WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.879 Pray and ask the Lord to bless the preaching 00:00:02.879 --> 00:00:06.759 of His Word. Our God and our Father, we thank 00:00:06.759 --> 00:00:10.000 you for sending the Spirit to give us life and 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:12.859 to empower us for the call you have given us 00:00:12.859 --> 00:00:15.279 to carry your words of life to the ends of the 00:00:15.279 --> 00:00:18.199 earth. Please allow the words of my mouth and 00:00:18.199 --> 00:00:21.500 the meditations of all our hearts to be acceptable 00:00:21.500 --> 00:00:25.359 in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and nearest kinsman, 00:00:25.359 --> 00:00:29.100 Redeemer, Jesus Christ, our risen Lord. Amen. 00:00:30.160 --> 00:00:34.340 Our text this morning is found in Ephesians chapter 00:00:34.340 --> 00:00:39.799 5 beginning in verse 8. Ephesians chapter 5 beginning 00:00:39.799 --> 00:00:45.659 in verse 8. For you were once darkness, but now 00:00:45.659 --> 00:00:48.920 you are light in the Lord. Walk as the children 00:00:48.920 --> 00:00:52.259 of light, for the fruit of the Spirit is in all 00:00:52.259 --> 00:00:56.280 goodness, righteousness, and truth. Finding out 00:00:56.280 --> 00:00:59.549 what is acceptable to the Lord. and have no fellowship 00:00:59.549 --> 00:01:02.990 with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather 00:01:02.990 --> 00:01:06.010 expose them. For it is shameful even to speak 00:01:06.010 --> 00:01:08.969 of those things which are done by them in secret. 00:01:09.489 --> 00:01:12.909 But all things that are exposed are made manifest 00:01:12.909 --> 00:01:16.650 by the light, for whatever makes manifest is 00:01:16.650 --> 00:01:21.209 light. Therefore, He says, awake you who sleep, 00:01:21.569 --> 00:01:24.409 arise from the dead, and Christ will give you 00:01:24.409 --> 00:01:28.629 life. See then that you walk circumspectly, not 00:01:28.629 --> 00:01:31.909 as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because 00:01:31.909 --> 00:01:35.430 the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, 00:01:35.829 --> 00:01:38.230 but understand what the will of the Lord is, 00:01:38.530 --> 00:01:42.109 and do not be drunk with wine, which is dissipation. 00:01:42.469 --> 00:01:45.170 But be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one 00:01:45.170 --> 00:01:48.750 another in Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, 00:01:49.189 --> 00:01:51.689 singing and making melody in your heart to the 00:01:51.689 --> 00:01:54.569 Lord. Giving thanks always for the things of 00:01:54.569 --> 00:01:57.140 God the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus 00:01:57.140 --> 00:02:00.219 Christ, submitting to one another in the fear 00:02:00.219 --> 00:02:04.219 of God. These are the words of Almighty God. 00:02:04.519 --> 00:02:11.680 Receive them in your hearts. As Christians, there 00:02:11.680 --> 00:02:13.960 are three things that I want us to get out of 00:02:13.960 --> 00:02:16.560 today's passage. I want you to kind of hear it 00:02:16.560 --> 00:02:20.060 as we go through it through these lenses. As 00:02:20.060 --> 00:02:24.500 Christians, we are to reflect the light of Jesus. 00:02:24.889 --> 00:02:30.849 We are to reflect the light of Jesus. We are 00:02:30.849 --> 00:02:36.069 to redeem opportunities. We are to redeem opportunities. 00:02:37.090 --> 00:02:41.229 And we are to sing, give thanks, and submit to 00:02:41.229 --> 00:02:45.530 one another. We are to sing, give thanks, and 00:02:45.530 --> 00:02:50.990 submit to one another. You may have noticed, 00:02:51.590 --> 00:02:55.759 particularly in recent years, That what seems 00:02:55.759 --> 00:03:01.780 obvious to you is not obvious to others It doesn't 00:03:01.780 --> 00:03:05.080 matter what the subject is we think that if people 00:03:05.080 --> 00:03:09.500 just had the facts That they would see the world 00:03:09.500 --> 00:03:13.620 like you see it If they would just listen and 00:03:13.620 --> 00:03:17.599 hear the right facts It would be plain to them 00:03:17.599 --> 00:03:23.960 also We implore people to consider what is evident 00:03:24.330 --> 00:03:28.449 of different political positions, conspiracies 00:03:28.449 --> 00:03:32.650 by bankers and politicians, people groups, and 00:03:32.650 --> 00:03:37.210 religious leaders. If they just had the right 00:03:37.210 --> 00:03:41.449 information or arguments, they would see the 00:03:41.449 --> 00:03:46.289 light and turn. Many of you have experienced 00:03:46.289 --> 00:03:50.750 this same thing, making gospel pleas with family 00:03:50.750 --> 00:03:56.580 members, friends. co -workers, and even occasional 00:03:56.580 --> 00:04:01.400 strangers. Our approach often is that if we could 00:04:01.400 --> 00:04:04.659 just make the right argument to them that they 00:04:04.659 --> 00:04:09.240 would turn to Christ and be changed forever. 