Ephesians 5:15-21
Please be seated.
Do you hear me? All right. Okay, my just a voice in my own head. Welcome and good morning. Everyone and Brian McLane. One of the elders here and I have the privilege of sharing the message this morning. I'm not sure what you guys have done wrong. However, medicine added, and I'm preaching. So I would expect you to straighten up, so he'll be up here next time. So we're going to continue in Ephesians chapter 5 and want to do is open up in prayer. And then we're just going to jump right into the to the meat and potatoes of it. But real quick don't you don't know me? I'm typically pretty direct pretty black and white and sometimes when I say something comes across has felt like a preacher's with a scalpel. I tend to be more chainsaw. I can. So if it's something resonates and it's not my, it's not my intent to to hurt or to point out cuz I spent the time studying this. This is also reflected on me and you'll learn more about that later on and also I won't apologize when the Lord can fix. So don't blame me, blame God's word. Heavenly Father, we give you praise and thanks for for just for your word. Just the love and time that you poured out in it for your people, Lord, that it would help us understand. You help us understand your son, understand the relationship you desire between you and your creation board. It's the Lord as we spent time and and continue to study the fusions Lord. I might just pray that it would be
Worthy of the work you put into word Lord that it would resonate that it would change lies, that it would work on my heart and the hearts of others Lord and Lord, if there's anything that is of nuts in value, just let it fall to the ground. If we just left this time of in your son's name that men, all right to follow God's example, walk in the way of Love Is Christ, loved us, let it be thus fragrant offering and then Craig transition into. But among you this pointing out to the church, that there's things that need to be addressed, things that are contrary to Christ as well as that reminder where they came from. That they were once in darkness, but they're now in light and enclosing in crates portion of it. We had verse 14, which was this referenced. Isaiah 60 verse 1 says, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says and this is our quote awake, o sleeper and arise from the dead in Christ will shine in you. And so now we pick up in verse 15 of the reason I read 14 is 15. Basically takes a moment points us back to all that the crackers in the last week. It's all going through 15. So if you want, look up 5 verses 15 through 21, I'll go ahead and read it. Actually, let's do something all different surveillance. What stand up? Given his full attention with attention that desires or is that it deserves? I should say. And so I'll go ahead and start us off here. 15 look carefully. Then how you walk not as unwise, but as wise making the best use of time because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand that the will of the Lord is or what the will. The Lord is, and do not get drunk with wine for that is debauchery, but be filled with the spirit addressing one, another in Psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs singing, and making a Melody to Lorde with your heart giving. Thanks always and for everyone, the God, the father in the name of your lord, Jesus Christ submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. And that is God's words. Please sit down. That's why I'm kind of harsh. Please be seated.
And my touch screen doesn't like my touch sometimes. So look carefully. Then how you walk is where he picks up. So, because of what has been outlined and stated to the church, does not look carefully. Then how you walk we need to examine ourselves are so ugly truths about me. This ugly truth about all of us and enjoy oversight. We started studying Jobe last Monday. We together 6 here and then get in the book of Jobe. There is four of us and four of us, but it starts out chapter 1 and 2. Almost starts out identical in these phrases. I'm going to share with you here in a moment, but it starts out in eight. And the Lord said to Satan, this is where it's weird. And verse versus I wanted to wanted to, have you considered my servant job that there is none like him on the earth. A blameless, upright, man who fears God and turns away from evil. It's so we have this account says God making the claim of Jobe to Satan, which that's a pretty lofty. Pretty High, Praise. They're coming from the Lord. But yet in verse 13:20 and job, he says this, how many are my iniquities and sins? Make known to me, my rebellion in my sin at. So even with God's accolades of job's walk, Joel themselves as you seek me, bring this to my attention. He had this desire to examine himself to be upright that if there's anything in his life that needed a dress, that it would be addressed be brought to his attention and in Psalms for 4. It reads tremble and do not send meditate in your heart upon your bed and be still say la when we we have to examine ourselves. We have to take a look at ourselves when we have a quiet times. What do we use at quiet time for? In Lamentations 3 40. Let us examine improve our ways, and let us return to the Lord. Scripture tells us to examine ourselves. Honestly seek whether or not we're rebelling against the Lord's, that's what sentences were rebelling against the Lord and not by the standards of man. And that's I would argue a huge issue with our Western culture is. We are so concerned about man, standards the world standards, but man standards don't even factor into salvation. They're not even A footnote, the realities of Christ is a standard-bearer. We need to examine ourselves and if we are walking in stride with Christ, or we walking, in stride, with the world. So there's no need to carefully. Look at ourselves. And then he continues on but not as unwise. But as wise and when I'm in Scripture. I am weird and I understand that but I'm okay with it. I assume that words are in there. For a reason, specific words for specific reasons. And someone I see the expression is wise and enlightened. We have obviously have a contrast right in this context here. And, so, in my handgun, what does the Lord consider wise? What is considered unwise? Proverbs 9:10, the Lord or sorry. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is inside. Proverbs 15 14. The heart of man is the heart of the man of Good Sense. Goes in search of knowledge, but foolish things are good. Artists are food of the one on wise. And so, when here we see that that reverent fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom that seeking that knowledge and inside the Holy One has knowledge. The fools do foolish things and unwise things.
