Walking in the Light

INTRODUCTION

Our theme this year of course is “Forward by Faith.” But sometimes we end up going the wrong direction.And on top of that we live in a world that is not conducive to a spiritual walk. No matter who you are or what your phase of life, if you’re going Walk in God’s way, you’re going to have opposition. For the next few weeks I want to look at this theme of walking God’s way. Last week we saw that we need to walk in wisdom and we’ll continue to today with walking in the light.

Ephesians 5:8-14

Logging workers

Fishers and related fishing workers

Aircraft pilots and flight engineers

Roofers

Garbage and recyclable material collectors

Truck drivers

I’ve had the most dangerous job in the world. Holding the flashlight for your father while he works on the car.

1. What It Looks Like

vv. 8-10

The first half of this section will describe what it looks like to walk in the light.

A. Notice the Change

v. 8

We were in darkness but have gone to light - we have changed kingdoms!

Ephesians 2:1–3 AV

1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

We used to live after the world

John 18:36 AV

36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

Those who have found life in Christ have been taken from darkness to light.

Light symbolizes the blessing of the Lord

Job 12:22 AV

22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.

Have you ever been in complete darkness? I mean total darkness. Church trip where we went caving at Peppersauce Canyon. At one point we turned our flashlights off and the darkness was overwhelming.

That is what we were in sin without Christ.

But have been transitioned to the light of Christ’s kingdom.

Colossians 1:13 AV

13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

God Himself is light

1 John 1:5 AV

5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

John 8:12 AV

12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Note that we were darkness, not that we were in darkness. Our whole lives were dark. We, in Christ, have become the light!

Matthew 5:14 AV

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

There was a significant change from being in the darkness of that cave to walking outside.

The Greek word peripateo literally means “walk around” (peri means “around”—as in our English word “perimeter”—and pateo means “to walk.”).

From very early times, Jews used the word “walk” to speak of the manner in which one conducted one’s life

We should be what we already are…walk the way God has directed in the light He’s already made us to be. See that in the next point.

B. Characterized by Spiritual Fruit

v. 9

Since we’ve changed kingdoms it’s our responsibility to walk in the kingdom of light.

This verse describes us as bearing the fruit of light. What does the light of Christian living look like? In other words, God has created the world in such a way that the fruit produced by a tree is determined by the nature of the tree, and the fruit produced by a person is determined by the nature of that person.

How can I know if I’m walking in the light as God intended. Well there’s three easy things here.

1. Goodness

We are to do good works that benefit others.

Ephesians 2:10 AV

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 4:28–29 AV

28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

It speaks of godliness in the motives, thoughts and actions. It is the quality of godlikeness. This has also to do with our treatment of others. When we practice “goodness,” we are walking in love to those around us. We are being God-like toward them, as we treat them like God treats us.

2. Righteousness

This is regarding the rights of others - giving men and God their due.

Righteousness is seen in our lives when we live out the reality of who we are, and what we have been made in Christ Jesus. It speaks of a godliness that makes a life as being different and as belonging to the Lord.

3. Truth

Concerns what is spoken and the idea - being sincere and straightforward; genuine; honesty; open.

This word has to do with honesty, reliability, and trustworthiness. When this quality is seen in the life of a believer, it stands in stark contrast to the hypocritical, deceptive and false ways of the world.

C. Doing What Pleases God

v. 10

Here we prove or reveal by evidence what is pleasing to God. There’s learning, though, and examination here.

One has determine how not to walk and how to walk. We need to involve ourselves in ‘smart love.’ To discern what really counts.

Testing something to prove its value—and conveying approval for that which proves worthy

Philippians 1:10 AV

10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;

By walking in the light, we ‘try out’ God’s way and prove it to be right!

the proper motivation is seen in these verses in doing what matters to God and not man.

Galatians 1:10 AV

10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Colossians 1:10 AV

10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

2. Our Response to the Darkness

vv. 11-14

Now that we’ve seen who we are and what a walk in the light looks like, lets move to how we are respond to the old dark ways of the flesh and sin.

A. Separate from the Darkness

vv. 11a, 12

Our old life of darkness was unfruitful.

Romans 6:21 AV

21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.

It’s not this fruit vs that fruit - it’s fruit vs no fruit. Therefore we are to take no part in the old darkness from which we’ve been saved.

Verse 12 speaks that we should not speak of that which is vulgar and profane.

No fellowship means we are not to share or participate in any dark deeds; no common ground. There is nothing of value there.

Think of Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego. They refused to bow down and worship the idol. And when everyone else bowed down, they looked quite separated from the rest of the crowd!

What we have in the fellowship of believers is not to be seen with the darkness of this world.

B. Expose the Darkness

vv. 11b, 13

So after we separate from sin and darkness, we are then to reprove or expose them.

I’m reminded of something we were taught in the Army. When you’re out in the field you are instructed on tactics called noise and light discipline. If you want to be discovered then make a lot of noise and shine your flashlights everywhere. With our flashlights we had red and blue lenses you’d swap out for in the dark. A flash of light in the dark would show your position!

The idea here is that a Christian by just walking in the light will have a life so different from those around them, that just his walk will reprove and expose their sins.

Our light makes their darkness visible, or become revealed.

John 3:20 AV

20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

Those that hate the light will try to avoid being exposed to it.

A Christian can hardly expect to oppose darkness with any effect unless he/she has maintained a good reputation for living in the light. A Christian who enjoys wallowing in the mud can hardly expect to persuade others to avoid mud-wallowing.

While v 12 tells us not to speak of that which is vulgar, we are to reveal righteousness and expose the sin in this world.

C. Be What God Intended You to Be

v. 14

Three metaphors for turning to God.

Awake from sleep, rise from the dead, go from darkness to light.

Awake from the sleep of carelessness and sin

Romans 13:11 AV

11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

Arise to new life in Christ - salvation.

Let Christ shine in you.

Isaiah 60:1 AV

1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

Some believe that v. 14 may have been a baptismal formula or part of a Christian hymn. Whether or not that’s true, we definitely see that it is time to get busy serving the Lord!

CONCLUSION

There was one a great fire in Edinburgh, Scotland, in which people hurried to exit the building through a passage that led to the street. They were almost safe when a rush of smoke met them, blowing into the passage from the outside. The smoke concealed the light just outside, and prevented them from seeing the only chance they had of escape. In their darkness, they did not know that safety was just ahead. Instead of running straight through the smoke, they entered through a door into a room that seemed safe. But soon all the oxygen was exhausted and they all suffocated. If only they had seen the light they might have lived.

The world needs the light we have to show them. It is the Lord’s will that His children be light in a dark world. It is the power of His light within us that will highlight the differences between us and the lost world around us.