A1
Scripture
B1
Ephesians 5:16-21 WEL Redeeming
the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore, don't be foolish
but understand what the Lord's will is. 18 Do not be drunk with wine,
which is immoral excess, instead be filled by the Spirit: 19 Speaking
among yourselves in psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, singing and
making music in your heart to the Lord, 20 Always giving thanks to
the God and Father for all things, in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ. 21 Place yourselves under one another in the fear of God.
B2
Ephesians 5:16-21 GNB Make
good use of every opportunity you have, because these are evil days.
17 Don't be fools, then, but try to find out what the
Lord wants you to do. 18 Do not get drunk with wine,
which will only ruin you; instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19
Speak to one another with the words of psalms, hymns, and
sacred songs; sing hymns and psalms to the Lord with praise in your
hearts. 20 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, always
give thanks for everything to God the Father. 21 Submit
yourselves to one another because of your reverence for Christ.
A2
Outline
B1
Living the Christian life
C1
Circumspectly
C2
Not as fools
C3
But as wise
C4
Redeeming the time. Because the days are evil
B2
Some rules
C1
Do not be unwise but understand what the Lord's will
C2
Do not be drunk with wine but be filled with the Spirit
D1
Speaking to one another in
E1
Psalms
E2
Hymns
E3
Spiritual songs
D2
Singing and making melody
E1
In heart
E2
To the Lord
D3
Giving thanks
E1
Always
E2
For all things
E3
To God the Father
E4
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
D4
Submitting to one another in the fear of God.
A3 Notes
B1
Definitions
C1
Circumspectly—thinking
carefully about possible risks before doing or saying
something (Merriam-Webster)
C2
Dissipation—behavior
that shows you are interested only in pleasure, money, etc.
(Merriam-Webster)
B2
Walk carries the idea of living a certain lifestyle.
C1
1 John 1:7 (NKJV) But
if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship
with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us
from all sin.
C2
Acts 21:21 (NKJV) ...but
they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are
among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to
circumcise [their] children nor to walk according to the customs.
B3
The Bible has rules. The Bible is a revelation from God about Himself
and His way of life. He wants us to have the same attitudes. He wants
us to obey His laws and rules. Acts 15:20 GNB Instead,
we should write a letter telling them not to eat any food that is
ritually unclean because it has been offered to idols; to keep
themselves from sexual immorality; and not to eat any animal that has
been strangled, or any blood.
B3
A fool is one who thinks he is smart, intelligent, clever but others
know he is not. Some fools are naive, but many are premeditatedly
evil. The word for "fool" here is used only one time. It is
the opposite of being wise. σοφος asophos which is without
wisdom.
C1
We can walk/live our life as a fool or in wisdom.
C2
What is our choice? It is foolishly or wisely?
B4
The time is evil. Read the headlines.
B5
What is redeeming the time?
C1
There is only so much time. What are we going to do with it? Live
like God wants us or like the first verses of Chapter 5—
C2
The word "redeeming" here as the idea of using an
opportunity.
C3
There is a reason to be redeeming the time/using the opportunity that
we have. It is because the days are evil. The evil heart of humanity
shows itself more clearly every day in thoughts, desires, words, and
deeds.
B6
The word unwise in
verse 17 is a different word than in verse 16. It is to be mindless,
making a decision without any foresight or insight. Choices do have
consequences.
B7
The word understand has
to do with finding out something. We are to find out God's will. How
do we do this?
C1
Some verses to consider:
D1
Jeremiah 4:22 GNB92 The
LORD says, My people are stupid; they don't know me. They are like
foolish children; they have no understanding. They are experts at
doing what is evil, but failures at doing what is good.
D2
Romans 12:2 NASB77 And
do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing
of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which
is good and acceptable and perfect.
D3
1 Thessalonians 4:1 GNB92 Finally,
our friends, you learned from us how you should live in order to
please God. This is, of course, the way you have been living. And now
we beg and urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to do even more.
D4
1 Peter 4:2 GNB92 From
now on, then, you must live the rest of your earthly lives controlled
by God's will and not by human desires.
C2
The Old Testament is God's will for a NATION, while the New Testament
is God's will for a PEOPLE, the Church.
