Shine as Lights

Philippians 2:14–16 ESV

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

A Way To Shine

There is a way that disciples of Christ are to live

Why is there a certain way Christians should live?

God gave us life through Christ

Colossians 2:13 ESV

13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

you’ve been forgiven through the sacrifice of Christ

brought from death to life

2. New mindset is given to the believer

Colossians 3:1–3 ESV

1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Been given new life, new desires are given as well

Because your life has been hidden in Christ (Galatians 2:20)

No longer your own

no longer our own, we no longer follow the pattern of this world

Romans 12:2 ESV

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

3. A renewed mind shines Christ light in the darkness

James 4:1 ESV

1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?

What causes our fights and quarrels? our own passions waring within us

James 4:2 ESV

2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.

All the evil we have from one another is driven by our selfish motives

But doesn’t the bible say ask for whatever in Jesus name? (John 14:12-14)

James 4:3 ESV

3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

we ask for our glory, for our desires, not what the Lord wants

James 4:4 ESV

4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

There is a choice to be made

Follow the Lord or follow the world

John 15:18–20 ESV

18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

the way of the world and the way of God don’t mix

APP:

maybe you’ve never heard of the light of the Gospel coming into the darkness of sinful man. Tonight is the first time and you’re saying, “I don’t want to be in the darkness anymore, I want the light of Christ, the salvation from my sin.” will you repent, turn from your sin, believe in what Jesus did for you on the cross and follow Him?

Maybe you are a part of the light but your life hasn’t been reflecting it, you’ve not been walking with a renewed mind, your heart is being drawn to the things of this world and if you’re honest you haven’t been seeking the Lord in your daily life, will you repent from that tonight, remember the Gospel and walk in the freedom that has been paid for you.