Ephesians 5:15-21 The Worthy Walk: Walk in Wisdom
Notes
Transcript
Review
Review
Paul’s Purpose in 1st Three Chapters:
Paul’s Purpose in 1st Three Chapters:
God’s Greatness, Power and Love: Throughout this letter Paul has pointed the thoughts of the Ephesians to the greatness, power and love of God.
Full & Correct Understanding of Salvation: All of the truth that Paul has set forth in these first three chapters was meant to give the Ephesians a correct understanding of their salvation and their standing in the church.
The first three chapters should have led us to a deeper understanding of our salvation, of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Those truths that we covered are a great comfort and encouragement and should lead us to stand in awe of God, to praise Him for Who He is and thank Him for what he has done.
Chapter 4
Chapter 4
The Worthy Walk
Because of these great truths of our salvation, Paul has called for radical changes in the life of the believer because the believer has been radically changed.
And in chapters 4-6 Paul gives explicit instruction for how believers are to live and how they are not to live. He calls believers to put off the old life and to put on the new. All of which is in the context of our relationships with others.
A worthy walk begins by being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Paul has called for humility, gentleness, patience, tolerance, love, unity and peace.
He has called us to lay aside falsehood and instead to speak truth, to be angry and yet not sin. He has called for bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander and all malice to be replaced by kindness, tender-heartedness and forgiveness.
The worthy walk is also a new walk. Paul has taught that we are no longer to walk as the gentiles walk. We are no longer to live as we used to live. The worthy walk is one in which we are putting off the old ways and living according to the new ways.
Chapter 5
Chapter 5
And as we learned last week, the worthy walk is a life of imitating God, walking in love just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us.
The worthy walk is a walk of self-sacrifice for the sake of others.
It is walking in the light rather than in darkness, it is a life that rejects immorality of every kind, but instead exposes the unfruitful deeds of darkness.
Introduction
Introduction
And this morning as we continue to study Ephesians chapter 5, we will continue to learn what it means to walk worthy, to walk in love, to walk in light. We will see that to Walk Worthy, we must Walk in Wisdom.
We will see that in, Ephesians 5:15-21, where we will learn that Walking in Wisdom is:
Walking Carefully (vs. 15-17),
Being Filled with the Spirit (vs 18-21).
Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,
making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,
speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;
always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.
Walking Carefully (vs. 15-17)
Walking Carefully (vs. 15-17)
As Paul continues to admonish and encourage the Ephesians to the worthy walk, he instructs them to be careful.
Paul says in verse 15, “Therefore, be careful how you walk...”
“Therefore” connects this statement with his previous statement to not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness: immorality, impurity and greed, but instead even expose them.
Their lives, being different from the unbelieving world around them, would be like lights exposing the darkness.
Not Automatic:
But though that is the way a believer is to live, it is not automatic. Therefore, Paul says, be careful how you walk.
What does it mean to be careful?
They were to be alert, thinking about what they were doing; paying attention to each step in their daily walk.
Calvin explains . He says, “If believers must not neglect to drive away the darkness of others by their own brightness, how much less ought they to be blind as to their own conduct in life?”
How easy it is to point out the evil of others, while we ignore the sin in our own lives. The light of our salvation not only exposes the sins in others, but in ourselves as well.
Walking in Wisdom
Walking in Wisdom
The difference between those who think about their daily walk and those who rush foolishly along is the difference between those who are unwise and those who are wise.
Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,
To walk carefully is to walk in wisdom.
Wise Use of Time
Wise Use of Time
making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
Days are Evil: Paul has already made it clear earlier in the chapter, that the days are evil. He has warned the Ephesians not to be deceived by empty words but to remember that those who lives are characterized by immorality, impurity and covetousness are not members of the Kingdom of God.
And because the days are evil, because there is darkness all around, because they are to be wise, they must be careful how they walk and make the most of their time.
Making the Most of your Time:
redeeming the time
making the most of the opportunity.
What does it mean to “make the most of your time”?
