#5 GIVE YOURSELF FOR THE LIGHT... WE ARE THE LAMP...
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Friday is here but Sunday is coming...
I do this lesson in two parts...
I have a candle burning. It has been burning for sometime.
We note the candle, the candle holder, the flame and the candle gives itself for the light.
I. LIGHT IS A VERY IMPORTANT SYMBOL IN THE BIBLE...
Physical light is the basis for all LIFE on the planet EARTH!
A. On the very first day of creation God did a very special work:
Genesis 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
B. We need the light to open our vision before God.
Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
C. MAY THE LIGHT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OPEN OUR VISION TO CLARITY
AND EXPOSE ALL SIN AND WEIGHTS THAT WILL EASILY BESET US.
Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
II. LAMPS, CANDLES WERE USED IN THE BIBLE TO ILLUMINATE HOMES, THE
CHURCH AND THE PATH PEOPLE TRAVELED.
Genesis 15:17 And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. [18] In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
A. Lamps in the Old Testament were made out of pottery.
They were almost always open bowl designed with a spout to support the wick.
B. The wicks were made of twisted flax.
The oil burned in the lamps were either olive oil, crushed nut oil, fish oil or of other sources.
C. On the outside where one had to worry little about the smoke build up Biblical people used TORCHES.
D. In the center of the TABERNACLE there was a GOLDEN LAMPSTAND....
This lampstand had 3 branches or bowls extending from the center.
E. At some time in history each branch had seven spouts ...
The Jews called a SEVEN BRANCH CANDLE HOLDER A MENORAH...
Later in history the MENORAH became a symbol of Israel.
III. THERE GREW A SAD DAY --- A DARK DAY IN THE CHURCH, THERE WAS NO OPEN VISION... THE PREACHER’S EYES GREW DIM.
ERE THE LAMP OF GOD WENT OUT IN THE TEMPLE...
A. There was a VISIBLE MEANS OF KNOWING IF GOD WAS IN OUR MIDST...
The visible means was the ARK OF THE COVENANT...
B. The church was proudly displaying the ARK OF THE COVENANT but God was being pushed out the BACK DOOR BY SIN’S DARKNESS.
1 Samuel 3:1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision. [2] And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;
[3] And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
[4] That the Lord called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
C. Eli had served the Lord faithfully and the LIGHT WAS SHINING...
Eli aged and condoned the sins of his sons...
D. WHY IS THE LIGHT GROWING DIM? Seems there were RELIGIOUS GAMES being
played in church... HOPHNI AND PHINEHAS ---Eli’s sons were abusing the OFFERINGS and they had a HOOK to pull out the BEST FOR THEM... They were selfish...
E. There were whispers going around the camp that HOPHNI AND PHINEAS were
chasing women? HOPHNI and PHINEHAS were very good in the EXTERNAL or OUTER COURT at church, they knew nothing of the INNER COURT and the PRESENCE OF GOD.
F. HOPHNI and PHINEHAS grabbed the ARK OF THE COVENANT and went to war.
The sad trouble was GOD DID NOT GO WITH THEM...
G. There was a praying MOMMA that had been to the ALTAR and knew the TOUCH OF A MIGHTY GOD... HER SON WILL NOT ALLOW THE LIGHT TO GO OUT...
THE LIGHT WILL KEEP ON SHINING!
1 Samuel 3:21 And the Lord appeared again in Shiloh: for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord.
IV. THE LAMP AND THE TORCH BECAME A TYPE IN THE BIBLE.
GIDEON KNEW THERE WAS MORE TO A TORCH THAN A TORCH, GIDEON KNEW
GOD AND LIGHT COULD HANDLE THE BATTLES BEFORE US.
A. Gideon you have TOO MANY, PERHAPS MAN WOULD GLORY IN THE VICTORY.
B. Send the chickens home.
C. There are still too many...
D. Only those that LAP THE WATER can stay...
E. From 30,000 to 300 --- and FAITH...
Judges 7:16 And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers. [17] And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do.
F. I BELIEVE GOD MAGNIFIED THE LIGHT OF THE TORCHES AND PANIC RULED
THE ENEMIES CAMP.
G. Take a little light and a BIG GOD and you can win the battles before you.
V. GOD RAISES A STANDARD WITHIN THE CHURCH. THE MENORAH AND HANAKKAH
LIFT THE LIGHT OF GOD TO OTHERS. THE MENORAH BECAME A SYMBOL OF JEWISH WORSHIP. THIS SEVEN BRANCHED CANDLE STICK WAS THE CENTER OF LIGHT IN WORSHIP.
