This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "In Defense Of The Gospel" 1/6/2013

IN DEFENSE OF THE GOSPEL

 

Philippians 1:15-26

 

DIFFERENT PREACHERS, DIFFERENT AGENDAS

V:15. "Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will."

  A. In Church, there will be two groups of people; those who are sincere in love and

       those who promote the Gospel out of selfish motives.

     1. Those who envy the work of others are quick to find fault.

         a. They find pleasure in the trouble of other Christians as evidence that there is

             something wrong in their ministry. 

         b. They undermine the work of others for selfish gain.

         c. Because of their self-righteousness they are the source of trouble and division.

      2. Those who preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in truth and love will have their

          share

          of distracters.

         a. Our objective is not to please man but to please God.

         b. It is the will of the Father that we find the good in every person.

         c. Realizing that we all have issues, it is the job of the minister of the Gospel to

             uplift, build up and encourage the body of Christ.

  B. The Church of Jesus Christ started in strife and has grown strong because of its

       opposition.

     1. The fact that people are opposed to good work for Jesus is evidence of the 

          Gospel's effectiveness in convicting the hearts of men.

     2. Those who oppose the good work of others have taken notice of that work.

 

V:16. "The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds."

 A. The ministers of Jesus Christ are not always accepted and sometime violently  

      opposed.

     1. The Apostle Paul was in prison because religious people opposed the Gospel of

         Jesus Christ and stirred up strife against him.

     2. While in prison, those who preached Jesus for selfish motives stirred

          up additional strife against Paul to promote their views.

 B. There are those in the body who use the troubles of others for personal gain.

 

V:17. "But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel."

 A. Those who love the Lord, love the brethren and are there to support others during

      trials and tribulations.

    1. Those who know the Lord, understand that He works through the troubles of

        others.

    2. Those who know the Lord know that the defense of the Gospel breeds opposition.

    3. Those who serve the Lord with love are quick to defend those who defend the

         Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 B. We are all part of the same body; that is the body of Christ.

    1. Some are given the ministry of taking the Gospel to places where it will be

        opposed.

    2. Some are given the ministry to help and support those who face trials because of

        their defense of the Gospel.

 

ALL PREACHING OF JESUS WORKS TOGETHER FOR GOOD

V:18. "What then? Notwithstanding every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice."

 A. God can use all the ministries of Jesus Christ whether done out of truth and love or

      out of selfish gain.

     1. Those who preach the Gospel affect the hearers of the Gospel.

         a. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

         b. It is the Word that does the convicting and the Power of the Word that saves.

     2. We can find joy in the Word whether or not we like the minister.

 B. A minister is just the vessel that God uses to draw unbelievers to Himself.

    1. There is joy in heaven when a sinner comes to Christ.

    2. Likewise, we ought to find joy, no matter who preaches the Gospel.

 

V:19. "For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ."

 A. Those who love the Lord know that trials and tribulations work to their good and to

      the good of other believers.

    1. God has prayer warriors ready to intercede on behalf of those who preach Jesus

        Christ.

    2. Those who preach Jesus Christ in truth and love have the power of the Holy Spirit

        strengthening them. 

        a. God's grace is sufficient to see His workers through any trial.  

 B. Our salvation is through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

    1. What we suffer for Christ through service on earth stores treasures in heaven for

        us.

    2. Endurance of our trials and tribulations gives God the glory for the world to see.

 

NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL

V:20. "According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death."

 A. Those who love the Lord should never be ashamed of their service or their suffering

      for the Lord.

    1. This life is full of glorious times and troubled times.

    2. In all circumstances, we must give God the praise and the glory.

 B. We must expect that God will allow only what is best to happen to us.

    1. Some of God's best will at times appear adverse to us.

    2. Because of our hope in the Lord, the adverse will work to our good.

 C. In all things, we can boast in the Lord, for His goodness endures forever.

    1. God uses us to show the world His power over trials and tribulations.

    2. Our focus should not be life on this earth, but life in heaven.

    3. Death is not the end for a believer, but the beginning of a New Spiritual Life with

        Christ.

 

V:21. "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."

 A. Facing death as a possible outcome of his trial, the Apostle Paul concluded that

      death is a gain, because he would be home with Christ.