00:04:10.340 --> 00:04:13.900 The problem is that if we treat the transformative 00:04:13.900 --> 00:04:18.620 work in people as just an intellectual problem, 00:04:19.459 --> 00:04:25.800 we have missed how God does things. Good study, 00:04:26.240 --> 00:04:31.220 preparation, and rhetoric can be good. But in 00:04:31.220 --> 00:04:35.000 our call to take dominion for Christ, to be fruitful, 00:04:35.639 --> 00:04:38.360 and transform the world for the glory of God, 00:04:39.379 --> 00:04:44.680 it is actually found in trusting God and doing 00:04:44.680 --> 00:04:48.399 good. As we've been studying in the scriptures 00:04:48.399 --> 00:04:52.379 in Psalm 37 and Galatians 5 and now in Ephesians 00:04:52.379 --> 00:04:57.540 chapter 5, doing good is standing your post and 00:04:57.540 --> 00:05:00.459 cultivating fruitfulness in the fruit of the 00:05:00.459 --> 00:05:04.540 Spirit and ourselves and all others who are in 00:05:04.540 --> 00:05:09.220 our realm of responsibility. We should plan, 00:05:09.819 --> 00:05:14.759 cultivate, and experience the giving of ourselves. 00:05:15.600 --> 00:05:20.839 the sacrificial life of ourselves for the glory 00:05:20.839 --> 00:05:25.540 of God and the benefit of others in our care. 00:05:27.439 --> 00:05:29.699 The Epistle to the Ephesians Church is really 00:05:29.699 --> 00:05:33.220 divided into two sections. The first section 00:05:33.220 --> 00:05:39.399 runs from chapter 1 all the way to chapter 4, 00:05:39.540 --> 00:05:43.980 verse 16. In this section, the Apostle Paul declares 00:05:43.980 --> 00:05:48.220 who God is. Jesus work of salvation for our behalf 00:05:48.220 --> 00:05:52.560 and What our salvation practically means for 00:05:52.560 --> 00:05:56.920 all of us our status before God in the very beginning 00:05:56.920 --> 00:06:04.279 Paul calls the church in Ephesus saints Why because 00:06:04.279 --> 00:06:06.879 they're in Christ Jesus not because they themselves 00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:12.339 are righteous and holy But you know salvation 00:06:12.339 --> 00:06:15.860 is not only a status for our eternal standing, 00:06:16.519 --> 00:06:21.079 but it is actionable. In chapter 2 verse 10 it 00:06:21.079 --> 00:06:24.639 says, for we are his workmanship, created in 00:06:24.639 --> 00:06:29.639 Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared 00:06:29.639 --> 00:06:34.399 beforehand that we should walk in them. Paul 00:06:34.399 --> 00:06:37.779 continues to clarify God's work is not just for 00:06:37.779 --> 00:06:40.980 the Jews but for Gentiles as well. and that there 00:06:40.980 --> 00:06:44.060 is no longer a wall of separation between Jew 00:06:44.060 --> 00:06:49.500 and Gentile, right? We can all enter the sanctuary 00:06:49.500 --> 00:06:56.060 of God as long as we are in Christ Jesus. Just 00:06:56.060 --> 00:06:59.079 prior to the end of the first section of Ephesians, 00:06:59.279 --> 00:07:03.379 Paul points to the inescapable reality of the 00:07:03.379 --> 00:07:06.000 unity and fellowship of the church. In chapter 00:07:06.000 --> 00:07:09.980 four he says this, there is one body and one 00:07:09.980 --> 00:07:13.100 Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of 00:07:13.100 --> 00:07:17.519 your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 00:07:18.100 --> 00:07:21.939 one God and Father of all, who is above all and 00:07:21.939 --> 00:07:25.339 through all and in you all. You know how I like 00:07:25.339 --> 00:07:29.439 to point out all y 'all when you see you many 00:07:29.439 --> 00:07:32.779 times, most of the time in the epistles, right? 00:07:32.800 --> 00:07:35.339 It is a plural you. It's all y 'all who are in 00:07:35.339 --> 00:07:40.769 the church. Chapter 5 begins with this. Therefore 00:07:40.769 --> 00:07:45.230 be imitators of God as dear children and walk 00:07:45.230 --> 00:07:48.750 in love as Christ also has loved us and given 00:07:48.750 --> 00:07:53.470 himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to 00:07:53.470 --> 00:07:59.069 God for a sweet smelling aroma. This is followed 00:07:59.069 --> 00:08:02.470 of course by a list of sins summed up in verse 00:08:02.470 --> 00:08:08.379 5 as these three categories sexual sins covetousness, 00:08:10.120 --> 00:08:13.600 and idolatry. And he says that those who practice 00:08:13.600 --> 00:08:18.040 such things do not inherit the kingdom of Christ 00:08:18.040 --> 00:08:22.660 and God. Our passage this morning picks up in 00:08:22.660 --> 00:08:28.160 verse 8, which says this, for you were once darkness, 00:08:28.480 --> 00:08:33.700 but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children 00:08:33.700 --> 00:08:38.179 of the light. God does not tell us that before 00:08:38.179 --> 00:08:41.080 we came to Christ that we were once in the dark 00:08:41.080 --> 00:08:45.539 But actually that we were dark we were darkness 00:08:45.539 --> 00:08:52.019 But now in Christ we are in we are light not 00:08:52.019 --> 00:08:55.740 just in light we are light We are created in 00:08:55.740 --> 00:08:58.940 the image of God who is light as you know in 00:08:58.940 --> 00:09:02.480 Genesis chapter 1 right God created the heaven 00:09:02.480 --> 00:09:06.090 and the earth and then what does it say? It says 00:09:06.090 --> 00:09:10.370 that the earth was void of form and darkness 00:09:10.370 --> 00:09:15.950 was over the deep. And God said, let there be 00:09:15.950 --> 00:09:21.029 light. And he was the light that drove out the 00:09:21.029 --> 00:09:24.929 darkness. And with the light that he had created 00:09:24.929 --> 00:09:30.269 that was emanating from him, God gave form to 00:09:30.269 --> 00:09:34.389 that which had no form. And he filled the void. 00:09:34.679 --> 00:09:39.440 of the earth. God is teaching us that the light 00:09:39.440 --> 00:09:44.220 is essential for dominion and fruitfulness. The 00:09:44.220 --> 00:09:47.100 theme of the light is all over the scripture. 00:09:47.179 --> 00:09:49.679 I'm going to just give you two examples, one 00:09:49.679 --> 00:09:55.799 in Isaiah chapter 60, beginning in verse 1. Arise, 00:09:55.820 --> 00:09:58.779 shine, for your light has come, and the glory 00:09:58.779 --> 00:10:02.200 of Yahweh is risen upon you. For behold, the 00:10:02.200 --> 00:10:05.370 darkness shall cover the earth. and deep darkness 00:10:05.370 --> 00:10:09.210 the people but Yahweh will arise over you and 00:10:09.210 --> 00:10:12.330 his glory will be seen upon you the Gentile shall 00:10:12.330 --> 00:10:16.110 come to your light and the kings to the brightness 00:10:16.110 --> 00:10:21.090 of your rising and speaking of Jesus in John 00:10:21.090 --> 00:10:23.470 chapter 1 again this is speaking of Jesus when 00:10:23.470 --> 00:10:26.490 it says him and is speaking of Jesus all things 00:10:26.490 --> 00:10:31.730 that were made through him and without him nothing 00:10:31.730 --> 00:10:35.590 was made that was made in him was life, and the 00:10:35.590 --> 00:10:40.169 life was the light of men. And that light shines 00:10:40.169 --> 00:10:44.889 in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend 00:10:44.889 --> 00:10:49.370 or overcome it. We are called to be imitators 00:10:49.370 --> 00:10:53.590 of God and Christ Jesus and so reflect the light 00:10:53.590 --> 00:10:58.149 of God. We are reminded that we ourselves have 00:10:58.149 --> 00:11:04.279 no light. It is actually the light of God in 00:11:04.279 --> 00:11:09.720 Christ Jesus that reflects out of us and Reflecting 00:11:09.720 --> 00:11:13.080 God's light we will see the world transformed 00:11:13.080 --> 00:11:16.940 by the light shining from us Jesus said in Matthew 00:11:16.940 --> 00:11:21.059 chapter 5 beginning of verse 14 You are the light 00:11:21.059 --> 00:11:24.399 of the world a city that is set on a hill cannot 00:11:24.399 --> 00:11:27.240 be hidden Nor do they light a lamp and put it 00:11:27.240 --> 00:11:30.570 under a basket, but on a lampstand And it gives 00:11:30.570 --> 00:11:35.529 light to all who are in the house. Let your light 00:11:35.529 --> 00:11:39.250 so shine before men that they may see your good 00:11:39.250 --> 00:11:44.350 works and glorify your Father in heaven. When 00:11:44.350 --> 00:11:46.710 we reflect the light of God as the children of 00:11:46.710 --> 00:11:50.809 light, darkness is either transformed, and so 00:11:50.809 --> 00:11:54.309 men praise God because their hearts are changed, 00:11:55.029 --> 00:12:01.309 they give thanks to God, or it flees. from it 00:12:01.309 --> 00:12:07.669 One of the problems that we have is we have difficulty 00:12:07.669 --> 00:12:17.690 believing God in this So what is the light that 00:12:17.690 --> 00:12:20.330 we are shining in our realm of responsibility? 00:12:21.409 --> 00:12:24.490 Paul continues saying that all y 'all in the 00:12:24.490 --> 00:12:28.149 church should walk as children of the light For 00:12:28.149 --> 00:12:30.970 the fruit of the Spirit, or in some translations 00:12:30.970 --> 00:12:35.549 light of the Spirit, is in all goodness, righteousness, 00:12:36.629 --> 00:12:43.210 and truth. Consider this. The fruit of the Spirit 00:12:43.210 --> 00:12:46.190 flows in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. 00:12:46.250 --> 00:12:48.570 So let us hear once again the fruit of the Spirit. 