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SHINING LIGHT INTO DARKNESS. Ephesians 5:11-14. 7/5/20. #26.
Ephesians 5:11-14 [New King James Version (NKJV)]
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says:
“Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light.”
- Light In the Darkness
- Paul says that a believer moves from darkness to light
- Before salvation we were in darkness
- Salvation moved us from darkness to light
- We are commanded to walk in the light
- There is still darkness in us that must be controlled and put under Spirit (Rm. 7)
- Ephesians 5:18 must choose to walk in light
- Mustn’t have fellowship with darkness
- Light has nothing to do with darkness (II Corinthians 6:14-18)
- All works of darkness are unfruitful (of no value; useless)
- Separation is not the same as isolation
- We are not to have fellowship with their UNFRUITFUL WORKS
- Not involved in their drunkenness, corruption, profanity, coarse jesting, cheating, lying, perversion…
- Not a warning to have nothing to do with the unsaved (still in world)
- I Corinthians 5:9-13 must totally separate ourselves from an immoral brother in Christ until he repents from his sin (I Corinthians 5; 2 Thessalonians 3)
- We must have contact with the unsaved for witness, testimony, commerce, social discourse
- Not to join them in their evil
- Know difference between friendship and fellowship
- We are not to have fellowship with their UNFRUITFUL WORKS
- Paul says that a believer moves from darkness to light
- Expose evil
- First step in sharing gospel is exposing sin
- Expose = uncover, reveal, rebuke, or reprove
- Passive voice (neuter) = to reveal evil
- Initial step of witness is to define sin (apply it)
- Demonstrate that you are a sinner also
- Ephesians 4:15 revealing sin is a loving and not brutal process
- Matthew 10:16 must be wise as serpents and harmless as doves (much discernment)
- Matthew 23; 2 Thessalonians 5:14 strong rebukes are reserved for the rebellious and unruly (II Corinthians 10)
- Exposure of sin is necessary
- Silence is not an option (even though revealing sin is intimidating with much push back)
- Romans 8:4 uncovering sin must be Spirit-led
- John 11 Jesus gently rebuked the woman caught in adultery, but he scourged the money changers
- Exposure of evil is the calling of all believers
- We represent the holiness of Christ (1 Peter 2:9)
- Rebuking evil must be personal, public, and political (the conscience of government)
- First step in sharing gospel is exposing sin
- Learning to blush
- It is shameful to even speak of vileness done in secret
- No holy purpose in talking about evil deeds
- I Corinthians 14:20 be naïve in understanding their acts
- Immorality and wickedness are an abomination to God
- Ephesians 5:3 evil deeds are not to be named among us
- Embarrassed by acts: expose by love, not judges
- Since we’re light, we need to awake (rouse self) to be light
- Passive Christianity has no impact on a lost, dying world
- It is shameful to even speak of vileness done in secret
Key Verse:
II Corinthians 6:14-18 [New King James Version (NKJV)]
14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
“I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.”
17 Therefore
“Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you.”
18 “I will be a Father to you,
And you shall be My sons and daughters,
Says the Lord Almighty.”