Read Timothy 1, 1st, Timothy 6 9, he writes, but those who desire to be rich fall into temptation in the snare, and many unwise and hurtful loss, which plunged into destruction and ruin it in here. If you talk about just this Pursuit for wealth and fame. You'll come like that. I'm of an age. I remember the old Bugs, Bunny cartoons, and Elmer Fudd where you got the snowball that starts as a pebble. And it continues to Greens game speed and mass. And when we pursue things of wealth and fame, it just continues to build and build eventually to our destruction much like in the cartoon when he hits a tree and you know, the character comes out as like I
And so that Pursuit leads to destruction and Psalm 14 for it says the fool says in his heart. There is no God the fool in his heart says there is no God.
Oblivious to everything around them all those been created. That was Brian not song. They are corrupt. They do not abolish these or they do a Bible, these there is none, who does good?
We see.
We see Adam Ant, dismantling of God, the pursuit of worldly things in place, when replacing the Lord and salvation. That leads to destruction. The rule would deny that he exists would deny that their salvation through the blood of his son. Quote, a fool who is corrupt? We who pursue the faults, pursue the world, pursue the standards of, man. Are setting her sights on a false hope. And when we lose hope, that's when things can get grey really bad. It's not that you can't have nice things. It doesn't say that scripture. We know what King David was very wealthy. Excuse me.
The Lord doesn't want you miserable. He does want you to be blessed. But how he defines being blesses different than we would by Earthly standards. First and foremost, a relationship with him is his desire, the relationship with his son, that we would set her eyes on the Eternal as a post in the things of the world. I guess it doesn't mean we can't enjoy life or you can have well, but what is our priority? What is our influencer?
But look at it. Also. You look at how many times we're in our mind. We say, if I only had, I just had this fill in the blank, this truck, this new fishing pole, this eunos new Benelli over under your whatever it is. You'll just do whatever it is.
Once we achieve it, what happens days moments later. It's were off that next shiny thing. Right? It's a temporary. We have this hope in this widget, we get this widget. We cast aside, we're off pursuing another widget. If you don't believe that just Tikka, like a two or three year old, who has a toy in their hand. And you pick up another toy and I see that toy where they do mine, right? They want that. And I'm not much different. I won't chastise all of you all to say, I'm not much different.
What polls telling us here in a fusions is don't make foolish trade-offs. Don't trade off the Eternal for something temporary and meaningless. Don't pursue those shiny objects. Don't be. As he spends verse 14 asleep or dead Believers in Christ. And sometimes we forget this rough times. We forget this. We focus on the short gratification as Believers in Christ. We are playing a long game. This is a marathon. We are y'all, we are not going too. Well, how I drive? I might be there tomorrow, but it's it is a long game that we're playing. Our hope is eternal in him. It's not in that trinket that I will get tomorrow. And we transition 2 verse 16. Make the most of your time, because the days are evil. There's a couple of pastors. I listen to Pastor Richie. the biking type tattoos goes to Sturgis is done a ton of the missionary field, but you sharing an account and I think it weighs on him cuz it was the topic was sloth. But basically, you'll be spiritually lazy. He says in this account that he working military installation as a tech, and he's talking to his soldiers, there. And you talking about salvation in the Lord, things like that. And the guys, like I have no interest because I'm having too much fun. Now. I will worry about end-of-life when I get closer to the end of my life and not long after, this gentleman was killed in jet ski accident, decapitated. And Ricci just straight-up says he's in hell. He denied the Lord turned away from it killed instantly. I see, no way that he could be in heaven. I think we often forget that. That there's a heaven in. There is a hell. And let's face it. We all know it. We don't like to talk about it. But time is rapidly passing. We will die that. That is a reality. It's only by the grace of God. I'm still here.