    1. Paul concluded that if the outcome of his trial was a release from prison, he would

        live for Christ.

       a. Either way, Paul was comfortable with the outcome controlled by God.

       b. When we trust God with the outcome of our circumstances, we can be joyful.

 B. For the believer, the gain of death is heaven.

    1. Heaven is the place where tears and sorrows don't exist.

    2. Heaven is the place where praise and glorification of the Father is the only mind

        set.

 

THE JOY IN LABOR FOR CHRIST

V:22. "But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I want not."

 A. Living in joy and peace has some requirements.

     1. Proper living requires labor.

         a. Those who want to accomplish anything in life must labor in some area.

         b. They must be dedicated to the task to make a difference.

     2. Fruitful labor is serving Christ Jesus.

        a. In the end, the only labor that counts is what we do for God.

        b. If we accomplish all things on earth, but lose our souls, what have we gained?

        c. We can accomplish all things through Christ who strengthens us, and gain

            heaven.

 B. When we labor for Christ, our focus is on the gain of other believers.

      a. It is our obligation to use our labor to bring others to Christ and reconcile those

          in Christ.

      b. Surly, the work of Christ is never done.

      c. To die is to leave Christ’s work undone for others to complete.

      d. But we can take comfort that God already has a replacement when

          He calls us home.

 C. Paul saw his work for Christ incomplete, but heaven was his desire.

     a. Paul would not choose to live or die, but left the choice in the hands of Christ.

 

V:23. "For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better."

 A. The end of this Christian journey of life is better than the journey itself.

     1. The end is to be with Christ and start New in the Spirit with Christ in heaven.

 B. It was Paul's love for his Christian brothers and sisters that gave him cause to

     continue working for Christ in the flesh.

    1. Paul understood the spiritual immaturity of those he shepherded.

    2. Paul knew they needed more teaching and a deeper understanding of the Word of

        God.

 C. To live longer was to suffer more, but he was committed to the gain of his sheep.

    1. Love requires us to sacrifice ourselves for those who love the Lord.

    2. Paul understood that if he gave up his life, he would gain more in Christ Jesus.

 

V:24. "Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you."

  A. Paul was most concerned about the spiritual welfare of those in his charge.

      1. He would rather live in pain than to see God's people suffer because of lack of

          knowledge.

      2. Paul’s mission from Jesus was to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles.

         a. Whatever God has gifted us to do, we should do our best to accomplish it.

         b. We should not let our personal circumstances affect God's plan for us.

  B. As long as we have breath, we should do our best to give God our best.

      1. Paul was in prison at this time facing death, yet his concern was the life of

          believers.

      2. When our life becomes secondary to God's work, we live best.

 

V:25. "And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith."

 A. The Apostle Paul derived his confidence in Jesus Christ.

     1. He knew what work he begun in Jesus would be completed in Jesus.  Phil 1:6

     2. Paul gained his joy from the increasing faith of the believers.

     3. Paul was joyful when he saw the miracle of the preached Word bringing men out 

        of darkness and into the marvelous light.

     4. Paul was joyful when he saw the miracle of the preached Word bringing men out

         ignorance and into the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

 B. Like a mother finding joy in seeing her child grow into maturity, so we should find

      joy in seeing the lost come to Jesus.

    1. It should be our joy to testify to the goodness of God and His work in us.

    2. It should be our joy to see others increase in faith and live a joyous life.

    3. There is joy when God uses us to benefit the spiritual well being of others.

 

V:26. "That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again."

 A.  Joy is contagious.

    1. When you find joy working with others, they will find joy with you.

    2. Jesus is the reason for our joy.

       a. His joy is available to us continuously.  John 16:24

       b. Knowledge of Jesus and His promises should give us joy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

     

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "It's All About The Family", 12/30/2012

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE FAMILY

 

Ephesians 5:21-6:4

 

UNITY BEGINS WITH SUBMISSION

V:21. "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God."

 A. One of the keys to keeping peace in the family is to summit your self to the

 

     direction of another.

     1. Don't get to proud that you can't take advice from or work with another person.

     2. You don't always have to be in charge.

     3. A marriage is a partnership.

         a. Two minds are sharper than one and can accomplish more.

         b. A partnership works best when both are equal participants.

 B. After creating a world suitable for habitation, family was God's first order of

 

     business.

    1. God loves family.

    2. God loves unity in the family.

    3. Submission is against our human nature, but is necessary for order and unity in

 

       the family.

