It is a pleasure to be here.
It's a pleasure for me to work with Pickens First Baptist
and the other 28 churches of our association
as we spread the gospel of Jesus Christ,
not only locally, but throughout the state and around the world.
So I thank you for your part in sharing through prayer
and through ministry and through the finances of our association
as we partner together to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Now, I want to take just a couple of minutes
to share two or three of the things that we are doing right now
as an association that you're a part of,
and I just want to share with you a little more detail about it
so that you can pray more specifically for what we are doing.
The first thing I want to share with you is our multi-residential ministries.
That is through apartment communities and senior adult living communities.
Currently, we have ministries where we have been invited
into eight apartment communities in the Pickens-Clemson area
that we can go and do Bible clubs, Bible studies,
share through other ways the love of God with the residents there.
And one of those, Pickens Gardens, we have a weekly Bible study
and a church that is doing a Bible school there throughout the summer.
Our heart for schools is another tremendous ministry,
and I'd like to share the numbers there.
We have 15 churches that are ministering in 10 schools.
The schools are in the geographical area of our association.
That's Clemson, Pickens, and the metropolitan areas of Dacosville, Pumpkin Town, and Six Mile.
So in those schools, we have roughly 7,000 faculty, staff, and students.
You multiply the spouses, parents, or children,
and we estimate that through those 10 schools
that our association is ministering to roughly 20,000 people
through our heart for schools.
So I thank you for that.
Very important ministry as we reach out in the public schools of our school district
to share the gospel of Jesus Christ
and the influence and the love that we can have on those faculty, staff, and students.
Also, our senior adult living communities.
We have worship services that we're doing in three.
Dominion, Clemson Downs, and Heritage of Clemson.
Now, these are senior adult living communities
where it's very independent living,
and we are very blessed to be in there.
And we are beginning the one in Clemson Downs
within the next several weeks.
But in the other two, we're up and going.
And Fred Sanford, who I believe is a member here,
does the one as Fred here.
Oh, there he sits.
Okay.
Fred is doing the one at Dominion,
and I'm doing the one at Clemson Heritage.
And we'll be starting one, Terry Parrish.
We'll be doing that one at Clemson Downs.
I share all of that.
Between those, we average somewhere,
it depends week to week,
but, you know, 12, 15, to 16 people a week
in each of those as we have our Bible studies.
Pray for those missions and ministries
as we're reaching out.
As you're a part of that,
through the Pickens 12 Mile Association,
reaching out into our community,
sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
So thank you so much for your partnership,
your prayers, and for your support.
All right.
Let's take our Bibles.
Brian said I had two minutes this morning.
I love that guy.
I'm just trying to figure out why.
So take your Bibles,
open to Ephesians chapter 5,
verses 15 through 20.
Since my time is up,
when you get home, read that.
How about that?
I'm done.
I'm through.
My two minutes is up.
We're going to be looking at Ephesians chapter 5 this morning,
those verses 15 through 20.
And the title, if you will,
the theme for the message this morning,
what I want us to focus on in our time together,
is living as Christian in an ungodly world.
The apostle is writing to the church in Ephesus.
And this is exactly what he is encouraging them to do.
He is encouraging them because they are living as Gentile Christians
in a Gentile world.
It is a world that is not made up of a predominance of people
who believe as those Christians believe.
And so they are living in a world,
in a culture,
in a community,
in families,
in which they have come to Christ,
but the majority of their friends,
neighbors,
acquaintances,
and perhaps even family members
do not believe as they believe.
If you turn back to chapter 4,
verse 17,
and this is where Paul begins this discourse
that goes through chapter 5,
but in chapter 4,
verse 17,
he encourages them,
he says,
Say I therefore,
and testify in the Lord,
that ye henceforth walk not
as other Gentiles walk,
in the vanity of their mind.
Let's take just a moment to develop that verse
before we read chapter 5,
verse 15 through 20.
When the apostle Paul tells them
that their friends and their neighbors
are living in vanity,
he is telling them
that in the lives they are living,
no matter how productive
they may think they are,
how successful they may seem to appear,
that they are living a life of vanity
or of uselessness.
Uselessness.
