Walking Carefully

Raul Ries: We need to make the best of time. We need to make the best by walking in the Holy Spirit, investing into the kingdom of God, my life, so that God can use my life fully and completely. And yet there are so many people that are not redeeming the time. Life is short, redeeming, buying back the days that you lost by coming and obeying the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Guest (Male): Welcome to Somebody Loves You Radio, the Bible teaching ministry of Raul Reese in Diamond Bar, California. It is so good to have you with us today for our continuing series focused on honoring the Lord through our everyday actions. Today Raul will challenge us to make the most of our time in this life, not for our own gain, but for God's glory. As you stay with us today, you'll see how important it is to follow the Lord's leading into acts of service and hearts of love. Today's message is titled Walking Carefully in Ephesians chapter 5 beginning at verse 15. Here's Raul Reese.
Raul Ries: Listen to what Paul says. He's coming to the close of his letter. In chapter 1, 2, and 3, he's actually telling them what it is to be a Christian. And now in chapter 4 through 6, he says, now that you know who you are, this is the way you should live and this is the way you should walk as a Christian. Let's read verse 15. He says, see then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil. Therefore, what I just told you, do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. What is the will of the Lord? In your life, in my life, if you really never read the Bible, then you cannot know the will of God in your life. One of the things about lining up with God's perfect will is the peace that he gives to you in your heart cuz I know that I am in God's perfect will. The worst thing is not to know the will of God and not to be at peace with God, but searching all over the place for the will of God when we're supposed to look at the cross of Jesus Christ. And then as we look at the cross and we align ourselves with him, then God will show us his will. And one of the things about his will is to love him with everything that is in us. And yet look at the hatefulness in the church today. The world hates us. I mean the church has become an enemy to the world. But it's the same thing that happened when Rome was ruling and reigning at those days that that Christians became enemies to Rome. And what happened? They were arrested and they were killed. Could it ever happen to us in the 21st century? Will there be more martyrs in the 21st century than in the past that have been killed for the gospel of Jesus Christ today? And yet as Americans, we have been given the freedom not only to worship the Lord, but to read and to pray, to gather together as a congregation and to have the freedom of sharing the gospel with people. But the problem is people not accepting it, but rejecting it. That's a major problem today in the days that we're living in. And I think when you look at the world, there's a lot of foolish people out there that are walking in their own foolishness. And yet as a child of God, how should I be walking in the Lord? I should be walking, notice, in obedience to God. I should be walking humble before the Lord. I should be walking caring about people in this world unless they perish. Having that heart for God and for people. Let me give you five reasons why we need to walk. And the mark of walking with the Lord number one is this, walking because we have been wise or having wisdom from God. In verse 15 he says again, he says, see then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise. You see God's desire that his children walk very carefully, not walking like the sons of disobedience, like the sons of darkness, very unwisely. In Romans chapter 8:1, this is what Paul says. There is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Holy Spirit of God. Not according to the flesh, but according to the Holy Spirit of God. A wise man marks out his course. He sets his sails and he guides the rudder until he reaches his destination. And we have a destination to reach, and that is heaven. Do you know where you're at spiritually? Or are you a fool walking according to the works of the flesh? See here is how a fool walks. Number one, a fool walks in full darkness, no light. Full darkness. He says in John 8:12, then Jesus spoke to them again and said, I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. The second thing people do is they walk in the flesh. A fool walks and led by the flesh and controlled by the flesh. Romans 8:3 says, for what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did it by sending his only begotten son in the likeness of sinful flesh and according in account of sin, he condemned sin in the flesh where the righteousness requirement of the law that it might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Holy Spirit of God. We are controlled by the Holy Spirit of God. And secondly, how should a wise man walk? So if we are wise, number one, we need to walk in the light. Are you in the light? 1 John 1:7 says, but if we walk in the light as he is in the light, Jesus, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ, his son, is continually cleansing us from all sin. The blood of Jesus Christ is cleansing me from all sin. And then a wise man walks in the truth, not in the light. 3 John 1:3, for I rejoice greatly when brethren come and testify of the truth that is in you. Just as you walk in the truth, and this is Chuck's favorite verse, I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. No greater joy and to hear that my children are walking in the truth, that they're walking in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And then a wise man also walks in Christ. His position is in Christ Jesus. Colossians 2:6, as you have therefore received Christ Jesus, the Lord, so walk in him, not outside of him. Walk in him. Follow him. Copy him. Imitate him. And then also a wise person walks by the power of the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:16, I say then, walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the desires of the flesh. Notice what he says. And then verse 25 he says, if we live by the Holy Spirit's power, then let us also walk in the Holy Spirit. And then how about this, walking by faith? Do you walk by faith in every area of your life? Do you trust God? Do you trust what he's doing? You trust what he's going to do? Do you trust in your future? That not only he has saved us, but one day we're going to die and be in the presence of God. When you look in the mirror, that's not the real you. The real you is spirit and souls