Ephesians 5:8-14 “Walk in Light”

Introduction:

The past few weeks we have been looking at our walk

Paul exhorted the Ephesians, as well as us, to be imitators of God, as dear children

To put off the former conduct which is corrupt and to put on the new man

Every person is walking in one of two realms: darkness or light — there is no middle ground.

Paul reminds the believers in Ephesus that their identity has changed — not just their behavior.

This morning Paul reminds us we were once darkness, but now we are light

He encourages us to walk in the light and have no fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness

1. (V8) For you were once darkness, but now your in the light

a) You were once Darkness

Paul reminds the believers in Ephesus where they came from — not to shame them, but to show them the magnitude of their transformation.

Not that you were in darkness, but you were darkness

You were once alienated from God.

Your understanding was darkened.

Your life was marked by fornication, uncleanness, covetousness, lying, evil speaking, and moral corruption.

You were counted among what Ephesians 5:6 calls “the sons of disobedience.”

Paul condemned those practices — yet he also acknowledged: That is the very darkness you came out of.

Darkness was not just around you — it was within you. It shaped your thinking, your desires, your behavior, your identity.

We all have a testimony of where we have come from…

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is the man with a legion of

The Man’s Condition Before Jesus

He lived among the tombs — isolated, cut off from society.

He was possessed by an unclean spirit — not just one demon, but many.

When Jesus asked his name, the response was: “Legion, for we are many.”

A Roman legion consisted of thousands — indicating severe spiritual bondage.

No one could bind him — chains and shackles could not hold him.

He broke restraints with supernatural strength.

He cried out day and night.

He cut himself with stones — self-destructive behavior.

He was naked and uncontrollable.

The community had tried to restrain him, but no one could change him.

Picture of bondage:

Isolated

Tormented

Uncontrollable

Spiritually captive

But something happened.

We each have a testimony, where we were once darkness

1 Peter 4:3 “For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.”

Romans 13:12 “The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.”

Good news, you are children of the light

b) But Now — you are light in the Lord

“But now you are light in the Lord.”

You have been enlightened.

Your understanding has been opened.

Your affections have been changed

Your position has been transformed

There is no grey area, its light or darkness

Our light should drawl people to Jesus

Maybe you have met a random stranger and you think there is something different about this person

They’re living in the light

2 Corinthians 7:1 “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

Therefore, the expectation is clear:

Walk as children of light.

1.1 Walk as children of the light

a) Walk in light

To walk in light means:

Light speaks of truth and holiness (Life set apart)

Habitually conducting yourself in the light (Same person all the time)

Living visibly different from the darkness we came out of

Reflecting the character of God (Imitator of God)

Demonstrating spiritual fruit

Living with integrity before God and men

Paul’s language echoes the words of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew

Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Our light is not for display — it is for God’s glory. When we walk in light, people do not praise us — they glorify our Father.

It means to live before the eyes of God, not hiding anything

Hebrews 4:13 reminds us that nothing is hidden.

b) Nothing is hidden

Hebrews 4:13 “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”

Every motive

Every though

Every action

Every hidden compromise

God see’s it all

Airport illustration:

When you go through airport security, you place your bag on the scanner and let it pass through.

If you know there’s nothing in your bag that doesn’t belong, you’re not nervous. You’re not sweating. You’re not afraid of the machine.

Why? Because you have nothing to hide.

But if you knowingly packed something prohibited, your heart starts beating faster. You hope it won’t be detected.

The scanner didn’t create the problem — it just revealed what was already there.

Isn’t that how it is with God?

Hebrews 4:13 says that all things are open before Him.

When we walk in the light, we’re not afraid of God searching us. But when we’re carrying hidden sin, we avoid the light.

The problem is never the light. The problem is what we’re carrying.

If you’re a child of light, you can say:

1.2 (V9) For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth

a) Bearing spiritual fruit

Walking in the light always produces visible evidence.

When a person walks in the light, fruit becomes inevitable.

Jesus said in Matthew 7:16, “You will know them by their fruit.” Light is not just something we claim — it is something we demonstrate.

Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,”

This fruit is contrary to the norm of our culture. It stands out.

Goodness speaks of moral excellence — a life that reflects God’s nature and chooses what is right.

Righteousness speaks of integrity — right character before God and right conduct before people.

Truth is according to God’s word, not popular opinion, truth is black and white, no grey area

b) Walking in the light looks like this:

The fruit of the spirit is contrary to the norm

We live transparently before God.

We repent quickly.

We refuse secret sin.

We pursue integrity in every area of life.

1.3 (V10) Finding out what is good and acceptable

a) Children of the light must be discerning

Finding out: means to put to the test

Approving or discerning

According to the Word of God

Through the leading of the Holy Spirit

1 Thessalonians 5:21 “Test all things; hold fast what is good.”

Test all things against the Word of God

2. (V11) Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them

a) Have no fellowship with works of darkness

To “have no fellowship” means:

Do not participate (The Ephesians coming out of darkness, don’t go back)

Do not endorse (Silence endorses sin)

Do not normalize (Everyone is doing it)

Do not grow comfortable with it (The more time you spend with it, the more comfortable you become)

Have nothing to do with works of darkness

Illustration of living the double life

The first few years of my Christian walk I lived the double life, living with one foot in the world and one foot in the church.

1 John 1:5–7 “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

We expose darkness by:

Calling sin what Scripture calls it.

Refusing to redefine evil to make it comfortable.

Speaking biblical truth even when it’s unpopular.

b) Be wise in who you keep company with

Be wise about who influences you.

Be careful who you allow close enough to shape your thinking, your convictions, and your standards.

John 3:20–21 “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.””

2 Corinthians 6:14 “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?”

2.1 (V12) For it is shameful even to speak of those things that are done in secret

a) Don’t go into great depth talking about those shameful things

There is a difference between exposing darkness and entertaining it.

Paul warns us not to become fascinated with the very things we are called to reject. We do not need detailed discussions, vivid descriptions, or endless analysis of shameful sin in order to stand against it.

Talking can plant seeds. Words can stir curiosity. Details can become doorways.

Talking can lead someone into temptation

Be simple concerning evil

Romans 16:19 “For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.”

b) Instead

Speak of what edifies.

Focus on what builds faith.

Magnify what reflects Christ.

Keep conversations pure and purposeful.

2.2 (V13) But all thing exposed are made manifest by the light

a) Light shines the darkness away

Light exposes everything hidden

Sin loses power when it is brought into the light. 

Hidden sin grows.

Confessed sin weakens.

John 3:20 “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.”

2.3 (V14) Awake you who sleep, arise from the dead and Christ will give you light

a) Spiritually wake up

Sleep speaks of:

Spiritual dullness

Compromise

Drifting

In conclusion:

You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk visibly, bear fruit, and live with integrity.

Avoid the works of darkness, expose sin wisely, and let light shine. Christ calls you to wake up, arise, and walk fully in His light.

Remember: the light does not destroy — it restores. Live boldly, shine clearly, and let all see the goodness, righteousness, and truth of God in you.

Why We Do Communion?

Because Jesus Commanded It: “Do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19). Communion is an act of obedience to Christ.

To Remember the Gospel: The bread and cup remind us of Christ’s body and blood given for our salvation.

To Proclaim Christ’s Death: We publicly declare the cross and live in hope of His return (1 Corinthians 11:26).

To Examine Our Hearts: Communion invites repentance, faith, and gratitude before God.

To Express Our Unity: We share one table as one body, united in Christ.

Please get the elements and examine your hearts before the Lord

If there is any sin in your life confess it and move forward in forgiveness

Communion:

Eating of the bread is acknowledging His sacrifice on the cross.

He was perfect in all His ways, yet He was mocked, beaten, and left to hang on the cross for our sin

Matthew 26:26 “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.””

(The cup) In the same way he took the cup, it was the life that was poured out, he gave his life for you and me

It was an act of love, that He gave himself for the remission of sin, for you and me

Matthew 26:28 “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

Lets drink the cup