Light Of The World

Matthew 5:14–16 KJV 1900

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

INTRODUCTION

In John 9:5 Jesus said, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

But Jesus couldn’t stay here, so He has appointed US to be the ‘light of the world’ in His place.

The Lord commands that WE be light in three ways:

I. Guiding Light (v. 14)

A. THE TRUTH 1. Light is a very common metaphor in the Bible. Along with darkness, light is often used to contrast knowledge and ignorance.

2. Here, it almost certainly stands for the world’s opportunity to perceive the truth about Jesus. The world is “in the dark” about God, but Christians “turn on the light.”

3. Light allows people to see. We can’t see without light. Christians show the world how much God loves them and what Jesus has done to restore their relationship with him.

B. LIGHT ILLUMINATES THE WAY

1. We are meant to be conspicuous to others; “A city set on a hill cannot be hid.” Other’s eyes are to be upon us. A light bulb has no other purpose, nor do we! God takes obscure men & women, dignifies them with His character and puts them on display.

2. Lights are used to mark streets. Ever been through a town when the power was out? It’s very confusing and unnerving. Airport runways are marked with landing lights. Ports have their channels marked by channel markers.

3. All these lights show the way to the desired destination. In the same way we Christians are to mark the way to heaven/ Jesus. If people follow our example, they should be able to please God.

C. TAKING THE MORAL LEAD

1. Christians must set the example. Suppose there is a group of people and someone suggests some they do some bad things. Unless someone speaks up and protests, the wrong action will be acted upon.

2. But if someone rises and says, “I will not be a party to that,” then another may rise to say, Neither will I.” Christians must take the lead and not remain silent.

3. Many people in this world do not have the moral strength to take a stand by themselves, but if someone shows them the way, they will follow. It’s the Christian’s duty to take a stand.

D. EVEN DIM LIGHTS STAND OUT

1. One of the great things about camping out in the country is that you can get away from the city lights and really see the stars. Away from the city, a full moon is bright enough to find your way around in the dark. The sky is full of light from the stars.

2. In a world of darkness, we are those who reflect the light we have found in Jesus. But Jesus’ point is that we aren’t just to shine our lights in our own little circle of influence, but we are to shine them so that every place of darkness is either brought to the light or is exposed for what it is.

3. “Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16as you hold out the word of life” Phip. 2:14-16.

E. OUR LIGHT: ONLY HOPE FOR THE WORLD

1. G. Campbell Morgan said that “the church did the most for the world when the church was the least like the world.” Today, many churches have the idea they must imitate the world in order to reach the world.

2. A nation will not decay and collapse because of the people who peddle pornography or illicit drugs, but because of Christians who are no longer as salt and light. Sinners will act like sinners.

3. When saints begin acting like sinners, their compromise hurts not only themselves and their families and churches, but also contributes to the decay of the entire nation. Are you convicted yet?

A second purpose of light is to:

II.Warning Light (v. 15)

A. WARNING LIGHTS

1. Lights are often used to warn us that danger is ahead. Intersections are marked with flashing yellow or red lights. When vehicles break down, we put flares in the road. Police cars, wreckers, fire trucks and ambulances are covered with warning lights. For airplanes, there are warning lights on top of all the tall structures so the pilots are alerted to the danger.

2. We Christians are to be the warning lights to unbelievers. This doesn’t mean we’re to be standing around with a flashing light, rather we’re to “speak the truth in love” Eph. 4:15.

3. It’s the Christian’s duty to warn those around us. This is often hard to do it in a way which will not do more harm than good.

4. If our warnings are given – not in anger, or irritation, or criticism, or condemnation, but in love, they will be effective.

B. SCRIPTURAL ENCOURAGEMENTS

1. “Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt” Lev. 19:17.

2. “Better is open rebuke than hidden love” Prov. 27:5.

3. “He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor than he who has a flattering tongue” Prov. 28:23

4. “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline” Rev. 3:19

5. We are told not to put our light under a bowl: not to conceal the light. Don’t hide your Christianity! Light exposes things that are hidden in darkness. We too are to speak in those moments when we become aware of wrongdoing. We are charged with warning the unruly.

1 Thess. 5:14; Col. 1:28.

C. DANGER OF INSUFFICIENT LIGHT/WARNING

WALKING ONE NIGHT, NO LIGHT, ALMOST STEPPED ON A SNAKE.... NO WARNING UNTIL WAS TOO LATE!!

III. Helping Light (v. 16)

A. WITNESS BY WORKS

1. It is not only our words that should teach the Gospel, but also our actions/ lifestyle. Francis of Assisi said, “Preach the Gospel at all times and if necessary use words.” His point was that it should NOT be our words that preach the Gospel, but our actions!

2. In a world filled with non-stop rhetoric, actions speak louder than words! People will not be convinced by our words (“talk is cheap”), they’ll be convinced of Christ’s reality by our good works.

B. WHAT ARE GOOD DEEDS?

1. First, “good works” means doing the right thing and not the wrong thing in every circumstance.

2. Secondly, “exemplary actions” to lost people would mean doing the sacrificial thing, preferring others before yourself. If both of you arrive at the parking spot at the same time, let the other person have it. If people are waiting to enter a clogged lane, let one in ahead of you. One A/G pastor used to always say, “You can really tell how Christian someone is when they’re driving.”

3. Thirdly, be a giver instead of a taker. If you see someone in need, give them some money. If they need food, take them to the store I buy some for them. “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be [recognized as] sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked” Luke 6:35.

4. Fourth, be a server. Serve people. If we have no other way of doing good – say, if we’re poor & uneducated, we still can do good by our lives. No sincere and humble Christian lives in vain. The feeblest light at midnight is of use.

5. Ordinary people don’t do these things, so your behavior will be perceived as that of a child of God. The Life of Christ in you will be revealed.

C. GENUINE DEEDS WILL GLORIFY GOD

1. When we do good works, we should be careful to point people to God who inspired them, lest the recipients give us the credit, instead of God.

2. Jesus’ admonition was, “…let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” We must be careful to give God the glory for everything He enables us to do. “The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but man is tested by the praise he receives” Prov. 27:21.

D. ILLUSTRATION

1. Dr. Viktor Frankl, author of the book "Man's Search for Meaning," was imprisoned by the Nazis in W.W.II because he was a Jew. His wife, his children, and his parents were all killed in the holocaust. The Gestapo made him strip. He stood there totally naked. As they cut away His wedding ring, Viktor said to himself, "You can take my wife, you can take away my children, you can strip me of my clothes and my freedom, but there is one thing no person can ever take away from me--and that is my freedom to choose how I will react to what happens to me!" Even under the most difficult of circumstances, happiness is a choice which transforms our tragedies into triumph.

IV. Source of the Light

Galatians 5:22 NKJV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

The Light in us shines fourth through the working of the Holy Spirit in the believer. True evidence of our salvation is not works or good deeds, although they are the outpouring of our faith in action, but the true evidence is the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

THIS GETS TO OUR HEART- THE MOTIVE OF WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO

DO WE SERVE WITH JOY, PATIENCE, GENTLENESS, LOVE, IN PACE, AND KINDNESS, GOODNESS, AND FAITHFULNESS.

CONCLUSION

Is YOUR LIGHT SHINING BRIGHT FOR JESUS CHRIST?

LIGHT OF THE CROSS OF JESUS CHRIST!!!! GOSPEL!!!!

ALTAR CALL

How bright is your light for Christ? What steps can you take to brighten the witness of your actions in the week ahead? Be specific.

Jesus in you is the light of the world. As you live out His goodness visibly in front of the people of the world, your life will point them to Jesus where they too can find real life. PRAYER.