← Back to sermon library

Bibles to begin worship we'll read Psalm 111 Psalm 111 Psalm 111 beginning verse one praise the Lord I will praise the Lord with my whole heart in the Assembly of the upright and in the congregation The Works of the Lord are great studied by all who have pleasure in them his work is Honorable and glorious and his righteousness endures forever he has made his wonderful Works to be remembered the Lord is gracious and full of compassion he has given food to those who fear Him He will ever be mindful of his Covenant he has declared to his people the power of His Works in giving them the heritage of the Nations The Works of his hands are Verity and Justice all his precepts are sure they stand they stand fast forever and ever and are done in truth and uprightness he has sent Redemption to his people he has commanded his Covenant forever holy and awesome is his name the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom a good understanding of all those who do his Commandments his praise endures forever amen please turn with me in your to him 213 him 23 pleas glory to God the Father glory to God the son glory to God God Al Mighty in one hallelu Hallelujah glory to him glory to us us all anding glory to us us with him to hallelu hallelu praise the Lamb that was slain glory to the king of angels glory to the church King glory to the king of Nations Heaven Earth your pris Hallelujah hallelu to the K of Glory sing Glory bless praise Eternal Angels Glory creation Hallelujah hallelu praise the mighty king of [Music] King let's go pray ask bless our gracious and our loving Heavenly Father you come before you your holy presence through your son the Lord Jesus Christ and father we truly are grateful for that access that we have into your very throne room this day Lord we seek to praise you uh with with our lips and with our hearts and our minds yet father we know that we are feeble that we do not give to you the the honor that is Du your name so Lord how we pray that you would be pleased to to give to us this night that which we lack give us the blessedness of your holy spirit that take our praises and our worship and that they would that they would be uh Before the Throne Room of God himself the Lord Jesus Christ would be worship this night that through Christ uh uh the father would be worshiped this night as well father Grant to us your spirit here this night we do pray we thank you Lord for that promised holy spirit that in the absence of Christ uh from this Earth that that he would be given uh not just in one local but to every individual every every believer all over this world father we are gathered as a local church but we are part of a much larger Church uh the church Universal that meet that meets this day or has met already this all around this world father calling upon you calling out to you and praising you and worshiping you father thank you that we are not just but one small group of people but we're part of that much larger uh group of of churches and the bride of Christ we thank you Father for those churches that we know of in far off lands we think of Pastor na of Gala we think of those who meet in Honduras those who meet across Canada all around this world father we praise you that that we can know these brothers and sisters and we will be United with them in heaven one day we look forward to that when we are around the throne room of Heaven seeing and praising the lamb whose blood was spilled on our behalf truly Lord we are grateful for the Salvation that is ours as we're reminded this morning from the from the scriptures father that you truly are a gracious God a kind God who would give to us salvation through your son the Lord Jesus Christ Lord may we make much of that may we may we live in the present with with with a gladness of heart to know that ours are for we are right with you through your son the Lord Jesus Christ and Lord we truly are uh grateful for these things our hearts do overflow with praise and adoration towards to God who who has sent his one and only son to this earth to die as a perfect sacrifice so that he might uh that he might be that pay that penalty uh that each of us owed for our own sins Lord cleanse the fresh this night we pray through that precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and bless our time together we to worship you bless us Lord in the week ahead as well we pray Lord that as we go into the week we make our plans that Lord it is you that brings them to p and so we just commit them into your hands and pray that you would be pleased in your Sovereign in your Sovereign will to keep us according to your will father cause us to to have a to have an uniring trust in your Providence and your kindness and your sovereignty in our lives and in the steps that we take each day uh that father you will guide us and you will keep us each day Lord we do pray for individual who would desire to be with us this night from our church but perhaps due to illness and due to dealing with different things in their lives father are not here we pray Lord that You' bless each one strengthen them cause them to to to know that spirit in their own hearts and lives this day we pray Lord that that they would they you grant them health and strength uh renewed health renewed strength they might be with us one day uh in the future as well we think especially wi who was dealing with the the recover of her of her surgery this past week we thank you Lord it all went well and would you just commit her into your hands and pray you'd be pleased to give to her healing and we pray that in due time she' be back in amongst us and and able to worship you together as as a body father we think of the persecuted Church in the far off countries uh father we read of on a regular basis here we know Lord that it is not the way we enjoy uh life in many countries around this world yes Father by your gracious Sovereign hand you have allowed these things to happen in the Nations that we pray for regularly in the churches that we pray for those those your your children we pray Lord that you would cause them this this day to to Delight in you to ultimately to put their trust in and in you and we pray Lord that you would be pleased to give to them when they stand in need of give to them that that shity that you are watching them over them that you are sovereign over all things and we pray Lord that they would just be entrusted to you that you would cause their captives to uh to execute Justice and release them uh father if they are uh if if they're in prisoned which many are with without having committed any crime yeah it's just a hatred towards the things of God and towards your people so Lord we pray that you just uh bless them and cause them to be trusting in you and we pray that in due time they they might be released and you bless the families that that are left behind as well so often there's just so much uh difficulty for them when when when when their husband or father has been in for the gospel's sake Lord we pray that they would not faint they would not grow weary but rather they would continue to entrust themselves to you and we do pray that your will would be done and that you would cause the Church of Christ to March forward in all these all these nations that seek to persecute you and put you out Lord we pray that you would just but grow the church there and cause cause salvation to come to many Lord we think of the situation in the Middle East these days as well so much turmoil and and we pray you cause peace to come to that part of the world we do pray Lord that your protection might be upon your people especially but upon all all people