C3
Somethings in the New Testament we MUST do. Some things in the New
Testament we must NOT do. Some things we learn by example that we
MUST do or must NOT do.
C4
Illustrations/examples abound in the Old Testament. We read of
foolish decisions and wise decisions (from God's point of view). We
MUST do the wise and must NOT do the foolish.
C5
God, the Holy Spirit, helps us, convicts us, disciplines us,
encourages us what to do. If we are doing wrong, we must repent and
not do it anymore. If we still fail at times, make sure we have the
right attitude that it is wrong and seek the prayers and even the
counsel of a BIBLE believing Christian.
C6
Consider this advice: Just
as children follow the example of their parents, so Christians must
follow the example of their heavenly Father. Their love, then, will
not be mere words, but will show itself by self-sacrifice, just as
Christ’s love did (5:1-2).
Converted
pagans had a special problem in that many of the sinful practices
they once engaged in were still widespread in the society in which
they lived. One way to overcome the temptation to such practices was
not even to speak about them. They should certainly not joke
lightheartedly about them, because people who practice such things
are enemies of God’s kingdom (3-5).
Besides
being careful about what they say, Christians should be careful about
what they hear. They must examine what people say, whether concerning
religion, morals or anything else, to see whether such people are on
the side of Satan (darkness) or Christ (light). Only by careful
testing will Christians know whether a thing is pleasing to God or
not, whether it belongs to the light or to the darkness (6-10). If
the lives of Christians are pure, they will show up the sins of
others, just as light shows up dirt. Any who stir themselves from
their moral laziness can be cleansed, if they allow themselves to be
examined in the light of Christ (11-14).
Christians
must be alert at all times. They must act wisely and display the
worth of Christianity to a sinful world (15-17). In former days they
might have tried to overcome depression or find enjoyment by drinking
till they became drunk. Now that they are Christians, they should
open their lives to God and allow God's Spirit to control them. They
will find true joy in having fellowship with other Christians,
singing praises together and giving thanks to God (18-20)."Bridgeway
Bible Commentary by Don Fleming. The comment is on Ephesians 5:1-20.
B8
We know what drunk
with wine means,
so what does filled
with the Spirit mean?
Acting drunk with Holy laughter?
C1
Being drunk means not be clear headed. It is a person who has their
judgment clouded, standards loosened, and the central nervous nervous
system depressed.
C2
Being filled with the Spirit would be the opposite of being drunk
with wine.
C3
It is the Holy Spirit helping and empowering us to do God’s will, a
holy boldness, faithfulness, etc.
D1
Philippians 2:13 NRSV For
it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to
work for his good pleasure.
D2
Ephesians 3:16 NLT - I
pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you
with inner strength through his Spirit.
D3
Acts 4:31 NRSV When
they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was
shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the
word of God with boldness.
D4
Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV - But
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there
is no law.
C2
Being drunk with wine leads to acting stupid without judgment or
insight or even a memory of what happened (Proverbs 23:35 GNB92 I
must have been hit,” you will say; “I must have been beaten up,
but I don't remember it. Why can't I wake up? I need another drink).
C3
Here are some examples from the Scriptures of people filled with the
Spirit. I ask you; as they acting like they are drunk (with wine)?
D1
Exodus 31:3 NKJV And
I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in
understanding, in knowledge, and in all [manner of] workmanship.
D2
Luke 1:15 NKJV For
he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither
wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit,
even from his mother's womb.
D3
Luke 1:41 NKJV And
it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe
leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
D4
Luke 4:1 NKJV Then
Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan
and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.
D5
Acts 4:8 NKJV Then
Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the
people and elders of Israel.
D6
Acts 13:9 NKJV Then
Saul, who also [is called] Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked
intently at him.
C4
It means instead to be doing things the way God wants us to.
Galatians 5:22-25 NKJV But
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there
is no law. And those [who are] Christ’s have crucified the flesh
with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also
walk in the Spirit.
C5
Being filled with the Spirit leads to the activities of verse 19
B9
Ephesians 5:19 NKJV ...speaking
to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and
making melody in your heart to the Lord...
C1
Even if we are gagged and unable to speak, we can still sing in our
hearts.
C2
Acts 16:25 GNB About
midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and
the other prisoners were listening to them.
