Jesus, Sermon on the Mount Part 3
Called to be Shinny
Matthew 5:14-16
Introduction
Light, much like salt, is a miracle. Last time we saw how salt is comprised of 2 poisons that kill, but mixed together they are ordinary salt. And so the Christian life is a miracle as we were poisoned w/ sin and sentenced to death, but then Jesus’ death mixed w/ our death sentence and combined to form redemption!
Light is also miraculous. It’s almost impossible to define light…it’s a mystery. Webster’s Dictionary will tell you that ‘light is that which makes it possible to see.’ Thanks so much!
2 guys were carpenters, and 1 always was teasing the other for not having a very good reputation for being very smart. One night he shined his flashlight up to the 2nd story of a house and said, ‘would you mind climbing up this light beam and get my hammer for me?’ The not so smart carpenter said, ‘hah, how dumb do think I am?’ ‘I’m sorry,’ he replied. ‘You’d better be, I know you too well…you’d let me get halfway up and then turn the light off!’
The Bible says that God is light. Intellectually that means the knowledge of God is light. Morally that means the holiness of God is light. Physically that mean the glory of God is light.
When Jesus says that we are the light of the world, it means God has deposited His nature inside of us, and we are to let it out. It’s in there! It just needs to be allowed to shine forth.
Today from this passage of scripture we will learn much like salt what it means to be light in this dark world.
Read Scriptures: Matthew 5:14-16
I. The Character of the Disciple is Light.
Vs. 14a “You are the light of the world.”
Jesus said of Himself in John 8:12 “I am the light of the World”. Here in this verse He says “you are the light of the World”. Jesus is saying you are to be just like Me.
When we come to faith in Jesus Christ we undergo a great transformation, we have the light of Christ living within us, so just as Jesus is the light of the world, so are we as His followers. There are several characteristics of light that we can apply to the meaning of being the light of the world.
1. Light is clean and pure. We are to live clean and pure lives in this world.
2. Light penetrates. By its very nature it cuts through and eliminates darkness.
3. Light guides. It directs the way to go, leads along the right path.
4. Light protects. It protects a person from the dangers of darkness, from stumbling, falling, and injuring himself.
As a believer our light is only a reflective light. We reflect “the light of the Lord”.
II. The disciple’s place to shine is the World.
Vs. 14a “You are the light of the world.”
In the world is where we are move about and reflect the light that is live and minister.
This is why I have a problem with some who would say we are to totally separate ourselves from the world, how can we shine a light in darkness if we never walk were it is dark. We are to truly be in the world, but not of the world.
Jesus said “You are the light” there is no other light that can light this dark world, we are it. We are to go out into the community, and our world and shine.
III. The disciple’s unavoidable witness.
Vs. 14b-15 “A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.”
Two things are said about the city, it sits on a hill and it cannot be hid. Two things are said about the candle; it is put on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all that are in the house.
Our witness is unavoidable, when we come to faith in Christ, we have the light of Christ living within us, what we need to understand is that a light has different degrees of brightness, it can be dim or bright or in-between. If it is dim then others can still stumble and fall. A light can be so weak that it is of no use.
A light is lit to give light, everybody in our sphere of influence is looking at the light. It cannot be hidden. If it is weak, then we can cause others to stumble. If it is bright then we can be a guide for those who are lost to find there way to safety in Christ.
Either way our witness is unavoidable.
IV. The disciple’s purpose.
Vs. 16 “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
As believers we have light, it is already within us. We are the light of God upon the earth.
Jesus said, “let YOUR light shine.” As followers of Christ we can refuse to let our light shine. We can shade it, darken it, turn it away, direct its beam in another direction. There are two purposes for letting our light shine.
1. Believers are to let their light shine in order to show forth good works. The command “Let your light shine” means let your good works be seen. We are to show good works to the world, however as James 3:13 tells us we must be careful how we do our good works before others. That lead us into the second purpose.
2. Beleivers are to let their light shine in order to stir people to glorify God. The ultimate reason why our light is to shine before men is stir others to glorify God. The glory of God is to be our primary objective when we let others see our good works. I don’t want to build a name for myself, I want to build up Jesus’ name.
Conclusion
This is what I want us to learn tonight, Light has a purpose: “to shine before men”. Light is not seen unless it is placed before men. If there are no people, there are no eyes to see the light. We must not seclude ourselves from others.
Other lights do not need light. It is people in darkness who need light. “Believer’s let your light shine before men” before men out in darkness! We are not to be secluded in church only moving around other lights. The more light that is put out in the darkness, the more the darkness is eliminated. We are to go out and cause those in darkness to glorify our father which is in heaven.
What is the condition of your light, is dim, dark, pointed in another direction, if it is come to the altar and repent and let your light shine in the darkness.
(Thanks sermoncentral contributors)
