Ephesians: Things Money Can’t BuyEphesians 5:15-21: Talking for DummiesJanuary 6, 2013Please turn in your Bibles to Ephesians 5:15Vs 15: “walk circumspectly”: be aware of the dangers around youVs 16: “redeem the time”: “to buy it back”: use what we may tend to waste for eternal purposesVs 16: “evil”: the image of an enemy army laying siege of a city App: To not allow the cares of this world to distract us from the greater things God has for usVs 18: Walking in the fullness of the Holy Spirit19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:19-23aDrunk (Meth-ah = Meth): includes all intoxicants. While they may give a sense of escaping our giants, they will never help us to conquer them.So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Galatians 5:16Command: Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18Promise: “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” 39By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. John 7:37b-39aVs 19: Songs that feed couragePsalms: a broad category of worship songs that are often accompanied by various forms of instruments Hymns: songs that are sung in the context of public worship and include the idea of believers uniting in worship (ref. Psalm 40:3, 149:1)App: Let’s make it our purpose to never squelch the passion of young worshippers who express their devotion and understanding of God with new songs of praise.Spiritual Songs: “Spirit” = breath of God. Literally to “sing in the Spirit” (ref. Lam. 3:22-24)App: Let the songs we sing bring you courage and use you to encourage others in your daily walkVs 19b-20: Give thanks “in” all thingsApp: In the midst of life’s difficulties and battles find courage in who God is; how God has come through in the past and for what He has promised.What is God’s Spirit speaking into your life today? How must you respond?