Walking Worthy: As Children of Light

Introduction

Message Title: Walking Worthy: As Children of Light

Bible Passage: Ephesians 5:5-14

“This little light of mine”

Flashlight

Therefore - vv.5-6

Sons of disobedience

Ephesians 2:1–2 NASB95

1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.

Do not conform (vv. 7-10)

v. 7- Them=sons of disobedience

v. 8 - Old Self vs New Self

Ephesians 4:22–24 NASB95

22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

v. 9 - Fruit of the Light

Galatians 5:22–23 NASB95

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

v. 10 - Try to learn (Lit proving what)

Romans 12:2 NASB95

2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Do not Contribute (vv. 11-13)

v. 11

Deeds of darkness

Galatians 5:19–21 NASB95

19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Expose them (reprove)

1 Timothy 5:20 NASB95

20 Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning.

John 3:19–20 NASB95

19 “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.

v. 12 - it is disgraceful even to speak

Ephesians: Verse by Verse Expose the Deeds of Darkness (5:11–12)

When misdeeds are done in secret (5:12) they nearly always snowball. There is a progressive intensity to sin, since our increasing ability to rationalize our actions allows for worse and worse behavior. Secrecy keeps us from having to face our foolishness, and as our conscience becomes more and more inured it becomes increasingly easy for us to sin. In the end it becomes “shameful even to mention” the deeds that have resulted. They are too terrible even to talk about; we feel too sullied to bring them up.

v. 13 - all things become visible

Ephesians: Verse by Verse The Illuminating Power of the Light (5:13)

The light shines in the lives of the unsaved as well as of the saved, transforming the first into a Christian and the second into a victorious Christian. In both cases the light of God exposes sin and transforms the person into a true child of God—that is, into light.

Conclusion (vv. 14-15a)

v. 14 - it (He) Says

Isaiah 26:19 “19 Your dead will live; Their corpses will rise. You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy, For your dew is as the dew of the dawn, And the earth will give birth to the departed spirits.”

Isaiah 60:1 “1 “Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.”

Romans 13:11 “11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.”

1 Thessalonians 5:6–10 “6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. 7 For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. 8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.”

Ephesians 5:15–16 NASB95

15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil.