Children of Light
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This is still a continuation of the first part of the passage, be imitators. This is still along the same thought pattern as v.6, the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience for these things.
v.8 Children of light
v.8 Children of light
You were darkness.
It was who you were, your identity.
Now, you are light, in the Lord
In the Lord is the key part, we are not the source of light, we merely reflect it.
v.9 The fruit of the light is found in what is good, and right, and true.
Going back to the law of love, you can do whatever you want if it is out of love for God.
If you love God, you will walk in the light and do what is good, and right, and true.
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
If we are children of light, if we live by the law to love. Our desire should be to do what is right in the eyes of God. If we desire to do what is wrong, the light is not in us…desire to live by the light of God.
What does it mean to live in the light?
v.10 Discernment
v.10 Discernment
If you want to know what it means to be a child of light, you need to know what is pleasing to God
Studying the law is the quickest and most accurate way to discern what is right in the eyes of God.
And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
This is why you need to use discernment, the darkness is everywhere. In schools, at work, at the library and in the grocery store.
They don’t realize their thoughts are evil because they don’t know the light, they don’t have the standard of Good
Color is light reflecting off an object, depending on what wave lengths that object holds onto and what it reflects back determines the color. There has to be light though for that color to appear. People who are in a dark room, cannot see the color because there is no light refracting off that object.
If people can’t see the light, (Jesus). How are they supposed to discern what is right (color).
We are people who know Jesus so we should be able to show people what is right.
People now are trying to call the darkness light and the light darkness. Immorality and evil is being celebrated.
You need to study the word to discern what is right or wrong according to the standard of God.
People will try to get you to do evil with them.
Take no part in their deeds v.11
Take no part in their deeds v.11
After you know what is right. Tell others, expose the evil for what it really is.
The purpose of exposing the evil isn’t to get them to just change their behavior. It is to turn them to God.
If we only change their behavior, that’s one more “good” person on their way to hell.
Walk Carefully v.15
Walk Carefully v.15
Our life isn’t one where we walk blind. We need to be careful in what we say, careful in what we do. We are representatives of the kingdom of God.
We need to be studied in God, in what is good and acceptable in His sight.
Not just head knowledge but letting the word of God change our hearts.
Be wise, wisdom is taking the knowledge that you have acquired, and putting it into practice.
Redeem the time v.16
Redeem the time v.16
When God created the earth, He said it was good
Then we sinned, we fell. Now there is sin in the world, evil.
The days are evil, bad things will happen to us.
Story of Joseph.
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
Redeem the day, take back the time. The things meant for evil. Look at the good that came out of the times and give glory to God for those things.
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Don’t let the evil things tear you apart. It’s okay to weep, and find believers to weep with you. But afterwards, use that situation to bring glory to God.
How? Continue to seek Him for direction. Do you turn to Him for the strength to get through.
Understand what the will of the Lord is. v.17
Understand what the will of the Lord is. v.17
The days are evil, but look to God, see that He will use a bad circumstance for good.
Be Sober minded v.18
Be Sober minded v.18
If your drunk, for one you are out of control of your mind and motor skill, you are wasting your life!!
When you are encountering problems, where do you turn for comfort? The bottle?
Be filled with the Spirit v.18
Be filled with the Spirit v.18
The complete opposite: wine bring depression, Spirit brings joy....Wine brings laziness, Spirit brings diligence…wine brings hopelessness, Spirit bring hopefulness.
Giving thanks
Giving thanks
When you are a child of light you can give thanks in all circumstance
Not give thanks about the circumstance. We should not give thanks for evil that happens, God hates evil and injustice, but we can give thanks knowing that God will use that circumstance.
What’s in your heart comes out.
Music is one great outlet, a great way to let go of things that are in our hearts.
It is songs that he mentions, songs of praise
We listen to music, and we get it stuck in our heads. That music has a tendency to effect us, what we are thinking and our mood
What are you listening to, is it praise, is it edifying, or is it garbage.
I used to listen to allot of rock, that is easy to say what is wrong with that. I also listened to allot of country. My friends and I listened at work for about an hour and only about two songs weren’t about drinking or sex.
What are you putting into your mind?
Challenge:
Reflect the glory of God in your life this week.
When the days are evil, look to God to redeem them.