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If you were an Ephesian (and you are) Part 2. Last week in review. If you want to strengthen how well you love, don’t even associate with sexually impure thoughts, covetousness, & idolatry Guard your words and mouth because your words have power
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Last week in review • If you want to strengthen how well you love, don’t even associate with sexually impure thoughts, covetousness, & idolatry • Guard your words and mouth because your words have power • Empty words fill the mouths of the sons of disobedience • Verse 7 – do not be partakers with them
Starting at Ephesians 5:8 • You were once in darkness, and now have been enlightened, sanctified, and made holy for His glory • Knowing Him should produce enlightenment • Enlightenment should yield holiness, Holiness should yield joy • Darkness yields sin, sin yields sorrow • As such, you should represent that light
What is acceptable to the Lord? • Study to show yourself approved 2 Tim 2:15 • How well have we “found out”? • 1 Cor 3:12-15 – How well have we found out? Does it rightly reflect the light?
No Fellowship - Period • So how do we interact with things of darkness? – No fellowship at all • Consider this – friends in sin • How does God’s word tell you to respond? • How does our weak flesh want to respond? • What is God’s direction? Expose it • Do you light it up or put it under a bush? • Do you stand in the way, or allow it to be exposed?
Those dark things light up • Things done in darkness that are exposed to light have one of two choices • To flee back into darkness • To be illuminated for redemption • So then what is your role? • The answer is in verse 14
Point to yourself first • Walk in a very deliberate way to carefully demonstrate self control • It should already be in you (Galatians 5:22) • Are you a patient or doctor? • The days are evil????? • Make every moment count • Intently seek out God’s will because if you are not moving forward, you are moving away
Pulling it all together…. • Our love walk is vital to the redemption of mankind • Paul is giving us instructions on how to walk in love better than we do today • We should stay away from all that ugly stuff • We should expose sin in a loving way with hopes of redemption • Focus on yourself first and redeem in accordance with your redemption