EXPOSE THE UNFRUITFUL WORKS OF DARKNESS (Eph 5:11-14)

Opening Worship and Welcome to the Lord’s Day Gathering

Wonders and wonders, what love is this That Christ would die for me His goodness, His merit, His righteousness The sinner's only plea O foolish pride, be crucified The work is finished All my thirst is in Jesus All my hope is His love And I will go before Him Let this good thing that flowed down Rise up, my soul, and bless the Lord.

It is in Christ and in Christ alone That we've come together today. We're so grateful that you're here. Welcome to the Lord's Day Gathering. I want to say a special thank you And welcome to all of our Covenant members.

We are so grateful that That God has uniquely gifted each one of you. And how you bring your gifts To the betterment of this body. As I remind you every week And I want to continue to remind you Don't let it become white noise.

You are loved. You are loved by God the Father Who chose you before the foundations of the world. You are loved by God the Son Who purchased you And bought you by blood ransom. And you are loved by the Holy Spirit.

God the Holy Spirit Who now seals you for the day of glory And works in you Sanctification, molding you more Into the image of Christ our Savior. So you are loved. And because of that You are loved by the saints.

Here at Twelve Five. And I also want to say Welcome to all of our guests here this morning. Thank you for joining us today. I want you to know that you are loved. You are greatly loved by the people here.

We long to get to know you. We hope that you grow in the fear And in the knowledge of the Lord. If you are with us today We would ask If you would fill out one of these connect cards. Maybe if you're a first time guest.

You got one of the gift bags. It has it in there. If you don't have one We can get one to you. This is just an opportunity for us to get to know you. On the bottom down here is an area Where you can write out prayer requests.

We all need prayer, don't we? I need prayer. And so if you have something that you want us to pray for We can guarantee that we'll be prayed for. And so if you want to put that down There's areas that you can check.

If you want to know more about baptism. About membership, discipleship Children's ministry. Whatever that may be. But if you could do that And drop that in the offering plate When it comes by here in just a moment We would be so grateful.

And we would love the opportunity to get to know you there. The next thing before we start our service I would like to encourage all of our families. Most of you already know. We are a family integrated church.

So our members understand this. This simply means that we do not offer nursery or childcare. On the Lord's Day gathering We think it's vital for the families to be together And worship even the small children.

But yet we know children, don't we?

Right?

We know that babies and young ones. They get fussy. They get upset about things. And you can't control it. And all parents understand this very well. And so because of that We do offer a nursing room.

Back this direction. And you can ask anybody with one of the name tags. And they'll guide you over there. There's a space where the service should be on the TV. Where you can hear what's going on. But it's a chance to be able to gather with your child.

For them to be able to get their composure. Because the last thing we want is to be a distraction to others. Everyone in here that has children understands. But we don't want to be a distraction from the gospel.

And so that is an opportunity. We would pray that you would take advantage of that opportunity. But before we move on. What do we usually do? Church members, you know what we do now. Before we go to a call to worship.

What do we do? We pray for another local church. A church of brothers and sisters that we love. That we long to see God work in. Because we are not the only ones gathered today. And today we want to pray for Community Fellowship Church.

We have some dear friends that go over to that church. If you're not familiar with it I believe it's on Red Wolf over near Chick-fil-A. And we just want to lift them up in prayer this morning. That God would work in their midst.

So if you wouldn't mind bow with me. Let's go to the Lord. Dear Heavenly Father, we come to you this morning. And we thank you for bringing us together. Oh God, but we also thank you that you're bringing other saints.

Other children of yours. Other sisters, other siblings of ours. Together to worship you. All over this community and all over this world today. I pray that the worship of your people Would come up before you as a sweet smelling aroma.

And Lord, we specifically want to pray for The saints at Community Fellowship Church. God, we pray that you would work in their midst this morning. That you would work in their hearts. God, we know that your word never returns void.

It always accomplishes that which it sets out to do. And so we pray that whoever's proclaiming the word this morning from the pulpit. That you would give them boldness and clarity. To speak truth from your word.

Present it to the people. And Lord, we pray for the songs that will be sung. We pray for the prayers that will be prayed. The scripture readings and all that goes into corporate worship. Lord, we pray for them.

