Created To Shine!
Matthew 5:14-16NKJV
Today I’m going talk to you about God’s Kingdom. And greater than that, how Jesus made you part of His Kingdom. It’s known as the Sermon On The Mount, or the beatitudes. Therefore, because of these words, His Kingdom is presently your Kingdom!
In Matthew 5, Jesus taught His followers (students) about this new Kingdom living.
Therefore, Matthew 5, through Matthew chapter 7, is Jesus’ teaching on living out of His Kingdom, and His principles.
Here’s an example of Jesus’ teaching from the sermon on the Mount, you might be familiar with. Jesus spoke, Matthew 6:9-12NKJV In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
Think about this fact, I think sometimes we take this for granted. We have a written record of what Jesus taught His 12 disciple and other followers. P.H
Here’s the text I want to teach and preach on. Matthew 5:14-16NKJV You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
You were created to be a light on a hill. To possess nothing in you that would obscure this light, or to make it hidden. Jesus gave you this ability through His fruit. Remember this, Because of this divine exchange—Salvation (Jesus), became sin on your behalf, The fruit of the Lord Jesus Christ, became your fruit. P.H
Paul writes, Galatians 5:22-23NLT But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
The supply of fruit for His body is limitless. Meaning, you’ll never run out of love, joy, peace, patience etc…
Again hear the words of Jesus from today’s text Matthew 5:14-16TPT “Your lives light up the world. For how can you hide a city that stands on a hilltop? 15 And who would light a lamp and then hide it in an obscure place? Instead, it’s placed where everyone in the house can benefit from its light. 16 So don’t hide your light! Let it shine brightly before others, so that your commendable works will shine as light upon them, and then they will give their praise to your Father in heaven.”
Fact—People remember, fruit and good deeds, plus your walk will someday be attributed to someone else’s salvation. P.H
Matthew 5:14-16TM “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.
Prayer— “Father, in Jesus’ name, allow this body to be Wise, Kind and Faithful to themselves, to each other, and to the world.”
The story is told of a man whose job was to be on the railroad tracks, holding a light, to warn upcoming trains of the damage on the bridge just a head. That night as the train came, the man held up his lamp, but the train went right into the ditch.
The man was taken to court, because they wanted to know why the conductor did not pay attention to his warning of the danger ahead. The man was asked, “Were you on duty on the night the train had the accident?” The judge asked. The man replied, “yes sir.” The judge once again asked, “did you have your lamp with you?” The man replied yes sir. The judge asked the last question, “did you wave your lamp to the train?” The man replied, yes sir.
So the man was not held responsible for the accident. Later as the man went home he told his friend, “I am glad that the judge did not ask me if my lamp was on.”
If you’re born again, born from above, you have a right to shine; your lamp should be on. P.H
Hold up your lamp and shine. Shine through your deeds, your words. God created you to shine!
There are three anointed words for all who want to shine bright.
1. Wise. 2. Anointed. 3. Shine.
1. To walk in wisdom, to be Wise.
The Rev. Sam Jones watched his dad die early of consumption of alcohol, His dad spoke to Sam one last time. He told Sam, “To stay off the bottle.”
Rev. Sam Jones became a great Evangelist who saw many salvations in his time. His tomb is very unique, the point of this granite tomb points straight up toward heaven. You can find this tomb in Cartersville, Ga. It has one powerful scripture written on his memorial:
Daniel 12:3NLT Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever.
Again, Wisdom will go before you!
Ephesians 5:15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
Matthew 7:24 Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
Proverbs 28:26 Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
2. You are to be anointed.
The anointing of the Holy Spirit brought a special impartation of urgency, spiritual hunger, passion and zeal.
John 7:37-38TPT Then on the most important day of the feast, the last day, Jesus stood and shouted out to the crowds—“All you thirsty ones, come to me! Come to me and drink! 38 Believe in me so that rivers of living water will burst out from within you, flowing from your innermost being, just like the Scripture says!”
In verse 37, Man’s feasting is over, and there is still thirst. Jesus comes at the last day of the feast to satisfy the thirst of those who seek God—living water.
In verse 38, the root word for Living Water is the River Jordan, which always flows down. Rivers of living water flowing down from His throne.
Remember this, Just one drink becomes a river!
I love that game show called, The Price is right. What I really like about it is when the announcer calls for another contest to come forward to bid. He or she is usually very excited, High-fiving every person in the crowd. The funny thing is, these contests haven’t won anything yet. However, just the chance to bid and win is all they think about.
3. You were created to shine.
At the birth of Jesus, The Star of David—the Star of Bethlehem. This special star, shining bright enough to catch the attention of people who were looking for something—it guided people to find someone extraordinary. Jesus.
It’s a special light
In Matthew 2, read about the Star of David—the Star of Bethlehem. This special star, shining bright enough to catch the attention of shepherds and wisemen alike. They were looking for a light that would illuminate, guided and inspire them as well as others. It eventually brought the extraordinary, forgiveness, deliverance, salvation, Jesus.
• It was a special star—“For we saw His star” – this star was different from all the rest. It pointed from law to His marvelous grace.
• It was a guiding star—this star guided the wise from the East—And there it was—the star they had seen at its rising. It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was.
• The Star brought Joy—Matthew 2:10, When the shepherds saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy.
Again, This star was special—This star bought shepherds, and wise astrologers, both, would bow in honor, love, worship and give gifts to.
Believer’s are special—we are to be different—we are not like every other person out there—We are to shine!
Isaiah 62:12TPT They will be called His Holy People, The Redeemed of Yahweh. And you will be known as Those Whom God Loves, A City Not Abandoned.
Again, You were created to shine!
Peter, the disciple who denied Jesus 3 times, Peter, the disciple who said, “I’ll go with you anywhere!
1 Peter 2:9NKJV But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
Again you are:
Wise.
Anointed.
And you were created to Shine!
Benediction.
