Message Notes
Ephesians 5:15-17
1. Redeem the time
- Ignoring or avoiding is not a redemptive act. We cannot redeem something by avoiding it, look at Christ.
- in order for Christ to redeem us the scripture says that he "Became flesh and DWELT among us" (John 1:14)
- To dwell is a word that means staying, living, and abiding
2. The DAYS are evil.
- We must think critically and ask the questions: Is this particular day any more sinful than any other day? Is Satan somehow more powerful on this day?
- We must understand WORSHIP. Worship is an intentional response, both corporate and private, to the works and word of God. We CANNOT worship on accident.
- In the same way someone cannot accidentally worship Jesus, someone cannot accidentally worship Satan.
- Do not deny the PRIME evangelistic opportunity, where people will be coming to your door, or you will be going to theirs. You can share Jesus there!
3. Walk as wise, not as unwise
- Are there evil and satanic things that happen on Halloween? Almost certainly. Are there evil and satanic things that happen the other 364 days of the year? Almost certainly.
- It is okay NOT to engage. But we can't claim that people who do engage with it are automatically engaging with evil. Commandments and convictions are separate.
- If it might become sin for you, definitely do NOT celebrate!
- Do not allow FEAR to overtake you. Fear is NOT bad. God created us with thoughts, feelings, and emotions. To shut them off, or classify them as bad, would be to shut off part of our perfect design and to say something God did in us was bad or wrong.
- Fear is not bad, but consistently living in or making decisions from fear, or driving others towards fear instead of the "perfect love which casts out all fear" is bad.
- Scripture says "the beginning of wisdom is the FEAR of the Lord. It is wise for us to be afraid of certain things, with God being the foremost.
4. "Understand the will of the Lord"
- John 6:28-29
- The will of the Lord is to believe in the one He has sent. Through that we receive power in the Holy Spirit over both natural and super natural things.