Ephesians 5:15-21

Walking wisely means using time as a kingdom commodity.

Ephesians 5:15–16 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.

eph 5:15-

Ephesians 5:15–17 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.

1 Day = 86,400 seconds

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 1110 Jonathan Edwards’ Resolutions

Resolved, never to lose one moment of time, to improve it in the most profitable way I can.

That means time is a kingdom commodity.

Use your time for serving and loving, and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Every day you are given 86,400 moments to be used for kingdom purposes.

Edwards said it like this when he was but 20 years old.

Resolved, never to lose one moment of time, to improve it in the most profitable way I can.

John Piper said this -

“One of the great uses of Twitter and Facebook will be to prove at the Last Day that prayerlessness was not from lack of time.”

Spend your time on things that matter. - Wasted time!

Picture of the Vulture and the Little Girl.

Kevin Carter

Kevin Carter - PHOTO of famine-stricken South Sudan

The vulture and the little girl, also known as "The Struggling Girl", is a photograph by Kevin Carter which first appeared in The New York Times on 26 March 1993. It is a photograph of a frail famine-stricken boy, initially believed to be a girl, who had collapsed in the foreground with a vulture eyeing him from nearby. The child was reported to be attempting to reach a United Nationsfeeding center about a half mile away in Ayod, Sudan,(now South Sudan), in March 1993. The picture won the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography award in 1994. Carter committed suicide four months after winning the prize.

Initially, Carter claimed to have come upon the scene, snapped a few photos, and then chased the bird away.

I’ve found a friend in Jesus, He’s everything to me, He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul; The Lily of the Valley, in Him alone I see All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole. In sorrow He’s my comfort, in trouble He’s my stay; He tells me every care on Him to roll.

In Reality, He Let The Bird Inch Closer So He Could Capture The Perfect Shot

Carter eventually admitted that he watched the scene for about twenty minutes, waiting for the vulture to get closer to the boy and hoping that it would spread its wings for a more dramatic shot. After the vulture refused to move, Carter finally chased the bird away.

Carter could not live with the lingering questions about the fate of the child and his involvment. Only 4 months after the picture Carter took his own life.

I’ve found a friend in Jesus, He’s everything to me, He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul; The Lily of the Valley, in Him alone I see All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole. In sorrow He’s my comfort, in trouble He’s my stay; He tells me every care on Him to roll.

Walking wisely means we must surrender to the Spirit of God not the spirit of the age.

In a day where so many things vie for your time you must decide what is most essential.

CT Studd - As a result of his brother's illness and the effect it had upon him, he decided to pursue his faith through missionary work in China and was one of the "Cambridge Seven" who offered themselves to Hudson Taylor for missionary service at the China Inland Mission, leaving for there in February 1885. Of his missionary work he said,

Refrain: He’s the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star, He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.

Two little lines I heard one day, Traveling along life’s busy way; Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart; Only one life, twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last. Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done; Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgement seat; Only one life,’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God’s holy will to cleave; Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears; Each with its clays I must fulfill, living for self or in His will; Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would a victory score; When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord with joy to say; Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep; Faithful and true what e’er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life; Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn; Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne; Only one life, “twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say,”Thy will be done”; And when at last I’ll hear the call, I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”; Only one life,’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last. ”

‘How is what I am doing with my time contributing to the kingdom?

In my job, or in my study, or in my parenting, or in my being a husband or a wife, was my time consciously spent for the kingdom of God? Did I count it precious?

Walking wisely means giving ourselves to God not godlessness.

eph 5

Ephesians 5:18 ESV

18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

Ephesians 5:18–21 ESV

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, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

What does it mean to be filled by the spirit.

The MacArthur Study Bible Chapter 5

He is rather giving a command for believers to live continually under the influence of the Spirit by letting the Word control them (see note on Col. 3:16), pursuing pure lives, confessing all known sin, dying to self, surrendering to God’s will, and depending on His power in all things. Being filled with the Spirit is living in the conscious presence of the Lord Jesus Christ, letting His mind, through the Word, dominate everything that is thought and done. Being filled with the Spirit is the same as walking in the Spirit

Preaching the Word: Ephesians—The Mystery of the Body of Christ The Fullness of the Spirit ( Ephesians 5:15-21 )

It is never the Lord’s will for a Christian to be drunk. This especially needed to be said in Ephesus, the heart of Greek culture and a wine country where overindulgence was common. The wine-god Bacchus dominated many lives and even enslaved some in the Church — just as it does today.

It is never the Lord’s will for a Christian to be drunk. This especially needed to be said in Ephesus, the heart of Greek culture and a wine country where overindulgence was common. The wine-god Bacchus dominated many lives and even enslaved some in the Church — just as it does today.

Spirit filled believers are:

Worshippers

Joyful

Joyful

Ephesians 5:19 ESV

19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,

Spirit filled believers are:

Grateful

Ephesians 5:20 ESV

20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Spirit filled believers are:

Humble

Ephesians 5:21 ESV

21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.