If you take everything in your life
and you couple it together
and you're told that everything in your life
is useless,
then what is it that will make
your life useful?
This is where the apostle
is going to go in a few moments.
Their life is useless
not because they're not doing good things.
It's not because they are not caring
about others perhaps,
but their life is useless
because it is a life without Christ.
And dear friends,
what I want us to grasp this morning
in our few moments that we have together
is simply this,
that for life to have meaning
and purpose and usefulness,
it must be a life
that is in Christ.
That He must be the Lord of our life.
He must be our Savior.
Now I want to paint a picture very quickly
before we delve in any deeper.
You see, there are two types of Christians
in this world.
There are the spiritual Christians
and there are the carnal Christians.
Let me explain.
First of all,
both have Christ in their life.
Now as I share this this morning,
the first question
that you must wrestle with,
that you must answer
is simply this,
is Christ in my life?
Do I know Christ as my Savior
and as my Lord?
Have I asked Him
to forgive me of my sin,
to cleanse me
of all of my unrighteousness
and to live in my heart?
Have I given Him
the free sway of my heart
and lordship of my life?
The second question
that you must answer this morning
is are you a carnal Christian
or a spiritual Christian?
A carnal Christian
is the one that has Christ
in their life,
but He is not the Lord
of their life.
Instead of the blessed assurance
of salvation,
salvation to you
is simply insurance.
You're hoping to ensure yourself
that when you stand before God
that you will be allowed
into heaven.
But you're not giving God
or Christ
the lordship of your life
day by day.
You're not waking up
every morning
and asking,
you know,
asking in that time of prayer
or meditation with God,
God,
what is your plan?
What is your direction
for me today?
And you're not honestly
closing the day
by going before God
and saying,
God,
have I faithfully accomplished
the task for today
that you gave me
for this day?
Has my life honored you
to the nth degree?
Did I do all
that you presented
the opportunity
for me to do?
You see,
to be the Spirit-filled Christian,
Christ must be
on the throne
of your life.
Not just in the sphere
of your life,
but in the center
of your life.
And you seek
to live for Him
every day.
day.
Paul is addressing
the believers
then in chapter 5,
verses 15 through 20,
after he has said to them,
beginning the discourse,
that others have a life
of vanity,
uselessness.
So you have your Bibles
open now.
Perhaps I've taken
so long with introduction,
you've closed your Bibles,
but you may open them
back to Galatians chapter 5.
We're going to read
verses 15 through 20.
See then,
he's closing,
he says,
so see then
that you walk
circumspectly,
not as fools,
but as wise people,
redeeming the time
because the days
are evil.
wherefore,
be ye not unwise,
but understanding
what the will
of the Lord
is.
And be not drunk
with wine
wherein is excess,
but be filled
with the Spirit,
speaking to yourselves
in psalms
and hymns
and spiritual songs,
singing
and making melody
in your heart
unto the Lord.
Giving thanks
always
for all things
unto God
and the Father
in the name
of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
As Paul
is addressing
the believers here,
he is asking,
identifying for them
how we should live
our lives.
first,
he says,
walk
circumspectly.
That means
careful
to consider
all
circumstances.
A Christian
is not to live
a life
that's just sort of
willy-nilly
free
and to be blown
in the wind
as long as it's
the wind
of the Spirit.
Christians
are commanded
here,
are encouraged
here by Paul
to live lives
that take
into consideration
everything around them.
Now,
we can spend
the majority
of our time
this morning
just laying out
for you
the things
of this world
that we experience.
But I'm going
to let you
just in a few seconds
let that race
through your mind.
The life
in which you live,
the places
where you work,
where you go
to school,
where you hang out,
where you shop,
all of those things.
I'm going
to let you
just identify
those things
that are a part
of life
that you experience
and be careful
to consider
all of the
circumstances.
And he says
when you do that
walk
understandingly
and make
the best
of your time.
one of the things
that I am
almost
I'm to the point
that I
I don't
hate myself
but I just
I am such
a
meticulous.
I prepare
my days.
