Life In The Spirit

After delivering an energetic address, a popular speaker, turning to the audience, asked smilingly, “Are there any questions? Anyone have a question?” The silence was embarrassing. Finally a man toward the back of the room stood and stated, “I have a question.” “Fine,” retorted the encouraged guest. “And what is your question?”

“What time is it?”

The man’s query was wiser than he knew. He was concerned about conditions in a yawning world, not the clock that sleepy people faced. Pressed by myriad appeals, bewildered by the proliferation of inventions and weaponry, disgusted by the pettifogging of politicians, this embattled American was asking: “In view of conflicting ideologies and national problems, what are our chances for a decent existence and survival?”

1. By looking around and watching every step (v.15) ; ;

Can be rendered as, “pay close attention to how you behave.” Life is a walk, walk carefully and strictly.

Note: ; and

According to the Proverbs, the way of wisdom that members of the covenant community are to walk requires insight and understanding into God’s will. This involves not simply an intellectual knowledge (though it is included), but also a skill in living, an ethical walk.

There is the fool or unwise person: this simply means the person who is unthinking, thoughtless, careless, uncaring, and worldly minded. The unwise is the person who gives little thought about where he should go and where he should not go.

The unwise person is not concerned about watching every step and being alert to every temptation and pitfall in life. Living a careful, accurate, strict, disciplined, controlled life is not that important to him. Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians.

The unwise person is not concerned about watching every step and being alert to every temptation and pitfall in life. He could care less about struggling and being exact and strict in life. Living a careful, accurate, strict, disciplined, controlled life is not that important to him.

There is the wise person: the thinking, thoughtful, careful, caring, spiritually minded person. This is the person on mission. He knows God personally and he knows that he is on earth to live a righteous and godly life and to bear testimony to the Lord Jesus Christ.

He knows that the only answer to the evil and problems of life is Jesus Christ and His righteousness.

"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh" ().

"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation [calling] wherewith ye are called" ().

"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise" ().

"He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked" ().

Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians.

2. By redeeming the time (v.16) ; ; ; ; Eccl. 12:1

2. By redeeming the time (v.16)

"make good use of your time" do good often

We still live in an evil age, and time is short

A person is to use his time wisely; he is not to waste time. Time is a gift of God. What we have to do is to use time—use it wisely—use it to do the best that we can.

A person is to use his time by taking advantage of the opportunities that arise throughout the day. This, too, is what redeeming the time means.

Note why we are to redeem the time: because the days are evil. This refers to all the evil that confronts the believer as he walks day by day—so much evil that he must stay alert to keep from falling and failing.

"But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; and they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; and they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away" ().

"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" ().

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" ().

"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom" ().

"Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them" (). The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians.

3. By understanding the Lord's will (v.17) , , , , ; ; ;

Don't act like fools, but don't depend on human advice or wisdom, but “to understand what the will of God is” (RSV).

We discover the will of God as He transforms the mind (); and this transformation is the result of the Word of God, prayer, meditation, and worship. If God gave you a mind, then He expects you to use it. This means that learning His will involves gathering facts, examining them, weighing them, and praying for His wisdom (). God does not want us simply to know His will; He wants us to understand His will.

"Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" ().

"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth" ().

"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" ().

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" ().

"I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart" (). "

"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee" (). "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (). "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment" ().

4. By rejecting drunkenness (v.18)

4. By rejecting drunkenness (v.18) ; ;

Drunkenness means to be intoxicated with drink or drugs (cp. ; ; ; cp. ; ; ; ). The word "excess" (asōtia PWS: 1380) is excessive behavior. The Greek means... • the dissipation and wasting away of the body. • uncontrolled behavior. • rioting, debauchery, wild and outrageous behavior and conduct.

DRUNKENNESS IS A WORK OF THE FLESH AND IT OFTEN LEADS TO OTHER SINS OF THE FLESH: partying, loose behavior, immodest clothing, exposure of the body, sexual thoughts, immorality, wicked or evil and unjust behavior or violence and physical abuse, notions of grandeur, strength or power

The Christian life is a controlled life, and an ordered life, and a productive life

"Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God" (). "Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" ().

Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians.

5. By being filled with the Spirit (v.18-21) , ; , , ; ; Eph. 5:19

"He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?" ().

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive)" ().

"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" ().

"And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness" ().

"And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost" ().

"What is it then? I will pray with the Spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also" ().

"Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" ().

Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians.

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