"Bright Lights"

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Intro; One of the songs most kids learn in Sunday school or VBS is “This Little Light of Mine”.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
Hide it under a bushel? No! I’m gonna let it shine
Don’t let Satan blow it out, I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine till Jesus comes, I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine, Let it shine, Let it shine.
Now this song has good bones, a strong message, and easy for kids to learn how to live for Jesus. But there’s one problem with this song, it’s a “misnomer” [inaccurate description/designation] of the word Light, that fuels our faith.
The only light christians have is that of the Lord Jesus Christ. And if all we have is a little light then we are doing the world no good at all. Matter of fact we are doing more harm than good, because the light of Jesus is a “Bright Light”, not a little light.
Matthew 28:18 (NKJV)
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Acts 1:8 (NKJV)
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
2 Timothy 1:7–9 NKJV
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,
Tonight I want us to look at the second impact/influence that Jesus says Christians are to have in the world.
I want to preach on “Bright Lights”
Text; Mt. 5:14-16
Matthew 5:14–16 (NKJV)
14You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
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.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

1. What is Light; 14a

Light- something that makes vision possible by the sensation aroused by stimulation of the visual receptors; an electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range including infrared, visible, ultraviolet, and X rays and traveling in a vacuum with a speed of about 186,281 miles (300,000 kilometers) per second; [Websters Dictionary]
Light is basically a wave of energy that can be seen by the naked eye.
1 John 1:5 (NKJV)
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
John 8:12 (NKJV)
12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
Here Jesus says, “You are the light of the world.” What an enormous compliment! God is light, Christ is light, and the believer is said to be the light of the world. The believer is what God and Christ are: light.
To be identified with God is an enormous responsibility as well as a compliment. Whatever light is and does, the believer is to be and do.
“Are you are a wave of energy to the world?”

2. What Is Light’s Purpose; 14b- 15

Light has one purpose, to SHINE/ILLUMINATE
When light shines it dispels [make disappear] the darkness! Jesus is saying that we are the Light left in the world to dispel the darkness.
Darkness is almost always associated with SIN/EVIL in the scriptures! The World is pictured as a dark place; as a place under the rule of Satan. In fact, the Bible says that this world lies in the hands of the evil one and it says about this world, “It is the kingdom of darkness.”
Matthew 4:16 (NKJV)
16 The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.
Acts 26:18 (NKJV)
18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.
Why is the world so dark and full of sin? Because of its rejection of Jesus Christ.
[Tony Evans] It’s not the rejection of God. God is not the problem. The Sermon on the Mount is about our submission to Jesus Christ, because what makes you a Christian is not your belief in God. What makes you a Christian is your commitment to Jesus Christ! That’s what separates you. You go to work talking about your belief in God; everybody’s gonna agree with you on that one. You talk about Jesus Christ now you’ve been VERY specific and THAT’S where the division comes. Men will accept GOD! But men don’t want to accept Jesus Christ!
Politicians talk about God, Muslims worship God [Allah], athletes talk about God, many religions worship many different gods. But when it comes to the Man Jesus Christ, people balk.
Acts 4:10–12 NKJV
10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
God shines His light only through His Son, Jesus Christ! And Jesus says, “we are the light of the world.”
City on hill- this image speaks of a community of faith. It’s the influence of the church in the local town and throughout the world!
Jerusalem is about 3000 ft above sea level. It’s a city on a hill. It could be seen for miles at night when all the little candles in homes were burning. A traveller could find his way in the dark because he was guided by its light.
Westview is to be a vocal, visible, vibrant witness for the Lord Jesus Christ in the midst of the darkness here in Hawkinsville, GA.
City on hill cannot be hidden, lifted up in clear view, no obstructions in way. If a city on a hill cannot be seen it’s because there is no light in it!
Lamp/candle- this image speaks of the individuals believer’s faith.
This verse is speaking about the power of the individual believer’s witness. Just as a church has a testimony, so do you! Jesus saved us to be a light for Him first in the home [house]. If we are not shining for Jesus at home, we will not shine for Him on a hill!
Look what Jesus says about John the Baptist;
John 5:35 (NKJV)
35 He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.
There was no obstructions in John’s life to mar the view of the lost from seeing the Savior.
John 3:30 NKJV
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
Even if world begins to put fog around the city, the light should shine bright enough for people to find the way to it.
Psalm 119:105 NKJV
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
Are you shining for Jesus today?

3. What is Light’s Passion; 16

Passion- an intense desire or great enthusiasm for something
Light’s passion should be to “glorify your Father in heaven through good works.”
Glorify- means to advertise, put on display, highlight; make a big deal over.
Good works- work that is a beneficial to someone else for which God gets the credit.
Titus 2:7–8 NKJV
7 in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, 8 sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.
Titus 3:8 NKJV
8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.
Hebrews 10:24–25 NKJV
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
1 Peter 2:12 NKJV
12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
John 15:8 (NKJV)
8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
When we live our life loving God and lighting the path to His Son Jesus, God gets glory we are fulfilling our call in Christ.
Close;
Often at weddings, we speak about a radiant bride, how beautiful she is. The radiance which shines from her comes from the love which has for the man she is going to marry and spend a lifetime with. Her love has been born within her heart for him.
The radiance which shines from the Christian comes from the presence of Christ within the Christian’s heart. And the deeper the love we have for Christ the more radiant His light shines through us.
How bright is the light of Christ in you? Little light or Bright Light
Are you salty and shining or tasteless and dull?
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