 C. The reason we submit ourselves to one another is our love for the Lord.

    1. Submission is not one sided. It goes both ways.

    2. God has designed the family so that we are dependant on one another.

    3. We all have gifts that are different and necessary for family unity.

    4. It is by mutual submission that we can keep the order set by God.

 

THE POSITION OF A WIFE

V:22. "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord."

  A. In a family God has established positions.

      1. There is a wife of the family and there is a husband of the family.

      2. In the garden of Eden, God created Adam first and then formed Eve around a rib

          bone of Adam.

          a. God bonded them together in marriage.

          b. In Genesis 2:24 God said, " Therefore shall a man leave his father and his

              mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."

          c. Even though the husband and the wife are two people they should act like

 

              "one".

    B. The wife is placed under the leadership of the husband.

        a. The leadership of the husband is limited to the will of the Father.

        b. The husband, the man of the family, should counsel, teach, lead and provide

            according to the will of the Father.

        c. For those women who do not have a husband, God is the head of their

 

           household.

 

THE POSITION OF THE HUSBAND

V:23. "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body."

 A. How is Christ the head of the Church?

     1. He is the protector and the provider of the Church.

     2. He and the Father are One, so He leads according to the will of the Father.

     3. Christ is the great Shepherd of the Church.  

 B. The husband, as the head must lead according to the will of the Father.

     1. The Husband is the guardian of  his wife and has the responsibility to provide

          and protect her.

     2. The Husband must be careful to consider the will of the Father in all his

 

        activities.

 

CHRIST IS THE EXAMPLE

V:24. "Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing."

 A. The husbands should trust Christ in all things.

     1. Therefore, the wives trusting their husbands are trusting Christ.

     2. Wives are dependant on their husbands as their husbands are dependant on

        

        Christ.

 B. Christ is the center and the focus of the Family.

     1. Since Christ is the center, the values of the husband and the wife ought to be the

         same.

     2. The husband and his wife should strive to have the same goals and aspirations

 

         and so being unified in their thinking and their activities.

 

V:25. "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it."

 A. Christ is the example for man to fulfill his obligation to his wife.

     1. The word love is the Greek word "apapate" which means to esteem or find joy in.

          a. The Husband is to esteem his wife.

          b. He is to find joy in his wife.

          c. He is to respect his wife.

 B. C. I. Scofield described Christ love for the Church in threefold; past, present and

     future.

     1. For love, He gave Himself to redeem the Church.

         a. The husband should labor to provide for the physical, social and spiritual well

              being of his wife.

     2. In love, Christ is sanctifying the Church.

        a. The husband should take time to teach his wife the Word of God and be God's

            example to her.

     3. For the reward for His labor of love, Christ will present the Church to Himself in

         perfection.

       a. The husband should labor to uplift and buildup his wife to present her to himself

           as a beautiful jewel, priceless and perfect in the Lord.

 

V:26. "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word."

  A. It should be the object of the husband that his wife looks good before him in the

      

      eyes of the Lord.

     1. Love is the center piece of the marriage and the Word is the guiding light.

     2. We are cleaned up and regenerated by the Word of God.

     3. When the husband and the wife are involved in the Word, they will grow in love

          and have respect for one another.

   B. The Word expresses truth in the marriage. .

      1. It is faith in the Word of God that sanctifies us in the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

V:27. "That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

 A. At His second coming, Christ will present the Church to Himself, prefect and

   

     without blemish.

     1. Christ, Himself is the perfection of the Church.

     2. When His work is complete in the Church, He will return to redeem it to

 

         Himself.

  B. It is the duty of the husband to grow his marriage into spiritual maturity.

     1. The spiritual growth of the marriage allows the couple to endure tough times as

         well as the good times.

     2. The husband should continue beautifying his wife in love so to continue

 

         presenting her to himself.  

 

UNSELFISH AND DEVOTED LOVE

V:28. "So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself."

 A. In order for the marriage to grow and flourish, the husband has to love his wife as he

     loves himself.

     1. If he treats his wife well, then He is treating himself well.

     2. If he mistreats his wife, then he mistreats himself.

 B. When a husband looks at his wife, he should see the love of his life.

      1. When his wife has joy, he should have joy.

      2. When his wife hurts, he should hurt.

 

V:29. "For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church."

