Sabbath School lesson is one of the worldwide lessons studied by members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and we are in the third quarter of 2023. The adult Bible study lesson for this quarter was written by John K. McVay. We are currently studying the book of Ephesians, and the Sabbath School lesson for this week is titled “Living Wisely” August 19-25. Join Pastor Mark Finely as he gives a short preview of this week’s lesson.

<p>Sabbath School lesson is one of the worldwide lessons studied by members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and we are in the third quarter of 2023. The adult Bible study lesson for this quarter was written by John K. McVay. We are currently studying the book of Ephesians, and the Sabbath School lesson for this week is titled “Living Wisely” August 19-25. Join Pastor Mark Finely as he gives a short preview of this week’s lesson.</p>

<p>Free sharing permitted under the Creative Commons <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/">BY-NC-ND 3.0 (US)</a> license.</p>

HopeLives365

3rd Quarter Sabbath School 2023: Ephesians

Mark Finley

01 Paul and the Ephesians

02 God’s Grand, Christ-Centered Plan

03 The Power of the Exalted Jesus

04 How God Rescues Us

05 Horizontal Atonement: The Cross and the Church

06 The Mystery of the Gospel

07 The Unified Body of Christ

08 Christ-Shaped Lives and Spirit-Inspired Speech

09 Living Wisely

10 Husbands and Wives: Together at the Cross

11 Practicing Supreme Loyalty to Christ

12 “The Call to Stand”

13 Waging Peace

14 Ephesians in the Heart


Welcome back to another Sabbath School Review. Quarter is moving along really quickly, and today we're going to be studying Lesson 9. It's titled, Living Wisely. And that really raises some questions, doesn't it? How do we live wisely?

Where do we find the strength to live wisely? What does it mean to live wisely? Dr. John McVeigh opens this particular lesson with an interesting illustration about a claret jug that was auctioned off and the auctioner thought it was worth about $200. The individuals that bought it knew its value.

They knew its worth and they purchased it for the 200, but then discovered that the true worth was about $6.5 million. Man, I wish I would have purchased that jug. We could have financed a lot of our Hope Lives 365 ministry very easily, but God does provide for us. But back to our lesson. You know, value, Knowing the value of something really is what determines its true worth.

If you know something's value, you can really understand it is worth something. In Ephesians, in the entire book, in particular chapter 5, Paul contrasts the paltry value of earthly things with the eternal value of godly things. He talks about the pagan way of life, the way of life of the pagans, of sexual immorality, of a pursuit of pleasure, of craziness over the here and now with little thought for the hereafter. He contrasts that, the Apostle Paul does, with the eternal values of knowing Christ, the peace that comes from knowing Christ, the fact that we're adopted as children into the family of God, the fact that our sins are forgiven, that there's no condemnation to those that are in Christ, that God has a pre-designed plan for us for eternity, and 1 day we can live with him forever. And Paul contrasts those things in this particular chapter 5, and the author develops that theme throughout the lesson.

In Monday's lesson, we read about, instead of let there be thanksgiving, focusing on Ephesians 5, verse 1 and 2. So if you have your Bible, Ephesians 5, you're looking at there at verse 1 and 2. Therefore be followers of God as dear children. In other words, do not be charmed by the world's enticements. Be followers of God as dear children.

In other words, do not be charmed by the world's enticements. Be followers of God as dear children. Walk in love as Christ also has loved us and given himself for us. In offering, in a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. So the motivation for Christian living, The motivation for being followers of God or imitators of God, the motivation for that is the fact that Christ has loved us.

Christ has given all for us, so therefore we give our all to him. I'm interested in the expression, last part talks about Christ being an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling aroma. You can get confused with this idea, sacrifice to God. What does that mean? Does it mean that God is like the pagan gods and Christ comes to make a sacrifice to him like the pagans were making sacrifices to their gods?

Not at all. What does it mean that Christ's death is a sacrifice to God as a sweet-smelling aroma? It simply means this, that Jesus gave all in life and Jesus gave all in death. And the loving sacrifice of Christ, because of his commitment to redeem the human race, ascended like a sweet aroma to the Father. It's not as if Jesus makes a sacrifice like the pagans do to a pagan god, it is rather Jesus' love for the human race, his desire to save the human race, his willing to do anything to save humans, is a sweet-smelling sacrifice to the Father.

There is a wonderful little note on this. We find it in the lesson. Paul affirms 4 things about the sacrifice. First, it's motivated by both the love of God, by both the love of God the Father, and of Christ himself. So the sacrifice itself is motivated by love, so it's a sweet-smelling sacrifice.

Secondly, it's substitutionary, with Christ dying in our place. He's no passive victim, but he gave himself for us. His willingness to give himself for us, to die on our behalf, is a sweet-smelling sacrifice. Thirdly, under the imagery of the Old Testament sanctuary service, Christ's death is also a sacrifice is made to God. Why is it a sacrifice to God?

