Summary: As the candle gives itself for the light, so must we learn the gift that gives to to Light can make a big difference.

THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE, I ’M GOING TO LET IT SHINE!!

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

I start burning big candle prior to service.

As I start preaching I light a candle in a globe, I light a tall skinny candle,

and I light some very small candles. You will see the points below.

Always remember safety with the burning candles.

TEXT:

Genesis 1: 3 And God said: Let there be light, and there was light.

4. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided darkness from light.

John 1: 4 In Jesus was life, and the life was the light of men.

5. And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not.

I. DEFINITION OF LIGHT:

To dispel darkness ---

Light makes vision possible.

Bright, not dark, to ignite, glowing, shining

Illumination, lighthouse,

2. Two things must be present where there is light:

Radiation -- Flame and heat.

The greater the light the more radiation and the more heat, the smaller the less.

3. THERE IS NO LIGHT WHATSOEVER ON THE MOON,

THE MOON IS A REFLECTOR OF THE LIGHT OF THE SUN.

SOME THOUGHT JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS THE LIGHT, JOHN KNEW BETTER.

John 1:8 John was not the light, but was sent to bear witness of the light.

9. That was the true Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light!

4. SAUL WAS WALKING DOWN THE ROAD AND HE SAW THE LIGHT!

SAUL WOULD BE FOREVER CHANGED BY THE LIGHT,

SO MUCH SO THAT HE BECAME PAUL!

5. GOD ENTRUSTS HIS LIGHT IN YOUR HANDS.

God really trusts you and has much confidence in you.

Remember how much God loved Job and how God trusted Job to hang on.

Well God really, really loves you and has seen you hang true in many, various,

hard storms.

I cannot pen how I have seen Jesus in you.

6. DOUBT VS BELIEF?

I read a thing the other day, it said many believe their doubts and doubt their belief.

But we must doubt the doubt and believe the belief.

Young people think life is tough, but we know life gets harder as we mature in the faith.

Any person walking could tell about the last 1 1/2 years having been a nightmare for us.

We could all say, when all is said and done, that we felt like "so what", and through all our

pain and emptiness we feel flooded.

We cannot say anything to others about our tears, but we COULD TELL ABOUT A FEW STORMS

AND TRIALS.

We must learn to thank God for these test, while the test have been beyond anything

we have ever known before, there is a light to push away our darkness.

In the midst of the terrible test, I have not missed a sermon, and I have not missed a visit, and I

look for a breakthrough, yet, I have had joy in my sorrow, and I feel like I have let my compassion

make a difference.

Often we can’t share our heart but with others, because they have their own trouble.

But I still have this great confidence in our Master, and the Light will shine again.

7. HAVE YOUR PLACED YOUR LIGHT WISELY?

Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

15. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel,

but on a candle stick; and it GIVETH light unto all that are in the house.

16. So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works,

and GLORIFY your FATHER which is in heaven.

Put a priority on your light, so to let it shine to the maximum effectiveness.

8. IT’S THE LIGHT THAT IS IMPORTANT!

I am not what is important, He is my all and my hope.

I gladly give, and want to give more.

I see people and hurt.

What you do with the light will be our gift to Jesus.

I want to be like a candle and give myself for the light.

I have a sermon about the light and the candle.

9. REMEMBER IN EXODUS, THE PEOPLE WERE IN THE TRIAL OF TRANSITION.

CHANGE HURTS!

Remember once in Egypt (Exodus 10:23), there was a great darkness, so great you could feel

the dark darkness. While Egypt spent many hours in darkness, God’s Kids HAD THE LIGHT!

God made a promise to His Children, to lead them by a CLOUD by day,

and a PILLAR OF LIGHT by night.

This promise is still to us this day. God will lead us in dark times,

He will never forget His People!

10. A SAD DAY WHEN THE LIGHT IN THE TEMPLE IS ALMOST OUT, AND THE PREACHER

HAS NO VISION.

1 Samuel 3:2 And it came to pass at the time, when Eli was laid down in his place,

and HIS EYES BEGAN TO WAX DIM, that he COULD NOT SEE,

3. And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was,

and Samuel was laid down to sleep.

