Amen. All right, we're there in John chapter number one.
And of course we are continuing through this
series that we started last week entitled, Shine as Lights. And we're
studying this idea
of light in the Bible. And last week we began by talking about the fact
that Jesus
is the light. He's the light of the world. And then Jesus said,
as long as I'm in the world, I am the light of the world. And then Jesus looked at his disciples. He looked at
you and I, and he said, ye are the light of the world. And last week we talked about
what it means to let your light so shine before men.
This week we're gonna be looking at this idea of the armor of light.
And I want to just begin by laying a little bit of foundation of this,
the concept of light versus darkness in the Bible. You're there in John chapter one.
If you look at verse number one, the Bible says this, in the beginning was the word,
and the word was with God, and the word was God. And of course that's not,
I'm not preaching about this this morning, but that's a great verse there
on the deity of Christ
and the Trinity. The word was with God, and the word was God. The same was in
the beginning with God.
All things were made by him. The him there is referring to the word.
And without him, the word was not anything made that was made.
In him was life, and the life was, I want you to notice these words,
the light of men. So the Bible says that in him, in the word,
was life, and the life was the light of men.
And then notice verse five, the Bible says this, and the light
shineth in darkness, and the darkness
comprehendeth it not. So the Bible tells us here
that the darkness does not comprehend
the light. The word comprehend means to apprehend, to
be able to understand, to be able to grasp,
to be able to have in knowledge. The Bible tells us that the darkness
does not comprehend, does not apprehend,
does not grasp, does not understand the light. The darkness
will never understand the light. And there is this
conflict between darkness and light
because darkness does not comprehend light. Now keep your place there in John, and go with me if you would
to the book of Luke,
Luke chapter 22. Just go backwards
into the book of Luke, Luke chapter 22. And let me just say this, this is all by way of introduction.
Not only does darkness not comprehend light,
but the Bible teaches that there is a conflict
between darkness and light. Luke chapter 22.
In Luke 22 we have the story, the passage of Jesus being arrested.
If you look down at verse number 52,
the Bible says this, then Jesus sent him to the chief priests
and captains of the temple and the elders which were come to him.
They come out as against a thief with swords and staves.
He says in verse 53, when I was daily with you in the temple,
you stretched forth no hand against me. And he's explained to them that
what they're doing, they're doing in
darkness, they're doing in the cover of darkness. They're not making it
manifest in the light.
He's questioning them and he's bringing attention to the fact, he says,
why are you coming out against me like a thief?
He said, why are you coming out against me like you caught me in the middle of the night
doing something I shouldn't be doing? He says I was daily with you in the temple.
My ministry was manifested in the light, what I did
was seen of all men. When I was daily with you in the temple,
he said, you stretched forth no hand against me. In the light
you didn't have the
Arrogancy to try to arrest me or try to stretch forth your hand against me, then he makes this statement
He says but this is your hour
And he says and the power of darkness
See there is a conflict between darkness and light Jesus is the light. He said I am the light of the world
He said as long as I am in the world
I am the light of the world and the Bible says that in him was life and the light of men and the
light shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not and here Jesus when he was arrested
He said, you know this right now the authority you're having the power you're having he says it is the power of darkness
So there is this conflict between darkness and light go to the book of Acts if you would Acts chapter 26
You have there Luke John and then the book of Acts Acts 26
You go past the book of John where we started into the book of Acts Acts chapter 26
And
what we need to understand this morning is that not only are we the light of the world and
We should let our light so shine before men and if you're not sure what that means
I'd encourage you to listen to last week's sermon because we broke down from the Bible
What does it mean to let your light so shine before men, but I also need you to understand that as the light
We are also in conflict. We are in a war we are in a battle
Against darkness acts 26 look at verse 18 acts chapter 26 and verse 18
The Bible says this and we'll delve into this verse more next week
But he says to open their eyes and to turn them and he's talking to the Apostle Paul and what he's called him to
Do and this is really the ministry of every soul winner
