LESSON 6-Ephesians
Walking in Love, Light, Wisdom, and Worship
Ephesians Chapter 5:1-20
Eph.5:15 See then that you walk circumspectly, (cautiously) not as fools but as wise,16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
5:15 Take accurate stock of your life, cut out foolishness, walk in wisdom. Mirror Translation
5:16 Wisdom converts time into opportunity, and frees your day from slog. Mirror Translation
Related Scripture:
Col.1:5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.
Circum-around Spect- look (look around)
Redeeming the time is capitalizing on every appropriate opportunity. Redeem-exagorazo-to buy up, to save from loss.
Redeeming the Time
Translating the phrase as “making the most of your (the) time.” Other versions of Scripture, such as the New International Version and the New Living Translation, use the phrase “making the most of every opportunity.”
The Greek word exagorazo (Strong’s Concordance #G1805), translated as “redeeming” in Ephesians and Colossians, means to rescue something from loss or redeem it. It can also mean to pay a price to recover (reclaim) something from another (Thayer’s Greek Definitions). For example, let us say you want to borrow money from a bank and have to offer some land as collateral (meaning if you do not repay the bank loan, they can take legal possession of the property). At the time you repay the loan you remove any claim the lender has over the land and redeem the property.
This is what Jesus did for us (DBR) Hebrew- to combine in order. He was nailed to a tree- Gal. 3:13, Col 2:14
Jesus didn’t carry an enormous big and heavy upright tree in His back, because it was impossible, because its place was to be as ready at execution place, because Jesus carried batibulum in other words crossbar of the cross, and then this was nailed to an upright tree.
In the Hebrew culture debts when paid were nailed to a tree!
The Complete Word Study Dictionary defines exagorazo as “. . . by prudent and blameless conduct, gaining as much time and opportunity as possible in view of persecution and death. The word generally means to buy up, to buy all that is anywhere to be bought, and not to allow the suitable moment to pass by unheeded but to make it one’s own.”
Here’s the really good news! Even if we mess up the opportune time, God can redeem that time and give you another chance, and another chance etc.
Eph.5:17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
5:17 Make His master plan your meditation. Mirror Translation
Understanding of the Will of God
a. In order to redeem the time and walk wise, we need to know what God’s will is
b. Here is where we see Paul’s counsel lining up with James in James
c. For both of them, successful living meant know and doing the will of God
James 4:15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
How can we know the will of God? What is the will of God?
a. the Word Ps. 119:6-9,105 (His Word is His will.)
b. Counsel -Wise counselors-Prov.19:20;20:18;24:6
c. Prayer John 15:4
d. Circumstance (beware, not all circumstances are from God)
e. Dreams, visions Is 1:1; Acts :17
f. Still small, inner voice of the Spirit of God
WILL
Wishing, desiring, or choosing especially in reference to the will of God. In the gospels, primarily in John, Jesus is said to be acting not according to His own will, but according to the will of the heavenly Father (John 5:30; 6:38). Indeed, doing the will of the Father is Jesus’ nourishment (John 4:34), and Jesus does nothing apart from the Father’s will (John 5:19). Luke confirms this when he quotes Jesus’ statement in the Garden of Gethsemane: “Father, if it is Your will, remove this cup from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42).
The will of God is His plan for you, the book that was written all the days of your life.
How do you find that plan?
God’s plan for our lives is rooted in the gifts and talents He’s given us. Daily time in prayer/praise, everyday thanksgiving and in God’s Word direct us. Paul wrote to his mentee, Timothy, – Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 139:16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written,The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.
Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified[a] you;
I [b]ordained you a _________ fill in the blank)to the nations.”
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepard of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, though Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. Hebrews 10:36
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that He hears us- whatever we ask- we know that we have what we asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15
We will continue with Lesson 6 next week.
The blessings of the Lord are upon you whether by blood, adoption/sonship or assignment. The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. Prov. 10:22
David & Mary Sue