father we pray that that peace could reain and we know again as as as long as there as Sin uh is in this world and Reigns in this world father uh men will not get along with one another they will make Wars and fight with one another so Lord we we do pray to you that you'd be Sovereign that you'd be gracious to them and cause there to be peace there and we pray that not just a physical peace but rather also ultimately peace with you these things would would cause the church to move forward and cause people to be driven to Christ and in in search for for for things of Eternity so Lord do bless we do pray and cause those who are truly yours to have a testimony that that would be right and and that would Point people to the things of Christ in in in tumultuous times we do pray so Lord bless us this this this night we thank you Lord for the blessing of health and strength that we're gathered together here that we can be here this place worship you with with freeness we we truly do give you our grateful thanks for that and pray Lord that you'd be pleased to continue with us in our worship and cause us to to have thoughts of you that would fill our hearts and minds and and fill our Praises this night we do pray all these things in Jesus precious name amen amen please turn with me your H books to the second H which is uh him number three we'll be singing to a different tune but it is PSAL three turn to [Music] stand many are my against the many R they say he has no [Music] God you are my shield and Lord Li of my I and is still his to be SP and suain [Music] my he take their I fear not in the our Lord has save me to all [Music] my you the of and bring their teeth with love to [Music] the Sal is alone BL GL Lord [Music] for [Music] Deuteronomy 8 Deuteronomy 8 we'll read the entire chapter Deuteronomy 8 beginning at verse 1 every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe that you may live and multiply and go in and possess the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers and you shall remember that the Lord your God LED you all the way these 40 years in the wilderness to Humble you and test you to know what was in your heart whether you would keep his Commandments or not so he humbled you allowed you to hunger and fed you with Mana which you did not know nor did your fathers know that he might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the lord your garments did not wear out on you nor did your foot swell these 40 years you should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son so the Lord your God chastens you therefore you shall keep the Commandments of the Lord your God to walk in his ways and to fear Him for the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land a land of Brooks of water of fountains and springs that flow out of valleys and Hills a land of Wheat and barley of vines and fig trees and pomegranates a land of olive oil and honey a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity in which you will lack nothing a land whose stones are iron and out of whose Hills you can dig copper when you have eaten and are full then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which he has given you beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping his Commandments his judgments and his statutes which I command you today bless when you have eaten and are full and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them and when your herds and your flocks multiply and your silver and your gold are multiplied and all that you have is Multiplied when your heart is lifted up and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt from the house of bondage who led you through through the great and terrible Wilderness in which were fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty land where there was no water who brought water for you out of the flinty rod who fed you in the wilderness with Mana which your fathers did not know that he might humble you and that he might test you to do you good in the end then you s your heart my power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth and you shall remember the Lord your God for it is he who gives you power to get wealth that he may establish his Covenant which he swore to your fathers as it is this day then it shall be if you by any means forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and serve them and worship them I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish as the Nations which the Lord destroys before you so you shall because you would not be obedient to the voice of the Lord your God Amen let's pray our gracious and our loving Heavenly Father you come to a very sacred page of scripture here in this chapter we consider that father it's it's you that we owe our Thanksgiving to it's you that has given us all that we enjoy on a day-to-day basis and and uh even in the country in which we live in Father a country of Plenty a country of much good nation of much good father we thank you for the that which we do enjoy Lord we do want to return our grateful thanks to you for the physical things that we enjoy but also for the spiritual things that we enjoy in Christ Jesus that we we do not have to go hungry that we have the scriptures on in our laps that we that we we have the word of God to read at any time we have the Blessed gospel that has been made clear to our to our to our hearing uh to our understanding by your gracious Holy Spirit Lord we want to return our grateful thanks to you you TR have bless us as a people we thank you Lord for blessing us as a local church as well in so many ways you you've given to us more more than what we need you're deserve so Lord to you we give you your grateful thanks and pray Lord that You' be pleased to bless this night the word of God as Goes Forth from this Pulpit may we Delight in the things that are preached from this Pulpit here this evening father may it be unto our sanctification edification may it build us up in our Most Holy Faith father cause us to live as as as true Christians as those who uh would love the Lord Jesus Christ with all our heart soul mind and strength these things are evidence themselves in the way in which we live our lives Lord we pray that you would be pleased to sanice according to your word cause us to leave from this place rejoicing in the great God that we know and love and serve and we pray Lord your blessing to be upon our pastor we thank you you've given to us the gift of of ministers you've given to us the gift of Elders and we thank you for pastor BR we pray that you be pleased to strengthen him now as he comes to preach your word bless that word father we do pray cause it to be for edification for sanctification but also perhaps even for salvation Sur there be any here in this place that do not know uh Christ personally so Lord we pray your blessing now that you would strengthen us according to your word and it's in Jesus precious name we pray am well please turn your H books before we do preaching uh to him number 381 31 sing and and glory and power and riches and strength ever to him are [Music] are the king the and [Music] the sound the of the with his name the Earth with his glory and o and m forest [Music] and his praises and his [Music] power the joy the blessing and and glory and praise this is the K of the that we give me the glory and praise to the L take me the and the heart and the sing s of the L that was in we but ring to well you can turn with me in your Bibles to the book of Ephesians as we return to our study in Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus we're in chapter 5 our Focus tonight will be verses 15 to 17 but I do want to read the chapter Ephesians 5 beginning in verse 1 the Apostle Paul writes therefore be imitators of God as dear children and walk in love as Christ also has loved us and given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling Aroma but fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness let it not even be named among you as is fitting for Saints neither uh neither filthiness nor foolish talking nor coarse jesting which are not fitting but rather giving of thanks for this you know that no fornicator unclean person nor Covetous man who is an idolator has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God let no one deceive you with empty words for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of Disobedience therefore do not be partakers with them for you were once Darkness but now you are light in the Lord walk as children of light for the fruit of the the spirit is all is in all goodness righteousness and Truth finding out what is acceptable to the Lord and to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather expose them for it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret but all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light for whatever makes manifest is light therefore he says awake you who sleep arise from the dead and Christ will give you light see then that you walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise Redeeming the time because the days are evil therefore do not be unwise but understand what the will of the Lord is and do not be drunk with wine in which is dissipation but be filled with the spirit speaking to one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord giving thanks always for all things to God the father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ submitting to one another in the fear of God wives submit to your own husbands as to the Lord for the husband is head of the wife as also Christ is head of the church and he is the savior of the body therefore just as the church is subject to Christ so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything husbands love your wives just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for her that he might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of Water by the word that he might Pres present her to himself a glorious church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that she should be holy and without blemish so husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies he who loves his wife loves himself for no one ever hated his own flesh but nourishes and cherishes it just as the Lord does the church for we are members of his body of his flesh and of his bones for this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and the two shall become one flesh this is a great mystery but I speak concerning Christ and the church nevertheless Let each one of you in particular so love his W his own wife as himself and let the wife see that she respects her husband amen well let us pray our gracious God and Father we thank you for this time to gather together and worship you in spirit and in truth we pray that your Holy Spirit would guide us now as we consider this fifth chapter of the book of Ephesians and the practicality of it for the lives of God's people we pray that these things would be written upon our hearts that we would receive them with gladness and joy you would guide and direct us not just tonight but each and every day that we may live in a manner that is consistent with our calling in Christ Jesus forgive us for all sin and unrighteousness and we thank you that there is forgiveness with you that you may be feared even now God be glorified and praised and honored and we ask through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen well it's been some time since we've been in this book of Ephesians remember the specific outline of the book The Apostle engages in the doctrinal sort of emphasis in chapters 1 and two and then chapter 3 is a bit of a transition where he highlights his purpose and Redemptive history to reveal the mystery of Christ and the Mystery isn't something brand new it was something there in the Old Testament but not revealed in the fullness that we now have in the New Testament and specifically in chapter 3 it's the inclusion of Gentiles in the Covenant Promises of the god of Israel and then beginning in chapter 4 at verse 1 all the way to chapter 6 verse 20 he gets he he applies everything so Doctrine chapters 1 and 2 and then practical application in chapters 4 to6 that is a common pattern in Paul's letters you see it in the Book of Romans Romans chapters 1 to 11 is Doctrine then 12 to6 is practical application we see as well consistency between Ephesians 5 and Colossians 3 both are very similar in nature and in emphasis and we'll have cause to reflect on Colossians 3 as we work our way through this particular section well tonight as I said we're going to focus on verses 15 to 17 15 to 21 is a unit where the Apostle highlights the necessity for us to walk in wisdom there's a lot going on here I'll just sort of give you the structure the Apostle gives this exhortation to walk in wisdom in verses 15 to1 17 and then he then he deals with the provision of the holy spirit in that particular Endeavor notice in verse 18 do not be drunk with wine some have wondered why he issues that particular prohibition here I think it has something to do with the influence when you are drunk with wine then you have this dissipation or it results in godlessness when you are filled with the Holy Spirit then these blessed results flow from that and so he says be filled with the spirit and then he mentions four things speaking to one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord giving thanks always for all things to God the father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and then submitting to one another in the fear of God so notice it looks like this to be filled with the Holy Spirit not to speak in tongues not to prophesy not to raise the dead but when you are filled with the spirit you'll speak in a particular way you'll praise God in your heart you'll give thanks to him and then you'll submit to one another in the fear of God that final verse in this section verse 21 functions then as a bit of a transition to the next section so from 522 to chapter 6 and verse 9 he does what some have called a household code basically what are the various responsibilities for various persons in various aspects of their lives he deals with husbands and wives he deals with parents and children and he deals with bonder servants and and Masters so this submitting to one another in the fear of God thematically carries over into this this next section in terms of the household code so that's structure as I said tonight our focus is going to be quite simple we'll look at verses 15 to 17 the apostles exhortation to walk in wisdom and there's two specific things we're going to focus on first the necessity to walk in wisdom in verses 15 and 16 and then secondly the necessity of the word of God in verse 17 so the Lord is good he's kind he's gracious and he's merciful he doesn't just give us the command or the exhortation walk in wisdom but he gives us the guidance he gives us the the book he gives us the means by which we know what wisdom is and that's why the emphasis there in verse 17 is on understanding what the will of the Lord is well wouldn't it be wonderful if we had a book that actually have revealed to us the word or the will of the lord we do have a book and it's called The Bible and so we need to rely upon that but let's look first at this necessity to walk in wisdom notice the exhortation in