After my mother had her oesophagus removed, she had to adjust her activities and eating. She can no longer bend over and she no longer can eat certain things.
As Christians, because of the great change Christ has made in our lives, we must adjust our walk in life.
Transition
In verse 2, God commands us to walk in love. Now here in verses 8-17, God gives us three commands to adjust our walk further.
Walk as Children of Light, v.8-10
- Christians can walk as children of light.
- We were sometimes darkness, that is before we were saved we were in the dark spiritually.
- Darkness depicts evil.
John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
- Jesus is the light of the world, John 8:12
- The Gospel turns men from darkness to light.
Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
- Christ has delivered us from the power of darkness.
Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
- Darkness depicts evil.
- Now we are light in the Lord.
- God is Light and we are His children, therefore we are able to walk in the light with Him.
1 John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
- We are now to cast off the works of darkness.
Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
- Walking in the light enables fellowship with God.
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Years ago when we walked in PNG jungle at night, we carried a lantern. The light made a circle around us. Those who walked close to the light walked in the light. As we walked with the light, it enlightened new areas ahead. So it is with God’s light.
- God is Light and we are His children, therefore we are able to walk in the light with Him.
- We were sometimes darkness, that is before we were saved we were in the dark spiritually.
- Christians have a duty to walk as children of light.
- To talk “as children of light” is to walk in sweet fellowship with God, in the circle of His light. This is a great privilege. However, to walk in His light we must be close to God and fellowship with Him. This is where many Christians fail.
- Having a close relationship and fellowshipping with God is more than adopting a mechanical Christian lifestyle of Bible reading, prayer, attending church, a Christian school, youth activities, and witnessing.
- Fellowship with God is daily confessing all sin to Him, studying the Bible to learn, noting what I learned, meditating on it, applying it to my life, intimately talking with the Lord, seeking to maintain a closeness to God all day long, and yielding to the Holy Spirit’s control in every area of life so that He may give me victory over sin and produce His fruit in my life.
- God’s light enlightens our path of life and reveals dangers to avoid. The fruit of walking in the light is that God the Holy Spirit leads us in all goodness, righteousness, and truth, v.9. (What will happen if we don’t?) Any time we do things that are not good, not right, or not true to God’s standard, we are not walking in the light. We are out of fellowship with God.
- Walking in the light also enables us to prove what is acceptable unto the Lord, v.10. (What will happen if we do not walk in the light?) If we are not walking in the light, we cannot do prove what is acceptable unto the Lord.
- The word “prove” means to test, examine, (to see whether a thing is genuine or not).
- The word “acceptable” comes from a compound word meaning well pleasing. The word does not mean satisfactory. It is much stronger than that. It describes that which pleases God very well.
- We must test our words, thoughts, activities, clothes, entertainment, friends, music, etc., to be sure that they well pleasing unto the Lord. Anything that fails God’s holy standard, we must reject. Remember, our attitude and passion must be to find what is well pleasing unto the Lord. Desire most of all to please the Lord!
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.
In math class, when a student takes a test, what determines if the answer is right or wrong? – Math facts
- As you test the activities of life, what determines if the answer is right or wrong? Do you follow …
- Personal feeling – “I don’t feel like there is anything wrong with this.” “I think that is going a little too far.” Years ago, a professing Christian who was living in fornication with his girlfriend told me that he believed God understood his situation and approved.
- Popular opinion – “Most Christians dress like that.” “All my friends listen to that music.” “Nobody’s perfect.” “It is the accepted thing today.”
- Peer pressure – “I don’t want to be weird.” “What will my friends think if I won’t do it?” “I want to go because everyone else is going.”
- Parental rules – The choices you make are only because your parents insist on it. You ought to obey your parents, but you also must learn to prove all things yourself.
- Practical results – Wrong choices often produce practical results like freedom from a relationship, pleasure, more pay, better lifestyle, etc.
- Bible facts – The Bible is to be our authority in every decision. We must seek to please the Lord in every choice.
- What Bible facts do you use when proving all things? You need to memorise the Bible facts that you need on a daily basis. For example:
Colossians 3:8-9 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, …
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
1 Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
1 John 2:15-16 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Next week we will continue from here.
- To talk “as children of light” is to walk in sweet fellowship with God, in the circle of His light. This is a great privilege. However, to walk in His light we must be close to God and fellowship with Him. This is where many Christians fail.
Conclusion
Have you adjusted your walk so that it honours the Lord? Are you walking as a child of light? Do you prove all things before you get involved?
Adjusting our walk is our duty as believers. You will never be a happy and fruitful Christian until you make these adjustments.
Song: Teach Me Thy Way, O Lord – 337
—
Adjusting our Walk1
4 May 2014 PM – Ephesians 5:8-17 – Eph 14 – Scott Childs