December 20, 2015 - Light of the World

2000 years the church has been Gathering Together. to Worship the Lord

to reflect upon what Jesus did the promises that God gave?

And so the church would come together like we do today through all these years and centuries.

And they would reflect.

Knowing that we didn't deserve a thing. knowing that why we mess it up all the time.

God in his infinite grace and mercy good just gone. Troy Doran

to put our trust in him in and he bitching sucks with such a surance and peace and joy, there's nothing we can do to try to fully explain it, but we come to him and we give him the glory sing with me this little song that you know.

for you

is Worthy We never want to forget. We don't want the crowd our time so much that we forget that he is worthy to be glorified and honored and praise and magnify soft mattress with our work done with just our attitude, but our actions 10. Just on the Sunday before Christmas. And not just on Sunday but everyday. Oh come let us.

Oh comely.

You know, I like the lights in the decorations like the hymns. I like the movies. I like all the stuff around Christmas.

But you know.

Christmas trees in the decorations

the lights The Greenery You know.

That doesn't fully describe the true meaning of Christmas.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not bashing anyone for putting a Christmas tree up there decorating their house or listening to Christmas music all year along like the Walker family does.

But I don't want us to forget. And I pray that by the by the end of the service no one in this room before cat. It was it was the prophet Isaiah. in Isaiah chapter 9 verse 2 who declared the people who walked in darkness? Have seen a great light and those who dwell in the land of deep Darkness on them has the light shone.

Deep darkness that caught my attention. It wasn't just Twilight kind of Darkness. It was deep Darkness.

Because of humankind's sin.

It distorts the truth.

push mankind into a deep Darkness Yes.

without peace without Joy

deep Darkness

But God had a plan he had a promise and it wasn't just some kind of thing that he made up as he was going up. He knew exactly what he was going to do, and I'm so glad for that. You know, what nothing surprises. I want you to understand that nothing but nothing surprises God no matter what the enemy may do. God is never caught off guard. I am so thankful for that. You know we run into things called life. I mean stuff happens. And we can feel surprised don't we? Sometimes we can feel. Without a sense of direction, but God damn never never. Number is caught so off guard or surprise, and I'm so glad for that you have this plan to reach into deep Darkness. rescue us because he loves us. Not only is God never surprised by anything. I want you to understand another important principle. God loves us. He loves you. No matter what you have done. He loves you. No matter what kind of attitude you display from time to time still loves you. He knows you and he loves you. See we are we have the capability of concealing who we really are. We can conceal are our attitudes in our our hopes and our plans and are our we can conceal our habits and sinfulness by God knows every detail of everything and he loves you more than anyone else could ever love you.

and in his great love he began to unfold his plan and John chapter 8 verse 12. This is what Jesus said. Against Jesus spoke to them saying I am the light of the world ever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of Life showing God's great love not caught off. Bike not caught off guard by whatever we have done or what the enemy tries to do.

He sent his son Jesus infinite God man, Jesus the second person of the trinity. Become Splash any dwells Among Us 2000 years ago. He was born. in Bethlehem

But that was not the the full meaning of the story he arrived but but he would become the light of life. He he would illuminate God's truth and what God's intends to do if we would put our trust and faith in him. And so God through his son Jesus.

Invites us out of the darkness to walk in the light of life.

Then Jesus says something else. Something that really caught my attention and I hope it catches yours. Give me a sermon on the mount a scripture that we've been going through since August. Jesus makes this declaration in Matthew Chapter 5 beginning with verse number 14. you you are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden 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 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.

Jesus is the light and he calls us to be white. He calls us into not only a personal relationship with him, but he calls us to be part of his kingdom God's kingdom and the kingdom Disney. And that's what I want to talk to you about this morning. like Christ We are called to illuminate God's Kingdom.

We are call to illuminate God's kingdom you you are the light of the world all of you. Call on Monday. All of you that believe in me. Jesus says all of you that put your faith and trust all of you that have received God's Gift of grace and mercy in the Forgiveness of sins 10 eternal life. All of you have been called to illuminate. Truth to be light in this world. Jesus demonstrated this flight. He preached the kingdom of God over and over again. He wanted the world to know God's Redemptive plan that God was not some kind of distance entity millions of miles away that has absolutely no concern absolutely no concern or care about you, but see God intimately concerned about your welfare your well-being. Did you know that?

And he has chosen you follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.

