90 likes | 205 Vues
If you were an Ephesian (and you are) Part 2. Last week in review. If you want to strengthen how well you love, don’t even associate with sexually impure thoughts, covetousness, & idolatry Guard your words and mouth because your words have power
E N D
Last week in review • If you want to strengthen how well you love, don’t even associate with sexually impure thoughts, covetousness, & idolatry • Guard your words and mouth because your words have power • Empty words fill the mouths of the sons of disobedience • Verse 7 – do not be partakers with them
Starting at Ephesians 5:8 • You were once in darkness, and now have been enlightened, sanctified, and made holy for His glory • Knowing Him should produce enlightenment • Enlightenment should yield holiness, Holiness should yield joy • Darkness yields sin, sin yields sorrow • As such, you should represent that light
What is acceptable to the Lord? • Study to show yourself approved 2 Tim 2:15 • How well have we “found out”? • 1 Cor 3:12-15 – How well have we found out? Does it rightly reflect the light?
No Fellowship - Period • So how do we interact with things of darkness? – No fellowship at all • Consider this – friends in sin • How does God’s word tell you to respond? • How does our weak flesh want to respond? • What is God’s direction? Expose it • Do you light it up or put it under a bush? • Do you stand in the way, or allow it to be exposed?
Those dark things light up • Things done in darkness that are exposed to light have one of two choices • To flee back into darkness • To be illuminated for redemption • So then what is your role? • The answer is in verse 14
Point to yourself first • Walk in a very deliberate way to carefully demonstrate self control • It should already be in you (Galatians 5:22) • Are you a patient or doctor? • The days are evil????? • Make every moment count • Intently seek out God’s will because if you are not moving forward, you are moving away
Pulling it all together…. • Our love walk is vital to the redemption of mankind • Paul is giving us instructions on how to walk in love better than we do today • We should stay away from all that ugly stuff • We should expose sin in a loving way with hopes of redemption • Focus on yourself first and redeem in accordance with your redemption