Ephesians 5: 8-17

Walk in the light & Walk in Wisdom

There was a point in the Ministry of Jesus when He stood literally before the Nation of Israel and made the most amazing proclamation.

A)You will find it in John Ch 8. It was the day after final night of the Feast of Tabernacles which ends with a spectacular ceremony called the

“Illumination of the Temple”

B)This event took place in the Temple Treasury in front of four huge Candelabra which were topped with huge torches.

1) In three of the Candelabra there were bowls that were filled oil with large wicks in them.

C) During the course of the ceremony these candelabra would be lit, and the wicks in the bowls of oil would be lit.
1) and finally, the huge torches on top would be lit, all the while the musicians would be playing and the priests would be dancing.

D) It was a very festive night. In this process, not only would the whole Temple be blazing with light, but the light from the Temple would illuminate the whole city of Jerusalem. It was an incredible sight

E) The whole ceremony commemorated that time when God led his people thru the wilderness – w/ a cloud by day Pillar of fire by night !!!

Well It was after this scene, in this very place, the Temple Treasury, that Jesus showed up the next morning to teach.

A)He was standing before the Candelabra that were burned out and the bowls of oil with the wicks that had been extinguished and the huge torches that lay smoldering on the ground.

B) As Jesus taught there, the crowds would have been huge, remember, all Israel turned out for these Feasts,

1) so the crowd would have been huge and the interest in this preacher from Galilee would have been high

As Jesus was teaching, the Scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman that was caught in the very act of Adultery……….. trap

A) You all remember this story, Jesus after writing in the dirt for a while said, “let him among you who is without sin, cast the first stone.”

B) And it tells us that beginning with the oldest and going to the youngest, they dropped their stones and left.

1) Neither do I condemn you – go and sin no more !!!

C) Well after that scene Jesus stepped forward to the Crowd that included everyone from the religious leaders of the land to the most common person and said this,

John 8:12 "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

Now what Jesus was telling them with these words was the One who was that cloud in the wilderness & Pillar of Fire , the One who was the Glory of the Lord in the wilderness was standing before them.

A) And if they followed Him, just as the their ancestors had followed the Pillar of fire in the wilderness, that they would not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

B) It was these type of statements that Jesus made that Infuriated the Jewish religious leaders { He was God & the way to walk in the light was to follow Him !!!!!

C) Now If you read the Bible much at all, you know that this is one of it’s constant themes, light and darkness.

God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. The Children of God are children of light and they should no longer walk in the darkness of the world.

D) The domain of Satan is the Kingdom of Darkness, But the Domain of

God is the Kingdom of light.

If you are a student of the Bible that this is going to be a theme that you will be dealing with all the way along.

A) True of our text tonight - . Paul has been talking about how a Christian should live, how a Christian should walk in the midst of the world.

B) He has told us that we should walk in unity,(Ch. 4:1) he has told us to walk in Newness of life, (Ch. 4:17)

1) he has told us to walk in love,(Ch 5:1) we covered that last week.

C) Here we see in v.8 that Paul tells us to walk in the Light !!!

But notice where he starts, Paul says in the first part of verse 8 “for you were once darkness”

A)Note he doesn’t say that we all once “walked” in darkness, which of course we did, but that we actually were darkness.

B) In other words we became a personification of the darkness that we lived in.

1) Our understanding became darkened, our personalities were darkened, our hearts were darkened, our deeds were darkened.

C) It’s a progressive thing that effects every area of our lives.

1) Like a Black hole in space – it suck things in – not to trap them but to assimilate them – That is the nature of Darkness

D) We were assimilated into the darkness – Didn’t even know it !!!

1) God says, this is the Judgment that light has come into the world, but men preferred darkness to light because their deeds were evil.

E) That is what we were – but now – gave our lives to Christ – We are light in the Lord !!!!

1) And in the same way that our persona once took on darkness, our persona now takes on light.

IN THE LORD/Christian like the moon { Jesus light of the world = sun

Let your light so shine …… heaven

A) Because you are light Paul says here – Walk in the Light

B) Note the order here is important isn’t it. You don’t walk in the light to become a child of the light,

1) rather because you are light in the Lord, because of the illumination that Jesus has put in you, you are now to walk in the light.

Here is what that means. V 9 for the fruit of the Spirit, or better put, the fruit of the light, is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.

A)The result of the light of the Lord shinning in you is going to be goodness, righteousness and truth.

B) As a result of this, you will find, or better prove, what is acceptable to the Lord.

1) Heard me say that God works from the inside out.

C) And this is a good example of that. As His light shines in our heart and minds, it is going to move us towards goodness, righteousness, and truth.

1) What is happening on the inside is going to affect the outside !!!

Let me expand a little on these Words

A) The word Goodness here is a word that speaks of more than just a moral excellence, it is aggressive goodness,

B) It is goodness that actively seeks to meet the needs of others.

1) This is the kind of goodness that can’t stand to see others in need or hurting.

C) This is the kind of goodness that goes out of its way to be a blessing to others.