inside. The flesh is going to go back into the earth. It's going to become dust. So if we walk by faith, not by sight, for we walk by faith and never by sight, never by sight. And how about pleasing God? Walking and pleasing God in my life. Are you pleasing to God today? He says this in 1 Thessalonians 4:1, finally then my brethren, we urge you and exhort you in the Lord Jesus Christ that you should abound more and more just as you receive from us how you ought to walk and notice and please God. There's no excuse. The word of God tells us how to walk in Jesus Christ. How about secondly, the life is short? Life is very short. I remember one time going to China, 30 years old, going to China, sitting there in the airplane and thinking at the age of 30 years old, I wonder where I'm going to be when I'm 50 years old. It'll be a long time. Man, it becomes so quickly. So quickly. Time is so rapidly. We need to make the best of time. We need to make the best by walking in the Holy Spirit, investing into the kingdom of God, my life, so that God can use my life fully completely. And yet there are so many people that are not redeeming the time. Life is short, redeeming, buying back the days that you lost by coming and obeying the gospel of Jesus Christ. A Chinese proverb says this, opportunity has a forelock so you can seize it when you meet it. Once it is passed, you cannot seize it again. You can look back. It's gone. Today's today. Tomorrow will come. What are you going to do? So we should take advantage of every opportunity God has given to each one of us in the present time today. Today is a day of salvation. Today is a day to become obedient to the word of God. Today is a time to stop sinning against God and get your act together before the Lord. You see God's interruptions are God's opportunities. The way the Bible describes life is like a dream. It describes it like a shadow, like a cloud, like a flower, like a vapor. And then like the grass that is green and then winter comes and it fades away and becomes brown and it dies. That's the way life is. How about your life? How do you treat your life in the kingdom of God? Are you preparing for the future when Jesus Christ comes again or you die?
Guest (Male): You're listening to Somebody Loves You Radio with Raul Reese. For biblical resources to help guide you in God's ways, visit somebodylovesyou.com. You can also join Raul for Straight Talk on the Somebody Loves You Worldwide YouTube channel every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. West Coast time. Now back to more with Raul Reese.
Raul Ries: How does the wise man take care of his time? Let me give you a couple of things. Number one, he builds his time through prayer. Knowing God's perfect will, having fellowship with God. Matthew 7:7 Jesus said, ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find. Knock and it will be opened unto you. Let me give to you what it says in the Greek. Keep asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking. Not just once, keep keep keep. Continue to ask, continue to seek, continue to knock. Secondly, how about studying the word of God? Taking time in your busy schedule to spend time reading the word of God. We've gone over this over and over. Many of you have never read the Bible. Many of you come without a Bible to church. You need to bring your sword with you. You need to open the sword so you'll know the books of the Bible. You know the scripture so you can learn even more. And studying the word of God, not only here in church, but independently when you go home, opening the scriptures, asking God to show you when you're reading chapter by chapter, verse by verse. And as you begin to grow into develop spiritually, then you'll be able to share your faith with others because you've come to know the full counsel of God. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, be diligent to present yourselves approved unto God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth. In the old King James says, study to show thyself approved unto God. A worker that doesn't need to be ashamed, but rightly dividing the word of truth. That's really important too. How about thirdly, being filled with the Holy Spirit's power? Being filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. When Luke writes to us and Jesus died and rose again from the dead, the moment he opens chapter 1 verse 8 Jesus said this as he's getting ready to depart after 40 days being with the apostles. He says, but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. You shall be my witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all of Judea, in Samaria, and unto the end of the world, unto the end of the earth. To be spirit filled, the power of the Holy Spirit. Remember Paul in Ephesians chapter 6 he says verse 10, finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness in this world, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all to stand stand therefore, having gird your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace and above all taking the shield of faith for which you will be able to quench all of the fiery darts of the wicked one. And to take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And then check this out, verse 16, the days are evil. Because the days are evil are the days evil today? You bet they are. Look at what's going in the world, homosexuality, lesbianism, adopting children. I mean there's no shame anymore. And it's only 20% of the homosexuals in America. That's all they are and they control our country. Where's the church? Where's the church to stand for righteousness sake? These are evil days. I mean computers, man, are so evil. They can be good, but they're evil. Look at all the junk you can get on your computer by going into the internet, your phones. What is making you stumble? What are you putting into your mind that is evil? Well, no wonder you're walking in the flesh. No wonder saints having some good times with you. Evil is everywhere. The origin of evil started with who? It's Satan. Back in Isaiah 14:12 he says, how are you fallen from heaven, oh Lucifer, son of the morning? How are you cast down to the ground? You have weakened the nations, for you have said in your heart, five I wills. I will ascend into heaven. I will, notice, exalt my throne above the stars, the angels. I will also sit in the mount of the congregation on the father's side of the north. And I will ascend above the heights of the Shekinah glory of God and I will be like the Most High God. And what happened? He got kicked out. And one third of the angels followed him, which are called demons today. One third of the angels followed him. And then what