He says that we are to go and open their eyes and to turn them notice from darkness to light
He said the world in darkness and our job is to go to this dark world and to
Open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light then he says this because you might say well
What does that mean darkness and light there's this conflict between darkness and light and darkness does not comprehend light
What are we talking about exactly? Well, he explains it here in verse 18
He says and from the power of Satan unto God
See the power of darkness is the power of Satan the power of darkness is the power of evil everything
That's wicked everything. That's satanic everything
That's devilish in this world is the power of darkness and you and I are the children of light
We are
Part of the kingdom of light and we are in a conflict and I have found in
Ministry that one of the toughest things to help Christians
That many Christians don't understand is that you are not just saved
Hopefully you're saved but there's more to salvation than just where you're going when you die
You know what when you got saved you also got enlisted as a soldier you are in an army
You are enlisted to be part of a battle of light
Versus darkness and we are turning people from the power of Satan the power of darkness
Unto the power of light go to the book of Ephesians if you would Ephesians chapter 6 you then the book of Acts
You have Romans first 2nd Corinthians Galatians Ephesians
Ephesians chapter number 6 and
Look at verse number 12
Acts Romans first 2nd Corinthians Galatians Ephesians
Ephesians chapter 6 and verse 12 Ephesians 6 12 very well-known passage
When we talk about spiritual warfare
The Bible says this for we wrestle not against flesh and blood
But against principalities against powers against the rulers notice these words of the darkness of this world
See it is the rulers of the darkness of this world
With whom we are fighting it is the rulers of the darkness of this world with whom we are
wrestling with whom we are
Contending against spiritual wickedness in high places, so there is this conflict there is this battle
There is this going back and forth between light and darkness between Satan and God
Between the soldiers of Satan and the soldiers of Christ there is this battle that is going on now in Ephesians chapter 6 and verse
12 he goes on if you read the rest of passage he goes on and tells you to put on the whole armor
of God and he gives us this description of the armor of God because we're supposed to put on this armor in order to engage in
Spiritual warfare I'm not going to preach about that
Necessarily those that passage this morning, but I'd like you to go back to the book of Romans if you would
Romans chapter 13, and I want you to notice that in Romans 13
There is another reference to armor Ephesians 6 is the famous you know armor of God
Passage wherefore put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand
Against the wiles of the devil for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities
We have that famous passage there in the book of Ephesians, but in Romans chapter 13
There is also a reference to this armor that we are supposed to put on I want you to notice
How it is described Romans chapter 13 and verse 12 the Bible says this the night is far spent
The day is at hand he says let us therefore
Cast off the works of darkness and let us put on notice these words the armor of light
See the point is this you and I are supposed to engage in spiritual warfare
Spiritual warfare is the conflict between darkness and light
Between Satan and God between the things of God and the things of this world
But the way that we do that is by putting on
The armor Ephesians 6 the armor of God here is referred to as the armor of light
Because it is a battle between light and darkness. We're supposed to put on the armor of light now
Here's the interesting thing and here's kind of the thought for this morning
Go back to the book of Ephesians if you would keep your place right there in Romans because we're gonna come back to it
Romans chapter 13, but go to the book of Ephesians if you would
You've got Romans first second Corinthians Galatians Ephesians
Ephesians chapter number five
What I want to talk to you about this morning is how to put on the armor of light
How to put on the armor of light because the whole point of
Putting on the armor. He says he says put on Romans 13 12 the armor of light
You put on the armor in
preparation
to go into battle
You don't put the armor on while you're in battle
In fact, if you're trying to put the armor on while you're in battle, you're in trouble
It's too late
You're supposed to suit up. You're supposed to put it on you're supposed to have the armor on before you actually begin
Engaging in battle this morning. I want to speak to you on the subject of the armor of light
But I want you to stand we're not talking about engaging in the battle of spiritual warfare yet next week
We're gonna be talk about how it is that we actually engage
What is the actual strategy in the battle between light and darkness, but before we can even get there?
