Arise, Shine!!!
Bible Passage: Isaiah 60:1
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
For the purpose of this study we would break this scripture into 4 parts in order to get the full import of the passage. 1 Timothy 2:15 says study to show yourself approved a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. That is what we want to do in this place this morning.
If you study the scripture above carefully you would notice that it has already been broken down into four sections already. Arise comma, pause and think about it.. Shine semi colon, this is to show that the shining is connected to the next statement. Semi colon actually shows that the following statement or clause is related to the one before… For thy light is come comma, first the ‘is’ in this statement indicates that it is a present continuous tense… and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee full stop. We would therefore take these for sections one at a time as the Holy Ghost would help us.
Arise, the comma in the front of this indicates that it can be a statement on its own. Arise is an action word telling us to do something. The dictionary says it is a call to action, to get up, to make a move, to change position etc. Someone might want to ask how does this relate to me? Well, I want to let you know that we all need to arise from wherever we are at the moment to where we are supposed to be. We need to arise in our walk with God.. you have been doing very well but there is always room for improvement. We need to arise in our academics, I know you are the best student in your class but you can be the best student in the country. We need to arise in our relationships, you are best friend with so many people, infact there are people lining up trying to be your friend on facebook but do you give your best to your best friend? Is that all you can give? Arise!!! G.O. said something sometimes ago and I would quote it “If you find yourself in a place where everyone is sitting down, make sure you stand up. If everyone is standing up, stand out. If they all manage to stand out, be outstanding. If too many people become outstanding become a standard!!! This is the principle I have lived my life by for a while now and I am still work in progress. Arise!!! In order to arise there are 3 basic questions we need to ask ourselves and be very honest about it. Your answer might not be so wonderful but it would help you on this journey.
1. Where am I at the moment? You need to do an honest assessment of your life at the moment. You need to sit down and have a meeting with you. Where am I? God called out to Adam in the garden in Genesis 3:9 where art thou? Do you think the all knowing God did not know where Adam was? When God, the creator, asks you man, his created a question it is not for Him it is for you. The answer of that question for Adam was meant to be his turning point. He was able to confirm his state of nakedness and despair or fear. Where are you? What is you spiritual state of being? I am not talking about where people think you are. You are the only one that can answer for yourself. Where are you emotionally? Is your emotions running riot on you? Romans 7, Paul’s emotions was running riot. Where are you at the moment.
2. Where am I supposed to be? Luke 15 we see the story of the prodigal son. Left his father took his inheritance and wasted it but when he came to himself he thought about where he was supposed to be. I need you to learn something very crucial in this story. Luke 15 has 3 parables that Jesus Himself told his disciples, the first was the man who had 100 sheep and lost 1. Left 99 to look for one lost sheep. The second was a woman who had 10 pieces of silver, lost one but swept the house until she found it. Is it not amazing that these people looked for their lost item but the father did not look for His son. It wasn’t that he did not like him because he was waiting for him on his return. This simply tells me that it is my responsibility as a son to find my way home back to where I am supposed to be. Let me digress a bit and say that when you were an unbeliever God did everything possible to get your attention, sent several people to chase you up and invite you to church. Before you ask you get, just to let you know He loves you. As soon as you are now a son if you walk away from His grace it is your responsibility to find your way back home. Where is home for you? Where would you be fulfilled to be at this moment. What’s your destination?
3. How do I get there? Growing up I had a dream to be a very great person. I wanted to be a very important voice in the world. I wanted to be able to influence decisions that affect the whole world. I wanted to show people how to be good and great at the same time. I wanted to help people get to where they desire to get to but I did not know how to do it. Thank God I gave my life to Jesus but I only knew at that time that if I lived Holy (which was a struggle) I would pass my exams. Did not know too much about God then so I sought to get to my destination by my own skills and scheming. I got somewhere but not where I had set out to be. I was at a place where I got what I wanted but did not want what I got. It was frustrating and so I had to find my way back to the father. It wasn’t as easy as He found me. Remember His words some 12years ago, seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all other things shall be added unto you. He is the way, the truth and the life. He has the picture of your destiny and he has the road map to get you there. The earlier you understand that the better for you. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness!!!
If you are able to answer this three questions then you are on your way to the next stage which is the next section
Shine; - We have been able to establish earlier that the semi colon in front of this statement shows that it is closely linked to the next statement so we would try not to waste too much time on this section. One of the effects of arising is positional change or locational change. This is related to the ability to shine. To shine is to be bright, send out rays of light, be bright by reflecting light. The moon is one of the things we see that shine bright in the sky but research has shown that the moon has not light of it’s own. Infact the surface of the moon is as dark as charcoal. What we see is a reflection of the light from the sun. the moon does not have it’s own light but still shines because it is positioned in such a way as to reflect the light of the sun. I would also say that gold and silver even diamond don’t have their own light but they glow as rays of light reflect on them when they are positioned in the light. As you arise from where you are as a Christian, your position would change from where you are to where you ought to be and that makes the light of God reflect in your life. People then see this and acknowledge that you are shining. It is not your talent as a Christian that would make you shine but you position. Your location determines your allocation, your position determines your opposition. Positioning is the key thing I would want us to learn in all of this. You would not shine if you are wrongly positioned in life. Infact there is eclipse if the moon is not positioned properly and rather than reflect and shine it causes darkness.
For thy light is come, - there is nothing called darkness!!! What we call darkness is the absence of light. I have never seen any where when the light is turned on the darkness would debate whether to leave or not. In the beginning Genesis 1:1-2.. darkness was upon the face of the deep but as soon as God called light the darkness took off. In a room it is possible to have a TV, Paintings, exquisite furniture etc and not know it if there is no light. Once the light is on you are able to see the things you have around you. There is someone whose light is come and you would be able to see what potential you have in your hands. You might be beautiful and no brother would notice you, it means your light has not come yet. You might be seriously loaded with the word and anointed without measure yet you don’t have the opportunity to even lead prayers, your light has not come yet. When your light comes every one would notice you. the bible says a city lighted cannot be hid. Men do not light a candle stick and put it under the bushel how much more God. You are the light of the world. Someone shout my light is come!!! It is the coming of you light that makes you shine and everyone wants to talk to you. You become popular not by your own doing but because your light has come. That is why I feel sorry for people who try to make themselves or impress people to make them.. if man makes you man would break you.. if you are self made you would self destruct… but if God be for me…Halleluyah!!! Light is also very important in making decisions in life. You don’t know who you would marry yet because the light has not come, when the light is come it would reveal the brother or sister. You don’t know because the light has not come yet.. the entrance of His light it give understanding. Thy light is come!!!
And the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee – the word glory means radiant beauty. Kabod in Hebrew tongue. The glory was so important that the Israelites did not move until the glory moved. The glory of the Lord in the old testament represents the presence of the Lord. Whenever they came to the tent of meeting made by Moses the cloud of glory would descend. Whenever God was speaking in several places in the old testament the glory would come. In the new testament dispensation from the upper room experience what came upon the disciples was cloven tongues of fire which was indicative of the Holy Ghost. You must understand that the glory of God, the presence of God is coming to us believers now in the person and personality of the Holy Ghost. Haaa.. how I love the Holy Ghost. Bible said when Moses came down from the mountain after spending time in God’s presence the skin of his face was shining from the glory of God’s presence so much so that they had to veil his face. Paul later said the glory that Moses experienced is nothing compare to what we have in Christ Jesus through the Holy Ghost. I submit to you here and now that the agent of rising and shinning and taking your rightful place in destiny is the Holy Ghost.
