Why Your Monumental Mission In Life Is to Expose Evil

Today, we are talking about the subject of exposing evil. Evil is not to be babysat. It’s not to be tolerated or gotten used to. The believer is strongly warned. He cannot live in the darkness of this world and expect the light of God to guide him throughout life. Here is the story of one man who tried. Aaron was a salesman with a strong personality and lots of charisma. Image was very important to him. He loved the applause of men and would feed his ego by seeking out popular places to make an appearance. Trying to become “one of the guys” was his excuse for compromising his values to sell more products. On Sunday mornings, he went to church. In public, he even talked like a Christian. But in reality, Aaron led a double life and did whatever he felt necessary to get ahead in business. When it came to his Christian life, Aaron “talked the talk” but didn’t “walk the walk.” It did not take long for his double standards and hypocrisy to affect the reputation of the business. Aaron’s employer soon took him aside and said, “Aaron, I really appreciate all the good things you do, like meeting your sales goals. But for your own good, I’m going to ask you to take a break from working outside the office. I want you to take a close look at your lifestyle. You are making choices that no longer affect just you alone. Until you can make some changes in your lifestyle, I’m taking you off the road.” Aaron hung his head in shame. His employer had seen past his smooth exterior into his dark inner self. The light of God’s Spirit had exposed Aaron’s, true heart.¹ This man was caught in contradiction but did it have to go that far? What if someone had the guts to pull him aside and say to him, ‘Aaron, you’re missing it here.’ What if someone overcame the uncomfortableness of confrontation, to rescue a wayward believer and help him right his course? Would it not have been the right thing to do? That’s the question that we are proposing today. Why Your Monumental Mission in Life Is to Expose Evil — that’s our focus on this week’s Light on Life.

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How to Overcome Darkness by Following the Light of the World [Encore]

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One area you can pray about to help you in this area of exposing the unfruitful works of darkness is to pray for boldness.

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Testimony is vital to a believer’s life. We overcome by it (Rev. 12:11). Each week’s podcast also contains a question designed to encourage testimony.
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Question: What are you going to do about what you heard today? Are you going to lift your voice for the right? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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We are currently teaching in the book of Ephesians. You can click on the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

About Emery

Emery committed his life to the Lord Jesus Christ over 45 years ago and has served as both a full-time pastor and an itinerant minister. He and his wife Sharon of 40 years emphasize personal growth and development through the Word of God. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is the focus and the hallmark of their mission. Read more about them here.

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Podcast Notes

Exposing Evil: In the World But Not of It

Ephesians 5:11–14 (ESV): Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.

There are three directives concerning the unfruitful works of darkness that are at work on planet earth.
The scriptures tell us that we are in the world but not of the world.

John 8:23 (ESV) — 23 He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.

We are in the world in one sense — we are alive and walking the planet — but we are not to be part of the world system.
The world system includes the world’s thinking about life.
We are to think God’s thoughts after Him and not the world’s thoughts after them.
Now isolationism is not the ticket either.
Being a manic Monk and separating yourself from people is not the way of righteousness.
But, while we are not to be isolationists, we are not supposed to be closet Christians either.
Now, reread the first three words of Ephesians five and verse eleven.

Exposing Evil: Unfruitful Works

It says, ‘Take no part’ in the unfruitful works of darkness.
Put those three words into your thinking.
The next thing you should focus on is the quality of the work that you are to be avoiding.
The works of darkness are unfruitful.
They are bad — major bad.

Romans 6:21 (ESV): – 21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.

Unfruitful means unproductive, worthless, useless, futile, or barren.
We could say it this way – it has no lasting value.
Do you desire to have your works labeled as having no lasting value?
Don’t you want your works to be a blessing instead of a putrid pile of nothingness?
Man, I don’t want any part of that worthless business.
Now, note also what the text actually said.

have no part of the unfruitful works of darkness…

It did not say have no part of unfruitful people.
That’s the isolationist piece that we already referred to.
How can you rescue people that are drowning unless you get into the rowboat and get out into the water where people are sinking?
It’s not people you shun — it’s their works that you should refuse to hook up with.
Do not become partners with wrong works.

