Be What You Are
Notes
Transcript
Be What You Are (Eph 5:8-20)
1. Introduction - (250 words)
Opening Illustration: Don’t go out naked!
- Working in the garden
- Going out to lunch
- Don’t go out naked -> ridiculous!
Over these last few weeks, we’ve been thinking about what Paul meant in Eph 4:1 when he tells us to live lives worthy of the gospel.
Now it so easy for us to fall into the trap of thinking that living a life worthy of the gospel means to stop sinning. And well just stop there.
Of course, it is important that we seek the Holy Spirit’s power to stop doing things in our lives we know are against God’s will.
But if it never goes further than that we’re like the person who changes out of their dirty gardening clothes and then goes to lunch naked!
God’s desire is not simply put off sinning. But also, that we ‘put on’ or pursue godliness.
Or to put it simply: God’s wants us to stop acting like were and start being who are in Jesus. [Ask for Slide]
This theme of ‘Be who you are’ runs right through v8-20, and this morning we are going to explore it under four headings:
1. Be Holy (v8-14)
2. Be Proactive (v15-17)
3. Be Spirit-filled (v18)
4. Be Worshipful (v19-20)
[REPEAT]
[Take down Slide]
I. Be Holy (v8-14) – (487 Words)
The first thing Paul wants us to pursue in place of our sin is holiness. He wants us to Be Holy (v8-14).
I wonder what you think of when you think of holiness.
Maybe you think of someone who is super serious? Maybe some who is a bit high and mighty?
Or thinks they are better than you
The kind of person who leaves you thinking.
“Ugh, why do they have to be so holy!”
Whatever comes to mind when you think of holiness. It is worth remembering two things.
Firstly, on a basic level to be holy means to be set apart and different. And is most often used in the bible to describe moral and spiritual purity.
So, holiness is not an outward display we put on, but who we are. In many ways, a good measure of our holiness is how we act when we think no one is looking or listening.
Second, the Bible tells us over and over that God is holy. He’s set apart, different and pure.
Last week, we saw in Chapter 5:1 that we are to imitate God, and that means we are to be holy too. Which is precisely the point that Paul is making in v8-14.
Now the sharp eyed among you will notice the word ‘holy’ doesn’t make an appearance in v8-14. But another word does, a word that is most often used as a metaphor (a word picture) for holiness. And that word is light.
For example, when the bible says in 1 John 1:5 “That God; in him is no darkness at all” John is saying that God is holy and free from all sin and evil.
Similarly, when Paul says at the end of Eph 5:8: “live as children of light”. He is saying us: “Live as children of holiness.” Live lives that are set apart because of by the goodness, righteousness (or justice) and truth which they display.
But it is also important to realise where this holiness comes from – or maybe where it doesn’t come from.
Paul wants us to understand that we are not naturally given to holiness. In fact, we were not naturally given to the opposite of holiness.
You can see that at the start of verse 8. What we were naturally given to is the darkness – sin. But now we are “light [or holy] in the Lord [Jesus].”
Personally, I find these verses so helpful.
Firstly, it helps me to understand that I work to live a holy life by the Spirit’s power, because the Father already sees me as holy through my faith in Jesus. So being holy is simply being who God has saved me (and you) to be.
But also, it is a helpful reminder that we don’t become holy by trying to be super serious or trying hard. Holy does not equal boring; and it doesn’t equal busy either.
No, holiness means pursuing Jesus, imitating Jesus and becoming like Jesus. We are holy through our unity with him; and we live holy lives by living like him.
Lives which verse 13-14 remind us will shine out into the darkness of the world around us, revealing sin in our society, and in turn attracting people to Jesus like moths to lightbulb.
II. Be Proactive (v15-17) – (513)
Second, be proactive (v15-17).
Throughout the year, I usually end up attending a few Christian conferences – though not so many this year…
Christian conferences always have book shops, and after a while you start to notice what this year ‘in thing’ in Christian book is going to be.
A few years ago, it was productivity. Everyone seemed to be writing books about how you could take your Christian life to the next level.
Not surprisingly, a lot of those books ended up saying the same things. Like, how busyness does not equal productivity. As the old saying goes, don’t work just work harder; work smarter.
And the same is true for a productive Christian life. We need to be proactive with the time we time we have not just busy...
Paul’s plea to be a proactive Christian is bookended by two calls to be wise. Take a look: v15, “Be careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise.” And again, v17, “Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”
And in many ways, ‘understanding what the Lord will is’ is a great definition of biblical wisdom. One writer put it like this. He says that “to be wise means to act like one who is in relationship with the Lord.” [REPEAT]
And living like we are in relationship with the Lord requires us to be proactive. To make the most of the time that is given us.
But Paul gives us other reasons to be proactive in v16. Namely, “because the days are evil.”
Plagues of locusts, racism, human trafficking, a global pandemic. I don’t think any of us need much convincing that the days we live in are evil. That part is relatively straight forward and should remind us that we are living in the last days. We are awaiting Jesus’ glorious return.
So how do we live in the meantime? You guessed it. Proactively. It is precisely because these evil days remind us that we are in the end times, that we are make the most of every opportunity.
Now, some commentators think that ‘Every opportunity’ is a call to evangelism, like in Colossians 4:5-6. Others think Paul is giving a general principle to use our time wisely whatever we are doing.
It’s hard to say for certain, but I think this a general rather than specific command in 16. I think Paul is saying that wise Christian’s pursue a proactive lifestyle and that means they are ready to grab whatever opportunity the Lord sends their way.
