A key word in Ephesians is “Walk”. Halak = Walk = Law.
Walking Rightly is living rightly
Relationship vs Religion
Ephesians 4- 5 and our Walk
Our walk involves three things: (1) what we are, (2) how we think, and (3) the way we act.
The message here is the integration of what we are, what we believe and how we behave.
What we are governs how we think, and how we think determines how we act.
We have already considered what we are, and how we are to think based on our reading the Word
This morning we want to consider that based on who we are and our renewed thinking how our actions will follow.
So let’s look at Ephesians 5:8-14
For you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says, Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Messiah will shine on you.
Two walks are available to men.
The life and walk of darkness or the life and walk of light.
There is a world of difference between the two.
Our eternity is determined by which life and walk we pursue.
Ephesians 5:8 tells us that a person who does not know God is in darkness
Not only in darkness, but is darkness.
We do not know where we came from naturally.
We thought everything was a result of human and natural process.
We don’t know why we are here
Where we’re heading the inner core of life is all a mystery. The purpose, meaning, and significance is not understood.
Is there really a God or heaven? How can we know and be absolutely sure?
Apart from God, no man knows where he has come from, why he is here, or where he is going.
The believer was darkness, but now is light in the Lord.
Yeshua said: “I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).
It is Yeshua who brings light to life and shows us the truth of life, He shows us:
The beginning and origin of all things. The purpose, meaning, and significance of all things.
The truth of death and eternity.
Yeshua has shown us light and changed our nature from darkness to light.
We are the light of God in a world of darkness.
Therefore, we are to walk as children of light.
In Ephesians 5:9 we see a life that illuminates light will give off three things: Goodness, Righteousness and Truth.
Goodness – defined as having a good heart and good behavior.
One who does not take advantage of any person or let others take advantage.
Standing up for what is right and good and just.
Righteousness: means both to be right and to do right.
There are those who stress being righteous and neglect doing righteousness. Which leads to two serious errors.
1. False security – Those who think they are acceptable to God because they have believed in Yeshua but neglect doing good, obeying God, and serving man.
2. License which allows a person to think they can do as they desire.
They feel secure in their faith so they believe that what ever they do will not affect their salvation.
Righteousness in the Bible means being righteous, and doing righteousness.
The Bible knows nothing about being righteous without living righteously.
Thirdly, A life that illuminates light will give off truth:
Truth – is not something to be known; it is something to be done “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples” (John 8:31).
It is opposed to hypocrisy and will not compromise with evil. It even avoids the appearance of evil.
It loves truth: believing it, honoring it, speaking it, acting it, hoping in it, and rejoicing in it.
Light proves things; As the believer walks in the light…
He proves what is acceptable and not acceptable to the Lord. By walking rightly.
He shows to the world what is acceptable and not acceptable to the Lord.
He shows what path to take and what path not to take – what a person should do and not do.
Light exposes the works of darkness.
As such we are to have no fellowship with the works of darkness.
Works that lead to death and not life.
It is a shame to even speak of the things done by those in darkness do in secret.
Either we are light or darkness no middle or neutral ground.
Light reveals and converts everything it touches. When light touches something it becomes light.
When the light of the Lord touches someone in darkness, that life is changed: it becomes light.
The darkness is done away with and eliminated.
As long as evil is done in secret it thrives, but when exposed to the light, it dies.
When a person comes to Yeshua his dark works are exposed.
This is the reason many refuse to come to Yeshua. They prefer darkness (John 3:20f).
In Ephesians 5:14 we learn that light wakes the sleeping, those who are spiritually dead.
Most people are sleeping when it comes to walking in the light of God.
Sadly too many professing believers are asleep living in the darkness of spiritual sleep
Participating in the works of darkness unaware of the great heritage and promises God has given us in Messiah.
So then in light of this what is should we do?
Yeshua is our example: John 4:34 “My food, is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work.”
As Ephesians 5:10 tells us we must find out what is pleasing to the Lord.
The key to living a transformed life, one of light and life is a renewed mind.
“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.” Romans 12:2.
Pleasing God should be our goal more than pleasing people. If we please God everything else will fall into place.
The result will be nothing less than the call of Isaiah happening in our lives:
Isaiah 60:1. The words of Ephesians 5:14 Let me close with the wisdom of Proverbs that applies to us today. Proverbs 4:18.
