Reaching in Love Wisely in a Dark World

Walking in the Light: A Call to Spirit-Filled Living

Bible Passage: Ephesians 5:3–21

Opener

Every one of us is walking toward something.

We don’t drift our way into spiritual maturity, any more than we drift our way into physical health.

I once heard a fitness coach say, ‘Your body is always walking toward the life you consistently choose.’

And biblically, that principle is even more true for your soul.In Ephesians 5,

Paul doesn’t just tell us to stop certain behaviors—he tells us which direction to walk.

He tells us to intentionally walk toward what is ‘good, right, and true,’ and to walk with the Spirit’s wisdom in a world walking the opposite way.

The question today is not ‘Are you walking?’

The real question is: ‘Which direction are you walking?

Need

The truth is: none of us drifts toward holiness.

If we don’t intentionally walk in the light, we will unintentionally walk into darkness.

The culture disciples us daily—desensitizing us to impurity, numbing us to sin, and normalizing foolishness.

We can slowly absorb the darkness around us until it becomes darkness within us.

This passage shows us we desperately need a new direction—because without intentional steps toward the light and the Spirit’s wisdom, every Christian will lose clarity, lose joy, and eventually lose their testimony.

We need God’s Word today because our walk determines our witness.

Question

So how does Paul say believers should walk in a world filled with temptation, darkness, and foolishness?

1. Walk Towards What Is Good Right and True

Remove Impurities from your life (3-7)

Ephesians 5:3–7 ESV

But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them;

Explanation.

Paul begins chapter 5 with a lot of contrasts.

Imitators of Christs vs debased way of life.

Greedy heart vs heart of thankfulness

Sons of disobedience vs. Children of light

living private life of sin vs A life exposed by transparent light

Fruitful works that are good, right, and true vs unfruitful works that corrupts

Paul is establishing a principle that is timeless.

A principle that he is unapologetic of, God’s ways are counter cultural.

Before I talk about the specific ways we are to be counter cultural, look again at vs 5.

Ephesians 5:6 ESV

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Paul does not have someone in mind, but He knows that all throughout the churches existence there will be people who bring in their radical ideology hoping to mesh them into the church.

It is a three prong effort to justify the evil we do in this world as right

1st. Prong is the devil (did God really say… But I say… enter a counter cultural view).

2nd prong society Mt 5. Jesus speaks against the culture that had twisted God’s expectations to justify anger, lust, adultery, lying, divorcee and their revenge. They had gotten off from God’s standards and He said, But I say.

3rd Prong is that our own hearts deceive us to think little of our sin or that our sin is justifiable.

When you are trying to justify your sin you cannot find validation in the Bible but you will always find it in today’s culture.

So before I get into the details of what we are to reject as “counter cultural” to God’s design, lets look at verse 6 together.

Those unidentified someones are demonic forces, they’re people of this world, and they can be you. All three can lead us astray

What is it that runs counter-cultural to God’s ways?

Sexual immorality: Illicit sexual intercourse, between two unmarried, or an affair, homosexuality, beastiality, and incest are all included in the word, Por-ni-ah.

They are immoral because they violate God’s holy standard;

Two people a male and a female given into holy union and sex is used to deepen trust, communication, affection, intimacy and closeness never to be shared with any other person.

Sex is a gift given to us by God to be used as he intended and when it is used outside of its design it is a shameful mockery to what was meant to be sacred and beautiful.

Furthermore, we reject what He has established as good and we begin to make statements like “well I know it says… But I say…”

And in that moment, you have placed an idol above God; sex and your cravings for it, above God.

Essentially your saying that I know more than God, you have heard it said, but I say…

Romans 1:22–32 ESV

Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

Impure: Speaks to a progression of depravity.

Where sexual immorality is done with the body,

Impurity is where the believer starts to plot and plan how to balance life as a person of God and a one who Indulges is in a hidden world of scheming, protecting cravings behind a righteous mask.

This progresses into the last vice of Covetousness:

To covet is to desire inordinately, to place the object of desire before love and devotion to God.

That idea is conveyed in the NT by a Greek word literally meaning “inordinate desire to have more.

What began in the flesh moved to the mind and the longing has now captured the heart of the individual and their affections are stronger for sex, wealth, power, control.

God has now taken a back seat to their passions.

The apostle Paul listed that kind of covetousness among earthly attitudes of which Christians are to rid themselves.

Colossians 3:5 ESV

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

1 Corinthians 6:9–11 ESV

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

“Sexual immorality, impurity or covetousness are all improper among the saints (holy, righteous, pure)

Illustration.

Sexual immorality = the leak

A roof starts with a small leak—easy to ignore and even easier to hide with a bucket or towel.

