[0:00] Ephesians chapter 2 to begin. Got a call from Brother Russ tonight saying that he went into the emergency room on Monday and he was just not feeling well.
[0:14] It was two weeks ago that he got his COVID shot, his first one I believe, and he didn't feel quite well from that and now just some things came back, some symptoms or just some feelings and pains in different places that he said, Deborah Osseta, you're going.
[0:31] So she took him in and they ran a lot of tests and never found anything worthy of speaking of. And so they sent him home and the only thing they said was they think it's COVID shot related.
[0:44] They don't know. So he said he probably could have came tonight, but he better play it safe and he wants to have the full package here on Sunday. So just be in prayer that he'll get well and feel better, that all the symptoms, whatever it is, will go away.
[0:57] I asked him if it was the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. He said, no, it wasn't that one. And we both agreed it was probably related to Deborah as well. That was his words, not mine.
[1:10] All right, you're in Ephesians and chapter number two, and we're going to run through, skim a few chapters here of Ephesians quickly and just kind of set the stage for something I want to go over tonight.
[1:26] A little message I'm going to call leave the light on. Leave the light on. So let's build this and just kind of get some background to where we're going to be. In Ephesians chapter two, verse number 10.
[1:40] It's for friendship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. So now that you're saved, you're a new creature in Christ Jesus, and it should start to look like it.
[1:54] And the evidence of that is that Christ Jesus created you, he fashioned you, or his workmanship, he's working with you and making you into something, like the vessel on the potter's wheel.
[2:08] And you're created in Christ Jesus unto good works. He didn't make you and fashion you to bad works. You're not going to be able to sin and say, God made me this way, because no, he didn't. What Jesus Christ works in you is turning you into something righteous and toward good works.
[2:25] And then God ordained this. This is something God ordained that you should walk in them. This is his desire for your life, your new life, a new way of living, for you to walk in good works.
[2:37] Now, verses 11 and 12. This is about your past. Wherefore, remember that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh who are called on circumcision by that which is called the circumcision in the flesh made by hands, that at that time ye were without Christ.
[2:53] So, you know, you're not really expected to do too much good when you're without Christ. Being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, you know, you're not even part of God's people and all his working in the Old Testament times.
[3:05] You're nothing to do with that, so God's not expecting too much out of you. From the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world, but now in Christ Jesus, you who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
[3:21] So, again, your past, the sins of your past, no Christ, no God, no hope. That's a thing of the past. As far as God's concerned, he's put those sins under the blood. And he's brought you nigh to him because of that blood of Christ.
[3:35] So, God now gives you an opportunity and it's, may, a calling to walk in good works, to walk in newness of life. Now, turn to chapter 4, Ephesians chapter 4, and we'll pick up some similar stuff in verse 17 and 18.
[3:54] 17 through 20. Verse 17.
[4:25] But ye have not so learned Christ. So, that was you, but now you're washed from your sins and God is in you. And he's saying that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk.
[4:38] So, something's got to change in your walk. God is looking for a change. Continuing in verse 22. He tells us to put off the old man and put on the new man. Verse 22. Now, go to chapter 5.
[5:05] And let's notice verse number 1. Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children. Now, I skipped over some material. So, if you see a therefore, you're supposed to look and see what it's there for.
[5:18] And in verse 32, he's referring to you forgiving one another. He says, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. The verses we skipped was dealing with just some practical applications of you put off the old man, you put on the new man.
[5:33] And I know we've covered this material already. And in verse 32, you're forgiven. So, God forgave you for Christ's sake. So, be ye therefore followers of God as dear children.
[5:45] So, you have a new life and you have a new leader that you're to submit to. Followers of God. And so, now chapter 5 and verse 2. And we're going to read down to verse 11. And the Bible says, 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 sweet-smelling savor.
[6:05] But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not be once named among you as become as saints. It's neither filthiness nor foolish talking nor jesting, which are not convenient, but rather giving of thanks.