happens? How about the evil hearts? Evil hearts, man's hearts are evil. Jesus said in Matthew 15:18, but those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceeds evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witnesses, and blasphemies. These are the things that come out of our hearts. And then how about the inflaming lust of the flesh? The lust of the flesh in our lives. James 1:14 says, but each one is tempted when he is drawn away, notice, by his own desires and is enticed. God doesn't draw you away. You draw yourself away. Don't blame it on devil. Or always send the devil made me do it. Not so. Not all the time. You yourself make the choices to sin or not to sin. And then how about overcoming the world? John chapter 16:33 Jesus said, these things I have spoken to you that in me you might have peace. In the world you're going to have tribulation. Be of good cheer because I have overcome the world. How do we overcome evil with good? We overcome it with good. Romans 12:21 says, do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. With good. And how about overcoming Satan with the word of God? With the word of God. 1 John 2:13, I write to you fathers because you have known him from the beginning. I write to you young men because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you my little children because you have known the father and I have written to you fathers because you have known him who is from the beginning. And I have written to you young men because you are strong and the word of God abides in you and you have overcome the wicked one. How do we overcome it? By the word of God. And then how about verse 17? Therefore, do not be unwise. Being unwise. The word understanding here suggests using our minds to discover and to do the will of God, to discover and to do the will of God. And yet so many Christians have the idea that discovering God's will is a mystical thing, a mystical experience, and it's ruling out clear thinking and thinking for the will of God in our lives. Yet it's not. But this is an idea that is wrong. It's dangerous for people to think like that, especially Christians, because we discover one thing, the will of God is transformed in our lives by reading the word of God, studying the word of God, prayer, meditation, and worship before God. Romans 12:1 says, I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be you transformed by the renewing of your minds that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. God's perfect will, notice what he says. James 1:5, if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it shall be given unto you. God wants you to be wise. And then lastly, how about this, God's plan for our lives? Verse 17, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Notice Paul alluding to the plan of God. God has a plan for your life. Do you know it? You need to pray. You need to ask God. To know God's perfect will is to have peace in your life. If you don't have peace even in making a decision, don't make the decision until God gives you the peace that passes all understanding or you're going to make a mistake. Peace is very important in our lives. Paul says in Ephesians 2:10, for we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Notice that walking in them. And then God reveals his plan through what? Through his word. Colossians 1:9, for this reason we also since the day we heard of it do not stop ceasing from praying for you, to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. Colossians 1:10, that you may walk worthy of the Lord fully pleasing him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. How do you increase the knowledge of God? Read your Bible. Read the word of God. That's how you do it.
Guest (Male): And as you consider how to maximize your life to make it count for eternity, we encourage you to prioritize God plans over your own. You're listening to Somebody Loves You Radio with Raul Reese. Today's lesson was titled Walking Carefully. To get an unedited version, just call us at 800 634 9165 and for a donation of $5 or more, we'll send a copy to you. We'd also like to tell you more about Raul's series called Chosen and Committed, available on both CD and USB. This 10 lesson study further explores what it takes to pursue kingdom building work while walking in communion with the Lord. You'll see how important it is to fully commit your ways to God's will and get rid of sinful habits and pave the way for his richest blessings. Visit somebodylovesyou.com or call 800 634 9165 to order Raul's 10 message study called Chosen and Committed. We'll send you the CD collection for $22 or the thumb drive for just 13. That phone number again is 800 634 9165. To order this resource by writing, our mailing address is Somebody Loves You Radio, Post Office Box 4440 Diamond Bar, California 91765. Download the Somebody Loves You app for continuous access to digital Bible studies, live streamed Bible teaching, and an online scripture reading group. Don't forget podcasts of all of these programs can be found on the Somebody Loves You Worldwide YouTube channel or you can look for us on Spotify and iTunes. Somebody Loves You Radio with Raul Reese is entirely listener supported and your gifts play a crucial role in sharing the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you so much for your partnership. And thanks for including us in your day today. Join us next time as we continue this series with a call to honestly evaluate the place we've given to God in our hearts. If he's truly our first love, then our lives will show it and the whole world will see it. Here's Raul once again with a closing comment.
Raul Ries: Colossians 3:15, and let the peace of God rule in your hearts to which also you were called in one body and be thankful. And then lastly, Romans 8:28, and we know that all things work together for good to those who love God and to those who are called according to his purpose. And then let me finish with Ephesians 5:18, the next verse. And do not be drunk with wine, which is the disposition, but be you filled with the Holy Spirit of God. Listen, Phil Brooks, but such a man or woman and live such a life that every man were such as you, every life and life like yours, this earth would be God's paradise. If we live according to the word of God, this would be God paradise, but it's not. Adam and Eve sinned and we continue to sin. And God's heart not only is broken, but God's Holy Spirit is grieved when the church is in sin. When the church lives a life of sin, the Holy Spirit is grieved. He cannot do his perfect work.
Guest (Male): This program is sponsored by Somebody Loves You Radio in Diamond Bar, California.