One of the last
things I do
every evening
is sit down
look over
my calendar
and make sure
that I've got
the next day
just lined out
where to be
what to do
when to do it
how to do it
excuse me
and all of those
things
it's one of the
last things
I do every day
and then the
first thing I do
in the morning
is I get up
and I get a phone
call or a message
and I go
oh my
now I've got to
change the whole day.
Sometimes I can be
that meticulous
sometimes I can be
that structured
but what I have
to understand
is that what
God
what I think
and what God
says
may not always
click together.
So I have to
understand
how to make
the best use
of the time
that God
has given me
understanding
that I am to
use it
to honor
and glorify Him.
So this is what
Paul is telling
the believers
this is what he is
telling them
that are living
in communities
and in an
ungodly world
he is saying
to them
redeem
your
time
it is like
this
we love
to sit down
and talk
about
what is wrong
with the world
we do
it is rotten
to the core
we love
to talk
about it
we enjoy
talking about
what others
are doing
that we would
never do
that we do
not believe in
that what
they are doing
and instead
of doing that
listen
because here is
what we are
doing according
to the scripture
we are wasting
our time
because the
Bible tells
us that there
will always
be evil
days
but evil
days
create
opportunities
not
obstacles
that excites
me
that excites
me
let me tell you
a little bit
about Hartford
schools
why I am so
passionate
about it
when one
of my
children
was in
middle school
at a middle
school here
in Pickens
County
I was asked
by the principal
of that school
to develop
a chaplaincy
program for the
middle school
and so a group
of pastors
we worked on it
for some time
then I was
invited to come
to a meeting
at the school
to present it
to some parents
and hopefully
we would get
it instituted
in the school
when I share it
as soon as I finish
there's a lady
at the other
end of the
table
that looks
across the
table at me
and she says
no
I do not
want people
like you
forcing your
religious belief
down my
child's throat
and you've
got to respect
that
my response
ma'am
I will be
glad to
respect your
opinion
if you
will respect
mine
from that
day on
basically
friends
it became
a crusade
for me
to see
how we
could get
Christian
influence
into our
schools
we had a
principal
when my
child was
at Six Mile
Elementary
the principal
would always
invite me
to come
to do
a career
day
and I'm
just a
preacher
how many
kids
want to
hear what
a preacher
does in
his life
every day
no
so you
know what
the principal
would do
the principal
would always
put me with
the race car
driver
or the
airplane
pilot
or the
astronaut
well kids
wanted to
hear all
about that
but to
hear about
those
or any
one of
those
they had
to then
say it
to the
second
half
which was
the
preacher
and I
would always
share
what I
what my
role in
ministry
as a
pastor
what it
was
and I
would always
end
I did
this for
about five
years
I would
always end
in this
manner
I would
take a
copy of
my
scripture
of the
bible
and I
would
as I
close
I would
say
I have
here
in my
bible
when I
open it
a picture
if you
will
of who
God
loves
so much
that he
gave his
only begotten
son
that
whosoever
believes
in him
will never
perish
but have
everlasting
life
would you
like to
see
who that
person
is
every
hand
would
go up
yes
I said
okay
I'm going
to come
I'm going
to show
you the
picture
of that
person
that God
loves so
much
that he
gave his
only begotten
son
that whosoever
believes in
him
will not
perish
but have
everlasting
life
but when I
show it
to you
don't tell
anyone else
because I
want them
to see the
picture
themselves
today
okay
that's
who
would
see it
first
every hand
would go
up
I'd walk
back
I'd open
my Bible
I'd turn
it to the
child's face
and what I
had on the
leaf there
was a
mirror
as I
walked
across
through that
classroom
every child
saw
that the
person that
God loves
so much
that he
gave his
only begotten
son
that whosoever
believes in
him would
not perish
was
themselves
there's a
task for
us to be
doing
when they
asked Jesus
why are
you here
he did
not say
to feed
the hungry
to heal
the sick
nor to
raise the
dead
when the
religious
leaders
asked him
why are
you here
it was
to seek