[6:18] For this ye know that no whoremonger nor unclean person nor covetous man who is an idolater hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words, for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
[6:34] Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord. 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.
[6:49] And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. Reprove the unfruitful works of darkness.
[7:00] Walk as children of light. Walk in love, verse 2. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. How are we to reprove their works of darkness?
[7:14] Because that's the passage. That's what it describes. They're the children of darkness. We're the children of light. We're not to have fellowship with their unfruitful works. Instead, we're supposed to reprove their works.
[7:27] How? Is it by pointing a finger at them? Is it by preaching and calling them out? Well, I don't know about that because in verse number 12 it says, For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done on them in secret.
[7:43] So I'm not sure that it's talking about you verbally reproving them. But rather, look at verse 13. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light.
[7:55] For whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Remember that you are light. Verse number 8.
[8:06] For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord. The word of God is likened to light. It's declared to be light, a light to your path. The Lord Jesus Christ is the light, the true light.
[8:20] That lighteth every man that cometh into the world. But there's one more thing and it's you. It's you that's light. Ye are light in the Lord. And verse 13 says, All things that are reproved are made manifest by the light.
[8:37] For whatsoever doth make manifest in light. The context of this statement is you, the believer, are to reprove their works of darkness. How? By your light.
[8:47] Not necessarily by your mouth, but by living those good works that you were created for. Light manifests everything.
[8:59] For what it is and for what it is not. In John chapter 3, let's turn there quickly. You know the passage, I believe. John chapter 3. And look at verse 19 through 20.
[9:11] John chapter 3, verse 19. The unbeliever is condemned already.
[9:24] And there's a reason because he's got this thing for darkness. And in verse 19 he says, This is the condemnation that light has come into the world and men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil.
[9:37] For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light. Neither cometh to the light. Lest his deeds should be, there it is, reproved. His deeds are reproved by the light.
[9:49] He that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. Now, we're not to have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
[10:01] The unfruitful works of darkness and workers of darkness are not going to come to us to have their deeds reproved because they don't want anything to do with it. They will love their evil, as the scripture says.
[10:15] And they won't come to the light. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light. And he wants to be sure that his deeds are right. And he wants to come to the word of God. And he wants to come to Jesus Christ and make sure that what he's doing is acceptable to God.
[10:27] Now, what about you and I? This passage that we read in Ephesians and kind of went through this description of light and how things are reproved, it's going to be by your testimony.
[10:39] By the testimony that you have to the world around you and to the lost that you have within your circle. And I want to say this tonight, the message, leave the light on.
[10:50] You know how it is when you leave the house. Sometimes you leave a light on. Why do you leave the light on? Well, you don't want to make anyone think that no one's home sometimes. For security reasons, perhaps.
[11:01] Or when you get home, you don't want to fumble through the dark. You want to leave the light on. You want, that light's a blessed thing. When the lights go out, I remember being in Pensacola and having a hurricane come through and it just cut the power to everything for nearly a full week.
[11:14] And beyond, the only good thing about it, as far as the darkness goes, that was I was able to see stars like I've never seen my life. Because there was just nothing forever. But most of the time, though, we were just in darkness.
[11:27] We had candles burning, batteries went down, but it was just, there was a, the evenings, darkness prevailed. And that, and the noise of generators everywhere.
[11:38] But there was darkness. And if we could have had light, well, we would have turned it on with quickness. If we had light, we probably flipped the switch a hundred times during that week. If that would have done anything, we would have taken it.
[11:50] We wanted light. Light is a blessing. Thank God that the first words in this Bible that were recorded that he said is, let there be light. And it's, there was light.
[12:02] And God makes us light. And your manner of life, as in your testimony, that is perceived by others, that is, it's seen by others.
[12:13] It's not what you say about yourself. It's what they see you do. And they see you act. And how you react. And the way they think you are. That's your testimony.