Time: Not Chronolocal Time:
The word that Paul uses, that is translated “time” in the NASB is not time in the chronological sense. It does not give the sense of time ticking away on a clock, second after second, minute after minute, hour after hour, day after day.
Time: A specific moment:
The word that is used has to do with a specific time, a seasonable moment or hour.
In the sense of what Jesus meant when He said in Matthew 26:18 ““My time is near...;. He was not speaking of a certain time on the clock, but the specific event that was about to take place. It was almost the time for, the moment of His crucifixion.
Redeeming the time:
gives the idea of buying up or buying back the time.
The sense of the passage is that because the days are evil, we are to make the most of every opportunity that presents itself;
we are to buy back the time, to redeem it for God’s purposes, just as we have been redeemed by Christ.
It is our duty as believers to do so, to make the most of the opportunities that present themselves in our lives.
As A. T. Robertson puts it, when he explains the “buying up the opportunity”, he says, “The favorable opportunity becomes ours at the price of duty.”
WIll of the Lord
WIll of the Lord
So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Paul basically repeats what he has said in verse 15. Do not be foolish, do not walk as unwise men, but as wise.
The wise man seeks to understand Christ’s will, the will of the Lord.
What is it that Christ would have me do in this moment, in this opportunity?
Application for Today:
So, what does all of this mean to us today? How do we know what “the will of the Lord is”?
Specific Decisions: Many times when people try to understand the will of the Lord for their lives they begin to think of specific decisions they must make.
Is it God’s will for me to go to Kent State or Akron University.
Is it God’s will for me to marry this person or not.
It is God’s will for me to take this job?
And we begin to pray about it asking God to give us a definitive answer and then we begin to look for “signs” from God as to what we are to do.
If everything falls in place we think that is our answer, it is God’s will.
Or if nothing seems to be coming together we assume it must not God’s will for us.
But that is a very dangerous way of thinking. For God does not give us such specific answers.
And just because things are not “coming together” does not mean that God is against it.
What are some examples in Scripture where it looks like something is not God’s will because things are going badly?
Paul - as a new believer and powerful evangelist is opposed at every turn. He has to be snuck out of the city so that he is not killed.
But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the Christ.
When many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted together to do away with him,
but their plot became known to Saul. They were also watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death;
but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket.
But when the brethren learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.
But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.
The crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods.
The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.
Israelites in the wilderness
****add passages for reference*****
Will of the Lord = Christ’s expectations in Daily Walk
Will of the Lord = Christ’s expectations in Daily Walk
In this passage, understanding the will of the Lord is to understand what Christ expects of us in our daily conduct.
It is understanding how we are to react and think about the circumstances of life that we find ourselves in.
Understanding the will of the Lord is understanding the truths of God’s word and how they should be applied in our daily lives.
And in understanding the will of the Lord we are to make the most of our time, walking carefully because the days are evil.
Not a Perfectly Planned Schedule
And redeeming the time is not the idea that we are to carefully plan our days, minute by minute, hour by hour, being sure that our day is filled with Godly activities.
Not to be burdensome: No, we are not to take this teaching by Paul and turn it into a list of burdens that we must complete and feel ashamed if we don’t complete them.
Did you read your four chapters of the Word this morning and two before bed?
Did you spend 2 hours in prayer, meditation and Scripture memorization?
Did you waste time on frivolous activities?
Now certainly it is true that we are to make the best use of our time, every minute, hour, day etc. There is no doubt that we are not to waste time. But the idea of the passage is not that we plan out every moment of our day, but that we make the most of every opportunity that we find ourselves in for the glory of God.
Every Opportunity = Opportunity to Shine the Light of Christ:
Consider the very moments of your daily walk.
Are you joyous, happy and content with your immediate circumstances? Then make the most of that opportunity by giving praise to God.
Are you sad, disappointed or discontent? Then remind yourself of the great gospel truths and take your eyes off of yourself and put your focus on your Great Lord and Savior. Seek Him in prayer, and give Him Praise.
