Ephesians 5:8-17 “Take Time to be Holy” 1

Ephesians 5:8-17 “8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. 14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” 2

Barnes - “Redeeming the time…” Redeeming the time. The word here rendered redeeming, means, to purchase; to buy up from the possession or power of any one; and then to redeem, to set free - as from service or bondage. Here it means, to rescue or recover our time from waste; to improve it for great and important purposes. Because the days are evil. Because the times in which you live are evil. There are many allurements and temptations that would lead you away from the proper improvement of time, and that would draw you into sin. Such were those that would tempt them to go to places of sinful indulgence and revelry, where their time would be wasted, and worse than wasted. As these temptations abounded, they ought therefore to be more especially on their guard against a sinful and unprofitable waste of time. This exhortation may be addressed to all, and is applicable to all periods. Barnes Notes, Albert E. Barnes 3

Clark - “Redeeming the time…” Buying up those moments which others seem to throw away; steadily improving every present moment, that ye may, in some measure, regain the time ye have lost. Let time be your chief commodity; deal in that alone; buy it all up, and use every portion of it yourselves. Time is that on which eternity depends; in time ye are to get a preparation for the kingdom of God; if you get not this in time, your ruin is inevitable; therefore, buy up the time. Adam Clark 4

Coldwell - “Redeeming the time…” The wise man realizes the value of meeting the spiritual challenges in his life. To redeem (exagorazomenoi) is to buy up for one’s use or benefit. Here Paul is not speaking of our buying back time (kairon) we have wasted in the past. He is calling upon us to pay the necessary price in effort and sacrifice to use properly the time (opportunities) we have now (Gal. 3:13; 6:10). By making the most of our opportunities, we save the value of our time as it passes. It is credited to our spiritual accounts with God (Phil. 4:17; Col. 4:5). Colly Caldwell - Ephesians, Truth Commentary 5

Introduction In one day there are… 24 hours 1,440 minutes 86,400 seconds We find time to… Eat & sleep Work Pay our bills Go shopping Be entertained Go here - go there - go everywhere How Much Time Do We TAKE Seeking To Be Holy? 6

Be Holy Our Calling - 2 Tim. 1:8-9; 1 Thess. 4:7 Chosen by God - Eph. 1:3, 4; Col. 3:12 Beseeched & Commanded - Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Pet. 1:15, 16 Jesus to Present Us Holy - Col. 1:21, 22 Holy Brethren & Priesthood - Heb. 3:1; 1 Pet. 2:5-9 Holy Hands - 1 Tim. 2:8 Fruit Unto Holiness - Rom. 6:20-22 Required to See the Lord - Heb. 12:14 To Perfect Holiness - 2 Cor. 7:1 7

Speak Oft With Thy Lord Jesus Taught How to Pray - Lk. 11:1-2; Matt. 6:6 Pray Always - Lk. 18:1; 21:36; 1 Thess. 5:17; Col. 4:2 Pray Everywhere - 1 Tim. 2:8 Pray for Others - Jas. 5:16; 1 Tim. 2:1-2; Lk. 6:28 Forgive Others - Mk. 11:25-26 The Lord Hears - 1 Pet. 3:12; 1 Jn. 5:14 Prayer Avails Much - Jas. 5:16 Prayer Can Be Hindered - 1 Pet. 3:7 Isa. 59:1-2 8

Abide In Him Always Abide With God - 1 Cor. 7:24 Abide in Jesus - Jn. 15:4-7; 1 Jn. 2:28 Abide in His Doctrine - 2 Jn Continue in the Father & the Son - 1 Jn. 2:24 Walk as He Walked - 1 Jn. 2:6 Abide in Him to Avoid Sin - 1 Jn. 3:6 Keep His Commandments - 1 Jn. 3:24 9

Feed On His Word Search the Scriptures - Jn. 5:39 Read His Word - Eph. 3:2-5; 1 Tim. 4:13 Study the Word - 2 Tim. 2:15 Take Heed to the Doctrine - 1 Tim. 4:16 Continue in the Doctrine - 2 Tim. 3:14-17 It Will Build You Up & Sanctify - Acts 20:32 10

Taking Time To Be Holy… Takes time! And Requires We… Follow God To Be Holy As He Is Holy Speak Oft with Our Lord Abide in Him Feed on His Word 11

# Take Time To Be Holy Take time to be holy; Speak oft with thy Lord Abide in Him always; And feed on His word Make friends of God’s children; Help those who are weak Forgetting in nothing; His blessings to seek Take time to be holy; The world rushes on Spend much time in secret; With Jesus alone Abiding in Jesus; Like Him thou shalt be Thy friends in thy conduct; His likeness shall see Take time to be holy; Be calm in thy soul Each thought and each motive; Beneath His control Thus led by His Spirit; To fountains of love Thou soon shall be fitted; For service above 12