1) This is the kind of goodness that you see far too little of in our world today.

This is goodness that doesn’t have to be manipulated or appealed to, it’s quick to see the need and quick to respond.

A) And I have to tell you this, this is the goodness that I see demonstrated in our Church so often. And it blesses me.

B) When we bring needs before you, not only are you quick to meet those needs, but they are meet in abundance. ( Fire victims)

1) I know that is the result of the light of God producing this kind of goodness in your hearts.

C) So the light of God produces aggressive goodness in the life of the believer.

Righteousness is simply doing the right thing. But here is the catch, it’s doing the right thing from God’s perspective, it’s doing the God thing.

A) Here is the connection between light and this kind of righteousness:

B) the light of God’s Word & the ministry of His Spirit operating in you illuminates the right thing, it makes the God thing, obvious.

C) Story of man who was a drunk; abused his wife, spent money made on

booze / leaving family poorly clothed; unfed

D.) Then man had radical conversion - gave up alcohol, became loving husband, good provider - tender father

1) His life & home showed evidence of a true conversion & transformation

His workmates - who were former drinking buddies didn't know how to handle change: come along; tempt - persecute

A.) One day: "What about Jesus turning water to wine ...explain that!

now guy wasn't saved very long wasn't skilled Apologist - but answer was classic

Fred I don't know anything about that - don't know why Christ turned water into wine: but I do know this: My house Christ has turned beer into furniture and clothes { RIGHTEOUS CONDUCT

Truth has to do with honesty, integrity, reliability/ Trustworthy:

It’s a character thing more then a spoken thing.

A) A literal translation of this word would be closer to genuine,

B) So this will be the fruit of the light of God shinning in you, goodness,

righteousness and truth are going flow out of your life as a result of the light of God shinning into your life. This is walking in the light.

C) The result, is that you will prove, what is pleasing to the Lord.

Now Paul could stop right there and this would be really good. But he takes this one step further – from the Positive to the negative

A) This is what walking in the light looks like – Positive Goodness righteousness and truth – here is what it doesn’t look like – v.11-12

B) Notice he tells us two things here 1^st is to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness –– Interesting description/ fruit vs. no fruit

1) Light & darkness don’t mix Unequally Yoked – One direction they are going in the other direction

C) Too many Christians try to mix – that is a Problem – Donald Perry Marquis wrote a poem based on an imaginary conversation between a rat and a moth. The rat asked some hard questions. Why do moths fly into candles and other bright lights and risk getting themselves fried to death? (The answer, written in the poet's unpunctuated style, is very instructive): “we get bored with routine - and crave beauty - and excitement - fire is beautiful - and we know that if we get - too close it will kill us - and what does that matter - it is better to be happy - for a moment - and be burned up with beauty - than to live a long time - and be bored all the while”

D) Solomon can a man take fire into his bosom and not get burned ?

1) Christians who are walking in the light – are not to fellowship with Darkness – Close Connections

Rather Expose them: How v. 13,14

It means call sin what it is in people’s lives!!! Take a stand and say that is wrong -

A) But notice that it also says – that things are made manifest by the Light idea is: The Light naturally exposes the darkness –

B) You expose darkness – Pray in a restaurant / Church on Sundays – neighbors look on – There goes the Christian

1) Refrain from gossip at work or laughing at the dirty jokes – exposing darkness

C) If you are living a normal Christian life you are putting out way more light than the world wants to see – infect – Exposing their darkness

This is why I always laugh when I hear about these people that can’t stand crosses on public property, or don’t want pray in schools or the Ten Commandments posted in court rooms.

A) And of course they always say that it’s a violation of church and state, or it’s discrimination, or some other such thing.

B) But it really has nothing to do with that at all the problem for them is this 1) these things just put out too much light, and that light exposes their darkness. And they can’t stand it.

C) Light has come into the world but men prefer darkness to light because their deeds are evil.

D) So normal Christian living exposes peoples darkness.

So we are to walk in the light – not in darkness- Finally We are to walk in Wisdom v. 15-17

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Paul says we are to walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise .

A)Circumspectly means carefully ; speaks of precision & accuracy .

B) Contrasted by carelessly or aimlessly / just drifting here & there . /

There is focus / direction / precision.

C) In England in the Old days built houses surrounded by a huge wall. On the wall to discourage intruders embedded broken glass

1) From time to time you could see a cat walking along the

top of that wall . How do you think it walked? Carefully

D) Paul is saying here the life of the believer is a walk & we

need to walk carefully. Gives 4 reasons I’d like you to mark.

1st is V.15 Walking carefully is a mark of wisdom :

A) Only a fool sets out in a sail boat & drifts w/ the wind & the tides / a wise man charts his course . True in our walks

B) Prov. 12:15 " The way of the fool is right in his own eyes

A man was on the practice golf course when the club pro brought another man out for a lesson. The pro watched the fellow swing several times and started making suggestions for improvement, but each time the pupil interrupted with his own version of what was wrong and how to correct it.

