“The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending; and to have the two as close together as possible.” George Burns
Read Ephesians 5
Today we’ll focus on verses 15-
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
The last line in a poem by Horace says
carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero.
seize the day, trusting as little as possible in the next day
This phrase has become a part of popular culture.
Robin Williams’ character in Dead Poets Society famously exhorted his students “seize the day, boys, Make your life extraordinary”.
It seems Paul is giving this same exhortation-make the most of every opportunity-seize the day.
But how do we seize the day? How do we make our lives extraordinary?
Is it possible to live an extraordinary and spiritual life in a world that is so corrupt?
If it is possible, How?
This seems like a worth-while topic as we begin our new year, the second Sunday of the year
This isn’t the only passage in which Paul exhorts us to seize the day, to make the most of every opportunity. He says the same thing in a similar context in his letter to the Colossians (we’ll read that in a moment).
I’d suggest from these exhortations to seize the day there are at least 5 lessons Paul gives us-five means by which we become people who’s lives are extraordinary-five “Be-Attitudes”:
Be Prayerful (follow God’s example!)
Be Holy
Be Wise
Be Witnesses
Be Thankful/musical
Be Prayerful
Colossians 4 2Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
The Disciples’ Cross- by Avery Willis – seems to emphasize these principles:
Everything begins with Prayer
John 15:7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
Abide in Christ
John 15:15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
Witness
John 15:8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
Fellowship
John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
The Word
John 8:31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
The Hymnist said
What a Friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer
O what peace we often forfeit,
O, what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer
So, we must be Prayerful. We also must be Holy.
Ravi Zacharias gave a message on the subject “is it possible to walk close with God & live a completely satisfied life?”
He said when he was young, growing up in India, that pornography was simply not an issue. He was never exposed to it as a child, and it never became an entanglement for him.
But India has changed. There may not be pornography staring at you from magazine stands on every street corner as it is in Europe, but it is freely available on the net, and many have been snared in that net. Ravi went on to say, what happens when a young boy 12 or 13 years old is exposed to that kind of stuff, and his mind is set in a direction. He begins to seek after satisfaction that no living human being can provide.
He said
“Be very careful what you begin to toy with
Because it’s very easy for it to toy with you.” Ravi Zacharias
In the letter to the Hebrews the writer said “let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith”.
Sin of any kind, whether its sensuality, or greed, or lust for power, becomes a distraction, an entanglement, which distracts you and delays you in the fulfillment of the calling God has placed on your life. It slows or prevents you from finishing the race.
If we want to live extraordinary lives, we must be willing to pursue holiness, to set aside those weights and distractions.
Speaking of running the race:
Ron Meyers
From the time I was five years old and past my sixth birthday I suffered from Rheumatic fever—a problem with the mitral valve in the left ventricle of my heart. Twelve years ago I developed chronic a-symptomatic atrial fibrillation and since then have had an irregular heart beat. Then four years and three months ago I suffered from Malaria and its further complications with double pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and ovular malaria. I almost died. We have been told that people who have had ARDS pull an oxygen tank around with them—if they survive.
I cannot choose to have a regular heart-beat, but I can choose to have a strong heart. This is one of the reasons I exercise vigorously and regularly. I believe in doing everything possible to maintain good physical health for spiritual reasons . . . After all the difficulties of learning through hard knocks and mistakes, why should people my age not do everything possible to extend and be able to utilize these best years of our lives?
Friday, Ron ran in the Tiberius Marathon. (Picture)
So, when I write that at age 70 after coming through the physical challenges I have experienced, for me to have finished a 42.2 Kilometer (26.19 mile) Marathon race in 5 hours, 37 minutes and 37 seconds, I feel I should give God glory. We ran within sight of the Sea of Galilee almost the entire race. The beautiful snow on the Golan Heights and Mount Hermon were also a majestic addition. We did experience some rain and cold wind but worked our way through them.
If we are to move toward the fulfillment of God’s plan for our lives in 2015,
We must be prayerful. We must be holy, laying aside every weight & running with endurance. And We must be wise.
Jesus said
“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Matthew 10:16
“the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. James 3:17
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Proverbs 4:17
So, we must be prayerful, holy, wise, and We must be witnesses
Men’s Prayer Breakfast – I attended a men's prayer breakfast a few weeks ago in New Mexico. One of the men stood up and told the story of a man he'd met at a restaurant who seemed particularly down. He started a conversation with him. The man began to weep as he told the story-he had just come from the doctor's office where he was told he has inoperable cancer, and is only expected to live one or two months. He shared the story of Jesus with him, His sufferings and death for our salvation. The man accepted Jesus as his Lord.
As we continued our breakfast, the men at my table told me that this man who gave the testimony gives a similar testimony every week-every week he leads at least one person to faith in Christ. He is not an ordained minister of the Gospel, or an official in the church. He simply shares the love of God and the story of what God has done for him. He is a witness.
We must be prayers, holy, wise &
We must all be witnesses.
And, Finally, We must be Thankful, even in hardship.
Thanksgiving- all proclamations giving in time of hardship-the first proclamation came after the Colony had lost over 1/3 of its population. The next was proclaimed by George Washington during the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln pronounced a national day of prayer and thanksgiving in the midst of the Civil War.
The New Testaments most thankful letter, the Philippians, written from prison
A friend of mine has had many physical struggles. He is close to my age, yet has suffered heart attacks and strokes associated with an rare condition. A few years ago he was also diagnosed with cancer. After several doses of chemotherapy and the best work of the doctors, his physician team still felt his recovery from cancer was a miracle. Here is what he said in a Facebook message a few days ago:
"Cancer Free One Year Today! My prayers are for my many friends dealing with cancer today. Pray and ask friends to pray with and for you. Reach out! Be a light when you go in for treatments, it will give others hope! You will get through this. Don't focus on why me focus on doing all you can to get well. I am praying for you all and oh by all means juice and watch what you are eating! Love You All and Thank You for The Great Outpouring of Kindness and Prayers That I Received! Love and God Bless!" Howard Morgenstern
With all of his struggles, Howard is expressing his thankfulness.
When God wants to drill a man, And thrill a man, And skill a man
When God wants to mold a man To play the noblest part;
When He yearns with all His heart To create so great and bold a man
That all the world shall be amazed, Watch His methods, watch His ways!
How He ruthlessly perfects Whom He royally elects!
How He hammers him and hurts him, And with mighty blows converts him
Into trial shapes of clay which Only God understands;
While his tortured heart is crying And he lifts beseeching hands!
How He bends but never breaks When his good He undertakes;
How He uses whom He chooses, And which every purpose fuses him;
By every act induces him To try His splendor out-God knows what He’s about.
- Anonymous
1 O thou who camest from above
the pure celestial fire to impart,
kindle a flame of sacred love
on the mean altar of my heart.
2 There let it for thy glory burn
with inextinguishable blaze,
and trembling to its source return,
in humble prayer and fervent praise.
3 Jesus, confirm my heart's desire
to work and speak and think for thee;
still let me guard the holy fire,
and still stir up thy gift in me.
4 Ready for all thy perfect will,
my acts of faith and love repeat,
till death thy endless mercies seal,
and make the sacrifice complete.
Charles Wesley
Prayer of consecration