We lift them up to you. We pray that you bring about awakening in the hearts of those Who do not yet know you in their midst this morning. God, we pray for the saints there to grow in sanctification. You began a good work in them and you will see it to completion.

The day of Christ Jesus. And we trust that work in their hearts. We thank you for them. We pray that they would know that we have great love for them And care for them In Christ's name, amen. Amen. Let's start our service this morning In a call to worship.

Our call to worship this morning is the 148th Psalm. And if you're new here You can follow along. You can see it on the screen. We break down the Psalms in a read and a response. But this is not anything extra biblical.

This is just scripture. And we do it because we want to start our service off. Very intentionally and very purposely. Letting everyone who is involved know That this is not a passive engagement. This is not something to come in and just consume.

This is a corporate participation In corporate worship. And that's why we do this. But the psalmist says To praise the name of the Lord. Praise the Lord from the heaven. Praise Him, all His angels. Oh praise Him, sun and moon.

Praise Him, you highest heavens. Then praise the name of the Lord. And He established them forever and ever. The psalmist says praise the Lord from the earth. You great sea creatures in all depths. Fire and hail.

Snow and mist. Stormy wind Fulfilling His word. Mountains and all hills. Fruit trees and all cedars. Beasts and all livestock. Creeping things and flying birds. Kings of the earth and all peoples. Princes and all rulers of the earth.

Young men and maidens together. Old men and children. Let them praise the name of the Lord. For His name alone is exalted. He has raised up a horn for His people. Praise for all His saints. For the people of Israel who are near to Him.

Praise the Lord. And all God's people said.

Amen.

Prayer of Adoration and Scripture Reading

Let's go to our great God God, in a prayer of adoration this morning. Dear Heavenly Father, we bow before You once again. We acknowledge our great need for You. We know that it is Your name and Your name alone that is to be exalted.

Now, Father, I know that each one of us at times seeks to exalt other things, created things, ourself or whatever it may be God, but we know that it is You and You alone.

That is to be exalted.

So, Father, we come before You this morning and ask that You would work in our midst that You would show us Your glory that we would, in such a small and seemingly insignificant way point to Your great name.

For we are finite Lord, and Your name is infinite. You, You, Lord, are worthy of all praise. And so we pray that as we sing God, I pray that these songs would drive our hearts and our minds to You. God, I pray as we read Your Word that our heart just leaps within us because we know that these are the very words of the Creator God who stands above all and is exalted above all.

Be honored in our worship this morning, Greg.

In Christ's name.

God, bless Your name. Fount of setting sun. Your greatness, I'll all hear. So with each breath, I'll bless Your name. In adoration, sing.

Just ask God that You would encourage the body. We thank You, Father. Open our ears to the reading of the Scripture this morning. We thank God as we dive in. We thank You, Lord. In Jesus' name Amen.

That is not the way that you learned Christ Assuming that you have heard about Him and were taught in Him as the truth that is in Jesus to put off your old self which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds and to put on the new self created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Let's sing this together. Christ the Lord is found He is my light, my strength, my song This cornerstone, this solid ground Firm through the fiercest drought and storm When heights of love are depths of peace When fears are still and striving cease.

My comforter in awe Here in the love of Christ I stand. I need a tissue or something.

Just that great truth. Yet not I but Christ in me. And that's all we have. That's all we have is Christ. And Christ alone, amen. And that's more than enough. That's more than enough. Well, you may be seated.

Sermon Introduction: Ephesians and John 17

As a church, we've been walking through the Apostle Paul's great letter to the church in Ephesus. Thank you, I appreciate that. In Ephesus for just actually over a year now. We actually started this study.

I look back at the end of January last year. And today we've made it to the 11th verse of chapter 5. But actually I would like to ask all of you first to look with me at a portion of Jesus' high priestly prayer which I think is going to be helpful for understanding our text today.

So go ahead and open up your copy of God's word to John chapter 17. John chapter 17. If you're a guest with us today I'm sorry, we're not one of those churches that puts the verses up on the screen. There's nothing wrong with it.