Because the law of the universe is broken. God's law has been violated. And so Christ, in an act of redemptive love, presents his life as an offering to the Father for the sins of humanity. It's an act of voluntary submission, an act of love. It is a substitutionary atonement where Christ dies in our behalf and for the sacrifices accepted by God since it's a fragrant offering, just like the offerings in the Old Testament.

It is an offering that's given willingly, voluntarily. Because of the motivation of love, We are children, Monday's lesson, as walk in the light. Now, in verse 6 of Ephesians 5, we read a very interesting phrase. It says, verse 6, "'Let no 1 deceive you with empty words.'" In other words, don't simply follow the words that people speak that seem so enticing, so flattering that lead you from the plans and purposes and will of God. For because of these things, the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience." What is the wrath of God?

Is the wrath of God, God's anger? Is the wrath of God, God's vindictive judgment? What is the wrath of God? The lesson I think defines it very well, puts it this way and then I'll read it and then I will expound on it. It is the just response, it's the wrath of God, it's the just response of a long-suffering and righteous God against the stubborn commitment to evil.

It is not a crazed volcanic reaction to some minor infraction. Moreover, mentions of divine wrath most often occur in the context of inspired biblical warnings about the coming judgments of God. God warns of his own coming judgments. An act of grace, since human beings are by nature children of wrath, subject to those judgments. So what is the wrath of God?

It's God's just response after he has suffered long, after he's patiently reached out again and again and again. The wrath of God is not the crazed anger of some madman, not at all. God's nature is love. His actions are love. The wrath of God has to do with the judgments of God upon sinful humanity.

We then, according to Ephesians 5, verse 7 to 10, are to be participants with Christ as his followers not to receive the wrath of God, the judgments of God as upon sinners. Ephesians 5, 7 to 10, therefore do not be partakers with them, that is with the Gentile word, with sinners, for you were once darkness. So we have this similarity with sinners, with what Paul would call the Gentiles, the pagans, we have this similarity. We were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.

Every time you read about walking, and Paul uses that expression very often in Ephesians, walking, walking, walking, it means following, it means imitating. It says, for you once in darkness but now you are children of light. Walk or let your lifestyle, walking is a lifestyle. Follow God as children of light. Let your lifestyle be 1 that shines as the light of God's love.

For the fruit of the spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth, proving what is acceptable to the Lord. Have no fellowship with the fruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them." So Christians are not called by God to join with the rebellious world in their sinful activities. We're called to be children of light, called to be the salt of the earth, called to be ambassadors for Christ. We are called to be partakers of the divine nature. We have left the works of darkness.

We are to walk, or our walking, think of the word walking as lifestyle. Our lifestyle is to reflect the beauty, the glory of Jesus. And then Paul, as an arrow from the Lord's quiver, shoots right to the heart of the matter. As a thunder clap in the darkness of night, he wakes us out of sleep. He Incidentally, just the other night, I was sleeping and a flash of lightning woke me up.

You know, we have the windows right next to our bed and this flash of lightning. I look outside and it's a summer storm And the lightning is flashing. And I will tell you, when the thunder began to roll last night, it woke me out of my bed. Paul says, Ephesians 5, verse 11 to 14, Tuesday's lesson, here we go. Paul says, have no fellowship with the fruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret." In other words, they're immoral acts. They're sexual indiscretions. He says, don't be dwelling on those. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light for whatever makes manifest his light." And then notice this, then he says, "'Awake, you who sleep! Arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.'" In other words, wake up, wake up.

We're living on the knife edge of eternity. Wake up. The thunder is rolling in the signs of the times that are breaking upon our world. Wake up. Christ is coming.

Have no fellowship with the works of darkness. It's time to have a lifestyle that reflects God's love, his grace, and his goodness. There's an interesting note in the second paragraph. It says, believers are to expose the unfruitful works of darkness by exhibiting the righteous alternative for all to see. Don't you like that?

That word, the righteous alternative. Righteousness is an alternative to the works of darkness. When the fruits of the spirit of love, joy, peace are manifest in our lives, the world can see a demonstration of Christ's love in goodness. Now Wednesday's lesson, you know, when I first read that snapping up bargains, so I had to do a double take, I had to think about it a little bit because I hadn't thought about that before in that same context. We are considering Ephesians 5, verse 15 to 17, And 15 to 17 says, See that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is." Now, this is an interesting expression. You know where it says, redeeming the time. And I'm just going to read the paragraph here in our lesson. Paul also encourages international discipleship with a vivid image. In the phrase, making the best use of time, Paul uses the verb and he gives you the Greek verb, exagrazo, and he says, it's drawn from the marketplace.

It's an intense form of the verb to buy it. It means to snap up bargains on offer as we wait for Christ's return. So this is very interesting, snap up the bargains. In other words, when you are waiting for the return of Christ, Invest in those things that are going to last for eternity. Know the true value of something.

Remember the opening illustration? A cart jug that was valued at $200 but sold was worth over $6.5 million. Would you say that was a bargain? It sure was. And so what Christ is saying to us, look at things of value.

