Leave a Light On!
Matt 5:16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (KJV)
Introduction
Motel 6 has a slogan that says “We’ll leave a light on for you.” That should be the slogan for every Christian and for every church. We should say to all the lost and dying world in the darkness of sin, “We’ll leave a light on for you.” We will let Jesus shine. Our Christianity is of no value if it is not shining out in our daily lives.
There are three points in this verse:
1. Leave a light on. “Let your light so shine before men”. That means that you personally have a light to shine. YOUR INFLUENCE.
2. Leave a light on that others may see “your good works”. That means that you have a task to do. YOUR ACTIONS.
3. Leave a light on as men are to see your “good works” and give your Father the glory. That means that what you do has eternal consequences. YOUR MOTIVE.
In your community there are many people. There are many people for whom we can leave a light on.
Today church growth analysts say that a church should be able to normally reach out about 25 miles. People will travel that far to find a church that suits and meets their needs. Half of those people are lost and without Christ. Many of them would find that this church suits and meets their needs. How can this church effectively find them and witness to them and enlist them?
Consider these three points as you ponder that question. They are about you.
I. Your Influence.
II. Your Actions.
III. Your Motive.
I. We‘ll leave a light on! YOUR INFLUENCE. We will let our light shine. “Let your light so shine before men”
Your light represents the presence of God within you and among those with whom you come in contact. You have something to offer, something that the world cannot offer, the Gospel. You have light to shine in the darkness of their sin. “Let your light so shine”.
Remember this is not a spotlight to reveal the sins of others it is a beacon to guide others. Rekindle the beacon of light Jesus had for His disciples and for you. Make a difference in the world in which you live. The Great Commission will be fulfilled when we light up the world with Christ, one person at a time, beginning in our Jerusalem (Ore City) and extending to the ends of the earth.
George Barna, in his book, “Grow Your Church from the Outside”, speaks of the power of influence.# When Jesus spoke of the light that was to be shining he was talking about our influence.
We should make every effort to offer people the same thing that we have experienced in Jesus. We offer people a new relationship with God the Father through His Son Jesus Christ. We should be able to say to people, “follow me.” But, to do that we have to show them the way.#
When was the last time you were excited about inviting someone to come and worship with you? You have something to get excited about. Are you as excited about worship in your church as you are about sports, recreation or leisure, or even your work? We need to “get all excited and tell everybody that Jesus Christ is King?” Get excited and leave a light on.
II. We‘ll leave a light on! YOUR ACTIONS. We are going to do the right thing. “That they may see your good works.“
When Jesus spoke of the light that was to shine He was talking about our good works. Doing good works is not an option. Doing what is right is not an option. You have work to do. It is to be good works. This is the way to make your light shine. This is how you make the light real in the lives of others. You are to do what is right, visibly, before others. In this way you carry Jesus into the lives of others so that they might listen.
Never hide your faith. It is to be visible for all to see. It is to work itself out in everyday life in a thousand ways. You are to walk the walk.
Several years ago there was a movement started called “Pass it On”. One person would do a random act of kindness and that was to be passed on to another. Just being kind to one another just doing something good.
(Eph 2:10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (KJV)
We were created to do good works.
(Titus 3:8) This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. (KJV)
We are to be ongoing in doing good works.
(Titus 2:14) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (KJV)
We are to be a different kind of people that seek to find ways to do good things.
Good works do not earn you salvation, but it is quite evident from Scriptures that salvation should produce good works. The idea is that the person who has experienced Christ should be the initiator of those good works. There should be an active desire to seek out ways to do good works.
The ways found will be as varied as the people who make up the church. Each one is unique in giftedness and each one can find a way to do something good each day. You can share the Gospel with others. There is no other work that would glorify God more than to bring others to Christ.
Those works are the light that others see. It is not to be put under a basket but placed high for all to see.
Matthew 5:14-15 ( KJV ) 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.
III. We‘ll leave a light on! YOUR MOTIVE. So that people will glorify our Father. “That they may see your good works, and glorify (PRAISE) your Father which is in heaven.”
When Jesus was talking about our light that was to shine he was make reference to our motives. There are eternal consequences to doing good works. When you do things that are good and right people will praise your Father, which is in heaven. God gets the glory. There are eternal consequences to bringing Christ to people and people to Christ.
You want others to “glorify your Father, which is in heaven”. This is important. This is the motive for good works. This is what makes the Christian different from the secular world in doing good works. The glory goes to God the Father.
This may very well be why people are not coming into the church any more. We have gotten so secular in our ways that we want all the credit and people do not see God in us anymore. It is a proven fact that people today are no less spiritual then they have ever been. They are looking for God. Are we showing Him to them?
There is no room for personal agendas when your Father gets the glory. Everything relates to kingdom work. One of the great themes of the Sermon on the Mount is found in Matthew 6:33, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (KJV)
You cannot take someone where you have not been. You get this light by trusting in Jesus.
Conclusion
In conclusion let me share some applications.
Thom S. Rainer has written a book entitled “The Unchurched Next Door”. He wants people to understand the unchurched in order to better reach them. The premise is that we do not invite our neighbors for all the wrong reasons. He encourages Christians to make the effort to invite others to church that they might hear the Gospel and be saved. The number one reason unchurched people do not come to church is because they have not been invited. Do not quit inviting people because some refused your invitation.
Before you take this sermon and run with it let me give you some suggestions. Dr. Rainer lists several tough questions that we should ask ourselves before we go out. This is not to get us to stay home, but rather to get us to prepare.
Ÿ How is your prayer life? We will never be able to reach those who are unchurched unless we are a people of prayer.
Ÿ Whom did you tell about Jesus today? The question is not how do you share, but, did you share your faith. The best way to share your faith is to just do it!
Ÿ How is your family life? Satan’s most effective tactic is to attack the Christian in his/her family life. Is your faith evident in and to your family life?
Ÿ Do you need to reconcile with someone? We are called to a ministry of reconciliation. “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.” (2 Cor 5:18 KJV) Jesus said in Matthew 6:13, that we cannot worship until reconciliation is made.
Ÿ Are you committed to your church? It is not “what can the church do for me” but rather “what can I do for my church?” Paul wrote many times thankful for the ministry and people of the churches.
Ÿ Do you love others unconditionally? It is easy to write off people who are not like us. Love the unlovable.
Ÿ Do you have an attitude of gratitude? God was gracious to us. We should be gracious to others and extend mercy.
Will you invite and bring someone to church next Sunday? Most of the un- churched you know are receptive and waiting for you to ask them to come with you. If one does not respond do not quit asking.
“Remember, your circle of fellowship should be larger than your circle of membership” (Randel Trull, DOM, HPBA). Today the circle of the membership is larger than the circle of fellowship. Jim Ellif, writing in the Baptist Press says, “Today it would take 300 people to have 100 attending. In the 1790’s it took only 33.” In the early 1900’s it took 100 to get 300 to attend. The circle of membership exceeds the circle of fellowship. Extend the circle of fellowship and thus the circle of membership in the Kingdom of God. Go and get them.
(Luke 14:23) And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. (KJV)
Jesus wants His house, the local church and the eternal church, to be filled. Jesus is pointing out that His disciple is to be selfless in the pursuit of that goal.
Be an influence. Leave a light on!
Be active. Do good works!
Be right in your motive. Give God the glory!
The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin,
The light of the world is Jesus;
Like sunshine at noonday His glory shone in,
The light of the world is Jesus.
Come to the light, ‘tis shining for thee; Sweetly the Light has dawned upon me, Once I was blind, but now I can see: The Light of the world is Jesus.
