Allowing His Light Will Shine
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Allowing His Light Will Shine
Allowing His Light Will Shine
16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
matt 4.
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
matt 4:1
John the Baptist’s ministry lasted somewhere between four and eighteen months, during which time he accomplished the mission to which God had called him. He caught the attention of the nation, awakened its conscience, and baptized and introduced the Messiah. John also stirred up the wrath of Herodias and Herod by denouncing their illegal marriage
With the Baptist’s removal from the scene, Jesus’ ministry entered a new phase. The function of the forerunner was over; the one to whom he pointed had come. This transfer might be neatly indicated by beginning the account of Jesus’ ministry from the time of John’s imprisonment.
There was a reason Jesus went from the Wilderness of Judah the area of Jerusalem to Galilee.
Yes it was prophesied
But why
The people in this area was a mixed bag of Jews , gentiles and the influence or Rome and Greece.
They were not apart of the religious system of the day
They were very open because they would by in large welcome the light more than the religious system of the day ...
THEY WOULD ALLOW HIS LIGHT TO SHINE.
They were open
Some would respond
God would go there not Jerusalem
What is your house like
They were sinners, rejected by the religious system of the day
I The Move
I The Move
matt 4:
12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; 13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
When Jesus arrived in Galilee, He made a second move. He left His boyhood home in Nazareth and moved to Capernaum on the sea of Galilee. We can visualize Him handing over the family business to His brothers, kissing His mother goodbye, hugging His sisters, saying His farewells at the local synagogue to neighbors, friends, and customers. We can see Him taking one last look at the valley that had been home to Him for so long.[1]
Capernaum was much more important than Nazareth as a base for reaching Galilee. Situated on the shore of the sea of Galilee, Capernaum was about twenty-five miles from Nazareth and ten miles from Tiberias, an important city not mentioned in the New Testament. The Romans had a famous spa at Tiberias; its hot baths attracted many sick people
In Jesus’ day nine cities bordered the lake and a busy life went on all around it. Township ran into township about the feet of the green western hills, and along the shore there were docks and harbors. Farmers elbowed fishermen; dockworkers jostled coopers and shipwrights. Fishing and fish curing were big business, employing thousands of families and making Galilee famous in the Roman world long before the Gospels were written. An intricate system of aqueducts carried water to the farms and orchards. There were dyeworks at Magdala and pottery kilns and shipyards at Capernaum. Presiding over the whole scene was the regal city of Tiberias with its magnificent Herodian palace, where Greek sculptures shone in the sun and reminded the Jews that their land was in the hands of the Gentiles.[1]
Capernaum would be His base for reaching Galilee
Capernaum was much more important than Nazareth as a base for reaching Galilee. Situated on the shore of the sea of Galilee, Capernaum was about twenty-five miles from Nazareth and ten miles from Tiberias, an important city not mentioned in the New Testament. The Romans had a famous spa at Tiberias; its hot baths attracted many sick people[1]
Capernaum would be His base for reaching Galilee
It was Jewish/Greek/roman influence
It was on the North Shore of the Sea of Galilee
John the baptist was in Jail - so the doors were closed in and around Jerusalem
No doubt Jesus would have His enemies here as well
14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
In the account, Jesus clarifies His meaning: “Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town” (verse 15).
Shaking the dust off one’s feet conveys the same idea as our modern phrase “I wash my hands of it.” Shaking the dust off the feet is a symbolic indication that one has done all that can be done in a situation and therefore carries no further responsibility for it. In the scriptural examples, Jesus was telling His disciples that they were to preach the gospel to everyone. Where they were received with joy, they should stay and teach. But where their message was rejected, they had no further responsibility. They were free to walk away with a clear conscience, knowing they had done all they could do. Shaking the dust off their feet was, in effect, saying that those who rejected God’s truth would not be allowed to hinder the furtherance of the gospel. Even the dust of those cities that rejected the Lord was an abomination and would not be allowed to cling to the feet of God’s messengers.
