“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.ā (Ephesians 5: 15-21 ESV)
A coupleĀ of weeks ago, we talked about how when we lack the understanding of what God’s will is or what the bigger picture is, we get discouraged, distracted and deflated. We don’t make the best use of our time and we waste the seasons God has placed us in.
We waste time by “binging” on wine (or screens) because we’re bored and want to kill or fill our time, instead of seeing time as precious.
Time is a Holy Gift from God: It is God’s possession. It is Holy. Remember the Marbles in the Jar example?
Instead, we are to look at our current season, the time frame we are in and ask: Why am I here? What is God’s assignment for me today?
And to this, we are to respond: “I get it, I understand.” I am alert, aware and anticipating your direction.
We received the charge to Worship & Worship. Because by worshipping with others and worshiping by ourselves, we become primed for God’s will.
But this week, we talk about the second part of Paul’s instruction:
“…but be filled with the Spirit… giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Give Thanks.
Say Thanks.
Take Thanks.
Give Thanks: Thanksgiving is tangible; It’s love expressed. We give thanks by doing what we did on Anniversary! We literally give thanks.
We sought to raise $20,000 in partnership with charity: water for clean water in Rwanda, and that night we announced that we doubled that amount. But when we counted everyone’s giving (including those who were serving and gave later), we actually tripled that amount and raised $60,000 in one night!
That means we went from being able toĀ provide clean water to 700 students to 2,100 in one night!
When we give thanks, we begin to understand the Lord’s will. We say, “Ah, this is what my gifts are for, our time and talents as a Church, my resources and money. I understand Lord, I’ll be on the lookout for more of your will now in my own private life.”
Say Thanks: Saying thanks gets you in “range” to God’s voice. It’s like increasing the bars on your data. It helps you to “hear” God’s voice clearly. It does this by changing your posture from one of pride, to one of humility.
And He gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6 NLT)
“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8 ESV)
“Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.” (Psalm 100:4 NIV)
Say thanks throughout the day. Pray this with us this week: Thank you, Jesus, for loving me, without condition. Thank you for the price you paid for my life. Thank you for ransoming me from slavery to darkness. Thank you for delivering me from evil. Thank you for protecting me from myself. Thank you for watching over me each day, and each night, in this world. Thank you for being my God. I worship you with gratitude. I thank you. In Jesusā name, Amen.āĀ (Reeves, Canyon Road)
Then say what you’re thankful for. “Lord, today, I am thankful for…”
Take Thanks: Take communion. Participate in the Eucharist.
After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you…” And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.ā In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.ā (Luke 22: 17-20 NIV)Ā
Every time we take communion, we are thanking God for His son, Salvation and for the Sending.
Three types of communion:
Holy Communion: Some Christians call communion the Holy Communion because this reminds us that we are called to live as His Holy people. To live wisely, making the best use of our time, to understand and do His will. We are in Koinonia; fellowship around Christ, for Christ, because of Christ.
Eucharist: When we take communion, we are thanking God for His salvation. Some traditions call it the Eucharist, to thank God for delivering us from evil, sin, and bondage and into a relationship with Him. “Eucharisto” is Greek for thank you.
Mass: When we take communion, we are thanking God for His holy purpose of sending us into the world to bless it. Some traditions call it mass, because it reminds us that when we take Christ’s body, all of our hunger is satisfied, and we are given the power and strength to feed the hungry and thirsty in our world. This is the meal that ends with us being sent out, commissioned.
When we take thanks by communion, we are reminded of whose we are and who we are. To live wisely, make the best use of our time, and to live out God’s will.
Recently, Eugene Peterson, the author of The Message Bible translation, passed away.Ā His son Leif said at his father’s funeral that his dad only had one sermon. That he had fooled everyone for 29 years of pastoral ministry, that for all his books, he only had one message. It was a secret that his dad had let him in on early in life, a message that Leif said his dad whispered in his heart for 50 years. Words he had snuck into his room to say over him as he slept as a child:
“God loves you. God is on your side. He is coming after you. He is relentless.”
When we take communion, we are inspired to live for His Kingdom. Because every time we take communion, when we break the bread and drink from the wine, we hear God whisper to us:
“I love you. I’m on your side. I’m coming after you. I am relentless.”
You can listen to the sermon Timeās A-Wastinā Pt. II from the Ephesians series that inspired this post here.
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