Week 13 Grace of Illumination
“The more grace we have, the less we shall think of ourselves, for grace, like light, reveals our impurity”
Charles H Spurgeon
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
7 Therefore do not be partakers with them;
8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light
9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),
10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;
12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.
13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.
Ephesians 5:6-13 (NASB)
"Molten Iron" by Clint__Budd is marked with CC BY 2.0.
Background
Quote-Charles Haddon Spurgeon (19 June 1834 – 31 January 1892) was an English Particular Baptist preacher. Spurgeon remains highly influential among Christians of various denominations, among whom he is known as the "Prince of Preachers". He was a strong figure in the Reformed Baptist tradition, defending the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith, and opposing the liberal and pragmatic theological tendencies in the Church of his day.
Spurgeon was pastor of the congregation of the New Park Street Chapel in London for 38 years. Spurgeon authored sermons, an autobiography, commentaries, books on prayer, devotionals, magazines, poetry, and hymns. He is said to have produced powerful sermons of penetrating thought and precise exposition, and many Christians hold his writings in exceptionally high regard among devotional literature.
Passage-The book of Ephesians is a Prison Epistle (letter written while in prison). Paul wrote it about 60-62 A.D. The key personalities of Ephesians are the Apostle Paul and Tychicus. It was written to encourage believers to walk as fruitful followers of Christ and to serve in unity and love in the midst of persecution. In chapters 4-5, Paul encourages the believer to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling”. Every believer has a responsibility to live as servants of Jesus Christ. In these chapters, Paul teaches that it takes hard work to be in unity with others, and that we are to be “imitators of God” (5:1).
Lesson Notes
Opening Statement
Humility and inward reflection go a long way to helping manifest grace and mercy to the people we meet. Self-awareness of our fallen state as being in need of salvation is a first step to being able to present an inviting appearance others can see in the light reflected off of us by Jesus.
Ask: What is Grace?
Point: See the Definition of Grace.
Ask: Why do we need grace?
Point: First Reading (Romans 3:10-12 NASB)
Ask: Are we the only people who need grace?
Point: No, we are not. Everyone needs grace because everyone falls short of the glory of God and needs forgiveness.
Ask: Is God the only one who can show grace?
Point: No. Grace is not a trait held only by the divine.
Ask: What does grace lead to?
Point: Second Reading (Luke 6:36-38 NASB)
Ask: What is mercy?
Point: See the Definition of Mercy
Ask: Is God the only one who can show mercy?
Point: No. Like grace, mercy is something we can grant as well.
Ask: How do mercy and grace relate to the light?
Point: The light of Christ is not a flashlight we wave around trying to find imperfections, wrong-doing, or evil. The light of Christ is a lantern held aloft to guide people from the dangers of the darkness to the safety of the light.
Ask: Why are we focusing on mercy and grace relating to the light of Christ in the context of us being or reflecting that light of Christ?
Point: Third Reading (Matthew 5:14-16 NASB)
Ask: If we already have grace and mercy from God thanks to our faith in Jesus why do we need to have grace and mercy?
Point: The light of Christ is not meant to be hidden but held aloft so that others can see it. Those in the darkness who are searching for a better way will come to that light. We need to understand those people need grace and mercy from us as much as they need it from God.
Ask: Why do we need to make sure we show those attracted to our light grace and mercy?
Point: They will judge God by what they see and here from us.
Ask: What message will they see and hear from us?
Point: Fourth Reading (1 John 1:5-7 (NASB)
Closing Statement
Jesus is the light of the world. No one can come out of the darkness without Him. We are not the deliverers of others from their darkness. We are merely the tools of the divine to accomplish that task. Only God can change a heart. As the tool it is not our place to focus our light on a single point and draw attention to it. We simply must be what God intended us to be, each working within his or her gifts. This then lets our light shine in such a way that others see it and want to know more.
Questions for the Week
Are you shining your light about seeking for something or are you simply letting it broadcast its radiance for all to see?
What sort of reception do you see in the mirror for someone who approaches your light?
Is there a way to make your reception more Christ-like?
If the answer to the above question was yes, detail one or more active steps you can take to improve how you receive those who come into your light. If your answer was no or don’t know, then pray and ask God to direct your path so that your light is as effective as it can be.
Scripture
First Reading
10 as it is written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE."
Romans 3:10-12 (NASB)
Psalm 14:1-3
Psalm 53:1-3
Second Reading
36 "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
37 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned.
38 "Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."
Luke 6:36-38 (NASB)
Third Reading
14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16 (NASB)
Fourth Reading
5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;
7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
1 John 1:5-7 (NASB)
Definitions
Grace
noun
\ ˈgrās \
1a: unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification
b: a virtue coming from God
c: a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine assistance
2a: APPROVAL, FAVOR
stayed in his good graces
b archaic : MERCY, PARDON
c: a special favor : PRIVILEGE
each in his place, by right, not grace, shall rule his heritage
— Rudyard Kipling
d: disposition to or an act or instance of kindness, courtesy, or clemency
e: a temporary exemption : REPRIEVE
mercy
mer·cy | \ ˈmər-sē \
plural mercies
1a: compassion or forbearance (see FORBEARANCE sense 1) shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one's power also : lenient or compassionate treatment begged for mercy
b: imprisonment rather than death imposed as penalty for first-degree murder
2a: a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion May God have mercy on us.
b: a fortunate circumstance it was a mercy they found her before she froze
3: compassionate treatment of those in distressworks of mercy among the poor