Whom say Ye that I am? The Light in the Darkness

Homecoming Stats

Good morning Church!

As you all know, today is homecoming here at NHMBC!

This has always been and continues to be one of my favorite times of the year. It’s a time to reflect on our accomplishments over the last year. It’s a time to celebrate where we came from and where we’re headed. And it’s usually a time to fellowship afterwords with our Brothers and Sisters over a good meal which I’m saddened to say has had to be canceled the last two years now because of Covid-19.

Believe me, it’s not been canceled because we Baptists have had a change of heart about our eating! No, if it were up to us, we’d have a four course meal laid out down there for later but due to the rise in cases over the last little bit, it sounded like the majority of you decided we’d better hold off so that’s what we’ve done.

If you come today just for the meal, all I can say is you better listen well, because the Bread of Life is the only meal you will be getting here today!

And if I’m honest, that’s the best meal any of us could receive, Amen!

But to get us started, I’d like to give you a few quick updates on some different things.

Then, I have two slides that I’d like to share with you about some accomplishments we’ve made over the last few years on our Facebook page.

Last year, we had 1 person come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and 4 people become new members here at NHMBC.

COVER SLIDES

During a year where our world was flipped upside down by Covid-19, we managed to overcome many obstacles and still offer our services through online, radio broadcasting, and even a couple in-person outside events!

And as you can see from the slides, last year was our best year yet for our reach through our online platforms and I want to give a big shout out to our Tech Team which is Ryan and Byron for keeping us up and going every Sunday!

What most people don’t know, is that we were able to completely revamp all of our technology throughout the year last year due to some very generous donations and if you know anything about technology, then you know when you change something especially on the size we’re dealing with here, one thing can affect everything and there were times where this happened behind the scenes last year but these guys adapted and overcame and the gospel went out further last year through this church than it ever has before!

Let’s give these guys a hand clap for their hard work and dedication over the last year!

We were also still able to put on our Preaching at the Park event and although we ran into weather issues, I would say it was still very much a success.

In a year where, let’s just be honest, things were tough, because of your dedication in giving, we still managed to bring in almost the exact same amount as the year before and to date, we are better off financially than we’ve ever been in the history of this church!

Is that to brag?

Only on God, Amen!

He made a way in a year where it seemed there was no way!

During a time of trouble, the likes the majority of us have never experienced before, God prospered us and brought us through!

And this morning I want each of you to take just a second and give God the glory with a hand clap of praise!

We serve a mighty God this morning New Home and He’s been mighty good to us, Amen!

So, this morning, I am excited and pleased and overjoyed to announce to you that the state of New Home Missionary Baptist Church is stronger than it’s ever been and I am looking forward to what God is going to do in us and through us as we continue on into our next fiscal year!

I’m thankful for each and every one of you and your dedication to this church and I pray, that as we move into the new year, that God will prosper us with more souls for our labor, a strength among our members that cannot be broken and a holy boldness and moving of the Holy Spirit amongst us such as we’ve never seen before!

I pray that God will move here at New Home and grow us spiritually and physically as we move into this new fiscal year and when He does, we better make sure to look up and give Him the praise, honor and glory He is justly due for it, Amen!

Now that we’ve looked at an update on the State of the Church, I’d like for us to get into our Homecoming message for today.

Introduction

This morning we are going to be finishing up our four part series, “Whom say Ye that I am?”

Over the last three weeks, we have looked at how Jesus is a “Way Maker” where he took five loaves of bread and two fishes and fed over 5,000 people. It looked as if they were in a “no way” situation and Jesus made a way!

And I just want to say this morning that He’s still making ways where it seems there’s no way, Amen!

After that, we looked at how Jesus was a “Miracle Worker” where he took blind Bartemaeus and healed his blinded eyes! Here was a man in need of a miracle and Jesus provided him one!

Let me just add, Jesus is still in the miracle working business as well, Amen!

Then, last week, we looked at how Jesus is also a “Promise Keeper.” We looked at a Nobleman who left everything he had to come to Jesus to ask for healing for his son and Jesus told him to “Go thy way. Thy son liveth.”

If you will remember, this man lived about 15-25 miles away and before he could even get home, as he was still in the way, his servants came to him and told him that his son was on the mend!

When he inquired about when the healing began, he realized it was at the exact moment that Jesus spoke the words.

Jesus gave this man His word and He kept His promise!

Now, would be a good time to stop and say..He’s still keeping His promises today as well, Amen!

From cover to cover, this Book we call the Bible is filled with precious promises from God and I can assure you this morning that He will uphold His end of the promise.

The question is…will we do our part?

He is a Way Maker, a Miracle Worker, a Promise Keeper and today we are going to finish this series out by looking at how Jesus is also and most importantly, the light in the darkness!

I came across a story this week of a young boy named Robert Louis Stevenson. This young fellow was intrigued by the work of the old lamplighters who went about with a ladder and a torch, setting the street lights ablaze for the night.