and to
save
those
which were
lost
and that's
the task
of the
church
today
to seek
and to
save
those
who are
lost
this
is
living
wisely
secondly
understand
the will
of the
Lord
be aware
of what
God wants
in every
situation
verse 17
understanding
what the
will of
the Lord
is
it is
not what
you want
it is
not what
I want
it is
what
God
wants
and it
is us
pulling
together
in the
same
direction
with all
of our
strength
with all
of our
soul
and with
all of
our heart
to accomplish
that task
for years
I had a
little cartoon
that I
kept on
my office
wall
on a
bulletin
board
or something
and it
was four
little boys
standing around
a wagon
and the
wagon had
something in
it I don't
remember exactly
what and
they're wanting
to move it
now it's very
heavy because
of the load
that's in the
little wagon
so the four
boys there's
one on each
end and
one on each
side
and as
they're standing
there the next
caption says
this
okay guys
on the
count of
three
everybody
pull
now just
take a
minute
you've got
the picture
one boy
on each
end
one on
each side
count of
three
everybody
pulls
where's
the load
go
nowhere
you're all
pulling with
all of your
strength
with all of
their might
but they're
pulling
against each
other
and it
goes
nowhere
body of
Christ is
made up of
people that
service the
hands
some that
service the
feet
we all have a
different call
we all have
different gifts
that we can put
together to form
the body of
Christ that
when he says
move we move
and accomplishing
our task
for the purpose
of reaching
those who
are lost
and that
will be
accomplished
it is not
what you
want or
where you
want to
go
but it
is who
you are
and doing
God's will
that brings
honor to
him
verse
the passage
says
in verse
10
if we go
back
or we
learn
here that
the passage
says
learn
what is
pleasing
to the
Lord
it's not
about what
I want
it's about
what God
wants
and being
in tune
to that
third
be filled
with the
spirit
the secret
to a
godly
life
if you
ever
ask
yourself
how
can I
live
a life
that I'm
doing
what I
know
God
wants me
to do
and you
know
I will
be less
likely
perhaps
very
unlikely
to do
those
things
that bring
harm
to me
what
is it
that I
need
to do
it is
very
simple
it is
this
secret
to be
filled
by the
Holy Spirit
of God
in the
book of
Acts
just before
Jesus
ascends
he tells
his disciples
about the
coming
of the
Spirit
of the
Holy Spirit
that will
indwell
in them
that will
fill them
and will
empower
them
and encourage
them
man if
you're
living
a life
in which
you have
no power
and you're
always feeling
discouraged
perhaps you
simply need
to be
filled
with the
Spirit
of God
so preacher
don't talk
like that
I've been a
church member
for 60
years
well
I've been
preaching
since I
was 15
and I
still pray
for God
to fill me
with his
Spirit
daily
to just
encompass
all that
I am
and all
that I'm
going to
be
fill me
with your
Holy Spirit
because I
don't want
to be
filled
and let
it just
lay in
there
I want
to be
filled
today
that I
may share
it with
others
and then be
filled
tomorrow
that I
may share
again
it is
living a
life
in which
you are
filled
by the
Spirit
of God
Jesus
and the
woman
at the
well
in John
14
illustrates
that point
so beautifully
as he is
sitting there
at the
well
talking to
this lady
who believes
that she
understands
all there
really is
to understand
about religion
and she
may have
but what
she did
not understand
was what
it meant
to be
filled
with the
Spirit
of God
Jesus
said to
her
if you
knew
who I
was
you
would
be
asking
me
for the
water
because he
would fill
her with
the Spirit
of God
he would
fill her
with that
water
in which
she would
never
thirst
again
I got
tired
of living
a life
where I
would be
pumped up
on Sunday
mornings
and empty
by Thursday
afternoon
I got
tired
of that
I wanted
to live
a life
in which
Christ
would
fill
and
fill
me
and I
realized
the way
that I
do that
is that
I live
for him
and that
I ask
him
every day
to live
in me
when she
understood
what it
meant to be
filled
with the
Spirit
she ran
back to
the town
and she
told
everybody
and I
believe
when we
say
everybody
I
think
it
meant
everybody
that had
anything
to do
with her
so it
was not
the church
people
she went
and she
told them
we're to be
filled
with the
Spirit
of God
Colossians
chapter 3
verse 16