 A. It is God's intention that the husband and the wife becomes one flesh.

      1. In a unified marriage, there is no him or her, just "them."

      2. In a unified marriage, there is no his or hers, just "theirs."

 B. The objective of the marriage is an unselfish devoted relationship.

     1. The husband and the wife should nourish and cherish each other as Christ does

          the Church.

 

V:30. "For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones."

 A. A marriage should be an extension of the Church of Jesus Christ.

     1. We are all family and should treat each other as family.

     2. Because we are family, we are all equal in the sight of Jesus Christ.

 B. Because we are in Christ and Christ is in us, the Church is what we should

      always be for the world to see.

 C. Enjoyment in the marriage comes from our love for Christ and our love for each

      other.

 

V:31. "For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.:

 A. Once in a marriage, a man's primary focus is his wife and not his parents.

    1. In- law problems can contribute to problems in the marriage.

    2. A marriage needs its own space to grow and develop.

 B. We can take counsel and advice from our parents, but any decisions are strictly

     between the man and his wife.

    1. Only Jesus can keep a marriage together in love.

    2. We must trust Jesus with the solutions to all our problems.

 

V:32. "This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church."

 A. All believers are one with Christ, therefore our actions should be an imitation of

     Christ.

    1. Christ is building His Church with grace and mercy in love and truth.

    2. We should treat each other with grace and mercy in love and truth.

 B. The foundation of a marriage is love which unifies it in to one body.

    1. If unselfish love is our focus, the marriage will continue to grow.

    2. Love never looks back, but focuses on what is good and perfect.

 

V:33. "Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband."

 A. In a marriage, love and respect is mutual.

     1. Neither the husband or the wife should consider themselves more important than

         than the other.

     2. God so designed us that we have a need for each other.

         a. We are helpmates to each other.

     3. Mutual honor and respect breeds peace in the marriage.

        a. When there is peace in the marriage, love and joy increases.

 

TRAIN THE CHILDREN

V.6:1. "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right."

 A. Parents have a responsibility and duty to obey the Lord.

     1. The attitude of children reflect the attitude of their parents.

     2. If the parents have no respect for the Lord, the children will have no respect for

         the Lord.

 B. The first obligation of a parent is to be obedient to the Lord.

     1. It is the duty of the parents to train their children in the ways of the Lord.

     2. Children will know and respect the Lord because their parents respect the Lord.

 C. You can command children to obey their parents because they have been trained to

      obey.

    1. You can't expect a child to behave in a certain way if they have not been trained.

        Prov 22:6.

 

V:2. "Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)"

  A. It is a command to honor your father and mother. It is not an option.

      1. Children learn from their parents first.

      2. Children learn to listen from their parents.

      3. Children learn to obey from their parents.

      4. Children learn the Word of God from their parents.

  B. We can expect our children to obey God's command because we as parents obey

       His commands and have taught our children obedience.

     1. The discipline of a child is the duty and obligation of the parents.  Prov 13:24

     2. Without discipline, a child will not learn the importance of obedience.

     3. Without obedience, a child will be unruly, disrespectful and harmful to himself

          and others. Prov 23:14, Prov 29:15

 

V:3. "That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth."

  A. Parents impact the outcome, quality and length of their children lives by

       teaching them obedience to God's Word.

     1. This is a conditional promise based on obedience.

     2. An obedient child is a happy child ready to be successful in life.

 

 

 

 

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Jesus Is The Light Of The World", 12/23/2012

JESUS IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

 

John 1:1-5, Eph 5:1-2,6-14

 

WHO IS JESUS?

John 1:1. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

 A. In the "Beginning" is before God's creative process begin or perhaps; eternity past.

     1. "Was the Word". The "Word" is from the Greek word "Logos", the name given

 

         to Christ.

       a. Through the Word is God's communication of His will to us.

 B. "And the Word was with God."

     1. The word "God" is the Greek word "theos" which is the supreme Divinity.

     2. The Word which is Christ was with Theos in the beginning.

 C. "And the Word was God"

    1. The Word and God are the same.

    2. Jesus , the Word and God the Father are one.

 

V:2. "The same was in the beginning with God."

   A. The Word and God existed before God's creative process.

        1. Jesus and the Father existed together before creation.

        2. Jesus and the Father are the first "cause".

 

V:3. "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."

