Sermon Central
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Level-Headed Living Series
Contributed by W F on Jun 11, 2006 (message contributor)
Summary: You can’t leave the Christian life to chance. When it comes to your faith you must make wise decisions and seek to do the will of God.
Introduction
You can’t leave the Christian life to chance. When it comes to your faith you must make wise decisions and seek to do the will of God. In Ephesians 5:15 Paul writes ...
“Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise, but as wise, making the most of every opportunity ...”
(Ephesians 5:15-16a NIV)
He means that we must live with our eyes open, looking around; to live carefully; to live with exactness and precision. The opposite would be to live carelessly, without proper guidance and forethought. And there are several reasons why we should live a wise, accurate and careful life.
1) A wise life understands it’s limits (vv.15–16)
It’s a wise exercise to consider the brevity of life. The Bible says ...
"Show me, O Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life" (Psalm 39:4 NIV)
Many Australians live for the weekend, and the average Aussie gets 3640 of them. If you are 35 then you only have 1820 weekends left. If you are 45 you only have1300 - - 55 = 780 - - 65 = 260!! How will you spend your remaining weekends?
The point is, life is limited. That’s why Ephesians 5 says ...
Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise,making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:15-16 NIV).
Living carefully means paying attention to where your life is going. Do you understand why God has you here? The Bible makes no bones about it. God wants you to know exactly why you are here ...
"We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:10 NIV).
Many people have no idea why they are alive – what their calling is in life. But the Bible says ...
... do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is (Ephesians 5:17).
This is one of the Devil’s greatest successes stories – that people, even Christians, are leading directionless lives – just drifting through life. Satan wants to steal your days and have you waste them. That’s why Ephesians 5 says ...
... make the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16b NIV)
And there are several ways you can begin to clarify what God’s call is on your life.
(1) You feel “moved” toward a particular need, usually an unmet one. And you just know you have to do this.
(2) This “inkling” is confirmed by other people. Mature Christian friends will discern that God’s at work in your life.
(3) You’ll be gifted to do it or you will have a desire to prepare further.
(4) You’ll see results! You’ll change things, touch lives and glorify God.
So live wise – stop drifting, find your calling and fulfil it – before it’s too late!
2. A wise life understands what the Lord’s will is (v17)
"...do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is" (Ephesians 5:17)
The word “understand” in Ephesians 5 suggests that you should use your mind to discover and do the will of God. God’s will definitely involves clear thinking with a mind that’s in gear. In v14 Paul said ..
Wake up o sleeper,rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you (Ephesians 5:14 NIV).
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him(James 1:5).
God doesn’t simply want you to know his will, he wants you to understand it. That’s wise and careful living.
3) A wise life is a Spirit filled life (v 18)
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).
In the Bible, “being filled” means being controlled by. It has nothing to do with the contents or the quantity. It’s not like you’re an empty container that needs more of the Spirit to fill you up – more Spiritual fuel to keep you going. Being “filled” with the Spirit means being controlled by the Spirit.
How do you know if you’re filled with the Spirit? Ephesians 5 says that if you are filled with the Spirit you will first of all be worshipful ...
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord
When you are filled with the Spirit you will also be thankful ...
... always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:20 NIV).
And when you are filled with the Spirit you will be submissive.
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21).