2 Corinthians 6:14–16 (ESV) — 14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Now it’s not enough to ‘have no fellowship with futile or barren works of darkness’ if all that means is avoidance.
We must take it a step further; we must expose or reprove these works.
What does the word ‘expose’ mean and, with that thought, here is the Definition of the Day.

Exposing Evil: The Definition

The Greek word expose means to reprove or rebuke.
It means to bring to the light, to set forth, to correct, and to refute.
So, there are things that need to be reproved.
There are opinions that need to be rebuked.
Of course, this must all be done in a spirit of humility and compassion for the person you are addressing.
So, we are talking about confronting unhealthy conduct in Christian people.
But, I don’t think it’s just the church that needs to be the recipient of being exposed.
Listen to this shocking statistic.

Nine of ten kids between ages eight and sixteen have been exposed to pornography online according to the U.S. Justice Department. Furthermore, 47 percent of school-age children receive pornographic spam on a daily basis, reports software company Symantec. And representatives from the pornography industry told Congress’s COPA (Child Online Protection Act) Commission that as many as 20 to 30 percent of the visitors to some pornographic websites are children.²

Are our children the casualties of our silence?
Can we allow the next generation to go down the drain because we refused to expose evil out in the world?
You know, exposing evil is not all that hard to do.
Go out into your garden and lift some stones.
What happens to every insect or bug or creepy crawly thing that was under those rocks?
They all scurry — man, they are headed for cover.
Crawly things don’t like light. ³
That’s what the Bible does: it ‘shines light,’ and light is uncomfortable for darkness dwellers.
Jesus made a reference to this exact thing in John three.

John 3:19–21 (ESV) — 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Again, don’t be a closet Christian — come out of the closet and speak up for the right.
There are unbelievers who come out of the closet shouting loudly about their rights meanwhile, Christian’s have gone into the closet in silence in their place.
The closet is still full — but with the wrong people.

Exposing Evil: John the Baptist

John the Baptist lived an exemplary life according to Jesus.
He was the greatest among men.
Exposing evil was part of John the Baptist legacy.
Let’s look at it here in Luke.

Luke 3:19–20 (ESV): But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison

Herod was committing adultery with his brother’s wife.
And, John didn’t go into the closet about this.
He spoke up.
He reproved, he rebuked — that’s the same Greek word used by Paul in Ephesians five and eleven.
He spoke openly against this.
Now, here’s the thing – adultery was very prominent in the 1st century.
People acknowledged that it was bad, but they did it anyway.
So, John did not lose his moral compass in the sea of commonness.
Just because adultery was common didn’t mean that it was a license to keep silent.
Exposing sin is one of the roles of a prophet.
The Lord often sent prophets to rebuke kings because of their bad behavior.
But, you might say, ‘Yes, he did speak up but look what happened to him; he was beheaded because of this.’
He was — he went to prison because he exposed evil.
He didn’t just go to prison; he lost his life because he exposed evil.
But that’s not what counts in the end.
God’s opinion is all that counts in the end.

Matthew 11:11 (ESV) — 11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

You may say that’s not efficient — why not keep silent and live to fight another day?
Fight what another day?
Sex sins were all around John from sunrise to sunset.
You wake up the next day and the same sin is looking you in the face.
Are you going to speak up or put it off again?

Exposing Evil: Ananias and Sapharia

Peter was involved in a case of exposing evil when he confronted Ananias and Sapphira about their sin.

Acts 5:1–5 (ESV) — 1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.

If you read a few more verses down, you will see that the same thing happened to his wife.
Both husband and wife lied in the Presence of a strong move of God, and both husband and wife died as a result.
Peter did the confronting — he did the exposing.
He spoke up and refused to quench the Spirit.
You see, exposing evil is a part of life.

