“Time to Walk with the Lord”
Ephesians 5:15-17
One of the words used to describe the Christian Life in Scripture is the word “walk” it is a simple but profound word because it describes the Christian life with a term denoting action, direction and purpose. The Christian life is indeed a life of action and I would say even adventure! It is a life full of purpose and direction! The verses we will consider today speak to the question - How do we carry on a walk with the Lord?
I. We are called to walk circumspectly / carefully – Ephesians 5:15
There is a degree of caution, carefulness recommended for the “Christian Life”
WHY?
1. Because our feet are not totally steady yet, at least not without God’s enabling – 1 Corinthians 10:12
A. God’s enabling is powerful indeed – Habakkuk 3:19
B. Yet God’s enabling must be sought with patient prayer – Isaiah 40:31
2. Because we are walking through dark and difficult enemy territory –
A. There is a course which is typical of this world, but we are now going against the grain, because we are alive – Ephesians 2:1-3
B. We see this world differently because we now see the kingdom of God – John 3:3
C. People of this world see it as home –
D. But we are Pilgrims, strangers, aliens in this world, our citizenship is in heaven – Philippians 3:20 – this place is full of snares / traps, demons, Christ calls Satan the Ruler of this world – John 14:30; 16:11
E. The world we are living in is condemned, like a condemned building, John Bunyan calls it “The City of Destruction” 2 Peter 3:10-13
II. We are called to walk “not as fools but as wise” –
1. The greatest foolishness is denial of God – Psalm 14:1
2. The philosophy of “No God” leads to unrestrained sin – Psalm 14:3-4
3. Foolishness usually demonstrates itself in unrestrained passions which do not fear or even notice consequences, foolishness is the opposite of the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom – Psalm 111:10
4. Wisdom includes knowledge but is much more than knowledge – Wisdom implies an ability to use knowledge for yours or other’s advantage -
“Tim was so learned, that he could name a horse in nine Languages. So ignorant, that he bought a cow to ride on.” Ben Franklin
Those who follow the anti-Christ may be able to buy some cows – Revelation 13:16-17, but Christ’s followers will ride the white horses – Revelation 19:11 &14
5. True wisdom acknowledges God and His word and our NEED for Him and it – Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 119:11
6. Gaining Wisdom from God results in God protecting our paths as we walk through this world – Proverbs 2:1-8
III. This wisdom includes redeeming the time – Ephesians 5:16 (because the days are evil)
1. We need to redeem the time because it is short – Psalm 90:9-12;
death clock
2. We need to redeem the time because how much we have is unpredictable – Luke 12:16-21
3. We need to redeem the time because the days are EVIL and most likely will be increasingly so – Ecclesiastes 12
IV. We redeem the time best by understanding the will of God – Ephesians 5:17 (application)
1. We do this by knowing God’s Word rather than going with the flow of the world – Psalm 1 / Romans 12:1-2
2. We do this by setting godly priorities - Matthew 6:9-13; Psalm 119:11
A. There is the important and the urgent, these are kept in proper balance – Matthew 14:13-16; Luke 5:15-16
B. There is activity, work vs. rest and recreation these are to be kept in balance too – Psalm 127:2 / different personalities / situations / callings may handle this differently – Luke 7:31-35
