John 8:12 NLT

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. If you follow Me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, BECAUSE YOU WILL HAVE THE LIGHT THAT LEADS TO LIFE.”

John 1:4–5 NLT

The Word gave life to everything that was created, and HIS LIFE BROUGHT LIGHT TO EVERYONE. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

John 1:4–5 ESV

IN HIM WAS LIFE, AND THE LIFE WAS THE LIGHT OF MEN. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Isaiah 60:1–3 NLT

Arise, Jerusalem! LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE FOR ALL TO SEE. FOR THE GLORY OF THE LORD RISES TO SHINE ON YOU. Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the LORD rises and appears over you. ALL NATIONS WILL COME TO YOUR LIGHT; MIGHTY KINGS WILL COME TO SEE YOUR RADIANCE.

Romans 13:11–14 ESV

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. THE NIGHT IS FAR GONE; THE DAY IS AT HAND. SO THEN LET US CAST OFF THE WORKS OF DARKNESS AND PUT ON THE ARMOR OF LIGHT. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But PUT ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND MAKE NO PROVISION FOR THE FLESH, TO GRATIFY ITS DESIRES.

Ephesians 5:1–21 NKJV

Therefore BE IMITATORS OF GOD as dear children. And WALK IN LOVE, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. FOR THIS YOU KNOW, THAT NO FORNICATOR, UNCLEAN PERSON, NOR COVETOUS MAN, WHO IS AN IDOLATER, HAS ANY INHERITANCE IN THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST AND GOD. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them. FOR YOU WERE ONCE DARKNESS, BUT NOW YOU ARE LIGHT IN THE LORD. WALK AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: “AWAKE, YOU WHO SLEEP, ARISE FROM THE DEAD, AND CHRIST WILL GIVE YOU LIGHT.” See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. THEREFORE DO NOT BE UNWISE, BUT UNDERSTAND WHAT THE WILL OF THE LORD IS. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.

Colossians 3:2–17 ESV

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. FOR YOU HAVE DIED, AND YOUR LIFE IS HIDDEN WITH CHRIST IN GOD … put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity … evil desire and covetousness which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have PUT ON THE NEW SELF, which is being RENEWED IN KNOWLEDGE AFTER THE IMAGE OF ITS CREATOR … Put on … as God’s chosen … kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. And above all these put on love … and … DO EVERYTHING IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS, GIVING THANKS TO GOD THE FATHER THROUGH HIM.

Exhortation: Arise and Walk as Children of Light

Jesus Christ, the Eternal Light of the World

The Bible proclaims that Jesus Christ is the Eternal Light of this world. In John 1:4–5 ESV, the Holy Spirit decrees, “IN HIM [Jesus] WAS LIFE, AND THE LIFE WAS THE LIGHT OF MEN. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” In knowing who Christ is, we know who we are. We have been born-again by Jesus Christ, the Light of this world, so we are His lights in this world. Therefore, live as He lived, walk as He walked, and be all that He was here on earth. In this, we are letting our lights shine before all people so that they may see our good works and glorify God in heaven (Matthew 5:16). We are not just putting on light or reflecting it; the Eternal Light lives within us—we are His children of light. He has delivered us from the kingdom of darkness through His blood and translated us into His kingdom. Therefore, we live, walk, and shine in this world manifesting Him—His person, presence, power, and glory.

Church, Wake Up, Open Our Eyes, and Arise as Lights of This World

The Bible warns us in Romans 13:11–12 ESV saying,

KNOW THE TIME, THAT THE HOUR HAS COME FOR YOU TO WAKE FROM SLEEP. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. THE NIGHT IS FAR GONE; THE DAY IS AT HAND. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Can the Church hear the cry of the Holy Spirit calling His people in Isaiah 52:1–2 TPT?

WAKE UP! OPEN YOUR EYES! Beautiful Zion, put on your majestic strength! Jerusalem, the sacred city, PUT ON YOUR GLORY GARMENTS! Never again will the unclean enter your gates! ARISE AND SHAKE OFF YOUR DUST! Sit enthroned Jerusalem! Break off your shackles of bondage from your neck!

IT IS WAKE-UP TIME! It is time to arise and shake off the dust of slumber. It is time to break every chain that binds. It is time to rend the clothes of shame, neglect, and uncleanness. It is time to put on the holy garments of praise, glory, and strength of the Lord to walk as children of light.