[12:24] That's what speaks about you more than just your mouth speaking. To your families, your friends, your coworkers, to strangers. And it ought to shine. Your work ought to shine for Jesus Christ a little bit differently than theirs shines.
[12:41] The thought is that the light of the world, God is inside of you. And Jesus Christ said, let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works. The thought tonight is, don't keep it to yourself.
[12:55] Leave the light on. When you leave this place, leave the light on. When you leave this place, it's easy to come in here and to sing, oh, how I love Jesus.
[13:08] But when you're standing there and work with coworkers around, is it as easy to say, I love Jesus. Is that easy or is that hard? Why is it harder to do it out there than in here?
[13:20] The light can shine in here very nice because there's lots of lights in here. You know when we turn, when we strung those Christmas lights up here over the holidays, each one of those little bulbs, I don't know what they put forth, but it isn't much at all.
[13:35] But I thought, I don't know if this will do it, if it'll be quite enough. But when we got them all up there, it was nice. It was just enough to be what we wanted it to be. But one by itself, not a chance.
[13:45] But when it all came together, it was enough. And when we're all together in here, just the same, it shines. It brings it out of you a little more. It's enough. But when you go out there, you probably feel like, I'm not enough.
[13:58] I can't do this by myself. I want to challenge you that you can. Leave the light on when you leave this church. When you go back into the darkness, leave the light on. Let them see who you are.
[14:09] And I'll give you a few categories here that can help you to learn to do this. You don't have to shine as bright as the sun while you're out there. That's the Lord Jesus Christ. And you're not going to be him.
[14:21] But you can be better than you are. And you can let your light shine enough that somebody can see you. So let's take a look at this here. And let me say, first of all, leave the light on by your character.
[14:33] By your character. I will look at the women first and the men as well. So come back to Proverbs chapter 31. And you know, this is the spot to go to. If you're a lady here, this is a precious chapter in the scriptures for the virtuous woman.
[14:51] And so by your character, that is what's on the inside of you. The world ought to see a difference based on what comes out. What's on inside? There ought to be something better.
[15:02] And what's something better inside of you ought to reprove the liars in this world. And it ought to reprove the lazy. And it ought to reprove the lawless around you.
[15:14] Because there's something inside of you, a character inside of you. In Proverbs 31, let's just kind of bounce through this at verse number 11 and 12. Notice the character of this virtuous woman as she is trustworthy.
[15:26] And verse 11 says, the heart of her husband doth safely trust in her so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
[15:39] He can trust that woman. She's trustworthy. That's a character thing. Now she's a hard worker. In verse 13, she seeketh wool and flax and worketh willingly with her hands.
[15:51] Look later at verse number 27. She looketh well to the ways of her household and eateth not the bread of idleness. She's not only trustworthy, but she's a hard worker.
[16:04] She's not lazy, not laying around. The old, when I was growing up, the old, the way you'd describe that is the lady that's sitting on the, all day in her bathrobe watching soap operas on the telephone.
[16:16] Now I don't know if things have changed since then. I imagine society's not quite that way, but somebody's probably doing it. But she's a hard worker.
[16:27] In verse 14, she provides food. Notice in verse 14, she's like the merchant's ships. She bringeth her food from afar. Not only that, in verse 15, she prepares meals.
[16:38] She riseth also while it is yet night and giveth meat to her household and apportion to her maidens. Notice that she's wise in financial decisions. Verse 16, she considereth a field and buyeth it.
[16:50] And with the fruit of her hand, she planteth a vineyard. She's compassionate. Verse 20, she stretcheth out her hand to the poor, yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
[17:02] Now this is not the woman every single day of her life. She's, if you read it literally, it's impossible for her to do all these things every day of her life. But this is the character of a virtuous woman.
[17:15] She's worthy of honor. In verse 25, strength and honor are her clothing and she shall rejoice in time to come. And finally, she is, I know verse 26, there's wisdom, there's kindness associated with this woman.