We just have to learn how to put this armor on
How to prepare ourselves how to be ready to engage in spiritual warfare
Because the truth of the matter is this that most Christians though they are saved
I'm talking about Christians people that are actually saved not the people that call themselves Christians out there
but people who have actually in faith called upon Christ for salvation believing in in in in a
Salvation that's not of works eternal security people that are actually saved
Yes, they may be saved but many of them are not ready for battle and in fact
When they find themselves in spiritual battle when they find themselves
Fighting against spiritual warfare because here's the truth the warfare is coming whether you like it or not
The Bible says that that our adversary the devil as a roaring lion
Walk at the bow seeking whom he may devour whether you like it or not
Whether you want to acknowledge it or not, whether you say well, I just want to be saved, but I don't want to fight
I just wanna be saved, but I don't actually engage in spiritual warfare
Well, you better buckle up because the warfare is coming whether you like it or not
the lion is coming whether you like it or not the lion is coming to devour and to destroy your
Spiritual life and your physical life and your marriage and your child rearing and your finances
Look, the devil is going to attack you. So you better figure out how to put on that armor
Because you're gonna have to fight
Whether you like it or not
It's part of the deal
Now I got saved yeah, but when you got saved you got enlisted as a soldier of the Lord Jesus Christ
And he puts you into this battle. So how do we put on the armor of light?
How do we put on this armor of light and of course when we think of armor?
You know, we we might think more of like a knight type armor
And that's a little different than what the Apostle Paul would have had in mind
but the interesting thing about the Knights, you know in this armor is that there was a
Series of events that needed to take place my kids they like to read a lot
They like to read a lot of historical type things and they've got this book about
Knights and they've got several books about Knights
but one of the books breaks down the different steps and the different things that had to happen for a
Knight to be able to suit up to go into battle. They needed to have a helper
there were certain things that went on first and then second and third and fourth and it was all this big ordeal to
Put on this armor just to be ready to go into battle and spiritually is the same way
You must put on the armor of light. So how do we do it number one?
I'm gonna give you two thoughts this morning two thoughts with two sub points each
All right, so you can follow along. I usually do three points, but I'm doing two points this morning
I had a third point, but I just felt like I had too much
So here's point number one to put on the armor of light number one
We must cut off the works of darkness
What are we talking about? We're talking about practicing separation
Notice there in Ephesians chapter 5 look at verse 8 notice what the Bible says for ye were past tense if
You're saved. This is no longer the case
for ye were
Sometimes darkness. He's a here Paul saying he's talking to the Ephesian Gentile believers
And this would apply to you and I as well and he would say you used to be darkness
But now ye are light in the Lord
Then he says this walk as children of light
Now I would submit to you this just because you are light doesn't mean you're walking as light
This idea that well if you're saved then you're gonna actually, you know do the things of God
Well, that's not what the Bible teaches. He says he says ye aren't
He says he says but now are ye light in the world
Then he says walk as children of light for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth
Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord notice verse 11 and have no
fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness
He says but rather reprove them and we'll talk about that next week, but I want you to notice the first step
To putting on the armor of light is that we must put off we must cut off
We must remove the works of darkness and here we're told in verse 11 that we should have no
Fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. What does the word fellowship mean? It means to spend time together
It means to have a friendship
the Bible says that we must have no fellowship with darkness and look and when you think about a
Military war type example doesn't that just kind of make sense?
If you're gonna go to battle in World War two
Against the Nazis you can't really you know, just be hanging out with the Nazis
Right, I mean if you're gonna go to battle you can't be hanging out with the enemy
He says look God says we are at battle. We are in battle
Spiritual warfare against the world. So he says I need you to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness
Because
You cannot fellowship with darkness while fighting darkness fellowship and fighting are two different things
You can't do both at the same time
He says we cannot fellowship with darkness and light
Go keep your place on Ephesians go to 2nd Corinthians
If you would if you go backwards, you've got Galatians and then the book of 2nd Corinthians 2nd Corinthians chapter number
6
2nd Corinthians chapter number 6
We must have no fellowship with darkness because we cannot fellowship with darkness and light
Look in that that's an easy concept, right?