To communicate the message of Salvation and life in this Dark World. Now that may not make full sense to us. Why why couldn't he send the Angels like God sent the angels on that that day when Jesus was born and and and why couldn't God send the Angels tooth tooth to people like you did to the Shepherds and and inviting them to come to Jesus. He did not choose that he chose you. Jesus Christ he chose you to be in this world to communicate a message that changed changes lives transforms people that gives us victory. Deals chosen you to illuminate God's Kingdom. People are all the time looking for Solutions looking for the answers looking for what to believe in and why they should believe it. And then what does that look like as far as the experience is concerned and yet we have the truth we do. And it's not because we're something special we're better than everyone else, but somehow someway God reach down into our hearts and refilled his truth and in in through his work. Somebody came and share the good news of Jesus Christ. That's what I want you to do to others in the workplace at school. When you're in line at Walmart, I went to Walmart yesterday. No, no, no. No, I was a pleasant experience. I was really I was surprised. It really was I went with my mother-in-law and my daughter and we were looking for some things and we got them. And we are coming for the one I was really concerned about going to Walmart on Saturday before Christmas. I really didn't want to do it but I love my wife and so she asked me to do it and so I did it. That's what husbands. Do. You know when wife wants you to do something. We do it without complaining.

And and we went to Walmart and we were getting ready got all our stuff and we are going to the the line and a Gentleman waves his hands me, sis. Are you ready to check out I said, yes. He said 13 go to 13 somebody's right there and she'll check you out. I didn't even have to wait in line. I said, why does this just happen around Christmas time? But all the other times you have to wait an hour in line.

I don't know why this is happening to me and but I don't know where I was going with that story that just happened to me just a few weeks ago. I'm getting old. Or I'm tired over all the shopping.

I just think a long enough. I'd realize you know, wherever we are. We're to be light you like these candles.

Like like these candles were to be light and dark world. where to illuminate the truth of the Kingdom Because without the light there you can't see the kingdom. Without Jesus Christ, you can't see can't make sense of it people tried and it made all kinds of religions and and ways of doing it, but I will tell you the only way is to see the truth through the illumination Jesus Christ. You know what I want you to be a reflection of my glory I want you to be a reflection of my life just as the sun illuminates in the Moon is a reflecting. You know, this Christmas is going to be one of those rare treats, you know that happened about every for 40 years or so, but this Christmas is going to be what they call a cold full moon. And as we full moon this Christmas season and we are took just like that full moon where to reflect the glory of God. That's what God has called us to do, you know secondly like Christ. We are called to engage our world with the truth.

Jesus said a city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 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. When you look at the life of Jesus in the gospels, Matthew Mark Luke and John. Jesus was no no Wallflower of wallflower. He was he was no fly-on-the-wall where he just sort of wanted to see things from a distance. Jesus was up front and center. He was bowled. He was clear. It was loud.

CT wanted to clearly demonstrate and show and reveal the good news that God had a plan to redeem Mankind from their sin.

And what Jesus did is what he has called us to be doing? We the believer must resist the tendency of hiding in the shadows and too often. That's what we do. Don't we? We bought into this idea that we have to somehow be ashamed of what we believe in and somehow we got to be quiet and and we have to be in in a dignified way. We just have to just shut up.

What God has called us to be clear and to be be illuminated eliminate week. We can't hide ourselves under a basket or what it wouldn't King James version a bushel anymore.

Cuz I wonder how many people today have slipped into eternity. Without knowing Jesus Christ, his word is very clear. If you do not put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ Alone. At you die. You will spend eternity apart from God.

and if we truly believe it if it's truly something that we have embraced them then how can we

with integrity and ethics remain silent on the truth that Jesus is Savior and large.

We must resist that tendency of hiding in the shadows. But we need to boldly give Clarity to the message of Christ.

No matter what we do no matter where we go. That is what God is calling us to be in to do.

I was reading the story about president. Wilson the president that served during World War 1 he went to get a haircut. So you went to a barber? And he sat in in the barber seat getting ready for his haircut. The barber came over ask him. What kind of haircut he wanted. He shared with that and he he was getting his haircut in and another gentleman walked in. Sat right next to him in the open Barber seed and he too wanted a haircut and the other barber went to give him to to begin to to serve him giving his haircut. The president was listening very carefully to the conversation next to him. And something so so marvelously began to unfold as the gentleman talk to the barber about God. about Jesus

the president said he was so mesmerized by everything that was being said it was like he was transported into a worship service.

The gentleman never was loud. He was not rude. He was not boisterous. He was very gentle and very kind with his words about the son of God.

and

and the president wanted to find out who this gentleman was and it was an incredible experience. I think because the gentleman was none other than d l Moody.

