Rise and ShineEphesians 5:8-14

Who we were vs. Who we are

You were dead in your sins, now you’re alive.

Who we were vs. Who we are

You were a child of disobedience, now you’re a

child of God.

Who we were vs. Who we are

You were a child of wrath, now you are a child of

righteousness.

Who we were vs. Who we are

You were a stranger and alien to God’s promises, now you are a fellow citizen of God’s household and entitled to an

inheritance.

Who we were vs. Who we are

You were darkness, now you are light.

How Did You Become Light?

You did not become light by looking within your

darkened self.

How Did You Become Light?

You did not become light through an enlightened guru or spiritual

guide.

How Did You Become Light?

You did become light through some secrete knowledge.

How Did You Become Light?

You were declared to be light by The Light and

Maker of Light.

God Is Light

1 John 1:5–7 5 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. 6 If we say we have

fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of

Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

God is Light

James 1:17 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights

with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

God dwells in light

1 Timothy 6:15b–16 15 …… only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord

of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and

eternal dominion. Amen.

God is clothed in Light

Psalm 104:1–2 104 Bless the LORD, O my soul!

O LORD my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty,

2 covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent.

The Son is the Light

John 8:1212 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 9:55 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of

the world.”

We are to walk in Christ’s light

John 12:35–36 35 So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who

walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the

light, that you may become sons of light.”

Who is light?

• God is Light.• God’s Son is Light.• God’s Children are Light.

Ephesians 5:8–14 (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, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

What You Were vs. What You Are8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.

Eph. 4:18–19 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God

because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become

callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

You’re not like that anymore, You Are Light.

Behave like what your are!

Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),

• Good – moral excellence, how we treat others• Right – living correctly before God, God’s

morality instead of the worlds.• True – opposed to lies, deception (inward

character).

Children of light desire moral wisdom

10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.• Try to discern –Examine and evaluate issues in

order to discern the right moral course of action that is ‘pleasing the Lord’.

Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of

your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable

and perfect.

Children of Light shouldn’tplay in the dark.

11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

Literally: “Stop participating in the unfruitful works of darkness.”

When believers behave as “children of light” their very behavior exposes the unfruitful behavior of believers that don’t.

Children of Light shouldn’tplay with children of darkness.

11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

Literally: “Stop participating in the unfruitful works of darkness.”

The Unbeliever: 2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

Fruit doesn’t grow in the dark

11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

Literally: “Stop participating in the unfruitful works of darkness.”

What grows in the dark? Mold and bacteriaExpose mold to the light.Clean away bacteria.

Children of light have nothing to hide

12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. • Children hide in the closet to eat stolen

cookies.• Grownups eat stolen cookies in the dark.

Is there a dark corner of your life you’d be ashamed to have

exposed?

What thrives in darkness hates light

John 3:19–20 19 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. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light,

lest his works should be exposed.

The presence of light brings judgment

1 Corinthians 4:5 5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then

each one will receive his commendation from God.

Expose yourself to the light

13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. ‘It is even possible (after all, it happened to you!) for light to turn the thing it shines upon into light also’ J. P. PhillipsLight exposes. Light transforms.

Light Produces Light

13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light.

8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.

Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper,

and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Non-believers, Wake Up!

Believers, Wake Up!

2 Corinthians 4:4

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of

the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Isaiah 60:1–2

60 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon

you. 2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,

and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you,

and his glory will be seen upon you.

Hebrews 4:13

13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give

account.

Come out of darkness into Christ light, so his light can shine on you and reflect off you.

Wake Up and Shine!