Impurity = the spreading mold

But beneath the surface, moisture turns into hidden mold—spreading quietly into the walls, weakening the structure, filling the air with toxins you can’t see but you’re breathing every day.

Idolatry = the condemned foundation

Eventually the mold takes over so much of the structure that the entire house gets condemned. What started as a “small leak” becomes a total takeover.

Punchline:

Sexual sin starts as something manageable,

becomes impurity that lives in the hidden places,

and ends in idolatry that claims the whole house.

Application.

Paul gives us the way out from this lifestyle by reminding us to be thankful in verse 4. If you are struggling with sexual immorality ,impurity or covetousness, as a believer thankfulness is one way back from despair

Thankful for what he has given you.

Thankful for what he has yet given you

Thankful for what once was given to you.

AND>>>>

Remember, you’re a Child of Light (8-10)

Ephesians 5:8–10 ESV

for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

Explanation.

Paul isn’t calling you to grit your teeth and try harder—he’s reminding you of who you already are. You’re not stuck in the dark anymore. You are a child of the light.

John 5:24 ESV

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

Colossians 3:1–3 HCSB

So if you have been raised with the Messiah, seek what is above, where the Messiah is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God.

This too, is counter cultural because the world is full of self-help and try harder solutions and they make billions because no one has the willpower needed to overcome sin apart form Christ.

Paul flips the model on its head ~~~~~

Rebuke and expose the Darkness (11-14)

Ephesians 5:11–14 ESV

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Explanation.

Review:

Have no place for sexual immorality, don’t even joke because it is powerful and dangerous.

Sexual immorality manifests in the mind and moves to idolatry of the heart.

We combat those efforts with a heart of thankfulness for what God has given us and we proclaim our position in Him,

Next, as a church, we are to expose those sins so that it can be truly dealt with.

Shame is accompanied by sin and it temps us to hide from God and His people

Illustration.

Genesis 3:6–8 ESV

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

They took hold of what was forbidden, evaluated in their minds the benefits, and then they ate what was forbidden.

The result is that their physical bodies already naked became shameful to them. Same body as before the temptation, but in a moment of disobedience, they see themselves as disgraceful. It made them ashamed of their nakedness and worse it lead the to hide from the Lord.

Argumentation.

I love what Paul then does here. He immediately talks about exposing those things so that they are visible.

Visibility gives us the opportunity to see our enemy and move away from him.

When people find themselves deeply attached to sexual sin, impurity and greedy cravings, God seems so far, His promises and powers are seen in others, but the person struggling often feels overpowered.

Paul says, listen to me saint, The Lord sees you. And when you confess your sins, He is coming to rescue you.

Ephesians 5:14 ESV

for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

This is not written to the unbeliever here, although it can apply if you trust Christ as your Savior.

Instead, he’s reminding the believer of their position in Christ.

You are free to awake from this bad dream and get our of that old trap because Christ is guiding you back to him.

Application.

Just like Achan in Israel’s camp, the whole church suffers when one of it’s members are twisted in sexual immorality, impure patterns, and greedy hearts. Paul encourages us to be a place where freedom and reconciliation is pursued over condemnation and excommunication

Galatians 6:1 ESV

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

Transition: Paul uses this principle to transition to our second point, which is a walking application

2. Walk in Spirit-Filled Wisdom (15-21)

Ephesians 5:15–21 ESV

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Walk Wisely in an age of foolishness (15-17)

Paul now shifts from “walking as children of light” to walking wisely. The Greek word sophia (wisdom) means skillful living—making choices shaped by God’s truth, not cultural norms.

When Paul says, “Look carefully then how you walk” (v. 15), the phrase carries the idea: “Watch your step—place your feet deliberately.”

Then he contrasts wisdom and foolishness.

Foolishness in Scripture is not lack of intelligence—it’s

spiritual carelessness,

moral indifference,

and living as if God’s will doesn’t matter.

Paul says, “Understand what the will of the Lord is” (v. 17), meaning wisdom isn’t just thinking right, it’s walking right.

Walk filled with the Spirit (18)

Next, he commands believers to be filled with the Spirit (v. 18).

The verb form indicates ongoing action: “Be being filled.” This is not about receiving more of the Spirit—believers already have Him.

Paul contrasts being full of alcohol resulting in drunken debauchery, to being filled with the Spirit.

He’s not comparing them. One commentator tried to compare them saying both being drunk and being filled leave one out of control of their faculties, in a state of euphoria with unrecognizable speech.

However Paul is not comparing he is contrasting behaviors (But)

Keep in mind what Paul has been building throughout the book so far about the Union of the Spirit with the Church

Ephesians 1:13–14 ESV

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 1:17 ESV

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,

Ephesians 2:22 ESV

In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Ephesians 3:16 ESV

that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

Being filled is about the Spirit having more of us—saturating our attitudes, directing our responses, and Him empowering our obedience.

