WALK IN THE LIGHT

2107Those who walk by sight walk alone. Walking by sight is just this—“I believe in myself,” whereas walking by faith is, “I believe in God.”—12.116

Charles Spurgeon

I. IT MATERS WHERE WE WALK

Proverbs 4:14–19 NKJV

14 Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil. 15 Avoid it, do not travel on it; Turn away from it and pass on. 16 For they do not sleep unless they have done evil; And their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall. 17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence. 18 But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. 19 The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble.

A. DARKNESS—CAUSES STUMBLING

LEADS TO DOING EVIL

CAUSES OTHERS TO FALL

B. LIGHT—COMES FROM JESUS

SHINES ALL AROUND YOU

GROWS BRIGHTER & BRIGHTER

C. LEADS TO PERFECTION WHEN JESUS RETURNS

II. IT MATTERS HOW WE WALK

Ephesians 5:8–14 (NKJV)

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says:

“Awake, you who sleep,

Arise from the dead,

And Christ will give you light.”

Illustration:

Once, i decided to try baking a cake from scratch. i mean, “how hard could it be”. I followed the recipe perfectly, but I forgot to add the baking powder. What came out of the oven was not quite what I expected – a dense pancake instead of a fluffy cake! It taught me that even small missing ingredients can change the outcome dramatically – just like how faith can be the key ingredient in the mix of our lives.

A. NOW WE ARE “LIGHT IN THE LORD”

WALK AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT

LOOK FOR THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IN YOUR LIFE, WATER IT, FEED IT

FIND OUT WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE TO JESUS

HAVE NO FELLOWSHIP WITH DARKNESS

SOME THINGS YOU SHOULD NOT EVEN SPEAK OF

THE LIGHT OF JESUS SHINING FROM US WILL EXPOSE THE TRUE NATURE OF THINGS HIDDEN IN DARKNESS.

III. IT MATTERS WHY WE WALK

Matthew 5:13–16 (NKJV)

13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

WE MUST RECOGNIZE PEOPLE YOUNG AND OLD ARE ALWAYS WATCHING US

OUR ACTIONS

HOW WE HANDLE TRIALS & DIFFICULTIES

OUR SPEECH

HOW WE TREAT OTHER PEOPLE

EVEN OUR MOOD

ALWAYS ASKING “DO THEY REALLY CARE ABOUT ME”

WE MUST DELIBERATELY “LET OUR LIGHT SHINE”

WE MUST CHOSE TO DO “GOOD WORKS”

THIS WILL COST YOU MONEY AND TIME

IT WILL COST YOU “INTERRUPTIONS”

IT WILL DELAY YOUR PLANS, DREAMS & EXPECTATIONS

CONCLUSION:

Philippians 2:12–16 NKJV

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. 14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS

BUT THEY MUST BE DONE WITHOUT COMPLAINING OR ARGUING!

The story of Job is a profound example of enduring trials without complaint. After losing everything—his family, wealth, and health—Job did not curse God. Instead, he grappled with his grief and questions but did not succumb to bitterness. Job's ability to remain faithful and ultimately trust God's plan teaches us that even in the darkest times, we can find the strength to avoid the trap of complaining, focusing instead on faith and resilience in God's promises.

GOD WILL GIVE YOU THE DETERMINATION (WILL) AND THE POWER TO DO WHAT HE ASKS YOU TO DO.

What is the main difference between walking by sight and walking by faith as described in the sermon?

How does Proverbs 4:14–19 illustrate the consequences of walking in darkness compared to walking in light?

According to Ephesians 5:8–14, what are the characteristics of someone who is 'light in the Lord'?

In Matthew 5:13–16, what metaphor is used to describe how Christians should impact the world around them?

What role does faith play in achieving the desired outcomes in our lives, as illustrated by the baking cake anecdote?