Gospel Light Christian Church Thru-The-Bible Series (13.4)

The Epistle to the Ephesians

Ephesians 5:15-21 - Read this Bible passage once through before referring to the notes below.

Walk In Wisdom (Eph. 5:15-17).

The word “circumspectly”(v.15) means “to look around.” It means “to walk with accuracy and precision.” It means “to be strict with your self about your whole manner of living.” It means “to walk deliberately and with purpose.” We are to watch every step because all it takes is one wrong step to fall. We are to watch our speech, friends, fashion, pleasures, entertainment, use of money and many other things. To walk without looking around is to walk as a fool. To walk circumspectly is to walk in wisdom. Paul gives two reasons why we should walk in wisdom.

Because Life is Short (v.16).

The word “redeeming” means “to buy up the opportunity” or “to take advantage of it.” An old Chinese proverb says, “Opportunity has a forelock so you can seize it when you meet it. Once it is past, you cannot seize it again.” Because life is short and the “days are evil” we must make the best use the opportunities that God gives us. We must today give God our best. Today must we make use of our time, talents and treasures to advance His kingdom, because we know not about tomorrow.

Because God has a Plan (v.17).

Since God saved us, He has a plan for our lives.  We are to walk in wisdom in order to discover that plan. To live foolish is to miss God’s plan and to miss God’s plan is to miss God’s best for life. God reveals His plan through His Word (Col. 1:9-10), His Spirit in our hearts (Col. 3:15), and through circumstances (Rom. 8:28). To walk in wisdom is walk according to God’s will and making the best use of our time, talents and treasures for God’s glory.

Walk In The Spirit (Eph. 5:18-21).

The key to living a successful, fruitful and abundant Christian life is to walk in the Spirit (Eph. 5:18). The word “filled” means “controlled.” To be filled with the Spirit is to be controlled by the Spirit. It is allowing the Spirit to have complete and absolute control of your life.  This is also what it means to walk in the Spirit (Gal 5:16). Our passage gives three of the most significant consequences of walking in the Spirit.

Singing (v.19).

A Spirit filled Christian is a singing Christian. They are “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”  The first characteristic of a Spirit-filled Christian is not mountain moving faith, estatic speech or dynamic preaching but a heart that sings.  He or she has a joy that is manifested in music.

The word “speak” means to make a sound and refers to any sound offered to God from a Spirit-filled heart. It could be the sound coming from the organ, choir, guitar, a home made flute or the tribal drum. The sound that pleases God is sound that comes from a heart under the Spirit’s control, which sings or plays to the glory of God.

We are to sing “to one another.” The primary audience of our singing is to be “one another.” In other words, our singing is not for me, i.e. I do not sing to be a blessing to me but to be a blessing to you.