BE THANKFUL UNTO GOD (2)

DEFEATING A TROUBLED HEART BY UNDERSTANDING GOD'S WILL

MAIN IDEA

We all face disappointment. We can’t live without expectations, and we all fall short of these expectations at times. This means that we’ll need to learn how to overcome disillusionment and the most difficult of days. But God has given us weapons against discouragement!

VERSE

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

–Ephesians 5:15-21

OUTLINE

In Ephesians 5, God points to a reality we rarely like to admit, but we know is true—”the days are evil.” The brokenness in this world means we must make the best use of our time. Paul tells us this for two reasons. First, the days are evil because they trick us into thinking we have more time and opportunities than we really do. Second, the days we live in introduce evils into our lives. We must be careful to make sure these expressions of evil won’t hobble us.
In this brief passage, Paul tells the Ephesians what they need to do in order to walk wisely:

Don’t get drunk on wine, but be filled with the Spirit. 

Ever since we learned to ferment fruit to create alcohol, we’ve been enamored with its ability to shield us from life’s painful realities. But Paul doesn’t just tell us to avoid drunkenness; he instructs us to be filled with the Spirit. You can substitute many things for wine in this verse, and the instruction is the same. Don’t ignore the difficulties in life by burying yourself in wine, drugs, sex, or mindless internet surfing. You may think you’re avoiding pain, but you’re just postponing it. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, and you’ll be equipped to deal with life’s difficulties instead of avoiding them.

Address one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. We all need to understand the power of Scripture, praise, and worship. The key portion of this verse is the reminder to “address one another.” Paul’s wasn’t just telling us something that was for our own good. Paul is addressing the church and wants them to accept their responsibility for one another. He tells them to remind each other of God’s goodness through:

Psalms: scriptures of praise

Hymns: songs of praise to God written by the church

Spiritual songs: impromptu responses of praise

Singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.. God wants us to both encourage one another with praise, and make worship a regularly part of own lives. Music inspires and changes us. The devil can never grab a hold of our lives if we worship God habitually.

Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul tells the church of Ephesus to give thanks always and for everything. When we respond to the Lord out of gratitude, we see the world differently.

Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Finally, the Bible says mutual submission helps us to walk wisely. On our own, we often can’t see truth in our circumstances. We must lean on the perspective of other Spirit-filled believers. We must respectfully and willingly submit to the recommendations of others and they should do likewise to us."

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