Peter Barnes | Ephesians 5:15-17
SERMON NOTES
Walking Wisely
(Ephesians 5:15-17)
– walk in holiness, not unrighteousness (4:17-32), walk in love, not lust (5:1-7), walk in the light, not darkness (5:8-14), and walk in wisdom, not folly (5:15-20)
1. The wise person redeems the time.
(a) working hard. ‘Methodists’ were methodical. Jonathan Edwards: ‘never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.’
(b) walking appropriately. Explain the apparent contradiction of Proverbs 26:4-5; notice how wisely appropriate Paul is in Acts 26:24-27
– Matt.10:16
2. The wise person understands the times.
– Gen.47:9; 1 Peter 2:11-12; Gal.1:4
– Luke 12:20 – the covetous man is a fool
3. The wise person seeks to know the will of the Lord.
– this is not so much individualistic guidance (cf. Eph.1:9-10; 6:6), although a little of that may be present.