You Are The Light Of The World
YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
(ENGAGING OUR CULTURE)
1/26/02 AND 1/27/02
Introduction:
Jesus is coming back. It could happen soon, or it could happen in the next century. I want to introduce a mindset and worldview that gets us ready and keeps us ready in case we are that single generation that doesn’t experience death but sees Jesus coming in the clouds. At the same time, if we aren’t that generation, we should leave a legacy of faith and a changed culture. I’m sure the early church believed that they would see Jesus return in their lifetime. They didn’t begin to write things down for decades because they didn’t think anyone would need them. They hustled to get the gospel to the world. They weren’t planning on you and I being a part of this whole deal.
Over the years, revival would also produce a lot of people who wouldn’t totally submit to Jesus but would go off with their own ideas. Out of a real revival in upstate New York came Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses and other movements that set dates and had this real intricate system of the end times. They all preached that they had “inside information” about the way things were ending up. That doesn’t happen in our lifetime does it? How about 88 reasons why Jesus is returning in 88 or the revised version, 89 reasons why Jesus is returning in 89? They was a man a few years ago who is well known that had this real intricate system of why things would wrap up in 2000 or 2001. Needless to say, they were wrong.
We should live our lives as if Jesus were returning today but plan and prepare as if it will happen after we die.
-So the real question is: WHAT IF WE STAY?
1. LEAVE A LEGACY TO FUTURE GENERATIONS
Exodus 1
5 The descendants of Jacob numbered seventy in all; Joseph was already in Egypt.
6 Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died,
7 but the Israelites were fruitful and multiplied greatly and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them.
8 ¶ Then a new king, who did not know about Joseph, came to power in Egypt.
9 "Look," he said to his people, "the Israelites have become much too numerous for us.
10 Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country."
11 So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labour, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.
12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites
13 and worked them ruthlessly.
14 They made their lives bitter with hard labour in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their hard labour the Egyptians used them ruthlessly.
15 ¶ The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah,
16 "When you help the Hebrew women in childbirth and observe them on the delivery stool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live."
17 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live.
18 Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, "Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?"
19 The midwives answered Pharaoh, "Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive."
20 So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous.
21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.
22 Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: "Every boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live."
Matthew 2
16 ¶ When Herod realised that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.
17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
18 "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."
-It is interesting that the devil hates generations. He hates the posterity of the righteous.
-In order to win we are going to have to value those we are training.
-Success must have a successor.
2 Timothy 2
1 ¶ You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.
-Notice four generations here spiritually.
PAUL
TIMOTHY
RELIABLE MEN
OTHERS
John 17
20 ¶ "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,
-That is three generations.
-Who are you pouring your life into?
-Who are you discipling and training?
-Do you have an intentional plan to leave a spiritual legacy?
-Jesus had a plan to reach the world. So He poured His life into 12 leaders.
-We believe now through their efforts.
-We are fast food oriented. Jesus developed a long-term plan.
-IT WORKED!!!!!
2. DON’T YEILD TO DESPERATION
-Someone who is desperate becomes reckless.
Luke 21
5 ¶ Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said,
6 "As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down."
7 "Teacher," they asked, "when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?"
8 He replied: "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, `I am he,' and `The time is near.' Do not follow them.
9 When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away."
10 Then he said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.
12 "But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.
13 This will result in your being witnesses to them.
14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.
15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death.
17 All men will hate you because of me.
18 But not a hair of your head will perish.
19 By standing firm you will gain life.
20 ¶ "When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near.
21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city.
22 For this is the time of punishment in fulfilment of all that has been written.
23 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people.
24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
25 "There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.
26 Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.
27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
-Jesus said things would get rough but DON’T BE AFRAID.
-He said even bad things should make us anticipate the great coming glory.
-He always leads us in triumph.
-We are more than conquerors through Him.
2 Thessalonians 2
1 ¶ Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers,
2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come.
3 ¶ Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for [that day will not come] until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.
4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshipped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
5 Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things?
6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time.
7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.
Chapter 3
9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow.
10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."
11 We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies.
12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.
13 And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.
14 If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed.
15 Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
-The Thessalonians were looking for the end times and the coming of Jesus so they got so spiritual that they just checked out.
-They quit their jobs and just preached. They thought they were living by faith.
-Paul said they were busybodies.
-They were so focused on the future that they had already checked out. They were in the lobby with their suitcases waiting for the bus!
Luke 19
10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
11 ¶ While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once.
12 He said: "A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return.
13 So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. `Put this money to work,' he said, `until I come back.'
14 "But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, `We don't want this man to be our king.'
15 "He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.
16 "The first one came and said, `Sir, your mina has earned ten more.'
17 "`Well done, my good servant!' his master replied. `Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.'
18 "The second came and said, `Sir, your mina has earned five more.'
19 "His master answered, `You take charge of five cities.'
20 "Then another servant came and said, `Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth.
21 I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.'
22 "His master replied, `I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow?
23 Why then didn't you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?'
24 "Then he said to those standing by, `Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.'
25 "`Sir,' they said, `he already has ten!'
26 "He replied, `I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away.
-Notice the parable rebuked the lazy person.
-Jesus told the parable in response to the belief that the Kingdom of God would appear AT ONCE.
-It was another end-time error.
-The parable predicted a postponement.
Lu 19:13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
-It literally means: DO BUSINESS WHILE I AM COMING.
-Don’t let the circumstances overwhelm you.
Jesus said, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
3. WIN DON’T JUST SURVIVE
Genesis 1
26 ¶ Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."
Matthew 28
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Mt 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
-Jesus is saying, I made this deal, take over for me.
EXAMPLE OF WESLEY
-In the 1700s in England there was a mess. England was in despair with rich people and very poor people. Children were slaves and were even being hanged. In this time period France had a revolution where many people were placed in the guillotine. God raised up a group of people who were converted and began to place people in small groups. They preached to the masses but did like Jesus and placed people in a small group for growth and discipleship. The result is that they were transformed. They in turn transformed the culture. Whitfield was a great preacher but not as effective as Wesley. Wesley thought long-term. Wilberforce was converted under Wesley. He stayed in the parliament and rid the commonwealth of slavery. America did it with a civil war. Wesley is credited by secular historians as creating the middle class from the dispossessed in England. He said in his journal, I HAVE SEEN ENGLAND TRANSFORMED IN MY LIFE TIME. His last words were, BEST OF ALL , JESUS IS WITH US.
It took 50 years but that is the point.
-Let’s take a long-term approach and if Jesus comes back and interrupts out plan, GREAT!
-This is a great chance to shine the light of truth to the world.
Isaiah 60
1 ¶ "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you.
3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
-I am thrilled to see people building Universities, planning industry for 3rd world nations.
-Let’s pray for a way to have those people in Haiti work and succeed without a handout.
-It is the old story of feeding a man a fish versus teaching a man to fish.
-Get a long-term plan for your life and children and grandchildren.
-Leave a successor.
-Leave a legacy.
-Let’s get a plan to end abortion and set our faces like flint to not quit.
-Let’s expect the people we lead to the Lord to be transformed and then to transform society.
-We’re here til Jesus comes anyway, we might as well take over.
-Let’s us the life of God to change our culture, not just escape from it.
-The other side is something Adrian Rogers said, If we just focus on humanitarian causes, we just make the world a better place to go to hell from.
-I would like to see some of you go into teaching and politics and medical research and whatever God has called you to.
-We need Christians who are preaching to the culture with their lives, not just sermons.
-We need to see families changed by Godly parents and towns changed by Godly citizens.