How to Live Wisely

Q: Has there been a time in your life where you gave a lot more careful attention to your steps and the specific way you were walking?

Our family recently traveled to visit my wife’s family in Colorado and during the trip we camped a visited some of the national parks.

One of the parks we visited was the Black Canyon of the Gunnison

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Here’s another shot with my son’s head peaking over the rock.

Q: What causes you to give such careful attention to your walking and how your child is walking in this circumstance?

It’s an appropriate fear of danger and the consequences of not walking carefully, but instead stumbling and falling.

Paul is similarly concerned for the young church in Ephesus to be careful how they walk as Christians. He wants them to know how to live wisely according to their new life in Christ.

Please turn in your bible’s to page 1173 in the New Testament in the back section of the bible under the chair in front of you this morning.

We are continuing our series through the book of Ephesians as part of our annual theme of Building On Our Heritage.

This morning, we are talking about How to Live Wisely.

In Ephesians 5, Paul is concluding with general exhortation for the whole church before focusing on specific exhortations to the household.

He is continuing his contrast between what characterized the non-Christian life to the Christian life.

Pastor Viars will unpack the contrast between darkness and light (5:3-14), but today’s section the contrast is in terms of foolishness and wisdom.

Remember how we all once:

Eph 2:2: …formerly walked according to the course of this world

But now we are saved and a created anew in Christ as his workmanship for good works:

Eph 2:10: …so that we would walk in them.

Paul continues his pattern for how the Christian lives out, “walks,” in new life.

[1 Slide]

Eph 4:1 walk in a manner worthy of the calling

Eph 4:17 you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do

Eph 5:2 walk in love

Eph 5:8 walk as children of the light

Eph 5:15 Therefore be careful how you walk

Please follow along with me as I read Ephesians 5:15-21 [READ TEXT]

I. Consider carefully how you are living (v.15–16)

Proverbs 14:15 – says that the simple believes everything whereas the wise considers his steps.

God wants us to carefully consider the way we are walking. The first contrast he gives is…

Not as unwise.

Sometimes what we need to learn our lesson and get off the dangerous path we are on, is to see a warning.

We need a negative example and experience that makes us say I don’t want to go back that way ever again.

God doesn’t want us to live like fools. A chapter earlier Paul described the foolishness of our lives without learning and being taught in Christ.

Eph 4:17–18 – “So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind. being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart”

This type of foolishness is to no longer characterize our lives if we trust in Christ. You don’t want to live this way anymore.

The Scriptures describe characteristics of the fool living unwisely in a variety of ways such as…Are you living your life as if there is no God and telling yourself that?

Psalm 14:1 – “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds;
There is no one who does good.”

When we commit corrupt or evil deeds, we are living like there is no God who sees, who judges, and who cares about what I am doing.

The fool not only lives like there is no God, but think they know what’s best without trusting and obeying God’s Word.

Prov. 12:15 – “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes.”

“You do you…listen to your heart…from my perspective” we can use often to justify doing what is right in our eyes, but not from God’s perspective.

Whereas the wise says…

“Let me spend time considering what God’s Word says about that issue.”

What areas in your marriage are you currently living by doing what is right in your own eyes without thought to God’s Word?

How are you living as parents in teaching and disciplining according to what God’s Word says or what seems right in your eyes?

Students and those on summer break, are you ordering your time and schedule based on what you think is right in your own eyes or prioritizing based on what God says is right.

The unwise and foolish also mock at sin.

Prov. 14:9 – “Fools mock at sin,
But among the upright there is good will.”

All of us are tempted to live foolishly and mock sin in our lives. We can laugh at sinful ways of living to minimize and dismiss it as no big deal.

• We can mock sinful anger and communication in our relationships

• We can mock sexual immorality…

• We can mock at drunkenness or being controlled by things in the world

• We can mock at grumbling and complaining…

As you reflect on this past week…were there any ways you mocked at sin in your life? Wise is the person who confesses, asks for forgiveness, and turns from this way of viewing sin.

Paul does not want us to live like fools. The unwise are darkened in their understanding, ignorant, hard-hearted, living like there is no God, thinking they are right in their own eyes, and laughing at sin.

Instead, to contrast, God wants us to not live as unwise…

But as wise, by making the most of your time.

Making the most of your time…is part of wise living. It’s a term for buying…redeeming…buying out…

Like Our Savior said…John 9:4 – “We must work the works of Him who sent Me, as long as it is day,” Jesus said; “night is coming, when no man can work”

Wise Christian stewards are looking to seize and capitalize on opportunities to serve the Lord and walk in love toward others. They are eager and looking for pressing needs to be fruitful for the Lord.

Like investors who are carefully looking for opportunities to invest and seize upon opportunities to buy out and capitalize upon…Christians are buying up their time…As Paul explains in Galatians 6:10…

Galatians 6:10 – “So then,” Paul said, “while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith”

Through our 60 year history I am thankful for God’s work in our church family to live wisely, for a church family who is seeking to live in such a way to seize opportunities to love and serve the body and those in our community…

• FBCM, FCS, FBS Community ministries, restoration, VOH, etc.

