2023.07.16.Sermon Notes. HOW BRIGHT IS YOUR LIGHT?
Be the light of GOD to this world of darkness
William Akehurst, HSWC.
BIG IDEA:
Scripture calls us to Be the Light of GOD to this world of darkness. As believers, we have part of the restraint of evil in this world. We have GOD’s WORD in us as a moral compass, and to live pointing to THE WAY to GOD, while warning others of the perils ahead.
So, How Bright is Your Light?
I’m reminded of the song, “Brighten the corner where you are”.
Last week we looked at GOD’s Mercy and how we are to be merciful…to our neighbors. The question was asked, who are our neighbors? And the answer is, Our neighbors are the world around us.
JESUS SAYS…YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THIS WORLD.
Matthew 5:14-16 (NKJV)
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
THE LIGHT SHINES AND GUIDES US IN THE WAY
15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
THE LIGHT IS A WITNESS AND WARNING TO THE WORLD
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
ILLUSTRATION: As a child, Robert Lewis Stevenson, was looking out the window watching a workman come by and light the gas lights along the street. When asked what he was doing, he answered, “I see a man making holes in the darkness.”
IN JESUS IS LIFE, THE LIGHT OF MEN, SHINING AGAINST THE DARKNESS WHICH WASN’T ABLE TO UNDERSTAND ITS VALUE.
John 1:1-5 (NKJV)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
JESUS SAID…
John 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. BUT I AM NOT GOING TO BE HERE LONG.
SO WHEN I’M GONE, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DO SO MUCH MORE.
John 14:12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
GREATER THINGS, BECAUSE OF MY SPIRIT, WHO WILL GUIDE AND TEACH YOU
John 14:25-27 (NKJV)
25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
YOU ARE THE GUIDING LIGHT OF THIS WORLD.
Matthew 5:14-16 (NKJV)
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
THE LIGHT IS OUR GUIDE. IT ILLUMINATES THE WAY.
BE WITHOUT FAULT AND SHINE AS LIGHTS IN THE WORLD, HOLDING ON DEARLY TO THE WORD OF LIFE.
Philippians 2:12-16
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
GOD’S WORD LIGHTS OUR WAY. SHOWS US THE PATH TO GO.
THE LIGHT IS GOD’S WORD, THE MORAL COMPASS FOR LIFE.
Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
THE LIGHT IS A WITNESS AND WARNING TO THE WORLD
BUILD UP IN FAITH. HAVE COMPASSION AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS. RESCUE THE PERISHING FROM WHAT IS TO COME.
Jude 1:20-25
20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And on some have compassion, making a distinction; 23 but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
AS LIGHT BEARERS, WE ARE TO CALL OUT SINFUL BEHAVIOR
Leviticus 19:17 You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.
Proverbs 27:5 Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed.
Proverbs 28:23 He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward than he who flatters with the tongue.
GOD REBUKES HIS CHILDREN
Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
THE ROD OF DISCIPLINE
Psalms 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;
For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
WARN AND TEACH
1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NKJV)
14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.
PREACH, WARN AND TEACH
Colossians 1:28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
DO GOOD IN THIS WORLD AS A TESTIMONY OF THE LIGHT IN YOU.
Luke 6:35-36 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
WHEN WE RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST AS LORD, WE ARE GIVEN THE LIGHT WITHIN US, BY THE POWER AND PRESENCE OF HOLY SPIRIT. BUT…
JUST AS JESUS SAID HE WOULD GO AND SEND HIS SPIRIT…GOD ALSO SAYS…
Genesis 6:3 And the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever…
RESTRAINER OF EVIL
2 Thessalonians 2:5-12
5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
*****
ILLUSTRATION: DOES EVIL EXIST?
An atheist professor wanted to prove to his students that God did not exist.
So he asked the question, does evil exist?
And the class answered, yes it exists.
So he asked, well, did God create everything?
They answered, yeah, he created everything.
Well, if God created everything, then God created evil. Then he is evil in it of itself.
A student raised his hand and said, does cold exist?
He said, of course, have you never been cold?
The student answered, cold does not exist. Cold is the absence of heat. You measure temperature by how much heat is in the atmosphere.
So the student asked another question.
Does darkness exist?
Professor said yes, of course.
The student replies, again sir you’re wrong. Darkness does not exist. Darkness is the lack of light. You measure how dark it is by the lack of light.
The student asked the final question.
Sir, does evil exist?
The professor said, of course it exists. Haven’t you seen the crime all around the world?
Student answers again. Sir, evil does not exist, at least not unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. Evil is what happens when men don’t have God’s love in their hearts.
Evil is like cold when there is no heat and darkness when there is no light. Professor, please sit down.
The student’s name…Albert Einstein.
*****
John 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Jesus is the light of the world and darkness cannot overcome it.
AND JESUS SAID…
Matthew 5:14a, 16
14 “You are the light of the world…16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
SO, HOW BRIGHT IS YOUR LIGHT?
FATHER, we come before YOU with thanksgiving, for the LIGHT has shown upon us, and we are YOUR Children. Fan the flame of YOUR SPIRIT within our hearts, to be the LIGHT of JESUS to our world around us, to reach the darkest depths of mankind, and bring them to YOUR SAVING LIGHT. Use us to YOUR honor and glory, in JESUS Name, Amen.
LORD KEEP US FROM STUMBLING
Our Benediction: Jude 1:24-25
24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
25 To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.
Be blessed and be a blessing,
Bill
