Illumination Station Sunday

Introduction:

Welcome our visitors

Yesterday- At illumination Station (5 Days into 1)

Games, Crafts, Snacks, and Bible Lessons

The Key truths that we taught were….

Jesus is God’s Promised Son

Jesus is God’s Perfect Son

Jesus is The Powerful Son of God

Jesus is the Proven Son of God

Jesus is God’s Plan for Forgivness

Theme Verse was John 8:12 “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.””

Thank you to all who served ( Please Stand….)

Thank you to Tammie Vaughn & Debbie Rusmisell for coordinating our team.

I have already recieved a call telling us how their children were impacted!!

Background to John 8

Sukkot/ Feast of booths/ Feast of Tabernacles John 7:2 “Now the Jews’ Feast of Booths was at hand.”

7 day celebration, most significant holiday in isreal

Constructed temporary shelters from branches and lived in them to remember their desert wanderings!!! (CAMPING!!!)

One of the ceremonies during this celebration would be lighting candles representing the pilar of fire that lead them at night in the wilderness….

1 Year of Obscurity, 1 Year of Favor, 1 Year of opposition…. This event is during the year of Oposition,

Jesus Family does not believe in him… They wanted Jesus to “Show himself…”

Division…. Some were seeking to Kill Jesus, some believed him…

Jesus Forgives the adulterous woman John 8:1-11

[THE EARLIEST MANUSCRIPTS DO NOT INCLUDE 7:53–8:11]

7 (EGO EIMI) “I Am” Statements made by Jesus- They echo God’s Self revelation God made to moses. Exodus 3:14

I am the Bread of Life- John 6:35,48,John 6:51 “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.””

I am the Light of the world- John 8:12

I am the Door (Gate) of the Sheep- John 10:7–9 “So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.”

I am the Good Shepherd- John 10:11–18

I am the resurrection and the Life John 11:25–26 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?””

I am the Way , The Truth, and the Life- John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

I am the True Vine- John 15:1-8

TODAY WE ARE LOOKING AT THE 2nd I AM Statement Jesus made about himself, that He was the Light of the World!!!

BF&M "The Holy Spirit inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures. Through illumination He enables men to understand truth."

A lightning bolt can be. five times hotter than the surface of the Sun

Light is mentioned in Genesis 1:3 & Revelations 22:5 Opening and closing the book,

First Day of Creation- Light

Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Stand for the reading of God’s Word….

John 8:12–30 “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.” So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come. So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”

STOP

(DO NOT READ….)

VS. 25-30 . So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father. So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” As he was saying these things, many believed in him.”

Prayer!!

Declaration of His Identity, Authority, and our Need for Him!!- John 8:12 “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.””

All of the I AM Statements he is trying to get us to see who He is…. His identity

He is trying to understand that he has the authority and control.

our utter deepence and need of him!!

“Prove It”- VS.13-14

Records….

Lineage (Who was his father…)

Testimony of 2 witnesses - Deuteronomy 19:15 ““A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.”

? Dont we want God to prove himself to us???

He has Proved it through his resurection…. Mic Drop… the resurection silences all those who come against Jesus…. No other religious leader has come back from the dead…

Romans 1:4 “and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,”

HE DOES NOT HAVE TO PROVE HIMSELF!! But he did…

Jesus’ response VS. 15-22

Your Judgement is wrong, you judge according to this world…. vs.15

YOU DONT KNOW ME!!! vs. 19

One day you will seek me!!! Vs. 21

Conflict Deepens… When Jesus Emphasizes the cosmic divid between man and God… Vs. 23-24

Isaiah 59:2 “but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.”

John 1:1–9 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.”

1 John 1:5–10 “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

Matthew 5:14–16 ““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.”

John 3:19 “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.”

Acts 26:18 “to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’”

2 Corinthians 4:4 “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.”

2 Peter 1:19 “And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed (THE BIBLE), to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,”

Dark World!!!

John 3:19–21 “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. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 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.””

Dark Hearts!!!

Romans 1:21 “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”

Dark Deeds!!!

Ephesians 5:8–11 “for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.”

Without light, the world would be completely different—

🌍 Physically

We couldn't see people, animals, trees, or anything around us.It would be completely dark. 

Without sunlight, plants couldn't perform photosynthesis to make food.Plants would die. 

Plants are the foundation of most food chains, and without them, ecosystems would collapse.Animals and people would eventually die. 

The Sun provides both light and heat. Without it, Earth's average temperature would eventually drop to around.The Earth would become extremely cold.  -400°F (-240°C)

The Sun drives the water cycle, winds, and seasons.There would be no weather. 

These beautiful sights all depend on light interacting with Earth's atmosphere.No rainbows, sunsets, or blue skies. 

and life as we know it would not exist.

Reflection Questions

Who do I believe Jesus is? Is He merely a great teacher, or do I believe He is truly the Light of the World and the Son of God?

Am I following Jesus daily, or am I trying to find my own way through life?

Are there areas of darkness in my life that I have been hiding from God or others?

What does my response to God's Word reveal about the condition of my heart?

Is there evidence that I am walking in the light, or am I drifting toward spiritual darkness?

What fears, sins, or struggles become easier to face when I remember that "The Lord is my light and my salvation"?

How has Jesus brought light into my own life and changed me?

If someone observed my life this week, would they see the light of Christ reflected through me?

Am I more influenced by the darkness of this world or by the truth of God's Word?

What step of obedience is the Holy Spirit calling me to take today?

Application Questions

Regarding Jesus

Have you personally trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, or are you still walking in darkness?

What keeps you from fully following the Light?

Regarding Sin

What hidden sin needs to be brought into the light today?

Is there a habit, relationship, or attitude that is pulling you back toward darkness?

What would genuine repentance look like this week?

Regarding God's Word

Psalm 119:105 says God's Word is a lamp to our feet. Am I allowing Scripture to guide my daily decisions?

What practical change do I need to make to spend more time in God's Word this week?

Regarding Witness

Jesus is the Light of the World, and He calls His followers to be lights (Matthew 5:14–16). Who has God placed in my life that needs to hear about Jesus?

Is my lifestyle making Christ attractive to others, or is it sending mixed messages?

Regarding Fellowship

Am I walking in honest fellowship with other believers, or am I isolating myself?

Is there someone I need to forgive, reconcile with, or encourage this week?

Regarding Hope

What situation in my life feels dark right now?

How does knowing Jesus is the Light give me hope in that circumstance?

Questions for Unbelievers

If you were to die today, are you certain your sins have been forgiven?

What is keeping you from placing your faith in Jesus today?

Will you continue to love the darkness, or will you come to the Light?

Jesus said, "Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness." Will you follow Him today?

Questions for Believers

Are you merely enjoying Christ's light, or are you reflecting it to others?

Where have you allowed compromise to dim your testimony?

Is there someone you need to share the gospel with this week?

What would it look like for your home, workplace, or school to be brighter because Christ lives in you?

Are you living in such a way that people are drawn to Jesus rather than distracted by you?

Closing Challenge

You could conclude with these four questions:

Have you come to the Light?

Are you walking in the Light?

Are you growing in the Light?

Are you shining the Light?

Those four questions summarize the entire message:

to Christ for salvation.Come 

with Him in holiness.Walk 

through His Word and the Spirit's illumination.Grow 

as His witness in a dark world.Shine 

Gospel:

God Rules

We Sinned

God Provided

Jesus Gives

We Respond….

Admit We are sinners

Believe that Jesus is God’s Son and recieve the Gift of Forgiveness of Sins

Confess your faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord….