Ephesians Series Week #32 Walking Wise Ephesians 5:15-17 July 14, 2013

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Ephesians Series Week #32 Walking Wise Ephesians 5:15-17 July 14, 2013 I. Introduction and review A. We have studied walking in the Lord 1. Walking is used to mean three levels of concepts 2.

1 Ephesians Series Week #32 Walking Wise Ephesians 5:15-17 July 14, 2013 I. Introduction and review A. We have studied walking in the Lord 1. Walking is used to mean three levels of concepts 2. On a basic level it is be taken to mean living or the manner in which we live that is our conduct 3. On a more advanced level it can mean how you intend to live life that is our attitudes toward life 4. On the third level it speaks of how you experience life or what you experience in the way that you live that is its experiential B. Notice that in Ephesians 4:1 we are instructed to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, C. In Ephesians 4:17 we are told that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk D. In Eph. 5:2 we are told and walk in love E. In Ephesians 5:8 to walk as children of Light F. And now we are told to walk wisely Page 1 of 8

2 II. How to accomplish the Ephesian admonitions [5:15-21] A. NASB Therefore be careful how you walk 1. KJV & NKJV See then that you walk circumspectly 2. NIV Be very careful, then, how you live- 3. ESV Be very careful, then, how you live- 4. The first word in the Greek original is ble,pw blepo {blep'-o} Meaning: 1) to see, discern mentally, observe, perceive consider 5. This word translated circumspectly is avkribw/j akribos {ak-reeboce'} a. Meaning: exactly, accurately, diligently b. This word is not translated in the NASB B. NASB not as unwise men but as wise, 1. Wise sofo,j sophos Meaning: skilled, wise 2. Unwise a;sofoj asophos {as'-of-os} Meaning: 1) unwise, foolish a. Wouldn t it be kinda harsh to translate this word foolish 3. I would translate it foolish because these people who are being foolish are saying in essence, there is no God or if there is, He is not involved in the affairs of life a. God describes these people as foolish Psa. 14:1; 53:1 b. Notice how in this passage, Paul puts the wrong way first and the right way second c. This is a communication technique that Paul uses regularly and one Page 2 of 8

3 we will need to be familiar with later in the passage C. The admonition to us in this passage is based upon the word therefore 1. Because we are of the light and seek to expose the darkness 2. We should walk diligently Why? a. There are three reasons b. Doing so keeps us from defection (1) foolish men separate from God and deny His existence (2) as they do, they do not give Him the honor He is due [Rom. 1:21-22] c. Doing so keeps us from disobedience (1) a wise man knows to obey his God (2) but a foolish man believing there is no God; or that if there is, He is not involved in the affairs of man, choose not to obey; the Bible does not contain the words of God, just men d. Doing so keeps us from destruction (1) if the believer continues in defection from God, he will continue in disobedience and that will result in his destruction (2) that destruction maybe as a result of natural consequences or direct intervention of God (3) see 1 Timothy 6:9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful Page 3 of 8

4 desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. III. Paul is now going to explain to us three aspects of walking diligently A. Making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 1. Making the most of evxagora,zw (exagorazo) Meaning: to buy up, i.e. ransom, fig. to rescue from loss 2. Time there are two words in the Greek for time a. The first is the word chronos cro,noj chronos {khron'-os} Meaning: time of an uncertain duration or length, whose end is unknown, such as all of time, or a life time (1) This word chronos should be understood to mean the entire duration of time, especially when it is to end (2) But that is not the word used here b. The second is kairos kairo,j kairos {kahee-ros'} Meaning: 1) due measure 2) a measure of time, a larger or smaller portion of time, hence: 2a) a fixed and definite time, the time when things are brought to crisis, the decisive epoch waited for 2b) opportune or seasonable time 2c) the right time 2d) a limited period of time 2e) to what time brings, the state of the times, the things and events of time (1) This word kairos should be understood to mean divisions in time, that is epochs or periods, that could be a week or a month or a year (2) Kairos is the word used here in the text Page 4 of 8

5 3. Paul is telling us to walk in wise discipline a. Making the most of each time segment b. What does that mean? (1) Paul is telling us that we have the privilege of using our time for the Lord s purposes (2) As humans we are prone to excesses we tend to fritter away our time in: i) procrastination ii) iii) poor choices or idleness, or (b) we drive ourselves mercilessly and passively: i) relax ii) iii) rest or play (3) Both of these extremes tend to push God away from our lives the first extreme passively resists His purposes for us (b) the second disregards the joy of His love and the beauty of His peace (4) What can we do to counter these tendencies? (5) We can overcome the first extreme with discipline discipline involves sacrifice Page 5 of 8

6 (b) (c) but it also involves taking care of yourself it helps us accomplish the visions, the goals and the callings that God has given to us (d) discipline helps use to see how important and useful we are to God (6) The second extreme can be countered with discernment we have to recognize that we are not engines but human beings (b) we were created for relationships i) with God ii) iii) iv) with spouses with family with friends v) with business associates (c) God has also made us to find: i) refreshment in beauty, ii) iii) iv) restoration in sleep, and renewal in laughter rejuvenation in recreation (d) We have to come to understand that our function in God s kingdom consist of more than just work B. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 1. Understand suni,hmi suniemi {soon-ee'-ay-mee} Meaning: 1) to Page 6 of 8

7 set or bring together 2) to put (as it were) the perception with the thing perceived a. This word speaks of reflective thinking b. We are to walk as directed c. Do not walk foolishly, which Scripturally means without God 2. When you boil it all down, the essence of this admonition is decision making a. Here Paul is trying to explain that the foolish man not only does not make wise use of his time, but that he has a more fundamental problem, and that is a lack of understanding of God s plan and purposes b. What are God s plan for His people? Well that is what the first part of this Book has been about: (1) In 1:9-10, God wants to unite everyone under one leader Jesus both Satan and the world do too, just a different leader than God has planned (2) To develop the unity of the Holy Spirit throughout God s people [Chapter 2] (3) To glorify in our lives His grace c. Unfortunately we again seek one of two extremes (1) we either run ahead of Him or resist Him (2) the first extreme result from our lack of patience (3) the second results from the pride in our lives Page 7 of 8

8 3. There are two types of God s will for us a. The first is His general will [by way of example]: (1) holiness (2) loving Him and others (3) standing up for what is right (4) sharing the good news of salvation b. There is also a specific will which God has for our lives, such as (1) what career we choose (2) what mate we choose (3) where we choose to live (4) what church we choose to attend c. We should not run ahead due to impatience or resist as a result of pride 4. Let s stop here and ask how do we make these kind of decisions wisely a. Pray with an open heart b. Search God s Word prayerfully and intelligently c. Seek the counsel of respected and godly Christians d. Commit to waiting on the Lord for His answer IV. Some questions for next time A. What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit? B. How do you become filled with the Spirit? C. What are the key characteristics of being filled with the Spirit? ===================================================================== Page 8 of 8

The Feasts & Festivals of Israel, Series. Lesson 1 Is the Church, Israel? Part I 6/3/ ep och [ep-uhk or, especially Brit.

The Feasts & Festivals of Israel, Series. Lesson 1 Is the Church, Israel? Part I 6/3/2012 I. Introduction A. What is an epoch? 1. ep och [ep-uhk or, especially Brit., ee-pok] noun a. a particular period