• Recent Missions giving

• Community centers and those retired

This principle has been applied also in our church family with the use of spiritual gifts. People with a particular gift seizing and snapping up opportunities to serve with eagerness and courage.

There are some additional ways I want you to think about this principle in terms of spiritual growth and fighting against sin…

Do you see each time you encounter temptation or suffering as an opportunity to redeem the time and make the most of the time by not giving into sin and trusting God through suffering?

Often, in sports people would say “make the most of it like it’s your last” –
Christian there will be a day when there is no more sin, suffering, pain…You won’t get to demonstrate your faith in God’s grace and power to help you overcome sin, respond to suffering and pain in the same way…make the most of this time.

In a few weeks we are going to beginning a series focused on marriage, and then move into parenting and family…and I want you to consider how this principle is applied in various relationships.

• Husbands making the most of the time with your wife when you are home.

• Parents making the most of the time with your children.

• Children making the most of the time with your parents.

• Singles making the most of the time with your singleness to serve the body.

The reason for making the most of every occasion with our time is…

Because the days are evil.

We are living in the last days, what characterizes the time period between the first and second coming of Christ…

This present evil age is dominated by evil rulers/authorities, and demonic forces.

Earlier in Ephesians remember how we were described in this evil age apart from the saving power of Jesus.

Eph 2:1–3 – “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.”

It's like what Paul also said that the days are evil because we live in this present evil age.

Galatians 1:4 – who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

When you and I are sober and alert about the current evil age we live, we are going to capitalize and snatch up opportunities to show love, do good, and share the gospel in ways that redeem the momentary time we have before Christ’s return.

First, we live wisely by considering carefully to make the most of every opportunity and avoid unwise living…

II. Understand the will of the Lord for your life. (v. 17)

The second contrast that is made for how we live the Christian life wisely is between not living foolishly, but instead understanding the will of the Lord.

The will of the Lord in Ephesians in some places refers broadly to God’s saving plan…so to understand the will of the Lord we must…

Know God’s overarching plan.

God clearly reveals his overarching will for you life…to sum up all things in Christ…to praise His glory. This mystery is revealed to you clearly and made known.

Ephesians 1:9–11 – “He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.”

We can be so consumed about our individual desires and purposes asking God to bless want we want and our plans, but Paul says the wise are ordering their lives in view of what God has purposed to do. His plans and goals matter most. Man can plan their ways…but the Lord directs his steps.

One way this fall I want to encourage you to grow in understanding the overarching plan of God is to know the biblical storyline really well, so you understand your place in God’s plans.

This fall one of the Faith Community Institute Classes we are launching is

• the new Bible Knowledge Certificate Course

• The goal of this course is to provide a track for folks to progress through to help them grow in their bible knowledge.

• After they complete 6 classes, they will get a certificate and we want to celebrate folks growing in their understanding of God’s word.

• We have two courses, OT and NT.

https://www.faithlafayette.org/faith-community-institute/bible-knowledge-certificate-course

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When you know God’s overarching plan, it helps you make day to day decisions purposefully to be living wisely and redeeming the time.

Consider your personal responsibility in God’s plan.

Paul understood his personal responsibility and place in God’s plan as an apostle.

Eph 1:1 – Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God.

He was making the post of his personal responsibility as an apostle to do good toward the churches in Ephesus and redeeming the time while in prison to encourage, speak the truth in love, and build up congregations like those in Ephesus and Philippi.

Eph 3:1–2 – For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you.

As Christians and members of Faith Church, we have been given a personal stewardship to please the Lord and do his will.

The last several chapters Paul revealed the Lord’s will for the church in Ephesus that is also instructive for his will for our lives as Christians today.

• How we put off sin, renew our minds, and put on Christ is the Lord’s will.

• Maintaining unity is the Lord’s will.

• Biblical communication, speaking the truth in love is the Lord’s will.

• Abstaining from sexual immorality and growing in Christlikeness is the Lord’s will.

• Putting off bitterness, clamor, gossip, slander is the Lord’s will.

• Working and giving generously instead of stealing is the Lord’s will.

• Responding righteously to unjust suffering is the Lord’s will.

• Trusting God in suffering is the Lord’s will.

• It is the Lord’s will that he saved us as his workmanship for good works…and the Lord’s will is for us to do good works for his glory.

So, to live wisely we must avoid unwise living and foolishness, and instead make the most of the time and understand the will of the Lord. Lastly, we must…

III. Be filled with the Spirit. (v.18–21)

The third contrast between wise living and foolish living is being filled by the Spirit (wisdom) which has certain results and being filled with alcohol (foolishness) and are drunk which has certain results.

“Be filled with the Spirit” does not mean, the Spirit must indwell us again or baptize us again.

Ephesians 1:3 - says we are sealed by the Holy Spirit…and he is our deposit of promise…and his indwelling presence is with us and will never leave us. It’s permanent.

