Shine Out of Darkness

Introduction

Good Morning, my name is Shawn, I am the Family Pastor here at First Grace. If you have you Bibles, please turn to 2 Corinthians 4. If you do not own a Bible, we have some copies at our welcome desk, please feel free to grab one now or on your way out, it is our gift to you.

If you have one of our sermon notebooks, which can also be found at the welcome desk,

I have titled this sermon “Shine out of darkness”

our Big Idea this morning is “Even if our gospel is veiled, let light shine out of darkness”

Before we get to our text I want to begin by reminding you of the Parable of the soils. This parable can be found in Mark 4, Matthew 13, and Luke 8. With each of these there is an explanation following the parable. I will read form Mark 4:3-9 then summarize Jesus’ explanation:

Mark 4:3–9 (ESV)

3 “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. 6 And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. 8 And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” 9 And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Jesus explains in the following verses. The sower is sowing the word of God. As he is sowing, some of the seed falls along the path where Satan immediately comes and takes the seed away and it cannot take root. Some of the seed falls on rocky soil. This is when someone receives the word with joy, but it doesn’t take root, he or she then endures for a little while, but when trial and difficulty comes, they fall away. The soil with the thorns is when the word is received, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. Yet the word when it falls on good soil it, meaning it is heard and accepted whole heartedly, it takes root, and is not choked away with the cares of this world, it therefore bears much fruit to the glory of God.

This morning we are going to consider this along with the recognition that when we believe, we become Ministers of the gospel by the mercy of God. We may enter trials, and difficulties, but the one who saved us can hold us fast until the end, as we openly and truthfully proclaim the gospel of Christ! Even if our enemy comes and snatches the seeds we scatter because the soil around us is hard and packed like a path, even if our gospel seems to be veiled to our friends and loved ones, we will let the light of the glory of Christ shine out of darkness to the glory and praise of God.

Even if our gospel is veiled, let light shine out of darkness

2 Corinthians 4:1–6 (ESV) 1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Lets Pray: Our Father in Heaven, may you glory shine with the light of the sun. Shine brilliantly through us, your children and may we make much of you and your son on the earth. May the praise of your glorious name be ever present on our lips and the wonders of your grace on our tongues. We are your church, your children, adopted in Christ Jesus by the shedding of his blood and our sins forgiven. May you kingdom come and wage war against the feeble kingdom of the dominion of death. Strengthen us with you Spirit, fill us with joy, renew our hope, shine forth your love through us for one another and for our neighbors and may we show our love for you by how we love one another. Father forgive us for our weakness. Forgive us for sitting idly by comfortable to let others do the work of ministry. Forgive us for seeing our trials as real obstacles for the task you have given us instead of opportunities for you to show your wonders and might. Forgive us for allowing the cares of this world to choke the fire out of our faith, but reignite it and fan it into a flame and into a wildfire which spreads for the gospel to the corners of the globe. At the same time, help us to forgive those who have sinned against us, forgive our unforgiveness. Teach our hearts to let go of all bitterness and to walk in love as you loved us and gave you son for us. Deliver us from the evil one, who continually distracts us from our mission, who focuses our attention on minutia and on petty squabbles, so we are powerless to assault his strongholds where he holds our beloved neighbors captive, enslaved to their desires, alone and without God in the world. Let you light shine in the darkness, let your light shine in us that we might be a lamp undimmed and unhidden, and may we sow the seeds of the gospel with confidence and faith until Christ returns in glory. Bear fruit though us a thousand fold and may the world be forever changed because of what you do through a small and simple group of ministers by your mercy. I humbly ask all of this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, AMEN.

Even if our gospel is veiled, let light shine out of darkness

I have 4 points this morning:

First, we are Ministers by the mercy of God

2 Corinthians 4:1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.

Starting in verse 1, we are confronted first with the word “Therefore.” This is a word which points backwards. It speaks to an unfolding argument. The question is to what he is referring. This is clarified immediately with “having this ministry by the mercy of God.” Now, what ministry is Paul talking about?