 A. The word "him" refers to Jesus Christ, which is the Word.

     1. All things were made by Christ

     2. Without Christ nothing was made.

     3. Christ is the complete creative process.

 

V:4. "In him was life; and the life was the light of men."

 A. Life= zoe= living soul

    1. In Jesus, In God, In the Word was all living souls.

    2. Life was in Jesus and all living souls come from Jesus.

 

 B. Light= phos= luminousness, to shine, light reaching the mind.

    1. Man's ability to understand the Word, comes from Jesus, who is the Word.

    2. God gives all individuals a mind to understand the things of the world.

        a. He only gives those He elected the ability to understand Himself.

 

V:5. "And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."

  A. God's light shines on the whole world.

       1. Darkness= skotia= ruin, unhappiness, spiritual depravity

       2. The world is spiritually deprived.

  B. The world cannot understand God's Word because it is spiritually deprived.

      1. The God's Word which is the light is foolish to the world.

 

WHO WE ARE

Ephesians 5:1. "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children."

 A. A follower is an imitator.

     1. Believers are commanded to imitate the life of Christ.

        a. Be kind to others.

        b. Be considerate.

        c. Be forgiving.

        d. Love each other.

  B. "As dear children"

      1. As=hos= in that manner, according.

      2. Believers are to trust Jesus completely.

         a. Believers are to rely on Jesus as a child relies on his parents.

         b. Believers are commanded to be obedient to the Word.

 

OUR LIFE IN CHRIST

V:2. "And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour."

 A. "Walk in love."

     1. Love=agape= affection, a feast of charity, God's willful direction toward men

     2. Let us have an attitude of love.

     3. Everything we do should be out of love.

         a. When we work, it should be out of love.

         b. When we fellowship with others' it should be out of love.

         c. When we serve the Lord, it should be out of love.

 B. "As Christ also hath loved us."

     1. God the Father gave us His only Son out of His love for us.

         a. God is love.

     2. Jesus gave us the supreme sacrifice of His life so that we could have eternal life.

         a. God expects us to make a sacrifice for those in need because we love.

 C.  " A sweetsmelling savour"

      1. For something to be sweet, you have to get rid of any sour ingredients, then pour

 

         in spices.

      2. In order for any sacrifice we claim for love to be acceptable to the Father, we

 

         must get rid of anything that opposes love.

         a. Get rid of any hatred.

         b. Get rid of any envy.

         c. Get rid of any jealously.

         b. Get rid of the attitude that keeps us from forgiving.

 

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU HEAR

V:6. "Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience."

 A. Don't let anyone fool you that the vices of the world are acceptable to Christ.

     1. All unrighteousness is sin.

     2. The world has made legal many things that are unacceptable to God.

     3. The common practices of the world that violate God's commands cannot be

          practiced by the children of God.

 B. Every unclean thought will be judged by God.

 C. Unbelievers are the children of disobedience.

      1. They will face the wrath of God which is a burning hell.

 

V:7. "Be not ye therefore partakers with them."

 A.  Don't participate in unrighteous behavior.

     1. Stay away from individuals who do not follow the commands of God.

         a. Choose your friends wisely.

         b. It is easy to believe that someone's behavior is acceptable, when you see no

             immediate consequence.

 B. It is better to be right on the outside of a crowd than to be wrong in the crowd.

     1. If the crowd is enjoying a certain behavior, chances are it is wrong and against

 

         the commands of God.

     2. The Church is the only safe crowd for a believer.

 

DON'T FORGET THE GRACE OF GOD

V:8. "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light."

 A. Before we (believers) came to Christ, we were in the world.

     1. We were born in darkness and practice the things of a dark world.

     2. We have an understanding of the darkness because we have been there.

     3. Don't be afraid to admit that your past was filled with darkness.

 B. But, now we are in the light of the Lord.

     1. It is by the Grace of God, the divine favor of God that we are in the light.

     2. Thank God that Jesus made us part of His divine plan of redemption.

         a. Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, but only the elect of God will be

             redeemed.

         b. We cannot boast of our salvation because we were saved by Grace through

        

             Faith.

         c. It is the Amazing Gift Of God that saved us.