We just intentionally don't do it because we want all of our people to bring their copy of God's word and have it in hand so that they're used to flipping through they're used to looking at it and you keep me and Pastor Jeremiah and Keith and whoever preaches accountable because we can't get anything by you because you're seeing the words there.

But John chapter 17. We're going to start reading in verse 14 but just to kind of set the groundwork for this. The Last Supper had just taken place. Jesus had washed the disciples' feet. He has promised them of the coming Holy Spirit.

He then goes on and he's foretelling of what is to come in the last of his earthly ministry. And by the time we make it to here to chapter 17 Jesus begins to pray. And this is what's known as the High Priestly Prayer.

And again, I want to start in verse 14. Jesus prays, I have given them your word. Now who's he speaking of? He's speaking of the disciples, the followers. The people that had followed him thus far. He says, I've given them your word, Father.

And the world has hated them. Because they're not of the world. Just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world. But that you keep them from the evil. They are not of the world Just as I am not of the world.

Sanctify them in the truth. Your word is truth As you sent me into the world. So I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself. That they also may be sanctified in truth. I do not ask for these only But also for those who will believe in me Through their word.

That they may all be one Just as you, Father, are in me And I in you. That they also may be in us. So that the world may believe That you have sent me The glory that you have given me I have given to them That they may be one Even as we are one.

I in them and you in me. That they may become perfectly one So that the world may know That you sent me And loved them even as you loved me. Why is Jesus praying for his followers in this way? Why does Jesus end this evening per se.

Of telling them what's to come And all of this. Why is he praying for them? Because here's the thing. Look at what the world did to him. He's been preparing for. And he's even been alluding to Before he goes into this prayer.

What did the world do to him? They ridiculed him. They mocked him And they ultimately crucified him. They hated him. And now he's getting ready to leave them In that world. He's getting ready to leave them there.

A world that he says Hates them. And a world that hates them. Because they're not of the world. They're a new creation. There's something different Than the world. So why? Why would King Jesus do this to them?

Why would our Savior Tell them of all of this difficulty And then do this to them? He's obviously praying for them. Because they're going to be left In a world that hates them As it hated him. He does this So that the world may believe That you have sent me.

Is what Jesus says.

He leaves them here So that the world may believe in him. After all, Jesus Is longing to bring them to himself.

Isn't he?

Jesus longs to bring them where he is He's not necessarily longing To leave them into this world That hates them Like it hates him.

As a matter of fact.

Look down at verse 24 of that prayer. We see the heart of Jesus. He says, Father, I desire that they also Whom you have given me May be with me where I am. And ultimately that prayer Is most certainly coming true Because they will be But you can see where Christ Is longing for them to come be with him.

But the difference is. Look back at verse 20 of what we just read. I do not ask for these only. I do not ask for these only These followers right now But also for those Who will believe in me Through their word Is what he says.

See, he must leave them here In a world that hates them In order to find those others That he is speaking of The ones who have not yet been awakened.

By the light.

That's the purpose, right? That's the purpose of leaving his saints Here in this world that hates them. If this is the case If that is why he truly has left us here. If this is essentially our mission, right?

This is our mission. The Great Commission Summed up in this prayer. As Christians, as followers of Christ As foreigners As outcasts in a foreign land A world that we're not of And that hates us desperately.

Then how are we to conduct ourselves In a way that accomplishes that mission? I think that's the question that we must ask. And I believe that the Apostle Paul Addresses that very question Here in our text today in Ephesians.

So flip over there with me to Ephesians In our study chapter 5. And we're going to start reading in verse 11. And I think we're going to try And make our way through 14 today. But y 'all know how that goes.

I will desperately try. You just have to listen faster. Okay? Ephesians chapter 5. Starting in verse 11 The Apostle Paul says. Take no part in unfruitful works of darkness. But instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things That they do in secret.

But when anything is exposed by the light It becomes visible. For anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says Awake, O sleeper And arise from the dead. And Christ will shine on you. This is the reading of God's holy inspired word.

Let us stop for a moment. Let's ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate our hearts and minds To this great truth. Bow with me. Lord, we come to you Once again, acknowledging our frailty Acknowledging our propensity To misunderstand To distort Your clear, precise truth.