verse 15 a see then that you walk circumspectly see then that you walk circumspectly the margin has carefully the particular word means uh pertaining to strict Conformity to a standard or Norm with focus on careful attention it means accurately carefully or well now notice as well verse 15 see then that word then connects this verse to the preceding context it connects us to all the way back to 4 and verse 1 so there's this emphasis on walking and walking in this context means our conduct the Old King James has our conversation the manner in which we live our lives that's what Paul means by walking so notice in 4:1 I therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called notice in verse 17 this I say therefore and testify in the Lord that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk in the futility of their mind notice in chapter 5 and verse two and walk in love as Christ also has loved us and given himself uh for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling Aroma and then again in chapter 5 at verse 8 for you were once Darkness but now you are light in the Lord walk as children of light so specifically here in chapter 5 Walk In Love walk in light and walk in wisdom this is a particular theme with the Apostle and it's one we need to give heed to so notice as well he then sets forth a contrast at the end of verse 15 see then that you walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise not as fools but as wise and again we should already expect a contrast at this particular point the contrast back in chapter 4 between The Old Man and the new man look at chapter 4 and verse 22 that you put off concerning your former conduct the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts and be renewed in the spirit of your mind and that you put on the new man which was created according to God in true righteousness and Holiness so there's this contrast the old man by virtue of our Union with Jesus Christ is now dead the new man is what we walk in or the new man is our orientation that's the pattern for our conduct notice as well in Chapter 5: 2 and walk in love and then he condemns lust in verses 3 to se uh 7 so there is a contrast between love and lust and then there's the contrast between the works of darkness or walking in darkness and walking in light so again he is structured he is orderly he is disciplined in the way that he presents his material so that we can receive it and so by God's grace and spirit we can put it into practice so the contrast here is between wisdom and unwisdom or non wisdom wisd wisdom and foolishness we're no longer to walk like we once walked in the futility of our minds we're no longer to engage in the sorts of things that once busied us we're no longer to pursue things that were moronic in nature I'm going to use that word tonight the word is simply the Greek word for foolish person so when I say if that offends you perhaps read your Bible in New Testament Greek and it won't offend you because is the Greek word for fool and so Paul doesn't want you to be morons anymore he wants you to be wise he wants you to walk carefully he wants you to walk circumspectly and that's the emphasis here so again back to our text see then that you walk carefully see then that you walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise what's wisdom wisdom as one lexicon States it pertains to understanding that results in Wise attitudes and conduct it's been well defined as the art of living skillfully in fact Websters 1828 not Websters 2023 but Websters 1828 the original dictionary it says in definition number one The Right Use or exercise of knowledge the choice of laudable ends and of the best means to accomplish them this is wisdom in act effect or practice the fifth entry in Websters 1828 says this in scripture theology again I doubt the Websters of 2023 has a definition that is in tune with scripture theology so it says in scripture theology wisdom is True Religion godliness piety the knowledge and fear of God and sincere and uniform obedience to his commands this is the wisdom which is from above Psalms 90:12 and job 28:12 one commentator at Lincoln makes this observation concerning wisdom he says to live as a wise person is not just to have knowledge but to have skill in living to have the sort of perception that authenticates itself in practice so wisdom certainly assumes knowledge but knowledge is not exhausted by or knowledge without wisdom is also a potential you may have everything in your head you may have lots and lots of facts but you may have great difficulty in application of those things there can be a person that based on what limited knowledge he may have functions nevertheless in a manner that is wise he applies the little bit that he has in a skillful way so wisdom is Paul's admonition to the people of God Walk In Love walk in light and walk in wisdom this is essential to navigate in this present evil age this is essential to navigate is is as an individual as family members it's essential to navigate in the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ turn back for just a moment to Matthew's gospel and Matthew chapter 7 the Lord Jesus Christ uses this particular sort of idea to press home The Sermon on the Mount he gives a series of of of ethical sort of Demands as he summarizes The Sermon on the Mount he speaks of two ways in Chapter 7: 13 and 14 he speaks of two trees in verses 15 to 20 he speaks of two claims in verses 21 to 23 and then he speaks of two builders in verses 24 to 27 he says therefore verse 24 whoever hears these sayings of mine and does them I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock and the rain descended the floods came and the winds blew and beat on that house and it did not fall for it was founded on the Rock but everyone who hears these sayings of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand and the wind uh the rain descended the floods came and the winds blew and beat on that house and it fell and great was its fall notice that both of these men are subject to the same weather patterns both of these men are subject to the same tempests both of these men are subject to the same sorts of storms both of these men are subject to the liabilities associated with life in a present evil age but it's the wise man who builds wisely upon on the rock that is God's word he hears the words of Christ and he does that the foolish man contrast by uh contrasted with him hears the words of Christ but he does not do that so he builds his house upon the sand this is the apostles emphasis here in Ephesians chapter 5 see then that you walk carefully not as fools but as wise the old man walks in darkness and he's foolish the futility of his mind the Gentile mindset in for 4 17 the new man walks in light and therefore he is to be a wise man the parallel in Colossians 4 verses 5 and six says walk in wisdom toward those who are outside there's any shade of difference this might uh the Ephesians passage might speak specifically to our conduct with one another Colossians 4:5 and 6 may speak to our conduct with those outside the church in other words we're always supposed to walk circumspectly we're always supposed to pursue wisdom were always supposed to stop being morons and pursue the things that are pleasing in the sight of God so he says walk in wisdom toward those who are outside Redeeming the time let your speech always be with Grace seasoned with salt that you may know how you ought to answer each one I think John Gil gives a good summary statement here in terms of a description of a wise walk before the Lord he say he says and such walk as wise men who walk according to the