Ephesians 5:8:21
Introduction:
With so many things going on around us….with both responsibilities and opportunities, what is really important? Right Now!
I begin a series this morning entitled, “What’s Important Right Now” that will have us sifting through the Book of Ephesians for a while.
I am actually going to work backwards from my opening text this morning which starts in chapter 5:8.
Context of First 4 Chapters:
Chapter 1 – Redemption of Christ and Need for Spiritual Wisdom
Chapter 2 – By Grace we are saved; brought near by His blood; Christ our peace and cornerstone.
Chapter 3 – ‘Mystery’ Revealed – actually no mystery at all but rather the coming of unity and forgiveness that comes to the family of God’s children through Jesus whom people beforehand knew not when He would come.
Chapter 4: – 5:7, – I will come back to. It’s all about ‘Walking’ a certain way!
Transition
: But today I begin with 5:8 and will take us through verse 14.
Propositional
: Because we are whom we are through the saving grace and work of the Cross,
we are to understand and pursue certain things that are really important
!
The first thing that’s important right now is to walk right!
peripateo
{per-ee-pat-eh’-o}
Meaning:
1) to walk 1a) to make one’s way, progress; to make due use of opportunities 1b) Hebrew for, to live 1b1) to regulate one’s life 1b2) to conduct one’s self 1b3) to pass one’s life
Joshua 22:5
“But take careful heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
(NKJ)
Walking Right includes (but is not limited to):
* Where we go.
Deuteronomy 13:4
“You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him.
(NKJ)
1 Samuel 8:1-7
What does a ‘right walk’ look like?
Question
: What does your walk look like? Do you walk a little funny? Do you stumble? Is it clumsy?
What is important right now is that we commit to walking right!
Transition
: The second important thing to do right now is to, what I am calling, “Figure it Out” from verse 10.
Application
: There can only be one guide book, source, manual, text, etc…for knowing or figuring out the will of God.
Ephesians 5:10
“Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.”
(NLT) ‘
Well pleasing
or
acceptable’
to the Lord.
Jeremiah 42-43
The issue in chapters 42-43 is a familiar one: listening and obeying.
This is their oath/pledge/what they swear!
Jeremiah 42:6
“Whether it is pleasing or displeasing, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God to whom we send you, that it may be well with us when we obey the voice of the LORD our God.”
(NKJ)
God tells Jeremiah to tell them not to go.
Application
: What is important right now?
That we understand what is right/pleasing to him!
How do I treat my wife and kids?
Then we need to align ourselves and obey!
Transition
: #3 of 4 for this morning comes from verse 10.
III.
Steer Clear (of Darkness) – 10:11
NKJ – fellowship; other versions – partake, participate, take part.
Application
: Many believers ignore or better yet act like they don’t know what these acts of darkness might be.
Galatians 5:16-21
1 Thess. 5:22
, “Abstain/Flee/Run from every appearance of evil.”
James 4:7
“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (NKJ)
Transition
: The last important right now comes from verse 14.
Application
: Too many believers are sleep walking!
Paul is quoting Isaiah in 26:19,
“
Your dead shall live; Together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; For your dew is like the dew of herbs, And the earth shall cast out the dead.”
(NKJ)
Romans 13:11
, “
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.”
(NKJ)
1 Thessalonians 5:6
“Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.”
(NKJ)
Conclusion
: What is really important for us right now? Is it minding the things of God and the Spirit or being about our own business?
Matthew 25:1-13
“
The kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten pure unmarried young women who took their small clay lamps and departed to meet the bridegroom.
2
Five of them were shortsighted, and five were thoughtful.
3
The happy-go-lucky ones took along their lamps, but they did not take a supply of olive oil with them.
4
But the smart young women took with their lamps oil in flasks.
5
Because the bridegroom’s procession was delayed, they all nodded off and were sleeping.
6
At midnight a stentorian call was made: “Behold the bridegroom! Proceed to meet him.”
7
Then all those young women got up and fiddled with their lamps to trim them.
8
The shortsighted ones said to those who were foresighted, “Give us some of your oil because our lamps have burned out.”
9
But the thoughtful young women said, “Most certainly there is not enough for us and for you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.”
10
While they were away to buy oil, the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready entered with him to the marriage feast, and the door was bolted.
11
Later, the rest of the young women arrived saying, “Sir, sir, open up for us!”
12
But his answer came: “Indeed, I declare to you that I do not recognize you.”
13
Keep alert, therefore, because you know neither his arrival day nor the hour!
(Mat 25:1 MIT)
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