You know what? You're always on. as a follower of Jesus Christ You're always on and people are looking at you. And people are wondering are you a person of Faith? Are you a person that really means what you say you believe.

Too many times. When were the greatest tragedies I think concerning concerning our life today is the fact that sometimes what we say does not match up with what we do. Sometimes what we say does not match up with our attitudes of life. Friends, you were always on and you are always going to be a witness. The question is is what kind of witness are you?

We are called to engage our world. We need to do it with such passion and with such an integrity. Which leads me to our third third thought like Christ. We are called to demonstrate God's hope. Not to speak it. Friends, I will tell you we live in a world today where talk is cheap.

We're already burned out on the all the the the the political stuff that's going on in the presidential race were just like all I can't wait till this gets over. I don't get me wrong. It's a very important experiencing and we need to be fully engaged as as as Godly citizens, but I will tell you and sometimes we just get very overwhelmed.

Talk is cheap.

Our actions speak louder than words. They always do and friends. We need to demonstrate just like Jesus demonstrated the power and the hope of God volume is reduced it healed the sick didn't get delivered people from demons. Didn't he? He he he said spiritually captive people free didn't get it over and over again. It was throughout his ministry. You could not read a page without seeing the power of God flow.

true Jesus

and Jesus when he says you are the light of the world. He says in the same way let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works.

kids calling you follower of Jesus Christ

He's calling you to do works good works. And you want the good works. I was thinking about this isn't just being nice. No think it needs to be more than just being nice to being compassionate. I think we need to be compassionate, but I think it's more than just being compassionate. Isn't just trying to trying to you know, make people feel good around you not has to that's important. I don't want to I don't want to say that's not important, but I think it has to be more than that. You know what? I think Jesus is talking about here. He says the good works that I want you to do. I want you to do the works of faith. I want you to be a man and a woman of faith. I want you to believe and trust God and demonstrate that trust over and over and over and over again.

Because people are hurting out there. And they need people like us who put our faith and trust in God. Come alongside. And help them in life. Here it is.

We got a person in our church. That is struggling today.

Most of you knowing His name is Lloyd Olsen.

Lloyd house. I mean, I've only been here less than 2 years and I mean he's he's been at this church more than probably anybody else. You got so much. And I know that he would be embarrassed for me even to say anything like that, but I want you to know. That you can be so involved in doing the work of God and then the enemy just throw something at you. And the enemy is strong something out. The last couple weeks he's been diagnosed with leukemia. And he this is a matter now to the point where God has to intervene.

My heart is just broken. You know, I'm human, you know, when people struggle I struggle that's what the Bible says. Doesn't it when one person struggles we all struggle with one person hurts. We all hurt. I don't know anybody in this room. Would love to get a message like that from the doctors. Okay, I wouldn't Sometimes it's a man if I want personal faith and I can handle anything. I'll tell you what there's things that that the enemy will try to throw at you where you will wonder can I handle this? And if you say one better than that, then you're saying you're better than Jesus because wasn't Jesus who said in the 70s is Laura, you know, if his father if it's you will can this cup Pass Me By

You know. Lloyd Lloyd need sauce And what do you mean just to do is we need to he needs us to pray and pray and believe tonight. We're going to have prayer meeting at 6 p.m. And and Lloyd is going to do his absolute best to be here tonight. Okay, he's been he's very weak. He's under he's he has pain medication and all of that but I talked with his family and I coordinated with a Ken doll in one of our Co prayer coordinators in our church. I'm so tonight. We're going to we're going to come together. You say Pastor. I'm in my life so busy. I understand that. I really do. I'm not going to put any I don't want to put any guilt trip or any pressure on you. If you can just come for even 15 minutes come from.

However long we're going to pray and we're going to believe. You know when we say something like this and I'm going to be very transparent with you. Can I do that? Let me just very open with you.

Whenever somebody gets a bad report.

We have our mind race is okay. What do I need to say? k and we were very quick to tell the person that receives the bad report. Well, this is how you need to pray.

And we give them the formula.

We we tell them okay that you got to do this and if you don't do this just right then. And I'll tell you what, that's not the God I serve. God is an incredibly gracious and merciful god.

She is incredible and you know what he has done and wants to do is he saying you know what? I want to use you. You and you and you and you and you I want to use you to reveal. Mike Power Authority and so tonight we're going to counter together and I'm so I don't know what the prey I'm scared. I'm not sure what you don't even need to worry about it. You know, the holy spirit says I will even help you in your brain.

Helmet, would you come to the piano for me? He says I will help you. I will help you know what to say and what to do, but you know what I was praying Lord. Why did this happen? Have you ever prayed that have you ever asked that question. Why? It's not a sin to ask God why?

