of the Spirit so you are controlled by His will and HIs ways. Luke 11:13 says to pray for the Spirit. We need the Spirit to live in the wisdom and grace of God in a world that goes in the opposite direction.

3 beneficial results of being filled with the Spirit that glorify the LORD.

1- We Worship Jesus together. vertical and horizontal in nature. Jesus is glorified and we are edified when we sing, addressing one another. Ephesians 5:19 “addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,” 2- Giving thanks always and for everything to the LORD Ephesians 5:20 “giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” 3- Ephesians 5:21 “submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” As we are continually filled with the holy spirit we grow in our corporate singing and encouragment, praise to the LORD. Living lives of gratitude, and humbly submiitting to one another as to Christ. The church loves the LORD and one another and that flows through the work of the Holy Spirit as He fills our lives. When that happens we walk wisely, making the best use of our time and walking in HIs will for our lives.

Argument: In our culture we isolate ourselves and think we can live a life of individual filling of the Spirit separated out from the church. I cannot think of an example of someone who walks in the power of Christ through the filling of the Spirit that is not intimately connected to the body of Christ.

Illustration: John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

Application: Be being filled with the Spirit knowing that it looks like family rather than individually.

Gospel Clarity:

Response:

1- Know who you are in Christ and know the world we live in.

2-Acknowledge the Holy Spirit in your life and pray for the Holy Spirit to fill you.

3- Live lives of worship, thanksgiving and submission to Christ and His Church.