You can't turn a light on in a dark room and have both light and dark
It's either dark or it's light
You have to choose one and in this battle between darkness and light we need to decide
We need to decide where we stand and we cannot have fellowship with darkness and light notice 2nd Corinthians chapter 6
This is the quintessential passage on the subject of separation
And that's really what we're talking about this morning when we say we must cut off the works of darkness. We're talking about practicing
Separation in our lives 2nd Corinthians chapter 6 verse 14 be ye not
unequally yoked together with unbelievers
Notice what he says for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness and what?
communion hath light with darkness
He's saying when's the last time you saw light and darkness having lunch together
When's the last time you saw light and darkness hanging out together
When's the last time you saw he says he says light and darkness have no communion
He says in the same way be ye not unequally yoked together
with unbelievers
For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness what communion hath light with darkness what conquered hath Christ with Belial
Belial is the devil
What part hath he that believeth with an infidel and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols
For ye are the temple of the living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them
And I will be their God and they shall be my people and then we see in verse 17 the great passage on separation
He says wherefore and the word wherefore means for this reason for what reason he says
Here's why because you cannot have fellowship with righteousness and unrighteousness
Because you cannot have communion with light and darkness because there is no
Conquered between Christ and Belial because there is no part that a believer should have with an infidel
He says because of these things he says wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate sayeth the Lord and touch
Not the unclean thing and I will receive you see the truth of the matter
Is this that the reason that most Christians do not?
Engage in spiritual warfare is because most Christians do not practice separation in their lives
the
Bible teaches this concept of separation that we are to come out from among them and be separate sayeth the Lord and you say
Well, what do you mean by that?
What exactly does that mean go to 1st John if you would 1st John chapter 1 if you started the book of Revelation
And you head back you've got Revelation Jude 3rd 2nd and 1st John and let me just say this
Obviously, we're not talking about the fact that we should not be friendly with worldly people and unsafe people you work with unsafe people
You gotta be friendly with them
You gotta be kind to them you have unsafe family. We understand that you ought to love your family you oughta
Pray for your family. I'll try to get your family. That's not saved saved, and we understand all that but look
Here's what the Bible teaches that we should not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers
And when it comes to who we spend the majority of our time with when it comes to who we are actually
Really close with and who we spend a lot of time with and who we spend a lot of fellowship time with it
Ought not be the world
And that doesn't mean that we're unkind to the world that doesn't mean that we're mean to them
But look your main source of fellowship ought to be
Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ it ought to be other light because light cannot hang out with darkness
There is no communion between light and darkness
We must spend our time and by the way, that's why God gave you a local New Testament Church
That's one of the reasons why we work so hard at Verity Baptist Church even during coronavirus to offer
Opportunities for fellowship to have this meal to have that meal to have a ladies Christmas party now
You know why do we do those things? Why do we have a new members class?
Why do we have discipleship class?
Why do we have so way you know part of it is to do the work of God?
But part of it is so that you can have an opportunity to fellowship with other believers
Why because that's what you're supposed to do
That's how you're gonna be ready to fight the spiritual warfare that is required in your life
We must come out from among them
And be you separate and let me just say this
You're doing yourself a disservice
You're doing it yourself a disservice when you say oh, I'm gonna go to church
But I'm not gonna go to any event and look you can go to whatever events you want and it doesn't make a
difference to me
But I'm just telling you spiritually
Or the last ten years of ministry what I've learned is that the people who say well
I'm gonna show up to church on Sunday morning, but I'm not gonna go to anything else
I'm not gonna go to any other event. I'm not gonna. I don't want to talk to anybody
I don't want to look at anybody. I'm gonna show up late
I'm gonna leave early and whatever most of the time those people will not make it in the Christian life
I'm not saying they're not saved. I'm saying they will not be walking in light
Because we are created for community. We are created for fellowship
You will fellowship with someone and if you don't follow ship with God's people you'll fellowship with the world
And if you fellas are with the world you'll end up a casualty in
this battle
of darkness versus light
First John chapter 1 are you there look at verse 6?
first John chapter 1 in verse 6 the Bible says this if we say
if
We say that we have fellowship with him
This is what most Christians say
You ask the average Christian today. Hey, do you have fellowship with God? Oh? Yeah?
