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.

The key to walking in a way that is pleasing to God is to be constantly filled or controlled by the Spirit.  We are commanded to be being filled with the Spirit.  It can be hard to understand a passive imperative like we see in this text.  What is important is that the content of this passage gives us instructions we should strive to follow, while simultaneously giving us evidence of the Spirit’s work in our lives.  

MAKING WISE USE OF TIME: Our lives are made up of phases.  In each season of life there are things that we are expected to accomplish as well as dangers that threaten to derail our growth.  Some of the most dangerous times in our lives are when we are transitioning from one phase to another.  We tend to want to jump ahead too soon, before we have accomplished what God desires; or we lag, refusing to progress to the next phase.  Making wise use of our time means to live our current moment to the fullest.  It is foolish to say things like: “I can’t wait until…” or “Back in the good old days…”.   Live each day to the fullest and each phase of life for the glory of God.

UNDERSTANDING GOD’S WILL: It is the will of God that we obey His Word and submit to His Spirit.  Living our lives to the fullest is certainly an important part of accomplishing God’s will.  As God’s image bearers, all men have been given a spirit.  We are all ore than just a physical body.  The Holy Spirit works within our spirit to help us live according to the will of God.  This involves our actions as well as our attitudes and the motivations of our hearts.  Like wine can control a person’s body, the Holy Spirit wants to control every aspect of our lives so that we will live according to God’s will.  

PRAISING THE LORD: We were created to worship.  This should permeate every area of our lives and every utterance that comes from our mouths.  The lives of believers should be marked by singing.  We sing to one another as a means of encouragement and instruction.  We sing to the Lord as a means of praise and worship.  God’s Spirit moves in us to   inspire God honoring speech and music.  Our lives should be marked by joy and gratitude because of all Christ has done for us and in us.  The joy in our hearts because of our relationship with God should overflow into all kinds of worship.

SUBMITTING TO ONE ANOTHER: As believers who what to follow God’s will and be controlled by His Spirit; submission should be our defining characteristic.  There is no place for self-centeredness in the life of a believer.  We are to live to love and serve others for the glory of God; not to promote ourselves.  When we insist on our own way and fight for our own rights; we become miserable.  No matter what position of authority we might occupy in the family, church, workplace, or society; submission and humble service are the marks of a believer under the control of God’s Spirit.

APPLICATION: Don’t live in the past or long for the future in such a way that we don’t live in obedience in the present.  Seek to understand God’s desires and then make every effort to follow Him.  Rejoice in all the blessings of God and let our hearts overflow with praise of God to one another.  Put the needs and desires of other ahead of our own.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Isaiah 54:1-17

Hope is a wonderful blessing from God, without which we would be vulnerable to all kinds of destructive tendencies in our lives.  Today’s society is marked by depression, anger, fear, anxiety and self-righteousness, in large part, because of the sense of hopelessness that prevails in our culture.  Isaiah writes to a people who are about to be taken into captivity because of their sin.  God knows that they will feel rejected, threatened and hopeless so He reveals His future plans for the nation in order to give them hope in the midst of the coming trial.  Hope is the expectation of good based upon the promises of God.  Many times when our lives are marked by the sins mentioned above it is because we have forgotten or failed to focus upon the promises of God’s Word. THE PROMISE OF GOD: From the very first day that God revealed His plan for the nation of Israel, He promised numerous descendants.  God chose Abraham, not because he was more righteous than any of the other people of his
Read more

1 Timothy 2:11-15

Let a woman learn quietly   with all submissiveness.    I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.    For Adam was formed first,   then Eve;   and Adam was not deceived, but   the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.    Yet she will be saved through   childbearing—if they continue in   faith and love and holiness, with self-control. There is certainly controversy and confusion about this passage in many churches today.  The idea of a distinction between men and women and their roles in the family and church certainly goes against the flow of many cultures around the world.  Some would argue that the literal and plain teaching of this passage is no longer applicable to today’s culture.  However, it is always dangerous to discard biblical teaching or try to interpret Scripture based on the cultures in which we live.  Certainly, the Spirit who inspired this text was aware of the many changes that would occur in future cul
Read more

1 Timothy 1:1-2

Paul,   an apostle of Christ Jesus   by command of   God our Savior and of Christ Jesus   our hope, To Timothy,   my true child in the faith:   Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. The true sign of maturity is multiplication.  Believers, churches, and ministries that do not reproduce are not demonstrating true maturity.  One of the key characteristics we can identify in Paul’s ministry is that he was constantly reproducing godly believers who were faithfully following the Lord.  Evangelism, discipleship, and leadership training are the hallmarks of mature ministers and ministries.   THE APOSTLE: Paul was called by God to be an Apostle.  Though Paul converted after the resurrection and assentation of Jesus, he met Jesus in the road to Damascus and was instructed by Jesus in the desert.  Paul considered himself to be the least of the Apostles because he persecuted the church and did not walk with Jesus on earth like the other Apostles.  However, God had
Read more