Walking with Purpose (New)

Text

Ephesians 5:15–21 KJV 1900

15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Review

We have been working through a series of messages on some of the important elements of our walk as Paul outlines here is Ephesians chapter 5. Lets remember what Paul is talking about when he is referring to our walk:

Our Walk:

Walking is a term used to describe how we live after we are saved. The miracle of salvation is just the beginning, the work of God continues as we are sanctified and brought into a closer fellowship with Christ.

Jesus heals the man at the pool:

John 5:8 KJV 1900

8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

Rise - refers to our salvation experience take up thy bed, and walk - refers to what happens after we are saved

The bed represented the state we were in before Christ. But after Christ we have power to walk!

We have already covered....

Walking in Love - A fragrant aroma - Christ’s Love vs the worlds perversion (what you can do for me - perverted view of love)

Walking as Light - There is evidence when true conversion takes place - there is a presence of light!

Introduction

Now we turn our attention to the final element of our walk … Walking with Purpose

Have you ever met someone with no purpose?

Have you ever met someone with no purpose?

Possibly we can all look back on a time in our life when we lacked direction and purpose.

QUOTE: Thomas Aquinas - “There is within every soul a thirst for happiness and meaning”

Declaration: A desire to find purpose is written on the core of our DNA

Proposition: Are we living and walking with a Biblical purpose?

Transition: Notice with me three characteristics of a walk of purpose

I. The Characteristic of Wisdom

Ephesians 5:15 KJV 1900

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

Ep 5:

Ephesians 5:17 KJV 1900

17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

Wisdom Defined-

Websters - ability to discern…good sense…good judgement

Bible Dictionary - the right/proper use of knowledge

Instruction about Wisdom in Scripture -

Fearing/Reverencing God is where wisdom begins -

Proverbs 1:7 KJV 1900

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Wisdom is Paramount -

Proverbs 4:7 KJV 1900

7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: And with all thy getting get understanding.

God gives true wisdom -

Proverbs 2:6 KJV 1900

6 For the Lord giveth wisdom: Out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

James 3:13–18 KJV 1900

13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

However, in our text Paul gives a great summary about wisdom .... he defines it as understanding what the will of the Lord is

Ephesians 5:17 KJV 1900

17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

God’s will not mans approval!

A walk of purpose will include wisdom…but it will also include

II. The Characteristic of Stewardship

We are encouraged to steward the time we have....”redeeming the time”

Ephesians 5:16 KJV 1900

16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

ILLUSTRATION: Wheeler Dealer - how they fail to include the time element in the cost to repair a car (newer episodes they now include this)

QUOTE: Time is Money - why? because its finite

James 4:14 KJV 1900

14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

Romans 8:18 KJV 1900

18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Romans 13:11 KJV 1900

11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

Redeeming Time- It means we are to spend it! We are to use it in a way that demonstrates we understand its value!

So we have wisdom .... we have stewardship and finally we have....

III. The Characteristic of Empowerment

Ep 5:18-

Ephesians 5:18–21 KJV 1900

18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Since this section of Paul’s exhortation include the Holy Spirit - I would place a special significance on this truth.

A. Spirit Filling -

“and be not drunk with wine…but be filled with the Spirit”

ILLUSTRATION: Wind in our Sails - One idea of the word “filled” describes the concept of the wind filling the sail of a ship as it carries it out to sea. By that definition, to be filled with the Spirit is to allow God to fill your sails and guide your course through life, making His commands a delight, not drudgery.

B. Singing and Praising -

“psalms, hymns, spiritual songs…making melody in your heart…giving thanks always”

This is evidence of Spirit filling

True Spirit filling brings Joy

C. Submitting -

“Submitting yourselves one to another”

Not manipulating others to behave in a way that makes you feel comfortable

maintaining an attitude of service

John 13:1–17 KJV 1900

1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. 2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him; 3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; 4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. 6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. 11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. 12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. 17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

Conclusion

To truly demonstrate a walk of purpose…We must:

We must posses wisdom

2. We must understand the value of time

3. We must be controlled by the Spirit of God