Eph 5-7-14 Leave the Light on (2)_Luxurious Light

8/8/2019 Eph 5-7-14 Leave the Light on (2)_Luxurious Light

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LEAVETHE LIGHT ON (1): LUXURIOUS LIGHT

(Ephesians 5:7-14)

Ian lived in the backwoods of Scotland. One night his wife went into laborand the doctor was called. The doctor handed Ian a lantern and said: Hold

this high so I can see what Im doing. Soon, a wee baby boy was broughtinto the world. Whoa, there, Ian! said the doctor. Keep the lantern high I think theres another coming. Sure enough, shortly a bonnie little lassarrived. But then again the doctor said, No, no, Ian. Dont be in such ahurry to be putting down that lantern, lad It seems theres yet anotherone besides! At that, Ian scratched his head in bewilderment, and asked thedoctor: Do ye think its the light thats attractin them?

That, Beloved, would be exactly the point of Pauls instruction in Eph 5:8,Walk as children of light. He is saying to us you are light, now leavethe light on to attract those who darkness. Just like Jesus in Matt 5:16: Inthe same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see yourgood works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Let it shine sothat people will see God. Frankly, what else are we here for?

The whole Christian life in simplest terms is about living like who we areinstead of who we were. Pre-Christ, darkness owned us; but now we arelight. We can still choose to live in darkness. But Paul urges, please. No.Live in grace. Live in light. He says in Eph 5:7-8: 7) Therefore do notbecome partners with them (unbelievers); 8) for at one time you weredarkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. Bewho you are. Walk as light! But why? What is so good about light?

I. Light Resides Within

Look closely at verse 8 again, for at one time you were [in] darkness, butnow you are [in the] light in the Lord. Is that what it says? Not quite, is it.No the Bible does not say we are in the light. It says we are light . Lightis not a new environment in which we now reside. We are now the

environment in which lightresides. Its not a change on the outside. It is aninside job -- a fundamental change in our own beingthat has occurred.Small difference in phraseology. Big difference in meaning.

Get the picture here. The Bible is not saying we are the same old us, just innew surroundings. It is teaching we ourselves are new. So live like it. We

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could take a prize pig and move him into a bright, shiny new pen to keephim clean. Problem is, hes still a pig, right? And you know what willhappen. Soon the new pen is just as messy as the old. What the Bible issaying here is, you are no longer a pig in a new pen; youre a fundamentallychanged man or woman. Not a pig, but a person in a whole new life. The

gate is open. You can go back to the pigpen if you want, but you dont haveto. To the extent that you do you deny your new identity. Do you see hispoint? Not you are in the light but rather, you are the light. Act like it.Thats exactly why Jesus could say, Letyourlight shine not someoneelses butyours This is the new you! Act like it. Now, I know that someof you good Bible students are saying, Wait a minute. I thought it wasJesus who is the light of the world. And you are right. He says as much inJohn 8:12, I am the light of the world. Clear as can be. So, whats upwith this idea that I am light? Well, Beloved, read the rest of John 8:12: Iam the light of the world. (But it goes on) Whoever follows me will notwalk in darkness, but will have the light of life. There is no contradiction.He is the light of the world, but when we got salvation, we got Him, and

when we got Him, we became light, just like He is light. Peter explains thatwe actually became partakers in the divine nature. If that doesnt knock youoff your horse, youre just not listening. Listen from II Pet 1:3-4, 3) Hisdivine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness,through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory andexcellence, 4)by which he has granted to us his precious and very greatpromises, so that through themyou may become partakers of the divinenature, having escapedfrom the corruption that is in the world because ofsinful desire. There is no getting around it. We are light. Some say we

reflect the light of Christ, but it is more. Weshare the light of Christ.

Adrian Rogers tells of some gold prospectors who discovered anexceptionally rich mine. One of them said, "Hey, were rich as long as noone finds out before we stake our claims." They vowed secrecy. They wentto town for supplies, but returned to chaos. A crowd of people followedthem because theirdiscovery was written all over their faces. What

happens on the inside shows on the outside. Joyful Christians with the lightof God on their faces are needed in the darkness of this world. To hide ourlight under a basket is to deny our very being. Light resides within.

II. Light Results -- in Fruit

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Then we have the fruit oftruth. Now we know that Gods Word is truth.But in this context, he is speaking of truth in action. It is not doctrine thatis in view, but deeds. Light will result in a truthful lifestyle. Children oflight act truthfully, honestly and with integrity. That is his point.

An investment counselor was interviewing for an in-house lawyer. She toldone applicant, ""In a business like this, our personal integrity must bebeyond question." She leaned forward. "Mr. Mayberry, are you an honestlawyer?" "Honest?" replied the job prospect. "Let me tell you somethingabout honest. My father lent me $15,000 for my education, and I paid backevery penny the minute I tried my very first case." "Impressive. And whatsort of case was that?" asked the investment counselor. The lawyersquirmed in his seat and finally admitted, "My father sued me for themoney." That would not be living in truth.