Exposing Evil: Jesus and the Money Changers

Now, there is example after example of this in the Bible.
What about Jesus and the money changers?
You know the story — you’ve heard about it many times — if you need a reference, you can go to John’s Gospel chapter two for the storyline.
After Jesus did this in the temple, if you go and read, the religious leaders marked him from that day forward.
The religious hierarchy put Jesus on the poop list — they wanted Him dead because he was messing with their money.
Jesus became public enemy number one because He spoke out and exposed evil.
Now, he is your example.

Exposing Evil: Paul and Felix

Acts 24:24–27 (ESV) — 24 After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.” 26 At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him. 27 When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.

Here’s what we know about Felix, and with that thought, here is the Historical Background of the day.
Felix was the fourth governor of Judea.
He was three times married — one of his wives was the granddaughter of Marc Anthony and Cleopatra.
He was not a nice man – very brutal.
According to Tacitus, a Roman historian, Felix ruled without fear of punishment from Rome (Annals, 12.54) and was very cruel: “Antonius Felix practiced every kind of cruelty and lust, wielding the power of a king with the instincts of a slave” — [that’s what Tacitus wrote] (Tacitus, Histories, 5.9).
He reigned for 8 years, and Nero replaced his hips when he became Emperor but didn’t prosecute him for his crimes.
Enter Paul.
Paul was brought before Felix, who was to judge whether Paul had committed a crime. Paul’s appearance before him presents the opportunity to share his faith in Christ with Felix, who is already familiar with “the way” (Acts 24:22–25; Hemer, Book of Acts, 130). Paul was imprisoned for nearly two years (Acts 24:27), during which time Felix requested to meet with him frequently, apparently in hope that he would receive a bribe (Acts 24:26). Consequently, Felix’s greed gave Paul repeated opportunities to share Christ with him.[ 5. Daniel J. Thorpe, “Antonius Felix,” ed. John D. Barry et al., The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).]
So, that’s the historical background, now go back and reread the passage in Acts 24.

24 After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.”

Paul is talking to this brutal rascal about self-control!
Really? — really!
Paul is talking to a man who is totally out of control about self-control.
I’m talking about exposing evil here.

Exposing Evil: Many Other Stories

There are many other biblical accounts of men who confronted evil at work in other people.
What we talked about are some of the accounts in the New Testament.
Many other accounts illustrate this same point in the Old Testament.
We just don’t have time to cover them all.
One you might want to explore is what Phineas did with the Israelite man and the Midianite woman.

Numbers 25:1–9 (ESV) — 1 While Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab. 2 These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 3 So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel. 4 And the LORD said to Moses, “Take all the chiefs of the people and hang them in the sun before the LORD, that the fierce anger of the LORD may turn away from Israel.” 5 And Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Each of you kill those of his men who have yoked themselves to Baal of Peor.” 6 And behold, one of the people of Israel came and brought a Midianite woman to his family, in the sight of Moses and in the sight of the whole congregation of the people of Israel, while they were weeping in the entrance of the tent of meeting. 7 When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose and left the congregation and took a spear in his hand 8 and went after the man of Israel into the chamber and pierced both of them, the man of Israel and the woman through her belly. Thus the plague on the people of Israel was stopped. 9 Nevertheless, those who died by the plague were twenty-four thousand.

Phineas stood up against evil in a very personal way.
Now you understand that what you were seeing is tribal law under the Old Covenant.
This is not the law of our land today.
But, what’s important is that Phineas put his spear on the problem.
You need to put your sword, the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God on the problem.

Exposing Evil: Many Admonitions

Now, there are many Bible verses that speak about this besides the illustrations and the stories that I shared with you already today.
Let’s take a look at a few.

1 Timothy 5:20 (ESV)– 20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.

Rebuke them — is part of preaching the Word.

2 Timothy 4:2 (ESV): — 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

Reprove and rebuke — hear all those words again.
But note, it’s not just reprove and rebuke – it’s also exhort and patience and teaching.
It’s not just hauling off and slugging people with the Bible.

Proverbs 24:25 (ESV) — 25 but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them.

It’s not just rebuking believers — it’s sinners also.
I mean there are a lot of verses on this.
Here are three more.