Since March some of us have found ourselves with more free time than ever. Some, especially parents with young children, have a lot less free time than maybe they had before.
Whatever situation you find yourself in, don’t let the opportunities God sends you slip away.
Be it evangelism, service, work, rest, education, time with family, or time with the Lord. Grab the opportunities with both hands and do it with all your heart. Not for yourself, but for the glory of God.
Be Spirit-filled (v18)
Third, Be Spirit filled.
I went to 6th form college just a few miles from here at Brooklands in Weybridge. There I studied rock and popular music. As you might expect with that kind of course, alcohol was a big part of the lifestyle.
At the weekends a bunch of us would all pile round someone’s house and have far too much to drink. I remember one time the summer before I become a Christian, I got so drunk that couldn’t remember anything the next day.
To this day, I have no idea what happened in those hours other than what people told me the following day. And the things I apparently did and said made me feel ashamed.
Now, anyone who has ever had too much to drink knows, too much alcohol makes you act out of character. And excessive amounts of alcohol make you act without thinking. Sometimes, as in my teenage self, without even remembering.
And it is against this kind of drinking that Paul warns us in v18, saying: “Do not get drunk with wine [or alcohol], which leads to debauchery.”
In this verse the word for ‘debauchery’ carries with it a sense of recklessness. Drinking that might lead to us being reckless with our actions, reckless with our speaking, or our behaviour in general.
I wonder how many affairs began with two people having too much to drink… I wonder how many family feuds began with people have too much to drink.
And given that one recent survey discovered that 50% of Brits are drink more due to the Pandemic. And that some begin drinking even before midday. Paul’s warning is a word in season.
So, instead of being filled with alcohol, Paul wants us to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Being ‘Spirit filled’ is one of those jargon Christian phrases that can easily get chucked around but never properly defined.
Day to day to be filled with the Holy Spirit simply means to be filled with his qualities. And since the Holy Spirit indwells all Christians as the Seal of their Adoption into God’s family. As ee saw back in chapter 1. All Christians should be displaying these qualities.
Paul lists some of these qualities in Galatians, chapter 5:22-23. He says, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and… self-control”.
That means that if the more we drink the more we indulge reckless behaviour. The more we depend on the power of Holy Spirit within us, the more display self-controlled behaviour.
In the case of alcohol that might mean being able to enjoy a drink in moderation a couple evenings a week, say. For some, if moderation is not an option, it might mean not drinking at all.
For others it might mean having the self-control to know our limits and say ‘no’ when out with friends.
Whatever it is, one thing is clear, the Spirit-filled life, is a self-controlled life. And not just with alcohol, but everywhere.
Be Worshipful (v19-20)
Finally, be worshipful (v19-20).
Cast your mind back to Christmas Day 2019.
The final carol has finished and you’re milling around among the pews with a cup of coffee and mince pie. Chatting to folk about their plans for New Year. Hugging and wishing them a Merry Christmas.
Now imagine I told you that by August 2020 not only would most people be participating in the church service via a livestream. But that those who did attend church would not be allowed to sing… at all… in any form.
No doubt you would have laughed me out of the room as a conspiracy theory nutter. And yet, here we are. I’ve been to two service now where I’ve not been allowed to sing. And you know what? It is really hard and really frustrating.
Not only is it second nature – singing is just what you do naturally when you are sat in the pews.
You want to sing! But you can’t, and I don’t out of love for your neighbour’s safety and respect for your governing authorities who are doing this for our good. But that doesn’t make it any easier.
You can – lovely people tuning in from home. So here’s what Paul has to say to you.
Verse 19-20 is that last three occasions in the letter when Paul tackles the topic of speech. And in many ways v19-20 flow on v18.
Spirit-filled people are those who are filled with praise and thanksgiving for the God who loved them so much that he gave up his son to death for them.
After all, Ephesians 1:6 reminds us that the one of the reasons we were chosen, adopted, predestined, and redeemed through Jesus death on the cross was…. so that we might praise God’s glorious grace which he has freely given us in the Lord Jesus.
This is just one of the reasons why as a church we prioritise songs that have great lyrics over songs which are musically slick or popular. It is not because we are stuck in our ways! I promise!
It’s because as a church we want to spend our time singing songs that are dripping with biblical truth so that praise God with biblical truth.
So that we can fill our hearts with it until they overflow with, “thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (v20)
But notice, when we sing together, we are not just singing to the Lord. We’re singing to each other. Paul doesn’t say in v19 “Speak to God.” No, he says “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.”
We live in such an individualistic age that even when we are together it is easy to think sung is just between me and God. But it isn’t. We sing to God together. Corporately.
One of the things that spurs us on to “Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord” is the sound of our brothers and sisters in Christ singing with joyful hearts.
Unfortunately, even over the livestream we don’t hear you singing – you might be grateful for that… I don’t know.
But we can sing at home. We can sing as loudly, joyfully, and passionately as we like from the comfort of living room. We can sing to one another as a couple or as a family.
And if you enable you video (but not your audio) then we can all be encouraged as we see you sing to one another. And for those down at Clarendon Road, they can still make music in their hearts, even if not with their mouths. And be encouraged by the sight of us doing both!
Conclusion
Over the last few weeks, we’ve been thinking about this idea of putting off and putting on. And in this week’s passage especially, seen that it is not enough to simply stop sinning we also need to pursue to godliness.
Or to put it simply. It is not just about not living like were – sinners – we also need to carrying being who God has made us to be. His people; his children; his friends.
Let’s pay.