Good morning. In my office last week, I looked ahead in this book through which we're going to see if there was information in there that we could use for a Christmas song. And I picked chapter five. And in chapter five, and some of your Bibles may have this. If you have the Nelson New King James Bible, you'll have the same format that I do. Or at least perhaps. You have three sections in this chapter. And you see that obviously reflected in both of them. We have walking love, walking light, and walking wisdom. And anybody who knows anything about Christmas, or what happens at that time of the year, and the songs and the messages, seek to portray the concept of love and light. We decorate trees, put lights on them. So, there's a lot in this particular context that speaks to what people observe and practice around Christmas time. And of course, part of this is behavior. And you know what's interesting is, it seems like that people can be more similar to each other around Christmas time than any other time of the year, or not. If you get into department stores and people are fighting over certain presents that they're after, and we've all seen the pictures of that. But in light of the message of chapter five, I wanna share And this is a Christmas song that is often sung. I want you to listen to the words. I'm not going to read all of it, but you better watch out. You better not cry. You better not pout. I'm telling you why. Santa Claus is coming to town. He's making a list. He's checking it twice. He's going to find out who's naughty and nice. He's coming to town. He sees you when you're sleeping. He knows when you're awake. He knows if you've been good or bad, so be good, for goodness sake. I think that's enough, but what I see reflected in the song, or principles in the Bible in terms... And by the way, I've got written over here in this pamphlet, omniscient and omnipresent. You know, here's a man that is able to travel the globe in a very short time. But he knows everything about you. So, people have ascribed to this individual godlike powers. But the idea of the song and what is captured and the implication is, if you meet the criteria... By the way, has anybody seen the new movie, Red? Has anybody seen that yet? Yeah. Did you like it? Okay. It is interesting. It's a Christmas movie. But the implication is, that depending upon your behavior, as to how many or the quality of gifts that you give. So there's a corresponding truth, in the sense that, as you hear me say so often, that our behavior, our lifestyle, on earth, as men and women of God, will translate into either positive language from our Lord and Savior, and or when it comes to stewardship as to what we receive if we receive anything. So you can see the connection between the song and some of the concepts that we take away from scripture. So having said that, I want to point out right up front about walking in love, the first seven verses. I printed out, because I like to do this, and you can have whoever wants them, but Isaiah 9, 6, and 7 is talking about our Lord. It's a super, super prophetic passage about who our Lord is. And there are combinations, people divide it differently, but unto us a child is born, But a son is given. I've always liked that. Don't ever miss that. A child is born, but a son is given, implying pre-existence. But what is to characterize this individual? How are we going to call him? Well, he doesn't leave us to doubt. He said his name will be called. And some people divide this, okay? Either wonderful counselor or wonderful counselor. Doesn't matter. Mighty God. Every time I read that, I wonder how people cannot understand the deity of Christ. When God's own scriptures refer to him as Mighty God. Everlasting Father. Prince of Peace. And then, of the increase of this government and peace, there'll be no end. Now, I'm not here today to, and I'm not gonna get into this, but I've got my own opinion of what's happening on the East Coast, and I share that with Phil. And maybe I ought to just say this to maybe help calm some people's minds. I believe, personally, and it remains to be seen, that the United States probably has come to the awareness of a maybe 9-11 type attack on this country. And that is the point of entry, perhaps. And of course, the last big thing happened in New York, and it's a short distance from the shore over to New York, from Jersey. So I personally believe, because there has been no harm, I believe that our government is surveilling a geographical area of which they may have received word that somebody is planning to do something big and negative. That's my take, and I just want to share that with you because it should help calm your fears. I don't believe in UFOs. I do believe in extraterrestrial beings. They're called angels. Demons. Demons, and demons, exactly. So, take that for what it's worth, and if that turns out to be the case, I'll be up here and I'll say, I told you so. But, yes, I'm sorry. It disappeared off the internet, but one of them crashed. Really? It is a military drone. Okay. I got it on my phone before it disappeared, but yeah. Okay, thank you. Thank you very much. So, getting to biblical text, and as we go through this, just keep in mind the correlation in some cases to Christmas, not that that was my primary intent, but obviously it's Christmas time, I needed to have a message that goes along with Christmas, So walk in love. Verses one to seven. Therefore, the imitators of God as their children. And notice imitators and the first thing it says, walk in love. Well, the Bible says God is love. The Bible says, as you know, God so loved the world, Christ so loved the church. So God is love. Not that that's all he is. That is simply one of many attributes that God has. Now, walking