00:12:49.669 --> 00:12:53.470 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, 00:12:54.090 --> 00:12:59.009 long -suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 00:12:59.289 --> 00:13:04.029 gentleness, self -control. That's the light that 00:13:04.029 --> 00:13:08.610 transforms the world. As one commentator puts 00:13:08.610 --> 00:13:12.950 it, in the scriptures, goodness implies going 00:13:12.950 --> 00:13:17.690 to right or wrong in a powerful way. Righteousness 00:13:17.690 --> 00:13:22.929 is following the laws of God, and truth is doing 00:13:22.929 --> 00:13:27.340 everything in life according to the Bible. That 00:13:27.340 --> 00:13:32.200 is ethical obedience to God in all of life Or 00:13:32.200 --> 00:13:35.919 as we sometimes say all of Christ for all of 00:13:35.919 --> 00:13:43.940 life That is what transforms the world Light 00:13:43.940 --> 00:13:46.940 allows us to see and to have the wisdom to make 00:13:46.940 --> 00:13:49.860 good and fruitful decisions when you were when 00:13:49.860 --> 00:13:53.279 you're not Reflecting light a person not reflecting 00:13:53.279 --> 00:13:58.230 light who is darkness They can't make wise decisions 00:13:58.230 --> 00:14:02.669 that transform the world. All the schemes of 00:14:02.669 --> 00:14:05.269 men, all the things that they've tried to do, 00:14:05.590 --> 00:14:12.769 even those who have done good, it accomplishes 00:14:12.769 --> 00:14:21.470 just a little, and then it fades away. You see, 00:14:21.590 --> 00:14:24.470 light allows us to see and have the wisdom to 00:14:24.470 --> 00:14:26.549 make good and fruitful decisions for the glory 00:14:26.549 --> 00:14:31.210 of God and the benefit of others. The light of 00:14:31.210 --> 00:14:35.490 God reflecting from us helps us by exposing the 00:14:35.490 --> 00:14:39.690 sin first in our own lives, that we may repent 00:14:39.690 --> 00:14:45.990 and turn and do righteously, trusting God, standing 00:14:45.990 --> 00:14:49.230 at our post and taking dominion to cultivate 00:14:49.230 --> 00:14:51.629 the fruit of the Spirit in greater abundance. 00:14:54.179 --> 00:14:58.500 ourselves and all those whom God has given us 00:14:58.500 --> 00:15:03.200 responsibility of. This causes the world to be 00:15:03.200 --> 00:15:07.320 transformed from darkness into light. With the 00:15:07.320 --> 00:15:10.720 light we form the world and the will of God in 00:15:10.720 --> 00:15:15.320 heaven here on earth. We then fill it with more 00:15:15.320 --> 00:15:20.360 light and fruit. Men and the whole of creation 00:15:20.360 --> 00:15:25.370 is changed more and more. In this way, we expose 00:15:25.370 --> 00:15:30.009 all darkness, sin, and all those who conspire 00:15:30.009 --> 00:15:32.970 against God and His people. If the people of 00:15:32.970 --> 00:15:36.350 God don't follow God and don't trust God and 00:15:36.350 --> 00:15:40.769 don't do good, guess what? You don't reflect 00:15:40.769 --> 00:15:48.830 light, and we don't expose those who are doing 00:15:48.830 --> 00:15:57.539 evil. Paul continues in verse 12 saying this, 00:15:57.700 --> 00:15:59.740 for it is shameful even to speak of those things 00:15:59.740 --> 00:16:03.460 which are done by them in secret. Paul is teaching 00:16:03.460 --> 00:16:06.000 the church in Ephesus that if they think that 00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:09.539 the world is transformed by their speaking and 00:16:09.539 --> 00:16:12.399 exposing of the evil deeds and conspiracies, 00:16:12.740 --> 00:16:18.440 that's not gonna work. You see, conspiracies 00:16:18.440 --> 00:16:23.279 have happened both currently and in the past. 00:16:24.419 --> 00:16:29.399 It doesn't change the world. In fact, Paul says 00:16:29.399 --> 00:16:34.679 that it is shameful, meaning without grace. This 00:16:34.679 --> 00:16:37.960 passage confronts the false idea that if people 00:16:37.960 --> 00:16:41.360 just have the right argument, if the right conspiracies 00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:44.120 are exposed, it's all gonna fall like a house 00:16:44.120 --> 00:16:51.179 of cards. You see, we'll think. They'll just 00:16:51.179 --> 00:16:53.440 change their views and stop believing the lies 00:16:53.440 --> 00:16:58.139 and turn to the truth and joy. It is not wrong 00:16:58.139 --> 00:17:00.820 to study history or even the present to ascertain 00:17:00.820 --> 00:17:05.400 the truth in what men have conspired to do and 00:17:05.400 --> 00:17:09.319 share it. But intellectual facts do not transform 00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:11.019 men. Now I'm going to pause here just for a second. 00:17:11.539 --> 00:17:15.240 If you have, by God, been given a responsibility 00:17:15.240 --> 00:17:21.849 in a certain area, That's your area to live righteously, 00:17:21.990 --> 00:17:24.670 to reflect the light of Jesus, to live with the 00:17:24.670 --> 00:17:27.150 fruit of the Spirit flourishing within you and 00:17:27.150 --> 00:17:30.390 flourishing in your area of responsibility. And 00:17:30.390 --> 00:17:35.210 yes, you may have to speak to what's going on 00:17:35.210 --> 00:17:40.089 in your job, in your post, in your responsibility. 