And O Lord, we ask now that you would Guard us from doing so. Holy Spirit, we ask that you would Work in each of our minds. As our minds are being renewed by your word. That we would see it with clarity.

Lord, guard my lips from error. Guard their ears from hearing untruth. Help us to see when an untruth is here. And to rectify and look to your truth. For that is the ultimate, final authority.

In Christ's name, amen.

Avoiding the Two Extremes: Isolationism and Worldliness

Well, there is no doubt amongst Christians, really That Jesus has left us here To play a part of that great commission As he just prayed for The making disciples. However, there is really not much uniformity As to how this is to be accomplished.

Just like with anything. There is a propensity to fall into one extreme or another. Right? That's just human nature. We like extremes for some reason. The first one is that That we often can be Proudly proclaiming, I am in the world.

But I am certainly not of the world. Which is a true statement, of course. But we tend to take it as if To what we believe to be its logical conclusion. Which often times looks an awful lot like isolationism.

This is an extreme propensity. Meaning they insulate their lives From anything, from everything. And everyone non-Christian. We consume our lives with only church folk. You know what I mean? Of course we see an exaggerated form of that With the Amish.

But there are lesser forms of this In all of our lives. At times when we become legalistic. An avoidance of unbelieving neighbors. You know, that one neighbor that's living in sin. And they don't go to church on Sundays.

And you're like, I'll wave at them. But I'm going to close my garage door before I get out of the car. I don't really have them over for a meal. I don't really engage with them. You've seen people like this, right?

You may have experienced this in your own life. Maybe an awkward, judgmental loner in the workplace. Somebody that actually drives wedges With everyone around them. Because they don't want to be a part of the world at all.

They want to make sure and isolate themselves. Little to no meaningful interaction with unbelievers. You've seen people like this, haven't you? And extreme examples that I've seen. Let's be honest, it usually produces children That are even weirder than them.

You know what I'm talking about. We have some really socialized homeschoolers in this group. I'm not talking about us. But you've seen the homeschoolers that isolate for isolation's sake, right? They stay away from anything that's non-Christian.

And here's the problem. Yes, we are to be a peculiar people. That's what God's Word tells us. Unfortunately, this version of Christianity Is often peculiar for all the wrong reasons. Not for holiness and righteousness But just isolation.

Yet, here's the thing I think many of them truly believe That they are doing what's best To fulfill the Great Commission. To make disciples of all the nations. Because they think that my life Of piety and holiness and separation Will scream to the world That they should want this righteousness And holiness.

But then when we swing the pendulum We see the other extreme. Those who declare the Apostle Paul's words I have become all things to all people. So that I might win some. And misunderstand what Paul actually meant.

They believe that Paul Saying becoming all things to all people Is to look, smell, act and speak In every way like the world. They take it to a licentiousness To the other extreme from legalism. Even though Paul time and time again Denounces that type of lifestyle They still find that it is the best means To accomplish the goal of discipleship And making disciples.

Some examples would be. You've seen them The Christians that take on foul language Like the world. They speak like the world. Now they may restrain themselves From telling a dirty joke. But they're okay with laughing at it In the group.

They're engaged in the things of the world. Their closest friends are unbelievers. They partake in excess In extremes of things that God has given As good gifts But taking them too far Just like the world does.

Meeting people where they're at Is the excuse. Being relational Never making things uncomfortable By pointing things like sin Out in their lives. After all, that would just drive a wedge. We must be all things to all people Thinking that somehow They're being salt and light Thinking that they are carrying out The Great Commission.

And yes, I know these are extreme examples. But you've got to admit They're more common than not, aren't they? Look around at the landscape of the church today. And you will see both of them Everywhere Particularly in variation Of either of those two.

So the question is What the question should always be. What does Scripture say we should do? That's where the balance is. What does Scripture say we should do? Let's see how Paul addresses this. Look at our verse there.

Right here in verse 11 He automatically crushes both of those extremes With a negative and a positive command.

Right out the gate.

Verse 11. Take no part In the unfruitful works of darkness. But instead expose them. The first thing that we see here Is that statement that I made earlier. That I said is a true statement But is misunderstood.

But that followers of Christ Are not of this world. Followers of Christ Are not of this world. Paul points this out With this negative command of Hey, take no part In the unfruitful works of darkness.

