Walking Wisely and Redeeming Time (Ephesians 5:15-20)
This sermon explores what it means to live a wise and fulfilling life in a world facing increasing challenges. It offers a clear path to understanding God's will and experiencing His provision, regardless of external circumstances.
In these evil days, believers are called to walk wisely and redeem opportune moments by being continually filled with the Spirit. This filling comes actively through speaking and singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, leading to satisfaction, wisdom, and divine provision.
Overview
The sermon opens by urging believers to number their days and walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil. It highlights that God desires believers to experience "good days" in abundance, contrasting the short, sorrowful life described in Psalm 90 (under the law and wrath) with the long, satisfying life promised in Psalm 91 (under grace and God's satisfaction).
To understand the Lord's will and redeem opportune moments (kairos), the preacher emphasizes being continually filled with the Spirit. He explains that this is a passive receiving on our part, but an active participation is required: speaking and singing to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. This practice, likened to drinking spiritual wine without the hangover, leads to boldness, freedom from worry, and an 'oiled' life.
The sermon further illustrates the power of praise and singing with biblical examples, including Elisha calling for a musician before prophesying and Jehoshaphat's army praising God before battle. It connects singing and praise to wisdom, citing Solomon and his worship leaders. The names of David's worship leaders are explored, revealing meanings like 'everflowing,' 'faithful,' 'provided for,' and 'pearl of wisdom,' linking praise to God's provision even in times of famine.
Concluding with a vision from Isaiah 60, the preacher declares that as darkness covers the earth, the light of believers will shine brighter. This light, fueled by continuous praise, will draw non-Christians and their wealth, leading to a great harvest of salvation. The sermon emphasizes that the believer's 'walls' are salvation (Yeshua) and their 'gates' are praise, which must be open continually for God's blessings to flow.
Key points
- Believers are in "evil days" and must walk circumspectly, wisely redeeming opportune "kairos" moments.
- God's will for believers is a long and satisfying life, not the 70-80 years experienced under God's wrath in Psalms 90.
- To understand God's will and redeem time, one must be continually filled with the Holy Spirit.
- The active part of being filled with the Spirit involves speaking and singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
- This practice brings wisdom, joy, and healthy relationships, as illustrated by biblical examples like Elisha and Jehoshaphat.
- Praise, symbolized by the gates of a city, opens the way for God's provision, even in famine, and draws others to Christ.
- In the last days, as darkness increases, the light of praising believers will shine brighter, leading to a great harvest of salvation.
In Joseph Prince's words
“When God exalts you, Amen. He never never substitute you.”
“God's word is God's will. God's will is God's word.”
“You shall call your wall salvation and your gates praise.”
Outline
- I. Introduction: The "Ramah Word" and God's Ways vs. World's Ways
- II. Walking Wisely and Redeeming Time in Evil Days (Ephesians 5:15-16)
- A. Understanding the "Evil Days"
- B. What it Means to "Walk Circumspectly"
- C. Redeeming "Kairos" Time by "Buying Back" Opportunities
- D. God's Desire for Believers to See "Good Days"
- E. Contrasting Psalms 90 (Life Under Wrath) and Psalms 91 (Long, Satisfied Life Under Grace)
- 1. The Hebrew Word "Sati" for "Satisfied"
- 2. Biblical Examples: Abraham, Isaac, David, Job
- 3. Gaining a Heart of Wisdom by Numbering Our Days (Psalms 90:12)
- III. How to Understand the Will of the Lord and Be Filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:17-20)
- A. Do Not Be Unwise, But Understand God's Will
- B. Do Not Be Drunk with Wine, But Be "Being Filled" with the Spirit
- 1. "Being Filled" as a Passive Receiving, Active Participation
- C. The Active Part: Speaking and Singing Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs
- 1. Satisfying Ourselves Early with God's Mercy (Psalms 90:14)
- 2. The Vital Role of Singing to Oneself
- 3. The Example of Elisha and the Musician (2 Kings 3)
- IV. Wisdom, Provision, and the End Times through Praise
- A. Solomon's Wisdom and the Worship Leaders (Ethan, Heman, Calcol, Darda)
- 1. Ethan: Everflowing; Calcol: Provided For (Joseph in Goshen)
- 2. Darda: Pearl of Wisdom; Mahal: Dance
- B. Arise and Shine in the Darkness (Isaiah 60)
- 1. Gentiles and Kings Will Come to Your Light
- 2. The "Walls" of Salvation (Yeshua) and "Gates" of Praise
Scripture references
- Ephesians 5:15-20
- Proverbs
- Psalms
- Job
- Ephesians 6
- Psalms 90
- Psalms 91
- Psalms 103:5
- 2 Kings 3
- Isaiah 60
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
1 Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
1 Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years.
2 And he wrought evil in the sight of the Lord; but not like his father, and like his mother: for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made.
1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
Insights
Wisdom begins with numbering the days we are given.
Life's true satisfaction extends beyond its natural length.
To understand God's will, one must be continually filled with the Spirit.
Questions & answers
What does it mean to "walk circumspectly" according to this sermon?
To "walk circumspectly" means to walk accurately and carefully, not wasting time but being precise in how one lives. It involves redeeming opportune moments in the midst of challenging times.
How does the sermon differentiate between life described in Psalms 90 and Psalms 91?
Psalms 90 describes a life of 70-80 years marked by labor and sorrow, lived under God's wrath and the law. Psalms 91, in contrast, promises a long life filled with satisfaction, which is God's will for believers living under grace.
What is the key to being continually "filled with the Spirit"?
The sermon states that while being filled with the Spirit is a passive receiving on our part, the active part involves speaking and singing to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. This practice keeps one in the flow of the Spirit.
What are "kairos moments" and how can a believer redeem them?
Kairos moments are fortunate, opportune, or favorable times. A believer can redeem these moments, even in evil days, by being continually filled with the Spirit, which comes through active praise and singing.
How does singing and praise impact a believer's life, according to the sermon?
Singing and praise fill a believer with the Spirit and wisdom, leading to joy, freedom from worry, and smoother relationships. It's a vital part of a spirit-filled life that can also bring supernatural provision and draw others to Christ.
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