One evening in Edinburgh, Scotland, as young Robert stood watching with childish fascination, his parents heard him exclaim, “Look, look! There is a man out there punching holes in the darkness!”

With one statement of childish wonder, Robert Louis Stevenson summed up the entire life of our Lord Jesus Christ.

You see, Jesus came into this world and accomplished many great and miraculous wonders, but His primary purpose was to punch great big gaping holes in the spiritual darkness that shrouded this world. He came to be The Light of the World – TSN

And that’s what I want us to look at this morning…how that Jesus is the light of world.

So with no further ado, if you have your Bibles with you this morning, I would ask you to turn with me to the Book of John and we will be looking today at Chapter 8 and Verse 12.

The scripture we will be using as our backdrop is one of the seven great “I Am” statements of Jesus. John Chapter 8:12. If you have it would you say, Amen.

John 8:12 — 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.

The Place

If you do a little reading in the previous chapter you will find that Jesus is in Jerusalem because it is the Feast of Tabernacles. Each year on the 15th day of the seventh month the Jews would begin the Feast of Tabernacles and it would last for 7 days. Every male within a 15-mile radius of Jerusalem was required to attend this time of remembrance.

The Feast of Tabernacles was to recollect how God had led the Children of Israel through the wilderness as a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire by night. During this feast, the people would build these little huts and that’s what they would stay in for the duration of the feast.

At the close of the first day of the feast there would be this dramatic ceremony take place in the court of women called “The Illuminating of the Temple.” During this ceremony, according to the Jewish Mishna, four great menorahs or candlesticks, about 75 feet in height, each with four great golden bowls of oil, were prepared.

When the evening came, the people came in droves to the Court of Women until the galleries that surrounded this court were packed. When nightfall came, four skinny youths of priestly lineage would climb ladders to the tops of the menorahs and light the wicks, which happened to be made from the discarded garments of the High Priest.

When the menorahs were lit, it was as if night was turned was turned into day. Every street, court, and square in the city of Jerusalem was illuminated. After the lighting of the menorahs, godly men known for their good works, danced before the people with torches in their hands, singing praises to the Lord and the celebration would go on all night long.

Now, here is where things start getting good! The Bible tells us at the end of Chapter 7 that the final day of the feast had just been completed and every man had departed to his own house and the Bible goes on to say that Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

Then, the next thing we see right here in the beginning of Chapter 8 is that the Bible tells us that “early” the next morning Jesus had come back to the temple and begun to teach the people when the Scribes & Pharisees brought him a woman who was taken in the act of adultery and asked him what should be done with her.

Now, I would like to think that we all know the story of what happens next here. Jesus looks down upon the ground and says, “ye without sin cast the first stone” and then after they’ve all fled away and he looks up, asks the young lady, “where are thine accusers? hath no man accused thee?” and she says, “no man, Lord” to which Jesus replies, “neither do I condemn thee; go and sin no more.”

Then, after he tells this woman to go, he turns back to the crowd he has been teaching and says, “I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life.”

Now, keep in mind the Bible says it is really early in the morning right. Chances are, it still may have been dark outside and the only light you could see is the light that is being shed forth from these massive menorahs! And I can just see Jesus pointing toward these 75 ft tall menorahs and saying, “I am the light of the world!”

You see, the menorah which was used in the temple was a picture of Jesus Christ!

It was made of pure gold which shows the deity of Christ.

It was also hand-beaten, picturing our Lord's sufferings on the Cross to provide light to the world.

This candlestick was all one piece containing a central shaft and six arms, three on each side. The six branches of the menorah pointed toward the central shaft and this central shaft was very significant because it was used to light the other candles and to supply the oil to the other lamps.

The center shaft was called by the priests the Servant Candle which reminds us that Christ is to be at the center of our lives. He gives light to the rest of this world as the Servant Candle gave light to the other six branches on the menorah.

Here’s something else very interesting to note…when I was studying for this message one place stated that during the day time, the 6 branches of the menorah would be put out but the center one would remain burning all day long as a symbol of God’s shekinah glory leading them through the wilderness!

Praise be to God that his light never goes out, Amen! There will be times in our lives when it seems as if our light has gone out but all we have to do is look to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for his light never goes out!

He is the light of the world, Amen!

So, now that we see the Place where Jesus makes this statement, let’s look next at why he made this statement. What was his “Purpose” behind declaring that He is the Light of the World?

The Purpose

A. He’s Proclaiming that He is God

Think about the first two words of his statement; “I am.”

What did God tell Moses to tell the Children of Israel when they asked who had sent him? God said to Moses in Exodus 3:14, “you tell them I AM sent you!”

Not I was, or I will be but I AM and you know what friend, that’s the same message Jesus was telling these people here! I AM the Light of the world!

Not I was the light, or I will be the light but I AM the light of the world!

