Text: “You are the light of the world. A town built 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. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).
Message: Be a witness for Jesus in this world.
Doctrine/Teaching: Witnessing
Response: To make a commitment to share one’s faith with the spiritually lost.
I. Introduction
A. Several years ago my family visited one of the greatest natural wonders in the world. It’s a place called Carlsbad Caverns. It’s a huge cave system in the state of New Mexico. Thousands of bats live in the mouth of the cave. Trails have been built so that tourists can walk down into the dark depths of this cave. As we walk down, down, down into the cave the guide told us stories about the original explorers of the cave. They were extremely brave men and women who explored the cave using nothing but a tiny candlelight. When we arrived at the bottom of the cave the guide sat us down on a bench and then she walked over to the light switch and she turned out the lights. Suddenly it was dark. It was so dark I could not see my hand in front of my face. It was so dark I could not see the person sitting next to me on the bench. She left us in the dark for five minutes so that our eyes could adjust to the darkness. Then she told us that she was going to duplicate for us the conditions the original explores experienced. She reached in her pocket and pulled out a cigarette lighter. When she said she was going to light the cigarette lighter I thought to myself, “This cave is so dark that that tiny cigarette lighter is not going to make much of a difference. Perhaps we will be able to see the guide’s face or at the most a little area around her feet.” We were in a large room and when she lit the cigarette lighter suddenly we could see the entire room. We could see the stalactites and the stalagmites. We could see all the people in our group.
B. That cave was a very dark place, but all it took was one light to light up the dark cave.
C. The world is a dark place, but all it takes is one light to light up a dark world.
II. You are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14a).
A. The world's population recently exceeded seven billion people for the first time and less than two billion of them claim to be Christians. There are masses of unsaved people in China, India, the Middle East, and right in your neighborhood. I believe that Jesus is coming back soon. It is vital for Christians to begin bringing crying, dying humanity into the kingdom of God. Our great commission is to "Go into all the World and preach the Gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15). The world is a dark place, and God wants His children to act as a bright and shining light to draw people into heaven.
B. We need to witness to people who need Jesus.
1. Millions of people need Jesus.
2. The harvest is ripe.
3. The labors are few.
4. We are called to be labors in the harvest fields of the world.
5. What is a laborer? A laborer is someone who lets his or her light shine.
6. Are you passionate about leading people to Jesus?
C. How did I become passionate about leading people to Jesus? Several years ago, I went on a mission trip to the country of Jamaica. Our group experienced powerful ministry at churches and evangelistic crusades. Hundreds of people were saved and many miraculous healings were reported. The days in Jamaica were extremely hot and quite humid, so as we walked through neighborhoods inviting people to church, we quickly overheated. By the time we arrived back at our hotel that evening, we were a sticky mess. Unfortunately, the showers at the hotel were broken. We fixed this problem by deciding to go for a late night swim in the pool. As we swam, I noticed there was a panel near the edge of the pool that looked like it was smoking. I was curious, so I foolishly swam over to check it out. I was treading water beside an underwater light when, zap, I was shocked. The electricity shot through my body and numbed my feet and hands. Terrified, I leapt out of the pool. Immediately, I became concerned for the safety of the other members of my team. I started screaming at them to get out of the pool as fast as they could. None of them knew what was wrong so they just looked at me. As I kept yelling at them about the danger, some began to get out, but most of the people thought I was playing a practical joke on them so they stayed in the pool. I frantically began grabbing people and pulling them out of the pool. I pointed at the smoking panel and shouted, “Get out!” I yelled repeatedly about the danger until I was hoarse. When everyone realized how serious I was, they climbed out of the pool. Several stubborn boys refused to fall for what they still thought was a practical joke. I was frustrated as I watched them swim in a dangerous situation. I began to talk to them and show them the danger they were in. Finally, my sense of urgency compelled them to climb out of the pool. I was so relieved when I had saved everyone’s life! God stopped me right then and He told me, “You need to save people from hell with the same passion that you saved those people from an electric shock.” This word from God has given me a passion to see the lost saved. By the grace of God, I had been saved from being electrocuted. After I had been spared, I began to yell and scream, and pull people out of danger. I experienced an intense urgency about it. I did not rest until everyone was saved, because I was concerned for their lives. God revealed to me that I need to be just as concerned about the lives of people who are headed for hell! I have to do whatever it takes to rescue someone from the grasp of Satan. If I have to speak loud and boldly, I will. If I have to talk them into salvation, I will. I made a commitment to myself that day that I would do whatever it takes to help save a soul from hell. You see, too many of us get saved and walk away thanking God for our salvation, but we forget that there are still thousands of people who are headed for hell.
