Prayer for All Members Based on Pastor Tyler’s Message, June 12, 2022

Ephesians 5:15-21

Redeeming the Time

Introduction: We are given another command on how to walk. (5:15-16)

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

In Ephesians 4:1 we were told to walk worthy of our calling and then last week in 5:8 we were told to walk as children of light. Now we are being told to be careful how we walk, making the most of our time. We will make the best use of our time if we redeem it – “buy it back” – for Jesus.

Lord, please help us to make the most of our time for You.

How can we spend our time for Jesus?

1. First, understand what God’s will is. (5:17)

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

When we received Christ, His Spirit came to live within us and enables us to understand His will. To know His will, we can pray for wisdom, open His Word, and let the Spirit reveal His will through His Word in due time.

Lord, we want to understand Your will for us. Please reveal to us Your wisdom and Your will through Your Word.

1. Second, be filled with the Spirit. (5:18-21)

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.

Drunkenness or overindulgence in anything else means losing control of our bodies. But one of the fruits of the Spirit is self-control. We continually need the Spirit’s filling throughout our lives. By comparing this passage with Colossians 3:16-17, we see that being filled with the Spirit is the same as letting the Word of God dwell in us richly, doing these four things:

• Addressing one another with the Word of God to encourage and build one another up.
• Singing to the Lord from our hearts. A Spirit-filled church is a singing church.
• Giving thanks. Christians have reason to be the most thankful people in the world, thanking God for our salvation, our new life, and our opportunities to serve.
• Submitting to one another. Christians that submit to one another are reflective of being filled with the Spirit.

Father, please fill us with Your Spirit: help us to speak Your Word to build up one another, to sing together from our hearts, to give You thanks for everything You have done for us, and to submit humbly to one another out of our reverence for You.