Mar. 12, 2023

TWILIGHT    Ephesians 5:1-20  3-12-23

1. WALK IN THE LIGHT

Ephesians 5:8–10 ⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light ⁹ (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) ¹⁰ and find out what pleases the Lord. 

MEMORY VERSE:

Ephesians 5:11–14 ¹¹ Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them… ¹³ everything exposed by the light becomes visible, ¹⁴ for it is light that makes everything visible. 

John 1:5 (ESV) The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 

Luke 12:2-3 ² “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.  ³ What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight.” 

Ephesians 5:4 (ESV) Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

 “Filthiness” = Conduct which when Exposed by the Light Makes the Person Ashamed of himself.

2 Corinthians 3:7–9 ⁷ Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, ⁸ will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? ⁹ If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!

2 Corinthians 3:12–13 ¹² Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. ¹³ We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away.

2 Corinthians 3:16-18 ¹⁶ But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. ¹⁷ Now… where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his Likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 

2. MAXIMIZE OUR TIME

Ephesians 5:15–16 (ESV) ¹⁵ Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the best use of the time… (NIV) “making the most of every opportunity” 

Ephesians 5:17–18 (NKJV) ¹⁷ Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

- Dissipation = “Wastefulness”, “Reckless Living” (Wasting Time on Pleasures) 

1 Timothy 3:3 (Elders) not given to drunkenness… 

1 Timothy 5:23 (ESV) No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments. 

2 Samuel 11:1  In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with… Israelite army… But David remained in Jerusalem. ² One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful,

3. BE BEING FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT

Ephesians 5:17–18 ¹⁸ …but be filled with the Spirit, 

“be filled” 

1.) Imperative mood

2.) Plural form

3.) Present tense 

4.) Passive voice