love, how? As Christ has loved us and given himself for us. And in that giving, the writer ties it into an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. Now, there's several things here, at least two things that I want to bring out. An offering and a sacrifice. Jesus Christ offered himself, allowed himself to be placed on a cross. Remember in the Old Testament, under the priesthood, in the tabernacle or temple, there was a specific approach to God. So you offered an animal, whatever the sin was, called for a specific animal to be slain, blood shed. But then, when the priest went inside, there was an altar of incense. And when he took that incense, that little pinch of incense, placed it on a hot coal, there was smoke and there was a wonderful aroma. And that aroma was typical of his folk. See, because it's all typical, it's folk of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. So, our Lord's love, Christ's love, was manifested in two things in verse two, and that is, he gave himself as a sacrifice, and that turned out, as far as God was concerned, for a sweet-smelling aroma. Now, But in the context, the writer, through the Spirit of God, goes to the negative. Okay, here's how you walk, but here's how you don't walk. And in verses three and following, fornication, and all of the cleanliness, or covetousness. He's going to mention covetousness twice, because what is it people are doing right now going to the stores? A great majority of people are doing what? This. And it's either the ones who buy or the ones who ideally want to receive a particular type of gift. Now let me just say this, okay? This is all Bible, I'm not making stuff up. But the Bible says, be content with such things as you have. Can anybody in here today say, I'm not guilty of that? I don't think so. But be content. Now, fornication, uncleanness, covetousness, let it not even be named among you as its fitting saints. Remember, if you're a believer, you are a saint, a sanctified individual. You are being sanctified for a period of time until you come into glory. Neither filthiness, foolish talking, coarse jesting. Carl, we had a lot of that in Armacode, didn't we? All three of these. They're all over, wherever you have men and women working, and of course, we live in a day. Have you noticed how common it is in our society now to use the F word? It seems like everybody's brother is using it. That's where we are, as a society. So, they're not quitting, but rather, what should we do? Give thanks. Give thanks. Be content with what you have. Now, we're not denigrating the concept of buying something for someone in love. But there are a lot of people right now, and there have been, they're out there buying just to be buying. And out of compulsion, they feel like because somebody gets them something, they have to get them something. So this has been around for years. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, or covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. So there is a direct correlation between behavior and the outcomes of those behaviors, either positive or negative. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things, notice, The wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. I mentioned to Phil earlier, in just a brief talk, of what is going on. If you're keeping up, that because the Houthis, Houthis, or any other, bombed an American oil tanker, America turned around and bombed a number with the deep bunker-busting bombs a number of places. I told my son last night, I said, do you know how World War I was started? One man was shot. That was it. One man was shot, and that led to what turned out to be World War I. So it doesn't take much. for unregenerate human beings on the planet who are in opposition to God to bring about, I personally don't think man is ever going to destroy the earth himself. That's saved for God to do that, okay? But nevertheless, there are things that are happening in the world today. I think about Israel regaining Mount Hermon, or Hermon, if you want to pronounce it that way, because of what happened in Syria. And what I love about all this, especially what's happening in Israel, that I believe it is beautifully relating to what the Bible says will be an end time scenario. So, therefore, do not be partakers with them. the negative language here that was attributed to people then and now that are doing these things. And remember the big picture, under the umbrella of the title, walk in love. Walk in love. And if you're doing any of these other things, you're not walking in love. You're walking in hatred, in spite. Well, what about walking in light? In Matthew 14, 15, and 16, we are told, you're the light of the world. You're the light of the world. And we are supposed to let our light so shine that we end up glorifying our father, which is in heaven. Now we are not the light as Christ is the light in the gospel of John, but we are like John as a light And there's a difference even in the original words. But Jesus is the light of the world. And by extension, by you and I having come to know Christ as Lord and Savior, and I'm gonna share that with you here in just a moment, about how His light can come to be our light. Okay? So, for you were once darkness, but now you're light in the world. And again, notice this. Walk, in verse two, walk in love. In verse eight, walk as children of light. Let me remind you what John says. There's a lot of language early on in the gospel of John. And the Bible says that light is coming to the world, but men, loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. Men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. You are the light and the Lord. Walk as children of light. For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness and truth. Now we're going to get more fruit of the Spirit in this book. There's a poster back there. Actually, we have, actually from the previous book, but the idea of that poster, and it enumerates the nine aspects of the fruit of the Spirit. Here, in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. Finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. You know, that phrase hit me. Finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. Let me ask you, how do you find out what's acceptable to the Lord? Amen. Exactly. You have to know who God is, what He has done, what His plans are, what satisfies Him, what disturbs Him, as far as human behavior, and here, finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. Well, I'm assuming everybody here has a Bible, don't they? And the Bible wants us to read it. It wants us to study it. It wants us to memorize it. it wants us to meditate on. And when you do that, you know exactly what is acceptable to the Lord. Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. As I read that, a scripture came to mind. Have no fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. John the Baptist. Herod. Herod. He had married somebody he shouldn't have. John the Baptist, when he was preaching, exposed that. That, no doubt, sent a wrong message to the woman. And she made plans, no doubt, to get rid of this guy. So, when John the Baptist exposed the marriage of him and his wife that was not lawful, then obviously he ends up in jail. And here's an interesting thing about it is that Herod, for a while, enjoyed listening to him. But like the other people in the Book of Acts, when Paul was under arrest, they listened to him because they wanted some money. They thought maybe Paul would bribe them. have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. Just as John exposed the darkness, inherited and suffered for it, Christians have done that throughout the centuries. Notice what kind of behavior it is. It's shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. Shameful. And I'm just going to say, because we have a lot of young people here this morning, but people, these multi-billionaires and what they've established, and especially, and I'll leave mine over here, especially through this, our young people are being exposed to things that says right here that are done in secret. Can you imagine from a very early age, because children now get phones, what do you think may be the youngest? I don't know. Four? Yeah. Six? I don't know. ... devices on that phone. Imagine what these young people, boys and girls, are able to see. at such an early age, and then bring that with that into their adulthood. It can't be good. But, in all things that are exposed, but all things that are exposed, are made manifest by the light. By the light. Jesus is not only, according to John 1, the word, but Jesus is the light. made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Now let me just mention this. I've done this in the past, I think. But the word manifest catches my attention. If you look at Word Up, run it down, and look at the explanation, it is to be revealed in one's true character. That's what that means. You see how fitting that is for the context? To be revealed in one's true character. Therefore, he says, awake you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you what? Light, see? Jesus already said in Matthew, you are the light of the world. But we are not light intrinsically, inherently, as Jesus is. He is light. But what it says right here, Christ will give you light. Again, the Holy Spirit is in a physical body. And we are to, use the word, manifest Our relationship with somebody that lives inside us. We're to manifest that. And the best way to do it is to let Him do it. Yield. The word is yield. Be yielded under the Spirit of God. If you do that, the light automatically comes on, and ideally, other people see that. Okay? So we have a reservoir, according to my bulletin. We have a reservoir of light that will never go out. And we can manifest that light by the conduct and the activity that the writer is indicating here should be done. And then thirdly, walk in wisdom. How would I tie that together? Well, you'd be a pretty smart person if you did this. You see? Wisdom. The Greek word is sophia. And it carries the idea with it of a lover of wisdom. A lover of wisdom. Walk in wisdom, 15 to 20. See then that you walk circumspectly. One of the main words in the original language for walking is peripateo, and it means your manner of lifestyle, your lifestyle. I printed one more here that I want to read about walking, okay? This has more than walking. This has walking, standing, and sitting. This is Psalm 1-1. walking, standing, and sitting. Next time you read that, notice the progression of walking, and then coming to a halt, and then sitting down. But what does it say? Blessed is a man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. I just can't miss the progression of here you are walking in a particular way according to this. It shouldn't be in the castle of the ungodly. But then you slow down and you stop and you stand. And then finally you sit down. And through it all, you see in a negative way, you see a comfort level. How many of us on Sunday afternoon especially us men, enjoy going home and kicking back in the recliner. So we've gone from walking to standing at a point and then you sit and enjoy that. But only in this case, it's the wrong way to do that. So, walk in wisdom. See then, that you walk circumspectly Not as fools, but as wise. There's the wisdom right there. The Bible in the Old Testament, in Proverbs and Psalms, has a lot, so much to say about wisdom. It says, get wisdom, get understanding, above all things, get wisdom. Well