John 10:22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.
A. In the center of the TABERNACLE there was a GOLDEN LAMPSTAND....
This lampstand had 3 branches or bowls extending from the center.
B. At sometime in history each LAMPSTAND had seven spouts ...
C. The Jews called a SEVEN BRANCH CANDLE HOLDER A MENORAH...
Later in history the MENORAH became a symbol of Israel.
D. THERE IS A DAY CALLED THE FEAST OF DEDICATION AND IT FOLLOWS HANUKKAH.
HANUKKAH IS KNOWN AS THE FEAST OF LIGHT...
Hanukkah is a 8 day festival to remember the cleansing of the temple.
E. During Hanukkah ONE CANDLE IS LIT A DAY FOR 8 DAYS...
F. There had been PAGAN WORSHIP in the temple.
This pagan worship POLLUTED THE ALTAR...
SO NEW MENORAH’S AND LAMPSTAND WERE BROUGHT INTO THE TEMPLE.
G. Not only was there a festival of light there was NEW BREAD and new curtains hung in the temple.
H. In this DEDICATION to LIGHT there was established a NEW ALTAR...
During this season in December loving sacrifices, great joy and beautiful music and singing came to WORSHIP GOD FOR 8 DAYS.
I. WHEN THE GREAT TEMPLE WAS DESTROYED, THIS HANUKKAH ---
HOPE OF NEW LIGHT WAS CELEBRATED IN PRIVATE HOMES...
VI. SOME PEOPLE SEEM HAPPY TO LOVE DARKNESS... AND REJECT JESUS:
A. Sin seems to love darkness. Sin fears LIGHT will expose it.
B. Remember the lady in Luke 15, she got the light, saw the dirt, cleaned it up and found the coin.
John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: [15] That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
[16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. [17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
[18] 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.[19] And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. [20] For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. [21] But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
C. If you love Jesus you will love the light.
VII. JESUS IS THE LIGHT AND CAN NOT BE HID.
John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
[5] And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
John 1:7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
John 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
A. Light is a symbol of the PRESENCE OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD:
Psalm 89:15 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance.
B. Light is a symbol of GOD’S COVENANT WITH MAN:
Isaiah 42:6 I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
C. Light is a symbol of GUIDANCE:
Exodus 40:38 For the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.
D. Light is a type of INSTRUCTION:
Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalm 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
E. Light is a type of SALVATION:
Psalm 27:1 A Psalm of David. 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?
F. Light is a symbol of PEACE:
Isaiah 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.
G. Light is a symbol of JOY:
Psalm 97:11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
VIII. COME TO THE CITY OF THE NEW JERUSALEM, WE NEED NO LIGHT, FOR GOD’S
PLAN HAS COME TO BEAR FRUIT...
A. All through the Bible God’s presence was represented by LIGHT:
Where God’s light is there is the SHEKINAH GLORY OF GOD...
GOD WILL LEAD HIS PEOPLE TO THE ROCK THAT IS HIGHER...
Exodus 24:15 And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount. [16] And the glory of the Lord abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.
B. NIGHT OR DAY JESUS IS WITH US.
JESUS WILL MAKE A WAY FOR US.
Exodus 40:38 For the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.
C. COME TO THE CITY OF THE NEW JERUSALEM, WE NEED NO LIGHT, FOR GOD’S
PLAN HAS COME TO BEAR FRUIT...
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
D. THERE IS A PLACE WHERE JESUS, THE LAMB IS THE LIGHT.
COME AND GO WITH ME TO MY FATHER’S HOUSE.
Rev. 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Rev. 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
IX. WE MUST TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE LIGHT...
WE MUST BE LIGHT GIVERS...
1 Thes. 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
A. We are the light, we reflect Jesus as the moon reflects the sun.
Do not try to hide your light.
Matthew 5:14 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.
WE COME TO THE CROSS... THE CROSS IS NOT CRUSHED VELVET NOR IS IT FEATHER
LINED ... The old rugged cross was wood... THE RUGGED CROSS...
From that hill far away we must become a LIGHTHOUSE TO WARN AND PREPARE OTHERS.
Jesus came out of that grave and the light has reversed the darkness.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
This is part #5 of 4 parts about darkness...
Friday is here... but Sunday is coming...