There are situations in our lives where God calls us to stand firm, proclaim truth, and give patient testimony. Sometimes we need to continue until we see the results of that testimony. Other times God gives us the freedom to move on. We figuratively “shake the dust off our feet” when, under the Holy Spirit’s direction, we surrender those people to the Lord and emotionally let go. We have the freedom then to move into the next phase of ministry. Jesus’ instruction to “shake the dust off our feet” reminds us that we are only responsible for our obedience to God, not for the results of that
Is it not amazing the very areas where we would not go is where God is doing some amazing things.
NYC
SF
Boston
China
Back in USA and some city's - Atlanta, parts of LA cold and non receptive
WCBC is to reach the community its not about entertaining our kids and having a youth group to keep our kids busy.
Illustration - abandoned churches
Lighthouse Story
Lighthouse Story
Parable of The Lighthouse
On a dangerous seacoast notorious for shipwrecks, there was a crude little lifesaving station. Actually, it was merely a hut with only one boat, but the few members kept a constant watch over the turbulent sea. With little thought for themselves, they would go out day & night tirelessly searching for those in danger as well as the lost. Many lives were saved by this brave band who faithfully worked as a team in and out of the lifesaving station. By and by, it became a famous place.
Some of those who had been saved, as well as others along the seacoast, wanted to become associated with this little station. They were willing to give their time, energy and money in support of its objectives. New boats were purchased. New crews were trained. The station, once obscure and crude and virtually insignificant, began to grow. Some of its members were unhappy the hut was so unattractive and poorly equipped. They felt a more comfortable place should be provided. Emergency cots were replaced with lovely furniture. Rough, handmade equipment was discarded and sophisticated, classy systems were installed. The hut, of course, had to be torn down to make room for all the additional equipment, furniture, and systems. By the time of its completion, the lifesaving station had become a popular gathering place, and its objectives had begun to shift. It was now used as a sort of clubhouse, an attractive building for public gathering. Saving lives, feeding the hungry, strengthening the fearful, and calming the disturbed rarely occurred.
Fewer members were interested in braving the sea on lifesaving missions, so they hired professional lifeboat crews to do this work. The original goal of the station wasn’t altogether forgotten, however. Lifesaving motifs still prevailed in the club’s decorations. There was a liturgical lifeboat preserved in the Room of Sweet Memories with soft, indirect lighting, which helped hide the layer of dust upon the once-used vessel. About this time a large ship was wrecked off the coast and the boat crews brought in loads of cold, wet, half-drowned people. They were dirty, some terribly sick and lonely. Others were “different” from the majority of the club members. The beautiful new club suddenly became messy and cluttered.
A special committee saw to it that a shower house was immediately built outside, away from the club so victims of the shipwreck could be cleaned up before coming inside. At the next meeting there were strong words and angry feelings, which resulted in a division among the members.
Most of the people wanted to stop the club’s lifesaving activities and all involvements with shipwreck victims. As you’d expect, some still insisted on saving lives, that this was their primary objective – that their only reason for existence was ministering to anyone needing help regardless of their club’s beauty or size or decorations. They were voted down and told if they wanted to save the lives of various kinds of people who were shipwrecked in those waters, they could begin their own lifesaving station down the coast! They did.
As the years passed, the new station experienced the same old changes. It evolved into another club – and yet another lifesaving station was begun. History repeated itself. And if you visit that coast today you’ll find a large number of exclusive, impressive clubs along the shoreline owned and operated by slick professionals who have lost all involvement with the saving of lives.
As the years passed, the new station experienced the same old changes. It evolved into another club – and yet another lifesaving station was begun. History repeated itself. And if you visit that coast today you’ll find a large number of exclusive, impressive clubs along the shoreline owned and operated by slick professionals who have lost all involvement with the saving of lives.
Shipwrecks still occur in those waters, but now most of the victims are not saved. Every day they drown at sea, and so few others seem to care . . . so very few.