rule of God's word make Christ their path and have the spirit for their guide and walk as becomes the gospel of Christ inoffensively to all men in wisdom towards them that are without and in love to them that are within and as pilgrims and strangers in this world looking for a better country and so as to promote the glory of God and the good of souls I think that is a very excellent description of Paul's Point here but to that we are to walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise and then notice here I think it's connected specifically to verse 15 he gives a concrete application he gives a concrete application notice Redeeming the time because the days are evil first of all notice what he does not do Redeeming the time okay I want you up at 0530 by 5:45 I want you to have had your you know teeth brushed I want you to have had your morning ablutions I want you to have your your your bagel and your coffee and by 6:00 I want you in your Bible for like two hours and then once you do that then you are to pray for he doesn't do that Brethren be careful of legalistic but well-meaning preachers that want to sort of tell you how to govern every moment of your day that's not the job of any man and that's certainly not your job either if something works for you I'm up at 400 a.m. every morning and I'm so Godly great some of the other Brethren might need to get up at 6 they might need to get up at 7 Martin Lloyd Jones has a helpful corrector corrective in his preaching and preachers preachers sometimes look at a model like George Whitfield George Whitfield slept from I think 10 a uh 10: p.m. to 4:00 a.m. and then he got up and he wor you know he did devotions with his great New Testament for two hours well not everybody's George Whitfield Brethren if George Whitfield says that's how you are to redeem the time he's out of his Lane uh Lloyd Jones says if you need to sleep in and he even said seven I know four of War seven seems very late to me but hey that was Lloyd Joon we cannot make hard and fast rules to bind the people of God where the Bible does not do that it seems to me that the Apostle Paul assumes on the part of his readership that if they are blood-bought children of God and they have the Holy Spirit of God that he can give them principles and then trust that they before God can work those things out they don't need well-meaning but legalistic preachers trying to govern and regulate every jot and tit of their day now if you come to me and say hey I'm struggling in a particular area I might give you some advice or a brother or sister might give you some advice try getting up earlier I I always hit the snooze button on my alarm clock I realize now it's phones but I I always hit the snooze button we'll put it on the other side of the room that doesn't come as an appar an imperative from the Lord thus saith God put your cell phone on the other side of the room that's a piece of friendly advice we need to be able to differentiate that sort of thing so notice that Paul says Redeeming the time why do you think he says that because the way that a man or a woman uses his or her time or misuses it can often evid uh give evidence to whether they're wise or foolish right gu lays around on his couch all day long he's probably going to starve to death it's just the way it is that man in the Book of Proverbs that that says the the there's a lion lion out in the streets I I can't go to work because I might get I might get eaten well you're going to have to learn how to run past Lions because you need to go to work and be gainfully employed or you're going to starve to death and your poor wife and children are going to follow suit you see Brethren this is a principle Redeeming the time if a man does not use his time wisely it's likely that he's a Fool If a man uses his time wisely it's likely that he's wise pretty simple pretty cool pretty clear what the Apostle says in this particular instance so I think that's the connection the way that a man uses or misuses his time is a good indicator as to whether he is wise or not the meaning is simple we are to buy up the time we are to utilize it wisely we're to make the best use of it again Brethren that doesn't mean every single moment of every single day is you know set aside and you've got it all worked out that kind of person is kind of obnoxious too the guy who lays around on his couch all day can be one type of obnoxious the other guy who's micromanaging everybody's lives he's no fun at a party either and this isn't something new with the Apostle Paul we go back to that Psalm penned by Moses that man of God and we read in Psalm 90: 10 to 12 the Days of Our Lives are 70 years and if by reason of strength they are 80 years yet they're boast is only labor and sorrow for it is soon cut off and we fly away who knows the power of your anger for as the fear of you so is your wrath so teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom so Paul is not speaking in a vacuum here he's speaking to people that are at least somewhat familiar with the scriptures and they understand that time ultimately is a gift given by God to us and we are to redeem it we're to buy it up we're to use it properly in a manner that is consistent with with our conduct as wise men and women in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ now notice what he goes on to say in this particular section so he says Redeeming the time and then he gives a reason for this because the days are evil redeem the time because the days are evil I think this could possibly be understood in one of two ways first the fact that Christian influence was limited in this stage in the early Roman Empire Paul Paul writes this between ad. 60 and 62 redeem the time because the days are evil buy up the time and influence these evil days with faithful wise Christian Living we get something of that in Philippians chapter 2: 14- 16 you can turn there Philippians chapter 2 this idea where we are to function in the capacity of bringing goodness and blessing to the world around us not by single-handedly Saving everybody and rectifying all the wrongs and ameliorating the downtrodden and bore but wherever we find ourselves we can function in the capacity herein described notice in Philippians 2:14 do all things without complaining and disputing that you may become blameless and harmless children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation among whom you shine as lights in the world extend the light of the Gospel extend then the the Glorious law of God through your own faithfulness through your own influence when he says holding fast we could also translate holding forth the word of life so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain so the fact that Christian influence was limited therefore extend it redeem the time buy up the opportunities do those things that are going to have a positive effect on society around you and again don't get too ambitious when I say that I don't mean again single-handedly fix Society I don't mean single-handedly quit your job and just go out and and be a constant servant to everybody around you again Brethren there's not money to be made in that you've got families to feed you've got children to put shoes on you've got other responsibilities in addition to going out and Shining as a light I think the idea is is that wherever you find yourself whatever your business whatever your occupa occupation whatever your trade whatever your people group shine as a light in the midst of that be faithful and as you have opportunity hold forth that word of truth but I think there also might be this emphasis in the apostles language and I kind of think