The Parable of Revealed Light & barren fig tree

Intro:

The final parable that we will cover today is the parable of revealed light. Turn with me to Luke 8:16-18.

Luke 8:16-18 ““No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.””

In this parable we we see two aspects of light.

Light is meant to be seen.

Light reveals.

I want to start first with Light is meant to be seen.

Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Were not supposed to hide what we have. We need to walk in the revelation we have. We are to live for the Glory of God. No one lights a lamp and covers it. If we are ashamed of him before men, he will be ashamed of us before the father. Life in Christ was never intended to be a private expression only.

What are obstacles to living it out?

Culture. What are three things the world tells you not to ever talk about? Race, Religion, and Politics. The kingdom is counter cultural.

Lack of knowledge.

Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.”

Comparison Trap. Because I don’t have or know what someone else does I can’t do it. Diminishing your gift is like putting the light under the basket.

Fear of Failure. The fastest way to kill success is to try not to fail.

Don’t feel worthy. (Tell our own stories of getting started)

What are some internal struggles we can face when trying to live it out?

Doubt, Insecurity, Fear, lack of confidence (Gideon,) .

Zechariah 4:6 “So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.”

Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”

What does it look like to live it out?

The Vertical Lifestyle vs. the horizontal life.

Digging wells vs. a group water source.

Having confidence in what you have. We must be about the masters business. Be confident in him. Don’t discount what is in you. Step into the fight. Use what you have. There are things that God wants to do through us that are in the embryo phase. Others are established. Let’s put in the work. Let’s birth the dreams and put in the work to make them grow.

The Light is the truth, not us. He We need to let it shine. Now it is more than that. He is the way, the truth, and the life. Letting the light shine, is letting him shine through us. It is a reflection of the vertical relationship. What we would call an overflow of the relationship.

The gifts, talents, abilities, dreams, gifting you have are given by him to reveal the truth of who he is. When you shine through good works God gets the glory. People see His goodness through your life.

Be Authentic.

Own the moments. If it is failure- it is really an opportunity to grow. Fail forward. Failure is an event not a person.

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

We overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. We testify about what He has done.

Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.””

Jeremiah 17:7 ““Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord.”

Light Reveals:

Isaiah 60:1-2 “Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you.”

Pastor Mark mentioned to me last week after the message that there is no word for presence in Hebrew. The typical word used is panim which means face. To be in the presence of God means to be face to face. Jesus said if you have seen me you have seen the father. If we seek to know Jesus we will know the father. We will experience His presence. This is the vertical relationship.

What sets us apart from the rest of the world is the manifest presence of God in our lives. It is His reflection. We all have access to the same things in the kingdom. We simply all choose our depth. Many choose the shallow because depth is costly.

Jesus said if I be lifted up, I will draw men unto myself.