LET IT SHINE
MATTHEW 5:14-16
INTRO:
A) GOD HAS A PURPOSE FOR EACH ONE OF US
B) THAT PURPOSE INVOLVED OUR SALVATION
C) THAT PUPOSE INVOLVED OUR OBEDIENCE
D) HE HAS CALLED US:
1) HE HAS CALLED US TO BE
2) HE HAS CALLED US TO BE CHANGED
3) HE HAS CALLED US TO BE DIFFERENT
4) HE HAS CALLED US TO BE EXAMPLES
5) HE HAS CALLED US TO BE THE FLAVOR IN LIFE
6) HE HAS CALLED US TO BE THE FLAVOR IN A TASTELESS WORLD
7) HE HAS CALLED US TO BE A LIGHT IN DARKNESS
JESUS SAID THAT “Ye are the salt of the earth:” “Ye are the light of the world.”
A) HERE JESUS IS NOT ASKING A QUESTION
B) HE IS NOT LISTING TO OPTIONS
C) HE IS NOT MAKING A SUGGESTION
D) HE IS MAKING A STATEMENT!
1) THIS IS A TRUTH THAT WE AS CHRISTIANS MUST FACE!
2) AS CHRISTIANS WE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD!
3) THERE IS NO OTHER SOURCE AVAILIBLE TO THIS LOST AND DYING WORLD!
THERE ARE CERTAIN REALITIES IN LIFE THAT GOD’S PEOPLE MUST FACE AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE REALITIES!
I. THIS REALITY IS INESCAPABLE: v.14
“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:” Ephesians 5:8
A) WE WERE NOT ALWAYS THE LIGHT
B) THERE WAS A TRANSFORMATION THAT TOOK PLACE
C) HOW DID THIS TRANSFORMATION TAKE PLACE?
D) HOW DO THOSE WHO ARE BORN CHILDREN OF DARKNESS BECOME CHILDREN OF LIGHT
E) HOW DO THOSE WHO LIVE AS CHILDREN OF DARKNESS BECOME CHILDREN OF LIGHT
1) BY FOLLOWING THE LIGHT
“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12
2) BY BELIEVING THE LIGHT:
“While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light.” John 12:36
“I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.” John 12:46
3) BY SEEING THE LIGHT:
“3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:3-6
THIS REALITY IS INESCAPABLE!
II. THIS REALITY IS A REQUIREMENT: v.16
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works,”
A) A REQUIREMENT A WITH PURPOSE :
1) AS A GUIDING LIGHT
“For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.” Acts 13:47
“16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” Acts 26:16-18
B) A REQUIREMENT TO BE A REPROVING LIGHT:
“19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” John 3:19-21
“But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light” Ephesains 5:13
ONCE OUR LIGHT BEGANS TO SHINE SOME FOLKS BEGIN TO GET A LITTLE BIT UNCOMFORTABLE.
ONCE FOLKS GET UNCOMFORTABLE THEY WANT TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET RIGHT.
C) A REQUIREMENT TO BE A REFLECTING LIGHT:
“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:” Ephesians 5:8
OUR LIVES AS “children of light” OUGHT TO BE A REFLECTION OF THE HOLINESS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST!
CONCLUSION:
THIS IS A REALITY
THIS REALITY IS INESCAPABLE
THIS REALITY IS REQUIRED
THIS REALITY BRINGS RESULTS!
AS OTHERS SEE THE LIGHT IN US MAYBE THEY WILL SEE THE GLORY OF GOD AND HIS REACHING OUT ARMS TO THEM.
WE CANNOT EXPECT TO REACH THE LOST IF OUR LIGHT IS NOT SHINING SO THEY CAN SEE IT.
SO LET IT SHINE!
