Good morning, and a blessed Thursday morning to you. Would you open your Bibles for our devotion this morning to Ephesians, the fifth chapter—Ephesians chapter 5. I’d like to begin in verse 15. I’d like to share with you this morning on the topic of being wise. You know, there is a difference between earthly wisdom and heavenly wisdom, so we’re going to talk about that wisdom that comes from God—heavenly wisdom.

So we’ll start in chapter 5 of Ephesians, the 15th verse. There the apostle Paul, writing under the inspiration of the Spirit, writes this: “Be careful, then, how you live—not as unwise people but as wise.” Then he gives the reason: “making the most of the time, because the days are evil.”

Ever since the fall into sin, harking all the way back to Genesis and our first parents, Adam and Eve, and their eating of the forbidden fruit—that turning away from God, their eyes being taken off of God and turning upon themselves—sin has entered into the world. Certainly we can give example after example of sin in the world and sin in our own lives. Paul gives some direct counsel here: making the most of the time, because the days are evil.

He goes on then to write, “So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Well, how do we know what the will of the Lord is? How do we know that which is wise—the wise will of the Lord? We know that by turning to the Word. God’s holy Word comes to us.

God speaks to us His very words in Holy Scripture. He speaks to us and gives to us that which is His will—His wise will.

Verse 18: Paul goes on to say, “Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery.” What he’s getting at here is that in pagan religions, drunkenness was often a key aspect of their religious practices. So he’s saying, don’t be under the control of a substance like alcohol. Don’t get drunk like the pagans do in their religious rites. Rather, he says in the second part of verse 18, “But be filled with the Spirit.”

Remember the principle that we hear in Holy Scripture: there is no such thing as a wordless Spirit. In other words, the Holy Spirit is always attached to the Word. There is no such thing as a wordless Spirit. And so, to be wise, we turn to the Scriptures. God gives us His Word, and we are filled with the Spirit.

Now when one becomes a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ—in the waters of baptism, when we are claimed—we are filled with the Holy Spirit. Or if we are brought to faith first and the Spirit is given to us, and then we come to our baptism. Either way, inside the believer dwells the Holy Spirit. Scripture says we are a temple of the Holy Spirit.

Being that temple of the Holy Spirit, we can say that as believers we already have the Holy Spirit. Yet there is to be a continual filling of the Holy Spirit. And that continual filling comes through the Word as we study that Word.

Back to verse 18 again: “Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.” And then what is the result of turning to the Word and being filled with the Spirit? The result is worship.

As you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Turning to His Word, we hear of his wisdom, we hear of his promises.

For us, we are continually filled with the Holy Spirit. And that being filled with the Holy Spirit expresses itself in worship. For we can, as the Scripture says, at all times and for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, give thanks as we understand that everything is under his sovereign control for his glory and for our ultimate good. That's wise living, isn't it? Wise living.

Making the most of the time. Let's pray. Gracious heavenly Father, we give you thanks for this time in your Word. Your word is truth. We thank you, O Lord, for the call to wisdom.

And we thank you how you use your Word to that end. Fill us today, O Lord. Fill us with your Holy Spirit as we study the Word. Fill us and send us forth to proclaim Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, to send us forth to proclaim the glorious gospel, that our sins are forgiven. And through the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, you have opened up heaven to all believers.

Send us forth, O Lord, with that glorious, glorious message of your grace in Jesus name. Amen. Who is it today that needs to be encouraged? May you be that person that brings the encouragement of Christ. Encourage someone.

Pastor Eibel