00:17:41.069 --> 00:17:43.450 But it is not going to be transformed simply 00:17:43.450 --> 00:17:47.589 because you point it out. It's going to be transformed 00:17:47.589 --> 00:17:51.599 by the light. that you are reflecting of Christ 00:17:51.599 --> 00:17:55.900 standing your post and flourishing in the fruit 00:17:55.900 --> 00:18:02.380 of the Spirit. The grace of God comes to men. 00:18:03.819 --> 00:18:05.359 Well, just a second, I missed something that's 00:18:05.359 --> 00:18:08.220 very important here because we try to do so much 00:18:08.220 --> 00:18:11.960 in our own strength, right? Who are we called 00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:18.180 to follow? Follow Christ. Did Christ go around 00:18:19.720 --> 00:18:23.119 Talking about all the conspiracies of the chief 00:18:23.119 --> 00:18:27.519 priests in Sanhedrin, I can't think of a single 00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:32.859 place where he did that. What did he do? He trusted 00:18:32.859 --> 00:18:38.059 God, and he did good. He knew what he was there 00:18:38.059 --> 00:18:41.759 for. He knew what he was called to do, and he 00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:47.000 simply trusted God and did good, making others 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:52.019 flourish. and the gifts of God. And in that, 00:18:52.359 --> 00:18:59.140 the world was saved. The grace of God comes to 00:18:59.140 --> 00:19:02.380 men by the work of Christ, by the power of the 00:19:02.380 --> 00:19:04.720 Spirit, through the light that His people shine 00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:08.319 into the world, by trusting God and doing good, 00:19:08.619 --> 00:19:10.940 by standing our post and cultivating the fruit 00:19:10.940 --> 00:19:17.369 of the Spirit. Now all this is made evident Excuse 00:19:17.369 --> 00:19:23.369 me in verse 13 Which says this? But in all things 00:19:23.369 --> 00:19:26.569 that are exposed are made manifest by the light 00:19:26.569 --> 00:19:30.289 that is they are revealed by the light For whatever 00:19:30.289 --> 00:19:35.750 makes manifest or revealed is light The transformation 00:19:35.750 --> 00:19:42.369 of men are made seen by the light goodness righteousness 00:19:42.369 --> 00:19:48.410 and truth lived before all men Verse 14 says 00:19:48.410 --> 00:19:52.829 therefore he says awake you who sleep arise from 00:19:52.829 --> 00:19:57.650 the dead and Christ will give you light Dearly 00:19:57.650 --> 00:20:02.309 beloved Waking up to trusting God wake up trusting 00:20:02.309 --> 00:20:05.450 God to transform the world by the light coming 00:20:05.450 --> 00:20:10.490 from him and being reflected By you I'm gonna 00:20:10.490 --> 00:20:13.509 pause right there. That's pretty unnerving, isn't 00:20:13.509 --> 00:20:19.089 it? Is that unnerving? I know it is for your 00:20:19.089 --> 00:20:23.329 pastor. I know my shortcomings. I know the times 00:20:23.329 --> 00:20:28.470 I was irritated this week. I know the times that 00:20:28.470 --> 00:20:32.769 I sinned this week. Has my light been reflecting 00:20:32.769 --> 00:20:39.750 Christ? What must I do? I must trust God and 00:20:39.750 --> 00:20:45.440 do good. Stand my post. Sacrificially die for 00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:48.420 others that others may flourish in the fruit 00:20:48.420 --> 00:20:53.359 of the Spirit But it begins with trusting God 00:20:53.359 --> 00:21:01.859 Right now He says this verse 15 see then that 00:21:01.859 --> 00:21:06.539 you walk circumspectly not as fools, but as wise 00:21:06.539 --> 00:21:10.200 Redeeming the time because the days are evil 00:21:11.180 --> 00:21:13.779 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what 00:21:13.779 --> 00:21:17.240 the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk 00:21:17.240 --> 00:21:20.200 with wine, which is dissipation, but be filled 00:21:20.200 --> 00:21:22.220 with the Spirit. Please hear this next section 00:21:22.220 --> 00:21:28.819 very clearly. Paul says to all y 'all, all y 00:21:28.819 --> 00:21:33.680 'all now walk carefully, not deviating from your 00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:40.930 duty as fools do, but be wise. There is a call 00:21:40.930 --> 00:21:46.109 not to be a childlike fool But rather to be as 00:21:46.109 --> 00:21:50.730 a steadfast man in your post redeeming the time 00:21:50.730 --> 00:21:55.029 for the days of evil now The Greek word translated 00:21:55.029 --> 00:22:01.750 here as time Can also be translated as opportunities, 00:22:01.750 --> 00:22:07.119 and I think this fits even better so we are called 00:22:07.119 --> 00:22:10.240 to redeem the opportunities that are put before 00:22:10.240 --> 00:22:14.680 us. Are there opportunities to reflect light, 00:22:15.920 --> 00:22:19.240 to make fruitful and multiply in your life before 00:22:19.240 --> 00:22:23.099 you? For your mothers, those little children. 00:22:25.119 --> 00:22:30.859 For dads, your wives and children. Wives, what 00:22:30.859 --> 00:22:35.259 about your husbands? What about all those that 00:22:35.259 --> 00:22:40.420 you have responsibility for? Are there opportunities? 