How To Shine Your Faith Series

Yearly at Christmas on TV is , "It’s A Wonderful Life", staring Jimmy Stewart. George Bailey has big dreams of going to college and being a world traveler. Instead, he winds up having to take over his father’s building and loan, which is more like a charity than a business. George becomes so disappointed in what he has become that one day he decides to take his own life. He says, "I wish I’d never been born". At that moment his guardian angel Clarence intervenes and shows him what life would have been like had he never been born. His home town "Bedford Falls" would have become "Pottersville" named after the greedy old banker. His old boss the druggist would have turned into the town drunk because George wouldn’t have been there to stop him from making a fatal error in a prescription. Angel shows him how many lives he touched with his life. All of us want to know that our lives have counted, that we have made a difference in the lives of others.

Matthew 5:14-16: "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."

Philippians 2:15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world. The word "light" is descriptive of stars shining in the night sky. We that are heavenly sons are to be heavenly stars.

"And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever" (Dan.12:3).

Years ago the mayor of Toronto launched a campaign called, "Light the Night." The ideal was for residents to leave their lights burning over-night in order to discourage crime. Every believer is to be involved in God’s "Light the Night" campaign.

12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

At the gym there are weight machines – Cardio machines / Pool / Jacuzzi

A) Everything you need to be healthy under one roof

Does no good for you to sit at home dreaming about and talking to your muscles

Nor to drive up in your car sit in the parking lot & look at the Building

Doesn’t do you any good to go inside & walk around looking at the equipment – watching others work out The equipment is intended to be used

Bible is like the Gym – In it is everything you need to get healthy Spiritually

Promises to stand on – Promises are like Pictures at the Gym { Buff guy)

You too can be like – him – if you work hard enough & long enough –

The Word of God gives us a Picture of Jesus & the Promises assure us that one day we are for sure/ going to look like Him

In this book there ARE Doctrines : Divine truths – teach you about God –what He is like / about Yourself / that teach you how to live /

1) Doctrine is like the Instructors at the Gym – teach you about the Body and how to use the equipment, how everything works together

2) There are Exhortations – Challenges encouragements to go for it in the Lord – Specific instructions: Love your wife / Be Holy

a) Like the aerobic machines or Classes – Push it

3) Psalms – Jacuzzi – Warms & Massages your heart

Paul saying take everything that has been supplied to you & work it out

The word work = to carry out to the goal

A)It speaks of effort & Diligence / and focus – Picture of Olympic runner/swimmer going all the way to the finish line

1. SHINE BY A DISTINCT WALK! 14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing;

There is to be a distinct walk on the part of those who are Christians. A walk and lifestyle that is so distinct from the worlds darkness that it like a star shining in the midnight sky. Possible to live in such a way that instead of exerting light, we extinguish the light.

Mohandas Ghandi, the famed leader of the Indian Independence Movement. The independence movement began with a handful of people and he led it into a mass movement of millions. He once made the statement: "I would be a Christian if it were not for other Christians."