[17:30] This is her character. She openeth her mouth with wisdom and her tongue is the law of kindness. She's worthy of praise. At the end of this chapter, it says that, verse 28, her children arise up and call her blessed, her husband also, and he praiseth her.
[17:45] Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favor is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands and let her own works praise her in the gates.
[17:58] Notice three times in those four verses, praise comes up to this woman. She's deserving of it because of her character, because of her character. So women, let the light shine and leave the light on in your character.
[18:13] Let the world see there's something more to you. And it's not because you are tough or so compassionate because Jesus Christ is in you and he can shine forth that, that, that, in your character, that trustworthiness, that desire to work hard and not be seen as a bum, as one that lays, lays around the house and does nothing with their time or does more with their tongue than with their hands.
[18:43] Wisdom and kindness, deserving of honor and praise. Notice now men come back to the book of Job and look at this guy. Let the light on, leave the light on by your character.
[19:01] Look at Job chapter 29. And this guy, he just impresses me. In Job 29, we already know Job from his introduction to being a perfect man.
[19:18] He's upright, one that feareth God, escheweth evil. He's quite a man. And for God, that was God's words though. That wasn't just the writer. That was God declaring that about Job.
[19:32] He's got quite a character. Verse number 7 of chapter 29. Job says this, When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street, the young men saw me and hid themselves.
[19:47] And the aged arose and stood up. Wow. So the young guys are taken off because there comes Job and they don't want to be around him. The aged though, they are, it should be the opposite, right?
[20:00] Aren't you supposed to rise up before the hoary head, the elderly? But no, when Job shows up, they're rising up for him. This man is very established and they revere him.
[20:14] Verse 9 says, The princes refrained talking and laid their hand on their mouth. Princes, they don't have anybody to check them. They say what they want and do what they want and they've got some power and the money to back them up and nobody's going to talk down to them.
[20:31] The nobles held their peace and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth. Verse 11, When the ear heard me, then it blessed me and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me.
[20:44] You know what that means? That means when people saw Job on their everyday ventures, they let people know, I saw Job today. My son was working with Chris Ketchum now, I don't even know where he was, but he said that a big motorcade drove by and they said it was Vice President Harris was coming through with all that show and he came home and he told me about it.
[21:08] You know why? Because he witnessed somebody that's a pretty important person in our nation and it stood out to him and he came home and he told dad about it. I saw so and so today and you do it too if you ever see somebody, some celebrity or superstar, somebody that somebody, you go tell your friends, you tell your family, I saw, that's what they said.
[21:25] When the eye saw me, it gave witness to me. It went around and told everybody, I saw Job today. Did you really? What was he doing? I saw him coming into town. He was up there.
[21:37] But why was that? Come down a little bit later to verse 21. He's continuing to talk about the way he's responded to. He says, Unto me men gave ear and waited and kept silence at my counsel.
[21:50] After my words, they spake not again and my speech dropped upon them and they waited for me and they waited for me as for the rain and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
[22:02] If I laughed on them, they believed it not and the light of my countenance, they cast not down. I chose out their way and sat chief and dwelt as a king and the army as one that comforteth the mourners.
[22:14] I'm just showing you, Job was extremely revered and honored, but he deserved it and there's a reason why. Let me show you a few things that he did here. I skipped over the passage. Verse number 12.
[22:26] Verse number 12. Here's why. Because I delivered the poor that cried and the fatherless and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
[22:40] I put on righteousness and it clothed me. My judgment was as a robe and a diadem. I was eyes to the blind and feet was I to the lame. I was a father to the poor and the cause which I knew not I searched out and I break the jaws of the wicked and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.
[22:58] Then I said I shall die in my nest and I shall multiply the days of my sand. My root was spread out by the waters and dew lay all night upon my branch. My glory was fresh in me and so Job's done some things.