00:22:41.720 --> 00:22:44.420 Redeem your time for them. What about your brothers 00:22:44.420 --> 00:22:47.519 and sisters in this church? And yes, even in 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:50.599 fact, show the light in the places that you work 00:22:50.599 --> 00:22:54.839 and the responsibilities that you have there. 00:22:56.299 --> 00:22:59.599 God has given every one of you a realm that you 00:22:59.599 --> 00:23:04.109 have authority over. Children, Yeah, look up 00:23:04.109 --> 00:23:08.230 here. You have a realm of responsibility to one 00:23:08.230 --> 00:23:12.630 another, to your parents, to your siblings, to 00:23:12.630 --> 00:23:16.950 all the things that God has given you. So as 00:23:16.950 --> 00:23:19.009 the light of God reflects out of you and you 00:23:19.009 --> 00:23:23.670 see things, redeem it. Make it better. Make it 00:23:23.670 --> 00:23:25.970 fruitful. If you're unsure of what that looks 00:23:25.970 --> 00:23:29.349 like, talk to your parents. Ask them about that. 00:23:29.910 --> 00:23:34.170 And parents. Be gentle and kind and enthusiastic 00:23:34.170 --> 00:23:42.569 in inquiries like this Your duty is to reflect 00:23:42.569 --> 00:23:47.750 the light of God and with that light You have 00:23:47.750 --> 00:23:50.089 sight just remember just like God in the very 00:23:50.089 --> 00:23:54.769 beginning He was teaching us this principle the 00:23:54.769 --> 00:23:58.509 light emanated from him and then he could go 00:23:58.509 --> 00:24:04.089 and transform the world from an empty blob, from 00:24:04.089 --> 00:24:10.150 an emptiness, without form. With the light that 00:24:10.150 --> 00:24:13.869 God reflects in you, you have sight for all that 00:24:13.869 --> 00:24:17.509 you're doing. And now you can form it. Now you 00:24:17.509 --> 00:24:22.289 can see it. Redeem the opportunities that you 00:24:22.289 --> 00:24:25.230 see and take all the people and all the things 00:24:25.230 --> 00:24:28.769 in your realm and make it reflect the will of 00:24:28.769 --> 00:24:35.450 God. This steadfastness to our providential and 00:24:35.450 --> 00:24:38.950 sovereignly given post is clarified further in 00:24:38.950 --> 00:24:44.029 verse 18. Do not be drunk with wine, which is 00:24:44.029 --> 00:24:48.390 dissipation, but be filled with the spirit. Now 00:24:48.390 --> 00:24:51.710 here's this funny word. Who this week outside 00:24:51.710 --> 00:24:55.970 of reading the text may have used the word dissipation? 00:24:56.630 --> 00:25:00.630 Anyone? Right, that's a really foreign concept 00:25:00.630 --> 00:25:07.069 for us So we know what drunkenness is with wine 00:25:07.069 --> 00:25:12.269 But here it's described as dissipation You see 00:25:12.269 --> 00:25:17.210 dissipation is defined as a scattered attention 00:25:17.210 --> 00:25:22.349 wandering from idea to idea and pursuit of pleasure 00:25:22.349 --> 00:25:27.579 Which is usually attended by careless exorbitant 00:25:27.579 --> 00:25:32.940 expenditures in time and money and effort. I'm 00:25:32.940 --> 00:25:35.380 going to say this one more time. Dissipation 00:25:35.380 --> 00:25:40.000 is defined as scattered attention wandering from 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:44.819 idea to idea in pursuit of pleasure, which usually 00:25:44.819 --> 00:25:48.839 is attended by careless and exorbitant expenditures 00:25:48.839 --> 00:25:56.410 in time, money, and effort. Why does a person 00:25:56.410 --> 00:25:59.730 get drunk? Now we can put a lot of reasons to 00:25:59.730 --> 00:26:04.430 that. But drunkenness is an artificial emotional 00:26:04.430 --> 00:26:10.789 stimulation. This artificial emotional stimulation 00:26:10.789 --> 00:26:14.690 can be brought on by all kinds of things, not 00:26:14.690 --> 00:26:19.910 just drugs and alcohol. The dopamine of porn 00:26:19.910 --> 00:26:23.130 or the dopamine of constant scrolling through 00:26:23.130 --> 00:26:28.039 your phone or computer. This kind of drunkenness, 00:26:28.519 --> 00:26:31.539 which is dissipation, gives us an artificial 00:26:31.539 --> 00:26:37.019 emotional stimulation that does not lead to improved 00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:45.299 concentration and effort. I imagine, in some 00:26:45.299 --> 00:26:51.259 fashion, this is hitting all of us. We sometimes 00:26:51.259 --> 00:26:54.400 justify our constant scrolling or the things 00:26:54.400 --> 00:26:57.920 that we're doing because we get artificially 00:26:57.920 --> 00:27:02.079 emotionally stimulated because of our pursuits 00:27:02.079 --> 00:27:05.960 for the newest enlightened conspiracy or problem 00:27:05.960 --> 00:27:11.380 in the greater church and the world Satan uses 00:27:11.380 --> 00:27:15.559 these things to stir us up to dissipation scattering 00:27:15.559 --> 00:27:22.099 our attention away from our post. Dearly beloved, 00:27:22.660 --> 00:27:26.319 put off all things that get you drunk with dissipation, 00:27:26.960 --> 00:27:31.680 distracting you all. I'm in that you all. So 00:27:31.680 --> 00:27:35.019 that you may be filled with the Holy Spirit. 