If we say that we have fellowship with him notice these words and walk in darkness we lie and
Do not the truth
You can't have fellowship with God who is light while walking in darkness
those two things don't mix if
We say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness we lie and do not the truth
But if we walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship one with another
Notice he says if we walk in the light as he is in life
You would think that he would say we have fellowship with God if you and I wrote the Bible
That's what we would say because in verse 6
He says if we say that we have fellowship with him God and walk in darkness
We lie and do not the truth
That's the context of verse 6 us having fellowship with God in verse 7
He says, but if we walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship
You would think it would say we have fellowship with him, but notice it says we have fellowship one with another
What does that mean you can't have fellowship with God without having fellowship with God's people
Don't tell me you're serving God if you're not faithful to church
Yet the work of God is done through the local New Testament church
The work of God is done through the house of God fellowship with God. Look. This is the body of Christ
You say how can I fellowship with God? Well, one way is by fellowshipping with God's people
if we walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship one with another and
The blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanses us from all sin
Go to James chapter 4 if you would James chapter 4 go backwards
You got 1st John 2nd Peter 1st Peter James James chapter 4
The doctrine of separation is this
Separation means to be set apart. I've always taught this and I want you to understand this
usually as fundamental Baptist we think separation is to be separated from the world and
If you if that's what you think then you're only halfway there
Because separation is separation from the world unto God
From the world unto God when we talk about separation we often emphasize separation from the world
That's definitely an aspect of it come out from among them and be separate sayeth the Lord
We have to be separated from the world, but separation is not simply being separated from the world
Some religions take separation from the world very far and I agree with it
But they never understand the concept of unto God
Several months ago my wife, and I was preaching in Virginia and West Virginia and my wife
And I took a little tour in an Amish community had a little
Couple getaway there for a couple days and when we did this Amish tour
It was really interesting as we talk to these Amish people because they took us to these little
parts and businesses and we got to go into businesses owned by Amish people and
Homes of Amish people and it was a very unique tour in the sense that we we weren't just watching them
We actually got to interact with them
And you know what was really interesting as we talked to these Amish people and as we talked with our tour guide who?
Knew them very well with close friends with them is that these Amish people know absolutely nothing about the Bible
They don't know anything about God they're discouraged from reading the Bible their church services are in a language that none of them speak
And these people are very separated from the world very separated from the world
I mean they live away from the world. They don't want any influence from the world
They don't want anything to do with the world and hey you know whatever all that's good
But they missed the mark when they did not realize that separation is from the world unto God
We must separate ourselves unto God if you separate yourself from the world if you separate yourself from the world
But you never separate yourself unto God all you'll be is an Amish person
Be real strict real separated real holy know nothing about the Bible know nothing about God know nothing about salvation
just completely
Oblivious when it comes to the world and look what Verity Baptist Church. We're not trying to create a bunch of Amish people
That's why we teach and talk so much in the next couple weeks
We'll be emphasizing it even more daily Bible reading yesterday in our soul winning brother Oliver in in the soul winning
Challenge talked about daily by worry look you you said why do you guys have to like daily Bible reading so much because we believe
in separation from the world unto God and
See sometimes people they come to church like this and like I tried that whole separation thing it didn't work
No, you didn't work
Because would you look you'll never survive
You'll never be ready if you say I'm just gonna be separated from the world separated from the world separated from the world
But where's separation unto God?
Where's your Bible reading? Where's your prayer time? Where's your walk with God? Look we must walk with the Lord
We're told that we must cut off the works of darkness
We had to have no fellowship with darkness because you said but why why does it matter look?
here's why it matters because I I cannot fellowship with darkness and
And fellowship with light I
cannot fellowship with the world and
fellowship with God and
If you think if you think that Christianity is have no fellowship with darkness
But you never fellowship with God you're gonna fail
You'll never make it
The whole point of coming out from among the world is that you can walk in the light of God's Word
It's that you can walk in the light so you can fellowship with God James chapter 4 you're there look at verse 4
knows what the Bible says
Ye adulterers and adulteresses
Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God
Listen to me some of you got friends you got to cut off
I'm not saying you need to be mean to them. I'm not saying you need to
You know
Just call him and say I hate you and I never want to see you again
But I'm just saying there are some people in your lives. You just you need to cut out you're gonna walk with God
Know you not that French of the world is empty with God
Whosoever therefore will be friend a friend of the world is the enemy of God look the world is the enemy of God
And if you're on God's side fighting against the world you can't be friends with the world who's fighting against God
That makes you a traitor
That
Makes you unloyal
We must
Cut off the works of darkness
We must have no fellowship with darkness
Because we cannot fellowship with darkness and light and the whole point the whole point is to fellowship with light
With God who is light and with God's people who are light and again?