that this is more probably the case when he says in verse 16 Redeeming the time because the days are evil buy up every opportunity that you have because the days in which you live are evil and there is a tendency and a propensity in your heart to go running after that evil so if you're not Redeeming the time if you're not buying up the opportunities if you're not seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness then you will most likely fall into sin because the early Roman Empire we might extrapolate to our own generation this is a world filled with sin it is filled with lawlessness it is filled with Rebellion it is filled with all manner of godlessness and we see it rampant around us if we are not buying up the time if we are not Redeeming the time if we are not seeking by the grace of God to live as wise men in the in the in the world of of morons around us then we will succumb and we will fall John Ed said but the days of that period were characterized by many enormities and the refining power of Christianity was only partially and unequally felt there are several emphases in the new Testament on guarding the heart turn back to the Book of Romans Romans chapter 13 so redeem the time because the days are evil yes extend influence as you are able but most certainly guard your heart notice Romans 13 specifically at verse 11 and do this knowing the time that now it is high time to awake out of sleep for now our Salvation is nearer than when we first believed I don't think he means by that we're kind of almost saved and we're going to actually be saved I think he's speaking about the reality of an escaton the reality of an in-breaking of the age to come so don't think that he means you're kind of partially saved I I don't think that's what he's doing there notice in verse 12 the night is far spent the day is at hand therefore let us cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of light let us walk properly as in the day not in rry and drunkenness not in lewdness and lust not in strife and envy but put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its losts redeem the time why because the days are evil and if you aren't Redeeming the time you may succumb to those evil days and may practice those things that are characteristic of the persons who walk in Folly turn to 2 Corinthians chapter 7 2 Corinthians chapter 7 a similar in uh emphasis 2 Corinthians well pick up in chapter 6 Tak at verse 16 it's intriguing that we see the connection 2 Corinthians 6:16 and what agreement has the temple of God with Idols excuse me for you are the Temple of the Living God as God has said I will dwell in them and walk among them I will be their God and they shall be my people therefore come out from among them and be separate says the Lord do not touch what is unclean and I will receive you I will be a father to you and you shall be my sons and daughters says the Lord Almighty now notice in verse 7 therefore having these promises beloved huh promises made to Old Covenant Israel are promises made to New Covenant Israel promises made to the people of God in the Old Testament are promises as a result of the finished work of our L Lord Jesus Christ are promises that are good for the people of God in the New Covenant and those promises function as the impetus for the command or exhortation that Paul goes on to say therefore having these promises beloved let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the Flesh and spirit perfecting Holiness in the fear of God isn't that glorious see God when God comes to deal with us in sanctification he says Ponder the Blessed things that you have Ponder the Glorious indicative of the Gospel of Jesus Christ Our Savior and based on that now live in a manner that is consistent with that see every other religion puts it the other way the imperative comes first do this and then comes the blessing do this and live we have God has done this therefore you live now live in a manner that is consistent with that so there is these SE uh several emphases on guarding one's heart we see it as well in the Book of James you can turn over to James chapter 1 James chapter 1 specifically at verses 26 and 27 seven If anyone among you thinks he is religious and does not Bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart this one's religion is useless pure and undefiled religion before God and the father is this to visit orphans and widows in their trouble and to keep oneself unspotted from the world that's what we are supposed to do that's what conduct consistent with Christian uh the Christian Gospel looks like so back to 516 in our study in Ephesians Redeeming the time because the days are evil guard your heart extend as you're able the influence of Christianity in your sphere but mainly and primarily redeem the time because the days are evil if you're not Redeeming the time guess what most likely you're going to do you're going to be pursuing the evil with the unwise with the darkness dwellers and with the persons that are characterized by by death in Adam now that then brings us to the necessity of the word of God again he doesn't just throw this out there I want you to walk carefully I don't want you to be fools I want you to be wise I want you to redeem the time be because the days are evil but then he highlights in verse 177 therefore do not be unwise he gives that prohibition again why do you think that is why do you think there's so much repetition in the Bible have you ever pondered that you see a lot of repetition don't you cuz we need a lot of repetition we need to be told a lot it's like you're child in his socks he needs to be told a lot to put them away it's like your child with the cap on the toothpaste he needs to be told a lot or she I unfortunately looked at my grandson and he popped into my head there so I apologize with reference to that but the idea is is that repetition is a necessity and the Bible does that because of who God is dealing with this is the second caution against foolishness in the space of three verses there is this tendency to foolishness generally speaking in the heart of man you've already seen it there are those who walk in lust there are those who conduct themselves as old men in Adam there are those who walk in darkness we came out of that there is still however remaining corruption in our hearts Paul deals with that in Romans 17 uh Romans 7 and he deals with that in Galatians 5 and if we don't understand that if we have not appropriated that we need to get in those passages and get our minds wrapped around the potential in our heart the reality is the HW writer said that we're prone to wander and prone to leave the god that we love so there is remaining tendency to foolishness in the heart of redeemed men and women and so Paul once again repeats the prohibition ition in verse 17 therefore do not be unwise but now he gives a positive exhortation but understand what the will of the Lord is and the will of the Lord is the word of the Lord and the Lord here is Jesus Christ he is ascribing to Christ Divinity he is saying that we need to walk in accordance with the will of the Lord Jesus and so the will of the Lord is the word of the Lord the word of the Lord is the corrective to the Folly of man so how do we not walk as fools well we get our minds in the Bible we understand what the will of the Lord is where do we go to find out what the will of the Lord is we go to the word of the Lord and for the Apostle Paul notice back in Romans chap 12 he has much to say concerning the will of the Lord Romans 12 beginning in verse one I beseech you therefore Brethren by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a