[23:10] He doesn't overlook even the poorest of men, the blind and the lame. He cares. He shows it in his character. There's more in the next chapter and I'm just feeling like this time's getting away from me again so I'm not even going to go into that but you can read this man.
[23:27] He stood upright throughout all this trial and testing. Why? Because he had character. He had said once by mine integrity I hold fast. Job had character, man and he showed it to everybody.
[23:41] Everybody honored and revered him because they knew what kind of a man he was. It wasn't about his wealth. It was about his character. Leave the light on. You want to find somebody to live up to and to match?
[23:53] Look in this book and find that man and read about what he declared about himself that he wasn't boasting that he was just declaring while he's on his back getting totally beat down by the devil just saying I didn't do anything wrong.
[24:05] This is what I did for the poor. This is what I did for that person. He was true and he was honest about it. You want to try to match somebody? Try to match Job. And I don't say this lightly but good luck because that man there he had character.
[24:21] I know that's kind of an extreme case the virtuous woman who's kind of you know set up on a pedestal just to look up to and try to so is Job. He's set up on a pedestal try to reach out and try to be like him.
[24:34] That's setting the bar pretty high and maybe you feel like well that's a little too high for us but wait a minute. What did God what's God expect of you right now in your character? I mean I don't want to just throw this out all the time but be ye holy for I am holy he said.
[24:53] I don't know about you I don't I wish he would just not say that. Why you expect that much from me God? I just wish you wouldn't expect so much from me because in truth I don't expect that much from me if I'm going to be honest.
[25:11] I don't expect myself to be holy. I'm ready to write a check that says I'm flesh. Remember? Remember me? Just flesh. You said so.
[25:23] But he also told that flesh to put his power put his surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ and to put off that flesh and to put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provisions for the flesh to fulfill it the lust thereof.
[25:38] And he does expect me to be holy. He does expect for when I walk out of these doors to leave the light on in my character. He expects me to show character in this world to show them that I'm light in the Lord and I'm not going to walk like the children of darkness.
[25:57] Secondly, leave the light on by your conduct. By your conduct. Now, this is outward. This is what people see and this is the way you react to certain situations and circumstances.
[26:10] The things that you allow in your life perhaps. things that you participate in. Your conduct ought to reprove the sin of others. Your conduct ought to reprove their sin.
[26:23] Not your mouth, your conduct. When everybody laughs at something that's perverted and you turn your head away and walk away, that's your conduct reproving, I don't want any part in this.
[26:37] That's not the way I talk. That's not the way I'm going to live. And I love the Lord Jesus Christ. That's why. Your conduct can be different. And that's how you leave the light on.
[26:48] You have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them. Reprove them by your conduct. In Colossians 3, and I'm not going to go there, but you're to mortify those members.
[27:02] It's again about putting the old man off and the new man on. In Philippians chapter 1, we're told to have our conversation as it becometh the gospel of Christ. Meaning, you're representing Jesus Christ everywhere you go, everything you're involved in, representing Jesus Christ, and it ought to show in your conversation or your conduct, the way you live.
[27:24] Third, think about this. Leave the light on by your comments. By your comments, your speech. James says that the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity.
[27:36] He says, that tongue out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Isn't that a great way to say it?
[27:47] These, my brethren, it shouldn't be that way. Your mouth is to be given to the Lord Jesus Christ. Shouldn't be coming out with good words and bad words, the same tongue, the one that he bought.
[28:00] So leave the light on. Let's come to Colossians and see this. If I would have had you in chapter 3, you'd have been right there already, but Colossians chapter 4. Colossians 4.
[28:21] And notice verses 5 and 6. The Bible says, walk in wisdom toward them that are without.
[28:34] That's your lost. That's the ones you're reproving, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt that it may, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
[28:47] Your speech be always with grace. Notice verse 16. Let the word of Christ, I'm sorry, back in chapter 3, verse 16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace, there it is again, in your hearts to the Lord.