As evil seems to intensify and gross darkness covers the earth, we do not retreat nor recoil in fear. We arise with faith in our hearts and fire in our souls, being fully persuaded that God’s glory has arisen upon us to drive back the darkness with His light. The time is short. We must quickly seize and make the most of every opportunity to manifest that Jesus is the Light of the world, and in His light, there is life everlasting. The world cannot know Jesus if we do not shine. We cannot shine if we do not awake and arise.

When we arise, Jesus Christ, the Eternal Light of the world will give us light (Ephesians 5). We will be clothed in God’s presence, power, and glory, manifesting Him, bringing light, transforming lives, and ushering many into God’s kingdom as His sons and daughters from different nations.

As Children of Light Walk in Holiness and the Fear of God

As children of light, we are to PUT ON CHRIST AND PUT AWAY ALL WORKS OF DARKNESS. We are to arise and walk in holiness and the fear of the Lord. We are saved and called to keep our hearts consecrated, pure, and holy as Christ’s lights because HE, THE ETERNAL LIGHT, LIVING WITHIN US, IS HOLY, RIGHTEOUS, AND GLORIOUS. To be a light to the world, we must walk bearing the name of Jesus in righteousness and glory. We love the people of the world, but we do not walk as they walk; neither do we love what they love nor indulge in any form of uncleanness and sin. Does the world see Christ in the Church? Do they see the light emanating from the Church? Are God’s people shining His glory?

Colossians 3 says that we have died with Christ and have been raised with Him. Because our lives are hidden with Jesus in God, we put to death what is earthly, carnal, and unclean. Ephesians 5:5 NKJV clearly says, “No fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.” When the world looks at the Church, do they see a reflection of themselves in us—who they are, how they live, and what they do? WHERE THEN IS THE LIGHT? Has the Church’s light been dimmed by compromise, sin, and callousness? IT IS TIME TO ARISE AND WALK AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT, NOT AS CHILDREN OF THIS WORLD.

David’s prayer of repentance in Psalm 51:6 NKJV confesses in acknowledg­ment to God, “BEHOLD, YOU DESIRE TRUTH IN THE INWARD PARTS, AND IN THE HIDDEN PART YOU WILL MAKE ME TO KNOW WISDOM.” We must hide the word of God in our hearts and set our minds to heed and obey in entirety; then, we will have a pure heart governed by truth and integrity and filled with light. It is not a divided and unstable heart but one of purity, and our ways will please Him. His word is light, and when we obey His word, we walk as children of light. Jesus looks into the heart, not the outward appearance. When our hearts are submitted to the Eternal Light, being in union with Him without any variance, our steps will be in the light, for He is the way, truth, and life. THE PLACE OF OBEDIENCE TO THE LORD AND HIS WORD IS THE PLACE WHERE THE LIGHT IS. We are to walk worthy of Him by taking heed to all His statutes and obeying them. God commands His people to obey Him in all His decrees in Exodus 20:1–17 ESV, declaring,

• I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD … YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME.
• You shall not make for yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything … You shall not bow down to them or serve them, FOR I THE LORD YOUR GOD AM A JEALOUS GOD. (v 4–5)
• You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. (v 7)
• Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor … but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God … the LORD blessed … and made it holy. (v 9–11)
• Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. (v 12)
• You shall not murder. (v 13)
• You shall not commit adultery. (v 14)
• You shall not steal. (v 15)
• You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. (v 16)
• You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; his wife, servants, animals, or anything that is your neighbor’s. (v 17)

The world has broken all these commandments of God because it is in their unredeemed nature, but has the Church, redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, honored and obeyed all His commandments from the pulpit to the pew? The world does not know how to walk in holiness and the fear of God; neither do they care to or have the power to. What about Christ’s Church, His children of light? What is Christ seeing in His Church? Are we living and walking like the unredeemed, we who have been washed in the blood of the Lamb to be without spot, blemish, or wrinkle? Our garments are to be white, and our heads lack no anointing (Ecclesiastes 9:8). Where is the love and honor for the Eternal Light who gives life? Where is the fear of the Lord that we walk holy before Him? Where is the light in His blood-washed and blood-redeemed royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a special people belonging to Him?

