Do You Glow In The Dark?

Perth

5/07/06

“Do you glow in the dark?”

Intro: *** My wife & I were at the Perth Zoo w/ Ps Koli Raiwalui & his wife while they were in Perth for our conference. While we were at the zoo we went through the nocturnal section. This is a section of the zoo that they keep dark for animals & wildlife that only comes out at night. While we were walking through this section I came across a glass case which had a large scorpion in it. While I was looking at this scorpion the light in the case suddenly went very dull & something very strange happened …. the scorpion began to glow in the relative darkness of the glass cabinet! At first I didn’t u/s until I read the information printed on the front of the tank where it explained that scorpions glow in the relative darkness of ultra violet light….. what has often been referred to as black light. Here’s an interesting thought, one of God’s creatures that glows in the dark!!!

How about you …… are you one of his creations that glows in the dark?

B/c as Christians that’s exactly what we have been created & called to do ……. Glow in the midst of the darkness of this world in which we live.

T.B.S. that we are to be light bearers in a sin darkened world.

(Eph 5:8 NKJV) For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

Basically what the Bible is saying is that if you are a Christian …. You need to be glowing in the dark!

T/n I want to preach a sermon I’ve called “Do you glow in the dark?”

Text: (Mat 5:14-16 NKJV) "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. {15} "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. {16} "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

(Mat 5:16 TLB) Let it shine for all; let your good deeds glow for all to see, so that they will praise your heavenly Father.

# 1. The atmosphere of darkness.

A. Every believer is called to live & serve God in an atmosphere of spiritual darkness.

a. The Bible’s clear pict is the real battle in this world between light & darkness.

i. The N/T is filled w/ Scriptures regarding the ongoing struggle between light & darkness.

ii. Firstly we are told that believers have been rescued out of the darkness.

(Col 1:13 NKJV) He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

iii. And b/c of this rescue mission of deliverance from darkness the W. of G. declares …….

(1 Th 5:5 NKJV) You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.

iv. Jesus himself proclaimed ……

(John 12:46 NKJV) "I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.

v. As a Christian you are living a life where God’s light guides you every step of the way.

(Psa 119:105 NKJV) Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

b. You are either a child of the light or you’re a child of the darkness.

i. You are either living your life as an enlightened child of God in obedience to Jesus Christ or you are living in darkness & rebellion against God.

ii. Here’s what the Bible has to say about the life of light & the life of darkness …..

1 John 1:6 - 7 (NKJV) 6If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

c. Like I’ve already stated Christians are involved in an ongoing struggle between light & darkness.

i. Paul describe this struggle w/ these words when he writes …

(Eph 6:12 NKJV) For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, ….

ii. And so we are urged to live / walk in the light lest darkness should overtake us.

(John 12:35 NKJV) ……..Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.