Works of Darkness
November 29, 2011

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" (Ephesians 5:11).

What are these "works of darkness" which we must avoid?  Some of these works are enumerated in Romans 13:12-13: "Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, . . . not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying."  A Christian is thus to "cast off" all such works of darkness from his or her own life, to "have no fellowship" with those who practice them, and even to openly "reprove them."

"This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness" (Ephesians 4:17-19). 

Such works of darkness stem directly from a denial of God as sovereign: "When they knew God, they glorified him not as God, . . . and their foolish heart was darkened" (Romans 1:21).  This darkening of the heart is soon followed by a darkening of the life: "Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness. . . . Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient" (Romans 1:24, 28).

In these days of moral confusion, with attitudes and actions once outlawed by society now being defended and favoured (e.g., intimate promiscuity and perversion), and with once-honoured attributes now ridiculed (e.g., chastity, spirituality), there are great pressures on Christians to compromise with these works of darkness.  God and His standards do not change, however, and He still expects us to shun and reprove them. HMM

For more . . . .

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" (Ephesians 5:11).

This verse encourages Christians to not only refuse to compromise with the unfruitful works of darkness, but should also openly rebuke them.

OLAADEGBU: "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" (Ephesians 5:11).

This verse encourages Christians to not only refuse to compromise with the unfruitful works of darkness, but should also openly rebuke them.

Brother,
What if the works of darkness is being propagated by a follow brother,should one OPENLY reprove/rebuke them?

So you want christians to start shouting at beer parlour drinkers?

i.chuka:

Brother,
What if the works of darkness is being propagated by a follow brother,should one OPENLY reprove/rebuke them?

Yes. Who do you think has a better chance of deceiving the brethren? Atheists and skeptics who often attack the church from the outside make the church pull together and become strong but when they attack the doctrines of the church from within that is what weakens it. Remember Balaam's counsel against Israel?

OLAADEGBU:

Yes. Who do you think has a better chance of deceiving the brethren? Atheists and skeptics who often attack the church from the outside make the church pull together and become strong but when they attack the doctrines of the church from within that is what weakens it. Remember Balaam's counsel against Israel?

Ok,but in the below parable its not so.
Matthew 13:24-30
New King James Version (NKJV)
The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares

24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”
The Lord said we should let them be,lest while we gather up the tares(Works of Darkness)we might also uproot the Wheat(Works of the Kingdom).that we should both to grow together until the harvest(the fruits of both are ripe)then and then are we to cast them out...Matt13:27-30.