Christmas message 2007 john 1

Star of Wonder, Star of Night

Sunday 12/23/07 a.m.

Text: John 1:4-9

Read: Matthew 2:1-2, 9-10; Isaiah 42:6

John 1:4-5, 9

I.          The Word Is the Light Unto Spiritual Life

4In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

1. The life alluded to here is the absolute fullness of life.
2. The "river of life" flowing within.
3. The life of being filled and under the control of God's Spirit.

II.                The Word As A Light

A.  "Light" here in John speaks to:

1.      truth and its knowledge, together with the spiritual purity associated with it

2.      the power of understanding through sound reason and within the mind and heart moral and spiritual truth.

B.     Jesus as your light, reveals areas in which we have moral and spiritual weaknesses and failures.

C.    Without Jesus there is nothing biblical or supernaturally available to teach or enlighten the person to biblical morals and spiritual truths.

D.    Without the light of Jesus Christ, the Bible says you are blinded to truth or "walking in darkness" without a light.

III.       The Light Is Bright, John 1:5

5And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

A.  To "comprehend” the shining of the light, one must:

1.         lay hold of the light and its power;

2.         lay hold of so as to make the light one’s own, to obtain it, to attain to it’s demands, to take the light into one’s self;

3.         take possession of the light

a.         to overtake by evil, of a demon about to torment another subject

b.         in a good sense, of Christ by his holy power and influence laying hold of the human mind and will, in order to prompt it and govern it.

            B.        This is why so many do not submit to the power of THE Light!

IV.       Our Purpose Is to Bear Witness of THE Light, John 1:6-8

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

            A.        We are sent;

            B.        We are to be willing, surrendered witnesses;

            C.        We are to go to ALL men;

            D.        We must have our Priorities straight, we witness, He saves!

V.        The Trouble With the Life and Light of the Word; Conflict! John 1:9

9That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

1. The life of Christ causes friction with the life which the world compels us to live;
2. The light of Jesus and God's Word reveals the areas that are contrary to one another.