A Place Of Grace
5-3-26
  • In our passage today we are shifting form looking at and dealing with specifics in our lives and hearts to more GENERAL areas for us to consider. There is a strong emphasis of some BASICs here of living and walking this Christian life!
    As we make this shift our passage begins with “SO” or “THEREFORE”
    If you and I believe the doctrine of chapters 1-3
    As we shed the Old Nature and embrace and Put On this New Nature
    Our walk or our living looks different:
    No lying… No stealing… No unwholesome talk
    No more grieving the Holy Spirit… We embrace forgiveness
    Now as His children… we IMITATE our Heavenly Father, allowing His Light to shine in and through us as we REFLECT Him to a lost and Dark world…
    “SO” “THEREFORE”… reading our passage today we will look at some GENERAL PRINCIPLES that we need to live by.
    Walk Carefully
    Don’t Waste Time
    Seek God’s Will
    Be Spirit Filled
    This Fourth one will be expounded on in weeks ahead as Paul wraps up his letter
    Our BELIEF does shape our BEHAVIOR and we will look at these FOUR PRINCIPLES that are foundational or CORE to our Christian lives… Ephesians 5:15-21…

    Walk Carefully

    VERSE 15… There is the concept here of our Christian Conduct, wise living not foolishly doing as we please.
    There is a real look at the need to NOT trip and fall as we walk this life.
    God calls us to a life of WISE living
    Contrasted with the fool…
    In scripture the fool is equated with one who does not concern themselves with God in day to day living
    Psalm 14:1 “Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good!”
    Proverbs 3:6 contrast this with one who is wise… “Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”
    Walking carefully on His path for us, following His Will, we walk with fewer stumbles due to watching carefully how we live, how we walk according to His Word!
    While this first principle deals with our daily walk with the Lord, our next principle deals with the use of our time…

    Don’t Waste Time

    VERSE 16… We walk carefully because the times are evil. We live in evil days. What does this have to do with TIME???…
    First we must realize that our time on earth in light of ETERNITY… is very short!
    We walk turning from darkness to light (contrast)… this takes wisdom & time!
    How do you use the time God has given you?
    Do you “make the most of it”
    Do you “redeem the time” God gives
    Do you “seize the opportunities” God brings each and everyday
    Do you seek to invest your time for the things of eternity… in the things that will outlast time?
    We live in evil days… because of this there is work to do, opportunities to REFLECT our God to those around us…
    Loyde Cory wrote this concerning time: Time is significant because it is so rare. It is completely irretrievable. You can never repeat it or relive it. … It travels alongside us every day, yet it has eternity wrapped up in it. Although this is true, time often seems relative, doesn’t it? For example, two weeks on a vacation is not at all like two weeks on a diet. Also, some people can stay longer in an hour than others can in a week!”
    1 Corinthians 7:31 speaks a truth we all must understand concerning our time… “Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away.”
    C.S. Lewis in his book “Screwtape Letters” recounts a fictitious conversation Satan had with his demons… The question was posed “How do we best attack the message of salvation and prevent people from hearing it?”
    One demon suggested spreading the message there is no Heaven… Satan responds… “Ah, they’ll never believe that. This Book of Truth is full of messages about the hope of heaven through sins forgiven. They won’t believe that. They know there’s a glory yet future.” Another demon suggested… “I’ve got the plan. I’ll tell ’em there’s no hell.” “No good,” Satan says… “Jesus, while He was on earth, talked more of hell than of heaven. They know in their hearts that their wrong will have to be taken care of in some way. They deserve nothing more than hell.” One brilliant little demon in the back stood up and said, “Then I know the answer. I’ll just tell them there’s no hurry.” And he’s the one Satan chose.
    Just in case you are interested… here are some sure ways to waste one’s time…
    Worry a lot! … Especially about things you have no control over.
    Stay socially aware of others… know what is going on through social media!
    Compare yourself with others! (your fitness, body, material things, status...)
    Focus your attention on getting rich!… just to realize you can’t take it with you
    Story of rich man… money in attic to take it with him, he dies and the money is still there, wife & kids said guess we should have put it in the basement!
    Don’t let go of past hurts and wrongs done… keep those enemies of yours at the forefront of your thoughts, think about them over and over
    These are sure ways to waste ones time… However, what if we looked for, asked God for OPPORTUNITIES in this evil / Dark world we live in to REFLECT His light, to share the hope we have in Jesus Christ… ETERNAL IMPACT!
    Now that is a way to invest our time, and Paul goes on to share how we can do this… IT REQUIRES THOUGHT!

