Sermon Tone Analysis

Redeeming the Time – Ephesians 5:15-17

GCSP – 5~/15~/2005

 

The world is full of things that are unfinished.

There have been unfinished symphonies, unfinished sculptures, unfinished literature – dreams that have never become reality, hopes that have never become fact – we are surrounded by the unfinished.

What would you say are some reasons things go unfinished?

!! Ephesians 5:15-17

 

The Amplified Version reads this way: “Look carefully then how you walk!

Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as unwise and witless, but as wise – sensible, intelligent people.

Making the very most of the time – buying up each opportunity – because the days are evil.

Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is.”

 

Look carefully then how you walk – When Scripture talks about your walk it doesn’t mean how you literally walk.

It speaks of how you live your life.

We are to be ever so careful about how we live our lives.

As Christians we have freedom in Christ but we are not to abuse that freedom.

We have the freedom to do all sorts of things but we must scrutinize every step we take so as to not cause another to stumble.

Let me give you an example – The Bible does not forbid us to drink alcoholic beverages, it simply says we should not get drunk.

So we have the freedom to drink.

But…what might be the consequences of our drinking in front of others when it comes to our influence for Christ?

From a freedom standpoint I have every right to have a glass of wine or a beer in my hand – but what might someone who is not a Christian think about a pastor drinking?

So if I am going to drink occasionally (and I don’t) I had better do it in private instead of public.

And is it any different for a Christian who is not a pastor?

Another example – I have the freedom to read the latest Tom Clancy novel for my own entertainment.

And most of us only read when we are alone, so I don’t think my reading Tom Clancy will have an effect on my testimony in front of others.

But Tom Clancy has a strong tendency to use very colorful language in his novels and he at times will be descriptive about a romantic encounter.

Does that have any effect on my life?

Probably minimal, but it does have an effect – everything has an effect.

The same could be said of the movies and television programs I watch and the music I listen to.

I have the freedom to watch and listen but I cannot be careless about it - Look carefully then how you walk.

!! Verse 15

Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as unwise and witless, but as wise – sensible, intelligent people – I think too many Christians have lost their purpose.

Some may have never even known they had one.

We must live our lives with purpose – the single purpose of honoring and glorifying our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

We have no other purpose.

I cannot say that my purpose in life is to be the best salesman in my company – although that is a noble goal.

I cannot say that my purpose in this world is to be a godly husband – although I should be.

I cannot even say my purpose is to be the best pastor I can possibly be – although I must.

My single purpose must be to honor and glorify my Lord.

If I do that all these other things will follow.

Another aspect of purposeful living is to live worthily.

If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior you carry the name Christian – the name of Christ.

We must live up to that name.

There was a soldier in the army of Alexander the Great who was weak and lazy and frightened.

His name was also Alexander.

The king called him into his presence one day and said, “Soldier, you either change your ways or change your name.”

If you are a Christian – live like it.

Don’t bring shame to the name of Christ because of your lifestyle.

Another aspect of living purposefully is to live accurately.

Don’t live your life haphazardly.

Yes we must be ready to go when the Spirit says go.

And, yes we must be prepared to change directions, or to be ready in season and out of season as the Scriptures say, but we also need to be precise and accurate in the way we live.

You don’t accidentally learn what this Book has to say.

Living accurately means you have set aside the time to learn and are consistent in your reading.

As a side note let me say this concerning our reading.

There are many good Christian books on the market and I encourage you to read them.

But if you are spending more time reading books instead of The Book, then you are missing the point.

Don’t spend more time reading about this Book then you do reading this Book.

All the other Christian books are simply to supplement your reading and understanding of the Bible.

Then the verse says, “not as unwise and witless, but as wise – sensible, intelligent people.”

When we live our Christian lives with purpose, and we live them worthily and accurately, we are living as wise, sensible, intelligent people.

Or, you can choose to be unwise and witless – the choice is yours.

!! Verse 16

Making the very most of the time – buying up each opportunity – because the days are evil – Some translations say, “Making the most of every opportunity.”

And while that is good and important, it does not do justice to the original Greek phrase.

Literally it says, “Making the most of the time.”

It is implying a set, specific amount of time that we are to make the most of.

I like the KJV rendition – “Redeem the time.”

 

1 Peter 1:17, says, “And if you call upon Him as your Father, who judges each one impartially according to what he does, then you should conduct yourselves with true reverence throughout the time of your temporary residence on the earth, whether long or short.”

Most of us do not value time, as we should.

God has given us two dimensions to live in – time and space.

Space, meaning where you are at any given moment and time, meaning the amount of hours, days, months and years we have to live on this earth.

And God ordains and determines both of these dimensions.

Let’s look at some Scriptures – Job 14:5; 14:14; 21:21; Luke 12:20; Acts 17:26; 20:24 (“finish my course” literally means, “finish the course of me”).

In 2 Timothy 4:7 – Paul tells us he did indeed finish the course of his life.

!! James 4:13-14 – Nobody is guaranteed tomorrow.

We do not know the number of our days.

For our oldest son, the number of his days was a few months short of his 13th birthday.

For my mom, the number of her days was around 64 years.

For some it will be into your 90’s and beyond, and for others it will be much, much less.

Since none of us know how much time we have, we are to make the most of the time we do have.

Don’t waste your life on frivolous pursuits.

Take advantage of every opportunity presented to you.

We all have a physical need to relax now and again, but some have made a career out of it.

Be about the Master’s business.

!

The ancient Greeks had a statue called Opportunity, sculpted by a man named Lysipus.

The statue had winged feet, a great lock of hair coming from his forehead and was completely bald in the back of his head.

The inscription at the base reads like this:

           

Who made thee?

– Lysipus made me.

What is thy name?

– My name is Opportunity.

Why dost thou have wings on thy feet?

– Because I fly away swiftly.

Why hast thou a forelock?

– So anyone can seize me when I come.

Why art thou bald in back?

– When I am gone by, none can lay hold of me.

This is a good reminder for all of us to make the most of our opportunities.

Did you notice the progression?

Verse 15 – Walk in wisdom, followed by verse 16 – redeem the time.

Why?