[29:06] And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. If the word of Christ dwells in you richly, it'll show by your comments, it'll come out.
[29:21] Peter said, if any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God. So let the light on, leave the light on, and let the light of the scriptures come out of your mouth.
[29:34] Let the new man who the Bible said we read is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. Let that stuff show. Let it come out. Don't bite your tongue all the time.
[29:48] It's pretty easy for your flesh to have something to say. Like to have a nasty remark or to rise up in a fight. It's quick to let those things fly.
[30:01] But leave the light on. Let your light so shine before men by your comments. James says blessing, not cursing. Paul says seasoned with grace, your speech all the way with grace.
[30:14] look at Philippians chapter 2. Here's a good one. Philippians chapter 2. Leave the light on when you leave this place by your comments.
[30:27] Philippians chapter 2 and look at verses 14 and 15. Do all things without murmurings and disputings that ye may be blameless and harmless the sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation among whom ye shine as lights in the world holding forth the word of life.
[30:52] Leave the light on by your comments. Get rid of the murmurings. Get rid of the disputings. and let the light shine. That negative spirit, that fighting and complaining and arguing, it's so, it's so, it's just your flesh and it's in me, it's in you, but leave the light on.
[31:14] Leave the light on by your company and by your companions. David said, a froward heart shall depart from me. I will not know a wicked person. Why?
[31:25] Because two can't walk together unless they're agreed. And the Bible teaches us to come out from among them and be separate. In 1 Corinthians chapter 5, we're told not to have fellowship with a particular person, with fornicators of this world, and with such in one, know not to eat.
[31:45] And so when you leave here, let your light so shine. Leave the light on by the company that you keep. They say birds of a feather flock together. Well, that's so true.
[32:00] And if you're going to leave the light on, then you're going to gravitate toward light, right? If you're going to walk in darkness, that's what you're going to gravitate toward. Come to 1 John chapter 1.
[32:13] It's just popped in my mind here. 1 John chapter 1. 1 John chapter 1. If there's nobody out there for you to accompany with, well, there is one friend that sticketh closer than a brother, and he'll never leave nor forsake you.
[32:32] And you may feel bored. You may feel like you just have nothing to do. At the very least, which is at the very most, actually, you have the Lord Jesus Christ.
[32:43] And verse number 3, 1 John chapter 1, says, That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us. And truly, our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
[32:56] These things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him and declare unto you that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not the truth.
[33:12] But 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, cleanseth us from all sins. There's some company that you can keep right there if you leave the light on.
[33:27] It's a fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father that you need, brother and sister. You need that throughout the week, by the way. You can't walk out these doors and let the light of God be snuffed out in your heart and just go through this life.
[33:42] You need that fellowship with him. You just can't come in here once in a week or twice a week and all of a sudden just, it's on. We're good again. It can help you, lift you up, but you better have that fellowship with him when you leave this place.
[33:57] That fellowship's more than you can, more than I can convey, how necessary it is. That's the Christian life. Wrapping this up here, leave the light on by the company you keep. Leave the light on by your convictions.
[34:09] By your convictions. Everybody has convictions. And one day, we're going to do a real good study on convictions that it's changed my life, the way I think.
[34:20] It's helped me a lot. It's a message that I heard and then really dug into and expounded on the study on convictions. And we all have convictions about different things, about what you should vote for or who you should vote for.
[34:33] You have convictions about what you should wear or shouldn't wear, about what you should or shouldn't listen to. There's so many areas of life that you don't even necessarily have a perfect Bible verse for, but you inside have a conviction or maybe you don't even have a conviction about it, but there is one that you could obtain with a walk with God.
[34:53] And what I want to tell you is to leave the light on by your convictions, by what you decide is acceptable and what you decide is unacceptable for your personal walk just throughout life or for your home as a family or with what you allow with your family or children.
