Sermon Central
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Light Forward
Contributed by William R. Nabaza on Mar 30, 2012 (message contributor)
Summary: I. EXORDIUM: Are you frustrated if yuo use a flashlight that lights up backward instead of forward? II. AUDIENCE PROFILE: General believers III. OBJECTIVES: To show that we need to use our light forward so people will see real source of li
I. EXORDIUM:
Are you frustrated if yuo use a flashlight that lights up backward instead of forward?
II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:
General believers
III. OBJECTIVES:
To show that we need to use our light forward so people will see real source of light our LORD!
IV. TEXT:
Then make the seven lamps for the lampstand, and set them so they reflect their light forward.
Pray that GOD will always enable me to let my light shine to the people and not hide it.
V. THESIS:
Light must shine forward lighting the path leading to the LORD.
VI. TITLE:
Light Forward
VII. EXPLICATION:
A. Author: Moses, Second book of the Pentateuch.
B. Date/Time of writing: 1491 BC
C. Key Thought: Deliverance
D. Main Theme: History of Israel from death of Joseph to Tabernacle's creation.
VIII. MAIN BODY:
A. Symbolisms:
1. Seven lamps for the lampstand - seven Spirits or manifestations of GOD. (Revelations 1:12)
But the more the Egyptians oppressed them, the more the Israelites multiplied and spread, and the more alarmed the Egyptians became.
= everything on Earth about GOD is copied from a pattern (Exodus 25:40, Hebrews 8:5, Romans 5:14)
Be sure that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain.
They serve in a system of worship that is only a copy, a shadow of the real one in heaven. For when Moses was getting ready to build the Tabernacle, God gave him this warning: “Be sure that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain.”
Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come.
B. Direction of the light:
1. We are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14-16)
14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.
15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.
16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
2. We need to show them the light (Luke 8:16, Luke 11:33-36)
No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed. A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house.
33 “No one lights a lamp and then hides it or puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house.
34 “Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But when it is bad, your body is filled with darkness.
35 Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness.
36 If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light.”
C. We need to show them the light and to the people.
1. JESUS is the light, ours is reflected light coming from HIM (John 8:12)
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.”
IX. CONCLUSION:
If we do this, we don't need to speak anymore for our actions will speak louder than our words (Matthew 5:16)
In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
We are called to be GOD's glorifier, so others will become glorifiers of GOD.
