Getting Lit.
1 John 1:1, 5-7AMP
The world’s longest-lasting light bulb has been burning in a Livermore, California, fire station since 1901. That’s 121 years that the bulb has been in operation with over 1,000,000 hours of use.
As Paul Harvey would say, “Here’s the rest of the story.” The bulb was made 22 years after Thomas Edison invented the electric light bulb.
The bulb, hand blown, with a thick carbon filament, was made by the Shelby Electric Company, which did not become one of the giants of the nation for an obvious reason. The Shelby company made light bulbs to last and no one ever re-ordered. (Goggled This bulb burning in a Livermore, California, fire station since 1901. Showed on projectors).
1 John 1:1, 5-7NLT We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life.
Jesus’ proclamation, “I Am the Word of Life!”
5-7 This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. 6 So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. 7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.
These text point to one thing—Get Lit!
Did you know that we (believers) are "sons of light,” (John 12:36 ; Eph 5:8 ; 1 Thess 5:5). Light possesses powers essential to true life. Hence "to be in the light" means simply "to live" — both life eternal and life temporal.
Can a Christian have a private fellowship with God, to the exclusion of others? Can we ignore other Christians and be real Christians?
I want to give you 3 facts according to today’s text:
1. The first fact is, the ultimate relationship is fellowship with the God of pure light—Get lit.
Did you know that there are 433 verses of scripture pertaining to God, and or you, being light?
Jesus stated in, John 10:10AMP The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].
The apostle John is not exaggerating when he writes under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in John 10:10. Jesus intended for every believers to be full of light and life—Over and above—Overflowing life.
Again, light is essential to life. As believer’s, we’re called to—-light…Drawn to light…Speak with light life…Act with light…Love with light. This light cast no shadow.
James 1:17NIV Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Getting lit has a negative view—Being lit usually means a person is high, or intoxicated, and all they can do is sit there and smile. The Urban dictionary speaks of a person being “lit up like a light."
After everything John saw, learned and even touched, this was his personal statement: John states, “God is pure light—God’s lit!
When believer’s stay close to God, in return, they get lit. P.H
Psalm 36:9TPT The fountain of life flows from you to satisfy me. In your light of holiness we receive the light of revelation.
KJV, 9….In your light, we see light.
Imagine—Seeing the King of glory (Jesus), with our own eyes, hearing the King of glory speak with our own ears, touching the king of glory with our own hands.
The author of 1 John, John, Jesus’ beloved could state all that.
John saw.
John touched.
John heard.
Again, Number 1, “If you want to get lit, go to the light.”
2. The second fact according to today’s text is, “If you have a shared relationship with Jesus, you don’t stumble around in the dark.”
1 John 1:6TM If we claim that we experience a shared life with Him and continue to stumble around in the dark, we’re obviously lying through our teeth—we’re not living what we claim.
What's the first thing you do when you do wrong? Hide? Cover it up? Do it in the dark? Become very secretive?
The great prince of preachers Charles Haddon Spurgeon used to tell the story, A certain Duke once boarded a galley ship. As he passed the crew of prisoners, he asked several of them what their offenses were. Almost every man claimed he was innocent. They laid the blame on someone else or accused the judge of yielding to bribery. One young fellow, however, spoke out, sir, “I deserve to be here. I stole some money. No one is at fault but myself. I am guilty.” Upon hearing this, the duke seized him by the shoulder and shouted, “you crook you! What are you doing here with all these honest men? Get out of their company at once!” He was then set at liberty while the rest were left to tug at the oars.
“If we are to get lit and stay lit, we are to stay close to the light.” P.H
Before crossing over the Jordan River Joshua instructs, Joshua 3:5KJV And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the Lord will do wonders among you.
As we sanctify ourselves, God promises to do extra-ordinary-things. Mark 16, Jesus records, “Signs and wonders will follow the believer.”
As we sanctify ourselves we—go, set, ready.
As we live in the light we’re—Go, Set, Ready! We don’t need a motivational speech, or another sermon, we are—Go, Set, Ready.
Remember, If you’re a believer you’ve been called to Go. (Jesus’ last words were go…)
3. The third fact according to today’s text is, Living in the light draws us into sweet fellowship with others.
Notice what getting lit will do. According to the text, 1 John 1:7, Living in the light as God is light, draws us into sweet fellowship with others.
When we have sweet fellowship, others will be drawn. When we have sweet fellowship—We’re poised to—Go, Set, Ready.
1 John 5: 4-5KJV For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
Sweet fellowship produces Anointing. Anointing produces, souls, miracles, wisdom, love, peace etc.
Psalm 133:1-3KJV Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; 3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.
“Where there’s unity, the power of God will be on display.” P.H
As we stand, let’s join in agreement, * Let’s join together to say, Go.
* Agreement for our family.
* Agreement for our jobs.
Agreement for our church.
Jesus states in, Matthew 5:14-16TLB You are the world’s light—a city on a hill, glowing in the night for all to see. 15-16 Don’t hide your light! Let it shine for all; let your good deeds glow for all to see, so that they will praise your heavenly Father.
On March 11, 2011, a video surfaced on CNN. A camera captured a startling image of the tsunami waves rising through the valley as people climbed to higher ground up on the hills. The waves brought debris, houses were carried off and destroyed. Thousands were killed, Suddenly, the camera zoomed-in to show a group of people down below moving slowly, way too slowly. They also were way too close to the rising, deadly surge of water. It soon became apparent why these people couldn't move fast, they were carrying people who were unable to move themselves. Yet this group refused to move to safety if it meant leaving the others behind.
Jesus wants us to spread our light and influence to others. P.H
Benediction.