III. Don’t hide your light. (5:14b-15)
A. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden (5:14b).
1. A shining light is a witness. Acts 1:8, “But you shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
2. What is a witness? Let me give you an example. This is a lesson I learned in eighth grade science class. At night it appears that the moon is shining. But in reality the moon does not shine. The light from the sun travels 186,000 miles per second and bounces off the moon to make it look like the moon is shining. But the moon does not shine by itself. People on the dark side of the world can see the moon shining in the dark. The moon is actually reflecting the light of the sun. In other words the moon is a witness to the fact that the sun is shining on the other side of the world. Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12). The only way for people who are living in darkness to see the light of Jesus is when that light is reflected through Christians. As believers, we are like the moon. We reflect the light of Jesus to a dark world.
B. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl (5:15a).
1. Always remember the words of the children’s song, “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.
2. Another verse of the song goes on to say, “Hide it under a bushel, “No.” I’m going to let it shine.
3. A hiding light is not light at all.
C. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house (5:15b).
1. A shining light brings good news to the lost.
a. Good news to a sick man is that God can make him well.
b. Good news to a poor man is that God can make him rich.
c. Good news to a blind man is that God can make him see.
d. Good news to a captive man is that God can make him free.
2. A shining light points people to Jesus, the Light of the world.
IV. Let your light shine (5:16a).
A. Be a shining light so that they may see your good works (5:16b).
1. A shining light does good works.
a. Good works include feeding the hungry.
b. Good works include healing the sick.
c. Good works include visiting those who are in prison.
d. Good works include sharing the gospel with the lost.
2. A shining light can be seen by the lost.
a. The only way the world can see your good works is if you do them.
b. The world is not impressed with words but with actions.
B. Be a shining light so that you can glorify your Father in heaven (5:16c)
1. When the dark world sees Christians shining bright, it bring glory to our Father.
2. When the dark world sees Christians shining bright, people are more likely to start a relationship with God.
C. To be a shining light, you have to get trash out of your life.
1. In my hand, I hold a flashlight. This light represents the light of a Christian. But, when I turn it on, it does not work. Why? Because there is trash inside the flashlight. This trash represents everything that could prevent a Christian light from shining.
2. A shining light cannot shine with trash inside of it.
a. Sin is an example of trash that can prevent a light from shining. Lying is sin. Stealing is sin. Disobeying is sin.
b. Fear is an example of trash that can prevent a light from shining.
c. Doubt is an example of trash that can prevent a light from shining.
D. To be a shining light, you need the power of the Holy Spirit.
1. Christians must have power. A shining light does not shine if it does not have a power source. When I put these batteries inside this flashlight, you will see that it now works. The Bible says in Acts 1:8, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
a. This power comes from the Holy Spirit.
b. This power enabled the early church to witness.
i. The Christians were called to be witnesses in Jerusalem.
ii. The Christians were called to be witnesses in Judea.
iii. The Christians were called to be witnesses in Samaria.
iv. The Christians were called to be witnesses unto the uttermost ends of the earth.
c. This power enables today’s church to witness.
i. Today’s church is called to witness in their home city.
ii. Today’s church is called to witness in their own country.
iii. Today’s church is called to witness in the countries nearby.
iv. Today’s church is called to witness unto the uttermost ends of the earth.
V. Conclusion
A. Christians should strive to bring the lost into the kingdom of God by being a light in a dark world. Today we have seen the need for every Christian to be a shining light. The world is a dark place with many hurting people who need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ.
B. I challenge you to be a witness of God’s power in your home, and in your neighborhood, in your workplace, in other countries, and unto the uttermost ends of the earth.
C. Raise your hand if you want to be a shining light for Jesus.