again, what is our source of wisdom? Who is our source of wisdom? David said, through the word, that he became wiser than all of his teachers. And then Paul says in 1 Corinthians, that Jesus Christ is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and peace. So by virtue of our relationship with Christ in salvation, That brings an automatic amount of wisdom with it, just by virtue of that. Redeeming the time. That word redeeming means to buy up. To buy up. I'm one of these people, and I think Rick is too. That from the time you get up in the morning, and your feet hit the floor, You've got to be engaged in something. And my son, he just cannot understand that about me. But that's just the way I am. I feel like if I'm not doing anything productive, I'm wasting time. Time in the context of the word of God, who we are in Christ and the family of God. And I've told you this, and I'm not bragging about this, but I like to tell it because of the call. I used to be, I used to love to fish, love to fish. I would walk probably, I would say it's probably three, four, five miles from the house to the strip mines just to fish. When God saved me, I became convicted. of the amount of time I was spending fishing. And I just quit. I quit fishing. That's just me. I can't put that on you. But that's me. But I say that because this word redeemed the time. Buy it up. Why? Because the days are evil. Listen, planet Earth is not going to get better and better and better and better. It's going to get worse and worse and worse. And our Lord is going to come at a point in our history, just as he did in Israel's history and in Egypt's history and so many other histories where he said, enough is enough. And he dealt with it. Therefore, do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Years ago, when I read a passage, I think it's 1st or 2nd Thessalonians, where I would tell people, I said, I know where God's will for your life is. Well, I do because of this. Paul says, this is the will of God, even your sanctification. That's true, should be true of all of us. Do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation or excess, but be filled, controlled. That word filled means to be controlled. Be filled with the Spirit, the Holy Spirit. Let the one inside you as a believer control you. Don't you try to control all of your events around you. Be filled with the Spirit. Well, notice next time you read through the Bible, especially in the New Testament, in the book of Acts primarily, every time somebody is filled with the Spirit, their mouth opens up and they start praising God in one way or another. Every time. Can't help it. In those early times in the Book of Acts, when people were filled with the Spirit, some of them began to speak in tongues. And usually, when you're filled with the Spirit and you speak the content, invariably ends up praising God or Christ. or the word. So here it is, right on the heels of being filled with the spirit, speaking to one another, how? In psalms, in hymns, and spiritual songs. Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. I assume that because I do it, everybody does it. As a Christian, there are times in your life that you're like on cloud nine. And when that happens, what usually comes out in the loud? Praise or singing, right? Amen. Making melody in your heart to the Lord. Giving thanks always. For what? For all things to God. God the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now, I purposely stopped there, and not dealing with 21, because we've got to go through chapter 4 yet, and then come back to this particular place. And verse 21 really belongs more with verse 22. Because what he's going to do, he's going to make the basic statement, submitting to one another, And then he will give you examples of how people in a family are to submit to one another. What does that look like? Well, that's another passage, okay? So, walk in love, walk in light, and walk in wisdom. All of these are available to us. through our relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and through the Word of God. So I guess a simple application would be that at this time of the year, when people are singing songs, and they're supposed to be jolly, express what the Bible has suggested all along. Don't wait for a particular holiday to be nice to somebody, but do that which the word of God, and this is just one little example in the New Testament of how men and women and young people who are saved are supposed to conduct themselves on planet Earth. And through that positive conduct, people, and this has happened, But Peter says, be ready to give an answer to anybody that asks of the hope that's within you. So if you maintain your Christianity in a positive way, and unsaved people see you, and they see the love and the peace and the wisdom that you have, that you bring out every day, It will not be unusual for people in your sphere of activity to ask you, what is it you have that I don't have? And it'll give you a wonderful opportunity to do exactly what Peter said to do, to be ready to give an answer to everyone that asks of the hope that's within you. Let's pray. Lord and Heavenly Father, You have made it abundantly clear in this passage that you have all of the resources for us by which to be godly men and women, by which to be light and salt in a dark and dying world. You have everything at our disposal. Give us the wisdom, dear Lord, to avail ourselves of those things that we need, they are channeled through the Holy Spirit that lives inside the believer. Just give us the wisdom to let him have his way. And Lord and Heavenly Father, in doing so, we will honor and glorify you in this world, exactly why we are here, in Jesus' name. Is Barb downstairs? OK, I got it. 572. OK. 572.