Redeeming The Time Series

Redeeming the Time

Ephesians 5:15-21

Rev. Brian Bill

April 6-7, 2024

Last weekend was an amazing time of expressive worship and exposition of the Word during our Good Friday and Easter services. This place was packed on Good Friday as Pastor Kyle and Pastor Chris, along with our youth and young adults, led us on a journey to the cross. It was one of the most meaningful services I’ve participated in. It was a delight to be able to sit with Beth during the entire service and not be involved with any of the details, knowing everything would go smoothly because Kyle and Chris were running point.

The Holy Spirit was also working powerfully on Saturday and Sunday as we learned how we can move past our past from the life of Peter: To move past your past, seek the presence of Jesus in the present. Several were moved to tears as we contemplated the “look of love” that Jesus gives to fallen sinners like us. Many were deeply impacted by the authentic and vulnerable testimony of Jerry and Cathy Thomas. I rejoice that a number of spiritual decisions were made, including several who indicated they were born again.

While there are many reasons to gather with God’s people each week, one of the main motivations is because you don’t want to miss what the Holy Spirit is doing here! I’m reminded of the young boy who was home sick on Palm Sunday. His dad returned from church with a palm branch which made the boy very curious, “Why do you have that palm branch, dad?” The dad took advantage of this teachable moment and explained, “When Jesus came into town, everyone waved palm branches to honor Him, so we each got one to help us remember that.” To which the boy responded, “Oh sure, the one Sunday I miss is the Sunday that Jesus shows up!”

I’m confident that Jesus shows up each weekend because He is always here, and He is the head of this church. As we’ve said before, the church is God’s Plan A, and there is no Plan B. You don’t want to miss a service because something special is happening when we gather together to hear the gospel proclaimed through music and the message.

We shouldn’t be surprised because we’ve been praying Psalm 85:6 for the past couple years: “Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?” Could it be happening right now? Is God awakening His sleepy church? Lord, make it so. Do it here, Lord. Since you revived others in the past, do it again right now, and let it begin with me.

Prayer for Revival

Please stand as we read Ephesians 5:15-21: “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

I see five holy habits we’re to cultivate:

• Walk wisely (15).

• Watch your time (16).

• Work out God’s will (17).

• Welcome the filling of the Holy Spirit (18).

• Worship well (19-21).

Here’s the sermon in a sentence: Christians are to conduct themselves carefully in a corrupt culture.

1. Walk wisely. Ephesians 5:15 says: “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise.” The word “carefully” means to be skillful and to be on guard, to look very closely so as not to stumble. It has the idea of exactness, precision, and accuracy. We’re to walk according to the Word and will of God. One Greek scholar renders it this way: “Be constantly taking heed therefore how accurately you are conducting yourselves…”

This is a present imperative, meaning we are commanded to continually pay attention to how we’re living. We’re to be “constantly careful.” The same word is used in Hebrews 3:12 to warn about unbelief: “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.”

Too many of us are spiritual sluggards, living sloppy lives. Instead of fighting sin and staying on the right road, we take exit ramps all the time. Someone has said the tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it.

Let’s walk wisely. Secondly…

2. Watch your time. We see this in verse 16: “Making the best use of the time, because the days are evil…” This is also translated as “redeem the time” and has the idea of buying up a bargain. On Thursday, I stopped by Walgreen’s and saw that all the Easter candy has been discounted to 50%. A worker told me that it would eventually drop to 75% and then to 90%. If I wait too long, it will all be gone. Paul is telling us to buy up the bargain of time right now, before it disappears.