It is the ministry of the New Covenant (3:6), aka. the ministry of the the Spirit (3:8), aka. the ministry of righteousness (3:9), which he had discussed in the previous section. This ministry is something they had “by the mercy of God.” This makes sense if you think about it. Paul was a persecutor of the church and by the mercy of God was not only stopped from that evil course, but was transformed by the light of the gospel. He was literally blinded by the glory of Christ and healed by his servant (Ananias). Paul always seemed to have a healthy amount of humility about his position and his purpose as an apostle of Jesus Christ to the gentiles. He saw it all as a mercy. Because of this mercy, he says he does not lose heart. The mercy of God in the ministry of the New Covenant is worth their ongoing endurance. This is an endurance of the whole soul: heart, spirit, mind, and strength.

Endurance in our ministries of the new covenant isn’t only for Paul. If you are a Christian, by the mercy of God given to us in Christ Jesus, you have a ministry. 1 Peter 2:9 says, “9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his (God’s) own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” A minister is a servant of Christ who proclaims the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness. It is the memory of the darkness of our sin and the bondage in which we all walked as stranger of God far off, alone, and without God in the world. This memory of the darkness in which we once inhabited spurs us to recognize the mercy of God. In addition, this mercy shows itself in the fact that Jesus calls us to help him. He commissioned all of us as his priests in the world, we are his servants, his ministers.

One of the mistakes I have seen over the years, is seeing the leaders of the church as the ministers. This is particularly true of the paid staff. The truth is, we are all ministers. The only difference is the apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers are to equip the saints (everyone else) to do the work of ministry for the building up of the body of Christ. This isn’t about position so much as capability. An evangelists equips those who are not gifted in evangelism so that they can do it anyway. Teachers and shepherds are the same.

That said, we are all ministers of a new covenant by the mercy of God. A major part of my equipping of you is this, DO NOT LOSE HEART! We are called toward faithfulness, toward endurance. Sometimes I think we feel like we failed because we are not progressing in the way we think we should as ministers, but sometimes simple endurance through difficulties is all we are called toward. We are not called to do the work only the Holy Spirit can do.

So, along with the reminder that if you are a Christian, you are in fact, a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2 tells us what that means, “that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” We must not lose heart in this. You may think you are not equipped or ready, you may think you need to learn more before you can tell anyone about Jesus. This is false. I think it is a lie the enemy whispers in our ears to paralyze us into immobility. 1 Peter 3 tells us, “always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.” You may not know everything, but you know you. You know why you believe. This is why, so often, our best evangelists are new believers. Too often, even while we still believe and we are confident in our salvation, the cares of this world choke the gospel from our lips and we fail to proclaim the excellencies of him who called us our of darkness and into his marvelous light. We fail to proclaim the reason for the hope that we have!

So, I want to ask, what does your ministry look like? You don’t have to change the world, but are you planting seeds? Are you enduring in faithfulness to the one who commissioned you to go and make disciples? If you are willing, but you don’t know how, come and talk with me, I would love to equip you to make disciples.

Even if our gospel is veiled, let light shine out of darkness

Second, openly and truthfully proclaim the gospel

(starting in the second half of verse 1) we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.

In verse 2 Paul returns to the defense of his and his team’s behavior. However, where before (1:12) he described it positively as behaving with simplicity and godly sincerity, now he describes it in the negative (that is he says what they didn’t do). They renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. These ways are described as practicing cunning which could be translated as treachery, these are cleaver tactics used to achieve an end, but do not take character into account. How they approached their goal mattered to Paul. Neither were they willing to tamper with God’s word. It would seem he is referring to the gospel of Jesus Christ in this moment. He is a minister of the new covenant, he isn’t going to bend it to fit an agenda to make it more palatable, or to make it easier for people. Moving back to a positive statement, Paul and his team were determined to present the gospel with simple and open statements of truth. They used no cleaver tactics to bring people in; he trusted God and his Spirit to do the work. He even calls upon the conscience of of the people to speak to the truth of this statement. This is what he means when he stated, “we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.” Could anyone, under the watchful and just eye of God, claim Paul had done anything differently?

What we do matters, regardless of how good or right the goal might be. Paul was unwilling to adjust the gospel of Jesus Christ to make it easier for people to make decisions. He was unwilling to practice cunning or treachery to convince people toward faith. He was unwilling to tamper with God’s word. This means the way he went about sharing the gospel with them mattered. There are many teachers out there who distort the gospel so as to make it easier for people to “believe.” However, if someone comes to faith with a false gospel, I don’t want to say the Spirit cannot create true faith in the person, but I would have significant doubts. This would also be true about cunning tactics used to get people to believe. Some of the large events which push the emotions of the crowds comes to mind. This can illicit an emotional response and even decisions being made, but this doesn’t necessarily produce a true faith in the people making those decisions. I worry it is something like intentionally throwing our seeds onto the path, on the rocks, or on the weeds.

