ALWAYS For ALL THINGS--III—Ephesians 5:15-21
OR--A Distinctive Walk
Attention:
Plants with a distinctive growth habit—Cotton versus Millet versus Wheat versus Soybeans versus Peanuts versus corn, etc...
Plants with a distinctive growth habit—Carnivorous—I like to look for plants on any trip I go on/I look for unusual patterns—Flowers/Colors/Shapes/Stands
The Catesby’s(Pine) Lilies(Lilium catesbaei) just past the prison/The Drosera Filiformis(Threadleaf Sundew) just before the prison/The Utricularia inflata(bladderwort) in Tate’s Hell/Redbud trees(Cercis canadensis) in the early spring along the I-85 in NC north & south of Charlotte.
South Georgia—Fire ants vs. indeginous spp. of ants—Huge Mounds—Stings can kill—Command respect.
Christians all have a life-“walk” that distinguishes them from the walk of the world.
Paul exhorted the Ephesian church toward a telling/distinctive/indicative walk.
God’s people have a(n) telling/distinctive/indicative walk.
What is telling/distinctive/indicative about the walk of God’s people?
*When is the walk of God’s people indicative?
7 indicators of a Christian walk.
We have seen that A thankful/telling walk is...
1. An ACCURATE WALK(:15)
2. A REDEMPTIVE WALK(:16)
3. An INSIGHTFUL WALK(:17)
4—A thankful/telling walk is also...
An UNCOMPROMISING WALK(:18)
Explanation:(:18)Filled/Unsquandered
:18—“And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,”
A practical admonition associated with circumspect Christian living is a personal refusal to be actively reckless with that faith.
One obvious example of spiritual recklessness(“dissipation”) is the “drunkenness” associated with the misuse of “wine.”
“In” such a misuse of “wine” as “drunkenness,” “dissipation”—Lit.=‘lack of salvation’—is embodied.
“Drunkenness” is therefore, not a disease, as some would have us believe. It is a sin against self, man, & God. A fleshly attempt to placate one’s low sense of self-worth.
Dissipation “is a waste of resources that should be submitted to Jesus.”—David Guzik
In fact, rather than being ‘filled’ with “wine,” Christians are to “be filled with the Spirit” of God.
God’s people are not to be filled with any mind-altering or mood-changing physical substance.
“The carnal contrast to being filled with the Holy Spirit is being drunk.”—David Guzik
Some individuals & religious groups think themselves closer to God if they get high...
—Some American Indians use peyote for religious reasons.
—Many religions prioritize getting high, believing that it puts one in touch with the spiritual realm...That may be so...the Satanic spiritual realm! They may seek a frenzied, hysterical, &/or hallucinogenic state wherein they claim to be closer to god.
—Stoners smoke weed & feel ‘closer to god,’ though they are not.
*Whereas the Christian’s only means of ‘mind-alteration or mood-change’ is by personal conviction & repentant awakening thru the substantive presence of God thru the Spirit Himself!
Acts 2:1-18—“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, & it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, & one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit & began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, & were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Then they were all amazed & marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? Parthians & Medes & Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea & Cappadocia, Pontus & Asia, “Phrygia & Pamphylia, Egypt & the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews & proselytes, Cretans & Arabs--we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” So they were all amazed & perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?” Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.” But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice & said to them, “Men of Judea & all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, & heed my words. For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. “But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons & your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants & on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.”
God’s presence is encountered apart from the use &/or abuse of the physical(Col. 2:20-23). Just as His presence is encountered apart from the use &/or abuse of asceticism or penance as a means of bringing about one’s own deserving.
Col. 2:20-23—“Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations--“Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” which all concern things which perish with the using--according to the commandments & doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, & neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.”
To be “filled with the Spirit” both counters & is pictured thru being “drunk with wine.” As an indulgent consumption of “wine” effects the person, so does an indulgent filling by the Spirit.
The solution for the addict then, is to replace the earthy substance with the heavenly ‘substance’ of the Holy Spirit. What a wonderful promise for the one enslaved to the cravings of a substance! Christian cravings undergo a major shift so that we become addicted/committed to Christ!
“Not”[See :15, 17]—mh—Particle—1) No, not lest. Strong—a primary particle of qualified negation(whereas ou, ouk, ouc expresses an absolute denial); adverbially--Not, conjunctionally--Lest; also(as an interrogative implying a negative answer[whereas ou expects an affirmative one])--Whether.
“Drunk”—meyuskw—Perfect Passive Infinitive 2nd Plural—1) To intoxicate, make drunk; 2) To get drunk, become intoxicated. Strong—a prolonged(transitive) form of meyuw[to drink to intoxication, i.e. get drunk]; To intoxicate. Used 3X.
“Wine”—oinov—Noun Masc.—1)Wine; 2) metaph.--Fiery wine of God's wrath. Strong—a primary word(or perhaps of Hebrew origin [Nyy yah'-yin]); “Wine”(literally or figuratively).
“In”—en—
“Which”—w—ov, h , o—Pronoun—1) Who, which, what, that. Strong—the relatively (sometimes demonstrative)pronoun--Who, which, what, that.