Take no part in it. He had already told us this. Back in verse 8, didn't he? Look back at verse 8.

What did he say?

He says, for one time Saint, you were darkness. You yourself were darkness. But now you are light in the Lord Walk as children of light. In the verse before that Verse 7 He told us not to become Partners with those Who are, as he had previously said Sexually immoral, impure Or covetous, idolatrous.

The word that Paul uses here In verse 11 That we have translated Take no part. As a matter of fact Some of your translations Probably say do not share in Essentially the same thing. But this word that Paul uses In the Greek Is similar to the one that he Used back in verse 7 When he said partners.

Which we talked about that When we were there. It's where he's telling us Not to accept Not to fellowship with Not to be partners With those who claim Christ Yet deny him with their lives. And they do so through Again, sexual morality Impurity, covetousness.

However, this word here In verse 11 It's different. It's slightly different. It's the same root. But it's speaking of Not partaking of those very sins Yourself. Before he says Don't fall prey. Don't be partners With those who partake In those sins Don't be tied together In fellowship with them.

And here he's saying You, yourself Don't partake Don't be involved. We see that in what He says next He says take no part in. What? The unfruitful works Of darkness. This is referring to those sins That we have been listing.

The sins that he has previously listed There in chapter 5. In verse 6 of chapter 5 He says. For because of these things The wrath of God comes upon. The sons of disobedience These are unfruitful.

These unfruitful works.

Bring about the wrath of God. Don't they? These are. Take no part in this. Have no part in this. Have no partnership in it. Do not participate In the unfruitful works Of darkness. We were once children of wrath.

As he said We were once darkness. Now we are light in the Lord. Over in Romans chapter 6 Paul says. In verse 20 and 21 He says. For when you were slaves of sin You were free In regard to righteousness.

Remember you were enslaved to sin. You were once one of them in darkness. But what fruit. There's that fruit, right? The unfruitful. Here's the fruit. But what fruit were you getting At that time From the things of which You are now ashamed.

What fruit are you getting? What fruit does this produce? The things that you were once ashamed of. For the end of those things.

Is death.

The wrath of God Comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Right?

Later on in chapter 7 of Romans In verse 5 He says For while we were living in the flesh Our sinful passions aroused by the law Were at work in our members To bear fruit for death That is the fruit Of unrighteousness.

Sin.

After all the wages of sin Are what? The wages of sin.

Death.

This is why he says That they are unfruitful. They do not produce The fruit of righteousness. Does that mean Christian. Does that mean that That you and I Don't fall prey to those things? To sexual immorality.

Impurity Covetous Idolatry. Does that mean we don't fall prey To them? Of course not. We know better than that. You know yourself better than that. We all fall prey to these things. That's why Paul is reminding us Hey, take no part in it.

Don't participate in this. Don't be with them in this. This is unfruitful for you. Because here's the thing If we are in Christ He's already paid the wages of it With his own death. Death was the wages, right?

And he paid it for you. Shall we go on sinning That grace may abound? Absolutely not. Certainly not. That would be unfruitful of us. And he's left us here To be fruitful, hasn't he? That's the purpose In leaving us here.

Jesus says I want to bring. I want them to be where I am. I want to bring them Into glory, right? Oh, but we've got more. And they're going to play a part In gathering those more. I must leave them here.

So he prays that That we would be protected From the evil one. Because he knows That in this world. We're going to have a propensity To be unfruitful. But he left us here to be fruitful. That's the whole purpose.

Take no part in it.

Look at verse 12.

It says,.

For it is shameful.

Even to speak of the things.

That they do in secret. There's shame in this. This is shameful. And those are the things That we were once ashamed of. Let no corrupting talk Come out of your mouth. That's what he said, isn't it? The things that are shameful Like the world.

Because they are unfruitful. And it's because followers of Christ Were not of this world. But here's the thing Followers of Christ Are to be in this world. Remember, we've got to hold This truth in balance.

We can't fall to one extreme Or another. We might be We might not be of this world. But we are most certainly To be in this world. Notice I didn't say We are in this world. We are to be in this world.

We're just not to be of this world. Look at verse 11 again.

It says,.

