INTRODUCTION
• VIDEO CLIP
• SLIDE #1
• Time. Time is something that one cannot buy or sell, it is something that we all have and we all must decide how to use the time we have.
• Not all of us have the same amount of time left, but if we make it through the day, we all have roughly 24 hours, and we must decide how we are going to use the time we have.
• SLIDE #2
• The American Time Use Survey collects information about the activities people do during the day and how much time they spend doing them. For example, on an average day in 2015, Americans age 15 and over slept about 8.8 hours, spent 5.2 hours doing leisure and sports activities, worked for 3.5 hours, and spent 1.8 hours doing household activities. The remaining 4.7 hours were spent in a variety of other activities, including eating and drinking, attending school, and shopping.
• Those over 55 spend their time a little differently according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
• SLIDE #3
• 9.2 hours sleeping for those over 75, well I guess you have earned it!
• In our series, Turning over a New Leaf, we have been examining the contrast between the old way of life, the life we lived outside of Christ, versus the life we are called to life in Christ!
• Today we are going to delve into the issue of the use of one’s time. If we are not careful, time will slip away and we will have lived aa life in Christ without accomplishing much for Him.
• Today I want to challenge each of us to seek a new way to spend the time we have, I want to challenge each of us not to waste the time we have on fruitless pursuits, or as we examined lasted week, spending our time in the pursuit of the fruitless works of darkness.
• Let us begin by turning to Ephesians 5:15-16, we will first examine verse 15!
• SLIDE #4
• Ephesians 5:15 (HCSB) Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise—
• SLIDE #5
SERMON
I. A call to pay attention.
• When you look back to Ephesians 4:1, the whole context of what we have been dealing with what it means to walk a walk worthy of the calling that we have received from Jesus.
• So, all the issues we have examined point back to that subject.
• As we tie this to the direct context of last week, the word THEN in verse 15, or THEREFORE in some translations expands on the fact that Christians are to live in such a way that our lives shine the light of Jesus on the fruitless works of darkness.
• Verse 15 encourages us to PAY CAREFUL ATTENTION, which indicates something that is done accurately, precisely, or to give close attention.
• How days do we pay CAREFUL attention to how we are living or spending our time?
• Given the fact that our lives are supposed to shine the light of Jesus into a dark world, our lives are to be different, but for our lives to be different, we need to consider how we spend the time we have each day.
• We have a difficult, but rewarding calling to follow.
• We have the obligation to live as children of light according to 5:8, and to expose the fruitless works of darkness by the way we live.
• WE are called to live in such a way to please God according to 5:10, and in the process, we are to live in such a way that our conduct before those who are not yet in Christ will be drawn to Christ!
• To be able to pull of this kind of life, it takes one living intentionally, to live with precision, to pay careful attention to what we do and what we say.
• So, Paul calls us to pay attention to the way we spend our time and to the way we live. The encouragement is to walk not as unwise people, but as wise.
• WE are called to take the knowledge we have of Christ, and apply it to our lives every day and in every situation.
• In Colossians 4:5 Paul encourages us to be wise in the way we act toward those outside of Christ.
• Now, how can one walk as one who is wise versus as one who is unwise?
• By paying CAREFUL ATTENTION TO one’s life. To pay careful attention to how one spends the precious time they currently possess.
• In this verse as well as what we will examine over the next two weeks, Paul explains how one can live carefully. Today we see wise versus unwise, next week we will see foolish versus understanding the will of God and Jerry will take us down the path of being filled with the Holy Spirit.
• The College Press NIV Commentary on Ephesians states:
• Those who walk in love (v. 2) and walk in light (v. 8) must also walk in wisdom. To walk, or live, as a wise person is not just to have knowledge but to have skill in living. It is to have practical insight concerning the right thing to do in a given situation. Wisdom is the ability to see things as God sees them, and act accordingly.
• A wise person plans. When my daughters were teens and dating, I always encouraged them to think about what could happen on the date so they could be prepared in advance how to handle it. This would keep the boy alive by the way.
