Title: The wise / Ephesians 5:15-20
Contents
In general, the use of knowledge is called wisdom. The Bible says that knowing and fearing God is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10), and that Christ is the power and wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:23). He also said that the wisdom of man does not reach the foolishness of God. Today's text is going to look at what kind of person the wise person is.
1. one who saves time
A wise man saves time (verse 16). In order to live worthy of the calling of the saints (Ephesians 4:1), to act as children of love (Ephesians 5:1), and to act as children of light (5:8), we must save time. Biblical time has a beginning and a last, a beginning and an end. In the biblical view of time, where God directly intervenes to give promises, deliver salvation, and judge, Jesus Christ becomes the center, goal, and meaning of history. By following this biblical view of time, realizing the end and living in this world, you can make good use of time in a sense of urgency. The wise saint turns ordinary time (chronos) into meaningful time with Christ (kairos). The original word for "save time" has the meaning "to redeem time, to save time". So, the command to save time means to redeem the hours entangled in evil and turn them into meaningful time with God.
2. One who discerns the will of the Lord
The general purpose of God is to save us, as revealed in the Old and New Testaments, so that we can finally be fully conformed to the image of Jesus. A specific will for an individual can be discerned by reading the Word on a daily basis, studying it, and praying constantly. The sanctified and wise life of each individual, the renewal and growth of the church, is achieved when we discern God's will by constantly praying in the light of the Word. However, in today's text, the will of the Lord commanded us to discern is the will of God that is specifically required of us living at this point in the last year of the 20th century. God intervenes in history and it is important for us to realize what God wants us to do today. On the other hand, it is foolish to follow one's own way as one wishes.
3. Those who are filled with the Holy Spirit
This word is imperative. Therefore, everyone who believes must be filled with the Holy Spirit. This word is plural. Not only individuals but the whole church must be filled with the Holy Spirit. This word is passive. It is not something that I create, it is something that can only be received by God. This word is present tense. It means that the state of being filled with the Holy Spirit must continue.
To be filled with the Holy Spirit means to be filled with the Word of Christ (Colossians 3:16). A drunken person is under the influence of alcohol and is controlled by alcohol, but a person filled with the Holy Spirit is controlled by the Holy Spirit. True fellowship of saints is established among the saints who are filled with the Holy Spirit, in which they respond to each other in psalms and hymns to God, praising God with their hearts, giving thanks to God the Father in the name of Christ for everything, and obeying one another by loving Christ It's possible.
Let me conclude.
A wise person is one who focuses on the future and decides on the present. I hope that you will become wise people who use your time meaningfully for the will of God, discern God's will through the Word and prayer, and be filled with the Holy Spirit to glorify Christ.