00:27:36.200 --> 00:27:39.440 Paul instructs the church as to how being filled 00:27:39.440 --> 00:27:41.400 with the Spirit is lived out and he does it in 00:27:41.400 --> 00:27:45.680 three ways. And this is how we remain productive. 00:27:45.980 --> 00:27:50.660 and not needlessly distracted. Begin picking 00:27:50.660 --> 00:27:54.380 up in verse 19, speaking to one another in Psalms 00:27:54.380 --> 00:27:58.579 and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making 00:27:58.579 --> 00:28:01.440 melody in your heart to the Lord. So that's the 00:28:01.440 --> 00:28:05.759 first thing. So let's just reflect. What about 00:28:05.759 --> 00:28:13.059 just yesterday? Were you singing Psalms to one 00:28:13.059 --> 00:28:17.940 another? Were you making melody in your heart 00:28:17.940 --> 00:28:21.720 to the Lord? How'd that work out? I know you 00:28:21.720 --> 00:28:23.440 probably had your family worship and you did 00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:27.119 some singing there. Just as an illustration, 00:28:27.660 --> 00:28:31.059 just to show a little bit of my family here. 00:28:32.180 --> 00:28:34.240 We used to have, when all our kids were at home, 00:28:34.319 --> 00:28:38.180 we had this 12 passenger van. And so it was me 00:28:38.180 --> 00:28:41.900 and my wife and my dad. And one of my younger 00:28:41.900 --> 00:28:44.059 brothers who lived with us for a while, we'd 00:28:44.059 --> 00:28:49.140 all pile into that van, all eight kids. So that's 00:28:49.140 --> 00:28:53.519 a mass of people. And can you imagine some Sunday 00:28:53.519 --> 00:28:56.680 mornings on the way out the door, we would get 00:28:56.680 --> 00:29:00.160 flustered and angry and impatient with one another? 00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:06.579 Can you imagine that? Now, one of the problems 00:29:06.579 --> 00:29:10.539 we had Because we had a four minute ride to church. 00:29:13.299 --> 00:29:17.839 What I found, we certainly prayed when we got 00:29:17.839 --> 00:29:20.440 in the car, but what I found to bring unity, 00:29:21.460 --> 00:29:24.539 to bring strength to one another, we would sing 00:29:24.539 --> 00:29:30.160 a hymn together. We would sing a psalm. Singing 00:29:30.160 --> 00:29:34.660 brings unity and strength and blessing. And when 00:29:34.660 --> 00:29:40.450 we're doing it centered on the Lord, What a magnificent 00:29:40.450 --> 00:29:46.549 transformation that is. It focuses us to be joyful 00:29:46.549 --> 00:29:48.970 and full of gratitude, which brings us to our 00:29:48.970 --> 00:29:52.549 next thing. We are to give thanks for all things 00:29:52.549 --> 00:29:56.509 to God the Father and the Lord Jesus. We are 00:29:56.509 --> 00:29:59.769 to be living a life of gratitude. If you're singing, 00:30:00.069 --> 00:30:05.230 lest you're singing a dirge or thrash, man, I'm 00:30:05.230 --> 00:30:08.750 all angry. What does all that anger do for you? 00:30:09.230 --> 00:30:16.269 It exhausts you. It exhausts you. Give thanks. 00:30:16.490 --> 00:30:20.990 Be full of gratitude. Sing psalms and hymns and 00:30:20.990 --> 00:30:24.730 spiritual songs to one another and making melody 00:30:24.730 --> 00:30:32.009 in your heart before God. Finally, we are told, 00:30:32.269 --> 00:30:34.990 submitting to one another in the fear of God. 00:30:35.450 --> 00:30:39.539 This is mutual submission. For service for God's 00:30:39.539 --> 00:30:41.299 glory and the benefit of others. That's back 00:30:41.299 --> 00:30:45.900 to that sacrifice Romans 12 tells us this does 00:30:45.900 --> 00:30:50.420 it not where to be living sacrifices And what 00:30:50.420 --> 00:30:52.420 we like to do with that is turn it into some 00:30:52.420 --> 00:30:55.000 sort of ethereal far away spiritual thing. I'm 00:30:55.000 --> 00:30:58.059 a spiritual person I have the fruit of the Spirit 00:30:58.059 --> 00:31:02.619 in me Right, but it's not for anybody else. We're 00:31:02.619 --> 00:31:04.599 gonna button it up and cover it up. No light 00:31:04.599 --> 00:31:11.109 reflecting out of me Once again, we are to bless 00:31:11.109 --> 00:31:13.789 one another by speaking the Psalms of each other 00:31:13.789 --> 00:31:17.990 singing and making melody to God Joyous music 00:31:17.990 --> 00:31:21.230 overflowing from the heart and serving one another 00:31:21.230 --> 00:31:30.710 pointing them to Jesus in song and attitude and 00:31:30.710 --> 00:31:34.150 Sacrificial love planning and flourishing others 00:31:34.150 --> 00:31:40.259 and what God has given us We are to always and 00:31:40.259 --> 00:31:43.640 actively give thanks in all things. You see this 00:31:43.640 --> 00:31:45.640 is the very this is the big thing we always think 00:31:45.640 --> 00:31:52.200 my circumstances are so extraordinary They're 00:31:52.200 --> 00:31:56.599 so hard man. No no other mother has ever had 00:31:56.599 --> 00:32:04.789 a week like I have had Or No other man has ever 00:32:04.789 --> 00:32:06.890 experienced the difficulties that I have for 00:32:06.890 --> 00:32:10.289 those of you that serve in government service 00:32:10.289 --> 00:32:18.410 What about Daniel? All the different things there 00:32:18.410 --> 00:32:22.650 are other Christians that God has placed in similar 00:32:22.650 --> 00:32:28.769 circumstances and He has transformed their lives 00:32:28.769 --> 00:32:33.299 and they have been a light I argue that Nebuchadnezzar 00:32:33.299 --> 00:32:37.160 repented of his sin. King Darius was a blessing 00:32:37.160 --> 00:32:40.480 to God's people, although they all stumbled. 