Wisdom Waits

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SCRIPTURE


Ephesians 5:15-20

Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.


SERMON

Today, we are reading a portion of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus. He is giving advice regarding how Christians can be wise as they live in God's world. As I meditated on these words I came to the conclusion that wise Christians invest their time well, hear and heed the Word and Will of God, and are full of the Holy Spirit who prompts them to worship, praise, and thank God in all circumstances.

So let’s discuss each of Paul’s points in turn. First of all, Paul reminds us that a wise Christian invests his or her time well. I would submit to you that this is one of the greatest challenges that a Christian may face. Every single day we are granted the gift of 24 hours to live for the glory of God! God expects us to make the most of this gift as we strive to fulfill the Greatest Commandments and the Great Commission.

The Bible says that the Greatest Commandments are “to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves.” Isn’t it our honor to love God who first loved us and isn’t it our joy to love our neighbors as ourselves?

So, how do we love our neighbors well? First of all, we start our day praying for the opportunity to show somebody the love of Christ. Secondly, we are on the lookout for people who were experiencing need, whether physical, mental, or spiritual and we do our best to respond accordingly. Third, even as we are working, playing, or taking care of family and home, we are still open to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and willing to change our plans and intentions as the Spirit blows.

Loving our neighbors well means that we become Great Commission people. The Bible says that as Christians we are called to go to the people of every nation, baptizing them and teaching them the good news message regarding Jesus!

Wow! What an exciting way to spend and invest our time! Even as we go about the daily and necessary activities our lives, such as chores, work, Twittering, Facebook, talking on the phone, or visiting with our neighbors over the fence, we can intentionally be looking for opportunities to be the hands, feet, mouth, and heart of Jesus in God’s world!

Jesus made the importance of investing our time in works of love and testimony plain when he said, “As you have done it unto the least of these, you have done it unto me.”

Only inasmuch as we are willing to seek out opportunities to feed the hungry, give drink the thirsty, clothe the naked, house the homeless, and visit the sick and imprisoned are we spending our time well. Only inasmuch as we are sharing the good news that Jesus saves and He saves to the utmost are we spending our time well. Only inasmuch as we are reaching out to people with the love and healing of Christ’s Spirit are we spending our time well.

Isn’t it amazing that at the start of every day we all write TO DO lists that don’t include God? We write things like pick up the milk, finish the project at work, call my daughter’s teacher, etc., but very few people remember to write things like—pray, love, testify…

When I was a little girl growing up, the choir in my church used to sing a song, “Only what you do for Christ will last!” Those words have stuck with me for my entire life! This is why I am so determined to include JESUS in all of the tasks of my day. No matter where I am, or what I am doing, I can be a good news ambassador of the Kingdom of Love—and so can you!

Secondly, Paul reminds us that a wise Christian is called to hear and heed the Word and Will of God. Wow! I think that this admonishment goes to the importance of regular Bible study, prayer, and meditation.

How can we hear and heed the Word and Will of God if we are not reading the Holy Bible on a daily basis and praying (speaking) and meditating (listening) as well?

One of my favorite songs says, “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path!” I have found this to be absolutely true! When I wake up in the morning I need to get my marching orders from the Lord. I need to find out from God what assignments have been placed into my care. In order to get the directions I need to spend my time wisely, in loving and evangelistic enterprises, I have to spend time in the presence of God.

As I read the Word, I am inspired to share the stories of Jesus, to boldly and courageously bear testimony to the good news, to travel about sharing Jesus, and to serve others to the best of my ability. As I pray and meditate, I listen to the heart of God for myself, family, neighbors, co-workers, friends, enemies, and strangers alike.

Often when I pray, God brings important things to my remembrance or gives me a sense of the hurting heart of another. God encourages, equips, and empowers me to be good news--and to share good news--in the lives of others.

One of my Twitter followers posted the following quote. It said, “Some cause happiness wherever they go. Others whenever they go.”

