Luke 8:16-18: What Are You Doing With That Light?
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Introduction:
Introduction:
It’s important to remember that this passage goes in context with the previous parable
Jesus has been speaking to the multitudes about sowing the seed
And he has given a clear warning in v. 8: “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
Jesus calls them to hear
But in this passage, the conclusion is another clear warning in v. 18: “Take heed therefore how ye hear”
While the first warning is a call to hear/listen, the second warning is that they be careful to how they hear
The question we could ask from this passage is “What are you doing with the light you have received?”
What we do with the light we have received and how we respond to God’s Word is of eternal importance
We can’t have the luxury of being indifferent or apathetic toward the light of God’s word.
1. The Light Causes a Response v. 16
1. The Light Causes a Response v. 16
Jesus gives a few absurd example about what someone wouldn’t do with a light
And it is an example of what someone shouldn’t do with the light of the gospel
This parable is a parable calling for action
It means that you have to take action with the light that you’ve received
Lighted a candle
Lighted a candle
This is a person that has received the light
It isn’t someone looking for a light
It isn’t someone wanting to find a light
It is someone who has already lit the candle in their home
Response
Response
Here we see the absurd idea of someone that would light a candle and then try to hide it
He doesn’t want anyone to see it
He doesn’t want to have light in his own life
He doesn’t take advantage of the opportunity to have light in their house for themselves or for anyone else
But a person’s logical response to turning a light on, lighting a candle, etc. is to put it in a prominent place where it can be seen
The light should be put in a place where it will be of greatest help for the person, for the family and for visitors
So how can we make the light prominent in our lives
Receive it in faith
Receive it in faith
Everything starts with receiving Christ John 8:12
12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
And it starts with receiving His Word
The more I walk through the christian life the more I am convinces of the need for God’s word in our daily life
It doesn’t just boil down to listen to a sermon every Sunday. It means making God’s word a constant part of our life Colossians 3:16
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
It’s understanding that it is God’s Words and not man’s 1 Thessalonians 2:13
13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
Obey it in faith
Obey it in faith
The best thing we can do with God’s Word is to receive it and obey it
When God speaks in our devotional time, during a sermon or in prayer, we should respond immediately in obedience
We cannot expect God to help us in our lives or to use us in the life of someone else if we aren’t willing to respond in obedience to what we have already heard James 1:22
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Share it in faith
Share it in faith
The last part of v. 16 says that the candle needs to be put on a candlestick so that “they which enter in may see the light.”
The light (the gospel) is meant to be shared
That is the essence of the christian life
In it’s very nature it is something to be seen and to be shared
It’s easy to find reasons why we shouldn’t share our faith
We may be fearful of being hated, criticized, mocked o ostracized
But whatever the result may be, it’s better than hiding it under the bed
Jesus told us He is the light of the world John 8:12
12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
But then He tells us that we are the light of the world Matthew 5:14-16
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
The purpose of the light is for it to be seen by others and for them to receive the light of the gospel Acts 26:18
18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
God has created us to preach about this great life 1 Peter 2:9
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
2. The Light Makes An Obvious Difference v. 17
2. The Light Makes An Obvious Difference v. 17
We see a biblical principal in this verse
The principle is that what is hidden will be brought to light
You cannot receive the light without having seeing a change in your life
It depends on what we do with that light that will determine the corresponding results
Just like we see in v. 15 that the person who receives the Word produces fruit, here the person that receives the light see results Luke 8:15
15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
If the Word is constantly rejected in our lives then it will be clearly evident in our lives
What’s hidden will be made manifest
What is hidden will be known and brought to light
There is no way that we can divorce our inner man from our outer behavior Luke 6:45; Ephesians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:5
45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
You could ask yourself:
Why is my marriage in ruins?
Why don’t I feel purpose in my life?
Why don’t I feel joy in my work?
Why don’t I have victory over my sin?
Why am I not seeing growth in my spiritual walk?
Why does it seem like all the relationships in my life bring personal conflict?
My question to all this would be “What are you doing with the light you’ve received?”
It is impossible to deny that the way you respond to God’s Word will directly show the evidences in your own life
3. The Light Creates a Responsibility v. 18
3. The Light Creates a Responsibility v. 18
Jesus finishes this short parable with a very clear warning
“Take heed therefore how ye hear”
It is a very serious thing to hear and understand God’s Word
We are not passive listeners when God’s Word is preached
We are active agent that have a responsibility to receive, believe, obey and share God’s Word
Whom much is given, much is required Luke 12:48
48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
Be very careful with how you hear God’s Word because you are responsible to do something with it
Do something with what you have
Do something with what you have
Jesus continues the warning saying that “for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.”
This isn’t an explanation about worldly riches
It’s talking about the spiritual application of the Bible
The person that does something with what he has will be given more by God
The more light that I receive, obey and share, the more light I have
The more I obey and apply God’s word to my life the more light, understanding and growth i will see
Every time that my heart is sensitive to God’s Word and I obey it, I’m generating more growth in my life. God will speak more, use more and teach more.
God’s Word isn’t learned by profound study only, but by application
And the other side of the coin is that if you do nothing with what you have you will lose it
You will not only lose what you have but also what you “think you have”
James tells us that if we aren’t doers of the Word then we are deceiving ourselves James 1:22
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Don’t fool yourself thing that “you’re spiritual” because you’ve been saved for so many years
Don’t fool yourself by thinking that “you’re spiritual” because you’ve been at your church from the beginning
Don’t fool yourself by thinking “you’re spiritual” because you heard such and such preacher
Don’t fool yourself by thinking “you’re spiritual” because you have a special title in the church
The proof of planted seed is fruit
The proof of having light is that it shines
The greatest compliment a pastor can get for preaching the Word is that his congregation would obey it throughout the week
Maybe the reason we don’t see growth, victory, change, etc. isn’t because we aren’t fed at church but because we don’t obey what God has already told us
There are churches in Africa that are meeting under a tree with low income, they don’t know how to read and don’t even have a first grade education. But they are being more greatly used by God, more blessed by God, more conten with their lives than many of us today because when they hear the Word they actually believe it’s from God and they obey it and share it
What are we doing with the light we’ve received?
How are you receiving the light?
Are you sharing the gospel with others or are you hiding it from those who need to hear?
Do you want to see God working in your life?
Do you want God to show you more?
Obey and share from what you’ve already received