Earlier in Ephesians 4:30 as Christians indwelled with the Holy Spirit…we are commanded to not grieve the Holy Spirit who sealed us.

Instead, be filled has the sense the Spirit is active to fill us, which in the image contrasted with alcohol and drunkenness, is the controlling agent to change us more and more to be like Christ as we respond to the Spirit’s ministry in our life.

In Colossians 3, Paul similarly writes talking about putting off, renewing, and putting on…for the Christian life and goes on to say…

Colossians 3:16 – “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

So being filled by the Spirit seems to parallel to what it means to let the word of Christ richly dwell within you.

This type of living is contrast to way of foolishness and darkness that is characterized by such things like drunkenness…

Do not get drunk.

“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation” (v.18)

One of the reasons is because it leads to dissipation, and reckless deeds of sexual immorality and debauchery.

Again drunkenness is one of the many sins that characterizes the path of foolishness and not living wisely and the results are destructive. In contrast to those who are drunk, those who are filled with the Spirit will be characterized by the following results.

Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs.

Notice, the results involve we are speaking to one another, the horizontal dimension in our relationships with other Christians.

The whole range of singing that the Holy Spirit motivates in our hearts to edify and encourage one another is a result of being filled with the Spirit.

Many of us can think about hymns/songs that were spoken or shared with us in a time of trial, suffering, grief, that was like an encouraging balm for the soul.

Often in counseling, I like to assign a song/hymn that corresponds to the counsel and instruction that I am giving that teaches and instructs in the truth through song.

Songs shape our beliefs and conform our affections, so does the song lists you share with others edify and help them walk wisely?

• Application for encouragement playlist/songlist.

Singing and making music from your heart to the Lord.

Being filled by the Spirit also shapes not just the what I speak to others but how I sing and make music to the Lord. It’s in my heart. The idea is that someone who is filled by the Spirit, their whole being, their heart. The control center of their life is directed toward the Lord.

Our singing from the heart is meant to instruct others in the body and also to help us adore and worship the Lord.

• If time allows, examples of those who regularly make music from their heart to the Lord.

Another result of being filled with the Holy Spirit is…

Always giving thanks to God for everything.

Notice the frequency we give thanks…always or constantly. We always have reasons for gratitude to God.

It’s what Paul models as he is in prison earlier in this letter when he prays,

Eph 1:15–16 – “For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers”

In other places Paul mentions give thanks “in everything”

1 Timothy 5:18 – “in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

This is different…it’s for everything…

How can you and I do that? To give thanks for everything you must truly believe in the wisdom of God. He has wise purposes for all these details of my life even the things that are hard.

This loss, this job change, this difficult relationship, this cancer, this weakness.

Not only does such gratitude reveal that you believe God is all-wise…

Also, You must believe he is all powerful and in control of everything…to give thanks for everything you must believe God has control over everything he chooses to give and entrust to us.

You also believe God is good. God loves and cares about you, and everything happening is part of his plan to help me appreciate more his love, care, and character.

When you and I are filled with the Spirit and giving thanks for everything is demonstrated we are growing in knowledge and depth of insight to understand God’s plans…to make you more like Christ…

Romans 8:28–29 – ^“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.”

• Make a quick list of a few of things that you were complaining about this week. (Spouse, children, job, school, family, etc.)

• Then pray specifically giving thanks to God for how each thing God is trying to show more why you need him for kindness and help and how it specifically is helping you to be more like Christ.

As a church family one of the key words we have been focusing on is Celebration…Giving thanks for what God has done through these 60 years at Faith Church. On August 4^th Church family night, we have the privilege as a whole church family to give thanks for the school expansion dedication. I hope you will prioritize being there to give thanks if you are able.

Lastly, the last result from being filled with the Spirit is…

Submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.

Living wisely involves fear of the Lord, that’s the beginning of wisdom, and someone controlled by the Spirit will joyfully submit in relationships and to authorities that the Lord has established. We will see how this submission is demonstrated further in the verses that follow for wives in marriage, children to parents, slaves to masters etc.

We must see that submitting to one another is wisdom a result of someone filled by the Spirit. This is empowered by the Holy Spirit in our lives.

• Part of the history of our church is seeing Christians submitting to one another and living in humility with the God ordained authorities in our lives.

• [Examples if time allows, pastors/deacons/godly women, children].

As God describes the characteristics of the unwise, some here God may be giving you understanding to see that is you. This is what characterizes your life. No thought of God, doing what is right in your eyes, and not taking your sin against God and others seriously.

This is what characterizes the life of everyone apart from Christ. The good news is Jesus Christ, is our wisdom from God. You can receive him, trusting in Him that he died on the cross for your foolishness, taking the consequences that you deserve for your sins, and rose from the dead demonstrating he has the power and wisdom to give new life to anyone who would believe in him. He is our wisdom, he can make you right with God, and give you the wisdom to please God.

Let live wisely, avoiding foolishness and making the most of opportunities being filled with Spirit. Let’s pray.