Children of Light

There is a word that the Lord has been heavily impressing in my spirit. The subject of “Light and Darkness” is one for which we have named this youth conference. The title, “Children of Light,” is a subject that as a ministry and as young people, we need to revisit. The enemy has a campaign to convince the world as well as the children of God that the life that we now live in Christ Jesus is inferior to the lives we had in darkness prior to salvation. Many in the Body of Christ, especially young people, have been deceived into believing that the life of salvation is one of restriction, forced constraint and boredom. God has placed it in my spirit to remind us that this is simply NOT TRUE. The life of salvation is one of joy and peace.

The Spirit of God dwelling within us does not bring about forced limitations rather, God’s Spirit changes our desires so that we want to do those things that are pleasing unto Him. What was once pleasurable to us is no longer pleasurable when we receive Christ. As sons of God, it is imperative that we not only preach and teach the awesome life we have obtained through salvation, but to prove it with our lives. God has placed so many souls in our paths, our churches and lives so that we may prove that salvation is nothing like the impression the enemy has left in their minds. God trusts that if we truly embrace Him, our lives will cause the idealism some may have of salvation to change. This can and will happen as long as the world sees the joy, freedom and pleasure we receive through Christ.

It is significant that God would choose to minister this type of message to an assembly predominantly consisting of young people. In today’s world, the enemy seemingly has more to offer young people; and most young adults and teenagers will not submit themselves to holiness because they have been convinced that there is no pleasure in holiness. Friends, this is what I believe is our commission in such a time; to manifest that the life of Christ is not only fulfilling but is the only fulfillment we can really know. Salvation is not a life of going to church and drudging from day to day receiving no satisfaction as we await Christ’s return. Salvation is a supernatural birth that transforms far more than some of the habits we had. As we walk in the light of Christ through obedience, our affections for holiness become stronger.

Ephesians 5:1

1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

We established that our responsibility is to display the face of Christ. Christ is the light of the world and because we are in Him, we are children of light. The emotions of the Spirit were birthed in us at salvation. When we walk after Christ, our affections are attached to these emotions and it is easy to obey God. A presence of holiness rests upon us and men are drawn to the Father by our works of righteousness. Children follow without question or need for explanation.

A child does what his or her parent instructs because that child respects and fears that parent. Often, comprehension of why a certain instruction was given comes much later. This is how God expects us to follow His Word. Jesus told His disciples, “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3).

He knows what we need to suffer as well as experience and we must follow without question if we are to grow spiritually. Except we embrace the fact that God is our Father, we cannot follow Him. It is when we believe that we are able to make our own decisions that we begin to question His route.

Ephesians 5: 2-7

2 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 sweetsmelling savour.

3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

5 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.

6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

Apostle Paul admonishes us to shun all works of uncleanness because just as a walk of holiness will produce an appetite for more holiness, walking in sin produces a craving for unrighteousness. Though we are heirs of light, we can choose to walk in darkness. God instructs us not to permit any unholy thing because as we begin to reclaim ways, desires and attributes of the past, our affections are turned towards sin. The Bible tells us that we are servants to whomever we yield our members (our bodies). The more we yield our members to unrighteousness, the more we prefer sin. This is exactly what the enemy desires. He wants us to embrace the suggestions he whispers to us so that we all begin to prefer darkness. It is when we prefer sin and rationalize it as acceptable, that the face of the ministry is changed to one of ungodliness.

Our churches begin to take on a complexion of darkness when the saints prefer sin therefore the world can no longer see the difference between themselves and us. Saints, this is a testimony that we must fight against. If we are to overcome the works of the enemy, we must understand how he is usually able to deceive. The devil will present to us an alternative to what God has spoken and if our hearts are not in agreement with God’s Word we will choose the alternative.

God will extend to us a route of escape in the midst of temptation and at that moment we must refuse the option the devil has presented. When we embrace the relationships, the counsel and route of the spirit, we remain in the light. A consistent walk in righteousness will make it easy to choose that which is acceptable unto God all of the time. Darkness no longer has a place amongst us and we truly become children of light. This is the testimony that God wants us to have in the world. Let us look deeper into the comparison between light and darkness.

Ephesians 5:7-8

7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Oftentimes people in the church want to disassociate themselves with the darkness that is a part of their lives but the Bible tells us that when we were in sin, we WERE darkness. To be in darkness is synonymous with being dark. If we abide in sin, we bring darkness with us wherever we go, just as we bring light on the scene when we walk in light. THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS LIGHT. The spirit of sin is darkness therefore we must be honest with ourselves and defineour spiritual disposition by the spirit that we walk in at that time. God would not have us unknowledgeable about what it means to walk in light or the Spirit of God.

Ephesians 5:9

9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) To walk in the Spirit of God is to walk in His attributes.

Goodness, righteousness and truth always follow those who walk after the Spirit of Christ. If we say that we are walking after the Spirit but do not walk after all three of these characteristics, we lie and do not the truth. Goodness, righteousness and truth must co-exist in our walk in order for the Spirit to truly be revealed. Goodness represents the natural acts that man can see and acknowledge that it is of God. Righteousness is that which is acceptable unto God and truth is necessary for the ways of God to remain.

When we walk in the light, goodness, truth and righteousness flow from us and the Spirit of Christ is seen by mankind. We prove by our fruit; that which what is acceptable unto the Lord and man is given the portrait of salvation which God always intended for them to see. It is time now for the true sons of God to stand sure in the salvation with which we have been given.

The lost are crying out for something that is different from the options the devil has given them. They have had the money, fame, acceptance and drugs but they are crying out for something more. Those in darkness should not feel comfortable living in sin around us but rather they should be inquiring of us the source of our joy in the midst of trials and peace in the midst of turmoil. St.

Matthew 5:13-16

13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Loved ones, we have been given an awesome task but it is not one that God has not equipped us to fulfill. We have been given all we need to manifest Christ in the earth and if we embrace Him, this will happen. Young people, be encouraged for we are not the future, we are the answer for the world today. We are children of light.