Light Up the Dark
Notes
Transcript
Handout
How many have already used light today? light is an important part of our life. We use it all day everyday. They have been using light since the beginning of creation.
Although lamps could be carried outdoors, they mostly were used to provide light inside. People carried them or placed them on a lamp stand or in a niche in the wall. Lamps typically were made of a flax wick dipped in olive oil. Some lamps included multiple wicks (from two to seven) and therefore provided more light. People may have kept lamps burning as “pilots” from which they could create cooking fires. They could measure time overnight by gauging the level of fuel in a lamp.
Although things have changed a lot since the days of using a candle or lamp as the main source of light for use in our daily lives. The purpose and use has always been the same.
Light is a good thing, is it not? but the opposite of light is darkness. How many light it to be dark? one of the worst things for me about winter time is it gets dark sooner and the daylight time is shorter. Many adults are afraid of the dark. We all know that being spooked by a pitch-black room is a common childhood fear. But by the time we become adults, we know, on a rational level, that there’s no reason to be scared when the lights are off. At least that’s what we tell ourselves when we get totally nervous in the dark.
Turns out that fear is pretty normal—experts say being scared of the dark is actually a fairly common thing among adults.
According to clinical psychologist John Mayer, Ph.D., author of Family Fit: Find Your Balance in Life, fear of the dark is “very common” among adults. “It is estimated that 11 percent of the U.S. population is afraid of the dark,” he says, noting that it’s even more common than a fear of heights.
That's because the fear comes from a very logical place. “Darkness impairs our vision, quite literally, and this is inherently uncomfortable,” explains licensed clinical psychologist Alicia H. Clark, Psy.D. “We aren’t afraid so much of the dark as we are afraid of what is in the dark we can’t see.”
As we look at our text this morning we must realize the Christ is not speaking of a physical light but a symbolic light.
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
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.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
The Disciples' Character is Light
The Disciples' Character is Light
Matthew 5:14 A (KJV 1900)
Ye are the light of the world...
Light has been used to show the presence of God and darkness all that opposes God. This link begins as early as,
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
The link of light with the Creator also acts as a symbolic tie between light and life. If light symbolizes God’s presence, and God is the author of life, then surely where God is, life abounds
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, That I may walk before God in the light of the living?
The Old Testament poetic and prophetic texts also equates “walking in the light” with walking according to God’s plans, purposes, and character.
For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; And reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
The Old Testament also links light to concepts of wisdom, understanding, and righteousness. These concepts are defined in terms of a person’s deliberate alignment with God’s plans, purposes, and character. Thus, light is the sphere of God’s presence, and life within that sphere evidences those qualities that reflect His character.
In other words, When Christ says in verse 14 in the out text, “Ye are the light of the World.” He is saying to the believer, (remember, to say the context of who He is originally speaking to), “You are the presence of God through your character. You are not God, none of us are but we do reflect God’s character in our own actions.
How can this be? By Having the Holy Spirit within you. Through salvation. At that moment if have God’s presence within you and you reflect the Light of God into the world around you.
The Light Shines
The Light Shines
Matthew 5:14 B (KJV 1900)
... A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Now, what does light do? It Shines! It literally replaces darkness. Darkness flees from light! If you were in a dark room and you were to turn on the light, faster than your eye could see, the light fills the room! why? because it shines!
To go back to what we have already viewed at light. The presence, within the life of the believer.
If God’s presence is light and life, then opposition to Him brings darkness and death.
Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord! To what end is it for you? The day of the Lord is darkness, and not light.
If condemnation and death are spoken of as darkness, then salvation from these evils is also spoken in terms of light.
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Then also God Himself (His presence) becomes a light leading a person out of darkness, toward salvation.
For thou wilt light my candle: The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.
So, what does all of this mean in turns of you and I today? If we are have the light and light shines. Then others should see that light, or Christ shinning in us. meaning your testimony, your actions, your words, your character should reflect the light that is Jesus Christ! to be noticeable to those around you!
Did you know that if you painted a light bulb black and put in and turned in on you would still notice the light. Does that mean you and I should go on living the way we want because others will see Christ in us anyway? No Christ brings us to that thought in the next phrase.
Matthew 5:15 A (KJV 1900)
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel...
You don’t want to cover the light but make it noticeable. Why?
The Light is unavoidable
The Light is unavoidable
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.
When hold up a light high in the air, what happens? You see it better. This is why we put light on the ceiling shinning down. and when we do it unavoidable. I think of you are driving west while the sun is going down, it becomes hard to see, Why? Because the light shines in your eyes and is unavoidable.
Earlier we talked about the symbolic uses of light in the old testament. What does it symbolize in the new? It still carries the same as the old but focuses it on Jesus as the bodily presence of God. If light shows us the presence of God and Jesus is God, then that makes Him the same.
In the Gospels. Both Matthew and Luke center the symbolic meaning of light on Jesus. we are looking at the Matthew one. So lets look at Luke
A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
it centers on Jesus as the object of light and the means of salvation, because He is the revelation of God.
When we live our lives like Christ others can see the light in us and He becomes unavoidable!
This leads us to our last verse.
The Purpose of Light
The Purpose of Light
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Our Purpose then becomes very clear and very simple. Remember who is God speaking too? This whole sermon given by Christ is teaches the disciple to act to live like a true disciple should.
Our purpose then is to live like Christ. Let our lights Shine! How? Through our words, actions, and even what we chose to be apart of, and not apart of. Who are friends are.
I have heard it said, “You show me your friend and I’ll show you who you are.”
Who you chose to be around will make you are you are. You chose to have godly friend you will do godly things, you chose to have worldly friends and you will be worldly.
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
You may think that you will change your friends but the truth is if they do not have the light of Christ they are drawn to the darkness. Instead of their friend before they are saved, lead them to the light. By telling them of Christ. Then as you both grow in Christ your relationship will grow stronger too.
Conclusion
Conclusion
We talked a lot about the light this morning and that light being in you. But the truth is, if you have never chosen to place your faith in Jesus Christ as your saviour you do not have the light. But you can by simply asking Him to forgive you have your sins and asking Him to live within you believing He can and will.
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
I don’t know everything about everyone in here but if you have said you were a believer but you have never really placed your faith in Christ the light in not in you.
First John tells us that make you a liar.
If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
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.
But if you have, Are you holding up the light to let everyone see? or are you trying to cover it up?
God doesn’t want us to live a life of a Hypocrite. If you are a Christian be proud to call Jesus your friend. Live out the life of a true Disciple! through everything that is in you let your light so shine!
If you haven’t done that, you can do business with God this morning and recommit to living that life of a true disciple. But that choice is yours alone.
What will you do?
