Examine How You Live
Notes
Transcript
Introduction: Several weeks ago, I was listening to a podcast whose hosts were not believers, and they were discussing some of their general observations about current events. I do not remember exactly what they were discussing at the time. But it was a combination of the government's reckless spending, gender dysphoria, and our society's general bend towards depravity. Usually, whenever I listen to unbelievers about morality, I tune out and do other things around the house until they return to an issue I care about. Not that I don't care about morality, but I understand that those without Christ generally don't have much that is constructive to contribute to the conversation. But in this particular instance, what they said caught my attention. As they were discussing the downward moral spiral our society is currently in, one of the hosts made this observation:
"You know, a hundred years ago, we didn't see this kind of behavior in our society and institutions. Today, it seems that everyone is just running around and doing whatever makes them feel good, but back then, people had a higher level of respect for how they treated one another. And I have a guess as to what a huge difference is between then and now."
"Really, what's that?" the other hosts asked.
"Back in the day, Americans had a general belief in God and believed that God held people to a certain moral standard. We don't see that today, and it seems that the further people get away from a belief in God, the more untethered they become to any sense of reality, and the result is that everyone is just doing what makes them feel good. The further we get away from a belief in God, the more chaotic our society becomes."
When I heard this, I was shocked and saddened at the same time—shocked because he nailed the reality of our depravity and saddened because he was so close to the truth but had not yet connected that truth to Christ and what Jesus had done for him personally. That comment also came back to me as I was considering this text because it is a pretty good definition of what Paul defines in this passage as a fool.
See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.
As Pastor Brandon has been preaching through Ephesians, he has already pointed out to us that as a result of God’s glorious salvation He has provided for us, we ought to be imitators of God who walk in love, who walk in the light, and now who walk in wisdom. In Christ, we lay aside our selfish ambitions because God has given us a love for others. In Christ, we put aside the old man who bore the fruits of darkness and instead bear the fruit of the spirit. And in Christ, we reject the way of fools because God has given us a better way to live through wisdom.
As Pastor Brandon has also pointed out, this is the result of our salvation-our sanctification. And in this passage God’s plan for our sanctification is simple:
See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
Transition: The structure for the message this morning is simple, yet it isn't easy to live up to. In order to continue in our sanctification and become more like Christ, we must carefully examine our lives and be sure that we are living not as fools but as wise.
Not As Fools
Not As Fools
The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt,
They have done abominable works,
There is none who does good.
Reference the Opening Illustration
Specifically, in this passage, the fool is revealed by how he spends his time.
See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
What does it look like to waste your time like a fool?
The Fool Focuses on Materialism
The Fool Focuses on Materialism
Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’
“So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
The Fool Focuses on the Moment
The Fool Focuses on the Moment
“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
“And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
“Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
The Fool Focuses on Pleasure
The Fool Focuses on Pleasure
And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
The Bible always condemns drunkenness
Who has woe?
Who has sorrow?
Who has contentions?
Who has complaints?
Who has wounds without cause?
Who has redness of eyes?
Those who linger long at the wine,
Those who go in search of mixed wine.
Do not look on the wine when it is red,
When it sparkles in the cup,
When it swirls around smoothly;
At the last it bites like a serpent,
And stings like a viper.
Your eyes will see strange things,
And your heart will utter perverse things.
Yes, you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea,
Or like one who lies at the top of the mast, saying:
“They have struck me, but I was not hurt;
They have beaten me, but I did not feel it.
When shall I awake, that I may seek another drink?”
Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler,
And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.
Why do people drink to the point of drunkenness?
To be happy
A merry heart does good, like medicine,
But a broken spirit dries the bones.
To forget
knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
Transition: Now that we know how a fool lives his life, let us turn our attention to the more important question of how to live a wise life.
But As Wise
But As Wise
The Wise Focus on Usefulness
The Wise Focus on Usefulness
redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Reference the parable of the ten virgins
The Wise Focus on Fruitfulness
The Wise Focus on Fruitfulness
Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
What is the will of the Lord in this passage?
And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
Singing
Singing
speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
Giving Thanks
Giving Thanks
Attitudes about thanksgiving
It is unnecessary
Refer back to the rich fool
The attitude of the hypocrite
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’
The attitude of the truly thankful
And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.
So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”
Submitting
Submitting
Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
Conclusion:
Not as fools
Focus on Materialism
Focus on the Moment
Focus on Pleasure
But as Wise
Focus on Usefulness
Focus on Fruitfulness