Living like you're alive. Ephesians 5:6-14

INTRODUCTION: miserable life. God has something more for you.

Don’t be deceived by disobedient people.

Ephesians 5:6 ESV

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

Let no one deceive you - if you are deceived, yes that is a sin on them, but also your fault. You have the truth. You ought not to be deceived.

homeless man tricking me. haha

Empty Words - Words that sound good, but don’t mean anything or doesn’t lead to life.

These things - sexual sins from last week. (pride month?) Did God really say that - Satan in garden.

Sins of ephesus - just like today. People say Sexual sin isn’t that bad.

wrath of God

sons of disobedience - second time mentioned. notice, the wrath is for who? The sons of disobedience.

Stop doing what disobedient people do.

Ephesians 5:7 ESV

7 Therefore do not become partners with them;

Partners - Do what they do.

More than that: Marriage, business, etc...

You have one foot in each side.

Ephesians 5:8 ESV

8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

you were darkness - not walking in darkness or in darkness. You WERE. now you ARE light.

Plato allegory of the cave. - example of what was popular belief.

How does darkness become light? it can’t unless someone else shines light there. God has made you light. There is nothing more of a difference than light vs darkness.

Ephesians 5:9 ESV

9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),

living in the light means the outporing is good, right, and true.

Discover what makes God happy.

We spend our whole life trying to make us happy. That leads to sorrow. Live to make God happy.

Ephesians 5:10 ESV

10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

try to discern - apparently Paul knew it would sometimes be difficult.

Literally put to the test or test out

Ephesians 5:11 ESV

11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

expose them - not the people, but the works.

Ephesians 5:12 ESV

12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.

How do we expose it if we shouldn’t talk about it. Phillips paraphrase: You know what I am talking about, so I not going to mention it.

Ephesians 5:13 ESV

13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible,

There is a reason why crime often happens at night.

We have to confront it to shine light on it.

Wake up and start living!

Ephesians 5:14 ESV

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

CONCLUSION: Crossing over from light to dark is actually crossing over from death to life!!