I'm not telling you you need to be me
I'm not telling you you need to go quit your job tomorrow and find a job
We're only safe people work you're not gonna find that we understand we interact with the world we get that you have unsafe family members
You got to love them you got to care for them you got a minister to them
But when I'm talking about the people that you spend your most of your time with that you really a fellowship with that really are
Encouraging you along the way you can't have it be worldly people who don't love God who don't love the things of God
We must cut off the works of darkness. Here's point number two
I said number one we must cut off the works of darkness
We must have no fellowship with darkness because we cannot fellowship with darkness and light
There's point number two
To put on the armor of light. I mean we're talking about just getting suited up for battle
We're talking about just making it through boot camp
To to fight to engage in spiritual war warfare you have to cut off
The world I
Mean look if we're fighting
Against a different country. I'm talking about a physical war and you're in boot camp and they're like hey look
That's the enemy over there. You can't be friends with them. I think that's you know military 101
You can't be friends with the enemy
You can't fellowship with the enemy
You can't conspire with the enemy
Look the enemy is the world
the devil the world
There's point number two to put on the armor of light not only how should we cut off the works of darkness point number two
We must cast off the works of darkness
Not only should we practice separation, but we should practice sanctification
Go back to Romans chapter 13 if you would
Look at verse 12
Romans chapter 13 and verse 12 the Bible says this the night is far spent
The day is at hand Romans 13 verse 12, then he says this let us therefore cast off
the works of darkness
The those words cast off they have this idea of taking something off
Like if I were to take off this coat, I'd be casting it off
I would be removing it the Bible says that we must cast off
the works of darkness
and
Let us put on the armor of light now. What does that mean to cast off the works of darkness look at verse 13?
Let us walk honestly
Talked about that last week
Honestly
authentically
We should be real
if the world look if the world's gonna look at you and say and
See your light and glorify your father, which is in heaven you have to be the real thing
You can't be a hypocrite
Let us walk honestly as in the day, then he says then he says here's the opposite of that okay, not
Not in writing and that's applicable in 2020
If you're look if you're in writing you're not walking with light
That's why they write at night right not in writing and of course the word writing means it has to do with with disturbance violence
not in writing and
drunkenness
drunkenness talking about drinking alcohol and getting drunk
Not in chambering that has to do with
immorality and
Wantonness that has to do with lust not in strife. That's debate and contentious and
Envy that's desire look here's what he's telling you
He's telling you if you're gonna put on the armor of light before you can put on the armor of light you have to
Cast off the works of darkness you have to take them off
and then he gives us examples here of those types of things and
You know I would just say this this is a list of examples that we could look at lots of lists of examples
But the idea is this that we cannot be fighting the world while we're doing what the world does
We need to turn off we need to take off we need to cast off the works of
Darkness the works that the world does we need to take those up, and then he gives us these examples rioting
drunkenness
chambering
wantonness strife and being and look I would just say this this includes the things you say
What's a good rule of thumb?
The things that are done in darkness should not be done by the children of light
You ever notice that dark places are always sinful
kids learn this lesson
Dark places are sinful places
That's why casinos are dark
Cuz casinos are sinful
No Christian should ever walk into a casino period
you say why because they're dark because darkness happens there because
Prostitution happens there because drunkenness happens there because gambling coming happens there bars are dark I
Mean I've never been in a bar, but
anybody want to argue the fact that bars are dark and
kids
Not only are bars dark. They smell like piss and
they smell like throw up and
They smell like old failures of people who are a bunch of drunkards. There's nothing cool about it
The world makes you the world you see these ads and it's like all these fun people these people having fun
There's nothing fun in a bar. It's dark, and it's dirty and it and it's dreadful
It's dark. They keep it dark for a reason
They don't want you to see the truth of it
That's why clubs are dark. That's why concerts are dark by the way. That's why we don't have church in the dark
It's why we turn the lights on when we have church
Say well, I used to go to this church is liberal church, and it was all dark. You know why it was dark
Because they wanted it to feel like a casino
Because they wanted it to feel like a bar
Because they wanted it to feel like a rock concert because that's what they were having was a rock concert
That's why it was dark
This includes things that are done in darkness
But I would also say this this includes anything that you don't want to come out into light
Look if you're if you're keeping it a secret you have to ask yourself why
When somebody says don't tell pastor red flag
Don't-don't miss Joanne red flag
Look kids if somebody says don't tell your mom red red flag
Don't tell your dad run screaming and yelling in the other direction towards your mom and dad. Oh
Well, it was my friend who said
red flag
Look we need to cast off the works of darkness
We need to take off the works of darkness
We need to not do what look you can't fight the world when you're doing what the world does
Romans chapter 12 you're there in Romans 13. Look at Romans chapter 12 look at verse 1. I
Would teach you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that you present your body as a living sacrifice
God wants you to present yourself to him as a living sacrifice you say well
How do I present myself to him wholly and acceptable unto God?