“Dissipation/Excess/Debauchery/Reckless actions/Dissoluteness”—aswtia—Noun Nominative Sing. Fem.—1) An abandoned, dissolute life; 2) Profligacy, prodigality. The fundamental idea of aswtia is "wastefulness & riotous excess. Aswtia means reckless & extravagant expenditure, chiefly for the gratification of one's sensual desires. It denotes a dissolute, profligate course of life. Strong—properly--Unsavedness, i.e. by implication--Profligacy. Used 3X.
From a compound of A(as a negative particle) & a presumed derivative of swzw[To save, i.e. Deliver or protect].
“Filled”—plhrow—Perfect Passive Imperative 2nd Plural—1) To make full, to fill up, i.e. To fill to the full—1a) To cause to abound, to furnish or supply liberally—1a1) I abound, I am liberally supplied; 2) To render full, i.e. To complete—2a) To fill to the top: so that nothing shall be wanting to full measure, fill to the brim, 2b) To consummate: a number—2b1) To make complete in every particular, to render perfect, 2b2) To carry through to the end, to accomplish, carry out, (some undertaking), 2c) To carry into effect, bring to realization, realize—2c1) Of matters of duty: to perform, execute, 2c2) Of sayings, promises, prophecies, to bring to pass, ratify, accomplish, 2c3) To fulfill, i.e. To cause God's will(as made known in the law) to be obeyed as it should be, & God's promises(given through the prophets) to receive fulfillment. Strong—To make replete, i.e. literally--To cram(a net), level up(a hollow), or figuratively--To furnish(or imbue, diffuse, influence), satisfy, execute(an office), finish(a period or task), verify(or coincide with a prediction), etc..
Argumentation:
Mat. 23:25, 26—“Woe to you, scribes & Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup & dish, but inside they are full of extortion & self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup & dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.”
1Pet. 4:4-5—“In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living & the dead.”
**Ps. 63:3-4—“Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.”
Isa. 55:1—“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy & eat. Yes, come, buy wine & milk Without money & without price.”
**Lk. 11:9-13—“So I say to you, ask, & it will be given to you; seek, & you will find; knock, & it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, & he who seeks finds, & to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
**Lk. 15:11-24—“Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ “So he divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, & there wasted his possessions with prodigal[aswtwv] living. But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, & he began to be in want. Then he went & joined himself to a citizen of that country, & he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, & no one gave him anything. “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough & to spare, & I perish with hunger! I will arise & go to my father, & will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven & before you, & I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’ “And he arose & came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him & had compassion, & ran & fell on his neck & kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven & in your sight, & am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe & put it on him, & put a ring on his hand & sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here & kill it, & let us eat & be merry; for this my son was dead & is alive again; he was lost & is found.’ “And they began to be merry.”
**Gal. 5:24-25—“And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions & desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
**Micah 3:8—“But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the LORD, And of justice & might, To declare to Jacob his transgression And to Israel his sin.”
Isa. 65:11-12—“But you are those who forsake the LORD, Who forget My holy mountain, Who prepare a table for Gad[Babylonian god of fortune], And who furnish a drink offering for Meni[Babylonian god of fate]. Therefore I will number you for the sword, And you shall all bow down to the slaughter; Because, when I called, you did not answer; When I spoke, you did not hear, But did evil before My eyes, And chose that in which I do not delight.”
Lk. 1:67—“Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, & prophesied...”
Lk. 4:1, 14—“Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan & was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,”.....“Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, & news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.”
Acts 4:31—“And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; & they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, & they spoke the word of God with boldness.”
1Cor. 12:3-7—“Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, & no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:”
**Prov. 25:26—“A righteous man who falters before the wicked Is like a murky spring & a polluted well.”
**Deut. 4:27-29—“And the LORD will scatter you among the peoples, & you will be left few in number among the nations where the LORD will drive you. And there you will serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood & stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. But from there you will seek the LORD your God, & you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart & with all your soul.”
**Josh. 24:15—“And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me & my house, we will serve the LORD.”
Ps. 119:2—“Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart!”
**Mk. 12:30-31—“ ‘And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, & with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.””
Illustration:
Years ago it was popular among some rebellious teens(& adults) to wear their pants below their waste, exposing their underwear(I still see some remnants of this!)/A blatant ‘thumb of the nose’ to ‘polite’ Christian-influenced society/Their’s was a COMPROMISING WALK
I like to watch a TV show which highlights the operation of a particular garage/The owner is very exacting to restore, rebuild, or create cars of excellent quality/Garages are a dime-a-dozen that do half-baked or shoddy work/Building a car with superior craftsmanship, workmanship & materials is refreshing/It is also expensive—substantial & sacrificial commitment/An UNCOMPROMISING WALK
Application:
?Does Your UNCOMPROMISING WALK speak of trust in Christ?...or of trust in someone/thing else?
?What is your walk Telling others?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
A Telling Walk
Action:
A thankful/telling walk is...
4. An UNCOMPROMISING WALK(:18)
1. An ACCURATE WALK(:15)
2. A REDEMPTIVE WALK(:16)
3. An INSIGHTFUL WALK(:17)
Pt. 4 presented 01/01/2017pm to:
FBC Cbelle
206 Storrs Ave. SE(SE Ave. A)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