Have you been sinned against by another believer and are angry and frustrated? Then consider who you are thinking of, yourself, and instead begin to consider how you can, in love, correct the one who has sinned against you. Remind yourself that while you have been sinned against, they have sinned, which is far worse, and have compassion on them and seek their restoration and sanctification.
Whatever the specific opportunity that presents itself in your daily life, be alert and careful in how you respond and live in that moment. Be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise...”
Live in light of the revealed will of the Lord.
Being Filled with the Spirit (vs 18-21)
Being Filled with the Spirit (vs 18-21)
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,
Drunkeness
Drunkeness
Paul is very clear and direct in what he teaches in this verse. The Ephesians were not to be intoxicated with wine, but to be filled with the Spirit instead. As Paul has been doing over and over, he is teaching by way of contrast. Put off, Put on
Drunkeness: The one who is filled with wine becomes intoxicated and looses self control.
Dissipation: Drunkenness leads to dissipation, or that which is destructive. For drunkenness leads to further sins, sins of immorality, impurity and greed.
One who is intoxicated cannot walk carefully for they are unable to think clearly.
Filled with the Spirit
Filled with the Spirit
In contrast to that, Paul says to be filled with the Spirit. Now as we consider this statement, we must remember that at salvation, every believer receives the Holy Spirit.
What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit?
Allow for answers and then ask the next set of questions. If these answers are right, show how they are right from the passage. If they are wrong, use the verses in chapter 1 and the context here to drive to the correct understanding.
Does that accord with what our text teaches? What about other verses earlier in the letter?
Paul said back in Ephesians 1:13-14, “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, the the praise of His Glory.”
And the Holy Spirit is not like wine, as if you can take just some of the Spirit and not all. The Holy Spirit is a person, the third person of the Godhead.
So to be filled with the Spirit does not mean that the Spirit comes into your life in some greater measure.
Controlled by the Spirit
Controlled by the Spirit
To be filled with the Spirit means to be controlled by the Spirit, just as the one who is filled with wine is controlled by the evil influences of drunkenness. But unlike drunkenness which causes the person to loose self control, the believer who is filled, controlled by the Spirit produces the spiritual fruit of self-control.
When believers gather together, they are not to receive their joy or be exhilarated by the effects of wine, but by the effects of being controlled by the Spirit.
There is to be great joy that is expressed in various ways, but it is an expression that is controlled and honoring to God.
Being filled with the Spirit is what allows the wise believer to walk carefully because the days are indeed evil.
Examples of being Controlled by the Spirit
Examples of being Controlled by the Spirit
And as Paul continues in verses 19-21, he gives three examples of what it means to be filled with the spirit.
The Spirit filled life is a life of Praise, Thankfulness and Mutual Submission.
Praise
Praise
speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;
Here again we see that even in the midst of our great joy our focus is outward.
We are to speak to one another.
Our responsibility is to be a source of grace, a source of edification for other believers.
Sing from the Heart:
This happens as we live lives of praise to God that comes from the heart. Our singing and making melody comes first and foremost from the Heart and is directed to the Lord.
Overflow of the Heart:
But that which fills the heart overflows in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs of praise.
Psalms may refer to the Old Testament Psalms that were sung in corporate worship and exalted God
Hymns may refer to New Testament songs of praise, specifically praise to Christ.
Spiritual songs may then refer to songs of testimony in a very broad and general way.
However, we must be careful that we do not make to much of the possible distinctions for we can not be completely certain of the specific distinction that Paul had in mind when he wrote. For there is certainly overlap in the Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs. Paul may simply be stressing that there is room for a various types of songs.
The important fact is that believers will have a song of praise overflowing from their heart that will edify other believers, letting others know the joy of their salvation. This become especially edifying as we hear the joyful songs of praise flowing from those whom we know are going through great trials and difficulties in life.
Thankfulness
Thankfulness
always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
Life of Thankfullness:
And one of the reasons a person going through tough times is able to live a life of praise is that they are also living a life of thankfulness.
That is another outworking of being filled with the Spirit as we see in verse 20.
We see in this text that our thankfulness is directed to God who is our Father and it is done in the name of our Lord Jesus.
