Sermon Tone Analysis

Those are some mighty big shoes!

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Walking in the imitation of Christ, walking in His footsteps of love and walking in the light is not an easy thing to do, but it is worth it.

We have been called to walk worthy of the calling (Eph4:1) now comes some warnings and encouragement.

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When you were a child did you ever put on and walk in your mom or dad’s shoes?

They were way to big, but still you tried, didn’t you?

Have you heard the expression “those are some big shoes to fill?”

You know when you are stepping into a position that someone who was beloved was in before you.

Imitating Christ, walking in Christ is some mighty big shoes to fill, but we are not left unequipped for it.

God has given us His Spirit and His instructions on how to walk in Christ’s shoes.

We now come to chapter 5 and continue on the who we should be as the church, how we are to walk worthy in which we were called (Eph4:1)

We have been called to be:

Holy and blameless (Eph1:4)

Son’s, made, called by Jesus Himself (Eph1:5)

Fellow citizens of heaven with the saints (Eph2:19)

Members of God’s household (Eph2:19)

A holy temple in the Lord (Eph2:21)

Fellow heirs, partakers of His promise (Eph3:6)

In our passage today it is about walking as children of light and love.

Learning to walk in the imitation of Christ.

You know that children often mimic what they see, in their parents, grandparents and even peers, sometimes to the good, and sometimes to the not so good.

Sometimes bringing pride, sometimes bringing embarrassment.

When we walk in love, when we walk as light we are not going to embarrass our Father in heaven.

We should walk in love (1JN4:8; Eph5:1-7)

For God is love, and since we know God we should walk in love.

We should walk in light as light (1Jn1:5; Eph5:8)

For He is the Light and in our passage today we are told you are Light!

So walk in the light of the Lord

As children of God we should display God’s love

As children of God we should shine the God’s Light into the darkness

Walk in love

Walking in love by following Christ’s example.

Walk in love that is pure and unhindered.

Walk in love knowing who we are in Christ.

We all know God’s love, we all know Jn3:16

Knowing and walking are different are they not?

As Christians we are called to imitate God as beloved children (Jn3:16; 1Jn3:2; Col1:13)

We will be like Him, why?

Because we were transferred out of the darkness.

Out of the darkness into the kingdom of the beloved Son, invited to be partakers of His nature (2Pt1:4)

Partakers that are well loved (Mt3:17)

OK, if we are imitating Christ, if we are love, if we are walking in love, walking in the imitation of love, then the Father will be well pleased with us.

As we follow Christ’s example; it teaches us how to walk in love (Jn13:34-35; 1Jn3:16-17)

and add to that one

He love us sacrificially, when he became a sacrifice for our sins, a fragrant aroma, pleasing to God.

We too when we walk in love are to be a living, holy sacrifice, acceptable to God (Rom12:1; Jn15:13)

For there is no greater love

His sacrifice reconciled us, and should lead to our response, to walk in love (Rom5:10; Eph2:-2; Lev3:16; Rom13:8)

Paul in his elaboration about Christ and His sacrifice says

Saved by His sacrificial life of love, even when we were dead in our trespasses and sins.

We, when we walk in the love of Christ, as a light can be a sweet, soothing aroma

Christ is all the sacrifices wrapped up in one.

He is the sweet savor offering, the burnt offering, the meal offering and the peace offering.

Meaning there is no other offering, no other sacrifice needed.

Because we know these things our response to His love for us should be our love for Him

Walking in love, loving our neighbor is possible because of God’s love poured out for us (Rom5:5)

Walk in love that is pure

Paul goes on to tell us things that a person walking in love should not have, or partake of.

Our walk of love should be free from any hint of immorality or greed (Eph5:3)

Our walk of love should not display any words not fit for kingdom (Eph5:4)

Our walk needs to be worthy of the kingdom of Christ and not the wrath of God on the sons of disobedience (Eph5:5-7)

Look a that list, immorality, impurity greed.

No filthiness, silly talk, course jesting ,

Why? for no immoral, impure person, no covetous man, who is an idolater will have inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

These things should not even be named among the children of love, the children of light, for it is not fitting.

Not fitting of our new character, our new nature, our new identity in Christ and our new destination the kingdom of heaven.

These things are who we were and not who we are as we walk in love and walk in the light.

Here is who we are and how we should be (1Pt2:9; Php2:14-16)

But with knowing, comes responsibility too, we are to walk in love, because we are chosen, royal, holy, God’s own possession.

We are to walk as children of light.

Those things in which we were we put to death when our sins were forgiven.

Don’t be easily deceived, for there are many deceivers out there peddling worldly, fleshly views that are contrary to God’s Word and God’s justice.

So the challenge to walk in love will display a walk that is light too.

Walk as light

Be a light walker, walking as light in the Lord.

Light that dispels darkness.

Before Christ, we were darkness; Now we are Light of the Lord (Eph5:8)

Were darkness, now we are light, so walk as children of light.

Walking in light produces fruit that is not found in darkness (Eph5:9)

Goodness

Righteouesness

Truth

By bearing, showing, demonstrating such fruit, we are proving (demonstrating) light that is well pleasing to the Lord.

(Eph5:10; Rom12:1-2)

What is pleasing is the acceptable sacrifice noted in Rom12:1-2 that we already mentioned.

As Children of love and children of light we do not participate in the deeds of darkness but expose them.

(Eph5:11-13)

Darkness is the absence of light, so as light we exposes the darkness and it becomes visible.

Not only does it expose it, it dispels it and turns the darkness into light.

Things we expose, fornication, uncleaness, covetousness, (Eph5:3-4)

These things are even disgraceful to speak of (Eph5:12)

Here is some application right now

When you, who are love, you, who are light, come into the presence of darkness, our example, our Christian example of love, and light walking will expose the deeds of darkness.

By our life, by God’s Word may the darkness be revealed.

Keep in mind that this letter is written to believers.

Even believers who are light, if they are not careful can allow the darkness of this world to push out the light of His love for us and the riches of a love life.

Hence why we need to be sober, alert, diligent in our walk as children of love, Children of light, knowing how to walk as children of light.

The light in us is not our light, it is His light in us that dispels the darkness in us and radiates out of us to others.

It it not about us telling others what they are doing wrong in a negative sense, it is us being light and letting the light of His love shine through us to them that they may come to know what darkness is and how to dispel it.

(lead to invitation)

(insert invitation slide#1-be love, be light saved on computer already)