In The Game of Life, no one gets out alive. No one gets a free pass an extension on life. Ecclesiastes 12:7, it says in the dust returns to the Earth as it was in the spirit returns to God who gave it skews me.
We will pass knowing this. What are we doing with our time here? If we aren't deliberate, if we don't have a plan to be committed to the Lord. If we are committed to making changes in our life.
We will be derailed by the world, the days are evil. And if you don't believe that, you don't have your eyes open, just look around. Look at the television music commercials, even in the church. I hate to say it, but even in the church. And this is going to be a daily battle in the end. We don't want to be pleading for more time. We got to make the best of the time that we do have here live our lives in a stew. The spiritual fullest. So that when our time comes, we'll be at peace when we return home to our father. I know that's easier said than done, but there's not a single one of us that wants to when the time comes. Say, I wish I would have
And then again, the days are evil. If you don't believe this, you know, you're blind, evil desires, evil speed evil, thoughts, greed, idle, curiosity. Unholy, ambition. You always see and holy ambition in Genesis 11 4. And they said, go to let us build us a city in a tower whose top me reaching to the heavens and let us make a name. Lest. We be scattered abroad upon the face of the Earth. Let us be like God since we're going to build this great big tower, an Unholy ambition.
We may miss a picnic, guys.
There's a spiritual war. Can we have commoditize evil? There isn't anything that people today are not willing to sell or willing to buy. And we must guard against this. That's why we have things like community group. That's why we have a church. That's why we get together and Sunday mornings. That's why we have small group during the group's, the stifling, that occurs with one-on-one things, that go on as a spiritual warfare, that we aren't even aware of people plugging into others lives. And as a body of Believers, we must Hold the Line. We must support one another, when a brother and sister Falls, come alongside somebody stepping into the Gap. We lift our brother and sister up spiritually. Nursing back to spiritual health so they can continue the fight. And if you don't believe that, look at the one another's in scripture, there's 50 8 ish one another's and so much of it is come alongside one another and building each other up so that we can handle the long fight. Universe 1730, Ford do not be foolish. But understand what the will of the Lord is.
I'm going to go to the section A little quicker. So, Peter Kroll write this and I thought it was interesting. And so I want to share it but there's some link to it. And he says this proverb Solomon, organizes people into three categories. The wives of foolishness, simple. These categories are not depending on age class race, race, gender, or social economic status. Rather. They determine one's Direction in reference to the Lord. Those moving toward the lord are called. Why is a person is not perfect or intelligent sweet, but rather a person who will gain understanding and change his life on based on what he hears in scripture, Proverbs 1:5. Let the Y is here and increase in learning and the one who understands obtain guidance II the foolish. They're those that move away from the Lord. Makes sense. This person is not an ignorant or uneducated person but rather a person who doesn't want to change anymore. He thinks he's doing just fine on his own and doesn't need any more help, especially not from the Lord, Proverbs 1:7. The fear of the Lord, is the beginning of knowledge fool, despise wisdom and instruction. And then the third type of person, those who are not moving at all, with respect to the Lord on account of age and experience and capacity or some sort of some sort or called Simple. This person not a ton religious, or immoral person or at least not yet. But rather a child or childlike person who is just starting out in the, on the path of life. And this is about to decide. You want to come to a fork in the road, what path it will take. It's critical to understand. However that we cannot remain simple forever. He writes it's okay for a baby to Summer spaghetti in her hair. But by the time she turns 30 more is generally expected of her or more elegantly, but one does not stay still. A man who is empty-headed will be wrong-headed. so, we have these three types of individuals.
