Rise and Shine!

Psalm 23 / Ephesians 5:8-14

Context

Paul to the churches around Ephesus (Acts 19)

Ch 1-3: What Christians should believe

Ch 4-6: Implications of the gospel

Ch 5 opens up instructing us to walk in love

Here we find a ‘vice list’: things that are indicative of unbelievers

He says about those that they have no inheritance in God’s Kingdom

Warning - DO NOT BE DECEIVED!

From anyone: Expected people or unexpected

Empty Words - devoid of wisdom; NOT of God; Style without Substance

Regardless of source or form, the result is the same; deception

trouble you don’t need

loss in ministry influence; loss of witness

Who I was v Who I am

v8 - You WERE darkness / You ARE NOW light IN THE LORD

Fundamental change from the inside out

Truth of who you are, regardless of how you identify (Paul identified as righteous before He was)

God is Holy - can’t sin

You were darkness - can’t not sin

You ARE light - can not sin (You’ve been freed!)

Don’ts and Dos

v7: Don’t become partners with them / v11: Take no part in unfruitful works

They are SHAMEFUL

Can’t be shell-shocked; be like Jesus!

Luke 7:39 “Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.””

John 4:17-18 “The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.””

Otherwise you will GREATLY restrict your ministry, do harm to the ministry of others, and miss the blessings for yourself!

We should separate; sometimes retreat

Separate: from sin

desensitized, accustomed, or calloused

accepting or capitulating - 2 Peter 2: Lot’s soul was vexed

justifying and celebrating - Isaiah 5:20 woe to hin who calls evil good

Retreat from circumstances and people

For Healing & Rest - God sent angels to help Elijah & Jesus

For Clarity - Jesus went off alone to pray

NOT forever

Rise and Shine!

Awake and Rise

Respond to the call of love and grace

Respond to the offer of life and blessing

Take up your bed and walk like the man in John 5.

Come forth from the grave of sin to life like Lazarus in John 11.

Christ will SHINE on you (and may I say through you?

Church Family, just as the lost need to respond to God’s awakening call, sometimes we too need to be roused from our slumber that the glory of God may shine through us anew!