And I really felt impressed of God last night. That it's more than just about Lloyd. It's about us. In our own Walk of Life. Will we trust God? No matter what we experience. will we trust God not only what we experience about what other people experience will we trust him and when we believe

so tonight we're going to just experience the power of God's word.

And we're going to just trust in God.

We're going to believe.

There is no doctors report that is greater than God's report. Okay.

No, I do know God is a sovereign God.

And above all I'm going to trust in him. For he knows what needs to happen best doesn't he?

And I'm going to trust in God. And what his word says? We're going to play the prayer Faith tonight. Working a bully but you know what? We're not going to just wait till tonight.

Because there's some of you that have needs. Some of you have had a doctor's report. Some of you have faced this season.

Not singing Joy to the world but singing. Oh my, I going to get through.

And we're going to pray the prayer of face. You just see you know when we do that. Would we pray the perfect when we believe when we trust in God when we put our faith into action? Something that is is a natural development.

Jesus said 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.

See Jesus was always about drawing people to give God the highest praise. and as believers

We live out God's truth and in living out God's proof. People will naturally be drawn to give praise and honor and worship to God.

So you have a need this morning? I believe God wants to minister to that knee.

Some of you have cancer, I believe that God wants to minister you. Some people you need financial provision. You need a financial miracle. I believe God wants to minister to you. Some of you are God wants to minister to you.

I want to invite you to stand.

I want to invite. In just a moment our prayer teams to come forward.

Now prayer team if you have a need that you need God to minister to you.

Once you're finished praying for someone you get ahold of a prayer team member and you pray that you pray for that need no matter what you're experiencing and why I believe God wants to do something in our lives. I believe that he is using Lloyd's situation. Help us understand that we need to fully engage in God's Kingdom Business.

That we need to once again. Pray the prayer of safe once again through that praying the prayer of faith believing that God is able to reach down into our situation and and change it for his glory and for his honor not just merely are better ones.

So protein if you would make your way forward right now and get into position. We're going to pray we got time.

You come forward for a team.

Remedy two things one isn't where to pray for the party and we do that cuz we because I want I want God to pour out his power on jump. I want God to pour out shoes incredible power on them. So so if you're comfortable extend your hands out to our protein Lord God these men and women that have come forward Lord. They week after we pray for four people. War god I pray today that you will give them an extra dispense of your power and your Authority and your grace warned that it would not just in them but out of them. I pray God that they will pray the prayer of faith today more that they would not just go through the motions, but they would since the power and authority of spirits as you direct their words born as you direct their heart as you can write their face more than that. There will be something Supernatural that will happen in this place. I pray in Jesus name in Jesus name. Friends if you have a need fuel sometimes wear bashful about it. I know sometimes we can be very private people but I'll tell you what there there's not much privacy in the family of God there just isn't I wonder how many times we have robbed ourselves from God's miracle working power because we just didn't want to bother anyone. I will tell you you're not bothering a soul in this place with a neat K. You say Pastor I Ever Need. I need God to minister to me. I want you to make yourself for your way forward right now to these authors into this birthday might now don't wait just immediately come.

praise the Lord

But I'm going to need those of you that are not a sign today, but you you're okay to pray. Come on for word. We're going to just believe that God is going to minister today.

Now those of you that are in the congregation, I want you to begin to pray to I want you to begin to pray for these that have come forward. We want to using an old time vernacular. We want to bombard heaven with our prayers. We want we want to hold these up. These are important needs that have been are being shared right now.

The Fray Hallelujah War Lord I pray for those that have come forward I prayed for every need and let's play so God Hallelujah Hallelujah Lord

Sports set people free in this place on friend

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Hallelujah Lord, we praise you. Magnify your name. I love you.

The Lord we worship you. magnify you, Ray should she

Lord we worship you. Oh God Have Your Way in this place sucks. Have your way in this place?

Pour out your power and authority Lord gone.

free music

Hallelujah Have your way in this place? British cheese Set people free. Oh God. Set people free lure kayak.

Hallelujah work

Hallelujah Praise you Jesus praise you Jesus. raise your cheese

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Lord help us

hallelujah

Oh God, your grace flow through our parts breakdown or unbelief Lord. God breakdown or unbelief. Help us to trust you Lord. Frost bar

We worship you are a person to.

Hallelujah, hallelujah.

Hallelujah

Hallelujah Hallelujah, Lord, you're worthy.

What's your word?

World War II word praise your name

Steve Madden

racial

You're so hard.