• A wise person doesn’t just know God’s Word and God’s will, they plan their lives in such a way that they put it into practice.
• They know that part of being wise is spending their time planning how to carry our God’s word in their life.
• A walk that is careful and accurate is a life that based on that store of spiritual knowledge that God has provided for them (Eph. 1:8).
• It is a life where time is spend drawing on the knowledge of God’s will that has been revealed in Scripture (1:9) and will put that knowledge into operation in daily life.
• Such a life is wise, as it accepts the truth that God has revealed and sees the need of bringing the life into conformity to God’s desire
• If you fail to plan, you plan to fail!
• Let’s look at part of verse 16 now.
• SLIDE #6
• Ephesians 5:16 (HCSB) making the most of the time, because the days are evil.
• SLIDE #7
II. A challenge to embrace.
• WE are challenged to MAKE THE MOST OF THE TIME.
• How many times do we find ourselves wasting time, and missing opportunities?
• For instance, if we are not happy with our jobs, do we waste time complaining about it, or do we make the most of the TIME and do something productive to change our situation?
• The phrase MAKING THE MOTE OF THE TIME means to BUY UP FOR YOURSELVES. IT DENOTES REDEEMING ONE’S TIME.
• The word for time in this phrase does not refer to the LENGTH of time, but rather the RIGHT time, the especially appropriate occasion.
• The way we would say it is, WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY OS RIPE, SEIZE IT!
• Christians should make careful use of their time making the most of EVERY opportunity.
• SLIDE #8
• Galatians 6:10 (HCSB) Therefore, as we have opportunity, we must work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.
• The Life Application Commentary states:
• This implies that we should not allow ourselves to be controlled by our circumstances; rather, we should make use of time as a valuable commodity or resource, as a master does with his servant.
• One who walks in a wise way will employ their spiritual knowledge to take advantage of every opportunity for fulfilling our calling as Christians as well as putting on the display the spiritual fruit we are to be producing.
• When we talked about MAKING THE MOST OF THE TIME meaning to BUY UP FOR YOURSELVES, we mean that BUYING up indicates PAYING THE NECESSARY PRICE IN TIME AND EFFORT!
• We are called to take the time we have and squeeze every opportunity out of it.
• We must focus and use our time in such a manner that we live with focus and purpose!
• How many times in life have you missed an opportunity because you were not ready for it? I have missed some.
• Imagine if you lived in Sierra Vista 20 or 30 plus years ago. There was a time when property was cheap, but if you were here, you were not ready to seize the moment.
• Think about the missed opportunities you may have missed winning someone to Christ because you were not prepared and ready to seize the moment!
• Let’s take a look at the end of verse 16.
• SLIDE #9
• Ephesians 5:16 (HCSB) making the most of the time, because the days are evil.
• SLIDE #10
III. A motivation for paying attention.
• Here we see the theme of evil again.
• Paul wanted the readers to remember that the age they live in is an evil age.
• SLIDE #11
• Galatians 1:3–4 (HCSB) Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.
• Evil in this context does not mean difficult or troublesome, but rather, morally corrupt.
• The world is at war with God, it always has been, so every Christian needs to seize every opportunities that are available to influence folks in a positive way for Christ!
• Another aspect of the context for the actual readers of this letter was the prospect of impending persecution on a much greater scale then they were currently experiencing.
• The implication was that people needed to seize every opportunity while they still had a chance.
• We need to do whatever we can to help get people out from the influence of darkness.
• There will be a time when you will no longer have the opportunity because you will be called home to be with the Lord or those who need the Lord will die without Him.
• Sometimes opportunity knocks only once, are you ready?
CONCLUSION
• This message does not imply that you cannot watch TV, or play video games, or go on a camping trip, it is simply an encouragement to spend your time wisely.
• It is an encouragement to be more intentional about how you live life versus thoughtlessly living life missing the numerous opportunities we have to live wisely and to influence others for Jesus!
• So, my challenge for you to is to make the most of the time you have, to live wisely with intention.
• That must start by giving your life to Jesus. Are you ready?
