Ephesians 5:15-17
In few minutes we will be saying goodbye to 2015 and welcome 2016.
This is the time people tend to look back and look forward.
This is a good time for us to take inventory of our spiritual life during 2015.
This helps us to make some adjustments and improvements to do better in 2016.
So to begin with we need to ask ourselves a very simple question.
Did we give our best to the Lord in 2015? – Our time, our treasure & our talent
I. UNDERSTANDING HOW WE LIVE
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,
A. Be very careful how we live.
The important aspect to consider is the usage of our time.
That is based on the fact that we recognize the brevity of life.
How we are to use the God’s given time in more useful ways.
It is just a matter of perception that many feel that they have got a long life to live.
“Those who are in love it looks like a blink of an eye.
Those who are waiting outside the surgery room of it look like an eternity.”
The psalmist says, “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Ps 90:12).
So our time on this earth is valuable & limited so live carefully.
B. Live wisely.
If we live according to the wisdom of the world we will be utter failures in God’s eyes.
The wisdom God gives to us is not the wisdom of this world.
True wisdom is based on the knowledge of the Holy One.
“Fear of the LORD is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.” (NLT)
This reverential fear is the foundation for wisdom.
II. UNDERSTANDING THE DAYS ARE EVIL
16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
Paul is basically saying we must redeem our time.
A. Avail every opportunity
We get up early, fight traffic, go to job – survive financial responsibilities.
The mundane makes us to take our eyes off and neglect our spiritual needs.
Things of eternal are valuable and last forever.
B. The days are evil
There is absolutely no doubt that we are living in dark days – not literal darkness.
Evil is always influencing and corrupting this world – it was never this bad before.
We can feel it every day how things are getting skewed.
Definition for truth is lost – right becoming wrong – wrong becoming right.
Morality has a new meaning every day.
Biblical faith is tested, ridiculed and discarded.
We need to take every opportunity to stand up for our faith & truth in the Word of God.
III. UNDERSTANDING LORD’S WILL
17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
“God does not want us simply to know His will; He wants us to understand His will”
A. Not to be foolish
Psalms 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.
Bible describes a foolish person in many ways: hates knowledge, no pleasure in understanding (Pro 18:2).
B. Seeking God’s will
Knowing what God’s in our life is important for every Christian.
We live in the light of what we have discovered God’s will for us.
That makes us wise and knowledgeable to handle life’s challenges.
For a Christian the spiritual life determines the social life.
We cannot separate them at any given time as they go together.
God’s people must understand that they are MARKED in the world.
We are sealed by the Holy Spirit the minute we accept the Lord Jesus.
We are marked people as the world hates us for our faith in the Lord.
The days are evil and we must be cautious and careful.
Year 2016 is unknown & uncertain.
Let us focus on the risen Lord and seek Holy Spirit’s guidance throughout 2016.
We are kingdom people – let us do kingdom business.
MAY YOU HAVE A BLESSED YEAR 2016
In few minutes we will be saying goodbye to 2015 and welcome 2016.
This is the time people tend to look back and look forward.
This is a good time for us to take inventory of our spiritual life during 2015.
This helps us to make some adjustments and improvements to do better in 2016.
So to begin with we need to ask ourselves a very simple question.
Did we give our best to the Lord in 2015? – Our time, our treasure & our talent
I. UNDERSTANDING HOW WE LIVE
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,
A. Be very careful how we live.
The important aspect to consider is the usage of our time.
That is based on the fact that we recognize the brevity of life.
How we are to use the God’s given time in more useful ways.
It is just a matter of perception that many feel that they have got a long life to live.
“Those who are in love it looks like a blink of an eye.
Those who are waiting outside the surgery room of it look like an eternity.”
The psalmist says, “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Ps 90:12).
So our time on this earth is valuable & limited so live carefully.
B. Live wisely.
If we live according to the wisdom of the world we will be utter failures in God’s eyes.
The wisdom God gives to us is not the wisdom of this world.
True wisdom is based on the knowledge of the Holy One.
“Fear of the LORD is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.” (NLT)
This reverential fear is the foundation for wisdom.
II. UNDERSTANDING THE DAYS ARE EVIL
16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
Paul is basically saying we must redeem our time.
A. Avail every opportunity
We get up early, fight traffic, go to job – survive financial responsibilities.
The mundane makes us to take our eyes off and neglect our spiritual needs.
Things of eternal are valuable and last forever.
B. The days are evil
There is absolutely no doubt that we are living in dark days – not literal darkness.
Evil is always influencing and corrupting this world – it was never this bad before.
We can feel it every day how things are getting skewed.
Definition for truth is lost – right becoming wrong – wrong becoming right.
Morality has a new meaning every day.
Biblical faith is tested, ridiculed and discarded.
We need to take every opportunity to stand up for our faith & truth in the Word of God.
III. UNDERSTANDING LORD’S WILL
17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
“God does not want us simply to know His will; He wants us to understand His will”
A. Not to be foolish
Psalms 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.
Bible describes a foolish person in many ways: hates knowledge, no pleasure in understanding (Pro 18:2).
B. Seeking God’s will
Knowing what God’s in our life is important for every Christian.
We live in the light of what we have discovered God’s will for us.
That makes us wise and knowledgeable to handle life’s challenges.
For a Christian the spiritual life determines the social life.
We cannot separate them at any given time as they go together.
God’s people must understand that they are MARKED in the world.
We are sealed by the Holy Spirit the minute we accept the Lord Jesus.
We are marked people as the world hates us for our faith in the Lord.
The days are evil and we must be cautious and careful.
Year 2016 is unknown & uncertain.
Let us focus on the risen Lord and seek Holy Spirit’s guidance throughout 2016.
We are kingdom people – let us do kingdom business.
MAY YOU HAVE A BLESSED YEAR 2016
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