Finally, the Spirit’s filling leads to worshipful living (vv. 19–21):

speaking truth to one another in psalms and hymns,

singing and making melody to the Lord,

giving thanks always,

submitting to one another in humility.

In other words, Paul is describing a Spirit-shaped community, where wisdom, worship, and mutual humility mark the way believers walk.

Illustration.

“The Airport Moving Walkway”

“If you’ve ever been in a major airport, you’ve seen those moving walkways.

They’re designed to carry you forward with ease. But if you try to walk against the walkway, you’ve got to work twice as hard just to stay in place.

That walkway is a picture of the world we live in. It’s constantly moving in the direction of

foolishness—self-centeredness,

impulsiveness,

pride,

and darkness.

If you simply stand still spiritually, the world will carry you backward.

Paul says, ‘Walk wisely.’ In other words—don’t just drift.

Don’t let the moving walkway of the culture choose your pace or direction.

But here’s the good news:

walking wisely is not about you powering forward on your own.

It’s about standing in Spirit’s power,

the One who moves you forward faster than you could ever walk on your own.

He fills you, lifts you, empowers you—and He makes the walk possible.

Argumentation.

Why is this true?

Why must believers walk this way?

First, because the age around us is foolish (v. 16). Paul says the days are “evil,” meaning the world is pulling us downhill. Wisdom is necessary because the cultural current is always moving in the opposite direction.

You never drift into holiness; you drift into foolishness.

Why must believers walk this way

Second, because time is short—“redeeming the time.” The phrase means buying up opportunities. Wisdom recognizes that life is not a rehearsal. Every day is either invested or wasted.

A foolish walk squanders God-given time; a wise walk seizes it.

Third, because human willpower cannot produce the life God calls us to. Therefore we must be filled with the Spirit. The Spirit is the only One who can produce lasting obedience, consistent worship, and genuine community.

You cannot white-knuckle holiness.

Why must believers walk this way

Fourth, because the fruit of Spirit-filled wisdom is worship When our hearts turn upward in praise, outward in gratitude, and inward in humility, darkness loses its grip. Worship is not the “extra”—it is the lifeline.

Worship recalibrates the heart.

So Paul’s logic is air-tight:

You cannot walk wisely without the Spirit, and if the Spirit fills you, wisdom and worship will naturally flow out.

Application: [Worship team up]. [Believers]

Are you walking wisely—or letting the world carry you?

Where are you letting foolishness shape your decisions?

– Your time?

– Your habits?

– Your purity?

– Your priorities?

Paul is telling you to take ownership of your walk today.

You cannot change the direction of your life without changing the decisions of your day.

What’s one foolish pattern you need to abandon?

Are you walking as a child of light—or hiding parts of your life in the shadows?

Are you walking in the Spirit’s wisdom—or leaning on your own understanding?

Today is a day to change direction.

Let the Holy Spirit shine His light on anything He wants removed.

Choose today to walk in the way of worship and gratitude.

Here’s the hope:

you don’t walk alone. The Spirit is ready to fill you, strengthen you, and lead you. Ask Him to take the lead again.

Release control.

Let Him fill your desires, your speech, your attitude, your worship.

Walk in the Spirit’s wisdom—

and you will walk in the Spirit’s power.”

Application [Unbelievers:]

Maybe today you realize you’ve been walking in circles. You’ve tried to be wise on your own, but your heart still feels empty, tired, or confused.

Wisdom begins with surrender—to Christ, the Light of the world.

The Spirit cannot fill a heart that hasn’t first been made alive by Jesus.

If you’re ready to begin a new walk… Jesus is ready to lead you.

Jesus Christ died and rose to bring you out of darkness and into His marvelous light.

Today He calls you—

not to try harder,

not to clean yourself up,

but to come to Him.

Trust Christ today.

Step into the light.

Begin a new walk with Him.

Closing Appeal

The Christian life is not about perfection—it’s about direction.

Paul has shown us two paths today:

We will either walk toward what is good, right, and true…

Or we will drift toward impurity and darkness.

We will either walk in the Spirit’s wisdom…

Or stumble through life on our own strength.

Your walk reveals your worship. It reveals what—or who—your heart treasures.”

Corporate Response

Church, let’s respond today by turning away from the shadows and walking toward the One who is Light, who gives wisdom, and who fills His people with the Spirit.

Prayer

Yet not I, but through Christ in me.

Walk Towards What is Good Right and True (5:3-14)

Remove Impurities from your life (3-7)

Remember, you’re a Child of Light (8-10)

Rebuke and expose the Darkness (11-14)

Walk in Spirit-filled Wisdom (5:15-21)

Walk Wisely in an age of foolishness (15-17)

Walk filled with the Spirit (18)

Walk in a manner of worship (19-21)