Walk In The Wisdom Of The Lord Series

Walk in the Wisdom of the Lord

Ephesians 5:15-17; James 1:5; Romans 13:11-14

Sermon by Rick Crandall

Series: The Book of Ephesians

(Prepared May 31, 2024)

BACKGROUND:

*Today we will continue looking into God's Word to see how He wants us to live as Christians. From a practical, everyday point of view, how can we walk the Christian walk? How can we follow in the steps of our Savior?

*The Apostle Paul used this original word for "walk" 33 different times in his 14 letters to Christians. And 8 of these times are found in this one short letter to the Ephesians. For example, Ephesians 2:10 says, "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."

*Ephesians 4:1-2 says, "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to have a walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love." In Ephesians 4:17 Paul wrote, "This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind."

*Ephesians 5:1-2 says, "Therefore be followers of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma." And Ephesians 5:7-10 says, "Therefore do not be partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), proving what is acceptable to the Lord."

*There can be no doubt that God deeply cares about our everyday walk as Christians. Today's Scripture helps us learn how to walk in the wisdom of our Lord. Please think about this as we read Ephesians 5:15-17.

MESSAGE:

*When I read these verses, I sometimes think back to a hospital visit that I made over 40 years ago. The lady and I were talking about some problems my brother was having. They were mostly his own fault, and she said, "I guess he hasn't got through going up fool's hill."

*Today I am happy to say that my brother stopped going up "fool's hill" a long time ago. And one of the greatest joys of my life has been to see how much his faith in the Lord has grown, especially over the last five years.

*The great news for us today is that we don't have to go up fool's hill! We can walk in godly wisdom, and today's Scripture helps us see how.

1. FIRST CHRISTIANS, WE HAVE TO SET THE HIGHEST STANDARDS.

*That's what Paul was doing in vs. 15, when he told us to walk "circumspectly." That means "diligently, accurately, perfectly." So, the NIV says, "Be very careful, then, how you live, -- not as unwise but as wise." The Amplified Bible says we "should live purposefully and worthily and accurately."

*God wants us to set the highest standards for our lives, so we need to "raise the bar" from where we are today. And we need to be careful about our direction in life, or we will surely start to drift.

*Charles Lowery gave an illustration from his childhood, and he started by saying, "I love the ocean, and I was so excited the first time I was allowed to swim in the ocean without adults. We had been swimming for quite a while when I looked over to find my parents.

*They had moved about half of a mile down the beach. (I thought they were trying to lose me.) Then I looked again, and the hotel had also moved half of a mile down the beach. As far as I knew, hotels didn't move, -- and that's when I figured out that I was the one who had moved. I had drifted away so slowly that I didn't even know it. And we can do the same thing in our spiritual life." (1)

*Well Church, God doesn't want us to just drift along, so we have to set the highest standards, and carefully check how well we are living up to them. That's how to walk in the wisdom of God: Set the highest standards.

2. BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO ASK FOR GOD'S ASSISTANCE.

*James 1:5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him."

*"If any of you lacks wisdom. . ." James was being gentle with us there. Do you know anybody who would stand up and say, "I have all the wisdom I need!" I hope not. When we think we have all the wisdom that we need, that's usually the time when we need it the most! All of us need more wisdom, but sometimes it's easier to see this need in others.