    Seek God’s Will

    VERSE 17… One of the most asked questions I hear as a pastor is what is God’s will for my life or the statement… I wish I could know God’s will for my life.
    GOOD NEWS… YOU CAN KNOW IT AND LIVE IT!!!
    Romans 12:2 “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
    Psalm 143:10 “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.”
    1 Thessalonians 4:3 “God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin.”
    1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
    These verses are expressing we can KNOW and live in God’s will for our lives…
    Now His PLAN here on earth for us, that remains a surprise… so we walk with and in the Holy Spirit…

    Be Spirt Filled

    VERSES 18-21… Wait a minute! Did we not get the Holy Spirit at Salvation!???
    The baptism of the Holy Spirit means that you and I belong to the body of Christ… His church, God’s Family.
    However, the filling of the Spirit means that my body belongs to Christ.
    EVERY CHRISTIAN HAS ALL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT… THE COMMAND IS THAT WE ALLOW THE SPIRIT TO HAVE ALL OF US!

    Consider The Contrast:

    We understand the picture of one controlled by drunkeness with wine
    They squander and waste time, resources, fully in control of the drink
    They make fools of themselves, fill thier own desires, thier thinking is blurred
    Contrast that with people who are controlled by the Spirit.
    Their minds are clear to see opportunities where Christ is working.
    Hearts overjoyed and lips filled with praise. The Spirit of God fills their hearts with gratitude
    Their mouths speak in “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs”.
    Their lives reflect and imitate God the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ empower by the Holy Spirit.
    Consider this contrast: those controlled by strong drink… find themselves pulling further away from those around them, even those they love. They dive deeper and deeper in themselves.
    However, those filled with the Holy Spirit will find themselves drawn to "worship among yourselves” the body of Christ! They will find themselves focused “in thier hearts” drawn to worship God!
    Corporate worship & praise with the saints and worshiping & praising God internally are both necessities of the body of Christ!
    The Outflow or Indications of being Spirit Filled are expressed in three areas in these verses:

    Spirit Filled Are: Joyful

    Fellowship / Praising / A song on the heart
    Worship / Individual and Corporately…BECAUSE of Joy and it PRODUCES joy

    Spirit Filled Express: Gratitude

    In All Things (difficulties, Sorrows, Joys, Blessings) Contentment!
    There is a right focus towards God

    Spirit Filled Have: Submissive Hearts

    We’re not meant to live it alone. We’re meant to subject ourselves to one another, “bear[ing] one another’s burdens” (Gal. 6:2), encouraging one another in love and good works (Heb. 10:24–25), and looking out for one another’s interests (Phil. 2:3–4).
    Charles Swindoll said it well: “If your Christianity is making you more of a recluse, it’s not true Christianity; it’s selfishness.”
    Submission Defined: subjection is to be mutual and based on reverence for God. The differing responsibilities,(Various roles in the church and in families and life) if followed, bring harmony, but, if ignored, they bring difficulties. … Spirit-controlled believers are to submit to one another, willingly serving others and being under them rather than dominating them and exalting themselves. The basis for Christians’ attitudes toward others is their reverence for Christ.
    Remember we are to IMITATE God… When Jesus washed the disciples feet, He taught them that the greatest is the person who uses his authority to build up people. We are to esteem others “more important than ourselves” (Rom 12:10; Phil. 2:1–4).
    Our nature wants to promote ourselves
    The Holy Spirit enables us to submit ourselves
    Paul will Expanded on the implications of submission for the church by looking at multiple areas…
    Wives & Husbands
    Children & Parents
    Slaves & Masters

    The principles in these verses are vital as we live out our christian walk.

    How careful are you as you walk, is there wise behavior exhibited in your day to day living?
    Are you disciplined and discerning in how you spend your time, seizing opportunities?
    Are you actively and correctly seeking your Heavenly Father’s will for your life?
    Are you living under the influence and control of the Holy Spirit?
    Living out these principles, the church could see Powerful Potential for Impact in this dark world.
    Your Belief will Create Behavior…

      • Ephesians 5:15–21NIV2011

      • Psalm 14:1NIV2011

      • Proverbs 3:6NIV2011

      • 1 Corinthians 7:31NIV2011

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