says
let the
word of
Christ
dwell
in you
richly
fully
as you
teach
and admonish
one another
in all
wisdom
seek to
be filled
with the
Spirit
of God
fourth
understanding
the importance
of worship
look what it
says
in verse
19
speaking to
yourselves
in psalms
and hymns
and spiritual
songs
singing
and making
melody
in your
heart
to the
Lord
I enjoyed
hearing this
men's group
sing
but I kept
looking for
Lawrence
Crenshaw
up here
because I
didn't see
anybody young
enough to
be him
as I
remembered
Lawrence
and I
go way
back
listen
I'll tell
you this
little side
note
very quickly
you know
why I'm
a preacher
today
you know
why
because I
took piano
from Liddell
and she
told me
she said
Rick
you better
just give
up music
and try
preaching
and God
took that
and used
it
to call
me to
preach
but singing
and making
melody
in your
heart
oh
man I get
some of the
strangest looks
at traffic
lights
when I'm
sitting in
town
there may
be some
of you
that have
seen me
and now
you're gonna
go oh
yeah
I remember
that idiot
I love to
sing in my
car
I won't tell
you exactly
what I
drive
that way
if you
don't know
you won't
know if
it's me
or not
I love
to sing
in my
car
and I
will turn
the radio
up
not to
blast out
the people
around me
loud enough
that I
can't hear
myself sing
with them
but I
love to
sing
I love
to sing
with the
congregation
I love
praise songs
I love
songs that
talk of
Calvary
I love
songs that
talk of
the blood
and the
grace of
Jesus Christ
and his
love
I love
songs that
tell me
that he
accepts me
just as
I am
I love
songs that
tell me
or that
encourage me
to sing
to God
and say
have your
way
in my
life
I love
singing
the old
hymns
and the
songs
I love
hearing
songs
I love
understanding
the importance
of worship
worship
I feel so
regretful
and sorry
for those
who say
I don't
have to be
in church
to worship
you're right
you don't
you should
worship God
when you're
alone
when you're
at home
when you're
in your car
when you're
at work
when you're
doing chores
when you're
buying groceries
at Walmart
when the person
cuts you off
at the corner
of Main
and Ann
Street
you still
should worship
God
in all aspects
at all times
of your life
but you should
never forsake
the assembling
of yourselves
together
in God's house
to worship
together
to share
in the excitement
and the voices
and the smiles
and the hearts
of those
who sit around
you
and to know
that they
are too
enjoying
being in the
presence
of the Lord
understand
the importance
of worship
singing from
your heart
daily
and then
finally
verse 20
giving thanks
always
for all
things
unto God
giving thanks
and understanding
I read a story
several years
ago
a guy
was writing
his testimony
as a sailor
in the United
States Navy
and he was
sharing in one
of the stories
how he would
always
he was always
telling others
of how thankful
he was to God
for everything
that he had
for everything
that he received
he would give
thanks
he said
I want people
to know
I'm thankful
to God
one day
they sit down
for a mess
and as he
starts to eat
he takes a bite
of his meal
and as he
takes it
he just sort
of
spits it back
out and the
spoon throws
it down
and says
that's some
of the worst
food I've ever
tasted
well a big
burly
commanding
officer
sitting across
the table
from him
in mass
who is known
for his
colorful language
looks up
and he says
well
because right
before he
took a bite
he gave
thanks
then he
throws it
down
and it's
not good
the big
burly
officer
across the
table
looks up
he says
didn't you
give thanks
for that
meal
and the
sailor said
yes I
did
the big
burly
officer
says
then shut
up and eat
it
how often
do we give
thanks to
God
and then what
we've just
given him
thanks for
we allow it
to become
something that's
in our way
something that
we say you
know I would
be better off
without
than what
God has
given to me
we're to give
thanks to
God and
understanding
and everything
for I want
you to
understand this
morning
and have
the opportunity
to talk
with someone
just yesterday
in Engels
about this
the will
of the
Lord
is that
difficult
situations
that happen
in your
life
will draw
you closer
to him
we do
not like
difficult
situations
we do
not like
to think
when something
goes
wrong
I'm a
Christian
life is
supposed to
be perfect
no it's
not