Light is simply incompatible with dishonesty on any level. And so, as thosewho are light, we must reek of integrity. People should be able to count onour word regardless of the issue. And if you are it, you dont have toadvertize it. I used to work with a fellow who prided himself on integrity so he wanted to throw the word around in all our advertising, press releases every threw the word around so much that people began to wonder why. Itold him one day, Chris, if youve got integrity, you don t have toadvertise it. People will get it. Dont talk about it do it. Bc we are light.

III.Light Reaches -- for God

The next thing our passage teaches us is that light is always reaching out to

God stretching to know Him better. The minute we think we have Godfigured out, that is the minute that we dont know God at all. Look at verse10, and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. So, who else wouldwe be trying to please? How about self? Thats where the competition is,isnt it? You know you are walking in the light when you are askingconcerning a job change is this what God wants, or is this what I want?You know you are walking in the light when you are asking, will this action

I am about to take reflect glory to God, or am I doing this to flatter my ownego or get revenge or satisfy my own lust. Listen the light is alwaysseeking what will please God. Always.

The little word discern there in verse 10 is often translated test or try.It is used, for example in Romans 12:2, 2) Do not be conformed to this

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world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing youmay discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable andperfect. You see, we renew our mind by testing absolutely everyanticipated action for conformity to the will of God. Then we will knowthat it is good and acceptable and perfect. The Bible says it even more

succinctly in I Thess 5:21, 21)

but test everything; hold fast what is good.Test everything everything and then only hold those things that pass thetest. Throw the rest out. If it doesnt pass the God test, discard it.

You say, how do you test it? Well, in ancient times shops and bazaars weresimply little covered enclosures with no windows. Often a man might wishto buy a piece of silk or an article of beaten brass. Before he bought it hewould take it out to the street and hold it up to the sun, that the light mightreveal any flaws which happened to be in it. He would only purchase it, if itstood the test of the light. So the believer should expose every reaction,every decision, every motive to the light of the Word of God and to Hisprinciples. The question is always, is it me, or is it God?

Corrie ten Boom, who suffered at Auschwitz during WWII for hiding Jews,tells how during a time of extreme financial need pre-war, she observed herfather and a wealthy customer. The wealthy man had determined on a cashpurchase of a watch which would have met all their needs. But as her fatherwas handling the cash, the customer related that he was buying the watchbecause Mr. ten Booms young competitor could not fix the fine old

watch. Corries father asked to see it, opened it, made a slight adjustment,and handed it back saying, It was a delicate problem. It will be fine now. Itrust the young watchmaker. Someday he will be just as good as his father.

Meantime, if you ever have a problem with your watch, come to me. Illhelp you out. Heres your money; you don t need a new watch.

Corrie was horrified at the exchange, She flew at her father in reproof, only

to be herself reproved by his patient regard and his gentle question, Corrie,what do you think that young man would have said when he heard that oneof his good customers had gone to Mr. ten Boom?Do you think that thename of the Lord would be honored? As for the money, trust the Lord,Corrie. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills and He will take care of us.That, Beloved, is testing an action to discern if it is pleasing me or God andchoosing God. Thats how light acts searching for God in every act.

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IV. Light Reveals Evil

Next we find that light exposes evil. Verses 11-12, 11) Take no part in theunfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12) For it isshameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. Now, there are

two or three important points to make with regard to this instruction. First,some commentators argue about whether it is the works of darkness in otherbelievers or the works of darkness in unbelievers that we are to expose.Some use I Corinthians 5:12, -- 12) For what have I to do with judgingoutsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? tosuggest that believers cannot expose unbelievers and only God can do that.But I believe that misses the whole point here. First, it is notpeople that weare to expose, it is unfruitful works of darkness. Furthermore, this is not acall to verbal rebuke; it is a call to walk in the light. Keep the light on whichcannot help but expose evil deeds. Whether they are part of the life ofanother believer or unbeliever is immaterial.

This is not a call to the believer is to become a reformer.It is the light inhis life that does the exposing. His Godly lifestyle automatically exposessin and evil. Light reveals what the darkness conceals. Darkness is notdriven away by preaching at it; darkness is dissipated by the presence oflight. We have way too many Christian critics. They are part of the "Youshouldn't be doing that" gang. But what is called for here is a lot less talkand a lot more action. Our business is to turn on the light of the word ofGod by the way we live. That doesnt mean we never say anything, but inthis context, the emphasis is upon how we live. You will not win someoneto Christ by critiquing their conduct. Were not to try to get the unsaved

man to change his conduct; he cannot change his conduct. He needs toknow Christ. We are to live as light; light will always affect darkness.