00:32:41.500 --> 00:32:44.779 And finally, we actually see that Cyrus, a converted 00:32:44.779 --> 00:32:49.960 king, pays for the rebuilding of the temple and 00:32:49.960 --> 00:32:52.140 sends important people that belong to him to 00:32:52.140 --> 00:32:59.900 go oversee it. Remember in Isaiah 60, kings will 00:32:59.900 --> 00:33:08.420 be drawn to your light. You know, the final way 00:33:08.420 --> 00:33:10.859 we are to be living is to be filled with the 00:33:10.859 --> 00:33:13.039 Spirit. Here is submitting to one another in 00:33:13.039 --> 00:33:17.279 the fear of the Lord. Remember chapter five began 00:33:17.279 --> 00:33:20.359 with, therefore be imitators of God as dear children 00:33:20.359 --> 00:33:23.359 and walk in love as Christ has also loved us 00:33:23.359 --> 00:33:28.119 and given himself for us as an offering, a sacrifice 00:33:28.119 --> 00:33:32.799 to God, a sweet smelling aroma. How do you smell? 00:33:33.980 --> 00:33:38.319 By that I mean by your activities Are you a sweet 00:33:38.319 --> 00:33:40.900 -smelling aroma to God? What about the others 00:33:40.900 --> 00:33:43.579 in your household? What about the people you 00:33:43.579 --> 00:33:48.819 work with or live with? We are to submit to one 00:33:48.819 --> 00:33:51.440 another loving one another as Christ has demonstrated 00:33:51.440 --> 00:33:54.619 To us by giving himself for us as an offering 00:33:54.619 --> 00:33:59.140 to God for a sweet -smelling aroma We're to submit 00:33:59.140 --> 00:34:01.779 to one another serving one another as a sacrifice 00:34:01.779 --> 00:34:05.849 and an offering to God Saints of God, we are 00:34:05.849 --> 00:34:09.170 to submit sacrificially of ourselves for the 00:34:09.170 --> 00:34:13.510 glory of God that others may be lifted up and 00:34:13.510 --> 00:34:16.630 drawn to God, illuminated by the light that we 00:34:16.630 --> 00:34:21.630 reflect of Jesus. So there's all this. It's a 00:34:21.630 --> 00:34:27.309 bit overwhelming. Trust that God do good. How 00:34:27.309 --> 00:34:31.880 do we do this? As you know, Jesus has not left 00:34:31.880 --> 00:34:34.280 us without hope. We talked about this last week. 00:34:35.159 --> 00:34:37.260 He hasn't left us without hope to fulfill these 00:34:37.260 --> 00:34:41.139 things. He isn't telling us to make bricks without 00:34:41.139 --> 00:34:46.019 straw. No, He has sent the Holy Spirit. And He 00:34:46.019 --> 00:34:49.840 did this after He died for us and rose again 00:34:49.840 --> 00:34:52.699 for the forgiveness of all our sins. And He sent 00:34:52.699 --> 00:34:55.780 the Spirit to you, and He has called all of you. 00:34:56.880 --> 00:35:00.570 All light comes from Jesus. Dearly beloved, lean 00:35:00.570 --> 00:35:05.909 more upon Jesus and the grace and the life that 00:35:05.909 --> 00:35:10.030 he has given you all. Reflect the light of Jesus, 00:35:10.469 --> 00:35:13.070 redeeming your opportunities, singing and giving 00:35:13.070 --> 00:35:17.710 thanks, and submitting to one another. Let us 00:35:17.710 --> 00:35:23.650 pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you for who you 00:35:23.650 --> 00:35:27.400 are, holy, righteous, and good. We give thanks 00:35:27.400 --> 00:35:30.159 for the life you have given us in Christ Jesus, 00:35:30.760 --> 00:35:33.059 being saved unto a life of good works that you 00:35:33.059 --> 00:35:36.539 have prepared for us beforehand. Let us not become 00:35:36.539 --> 00:35:40.599 distracted from our post. Help us, we pray, to 00:35:40.599 --> 00:35:43.659 walk in the light, trusting that obedience to 00:35:43.659 --> 00:35:46.440 you, that you will bless and transform the world 00:35:46.440 --> 00:35:50.800 to your glory and our benefit. We ask all this 00:35:50.800 --> 00:35:54.179 for the sake of Jesus, your Son, our Lord, who 00:35:54.179 --> 00:35:57.230 reigns with you in the Holy Spirit. world without 00:35:57.230 --> 00:36:03.309 end. Amen. Let us continue our worship by the 00:36:03.309 --> 00:36:46.349 giving of our tithes and offerings. Blessed are 00:36:46.349 --> 00:36:49.070 you, O Lord God, for through your goodness we 00:36:49.070 --> 00:36:52.170 have these gifts to share. Accept and use your 00:36:52.170 --> 00:36:55.190 tithes and offerings for your glory, for service 00:36:55.190 --> 00:36:58.670 in your kingdom. Blessed be God forever and ever. 00:36:59.050 --> 00:36:59.369 Amen.