Awaken
Author: Pastor Thomas G. Wilson
April 17, 2020
Ephesians 5:11-20 MSG [11-16] Don't waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It's a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ. Wake up from your sleep, Climb out of your coffins; Christ will show you the light! So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! [17] Don't live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants. [18-20] Don't drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him. Sing hymns instead of drinking songs! Sing songs from your heart to Christ. Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father in the name of our Master, Jesus Christ.
Time is the most precious of resources given to all people. Each of us has only a limited amount of time here on earth. The Apostle Paul here in chapter 5 of Ephesians exhorts the church to make the best use of every opportunity to “spend” their time. Time is misspent or lost when not employed according to God’s design. The kingdom of darkness has pursuits that are unprofitable, life-wasters. These worthless and wasteful deeds are only done in under the cover of darkness where no one can see what’s being done. These pursuits must be exposed for the unattractive shameful frauds that they are. They are frauds because they are made light of in the world, yet they have the serious consequences of polluting and poisoning the participants as well as, anesthetizing those kingdom of God citizens who look on silently. As far as God is concerned they are worthy of His wrath. Paul exhorts the church to stop drifting through life with either suspended consciousness (asleep) or totally unconscious (dead). Awaken, become aware of the opportunities to be filled and filled again with Holy Spirit so that our hearts constantly harmonize with His. Then, we will become exposers of the works of darkness as we radiate with the light of Christ. Evil days need not equal evil times for God’s people! Evil days can become glory times as the children of God respond to the Spirit of God through the whole course of their lives, always, even in trials and afflictions, singing and giving thanks to Him as He engages them to submit to one another promoting His glory!
For further reading: Ephesians 5
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