Living Sacrifice holy acceptable to God which is your reasonable service and do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God turn over to the book of Colossians we see him pray specifically for the church in colasse that they would be blessed in this direction notice in Colossians 1:9 for this reason we also since the day we heard it do not cease to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding this isn't esoteric this isn't gnosticism he's not just hoping that this Mist will fall Out of Heaven into the heads or Noggin of his readership he's talking about Understanding God's holy word look over at first Thessalonians chapter 4 you want to know what the will of the Lord is well read 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 this will help help each and every one of us verse three for this this is the will of God your sanctification that you should abstain from sexual immorality notice as well in 1 Thessalonians 5 at verse 16 Rejoice always pray without ceasing in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you so going back to Ephesians 5:17 the prohibition is simple therefore do not be unwise the exhortation is simple understand what the will of the Lord is now Brethren I want to just take a moment this isn't going to be long but a moment to reflect upon the will of the Lord in a particular book it was a famous podcaster that within the last couple of weeks made this observation it was quite amazing he said you know there's a lot of complexities in life there's a lot of difficulties going on a lot of hardships and there there's no manual there's no book to sort of help us or to guide us in the complexities of life so every Christian believer that saw this at least in the social media aspect I was looking at said what about the Bible what about the Bible you know he says he Likens it to auto mechanics you know when you're fixing a car you you've got a manual and that manual specifies you know what a spark plug is what a carburetor is these are his words there's just nothing like that for for for life again everybody could hear the collective scream are are you kidding me that's the Bible well then you come to the Christian church and we kind of do the same thing well I'm not really sure about this whole aspect of Christian Living yeah we have the New Testament Epistles but as you've reminded us Paul doesn't give us these details and these jots and titles there's a there's a collection of books in the old Covenant or in the Old Testament that go under the guise of wisdom literature and one of them in particular it's it's all about wisdom and again it's not nuggets of wisdom that that Solomon discovered in his Ventures it's Christ speaking as wisdom through Solomon under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit The Book of Proverbs The Book of Proverbs is a is a treasure Trove of wisdom for the people of god so let's turn back to Proverbs Chapter 1 for just a moment just to see a few things and then we'll get to closing here shortly but notice in Proverbs 1 Solomon specifies Christ through Solomon classifies the burden the emphasis the particulars with reference to this book notice he highlights the the the the the the specific purpose of the Book of Proverbs verse one the Proverbs of Solomon the son of David king of Israel to know wisdom and instruction to perceive words of understanding to receive the instruction of wisdom Justice judgment and Equity so I'm trying to head off at the past tomorrow morning boy Butler preached that we should pursue wisdom wouldn't it be great if there was an actual book that contained wisdom yeah it is great and it's right there in your lap so the purpose is specified notice the target audience in Verses 4 and five to give Prudence to the simple well who's the simple you and I are we need wisdom and God in His Grace has given it to us via his word to give Prudence to the simple to the young man knowledge and discretion young men young women life is tough there's a lot going on the way to navigate in this present evil age is not according to worldly wisdom not according to the evil that we find all around us but it's to hide the word of God in our hearts that we might not sin against him in fact Psalm 1199 asks the question how can a young man cleanse his way what do you think the answer is by taking heed according to your word both for just ification how do I get saved faith in Jesus Christ how do I grow in my in Grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus by reading and studying and understanding what the will of the Lord is but as well notice verse five a wise man will he and increase learning and a man of understanding will attain W uh uh uh understand wise counsel and then notice the specific Focus there in verse six to understand a proverb and an enigma the words of the wise and their riddles so you see we have a book in the Bible now there's other books I'm only focusing on this one for a bit of practical application in light of the Apostles words in Ephesians 5:17 to understand what the will of the Lord is there's an entire book and and interestingly when it comes to translation when it comes to numbering the chapters and the verses that that was all added later it's quite handy that there's 31 chapters in The Book of Proverbs isn't there isn't it it almost suggests that if you read a chapter each day of the month you might be a little better off today's the 15th perhaps reading Proverbs chapter 15 tomorrow is the 16th you get it right you want to come to the wisdom of Christ you come to the Book of Proverbs you come to the school of Solomon you come to the scriptures to understand what the will of the Lord is but then notice in verse 17 it highlights the prerequisite in terms of wisdom the fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge but fools despise wisdom and instruction in other words we don't come to judge we don't come to cast aspersion we don't come to say well that just can't be true no we come because God in His Grace has taught our Heart To Fear God in His Grace has given us ears to hear and hearts that are ready to to discover what the will of the Lord is we come not as as judge and jury but we come as submissive to the scriptures so that we can understand the will of the Lord and then with reference to the content of the Book of Proverbs or the contents it not only shows us the way of the righteous man which is good and exemplary and sets forth the reason why we ought to pursue him but it also highlights the way of the fool it shows us what the end is for those who do not understand the will of the Lord it shows us in Stark detail what happens to those who Harden their necks against reproof to those who disregard the teaching of their fathers and mothers to those who disregard the will of the Lord as revealed in the word of the Lord there is a miserable end in their future so Proverbs gives us the the course of the wise man it also gives us the course of the foolish man Solomon says things like the way of the transgressor is hard hard oh yes it is young people children listen that is absolutely bang on the way of the transgressor is hard it's not easy it's not happy it's not good it's not blessed it's not joyful and wonderful it's hard it ends in misery it ends in destruction the way of the righteous however this doesn't mean you're going to have houses and boats and all those particulars but you're going to have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ so the way of the righteous is blessed by God and his end is wonderful and glorious things well in conclusion as we look at the conduct of the new man in Christ Jesus we know he's not a