And then he says this and I love this which is your reasonable service
There is nothing you do that is extraordinary for God, I'm not trying to hurt your feelings
I'm thankful for everything you do to me things people do around here for church and for God
I'm like, wow, that's amazing
But let me tell you something when it comes to when it comes to you doing it and I'm the pastor
My wife is the pastor's wife and we're like, wow, that's so nice of you. So thankful great. We appreciate you
That's great. But when it comes to God there is nothing you do that is
unreasonable
Don't ever get to the point where like well I do so much for you don't do nothing for God
God saved you from going to hell
Everything I give him after that is very reasonable
Which is your reasonable service verse 2 and be not notice his words conformed to this world
Like I'm just just beyond those to be honest is your life conform to this world
patterned after this world
following the course of this world that's set up by the devil and
Be not conformed to this world
But be you transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove
What is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God see we must cast off
Not only must we cut off and have no fellowship
With the unfruitful works of darkness and practice separation from the world, but then we should also practice
Sanctification and we must cast off the works of darkness
from our lives and
Then again, just like separation sanctification separation is from the world unto God
Sanctification is from the world unto God. Not only do we cast off the world we then put on Christ
Look at verse Romans 13 verse 12. You flip back to chapter 13
Romans 13 and verse 12
The night is far spent
The days at hand let us therefore cast off the works of darkness then he says this and let us put on
the armor of light
Let us walk
honestly as in the day not in rioting and drunkenness not in chambering and wanton is not in strife and vent and being
First 14, but notice these words, but put ye on
the Lord Jesus Christ
It's like this idea this concept
It's so simple. Yes. It's so difficult for us
He says you want to walk in darkness or you want to walk in light?
He said it's easy. Just take off darkness and put on light
Like I put on a coat. Yeah, like you put on a coat
You just make a choice to do it
Use the site to do it. I
Want to be a good Christian. Okay. Well then put on Jesus Christ and
Then you get up in the morning and you say well, what would Jesus do?
I'm gonna put on Jesus Christ. I'm gonna let him live through me. I am crucified with Christ
Nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life that I now live in the flesh
I live by the grace of the love Christ who loved me and gave himself for me
We put on Christ and then we look like Christ
So you put on Christ and you say well, what would Christ want me to do?
Well Christ would want you to show up for soul winning. I
Mean right. I mean, let's just be honest
We have soul winning on Thursday at 2 p.m
On the Sun on Saturday at 10 a.m. On Sunday at 2 p.m
And if you were honest with yourself and you ask yourself this question on Saturday morning at 10 a.m
What would Jesus want me to do?
If I put him on right now
It's not that complicated
When you speak to your children, how would Jesus want you to speak to your children?
When you speak to your spouse, how would Jesus want you to speak to yourself? Oh, it's not that easy
I can't you know, I can't control. Yeah, you can
Yeah, you can and here and you know, you can
We all can because we all decide to do it whenever we want to
It's happened to all of us. You're sitting there screaming at the kids. You're yelling at the kids
Look, I'm a preacher. So I just tend to yell in general and you know, I'm like yelling at the kids
Ding-dong hi
How are you
Don't tell me you can't control it
You don't want to control it
You're yelling at your husband. You're yelling at your wife ring. Hello
Yes, I'd like to learn about refinancing my mortgage I
Mean we turn it on and off
It's as easy as taking a coat off and putting a coat on it's just a decision you make you decide
Do I want to walk in darkness or do I want to walk in light?