After a few minutes of this interference, the pro began nodding his head in agreement. At the end of the lesson, the student paid the pro, congratulated him on his expertise as a teacher, and left in an obviously pleased frame of mind.

The observer was so astonished by the performance that he asked, "Why did you go along with him?'' "Son,'' the old pro said with a grin, as he carefully pocketed his fee, "I learned long ago that it's a waste of time to sell answers to a man who wants to buy echoes.''

C) That is the way of the fool he doesn't want to acknowledge the Lord & his way / but he only wants to do his own thing.

But we also read in the book of Prov. 1:7 that wisdom begins w/ the fear of the Lord . Fear- Rev. dread of displeasing

A) It is being concerned about what does the Lord think!

B) The wise man the wise woman will be one who approaches life from the perspective of what does Lord say / think?

C) That person who is Walking carefully or w/ precision will be seeking to walk according to the word!

1) David prayed Ps. 86:11 Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: Teach me so I can walk

D) SO The man who walks in wisdom walks according to the Word!

1) Wisdom is knowledge applied.

2ndly We are to walk carefully because life is short!

A) Redeeming the time : Redeem means to buy back buy up or to

take advantage of .

B) It is true life is short & each of us has OUR DAY if the Lord tarries

1) How will our time have been spent ?

A study revealed that an average 70-year-old man has spent 24 years sleeping/ 14 years working/ 8 years in amusements/ 6 years at the dinner table/ 5 years in transportation/ 4 years in conversation/ 3 years in education/ and 2 years in studying and reading. His other 4 years were spent in miscellaneous pursuits.

C) It is interesting to map out our time in that type of way - to see how much time do we spend in the things of the Lord

We need to walk carefully because life is short!

A.) We need to realize - really here for two reasons : 1^st Be trained by the Lord - training ground - grow in Him

1.) 2nd - to be used by the Lord! That is what life is about

B.) "All in this life will one day pass - only that which is done for Jesus is sure to last"

1.) Store up treasure in heaven: gold, silver vs. wood hay stub/ when this life is over you will have something to show for it !!!!

3rd: Walk carefully - make most of time because the days living are evil - v.16

A.) Don't have to be a brain surgeon to realize living in evil days

1) Jesus described how days would be before His coming: Days of Noah:

B) characteristics of days of Noah: Population problems - Increased sexual immorality/Increased violence/ Thoughts of men were evil continually

C) Guys that is a pretty good description of the times we are living in!

Evil days { Passion for such a time as this !!!!

D)We need to shine as lights / as stark contrast to the evil in our day

1.) Rom 12:21 - Be not overcome with evil / overcome evil w/ good

Guys, it is easy if not walking carefully to be overcome by evil

A)Walking where there are pot holes in the road Traps - snares - he wants to see us stumble!

B) We need to learn from others mistakes not our own. David fell -when? not doing what supposed to be doing - at war!

1.) David wasn't fighting the battle - lounging in luxury

guard was down - fell ( Enemy never goes on vacation)

C) When Eve fell? Wandered away from under the covering of her husband - into an area where she shouldn't have been!

1) Tree of knowledge good and evil - tricked/ deceived

4th - Last: Walk carefully - God has a plan for our lives!

A.) Word understand v.17 suggests learning - using our minds to discover and do God's will - found in the Word

B.)Micah 6:8 He has showed thee, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Close w/ this story:

The story of a young man who was a recent graduate of a theological seminary. Answers to all theological problems

He was eager to parade his knowledge.

He came to a certain town where lived an elderly Christian layman who had never been to a Bible school or seminary but had taught himself the Word of God under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In a very humble way, he had gained a reputation as a man of wise counsel.

When the prideful young theologian heard about him, he said, "I'd like to meet that man. I think I could ask him a question or two that he couldn't answer!"

So a meeting was arranged. The first thing the young man said was, "Sir, I hear that you have quite a reputation as a Bible student. I'd like to ask you a question."

The old man said, "Well, I don't know if I can answer it, but I'd be glad to try. What is your question?" The young man said, "Tell me, what were the Urim and the Thummim?

The old man thought a moment, then said, "Well, sir, I don't know really, and I don't think anyone else does either. We do know the names mean "lights' and "perfections' and that these were the instruments by which the high priest could determine the mind of God in specific instances. Beyond that, I don't think I could go.

But you know, I've found that if we change just one letter in these words, we have the instrument by which we can know the mind and will of God in our lives today!

The young man was a bit puzzled. "What do you mean?" The old man said, "Well, it you change the "r' in Urim to an "s,' you'll make it "Usim and Thummim.' An when I want to know the mind of God, I just take the pages of my Bible and I "Usim and Thummim.' And by that means I can learn whatever I need to know!"

C) Isn't that great! It is all in the word - that is why we study /

know God / walk w/ God / know His Plan for us!

D) Here today & you don't have a personal relationship w/ the Lord

not walking w/ the Lord!!!! I Know God's will for You

1) today is the day - don't harden heart/ for or against

C) Not about religion about a relationship!