God never
promised you
a perfect
life
he just
promised
that he
would always
be there
for you
in life
that he
would stick
closer than
a brother
that he
would never
leave you
nor forsake
you
that he
would give
you the
strength
daily
to live
he never
promised
perfection
here
and so the
difficulties
of life
draw us
closer
to him
in Galatians
chapter 3
let me be
sure I'm
right here
excuse me
let me back
I'm not
exactly sure
that's where
I wanted
to go
should have
prepared a little
more
one minute
more
Paul wrote
this
oh foolish
Galatians
having begun
in the spirit
you are now
continuing
in the flesh
that was
their issue
they had
come to
Christ
they had
professed
faith in
Christ
they had
the way
out the
door
if you will
they just
went back
to living
the same
old life
they may
have even
tried
to change
their way
of living
but they
tried to
do it
without
Christ
you can't
do it
that way
you can't
profess to
be a
Christian
and live
like a
Christian
and live
in the
glory
of God
and in
the leadership
of the
Holy Spirit
you can't
do it
just by
professing
you have
to work
at it
and you
have to
ask him
to go
with you
every step
of the
way
we've
got a
six month
old
grandson
his parents
our son
they're
missionaries
overseas
they'll be
going back
in a couple
of months
we've been
blessed to
have him
here for
the last
four months
or so
but as
he's growing
he's
over six
months
now
this morning
I walked
by his
little play
area
when he
looked up
and saw
me
he just
grinned
so big
and Papa's
heart
just melted
and ran
to the
floor
and I
leaned over
the side
of the
little play
area
I said
Ollie
come to
Papa
he's not
big enough
to crawl
yet
he's trying
but he
can't do
it
but when I
finished
and I
stood up
I just
thought to
myself
oh how
many times
has God
said to
me
or you
may think
how many
times has
God said
to you
just come
to me
just come
to me
and I
believe that
he's issuing
and extending
that invitation
this morning
the Holy
Spirit may
be speaking
to multiple
people in
this congregation
and the
Holy Spirit
is saying
don't
continue
to live
in the
flesh
and to
profess
faith
in Christ
but live
your life
in faith
and obedience
to Christ
without faith
Hebrews 11
verse 6
tells us
that without
faith
it is impossible
to please
God
are you
struggling
are you
waking up
some mornings
realizing that
the day before
you did not
live as you
wanted to
you did not
live as you
know God
expected you
to
because you
did not
depend upon
him
let me back
up and ask
this
are you
here this
morning
and you're
tired of
living the
life you've
been living
it's gotten
you nowhere
it's given
you nothing
but heartache
and trouble
and defeat
and you're
here this
morning
and I want
you to know
that I can
introduce you
to someone
who can give
you victory
in your life
every day
and that person
is Jesus
Christ
the son of
God
the savior
of the world
he wants to
live in your
heart
in a moment
when we have
our invitation
if you would
just come
forward
I'll be glad
to share
with you
how you can
ask Jesus
Christ
into your
heart
and to know
him
as your
personal
savior
perhaps this
morning you
would come
during the
invitation
and just
pray at the
altar
I know this
isn't a
traditional
father's day
message
but the
message is
to all
men
all women
all young
people
to all
that has
ears to
hear
let them
hear
God
has called
you
and set
you
aside
for a
purpose
may you
find that
purpose
so that
you may
find
the joy
in living
in Christ
even
in an
ungodly
world
let's bow
together
father
we thank
you for
your word
that encourages
us
your word
that just
lifts us
to places
we've never
even imagined
being
because
it's you
father if
there's one
here this
morning
that has
never
experienced
the joy
of your
salvation
may this
morning
be the
time
that they
come to
know
Christ
we
this
church
invites
them
to come
and to
receive
Christ
father
may
others
who feel
the calling
of your
Holy Spirit
just come
to the altar
and pray
to thank
you for
life
to thank
you for
your direction
to thank
you for
your strength
in them
to thank
you for
your salvation
whatever
that prayer
may be
may they
come
husbands
and wives
families
father you
know the
hearts
you know
the needs
your Holy
Spirit is
telling them
right now
how to
meet them
we let
you do
your work
in Jesus
name
amen