Don't want to put off the Lord Jesus Christ. I want to put on
the Lord Jesus Christ
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not provision
for the flesh
to fulfill the lust thereof
In this passage, by the way, he gives us two practical advices just some practical advice for getting victory over sin
notice he says first of all, you must remove and replace in
Verse 12. He says let us therefore cast off and let us put on remove and replace
Look remove worldly music and replace it with godly music
Last night we had some of the young people live streaming
I don't know if you guys saw it, but we had them live streaming some instrumental music. Hey, that's great
That's on that's on YouTube. You say I feel like listening to something worldly turn that on
sing along
How do I get victory over sin you remove and replace see you remove the worldly crowd and you replace them with a godly crowd
You remove worldly music and you replace it with godly music you remove worldly entertainment
You replace it with godly interesting see let us therefore cast off and let us put on but then here's the second piece
Of advice for getting victory not only must we remove and replace but we must not provide opportunity
He says there in verse 12. He says make not provision for the flesh
Make not provision for the flesh
Here's what that means if you have a problem if you have a struggle with drunkenness with alcoholism
Then don't walk into a bar. But you know, no Christian should walk into a bar
Oh
You know, I was gonna walk in that bar and get a glass of water no, you're not
Make no provision for the flesh
Don't make an opportunity
For the flesh first Thessalonians if you would first Thessalonians chapter 5 you find the t-books are all clustered together
You're there in Romans. You got first thing going these Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians first Thessalonians first Thessalonians chapter 5
first Thessalonians chapter 5
We'll finish here
First Thessalonians chapter 5 look about what Bible says ye are all the children of light and
the children of the day
We are not of the night
nor of darkness
Therefore
He says look you're not children of the darkness. You're children of the light
You're not children of the night. You're children of the day
She says therefore he says for that reason let us not sleep as to others, but let us watch and be sober
For they that sleep sleep in the night and they that be drunken are drunken in the night, but let us
Who are of the day be sober then he says this putting on
Putting on
Then he gives us that list from Ephesians 6, right?
the armor of light from Romans 13 putting on the breastplate of faith and love and
for an helmet the hope of salvation
He says look
There is a conflict between darkness and light
Darkness does not comprehend light
Darkness is at odds with light
ye are the children of light and
Therefore you are in conflict
with darkness
But the only way you can actually fight darkness is to suit up
Is to put on the armor of light is to get ready to fight and engage in spiritual warfare next week
We're going to talk about actually fighting spiritual warfare. How do we fight in spiritual warfare, but before you even get there?
You got to take off the world and you got to put on the armor of light
You say this is that simple. It's literally that simple
Now we make it difficult we make it complicated our flesh makes it complicated
But you just decide
You just choose do I want to walk in darkness now? Here's how you do it. You don't set yourself up for failure
You cut off the world. I'm not talking about being an Amish person
I'm not talking about you know, I never want to talk to anybody in the world
But we cut off the world
We don't yoke ourselves up with the world. The world does not provide our main source of fellowship and friendship
We're friendly with them
but we realize
That the children of darkness the children of the world and the children of God are two different things
We cut off the world and then we cast off the world
You don't separate from the world, but bring the world in this with you
You take it off you take off drunkenness
Take off wantonness you take off chambering
You take off
The clothing of this world and you put on
The Lord Jesus Christ let's bow our heads and have a word of prayer Heavenly Father
Thank you Lord for your word
Thank you for the Bible and Lord. I pray you'd help us as Christians to learn this concept of separation and sanctification
We're separated from the world unto God we are sanctified from the world unto God Lord help us to be people
Who would be sanctified
People
Who would be holy
Lord help us to prepare to engage in spiritual warfare because the truth matter is this
The fights coming whether we like it or not whether we're ready for it or not
And when the devil shows up when that roaring lion shows up
We don't want to be trying to figure out where our armor is
Want to have it on want to be ready to engage to fight to stand
But I pray you'd help us the matchless name of Christ we pray
Amen we're now brother man