Light

Light

Red letter Christmas

Justice 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Justice lights on house

Progressive over the years

House 1, house 2, house 3

These lights are kind of symbolic

The take something dark and bring it to life

700 years before the birth of Jesus

Was a prophet named Isaiah and he talked about a light that would be sent into the darkness

Isaiah 9:2 (ESV)

2 The people who walked in darkness     have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,     on them has light shone.

In vs 6-8 Isaiah tells us of the coming of Jesus

The Birth of a savior

What was going on in Isaiah’s culture that he would share this information so early, what was God trying to tell them

Well the same thing he is telling us tonight

Isaiah 8:21-22 (ESV)

21 They will pass through the land, greatly distressed and hungry. And when they are hungry, they will be enraged and will speak contemptuously against their king and their God, and turn their faces upward. 22 And they will look to the earth, but behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish. And they will be thrust into thick darkness.

Grinch heart small who stole Christmas

Romans 1:21 (ESV)

21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Darkness

Ever since we where kids we have been afraid of the dark.. we needed nightlights.

Its funny how a tiny little bulb can change your perspective on things.

In a letter dated November 21, 1943 Bonhoeffer wrote, “Life in a prison cell may well be compared to Advent: one waits, hopes, and does this, that, or the other—things that are really of no consequence—the door is shut, and can only be opened from the outside.”

We are doing a series called Red letter Christmas

Why Jesus came…

John 12:46-47 (ESV)

46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.

Jesus came to save, jesus came to give life, Jesus came to be truth and Jesus came to be light.

When you hear that Jesus was born to be light

Perhaps it gives you hope for the dark world we live in

‘O little town of Bethlehem’. It says,

When children pure and happy, pray to the blessed Child When misery cries out to Thee, Son of the mother mild When charity stands watching, and faith holds wide the door The darkness wakes, the glory breaks and Christmas comes once more

See Jesus came to wake our darkness to give us Light!

Light reveals

This is good or bad depending on how you look at it.

One of the darker parts of the Christmas story is king Herod

Matthew 2:16 (ESV)

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.

When we expose the light of the world to our darkness we see who we are..

Ephesians 5:8-14 (ESV)

8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper,     and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

God’s word exposes us

The world we live in is dark and it leads us into the darkest places, we want to hide our darknesses but Jesus exposes them, he brings them to the forefront and we have to decide will we live for him or the world or ourselves.

The light guides us

John 8:12 (ESV)

12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

New life..

It is Zechariah that is filled with the holy spirit and says that Jesus has come …

Luke 1:79 (ESV)

79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

John 12:35 (ESV)

35 So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.

John 1:5 (ESV)

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Acts 16:31 (ESV)

31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Acts 26:18 (ESV)

18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

The light is meant to be shared with all

Grinch heart grew

The angels ..the shepherd.. the magi.. even herod himself shared.. the high priest shared it..

Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV)

14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Silent night

Christ, the Savior, is born, Christ, the Savior is born

Silent night, holy night

Son of God, love’s pure light

Radiant beams from Thy holy face

With the dawn of redeeming grace

Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

Benediction:

John 1:9-10

English Standard Version

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.

Christ was before Christmas..

Perhaps its time to stop living the worlds way, hiding in the darkness, let his peace,joy and promise of eternal life with him be your light not only for Christmas but for the rest of your life.