new man because of his own ability we know that he's not a new man because of his own lawke keeping he's not a new man because of his own goodness he's a new man because of the Sovereign Grace of Mo of God most high Ephesians 1 3 to 14 celebrates the Blessed grace of God Almighty it celebrates what God does he uh chose us in him before the foundation of the world in theology we would refer to this as the Covenant of redemption chapter 2 veres 1 to10 show us the application of God's decree in history or in in eternity to history we call that the Covenant of Grace and you see there the before picture in 2: 1:3 what we were apart from faith in Jesus Christ and what by God's grace we now are in Verses 4 to 10 we see as well with reference to this new man he's not left to himself he's told how to walk generally speaking in 41 he's told how not to walk specifically speaking in 417 not like the Gentiles in the futility of their mind they're told further how to walk in 52 Walk In Love further in 5'8 walk in light further in 5 15 walk in wisdom you see God most high has dealt most graciously with us not only in saving us but in sanctifying us and giving us the means or the pattern that we are to pursue in a manner that is consistent with our blessed God and then finally in terms of the pursuit of wisdom I see or I want to remind you therefore do not be unwise but understand what the will of the Lord is so understand what the will of the Lord is twofold one you read his word read scripture study scripture be in church where scriptures preached be in church where scriptures taught learn it appropriate it get it in your minds get it in your Noggin get it in your heart then as well pray with reference to the pursuit of wisdom you can go to James and we'll end here James chapter 1 and the wisdom here is specifically on how to deal with trials trials but I think we can extrapolate the principle that it doesn't just apply to trials but we it should also apply to to life in general but wisdom is necessary in Trials wisdom is crucial in Trials what happens when trial hits Panic comes you need to be stable you need to be steady you need to process things in a manner that's consistent with God's word you cannot lose your mind when trials and afflictions hit you that's not the Christian response the Christian response is in the midst of Trials to call out to God for wisdom to be able to press on in the midst of the trial that's James's point so notice in verse chapter 1: 2 my brethren count it all joy when you fall into various trials which is absolutely Contra to how we live we need wisdom just for that when you have trials do you count it Joy when bad things befall you do you take a moment and say praise God this is wonderful I am so thankful that he has brought this to me so that I can be more like Jesus maybe if you do you're probably part of the slim percentage that that does that most of the rest of us need to be reminded from James my brethren count it all joy when you fall into various trials and why is that because you know something true of God knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience but let patience have its perfect work that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing now notice if any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of God I think it's an assumption he's being kind if any of you lacks wisdom we'd all say but of course we lack wisdom of course we lack wisdom of course we don't always understand what the will of the Lord is so what is the corrective what is the remedy let him ask of God why is that well job 9:4 God is wise in heart and mighty in strength job 1213 with him are wisdom and strength he has counsel and understanding Psalm 1475 great is the is our Lord and mighty in power his understanding is infinite Isaiah 4 28 his understanding is unsearchable Romans 16:27 to God Alone wise be glory through Jesus Christ forever amen Colossians 2:3 in Christ whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge remember that scene in First Kings chapter 3 when God comes to Solomon the new king he's taken over for his father David and God says what would you like Solomon and Solomon says I want wisdom so that I know how to appropriately God your people God is delighted with that God says because you've asked for wisdom I'm going to give I'm going to give you wisdom and I'm going to give you all kinds of other stuff as well Solomon pursued wisdom because he understood the gravity of governing a body politic he could not do this in his own strength so he asks of God so what is the corrective when we find ourselves in a difficult situation lacking wisdom search the scriptures prayerfully let let him ask of God and then notice he not only says ask of God but he gives us an incentive he gives us an enticement he gives us an invitation to actually ask of God it is the nature of God himself notice who gives to all liberally and without reproach you see when you ask for wisdom that is scarce most people in their I don't know most people some people in in their prayer closets they're not asking for wisdom they're asking for peace and health and prosperity which aren't necessarily bad things I wouldn't jump into your closet and say how dare you pray for peace how dare you pray no no no no but are we praying for wisdom it's almost like when God actually hears somebody praying for WIS sure yeah that's a request I don't get often let me just dump it on you because most everybody else is you know after that other stuff that's how we read Solomon in first Kings 3 so notice he gives that enticement who gives to all liberally and without reproach and then notice it's even promised it will be given to him then he makes this qualification but let him ask in faith with no doubting other words we need to not only believe that God is Hebrews 11:6 but that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him we need to practice what Jesus teaches in Matthew 7 ask seek and knock come to the Lord God in faith trusting that he will give you those things that you are after and notice what happens if you are not asking in faith let him ask in faith with no doubting for He Who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind for let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord he is a double-minded man unstable in all his ways when you ask without faith you are unsettled unanswered and unstable so James's message to each and every one of us I think in con uh uh harmony with with what Paul says is that we ask of God understand what the will of the Lord is 5:17 and ask of God for wisdom so that you may navigate not only the trials of life but also the good times in life so that you may indeed walk circumspectly in all things to walk as a wise man or a wise woman and not as a fool that is the conduct that is fitting for a new man in Christ Jesus well let us pray Our God and Father we thank you for your word we thank you for the clarity of Ephesians 5:15 to17 we pray that you would help us to grow in in wisdom to understand what the will of the Lord is to search the scriptures to meditate upon them to contemplate them and as the young man does in Psalm 119 or is commended to do to hide that word in our hearts that we might not sin against you we ask that you would go with us we ask that you would protect us we ask that you would cause us to grow in our love for you and our love for one another and help us to shine as lights in this crooked and perverse generation and give us boldness and courage to hold forth your word of Truth and we praise you through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen we'll close with a brief time of meditation