Hope For A Dark World

Introduction- Hopelessness of Darkness

In 1963, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote a book named Strength To Love; which is a collection of his sermons focuses on the necessity to love even the most unlikeable people while at the same time experiencing oppression and difficulty in life at the hands of these very same unlikeable people who hate you. One of the sermons contained in Strength to Love is titled “Love Your Enemies.” It is in this sermon that Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote one of his most famous quotes:

Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.

Context:

Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars.

Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King would go on to say, in this same sermon,

The darkness of racial injustice will be dispelled only by the light of forgiving love.

The World is still a dark place……

Why is the World still a dark place?

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:19–21 ESV

19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Luke 12:2–3 ESV

2 Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.

This world needs the light because this world can be a dark place filled with hopelessness…

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Transition To Body- The dark world of Jesus’ times in Matthew 4

Opening Chapters 1-3 of Gospel of Matthew

But When We Arrive @ Matthew Chapter 4 We See What I Believe is a reminder:

That The World Is Dark Place…

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Matthew 4:1 ESV

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Matthew 4:12 ESV

12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee.

Body- Jesus (Is/Embodies The)

Fulfillment Of The Prophetic WORD

Matthew 4:12–14 ESV

12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

Luke 4:17–21 ESV

17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

John 1:1–5 ESV

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 was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

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Fulfillment Of The Prophetic WORD

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Revelation Of God’s Compassionate Purposes

Matthew 4:15–16 ESV

15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”

People Walk in darkness in Isaiah & People Sit in darkness in Matthew (i.e. have no hope)

Isaiah 9:1–2 ESV

1 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 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.

“Light” versus “darkness,” as consistently in Scripture, refers to the knowledge of or obedience to God versus the ignorance of or disobedience to his revelation. Jesus illuminates God’s purposes and brings liberation from oppression (Isa 9:4). In John 8:12 he calls himself “the light of the world.”

Isaiah 9:4 ESV

4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.

Isaiah 58:3–7 ESV

3 ‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’ Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. 4 Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high. 5 Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the Lord? 6 “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

The prophecy goes on to refer to people that sit in darkness, where sit indicates more than a passing moment. The people in question are habitually in darkness, a darkness of the mind or spirit.

But they are now seen as in the region and shadow of death; a territory is assigned to death, and that is where they sit. They are close to death, for they are in its shadow, a term that also points to lack of light (cf. GNB, “the dark land of death”). The people in mind are those whose horizon is bounded by death. Death is a tyrant, and their whole life is lived in its shadow, subject to its nearness, under its threat. This is evidently the way the people in Jerusalem regarded their country cousins in Galilee. Matthew’s recording of it is part of the way he brings out the truth that Jesus’ ministry was in the first instance to those whom the religious leaders of his day had neglected. For those people Light has dawned. They are not seen as producing light; the light dawned for them as a new day dawns. The light that dispels their darkness is God’s good gift.

Leon Morris, The Gospel according to Matthew, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press, 1992), 82.

Isaiah 26:3 ESV

3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

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Fulfillment Of The Prophetic WORD

Revelation Of God’s Compassionate Purposes

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Powerful Proclamation Of The Gospel

Matthew 4:17 ESV

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Mark 1:14–15 ESV

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Luke 4:14–15 ESV

14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. 15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 41.52 μετανοέω; μετάνοια, ας

to change one’s way of life as the result of a complete change of thought and attitude with regard to sin and righteousness—‘to repent, to change one’s way, repentance.’

1 Corinthians 1:17–18 ESV

17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

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Fulfillment Of The Prophetic WORD

Revelation Of God’s Compassionate Purposes

Powerful Proclamation Of The Gospel

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Transition To Close- Getting That Shadow of Death Behind You

Illustration: Shadows do not just randomly occur? How shadows work?

A shadow is made when an object blocks out a bright light, such as the sun, a torch or a streetlight.

When you stand outside on a sunny day, your body blocks out some of the sunlight from reaching the ground. Light travels in a straight line. It cannot bend very well around you. Your shadow is the dark area on the ground in the shape of your body. It is dark because it is a space where light can’t reach.

Another fact you will notice about your shadow is that when you are facing the sun, your shadow is always behind you. When the sun is behind you, your shadow is always in front of you. If you are standing sideways, your shadow will be to one side. If your left side is facing the sun, your shadow is on your right.

Hebrews 12:2 ESV

2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

1 My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name.

Refrain: On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand: all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand.

2 When darkness veils his lovely face, I rest on his unchanging grace; (that’s Christ’s compassion) in every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil.

Close- Amen

Opening Song

Shine On Me by Vanessa Bell Armstrong

Turn on the lights from heaven, Lord

Shine on me

Turn on the lights from heaven, Lord

Shine on me, shine on me

(Turn on the lights and put me on the right road)

Help me find my way, Lord

Turn on the lights from heaven, Lord

Shine on me, shine on me

Shine on me, shine on me

Shine on me, shine on me

Shine on me, shine on me

Shine on me, shine on me

Shine on me, shine on me

Shine on me, shine on me

Our God of Hope

Romans 15:13 ESV

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

The Hope Which God Called You

Ephesians 1:18 ESV

18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

Born Again To A Living Hope Through The Resurrection

1 Peter 1:3–5 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Called Out of Darkness Into His Marvelous Light

1 Peter 2:9 ESV

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Light That A Dark World Cannot Overcome

John 1:4–5 ESV

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

The True Light Came Into The World

John 1:9–14 ESV

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. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jesus Is The Light of the World

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.”

Repent Change Your Attitude Towards Me

Matthew 4:17 ESV

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Matthew 12:28 ESV

28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

You Are The Light Of The World

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.