Titus 2:15 (ESV) — 15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

Titus 1:13 (ESV) — 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,

Luke 17:3 (ESV) — 3 Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him,

All of these have the same message: one of our jobs as believers is to rebuke and expose evil.

Exposing Evil: Final Thoughts

Now, here are some important last thoughts on this subject.
The scripture says to take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness but rather expose them.
You cannot expose what you take part in.
You should not associate with what you condemn.
This is vital — don’t be a hypocrite.
How can you rebuke your brother if you are engaged in the same sin?

Romans 2:1–2 (ESV): — Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. 2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things.

How Do We Expose Sin?

What methods do we use?
How do you expose the works of darkness?
First, by having no part in the unfruitful works of darkness.
That is, do not fellowship with or join in with other men’s bad behaviors.
Stay clear of these things – live pure.
Number two: say no to sin in your own life.
Do not yield to temptation.
Confess you’re sin unto God and ask Him to cleanse you from all righteousness.
And, number three, live the lifestyle of righteousness in the face of the ungodly.
Your life as a light will expose evil.
In some cases, you may not have to say anything.
Just let the light shine.
In other cases, you may — but in every case, it’s right to be led by the Spirit of God.
And fourthly, you may have to expose evil by lifting your voice against wrong activities.
People take on the character of the sphere in which they live.
That’s why words must be spoken to change the very atmosphere.
As we get ready to close, listen to these words from the Apostle Peter.

1 Peter 4:1–5 (ESV) — 1 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. 3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; 5 but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Now Father God, in the precious name of Jesus, I pray for the people. I asked that you grant them boldness on the inside of them to speak up for what is right. As you lead them, as you guide them, I pray father God, that they may be sensitive to your Spirit to know what to do, and what to say, and how to carry themselves as they come in contact with the evil that is evident in the world today. We thank you father God for your bold mission of being a light in a sea of darkness. We thank you for that in Jesus name, Amen.

You guys have a great God – day, and we will see you next time for another edition of Light on Life.

Your Powerful Victory Over Satan the Liar [Podcast]

__________
References:

Leadership Ministries Worldwide, Practical Illustrations: 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 2003), 51. ↩
—Daniel Weiss, “Pornography: Harmless Fun or Public Health Hazard?” citizenlink.org (May 19, 2005), — Craig Brian Larson and Phyllis Ten Elshof, 1001 Illustrations That Connect (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2008), 454. Next ↩
Mike Beaumont and Martin Manser, The Handbook of Bible Promises, 2020, 209. ↩

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Why Your Monumental Mission In Life Is to Expose Evil

Podcast: Light on Life Season Nine Episode Fifty

by Emery Horvath

Listen to the Audio

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Read the Notes

Accept the Challenge

Join the Conversation

Episode Resources:

We are currently teaching in the book of Ephesians. You can click on the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

About Emery

Subscribe to the Podcast

Share the Love

Podcast Notes

Exposing Evil: In the World But Not of It

Exposing Evil: Unfruitful Works

Exposing Evil: The Definition

Exposing Evil: John the Baptist

Exposing Evil: Ananias and Sapharia

Exposing Evil: Jesus and the Money Changers

Exposing Evil: Paul and Felix

Exposing Evil: Many Other Stories

Exposing Evil: Many Admonitions

Exposing Evil: Final Thoughts

How Do We Expose Sin?

Listen to the Audio

Click to Listen | Right Click to Download | Subscribe in iTunes

Read the Notes

Accept the Challenge

Join the Conversation

Episode Resources:

We are currently teaching in the book of Ephesians. You can click on the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

About Emery

Subscribe to the Podcast

Share the Love

Podcast Notes

Exposing Evil: In the World But Not of It

Exposing Evil: Unfruitful Works

Exposing Evil: The Definition

Exposing Evil: John the Baptist

Exposing Evil: Ananias and Sapharia

Exposing Evil: Jesus and the Money Changers

Exposing Evil: Paul and Felix

Exposing Evil: Many Other Stories

Exposing Evil: Many Admonitions

Exposing Evil: Final Thoughts

How Do We Expose Sin?

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