My Lord! When I walk into a room, I want to bring the sweet savor of the Holy Spirit with me! I want people to be glad that I came and blessed when I leave. I want people to want to be around me, to seek God’s wisdom in my mouth, and to desire God’s healing from my hands. In order to be this effective in my ministry, I know that I must invest my time wisely by prioritizing quiet time with God on a daily basis!

It is amazing what even five to ten minutes of focused and quiet time with God can accomplish. Although we are constantly praying all day long, it is good to have some minutes set aside where you do not answer the phone, send an email, talk to a friend, or do any work.

Don’t you hate it when you are talking on the phone with someone and it is clear that they are watching television? Isn’t it annoying to be sharing your heart as the person on the other end just keeps saying, “mmhmmm” no matter what you say?

Well, God probably feels the same way that we do! God wants our undivided attention so that we can hear and heed the Word and Will of God. As we give God the first fruits of our 24 hour day, God will equip us to love and testify with great success!

Finally, Paul reminds us that a wise Christian is full of the Holy Spirit who prompts us to worship, praise, and thank God in all circumstances.

Let’s start now with a “Thank you, Jesus!” When we became Christians, we were gifted with an in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit empowers us to share the good news with everyone that we meet.

Most of us remember the story of the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. On that day the Holy Spirit descended on the Christian believers in Jerusalem and they were compelled to run out into the street, worshipping and praising God and sharing the good news!

On a daily basis, as Christians, we are invited to seek the forgiveness of God and a fresh anointing of Spirit so that we can be effective servants of the Most High God.

Now, this is not a difficult concept to grasp if you think of your car. If you fill your car up on Monday and then drive it all week long, won’t you need to fill it up again next Monday? If you attempt to drive your car on fumes and then no gas at all, what will happen? Your car will stop and/or become damaged and you will be stranded on the side of the road.

This analogy helps us to understand why we need to “fuel up” with the Holy Spirit on a daily basis. As we love and testify, following the marching orders we receive as we listen to the Word and Will of God, we will become run down if we don’t remember to seek God’s daily refreshing.
It is not easy to face and overcome the many challenges and obstacles that we face in our lives and in our service to others. Part of the human condition is that sometimes we are on the mountaintop, but more often we are in the valley.

Particularly as Christians, we are called to boldly venture into the valleys of people’s lives and to invite them to the Banquet Feast where they will be fed the bread and drink the wine of life whose name is JESUS.

Since we know that God loves us so much that God gave Jesus to die on the cross for our sin and to gift us with eternal life, we can’t help but praise, worship, and thank God 24/7/365. Since we are sure that Jesus did not stay dead but was resurrected just as He promised, we can’t help but be full of the Holy Spirit who causes us to spill out into the street sharing good news!

Today, we are invited to show our great love and appreciation for God by wisely using our time well, hearing and heeding the Word and Will of God, and being full of the Holy Spirit who will always prompt us to worship, praise, and thank God in all circumstances.

Wisdom is waiting. Won't you be wise today?

In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.




INVITATION

Today there may be someone who wants to put all of their hope in Jesus after hearing this good news message. If so, won’t you pray with me:

Holy God, thank you that you love me so much that you gave Jesus to die on the cross to save me from my sin and gift me with eternal life. I believe that he did not stay dead, but was resurrected on the third day just as he promised! Today, I am putting all of my hope in Jesus. I want to invest my time wisely, hear and heed Your Word and Will, and worship, praise, and thank you every single day! You have been so good to me; I want to share Your goodness with others. I pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.



SPECIAL NOTE

If you just prayed that prayer for the first time, today, you are saved! Let me encourage you to tell a Christian friend that you just put all of your hope in Jesus. Ask him or her to help you find a Bible that is easy for you to understand and to find a good Bible believing church where you can be baptized and make new friends who will walk with you on your Christian journey!

Congratulations and Happy Re-birthday! Your salvation is our GOOD NEWS, please go and share the GOOD NEWS with others!

Peace be with you and thanks for listening to GOOD NEWS LIVING with Pastor Yolanda.

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From Pastor Yolanda's blog http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com