J. Vernon McGee tells about a very dear lady in his congregation when hewas a pastor in downtown Los Angeles. She was a dominant character. Shecame to him and told him that her husband was unsaved and asked McGeeto pray for him. He did so faithfully. Then she came and told him that her

husband was coming to church but would never accept the invitation toreceive Christ as his Savior. She said, "At breakfast I talk to him with tearsabout receiving Christ. Again at dinner I talk to him and cry." McGee said,I got to thinking what it would be like to have two meals a day with acrying woman. So I told her absolutely never to mention the subject to himagain. She should fix them the nicest meals possible and be the sweetest

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person she knew how to be. "Oh," she said, "that wouldn't work. We aresupposed to witness." She really didn't understand what it meant to be awitness, but she finally agreed to try the plan. She quit blubbering in hispresence, and she stopped lecturing to him. In less than six months that manmade a decision for Christ. You see, he had been listening to the wrong

preacher before that.She had been preaching to him when she shouldhave been light. Darkness is not dissipated by lecturing or by preaching.The darkness is dissipated by light. Walk as children of light.

V. Light Revolutionizes Life

Now, here is our last point. Light revolutionizes life. This is verses 13-14,13) But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14) foranything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, Awake, O sleeper,and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Now, look at thisagain closely. There are two steps. Verse 13: when something is exposedto the light, it become visible. No problem there, right? Our Godly lifestyleshines light on the deeds and actions of darkness going on around us.Sometimes people even get a little uncomfortable, but thats okay. Theirsin is being exposed and that is a good thing. So light uncovers reveals.

But, he doesnt stop there, does he? He goes on in verse 14, for anythingthat becomes visible is light. Now we have a progression. First somethingwas made visible, now what was made visible has itself become light. Ithas been transformed. A miracle has happened, just like happened in yourlife and mine and darkness has become light. At first blush it might seemthat everythingthat is exposed to light becomes visible and then is

transformed. Well, we know that happens sometimes, but isnt it true thatsometimes evil deeds are uncovered, but people go right on in anunbelieving state? Isnt that true. And, of course, it is, but why? Theanswer is found in Jesus words in John 3:19-21, 19) And this is thejudgment: the lighthas come into the world, and people loved the darknessrather than the light because their works were evil.20) For everyone whodoes wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his

works should be exposed.21) But whoever does what is true comes to thelight, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out inGod. There is our explanation. Some people see their sin being uncoveredand stay around to let the light do is converting, transforming work. Butothers head for the hills at the first sign of light. They hate the exposure ofthe light. It reminds them that their deeds are evil and unworthy of God, but

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they dont want to give them up. They love them. It is their life; it is theirfun; it is what they live for, so they will not come to the light where theirdeeds would be exposed. Instead, they run for the border.

Listen to this. II Cor 2:15-16. It is almost chilling but here is what our

lives represent to our friends and fellow-workers and acquaintances: 15)

For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being savedandamong those who are perishing, 16) to one a fragrance from death todeath, to the othera fragrance from life to life. Do you see his point?When we are walking like children of light, we are in reality the aroma ofChrist the best image of Him they may ever get. But the chilling part--same aroma that represents life to some represents death to others. Somewill respond to the light; some will run from it. We cant control theoutcome. But we can be the light and sometimes it will lead to transformedlives.

Two brothers were sheep thieves. Eventually, of course, they were caught.As penalty, the villagers branded them in the forehead with the letters S. T.for sheep thief. One brother shamefully left town, and was never heard fromagain. He ran from the light. The other brother, filled with remorse, stayedin town and tried to reconcile himself to the villagers. At first they wereskeptical and wouldnt have anything to do with him. But he wasdetermined to make restitution. Whenever there was sickness, the sheepthief was there to help care for the sick person. Whenever there was workthat needed to be done, the sheep thief showed up to help. He was alwaysthere to lend a helping hand and he soon was an integral part of thecommunity. His life was lived for others and he became well respected.

Years later a traveler came through town. As he sat eating his lunch at alittle cafe, he noticed the old man with the strange brand on his forehead.People would stop to talk to him and even the children seemed to like him.The stranger asked the owner of the cafe, What does the strange brand onhis forehead stand for? The cafe owner thought for a minute and said, Itwas so long ago. I dont rightly remember. I think it stands for SAINT.

Beloved, lets not hide our light under a basket. At the same time our ownlives are being transformed, our lifestyle can be an invitation to others tocome to the light and experience their transformation. Its the light thatsattractin em. Lets leave the light on. Dont live in your past; live inyour future. Lets pray.

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Eph 5-7-14 Leave the Light on (2)_Luxurious Light