So, as we are working through our ministries it is important to consider how we are going about it. We need to pay attention to our conduct, our character, and our goals. This is true in our ministries and in any other situation we encounter. None of us will do this perfectly.

First goal, I think this one is obvious, what we are trying to achieve. This needs to be a right thing. You can have good character and good conduct, but if what you are pursuing are bad things, it won’t matter.

Next is Character, with what heart are you pursuing your goals? Am I acting out of self-interest, bitterness, pride?

The last is conduct, what are your actual actions? The philosophy Paul was combatting is called consequentialism, that is the ends (the goal) justifies the means (the conduct). As Christians we cannot think this way. Both our goals and our conduct matters. If we have a good goal, but then proceed to do what is not good on the way to that goal, it poisons the goal we are attempting to achieve.

I think, in some ways, this is what has happened to Christians in the USA. We have utilized cunning, underhanded tactics in the attempt to get people to put their faith in Jesus Christ. I also think, many in my generation have over corrected in this, but that might be a conversation for another day. The point now is we are called to proclaim the simple and open truth of the gospel and let the Spirit do his work. We call people to choose, but if there is emotion, conviction, if there is any pressure it is from the Spirit, not from us.

Even if our Gospel is veiled, let light shine out of darkness

Third, Even if our Gospel is veiled

3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Here in verse 3, Paul says something interesting, “Even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.” This seems to indicate at least an accusation that his gospel has been ineffective, that it is veiled in some way. I am having to reason from what we are given, but it would seem the argument is he should be using the underhanded, cunning tactics of persuasion to convince people of the gospel. Paul rejects this outright. Instead, if his gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. This veil is the result of the god (little g) of this world who has blinded the minds of unbelievers. He is keeping them from being able to see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ. This being is the serpent from Genesis 3, he is the accuser in Job who wanders to and fro on the earth; many think he was the true king of Babylon in Isaiah 14, he is the one who would tempt Jesus to forsake his role and his God; Jesus calls him the “prince of this world.” He is the lion who wanders about seeking to whom he may devour; he is the dragon in Revelation who swipes a third of the stars from the Heavens and makes war against the Lamb and his saints. This serpent, this dragon is called Satan, the accuser, the devil, the prince of the power of the air, the one at work in the sons of disobedience. He blinds those under his sway so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

As we think about this, we have to recognize that our enemy has power. He has built strongholds in this present darkness. This is what Jesus calls Hades, it is what I call the kingdom of the dominion of death. The wicked dragon holds our fellow human beings as captives, enslaved to and blinded by the passions of their flesh. These are people who remain condemned as Jesus says in John 3. They are the ones who remain dead in their transgressions. Now we see they are blinded by the serpent, unable to see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ. What are we to do?

First, we remember the gospel. The good news of Jesus Christ is he has overcome the world and he who is in it, that is Satan.

Second, Satan, as powerful as he is, he is not equal to God. Jesus Christ has already defeated him, his fate is sealed. He is just trying to get as many people to join him as he can. This is why he prowls around like a roaring lion seeking to whom he may devour.

Third, remember the parable to the soils. We are the farmer, we scatter seeds of the gospel far and wide without discrimination. What happens next is according to the will of God and the repentance of the person. He or she need only turn to the Lord and will find salvation in Jesus Christ.

Fourth, pray. Our gospel might be veiled, we find that many don’t seem to be believing, we cannot control that. The only thing we are responsible for is opening our mouths and speaking. That said, Satan may be veiling the minds of those to whom we speak, pray for your friend, pray for someone, that he might have ears to hear, and that the word not be snatched up before it can take root.

So here is the question, are you equipped to speak the gospel? If not, fix it. I will help you. Invite your friends to join you here. Get involved in something in the community and take the gospel with you. I know for a fact that if you volunteered with YFC in Sheffield, Jamie would not only let you have opportunities to share the gospel, she would encourage it. She, in the first year of the middle school club, had upwards to 40 11-13 year olds who needed to hear the gospel. It is the easiest opportunity to share your faith. If you want to go, come talk to me.

