Living Wisely (2)

“Living Wisely”

Big Idea:

To live wisely requires us to find worth in making the most of every opportunity, seeking to understand and do God’s will, and continually be filled by the Holy Spirit.

Sermon Outline:

James

Sermon Outline:

Illustration:

“Beautiful Day”

come into song playing…then tell story about hearing it live…it’s one of my favorite songs

How many of you have a favorite song? Think about how it makes you feel, inspires, causes you to react, etc…

Songs express who we are and want to be. We can identify with songs. They inspire our lives.

The problem: The days are evil, bad things happen, we have an enemy, we a sin problem. There fore we need to walk and live wisely in the messy world. As people we have a tendency to be time wasters. We take for granted time with people and places. We lose sight of how God wants us to carry out his will in the world in leading people to Christ, seeing friends and family members come to Christ. We really on our own strength rather than the Holy Spirit to guide us. We don’t seek to grasp or understand God’s will but look to other things to help us figure out how we should carry out our lives.

So if we want to walk wisely in the world, we need to understand 3 ways to be wise in the world.

Ephesians 5:15–20 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, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Ephesians 5:15–21 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. 21 And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

James 3:17–18 ESV

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

James 3:17–18 ESV

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

James 3:16–17 ESV

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

- WISDOM FROM ABOVE

1. Wise people find worth in making their days count (vv 15-16)

How so? Why is this the case for wise people?

Because they realize their days are numbered, that there is a brevity to life, life is short!

HAVE STUDENT READ ---HAVE STUDENTS REPEAT VERSE

Psalm 90:12 NLT

Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.

WISE PEOPLE LIVE in the PRESENT. The are present with the people GOD HAS PLACED AROUND them in the places God has placed them.

GOD HAS PLACED AROUND YOU and HAS YOU PLACED

Some people have a tendency to live in the past rather than learn from the past

Sadly, we have a tendency to live in the past or feel the need to rush to the next big thing.

When looking to past learn from it, but don’t live in it.

Some people have a tendency to rush into the future

When thinking about the future, think about the future hope we have in Christ

Either you in live in present, the past or the future

But today think about the today, enjoy your friends and family, enjoy your classmates, time at church with people who care about you, love you and want to see you grow wiser everyday in Christ.

Wise people make their days count because they realize life is short, their is a brevity of life, it goes by fast. Wise people realize the people they know are approaching death, it could be today or tomorrow, or 50 years from now. Wise people make the best use of their time because they recognize the brevity of life.

Both of these people miss out on making the most of the relationships they have with the people and places God has presently provided.

This has been one of the hardest things about student ministry…you guys not taking advantage of the relationships and community in the church or not responding to leaders trying to connect with you....we love you guys! We care about you!…before you know it. You will be graduating and you will never get this time back. Make this place and time, with these people count!

Wise people make the most out of their days. They know their days are numbered. They understand life is limited to certain amount of days. We are all approaching death. Some of us may be closer than others, but our days are numbered.

HAVE STUDENT READ ---HAVE STUDENTS REPEAT VERSE

Psalm 90:12 NLT

Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.

(NLT)

Wise people make their days count because they realize life is short, their is a brevity of life, it goes by fast. Wise people realize the people they know are approaching death, it could be today or tomorrow, or 50 years from now. Wise people make the best use of their time because they recognize the brevity of life.

The older your get the more obvious this will become. With every loss of life of loved ones this will become more obvious that life is short. We don’t know if we have tomorrow or when someone know will pass away. Wise people understand life is short.

Wise people make their days count. Wise people don't waste time, they find worth in people and places not things.

Wise people understand God’s calling on their lives. They understand the impact and influence they can have in another persons life for Christ. They see every relational opportunity, as an opportunity to point friend or family to Christ. Today just might be someone else’s salvation day…the day they put their faith in Christ and believe in Jesus. Wise people see the beauty of their witness for in others lives.

2. Wise people find worth in seeking to understand and do God’s will

If you want to be wise you need to seek out God’s will in Scripture You need to ask for wisdom from above.

3. Wise people find worth in continually being filled up by the Holy Spirit

Ilustration: Amex

Romans 12:1 ESV

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

1. Wise people find worth in making their days count 2. Wise people find worth in seeking to understand and do God’s will 3. Wise people find worth in continually being filled up by the Holy Spirit

2. Wise people find worth in seeking to understand and do God’s will

Wise people find worth in continually being filled up by the Holy Spirit

3. Wise people find worth in continually being filled up by the Holy Spirit