Take no part in unfruitful works of darkness. There's the negative command And he gives us a positive command. But instead Instead of Instead of taking part In unfruitful works of darkness He's now given us a command Expose them.

Don't take part in them But expose them. The word that Paul uses here In the Greek That we have translated expose In scripture It is never one time Used in regard to exposing Something good. Never one time Used when exposing Something good.

It's always in reference To exposing something sinful Something evil Something bad. As a matter of fact Paul used this same word Over in 1st Timothy chapter 5. In 1st Timothy chapter 5 In verse 20 Paul tells Timothy As for those Who persist in sin For those that go on sinning For those that refuse to repent And continue down this path of sin.

He uses this same word But it's translated here.

Rebuke.

For those who go on sinning Rebuke.

Expose.

Them In the presence of all.

Ooh, that's hard.

I don't know if I'd want to be. In the early church, do you? How often have you seen churches. Expose unrepentant sin. Before all? God's word tells us to do it. Better do it. But the point is He uses this word.

Rebuke.

Rebuke them in the presence of all So that the rest may stand in fear.

Ooh, that's heavy.

Meaning to expose their sin To shed light on it So that they might see that sin So that sin may be brought forward To the whole So that everyone can see And expose What is wicked What is wrong and unrighteous.

Turn back with me to John. This time I want us to look at John chapter 3. I want us to look at a couple verses. Starting in verse 19 of John chapter 3. This is Jesus Speaking to Nicodemus about being born again.

Nicodemus has come to him. Essentially Nicodemus is asking How in the world Why do I see who you are. And no one else does. And Jesus is like You gotta be born again. No one can see Unless they've been born again.

But by the time we get down to verse 19 there Of John chapter 3 And Jesus says. And this is the judgment. The light has come into the world And people loved the darkness Rather than the light. Why? He answers them Because their works were evil.

They hate the light They prefer the darkness Because their works were evil. Look at verse 20. For everyone who does wicked things Hates the light. They're not indifferent to the light. They're not like oh well that's inconvenient.

I don't like the light shining in here. No Jesus. These are Jesus' words right here. This is the word of God They hate the light And does not come to the light. Kind of reminds me of what Paul said in Romans right.

That no one comes to the Father No one. No one seeks after God right. No one. And Jesus himself says this.

Hey they hate the light.

For everyone who does wicked things. And who does wicked things? Some people. The really bad people.

All.

Right. No one does good No not one. We've all done wickedness And those that are still left in their wickedness.

Hate the light.

And they do not come to the light Lest.

Why?

Why do they not want to come to the light? Lest their works should be. And here's that same word again. And it's translated exposed here. Lest their works should be exposed. Here's good news. I'm going to read verse 21 To leave you on a good note there.

But whoever does what is true Comes to the light. So that it may be clearly seen. That his works have been carried out in God. That they may be brought to the light. They may be present Where people can see.

It's no longer darkness But light. You see we may be in this world But we are no longer darkness. And Paul says that we are now light right? That's what Paul's been telling us. You're no longer darkness.

You are light in the Lord. But evil works are done in the darkness. And the world hates the light And loves the darkness. But remember we're left here for a reason right? What's that reason? And this is what Jesus said.

Everyone who does wicked things.

They hate the light.

And they don't come to the light. Lest it should be exposed. That means if we are to expose The unfruitful works of darkness We have to isolate ourselves. I'm testing you guys.

Y 'all failed.

We're listening. If darkness runs from the light Hates the light Wants nothing to do with the light.

Okay?

And we're called to shed light. We're called to expose The unfruitful works of darkness. What does that mean? That we have to go to the darkness. We have to go to them. Just as the light of the world Came into the darkness.

And the darkness did not overcome it. Jesus came to us. Our example in Christ Condescended Came down From his rightful throne in heaven To become like the creature To shed light into the darkness. You can't imagine the darkness before Christ.

There were only one people group Who had the law And had And understood anything about God. And everything else in this world Was pure darkness. They were blinded completely From God By the evil one before Christ.

And he came to the darkness To overcome it. And now what has he done? He's prayed that we would be left here For that very same purpose. That's what he prayed in his eye-breathing prayer, right? That's the point in leaving us here.