How should a Christian expose the works of darkness?
Not by delving into the works of darkness and becoming experts in evil: Satanic rituals and symbols, Free Masonry, strange gods and demons, astrology and other pagan practices, etc.
No, Christians expose the works of darkness for what they are by standing in contrast to them by their ways in Christ. (Or at least we should.)
Don't become experts in evil and expose yourself to demonic assault by delving into things that God is not pleased for you to be delving into, or risk being chastened by the Lord for doing this. Rather, become wise in your God and expose what is not of Him by embodying and bearing witness to what He is.
Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the 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... (Ephesians 5:8-13 ESV)
...As He is so also are we in this world. (1 John 4:17 ESV)
The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. (1 John 3:1 ESV)
Alas, this is not happening as it should be. Well we know the Scriptures about standing in contrast to the world by our lives in Christ Jesus and being salt and light in the world, but are they honestly true of us personally, or are they merely memorized and recited? How much contrast is there between the conduct and attitudes of unsaved people described in Romans 1:29-32 and the conduct and attitudes of apostate Christians described in 2 Timothy 3:1-5?
Many of us have strayed from our God by choosing ourselves rather than Him and by not keeping His word as we ought to, so we hardly stand in contrast to a world which is darker than ever before. The darker the world is, the more brightly Christians should shine in it, in contrast to it. So why don't we?
Return to your God, people of God, lest your Light be removed for neglect and rebellion, and you be left in darkness and not know it.
God didn't light us to blend in with the darkness and have a comfortable and easy life in this world for being compromising and spiritually lazy. Keep in step with the Spirit and do not quench Him; choose to die to yourself and to obey the Lord, daily, so that Jesus can shine through you, becoming brighter and brighter---that God may be glorified in you, before men and at all times, as He deserves and expects to be.
Not by delving into the works of darkness and becoming experts in evil: Satanic rituals and symbols, Free Masonry, strange gods and demons, astrology and other pagan practices, etc.
No, Christians expose the works of darkness for what they are by standing in contrast to them by their ways in Christ. (Or at least we should.)
Don't become experts in evil and expose yourself to demonic assault by delving into things that God is not pleased for you to be delving into, or risk being chastened by the Lord for doing this. Rather, become wise in your God and expose what is not of Him by embodying and bearing witness to what He is.
Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the 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... (Ephesians 5:8-13 ESV)
...As He is so also are we in this world. (1 John 4:17 ESV)
The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. (1 John 3:1 ESV)
Alas, this is not happening as it should be. Well we know the Scriptures about standing in contrast to the world by our lives in Christ Jesus and being salt and light in the world, but are they honestly true of us personally, or are they merely memorized and recited? How much contrast is there between the conduct and attitudes of unsaved people described in Romans 1:29-32 and the conduct and attitudes of apostate Christians described in 2 Timothy 3:1-5?
Many of us have strayed from our God by choosing ourselves rather than Him and by not keeping His word as we ought to, so we hardly stand in contrast to a world which is darker than ever before. The darker the world is, the more brightly Christians should shine in it, in contrast to it. So why don't we?
Return to your God, people of God, lest your Light be removed for neglect and rebellion, and you be left in darkness and not know it.
God didn't light us to blend in with the darkness and have a comfortable and easy life in this world for being compromising and spiritually lazy. Keep in step with the Spirit and do not quench Him; choose to die to yourself and to obey the Lord, daily, so that Jesus can shine through you, becoming brighter and brighter---that God may be glorified in you, before men and at all times, as He deserves and expects to be.