  C. We must walk as children of the light.

      1. Our walk is our attitude, our behavior and our lifestyle.

      2. Our walk should imitate the life of Jesus.

      3. The walk of a believer is a narrow way. That way is the way of righteousness.

      4. The foundation of our attitude and behavior is love.

          a. Because we love the Lord, there are certain things we will not do.

          b. Those in the dark are drawn to the light they see in us.

          c. You never know how many people you are influencing with your godly

             

              behavior.

 

OUR WORK IN THE LORD

V:9. "For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth."

  A. Every believer has the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  Eph 4:30

       1. Jesus equipped every believer with gifts to produce fruit.

       2. The most important fruit of the Spirit is love.

           a. Love of the Lord is first.

           b. Love of the brethren is second.

       3. All other fruits flow from love. 

  B.  Goodness and righteousness flow from our love for Jesus.

       1. If we love God, we will give our time to Him in service.

       2. If we love Jesus, we will find ways to help our brothers and sisters in need.

       3. If we love the Lord, we will always be careful to do what is right.

  C. Because we are in the light, we know that the only truth is the Word of God.

      1. Because we know the truth, our response should be to act on the truth with full

          confidence in the Lord.

 

V:10. "Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord."

 A.  What is acceptable to the Lord is our obedience to His commands.

     1. Love for one another in Christ Jesus is acceptable to the Lord.

     2. Those who love the Lord will serve Him with joy.

     3. Those who love the Lord know that serving the Lord involve serving others.

     4. Those who love the Lord will find peace and joy in their lives.

 B. Those who love the Lord know that we are owned by Jesus Christ and under His

      guidance and directions.  

     1. Those who love the Lord know that they are a role models for Christ.

     2. Because we are role models, we are lights for others to be drawn to Christ.

     3. Our actions are acceptable to the Lord when we imitate the Son.

 

OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO THE WORLD

V:11. "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."

 A. We have a responsibility to those who are working in the dark.

      1. We can't keep company with those who's intent is evil.

      2. We have a responsibility to tell them the truth.

          a. We have a responsibility to tell those in the dark what is right.

          b. The truth hurts, but it is always in season.

 B. There are several types of people in the dark.

     1. There are those in the dark who have no interest in being in the light.

         a. They know about the light, but they hate the light.

         b. They will not change.

     2. There are those in the dark that don't know that they are in the dark.

         a. They have not been exposed to the light.

         b. These people need to see the light in us.

         c. We are their first Church.

         b. We have a responsibility to preach Jesus to them.

    3. There are those in the dark who are stuck and don't know how to get out.

        a. They may have heard about the light but just can't get to the light.

        b. For some reason, they are frozen in their position of darkness.

        c. These people need our help in the form of time, education and resources. Eph 2:10

        d. God has equipped us to help and will provide the resources to be effective.

 

V:12. "For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret."

  A. There are some immoral actions that defile the soul that should not be shared.

      1. We have to be careful when we talk about immoral thing of darkness because we

           never know who's tender ears will be affected.

      2. Our own hearts can be affected when our ears are constantly exposed to the evil of

          the world.

  B. We should choose our fellowship with other Christians who worship the Lord in

       spirit and truth.

       1. Corrupt company can corrupt our minds.

       2. A little leaven, leavens the whole dough.  1 Cor 5:6

 

V:13. "But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light."

 A. All things are made known by the truth which is the light.

     1. When you know the truth, a lie is self evident.

     2. When you know the truth, you can't deny it or be satisfied with a lie.

 B. When you know what is right, what is wrong is self evident.

     1. When you know what is right, you want be satisfied with wrong.

 C. The Word of God convicts you so you can't do wrong and be satisfied.

 

A COMMAND TO SERVE

V:14. "Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light."

 A. An inactive Christian is one who is sleep in the Lord.

     1. An inactive Christian can produce no fruit.

     2. An inactive Christian is of no use to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

     3. An inactive Christian is like salt that has lost it's power to be salt.

 B. When we get active serving the Lord, the world can see our light.

     1. We may be the only Church some will come close too.

     2. We are vessels that God uses to shed light on the world.

 C. God will not increase the effectiveness of your gifts if you are not using them.

    1. God will not inspire you in the Word if you are not studying the Word.

    2. You can't help sitting on the side lines.

    3. The moment you get active serving the Lord is the moment your gifts become

        effective and the light of the Lord shines through you.