B10
We are commanded to give thanks for ALL things. How is this possible
seeing all the evil, troubling, sad things in life?
C1
We cannot thank God for the evil things that happen to us, because
those things come from a world cursed because of sin.
C2
We can thank God that in the midst of evil we can
D1
Thank Him for His holiness: Psalms 97:12 GNB All
you that are righteous be glad because of what the LORD has done!
Remember what the holy God has done, and give thanks to him.
D2
Thank Him for His mercy: Psalms 107:1 NKJV Oh,
give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures
forever.
D3
We can thank Him that He is with us through whatever we face: Matthew
28:20 MKJV Teaching
them to observe all things, whatever I commanded you. And, behold, I
am with you all the days until the end of the world. Amen.
D4
We can thank Him that this life doesn't last forever. It ends, then
eternal life begins. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 NLT - Then,
together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth
will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we
will be with the Lord forever.
D5
We can thank Him for the Lord Jesus. 2 Corinthians 9:15 NKJV Thanks
be to God for His indescribable gift!
D6
We can thank Him that the Lord Jesus has suffered too.
E1
Hebrews 2:18 NKJV For
in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid
those who are tempted.
E2
Hebrews 10:32-33 NKJV But
recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you
endured a great struggle with sufferings: (33) partly
while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations,
and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated.
E3
1 Peter 2:21-23 NKJV For
to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving
us an example, that you should follow His steps: (22) "who
committed no sin, nor was deceit found in his mouth"; (23)
who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He
suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who
judges righteously.
E4
1 Peter 5:10 NKJV But
may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by
Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish,
strengthen, and settle you.
B11
Submit. What is Biblical submission?
C1
The Greek word, G5293 Ὑποτάσσω hupotassō, means to
place under. It does not imply overcoming resistance or that one is
resisting and must be conquered. The English word does imply that
meaning, but the Greek word does not. It is a placing under
authority.
C2
It is so translated: Ephesians 5:21 GW Place
yourselves under each other's authority out of respect for Christ.
C3
Ephesians 5:21 WEL Place
yourselves under one another in the fear of God.
C4
We are not to be stubborn to push, fight for our own way, thoughts,
desires, words, and deeds.
C5
We are to place ourselves under each other’s authority.
C6
The Lord Jesus, when He was 12, placed himself under the authority of
Joseph and Mary. It was not because God obeys humans, but it was in
honor of them. The Lord Jesus did not say, “I have a right to be
here. I will not do what you say. You need to grovel before me.” He
simply went with them. Luke 2:48-51 GNB His
parents were astonished when they saw him, and his mother said to
him, "Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have
been terribly worried trying to find you." 49 He
answered them, "Why did you have to look for me? Didn't you know
that I had to be in my Father's house?" 50 But they
did not understand his answer. 51 So Jesus went back with
them to Nazareth, where he was obedient to them. His mother treasured
all these things in her heart.
B12
Fear of God
C1
Being afraid of God
C2
Why?
D1
Guilt from sin (as Adam)
D2
Judgment Day someday.
D3
Eternal punishment.
D4
God's majesty.
D5
God's power.
C3
The fear of the Lord is to run TOWARDS Him, not away from Him.
D1
Adam and Eve ran away from Him: Genesis 3:8 NRSV They
heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden at the time of
the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid
themselves from
the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
D2
The Prodigal Son went towards his father: Luke 15:20 GNB So
he got
up and started back to
his father. "He was still a long way from home when his father
saw him; his heart was filled with pity, and he ran, threw his arms
around his son, and kissed him.
C4
There is a contrast between the 2 attitudes: John 3:19-21 GNB This
is how the judgment works: the light has come into the world, but
people love the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds
are evil. 20 Those who do evil things hate the light and
will not come to the light, because they do not want their evil deeds
to be shown up. 21 But those who do what is true come to
the light in order that the light may show that what they did was in
obedience to God.
A4
Applications
B1
God wants us to know His will. We must read and study the Bible.
B2
God wants us to do His will.
B3
God wants us to be filled with His Spirit, so we can know His will,
do His will, think His will, and be faithful to His will.
B4
God wants us to worship Him in song.
B5
God wants us to be thankful.
B6
God wants us to not push for OUR rights, but for truth and
helpfulness to each other.