God’s statutes reflect Him, and therefore, we are to carefully observe them. The power of our lives to impact the world is in living and walking completely in obedience to the Eternal Light, Jesus Christ, for He is the power, the glory, and honor forever and ever. He has overcome all darkness, crushed all evil, broken every chain, and overthrown and demolished all principalities, rulers, and powers of satan. Christ, the Light of this world, had already cast satan out of heaven and saw him fall like lightning. Jesus had already disarmed the devil and rendered him powerless. Colossians 2:15 ESV testifies to what Christ did to the devil, saying, “HE DISARMED THE RULERS AND AUTHORITIES AND PUT THEM TO OPEN SHAME, BY TRIUMPHING OVER THEM IN HIM.” The Church’s power, victory, and glory are manifest when it walks clothed with Jesus Christ. Through the grace and power of His Holy Spirit, we can be witnesses of His Light to the ends of the world. Everywhere the Light is manifested, darkness is overcome, and hearts hearing the gospel will believe and be saved. It is to our shame if we confess Jesus Christ and fail to walk as children of light. If the Church continues to stay in slumber and walk in darkness, the hearts of the people of this world will be hardened towards the gospel by the darkness they see in the Church. What a shame on, and indictment of, the Church. Surely we will not escape the judgment of God. The truth is that none will escape God’s judgment. We cannot be like the Scribes and Pharisees whom Jesus rebuked in Matthew 23:27–28 NKJV, declaring,

WOE TO YOU, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed APPEAR BEAUTIFUL OUTWARDLY, BUT INSIDE ARE FULL OF DEAD MEN’S BONES AND ALL UNCLEANNESS. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Arise and Walk as Children of Light and Shine

It is time for the Church to arise in the power and strength of the Holy Spirit. Like Jerusalem, in Isaiah 60, who was attacked and taken into exile because of their backslidden state, the Church generally has been in a lull and has not been arising nor shining the glory of God like the Early Church. Evil has intensified and powers of darkness keeps pushing back the Church; still, we are not fully awakened nor arisen to stand, resist, and advance God’s kingdom in faith, zeal, and valor to defeat the power of darkness, dispossess them from our God-promised land and rightfully take ownership. There have been areas and pockets of revival and gathering of saints who have been faithful, committed and not loving their lives unto death because they are totally sold out to God. However, the greater part of the body of Christ has been asleep, lukewarm, and compromised. More are those who have been spiritually cruising than powerfully resisting the devil unto death. Jerusalem was in the aftermath of exile in Isaiah 60. They had been in captivity, oppressed and without hope, but God came and spoke to them according to Isaiah 60 1–3 NLT awakening them,

Arise, Jerusalem! LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE FOR ALL TO SEE. FOR THE GLORY OF THE LORD RISES TO SHINE ON YOU. Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the LORD rises and appears over you. ALL NATIONS WILL COME TO YOUR LIGHT; MIGHTY KINGS WILL COME TO SEE YOUR RADIANCE.

The time for Jerusalem to be in darkness was over as God spoke to awaken and arouse her from their depressed state so that she could stand up, walk in His glory, and shine. God is giving the same message to the Church today. The time of slumber, oppressiveness, captivity, victimhood, and being the tail is over. The Holy Spirit has come stirring, awakening, lifting off the darkness, and being poured out on God’s people. The time is here. WE MUST AWAKE, SHAKE OFF THE DUST, BREAK THE CHAINS OF BONDAGE, PUT ON STRENGTH AND POWER, AND ARISE TO RADIATE THE GLORY OF GOD IN THIS DARK WORLD. God is with us! We will overcome! We will walk as children of light, war as God’s mighty army, carrying His power to heal and deliver and bring the message of His grace to forgive and save to every place of darkness. We will let His light destroy darkness and see the sick healed, the bound set free, the gospel being preached, and those who believe saved in Christ’s mighty name. The awakened and revived Church, walking as children of light, shall see the fulfillment of Isaiah 60:3 NLT, which declares, “All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance.” As we arise and walk as children of light as Isaiah 9:2 says, “THE PEOPLE WHO WALK IN DARKNESS WILL SEE A GREAT LIGHT. FOR THOSE WHO LIVE IN A LAND OF DEEP DARKNESS, A LIGHT WILL SHINE,” so it shall be before Christ’s return.

Where Are the Children of Light?

The promise and the call to arise and shine have been given, but where are the children of light? The coming of the Bridegroom is at hand, but the Church does not know the hour. Like the parable of the ten virgins, have we fallen asleep, yet we do not know? A sleeping Church does not know it is asleep, and it is as good as dead with an inability to see, discern, know, and obey. We must stir ourselves to fast and pray so that the Holy Spirit will set us on fire for God. Pray that He will baptize us again and again with His anointing and power to shake off the dust, put on strength, push back the powers of darkness, and be lit up as flames of revival to scorch the earth by burning away dross, breaking harden hearts, opening deaf ears, setting captives free, preaching the gospel and ushering many into the kingdom of God, because they have seen the blazing and glorious light upon the Church. Where are the children of light?