In a world that's dominated by the prince of the power of the air, as we look for the return of Christ, it'll be a difficult time, it'll be a hazardous time, but it's a rewarding marketplace. Why? Because we are to be attentive to our use of time as much as bargain hunters are during a brief sale that offers steep discounts. Though we can't buy salvation, the imagery is still adept. Take promptly what Christ offers to us.

Christ offers forgiveness. Christ offers salvation. Christ offers power over temptation. Christ offers eternal life. When you compare those to the things of this world, and when you see how much you gain when you come to Christ, those things are a bargain.

Don't miss them. They have eternal worth. Don't pass by a $200 claret jug that you think that's all it's worth when it's worth 6.5 million. Don't pass by the things of eternity, Paul is saying. Don't pass time by those things that are gonna last forever and ever and ever.

Our study comes to an end in Thursday's lesson. And then there's a couple notes I want to pick up in Friday's lesson as well. But our study comes to an end in Thursday's lesson by talking about spirit-filled worship. And it gives you the characteristics of spirit-filled worship in Ephesians 5, 18 to 20. It says, do not be drunk with wine in which there is dissipation, but be filled with the spirit.

In other words, wine numbs the brain. Wine bewitches the conscience. In fact, Lancet, the British medical journal, came out with a major study not long ago that said even moderate drinking has risks. Not even moderate drinking, not even 1 glass of alcohol is safe. Why not?

Because it benumbs the brain, because it predisposes us to varying diseases, and also because 40% of those who begin to drink develop problems with alcohol. What if I had a dog and I invite you over to my house and I have this beautiful Rottweiler German Shepherd, I said, don't worry, he only invites, he only bites 2 out of every 5 people that walk through my door. But don't worry, I don't think it'll be 1 of the, no, you don't know where that dog's gonna jump on you and bite you, that's the problem with moderate drinking. 2 out of 5 people have problems with alcohol that become serious, that break up family relationships, that give them health problems, give them problems on their job, and you don't know if you're gonna be 1 of those people. And even if you are not, it's bewitching the brain.

So the Bible says, Ephesians 5, verse 17, do not be unwise, understand the will of God. Verse 15, see then you walk circumspectly, not as fools, redeeming the time because the days are evil." Don't be unwise, understand what the will of God is. Then, down to verse 18, do not be drunk with wine in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit." See the contrast. Don't be filled with wine, talking to this pagan culture who drinking was part of the culture at every meal, but be filled with the Spirit of God. Then he says, speaking to 1 another in psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, singing, making melody in your heart, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to 1 another in the fear of the Lord.

He says, sing psalms. In other words, learn to sing biblical songs. Sing hymns, the great hymns of the church that have such meaning, such depth. Paul says, and make melody in your heart. Give thanks always, be filled with praise.

So Paul sees corporate worship as a time of song, a time of praise, a time we come as brothers and sisters and submit to 1 another. What does it mean to submit to 1 another? It means in humility and kindness and graciousness, we serve 1 another. I love the note in the second paragraph under Friday's lesson. Paul imagines the church, buoyed by a renewed commitment as they walk as children of light while they wait Christ's return.

And blessed by the presence of Christ, gathering to worship. They're motivated by their status as beloved children of God and by Christ's death for them. They're filled with the spirit. Their shared worship is characterized by energy and joy as together they sing thanksgiving praise to the Lord Jesus Christ and to God the Father. With a firm grip on heavenly realities, they celebrate their hope for the future, rooted in the story of what God has done, is doing, and will accomplish for them through Jesus Christ our Lord.

May your worship in church be filled with godly singing. May it be filled with spirit-filled preaching that's biblical, that's Christ-centered. May it be filled with the ring of the Adventist message. Christ created us, Christ died for us, Christ lives again for us, and Jesus is coming back for us. Let us pray.

Father in heaven, We thank you for the lesson today, for its inspiration. We want to be bargain hunters for Jesus. We want to take quickly and freely the salvation that he offers, the power that is available to us in the hope of the second coming of Christ. Lord, help us to have day by day and moment by moment that sense of your divine presence in our lives. And as we come to worship, may we sing from the context and depth of our own experience, those glorious hymns that you've given to us.

May we sing the songs of heaven. May we hear messages from the throne of God. May we be filled with the spirit of God. May we leave church to serve and to bless others and to witness to your name until you come again. In Jesus name, Amen.

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Series

3rd Quarter Sabbath School 2023: Ephesians

09 Living Wisely

Description

Parent Series

Sponsor

Recorded

Other Teachings in Series

01 Paul and the Ephesians

18m

02 God’s Grand, Christ-Centered Plan

21m

03 The Power of the Exalted Jesus

18m

04 How God Rescues Us

17m

05 Horizontal Atonement: The Cross and the Church

20m

06 The Mystery of the Gospel

19m

07 The Unified Body of Christ

21m

08 Christ-Shaped Lives and Spirit-Inspired Speech

20m

09 Living Wisely

20m

10 Husbands and Wives: Together at the Cross

18m

11 Practicing Supreme Loyalty to Christ

21m

12 “The Call to Stand”

19m

13 Waging Peace

17m

14 Ephesians in the Heart

22m

Sound Doctrine