II The Masses
II The Masses
14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; 16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: They that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
The move to Capernaum was Scriptural—“that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet.” Matthew appealed to , where the prophet had pinpointed the place where the Messiah would live.
The Place (4:15)
The location was the tribal territory of Zebulun (Zabulon) and Naphtali (Nephthalim) toward the Mediterranean and the territory beyond Jordan—in other words, the territory of the northern kingdom of Israel, which broke away from the throne of David after the death of Solomon. From the start, the northern kingdom took the lead in idolatry and apostasy.
This particular region was the first to feel the hand of divine displeasure. Wars with Syria and Assyria were followed by the fall of Samaria and the deportation of the tribes (; ; ; ). The Assyrians brought in foreigners to repopulate the denuded land.
The Purpose (4:16)
Isaiah had foretold judgment and he had also promised that this ravaged region would come into the glorious light of the Messiah. Remembering , Matthew wrote, “The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.” “Galilee of the Gentiles” was soon ablaze with the light of another world, with the shekinah glory of God now dwelling among them in the person of Jesus Christ.
The Lord’s move to Capernaum placed Him right in the middle of all the bustle of a world where Hebrew and heathen met and mingled as nowhere else in the promised land.
This was the place were all could be reached.
They are here waiting for the light ........
Guess what God’s Light is not heading toward jerusalem
Ways to keep the fire burning:
Choose adventure over safety. Accept the fact that there’s nothing safe about pursuing God and decide to take whatever risks you need to take in order to experience the blessing of getting closer to God. Be willing to have God turn your life upside down, reshape your values and redirect your energy. Rather than trying to stay inside your comfort zones, be open to saying “yes” to God whenever he calls you to follow him on adventures. Expect encounters with God that inspire awe and wonder in you.
Pursue revival. The definition of revival is: “the overwhelming sense of God’s presence that falls powerfully on a Christian people who have become dead and lethargic in their spiritual lives, reviving those elements of the Christian life that God intends to be normal for his church.” You may have heard about revivals in history or on the news that affect whole churches or entire geographic areas. Keep in mind that large-scale revivals start when individual people pursue fresh encounters with God. The signs of revival include: repenting of sin, worshiping and obeying God with joy, experiencing a new love for fellow believers that restores broken relationships, using ministry gifts both inside and outside of the church, and witnessing about God to unbelievers who then come to faith in God themselves.
Remember, repent, and return. Remember the passion you felt for God when you first began a relationship with him, and let that motivate you to repent of your sins afresh and return your relationship with God to first place in your heart.
Let God’s presence transform you. Always remember that God’s presence isn’t simply for you to enjoy; it’s meant to inspire you to open yourself up in deeper ways to the Holy Spirit’s ongoing work of transforming you into the person God wants you to become.
III The Message
III The Message
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
John was in prison and Jesus was in Capernaum. “From that time,” Matthew said, “Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Herod had silenced one voice and now a far more powerful voice was heard. That voice began exactly where the other had been stopped. The message was the same.
The Herods of this world can never silence the voice of God. They can kill the preacher, but they cannot kill the preaching. As the old American abolitionists put it, “His truth goes marching on.”[1]
It will be the same in a coming day. The antichrist will eventually silence the two witnesses () only to discover that now instead of two witnesses, he has to contend with 144,000 witnesses.
Rumors that the Messiah whom John had proclaimed had indeed come must have penetrated the halls of the rich and powerful. The cleansing of the Jerusalem temple had caused a considerable stir, as it had challenged the vested interests of the influential Sadducees. Now came the tidings that the Messiah was boldly preaching John’s message and we can be sure that Herod was alarmed over this new voice in the North.
Our Culture needs to hear the message Repent
Repent - that message will be where the light has been sent
Is your home the old lighthouse with Christian saying on the wall but no activity
Is you home the new light house rescuing your children from sin and them seeing repentance, faith and a desire to be close to God?
What Am I asking you to know?
God sent light where it will be recieved?
A very sobering thought.