Our thankfulness to God is done in the name of the Lord Jesus because it is through Him that we have received every Spiritual blessing.
Always: And note that we are to give thanks always.
In every situation there is reason to give thanks to God. For we are to give thanks to God for all things.
As Hendriksen states it, “gratitude must be felt and expressed for blessings physical and spiritual; “ordinary” and extraordinary; past, present, and future...; and even for things withheld and for things received.”
Hendriksen also reminds us that Paul himself was in prison when he wrote this letter.
Mutual Submission
Mutual Submission
and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.
The final outcome of the Spirit filled life is mutual submission.
Once again the focus is to be taken off of self and put on others. We are not to demand what we want but to seek the good of others.
Reverent Fear:
While there is great joy in salvation, in being filled with the spirit, that leads to a life of praise and thanksgiving, it is still a life of reverent fear.
Our salvation is not to lead to self focus. That is why our thanksgiving is directed to God through Christ. We are reminded that our great joy is because of what God the Father has done for us through His son, Jesus Christ. And out of reverent fear of Christ, we subject ourselves to one another, not demanding our own way, but looking out for the interest of others instead.
Transition:
This verse is really a transition to what Paul will say next as he begins to explain in detail what the worthy walk looks like in our closest daily relationships, our family relationships. We will look at this in greater detail as we finish chapter 5 in a couple of weeks..
Application
Application
But as we consider this text this morning, if we truly desire to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which we have been called, then this text will have great implications for us. As I have already made clear, we are to be careful in how we walk. We are to think about what we are thinking, saying and doing. We are to be alert and seek to make the most of our time. Whatever the opportunity that is before us, we are to make the most of it for the glory of God.
This is so hard to convey. For so often we begin to think in very abstract terms. We think of it being somewhere out there, maybe applying to someone else, or maybe to ourselves, but not until a future time.
Make the most of the opportunity:
But Paul’s teaching is very practical and concrete. For instance, maybe you are involved in a Bible Study and some of the questions seem to point in the wrong direction and the study is not as good as it could be. Maybe the writers of the study, in certain places, have deviated from the correct understanding of the text, or have introduced some teaching into the study that is not in the Biblical text.
You can become frustrated and get upset about it, knowing that there may be people in the study who will be led down the wrong path that the author of the study has laid out. Or you can make the most of the opportunity.
When you come together to discuss the text and the questions, you can point out the problems with the study itself and show why it is wrong and in the process teach the others how to be Berean’s, how to discern and study the Scriptures rather than just accept the conclusions of the author of the Bible Study. That is redeeming the time, making the most of the opportunities.
And before we close today, we should probably discuss the issue of drunkenness that is introduced in this text. For there are very divergent teachings on this issue in the church. Some go to the extreme to denounce the drinking of any alcohol as evil. Others claim that they have liberty in Christ and can drink alcohol if they so chose. Still others fall somewhere in the middle, denouncing hard liquor, but allowing Wine or Beer in moderation.
But as we consider the text, it is clear that believers are not to be drunk. And this admonition against being drunk on wine is not simply about wine. Intoxication is the issue whether that is caused by wine, beer, hard liquor or drugs, legal or illegal. Drunkenness leads to further sin because the one who is drunk is not seeking the will of the Lord but the fulfillment of fleshly desires.
And notice that Paul does not call us to abstain from drinking wine, but instead points us to something positive instead, being filled by the Holy Spirit. If you find your joy and happiness in the Guiding of the Holy Spirit, in living according to the will of the Lord, then you will have no reason even to experiment with alcohol.
And let us be careful that we do not allow ourselves to become haughty in regard to drinking or abstaining from alcohol. The issue is not about what we are allowed or not allowed to do, but about the Glory of God.
The life of the believer who desires to truly live for the glory of God will be a life that walks carefully, seeking to be filled by the Holy Spirit and living every moment according to the will of God. Putting aside the old ways and putting on the new. Walking in light and love, in self-sacrifice and self denial, joyously singing and making melody in their hearts to the Lord.