Next, Do you understand what is in your control and what is not? Christ gave us the responsibility to make disciples baptizing them and teaching them to obey all he commanded. This means we are to plant seeds of the gospel and then work to foster their growth, to equip those saints for the work of ministry. We plant and we grow. The harvest belongs to God. He is the one who changes hearts, so pray to the Lord of the harvest to send workers into his harvest, and be willing to say, “here am I Lord, send me.”

Even if our gospel is veiled, let light shine out of darkness

Fourth, Let light shine out of darkness

5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

In verse 5, Paul shifts to speak about what they do communicate. They are not speaking to present themselves as anything special, they are not out to make themselves great, but to make much of Jesus Christ as Lord. Jesus reigns, Paul and his companions are simply servants. They were servants of the Corinthians for the sake of Jesus Christ. This is because the God who said, “let light shine out of the darkness,” has shone in their hearts. This light brought knowledge of the glory of God, which shines forth in the face of Jesus Christ.

Christians often forget this, but we, as ministers of a new covenant by the mercies of God, we no longer exist for ourselves. We belong body and Soul to God and our savior Jesus Christ. The love we have for ourselves is to be given to our neighbors as well. The love we have for our brothers and sisters should be even greater. We love as Christ loved us, this is a humble, self-sacrificing, love.

More than this, we become children of light, Ephesians 5:8 says “for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” There was a time when we were all walking as children of darkness. The light of Christ veiled by the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who even now is at work in the sons of disobedience. We all lived according to the passions of our flesh carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were children of wrath with the rest of mankind.

But God who is rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ, for by grace we have been saved. We were dead in our sin, but because of his love, he sent his son, who lived the life we all should live, then died the death we all deserve so that we can be forgiven.

Then Jesus rose from the dead victorious over sin and death and the grave and promised eternal life for all who turned to the Lord in repentance and faith. With this, we step out of the darkness and begin to walk in the light of Jesus Christ. This light shines in the darkness and his Spirit begins to change us from one degree of glory to the next. We begin to see more and more of Jesus who shines a light into our hearts of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

If you are here and you are not a Christian, I would like to encourage you to consider it. While it will not make your life easier now, it will fill it with richness. This is because of Jesus who will shine a light in your heart. You will step out of a darkness in which you did not realize you were walking. A burden you didn’t know you were carrying will fall from your shoulders. All you need is to repent and believe the good news of what Jesus has done for you and the forgiveness he offers. If you would believe, take a minute to pray, repent of your sin and confess your faith in Jesus Christ. If you would like to talk with someone, come and speak with me after the service.

For the Christians here, remember the light of the gospel. Remember the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. As I said, life does not necessarily become easier because you have become a Christian. In some ways it becomes harder. We need only remember that we have one on our side who is greater and he, by his Spirit, will help us to endure faithfully.

Sometimes, it seems like Christians think the gospel is the milk and they are ready to get into the meat of their faith. The truth is, the gospel is the meat, as we begin to understand it more fully and how the whole of the Bible speaks to it. It is how we grow up. It is how the light shines through the darkness of our continued struggle with sin. We remember what Christ has done for us, we repent of out sin, and we renew our faith. There are a lot of interesting things to learn as we grow, but maturity comes from knowing Jesus more fully even as we are fully known.

Even if our gospel is veiled, let light shine out of darkness

Conclusion

This morning we have recognized that when we put our faith in Jesus we become sowers, Ministers of the gospel by the mercy of God, we are tasked with making disciples of all nations, scattering the seeds of the gospel far and wide, speaking openly and truthfully. Yet, it isn’t easy, we struggle sometimes, if feels like it isn’t working. We may enter trials, and difficulties, but the one who saved us can hold us fast until the end, even so we do not lose heart! Even if our enemy is coming and snatching the seeds we scatter because the soil around us is hard and packed like a path, even if our gospel seems to be veiled by him to our friends and loved ones, we will let the light of the glory of Christ shine out of darkness to the glory and praise of God.

As we go, let us consider these things, and may the Lord our God, the Lord of the harvest, send us as workers into his harvest. May we remember to be a light in the darkness. And remember as it says in John 1:5 “5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Even if our gospel is veiled, let light shine out of darkness

Lets Pray: Our Father in heaven, if there is anyone here who has not yet put their faith in Jesus Christ for their hope of salvation, I ask that you work in his or her heart that they may recognize they are a sinner in need of grace. Lead him or her to repentance and faith. Father, I pray the gospel find root in good, rich soil and bear fruit 1000 fold for you glory. Be with us as we continue to worship. Amen