1. Trapped In The Closet In 2005, R Kelly made a series of music called Trapped In the Closet that tells the story of a man named Sylvester who’s hiding from a woman’s husband in the closet whom he had an affair with. -There is no such thing as a secret Christian -There is no such thing as a secret Christian (see: Nicodemus John 3:1-7)! (see: Nicodemus John 3:1-7)! -We must come out of the closet! -We must come out of the closet!

2. Trapped In The Closet Reasons We Stay Trapped In The Closet: (1.)Sylvester wouldn’t come out of the closet because of SHAME. -Christians stay trapped because of shame. -Christians stay trapped because of shame. -Matthew 10:33 “But whosoever shall deny me -Matthew 10:33 “But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” Father which is in heaven.” (2.)Sylvester stayed trapped because of the CONSEQUENCES. -Christians stay trapped because of the -Christians stay trapped because of the consequences. consequences. -2Tim.3:12 “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus -2Tim.3:12 “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” shall suffer persecution.”

3. Trapped In The Closet Matthew 5:14-16 (3.)VS.14 “Ye are the light of the world.” -The light of the church is Christ. -The light of the church is Christ. -The light of the world is the Christian. -The light of the world is the Christian. (4.)VS.14b-15 “A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 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.” -Christians are not to hide their light. -Christians are not to hide their light.

4. Trapped In The Closet Matthew 5:14-16 (5.)VS.16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” -We let our light shine by doing good works. -We let our light shine by doing good works. -Our good works are a sign to point people to -Our good works are a sign to point people to God; NOT to us! God; NOT to us!

5. Trapped In The Closet THE DANGER OF COMING OUT OF THE CLOSET/Pride: (6.)John 1:6-8 “There was a man sent from God, whose name [was] John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all [men] through him might believe. He was not that Light, but [was sent] to bear witness of that Light.” (a.)John was the cousin of Jesus but he was not (a.)John was the cousin of Jesus but he was not Jesus. Jesus. -No matter how close we are to Jesus; we -No matter how close we are to Jesus; we aren’t Jesus! aren’t Jesus!

6. Trapped In The Closet THE DANGER OF COMING OUT OF THE CLOSET/Pride: (7.)John 1:6-8 “There was a man sent from God, whose name [was] John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all [men] through him might believe. He was not that Light, but [was sent] to bear witness of that Light.” (b.)As powerful (Matthew 11:13-14 Spirit of Elijah) (b.)As powerful (Matthew 11:13-14 Spirit of Elijah) and famous (Matthew 3:1-5) as John the Baptist and famous (Matthew 3:1-5) as John the Baptist was; he recognized that he was not the light. was; he recognized that he was not the light. -As God elevates our church, we must be mindful -As God elevates our church, we must be mindful that we are to bear witness to the light; WE ARE that we are to bear witness to the light; WE ARE NOT THE LIGHT! NOT THE LIGHT! -PRIDE KILLS! -PRIDE KILLS!