4. The Lord called Samuel ---

GOD, PLEASE--- DON’T LET THE LIGHT GO OUT

11. SOMETIMES THE LIGHT HURTS AND IS MISUNDERSTOOD.

I take the big candle that has been burning since before the service started

and I tilt the candle so that wax pours safely on a paper plate.

I say this is candle guts, it gave it self for the light.

Psa. 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

You are a rare jewel, most people would have collapsed under your load long ago.

I tilt the candle over and I see the melted part of the candle pour over the side.

That candle probably never felt good as the best part of it becomes wax poured

out on the plate, but that is why the candle was made.

The wick is not important, IF THE WICK IS TOO LARGE IT WILL SMOKE A LOT.

Nor is the wax what is of great importance.

What is of the greatest importance is the light the candles gives

to push back the darkness.

Someone may enjoy the scent of the candle.

Someone may not stub their toe because the light exposed a danger.

The candle may not ever hear what the light accomplished, but the

candle must feel satisfied knowing it has accomplished what the Master

created it to do, and that the purpose is greater than the candle.

12. WE WALK IN GREAT DARKNESS, SO YOUR LITTLE LIGHT CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

Jude 1:22 And some have compassion, making a difference.

I also know the darker the night the greater the light.

Not the greater the candle, the greater the light.

13. EVER KISS A CANDLE? YOU WOULD IF THAT WAS ALL THE LIGHT THERE WAS?

To bad we don’t kiss the candle, I have never seen the candle applauded.

In a wedding the two candles come together to light the Unity Candle.

That is what believers do, our common love for the light ignites a flame greater

than our sum totals.

14. HOW LONG WILL YOU BURN FOR THE LIGHT?

A candle never knows how long it might burn. Some candles give to the light

but a short time, others burn many hours, but the short candle is not expected to

accomplish like the big candle.

15. WILL YOU IGNITE OTHER FLAMES?

I too have seen a candle used to light other candles, how rewarding the candle

must feel knowing it has spread the power of the light.

16. GUARD YOUR LIGHT!

Every wind of darkness would love to blow out the light, but a good wind guard,

a globe, or a lantern that helps wind-proof the candle so the light can be carried through

where others allow the light to fade.

17. ON MY FIRST MISSIONARY TRIP TO HAITI!

When I was in Haiti my first time, I stood before 1,800 people and said,

I am a candle for the Lord Jesus and I give myself for Light.

The interpreter said What?

I said, I am a candle for the Lord Jesus and I give myself for Light.

I held my finger as a candle, and my other hand as the light and I stated

again: I am a candle for the Lord Jesus and I give myself for Light.

I sang, This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.

The next year, as I stood before the Haitian people,

I heard the people whispering. I asked the interpreter, What are they saying?

His eyes sparkled and he looked me in the eye, and said:

They are saying THE CANDLE IS BACK!

18. YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED WHAT THE LIGHT MIGHT EXPOSE?

Why did the young lady lose her silver coin?

How did she lose her precious coin?

Did you know she can’t get married without her 10 coins?

The lady developed a strategy to find her coin.

Luke 15:8 Either what woman having 10 pieces of silver, if she lose one piece,

DOTH SHE NOT LIGHT A CANDLE, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till

she find it?

Appears the lady had let dirt accumulate in her house.

Until she had a light she could not see the dirt.

The Holy Spirit is our light, may He expose our weaknesses and may we correct them.

20. KEEP THE GLOBE CLEAN, AND KEEP THE LIGHT BRIGHTLY SHINING

So, what ever the storm, and whatever the trial we are so blessed just to

know the flame of the Son.

May my desire be this Christmas, I want to I give myself to the Light, and may I

find grace to ignite other lights so the world might see the beauty of the cross.

May I help ignite you, may I keep my globe so clean that it will not hinder the light.

If you see my light dim, help me! If I see your light dim, I pledge to support

you! For it is the light we seek!

His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

Please, help me spread the light, pass this on to another.

Let’s sing: This little light of mine, I am going to let it shine ---