From Calvary Chapel of Roswell

Pastor Jim Suttle

Msg #477                       Wednesday, October 03, 2007

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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.

(Eph 5:15-17)

The days we live in – are evil.  That is how God describes them – days that sin abounds, days when people spends there days, hours and minutes doing things that will be destroyed in the coming of God.   There is a day coming, when our lives, all that we have done – will be tested by fire (1Cor 3) – and only those things that are eternal will last.

The problem is that the world around us is flowing in this direction. Picture it like a river that is flowing in the wrong direction.  Eph 2:2-3 tells us that the sinful flow in this world is directed by satan.  1Pet 4:4 – says that the world thinks it strange when we are not going in the same flow with them.  To do what is right, then, is to go against the flow of this world.

How do we do that?  How do we keep from being carried away by the evil in this world?  There are four quick things in these verses that are helpful to me and I pray they will be to you.  

Live Purposefully – walk circumspectly v.15 - the idea is choosing your steps carefully – purposefully, not just being carried along by the world, but choosing the way you live and spend your days.

Live Wisely – not as fools but as wise v.15 not in the folly of the world.  Proverbs tells us the essence of wisdom is to live in the fear of God – living before and for Him.

Live Redemptively – ?redeeming the time v.16  To redeem the time has the idea of buying it up or even more  – buying it back from sin, redeeming it from slavery to this world, from wasted days.  It has the idea of rescuing the time in our lives from being wasted in foolish pursuits.

Live Submissively – Therefore do not be unwise, but ??understand ??what the will of the Lord is.  v.17  Know God’s will and do it!  God wants you to know His plan for you today, you can know it and you should.   In one sense – this is the main part to this whole section – which is why it begins this verse with the word “therefore”.  The only way to not be consumed by the folly and evil in this world – is to accept and follow God’s plan for our lives.

Today – I call you to live purposefully, wisely, redemptively and submissively!  Live right and go against the flow of evil in this world! 

For we have spent [wasted] enough of our past lifetime

in doing the will of the Gentiles—… (1 Pe 4:3)

Jim

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