Be no Evil

Austin Keller

Monkey Business • Sermon • Submitted 3 years ago

Ephesians 5:8–13

Matthew 5:13

John 15:1–17

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Evil has no home, when we abide in God's presence. When we seek him, evil fades and all is left is us and God.

Notes

Transcript

Evil is a manifestation of life separated God’s presence.

I can prove that statement too. Can a lie exist without truth? Can death exist without life? Can darkness exist without light? You can have truth, life, and light without the others. Death, darkness and lies only exist when what is good is absent. So evil only exist when God is not present.

When the people and the world abides in God’s presence, evil cannot exist. The finality of heaven and earth comes together in Jesus and he leaves only the option of life, light and truth in his presence.

Why should we abide God’s presence? If we don’t evil abounds. But those who belong to the church are to live out their calling and become the incarnation of Christ. Our mission is connected to spreading out God’s presence, his gospel and his redemptive plan for the world.

When his church participates in God’s presence. The natural process begins and evil is eradication from our heart, soul, and mind. Wherever God is, evil cannot remain. For when we live in God fully, evil has no place to hide.

But to eradicate evil personal and socially we must embrace our Christian identities given by God himself.

Describes the man/woman of God as a branch, light, and salt.

We are to first be not be ordinary people, but branches that connect to Jesus.

Living an attached life- producing fruit

John 15:1–17 ESV

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

Being a healthy branch only happens when we’re connected to the source of our live. this naturally flows from a life interconnected with Christ is the fruit of the Spirit.

Jesus ties in the mission of the branch and what it means to be attached to him. Keep his commandments and sacrificially love everyone.

Application: Adopting Jesus’ sacrificial lifestyle by loving God and neighbor over yourself.

But not only are we branches, but we are known as light.

Walking in the light - exposing the darkness

Ephesians 5:8–13 ESV

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,

Know our past, so we know where we’re never to return. We have become light as God is light. Then we turn away from a life of sin and those who pull us into it. We still befriend the lost, however he live according to God’s pleasure and expose the evil in our world and communities.

Application: Doing what pleases God not fellowship with dark minded-people.

Being salty - preserve and sustain life

Matthew 5:13 ESV

13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

Salt makes everything better, it preserves, sustains and improves flavors, but get to much of it then you become thirsty. Yet, the Christian mission is to make disciples, drawing them in by our words and actions. We are to make people thirsty for God through our lifestyles and convictions.

Application: Make Christians and non-Christian thirsty for God. Let your life be a reason to seek him.

When we live in God’s presence, evil runs away. Our home, work places, community gathering, schools, and church begins to resemble heaven on earth. The mission of the church continues and we do not stop until heaven and earth touch again through Jesus. But until he comes, you be God’s presence and you be the reason evil flees today. Dwell in God so only goodness can remain today.