[35:10] Have some convictions. A Christian ought to be known for his convictions and for having some. The Bible says in Romans to let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. That is, he's got to have some convictions about what is right and what is wrong and what is and is not acceptable.
[35:28] And we'll expound on that someday because it's a really worthy study, I assure you. And then finally, by your choices, by your choices and your decisions and your preferences, are they based on the scriptures?
[35:41] Are they based on the light? Or is it just, this is the way everybody is. This is the way the world is. This is the way I feel. This is what I enjoy. That's just flesh, by the way.
[35:52] If what comes out of your mouth is I like it, it's probably flesh. It's probably flesh. But your testimony, leave the light on by your choices you make. Um, we're going to leave here tonight and you are, according to the scripture, if you're saved, you are children of light and you're amongst children of light.
[36:12] But when you walk out that door, leave the light on. Leave it on in these areas of your conduct and your character, your speech, your comments, the company you keep.
[36:24] Consider whether that's, they are light in the Lord, whether you're having a good influence on them or whether they're having a negative influence on you. If you don't stand out at work or stand out anywhere you go as a Christian, I can tell you why.
[36:39] It's because you're not leaving the light on. The light's not shining at all. And if it's not going to shine through you, who's it going to shine through? Remember last week when I was reading about that missionary and he said that I don't consider myself a youth pastor very good or a good minister to youth, but if I don't do it, who's going to do it?
[37:01] And so he said, we're going to do it. Do the best we can. And my challenge to you is where you work and where you live and in your life, if you're not going to shine, who's going to shine?
[37:13] Amen. Somebody needs to step up and shine when they leave this place and be children of light and reprove the unfruitful works of darkness. Let's bow together and let's be dismissed in a word of prayer.
[37:30] I wonder tonight, before we do that, these are not the sayings of Toby. This is the word of God. This is the scriptures that have given life to you in your soul.
[37:47] This is the God that cared for you and loved you and sent his son to die for you. And this is what he's asking of you is to live for him and to have fellowship with him and not to have fellowship with the world and the darkness around you.
[38:03] This is his idea. And I love this line. I've heard this going to Bible school. Don't get mad at me. Get mad at the book. Get mad at God who wrote the book.
[38:14] That's all I'm giving you is what he wants you to be. What he expects you to be. So it makes me wonder tonight, are you living up to this standard here of the scriptures of shining as a light in the world?
[38:29] It's a crooked and perverse generation out there. And where are they going to see anything that's going to draw them to Calvary? Where are they ever going to see that God loved them and sent his son to pay for their sins if you're living just like them or if you're keeping your mouth shut or if you've got your headphones on and have no interaction with them?
[38:50] Christian, God wants to use you. He created you in Christ Jesus unto good works. So may the world see our good works.
[39:01] May they see we're different. And may we each be convicted in some way in some area of our heart. And may God help us to leave the light on. Father, tonight I pray that you'll convince us in our hearts and minds that we need to heed this.
[39:17] I pray that your spirit that's living inside of us would be shouting at us and telling us we need to heed this. God help us to clean up our testimonies and clean up our speech and our conduct and our character in front of the eyes of the lost.
[39:35] And may we glorify Jesus Christ and may we preach Jesus Christ and may we exemplify a change. A change that you made in us. Not one that we've decided I'm going to quit this and do that.
[39:46] One that you've decided and have worked inside of us. Father, thank you for our Savior. Thank you for giving us a better way. Thank you for the new man.
[39:58] And so Lord, help us to be renewed in the spirit of our mind and God, may we walk after righteousness and true holiness the way you've created us in Christ Jesus. God, I don't want to let you down.
[40:09] I pray that nobody in this room would let you down. We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ and nobody here needs to say I didn't know. No excuse is going to be accepted.
[40:23] So God, challenge and burden us, please burden us inside to live right for Jesus' sake. Amen. Amen.
[40:35] We're going to...