EPHESIANS 5:15-21 UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE WILL OF THE LORD IS

1.      Walk Wisely v 15-17

James 1:5, James 4:17, Rom 12:1-2

The Will of God is that we be saved, sanctified, suffering at times, Spirit filled, and Thankful

1.      Walk in Wisdom v15-16

Eph 5:15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

·         Walking in Wisdom means being careful how you behave

Eph 5:16 Walking in Wisdom means Redeeming the time

Eph 5:17 Walking in Wisdom means knowing God’s will, because not too is foolishness

2.      Be Filled with the Spirit v18

Eph 5:18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

Acts 1:8, Acts 2:4, Acts 13:45, Luke 4:28

To be filled or controlled by the Spirit is to let God's Word control you, dying to self, pursuing purity, confessing all known sin, surrendering to God's will, and depending on His Power for all things.  It is to live dominated by the mind of Christ, so that everything that you think or do flows through what the Word teaches and is in harmony with it.

Col. 3:15-17

 The Results of the Filling of the Spirit v19-21

Eph 5:19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

1.      Joy…a sense of adequacy and confidence in the Lord no matter what

Phil 4:11, Acts 2:13-15, Acts 16:25

2. Thanksgiving

James 1:17, 1Thess 5:18

V21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.

3.      Submission

Phil 2:3-5, Gal 5:22-26

D.L Moody said, "I believe firmly that the moment our hearts are emptied of pride and selfishness and ambition and everything that is contrary to God's law, the Holy Spirit will fill every corner of our hearts. But if we are full of pride and conceit and ambition and the world, there is no room for the Spirit of God. We must be emptied before we can be filled."