The real. Who are the three types of individual? Where do you consider yourself? Are you in pursuit of Lord? Do you feel like you're okay that you've got this? I'll be going up to see that you're wrong. Or are you somebody who's new in the face that you're kind of seeing what direction that you want to go? So we see what a fool. When somebody is not foolish. Looks like apple draws a conclusion. We don't have time to be fools. We look through those passions of 17 or the portion and 17. We don't have time to be fools. In the term fool or foolish is really a harsh harsh word in the Greek. It actually is a very harsh insult. That sits to act without reason. So, we
Therefore, do not be foolish but understand the will of the Lord. So what is the will of the Lord? There's a difference between what God's plan is for you and how he will use you. And what his will is
His will for us is that we would be Sanctified and 1st Thessalonians 4:3 through 10. It's kind of a long verse here, but says this will it is God's will that you should be sanctified? Pretty straightforward that you should avoid sexual immorality. That each of you should learn to control your own bodies in a way. That is Holy and honorable not in Passionate lust, like pagans who do not know God, and that in this matter. No one should wrong. No one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all of those who commit such a sin. As we told you, and warned you before. This is the first time, you share this with him, for God did not call us to be in pure, but to live a holy life there. For anyone who rejects this instruction, is not reject, a human being. But God, and the Very God who gives you his holy spirit.
Do you understand? What God's will is for us? His desire for us has to be Sanctified with Christ as an example. How do we live our lives? Do we do what he's called us to do? Do we operate out of obedience? Do we listen to the Holy Spirit? When the Holy Spirit is moving us? Or do we resist and follow our own wants? Excuse me. Are we in pursuit of sanctification? Or are we a fool? This is a contrast. We either a fool or we understand the will of the Lord.
And if we're not concerned for God's will, in our life odds, are we are not concerned about God's Will and other people's lives.
And we're just living ignorantly deceived by the world and it and we are living in our own hearts. If we care about our own lies, our own sanctification, then we will have a heart and a desire for others. To be saved as well.
And let's face it. God loves you too much. To leave you where you're at.
That's why it's weird. Can Vicks us and he moves us towards righteousness.
In this next part, it'll be easy to hear. This is worked on me, five more, so that will in anybody here. I do not get drunk with wine for debauchery, or for, that is debauchery, but be filled with the spirit. So we've got this this contrasts or this is not a comparison. This is a contrast wine uses the example of wine, cuz that would have resonated with the audience was writing to write wine has planned for us and easy Escape in this time and we have all seen somebody or have experienced the impact of drunkenness. We've either seen it or we've been there.
And Paul's not saying that drink of wine is sin. The reality is, the sin of drunkenness is an abandonment of self-control. That which takes are that, which makes us a slave of. It is a sin and has control over us. An addictions. Our obsessions obsessions. I threw that in there as well. Are typically away we run from the Lord. You can't show. God joy in your heart. If you're intoxicated, if you're under the influence of Narcotics, if you're under the influence of your desire for wealth and power and status, if you're pursuing the almighty dollar. Under the influence of your hobbies Earthly, passion Hunting Fishing Sports influence by your sexual lust, and pornography influenced by food and running towards the snack of choice influenced by the need to Netflix and chill or be. Apple minded with searching the internet for cat videos half your time.
This is just a few examples. And here we can easily say while he's just talking about just don't get drunk. Don't don't be a dicted to something. That's a stimulant. Anything, that's an obsession. That's an influencer that takes you away is an issue.
And I didn't put who quoted this, so I can't take credit for this and I apologize but he writes this a drunk or influenced believer is no more spiritually driven. Or moved, then a sober unbeliever. A drunk or influence, believer is no more spiritually driven or move than a sober unbeliever because the flesh is in control. The price is not seen.
Whenever you thinks the world are in control, we are not spiritually driven. We are World driven and we're pushing the spirit aside and letting the world rule Supreme. Paul tells us here, rather become consumed by the desires of the Holy Spirit, not desires of the world that desires by alcohol. Whatever that is that draws away from the Lord. So, how do you escape? What is it that you run to? What is it that I run to when we're running away from the Lord? And really the question is, simply this.
What's a holy spirit competing for in your life? In my life.
It's so again, this is a contrast so to be in the spirit cuz we're looking for, has 18. Y'all kinda quiet.
