How To Make A Difference Series

Background to passage: In this text we are reminded that we used to be darkness and now we are light. Jesus calls us to let our light shine; here, Paul calls us to walk in the light. I think he tells us some ways to do that, and I want to bring it down a little closer to where we live today. So, really I am just going to focus on some practical ways that we can walk in the light and show the world the beauty of our Treasure, the Lord Jesus Christ!

Ephesians 5:7–14 ESV

7 Therefore do not become partners with them;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.”

Opening illustration: My first paper in college, Cliff being a “child of God”

Main thought: Four ways to walk in the light

1) Good Works and Service (v. 9)

Ephesians 5:9 ESV

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

1) Good Works and Service (v. 9)

Explanation: these are general but deeply significant words usually used in concepts and character descriptions. Goodness can also be translated kindness or generosity. “Right” in this verse is related to the word for righteousness, right standing, holiness. True is the word used to talk about the truth of Christ and reality of the truth of the faith.

Romans 15:14 ESV

14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.

Micah 6:8 ESV

8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Illustration: Max Lucado tells a story about some candles who refuse to be taken from a storage closet to provide light during an electrical storm. They all have excuses why they should not give off light. When the husband tells his wife that the candles won’t work, she explains, “Oh, they’re church candles.”

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Application: It is important to note that goodness carries with it the idea of works that benefit others. All of these words are descriptive adjectives, but the cannot be divorced from action, verbs. So, are you involved in doing things for the benefit of others. Inside the church, outside the church, but something that is not consumer based. Do you support a local non-profit who ministers to people in our community? TIN, First Choice Women’s Center, Circles, Gideons, Operation Christmas Child, Feed the Valley, Food Ministry, Soup Kitchen, Mission Serve? Maybe it’s a neighbor you take care of? Maybe it’s a family member that you help? Maybe it’s a Christian (or non-Christian) that needs a hand? Do you give? Do you volunteer? Does someone else benefit from your service? Serve on a board? Public office? Does your light shine past your own personal wellbeing. Do you look out for the sick, impoverished, needy, imprisoned, and broken? Good works are prepared for us before hand.

Does your life look like the world, or does it shine brightly?

?

2) Moral and Ethical Standards (v. 10)

Ephesians 5:10 ESV

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

2) Moral and Ethical Standards (v. 10)

Explanation: Walking as children of light means that we try to please the Lord. In this text it mentions the discerning what is pleasing to the Lord.

Argumentation:

Illustration: I had a boss one time who changed the pay for commissions regularly and without warning.

Application: We are all faced with decisions regularly that have moral and ethical dimensions. Some of them are big and encompass many areas of life, and some are “small” and seem to have little impact on your life. Not to put an enormous amount of pressure for every tiny detail of life, but God has things that please him.

Last week we discussed sexual immorality, but we can also talk about other obvious things that don’t please the Lord like lying, cheating, or stealing. However, what about fairness? Do you treat others fairly? If you have employees, do you pay them on time and in accordance with their duties? If you are an employee do you work hard and abide by company policy? Do you pay your bills?