Our fire must grow brighter and stronger, not weaker and dimmer, because of the darkness of these evil days. If the Church were to fail to walk as children of light and shine, the world would be without hope of salvation because there would be no other lights. We have been born-again by Jesus Christ, the Light of this world, and we are His lights in this world. We live, walk, and shine as Jesus did so that we manifest Him—His love, presence, glory, and power to save to the world. Being born-again and walking as children of light is not an option but a commandment of Jesus Christ, which we cannot ignore, be exempted from, or disobey. AT CHRIST’S COMING, WE CAN EITHER BE REWARDED OR JUDGED DEPENDING ON WHETHER WE HAVE WALKED AS HIS LIGHTS IN THIS WORLD. Are we the good and faithful servants or the wicked and lazy ones? The hour is late, and the Bridegroom is coming; where are the children of light?

Seize the Urgency of the Hour, and Arise and Shine as Christ’s Glorious Light

In Matthew 25, Jesus spoke a parable about the ten virgins waiting with their lamps for the coming of the Bridegroom. He was teaching His disciples the necessity of not being spiritually asleep, lazy or presumptuous but having an urgency and diligent preparedness for His return. Because the Bridegroom delayed in coming all the ten virgins fell asleep until they were awakened by the midnight cry, “BEHOLD, THE BRIDEGROOM IS COMING; GO OUT TO MEET HIM!” All the virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. Five wise virgins were prepared with oil for their lamps in expectation of the Bridegroom’s coming. The other five were foolish and brought no oil for their lamps because they were foolish, lazy, and presumptuous. They had nothing to light their lamps and shine. They had no urgency of heart to prepare even though they knew the Bridegroom would come unexpectedly. They also knew that without oil in their lamps and having no light, they would not be allowed to go into the wedding with the Bridegroom. They were indifferent and apathetic, and their hearts were dulled and lacking urgency. When they heard that the Bridegroom was coming, they panicked and asked the virgins with oil to give some to them, but were told to go buy some for themselves.

They did and while they were gone, the Bridegroom arrived, and those who were ready with oil in their lamps and the lamps lit went into the wedding with the Bridegroom and the door was shut. The foolish and unprepared virgins returned but to their dismay the wedding had started, and the door was shut. They urgently shouted and implored, “Lord, Lord, open to us!” IT WAS TOO LATE. In their lack of watchful preparation and urgency, THEY MISSED THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENTER THE WEDDING. The Bridegroom answered, “Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.” Jesus concluded by warning the disciples, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” Now is the time to arise and walk as children of light. WE MUST BE PREPARED WITH OIL THAT OUR LAMPS ARE ALWAYS LIT. Therefore, live as Jesus lived, walk as He walked, and be all that He was here on earth. In so doing, we are letting our light shine. His glory will be manifested, overcoming all darkness wherever we go. People will see our good works and glorify God in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

The Church must ensure that we do not fall into spiritual slumber, which will prevent us from walking as Christ’s lights. The Holy Spirit commands the Church in Ephesians 5:14 NKJV, saying, “Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” The sleeping Church is more dead than alive. As we awaken and arise, Jesus will give us His light.

How Do We Arise and Walk as Children of Light?

Ephesians 5:8 (NKJV) — For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.

• Be Imitators of God

Ephesians 5:1–2 NASB — Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

• Walk In The Light As He Is In The Light

1 John 1:5–7 ESV — This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is Light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

• Walk Also in the Attributes of Christ, the Eternal Light—His Goodness, Truth and Righteousness

Colossians 2:6–7 ESV — Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

1 John 2:5–6 ESV — But whoever keeps His word, in Him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in Him: whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.

• Put On the Armor of Light

Romans 13:11–14 NASB — Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let’s rid ourselves of the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let’s behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and debauchery, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.

• Let Your Light Shine Before Others

Matthew 5:14–16 NASB — You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

The Benefits of Walking In the Light — Just as there are benefits to walking in the morning, there are benefits to walking in the light.

1 John 1:5–7 ESV — This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

When we walk in the light, we have fellowship with God and with each other. When we walk in the darkness, both relationships are affected: we no longer have a healthy relationship with God or with those around us. Our relationship with God is broken as Adam and Eve’s fellowship with God became ruined when they sinned. The consequences of that fall are still present today. Our relationship with others is broken in a way that is similar to how Adam and Eve’s fellowship broke down. The consequences of that damage remain in our relationships with family, friends, and neighbors. A broken relationship with God affects all our other relationships.

“LET US ARISE AND WALK AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT!”