But be filled with the spirit addressing one another and Psalms him spiritual songs singing and making Melody to the Lord with your heart giving. Thanks always and for everything to the Lawrence are to God, the father in the name of our Lord. Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. And so in 19, we see his Proclamation celebration. This is done from the heart. Something done out of love for the Lord and others done for the Lord. And for others, not out of an active duty because we're told to
I'm back. Maybe not your fam. not cause we're tool to but because we want to we Desired. We don't do things because we feel obligated to we do things cuz with the Lord has done for us. First 20 always giving. Thanks to everything The Good the Bad, the Ugly we give, thanks in all things. We may not understand what we're going through in life. But the easy stuff in life is not what his changed me or built me up. It's the Hard Knocks that I've taken this of blows to the head that I've taken. Are those things that have have grown me spiritually into maturity? And in 21, submitting out of one other out of reverence serving one another mule serving one, another allowing others to serve. You was not easy, you know, we are very much, a paltry of, I've got this. I can handle it. I don't need the help and we shouldn't deny somebody's hard when they want to come alongside and serve you to help you. Be willing to come alongside others who need to work through things in life, working on things in life is dirty. It is messy when Christ wash the feet of the disciples yuck. Right? That was never been unheard of in that time. And that's not a different than our lives. Our lives are messy in to come alongside people. Help people go through stuff is messy.
There's four things to know about this phrase, be filled with the spirit. And this comes from a website strength for the battle and they just they steered it. So well that I want to share it.
Be filled with the spirit. First of all, it is a command. This is not an optional extra we can add to our faith if we choose, it is a command. So we obey it. It is for all Christians. So to be a spirit is not reserved for the spiritual Elite. The words here are second person, plural you use, guys, if you're Italian.
It is to be received. We cannot fill ourselves with the spirit. This threw me for a second, just Romanian it is to be received. We cannot fill ourselves with the spirit. Only God can do that. So, how can it be commanded? If we can't do it, right? If it's commanded, how can I do this? Cuz it's God filling me with the spirit, but your man. There are many things that I can't do, but I have to be cooperative in like a hospital procedure. I can't give myself heart surgery, but I have to cooperate. I can't spoil about in fight during anesthesia.
We must cooperate with God so that his work. In us, can be effective and lastly, its ongoing. The chance of this is present in continuous. It is day in day out. On going in fulfilling.
So be filled with the holy spirit. It's a command as a Christian were called the commanded to do it. Receive it. Don't fight it. And this will be ongoing until we are to return to him. And do we pursue being filled by the spirit? Or do we pursue sanctification? Where are we fools? Pursuing the world and escaping into it, allowing it to be our influencer rather than the Holy Spirit. And I'm moving a little bit early. And I debated, whether to share this with you cuz this is first, I must share this with anybody. Those are human leadership. Don't Panic as part of a testimony.
I'm a believer that when a person loses. Hope at that point they feel like there is not a point to live. And there's a point time in my life. When I was foolish, when I was influenced by the world and I live, like hell and I've got the scars, not to show it and at the age of 18, there's a point in my life where I felt so low and I had no hope that I was at a point where I want to take my own life. This isn't even anything I should with my wife. But as I was in the process, something came upon me. It didn't make sense at the time, only that when I was about to do is very selfish. It was strange because it was my own voice that I heard. But, whatever was resonated with me, the car came to a stop. I didn't give that much thought afterwards other than a burden had been released. And I'm not a person who is curing science. The group has to come up here. As we prepare for communion. We're going to transition to communion.
There isn't anything in my life that I have done. That would be celebrated by the world's standards. And when you have no hope it is easy to feel like I serve no purpose here and I will check myself out.
And I don't know that I had hope at that time, but later on in life. Is that realization? That I have my hope in the Lord. I may not be doing grandioso things. However, he had a purpose for me, how to use for me. I was a sheep that he sought out and brought me back. and so even though we're finishing a little early and we get rid of wrap up here and we transition into communion if you feel like You have no hope if you feel like there's a burden that you carry and that's where I was at in life. This is a time to put at the foot of the cross. There isn't any burden that is two too burdensome to be redundant for our Lord. We look back. Our hope is in. Our Lord, who sent the father, who sent his son, who died on the cross for us to shed his blood. We look now we reflect on where we're at and those burdens and we can drop them at the cross and we look forward to the hope that is in Christ. When were swear to him. And so if you feel like there's is burning you some to come outside and prayer. I'll be up here. You can see me. You can see when anyone is leadership. You can come on side, your neighbor that's were called to do anyway, so even though you may feel like you don't have hope now is that when you can. So Heavenly Father, we just give you praise and thanks Lord for your word.