I always have been, and I always will be the light of the world! There was never a time that light existed prior to me and there won’t ever be a time that light will exist without me for I AM God!

a. 1 John 1:5 – This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

b. John 1:1-9, 14 – 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

“Comprehended” — Greek word (katalambanō) — “to take eagerly, i.e. seize, possess :- apprehend, attain, come upon, find, obtain, perceive, (over-) take.

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

Not only was Jesus purpose of declaring “I am the light of the world” to Proclaim that he was God, but it was also to Point the People in the Right Direction!

B. He’s Pointing People in the Right Direction

He said, “he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life!”

By making this comment he is saying, “look, you don’t have to walk in darkness anymore! Come out from that wretched place and believe upon me beloved and you shall have the light of life!”

Jesus said in:

c. John 12:46 – I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

Have you believed this morning? Have you surrendered your life to Christ? If not, then dear friend you are walking in darkness! The Bible says in:

d. 1 John 1:6-7 – 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

If you’re sitting here this morning and you’ve never believed upon Jesus you’re walking in darkness and if you don’t come to the light before it’s too late then utter darkness shall be your experience for all of eternity!

And it’s this sort of thing that leads us to the next point which is the Problem!

The Problem

Here’s Jesus, he’s come a light into this world and tells us that if we will believe upon him, we shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life but for some reason people still choose to walk in darkness!

e. John 3:19-20 – And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

People don’t want to come to the light because they don’t want to let go of their sinful lifestyle!

Dear friend let me ask you a question this morning…what part of your sinful life do you love so much that you’re willing to die and go to hell over it? Seriously that’s the question of the day!

There’s an old story told of a desert nomad who woke up hungry in the middle of the night. He lit a candle and began eating dates from a bowl beside his bed. He took a bite from one end and saw a worm in it, so he threw it out of the tent. He bit into the second date, found another worm, and threw it away also. Reasoning that he wouldn't have any dates left to eat if he continued, he blew out the candle and quickly ate all the dates. There are many who prefer darkness and denial to the light of reality.

And in my estimation, the greatest tragedy to ever befall a person is to know the way of eternal life and choose death instead!

How tragic a thought to know that a person deliberately chose to go to Hell instead of Heaven!

It bewilders me as to how a person can set and hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and yet walk away choosing to chance another second of their life knowing full well that if they were to die that Hell would be their home for eternity!

What is it about the darkness that you love so much this morning lost person! Break free from the grasp it has on you and come to light at once!

We’ve seen the Place, we’ve seen the Purpose of His Proclamation and we’ve seen the Problem of Men. Now let’s look at the Pursuit as we finish this message out.

The Pursuit

If you flip in your Bibles one chapter over to chapter 9 and look in verse 5 you will see where Jesus says:

f. John 9:5 – As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

As long as I’m in the world, I am the light of the world.

So, does that mean since he’s gone there’s no more light?

Absolutely not. It takes us back to John Chapter 1 where the Bible says, “that was the true light that lighteth every man.”

You see, when Jesus left, he left his light residing within those of us who have trusted in him! That’s why he told his disciples at the Sermon on the Mount…

g. Matthew 5:14 – Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

We are to Pursue those who are still sitting in darkness by letting the light of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ shine in us!

We are to be a city set on a hill, a beacon of light to those stranded in the darkness. And if we shine bright enough and long enough someone who is setting in darkness will see this great light within us and come to it!

Many years ago, at the mouth of Cleveland harbor there were two lights, one at each side of the bay, called the upper and lower lights; and to enter the harbor safely by night, vessels must sight both of the lights.

One wild, stormy night, a steamer was trying to make her way into the harbor. The Captain and pilot were anxiously watching for the lights. By and by the pilot was heard to say, "Do you see the lower lights?" "No," was the reply; "I fear we have passed them." "Ah, there are the lights," said the pilot; "and they must be from the bluff on which they stand, the upper lights. We have passed the lower lights and have lost our chance of getting into the harbor."

What was to be done? They looked back and saw the dim outline of the lower lighthouse against the sky. The lights had gone out. "Can't you turn your head around?"

"No; the night is too wild for that. She won't answer to her helm." The storm was so fearful that they could do nothing. They tried again to make for the harbor, but they went crashing against the rocks, and sank to the bottom. Very few escaped; the great majority on board found a watery grave.

Why? Simply because the lower lights had gone out.

Now with us the upper lights are all right! Christ himself is the upper light, and we are the lower lights, and the cry to us is, Keep the lower lights burning; that is what we have to do. He will lead us safe to the sunlit shore of Canaan, where there is no more night.— D.L. Moody

Brightly beams our Father's mercy From His lighthouse ever more, But to us He gives the keeping Of the lights along the shore. Let the lower lights be burning! Send a gleam cross the wave! Some poor fainting struggling seaman You may rescue, you may save. Dark the night of sin has settled, Loud and angry billows roar; Eager eyes are watching, longing, For the lights along the shore. Trim your feeble lamp, my brother; Some poor seaman tempest-tost, Trying now to make the harbor, In the darkness may be lost.