Wisdom of God
Ephesians 5
What is the wise thing to do?
Ephesians 5 (CSB)
13 Everything exposed by the light is made visible, 14 for what makes everything visible is light. Therefore it is said:
Ephesians 5 (CSB)
Get up, sleeper, and rise up from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.
Ephesians 5 (CSB)
Read Verses 15-17
15 Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise—
16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17 So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
“..because the days are evil”
Ephesians 2:1-3
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world,
“..because the days are evil”
Ephesians 2:1-3
following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience (evil) —
“..because the days are evil”
3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
“..because the days are evil”
2 Thessalonians 2
7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.
“..because the days are evil”
2 Thessalonians 2
8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.
“..because the days are evil”
2 Corinthians 4:4
4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Ephesians 5 (CSB)
Because the days are evil….
“Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise—“
don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. (Wisdom)
In the life of a believer..
What counters Evil?
What will destroy evil’s work in your life?
Is it being good, being not bad?
It is us trying to not be evil?
Paul tells us that we counter evil with Wisdom (truth).
Not by trying to do a good, or avoid doing bad.
How can one who is been blinded, who is confused and constantly being lied to and deceived, see what is the right way to walk?
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. Eph 6
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Eph 6
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Eph 6
Galatians 1:3-4
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
Colossians 1:13
13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
Romans 12:2
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Ephesians 5 (CSB)
17 So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless living, but be filled by the Spirit:
Ephesians 5 (CSB)
19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music with your heart to the Lord,
Ephesians 5 (CSB)
20 giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.
If you are a child of God, you are to live guided by God’s wisdom.
“We are to live like the people we are.”
When we were saved, we received all wisdom from God as he sent his Spirit to live in us.
We have become a repository of wisdom.
The evil world is full of man’s wisdom but we are full of God’s wisdom.
1 John 2:20-21esv
20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.
1 John 2:27(NLT)
27 But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit[b] teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
We have His knowledge in us, but that doesn’t mean that we are not growing and learning and maturing in Christ. With minds being transformed by the application of that knowledge.
“We grow in what we have already been given in fullness.”
a divine paradox
We grow in practice from what has been given to us spiritually in our hearts.
It is possible for a believer to not act like themselves and revert to foolishness.
We walk in foolishness when:
What is the wise thing to do?
Seek direction from the repository of Wisdom in you. The Holy Spirit.
Measure that against the revealed will of God.
Will of God-
Will of God-
Colossians 2
2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.