Redeeming Time (Speak to Yourself)
Theme:
Text: Ephesians 5:15-21
Ephesians 5:15-21 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, (16) Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (17) Wherefore be not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. (18) And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; (19) Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; (20) Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; (21) Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Introduction
The word walk is used three times in Ephesians 5 alone. First Paul says in
Walk in Love
Be imitators of God and Verse 2 “Walk in love” as Christ has loved us and given himself for us. We need to love sacrificially. We need to be willing to sacrifice ourselves. Notice that was is important is not what others think of us but what God thinks. And what God wants is a sacrifice that is “sweet-smelling aroma (savor)
Walk as children of the Light
In other words we need to walk as we are not in darkness and we can see clearly.
Walk Circumspectly
Finally we come to this passage and it tells us to “walk circumspectly”
Circumspectly means – perfectly, exactly, it means to be careful how we walk so that we don’t fall.
Circumspect means to look around. As the circumference of a circle.
Ephesians 5:15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Not as fools-not as people who walk clumsily. Not paying attention to where they are going.
Psalms 53:1 To the Chief Musician. Set to 'Mahalath.' A Contemplation [45] of David. The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity; There is none who does good.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
(Ephesians 2:8-10)
(16) Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
God doesn’t’ have time for us to keep going through what we are going through. There is only a short span of time that we have. We have got to make the most of it. We live in an evil day. We live in a day where evil is a around us.
We don’t have time to dabble in it. We don’t have time to let the devil use us.
“don’t miss out on any opportunity”
Like a wasted gift card or coupon.
(17) Wherefore be not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Paul goes on to this idea of wisdom. He says that true wisdom is “understanding what the will of the Lord is”. Knowing what the Lord wants. When you know what the Lord wants then you can walk in wisdom.
How can a person know what the will of the Lord is? (from sermon on Ephesians 5 on Sermon Central)
? By knowing the Word of God—by knowing it so well that he can apply it to the situations that confront him every day.
"Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31-32).
"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15).
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Tim. 3:16).
"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee" (Psalm 119:11).
? By being sensitive to the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (John 14:26).
"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment" (John 16:7-8).
"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you" (John 16:13-14).
"Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently" (1 Peter 1:22).
"For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God" (Romans 8:13-14).
"Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness" (Psalm 143:10).
Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians.
Don’t be Drunk
(18) And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
The word drunk means to be intoxicated or to dull the senses. In other words when a person is drunk with wine then their senses are dull.
Be no Drunk with wrath, be not drunk with envy, be not drunk with revenge, be not drunk with pride, be not drunk with jealously,
When we are then we don’t think clearly. We don’t think soberly. This passage is not about wine it is about thinking clearly. It is about being clear headed.
Pro 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish
Where there is division the church will definitely perish
but be filled with the Spirit;
Don’t be drunk with wine but be filled with the Spirit. Let the spirit lead and guide. He who gives us what to say when we need it. He who gives us wisdom and knowledge.
This is the key to having a God filled life. Being filled with the Spirit. This is a common phrase used in the New Testament church. We are expected to be spirit filled and spirit led Christians.
Galatians 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Results of being filled with the Spirit
(19) Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Speaking to yourselves-each other in psalms and hymns. When we are filled with the spirit we speak differently. We speak of psalms and hymns. Praise to the Lord and encouragement to our brethren. Spiritual songs-songs that are sung directly to the Lord.
Singing-happy
Spiritual songs-singing unto the Lord
Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
Ephesians 5:19-20 (Courson)
Talk to yourself. David did. "Bless the Lord, O my soul," he said (Psalm 103). "Come on, soul, start blessing the Lord. Why art thou disquieted? Why are you depressed? Hope thou in God" (see Psa_43:5).
When I feel things aren't going very well, I'm tempted to lose heart. When this happens, the only thing to do is to speak to myself in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
No wonder David was discouraged. He and his men returned from fighting the Amalekites only to discover not only that their town had been burned by their enemies, but that their wives and kids had been taken hostage.
"This is your fault, David," said his men. "You took us away from here." And so angry were they that they wanted to kill him.
What did David do? He encouraged himself in the Lord (1Sa_30:6). He sang songs. He wrote psalms. He began to praise and worship. As a result, he rallied his men once again and they recovered all that was lost.
Had David remained in his depressed state, not only would he have been rendered ineffective, but the women and children would have remained captive. And so will you until you begin to worship. God's will is that you be free—and nothing will free you from the tyranny of your own situation like worship. You will be profoundly blessed and amazingly productive whenever you give thanks to God for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Psalms 43:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
(20) Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Give thanks-this takes the place of complaining. There is nothing wrong with helping. The difference in complaining and helping is that in helping we offer a solution. In complaining we state the obvious and expect some else to clean it up.
(21) Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
From here Paul leads into the family and the authority of the family. So when I read this passage I know that Paul is talking about authority. I know that he is referring to the way God has set up his church.
Conclusion
God is calling us to a higher calling. A calling that will help us not to waste time. A calling that will lead us to the blessings and favor of God. God’s favor cannot be poured out on a divisive and split church.
I want you to think about what was said this morning. Now I want you to make your commitment for this church.
Pro 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish
Where there is division the people perish
