Introduction
Today as we conclude our sermon series on Light in the Darkness, the challenge for each one of us is to keep the light the God’s says that we can walk in shinning bright in our lives. However, if we are honest there might be short spans of time or maybe even longer spans, let’s call them seasons, in our lives when that light isn’t shining too bright.
And not if, but when we find ourselves in one of those times or one of those seasons when we want to throw in the towel and say that Christianity isn’t worth it, what are we to do?
But before we answer that question, we need to understand that there is a war going on over the light that is within me. The devil might try to steal our light by an unexpected sickness of a love one; he might try to steal that light by causing our eyes to wonder off Jesus and onto something that this world is offering us; or, he might try to steal that light by slowing lulling you and me into an “I don’t care” type of attitude toward the things of God.
God, on the other hand, is working in each one of our lives to keep that light burning bright. I want you to notice in our Scripture who is the one that is shining light into our life. It is God who does that. He wants us to have our light shining. However, when it comes to keeping that light shining brightly, that is, our part.
So today, I want to give you three practical things that can keep your light shining brightly.
Scripture
Psalm 18:28 (NKJV)
28 For You will light my lamp.
The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.
Point #1
The Christian life is never meant to be lived alone. To keep your light shining you must be in fellowship with other Christians.
Acts 2:1 (NKJV)
Coming of the Holy Spirit
2 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
The day of Pentecost is the very first day of the church. And from that very first day we see that the Christian life is to be in lived in fellowship with one another.
Now fast forward to the Book of Hebrews written 70 years after the First Day of Pentecost. And the author is telling the people in Hebrews 10:25 not to forsake the assembling of yourselves together.
Now fast forward with me to about 95 A.D. and John, the beloved disciple of Jesus and more importantly in our discussion, the last writer of the New Testament, in I John 1 tells the people all that he has seen and heard about Jesus Christ. And He says that my purpose is that you may also have fellowship with us, and truly our fellowship in with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
So, basically, from the beginning of the New Testament to the end of the writings of the New Testament, the Word of God is saying that you must fellowship together. And that, my brothers and sister is what helps keep your light shining. That’s God’s way of keeping your light shining.
Fast work to the time December 2021, and Pew research asked the question: How often do you attend church other than for funerals and weddings. Twenty five percent of Americans say that they attend church at least once a week. Seven percent says that they attend church at least once per month. What does that say about the others. They are not really church goers.
So, let me ask you a question, do you think the light of Christ shines as bright today as it did in the days of the early church? It is not because Christians aren’t doing their Christianity God’s way. They are making it up their Christianity as they go rather than doing it God’s way.
Point #2
The Christian life is never meant to be lived within my spiritual comfort zone. In my comfort zone, my light is growing dim because I am not being stretched. God wants us to come out of our comfort zone so our light will shine bright.
Think back to the beginning of Jesus’ ministry on earth. The first thing on his agenda was calling twelve disciples to follow him. Four were definitely fisherman, four more were likely fisherman, one was a tax collector, one was probably a member of a radical Jewish sect called the Zealots and the others we have no information as to what they did.
Think about the eight fishermen, do you think that they were stretched out of their comfort zone to leave their boats, leave their nets, and maybe even their day’s catch of fish, and follow Jesus. I would say that they were, and what happened. There was the time after Pentecost when their light shined bright.
For example, I remember a time in the Book of Acts, Acts 3:1-10, that Peter and John were heading to the temple to pray when they encounter a man who was unable to walk begging for alms. And the disciples said silver and gold, we have none, but what we have we give you. In the name of Jesus, rise up and walk. And the Bible says that that the man went walking and leaping and praising God. Don’t you think that Peter and John’s light was shining very bright, but they were out of their comfort zone. Doing miracles was not in their comfort zone, fishing was in their comfort zone.
Can you think of a time in your life that you stepped out of your comfort zone and your light shinned and others were blessed as a result? You ladies that get up and sing solos on some Sunday morning. You are out of your comfort zone, but your light shines and you are a blessing.
Point #3
The Christian life is never meant to be lived without a spiritual ear tuned to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. No ear to the spirit, and your body’s light will turn dim.
John 16:7–11 (NKJV)
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
Jesus’ time on earth is growing short. and He tells the disciples that it is to their advantage that I go away and sends the Holy Spirit to you. And don’t miss what Jesus says, the Holy Spirit convicts.
As a Christian, you might know the Holy Spirit as that little soft voice you hear in your head that says don’t do that, it isn’t right. You probably don’t want to hear that, but the Holy Spirit testifies to you what you are thinking about doing is wrong.
But here is our dilemma, I still want to do it anyway, and so I go ahead and do it. Now, besides doing something wrong, I just made it a little bit harder for me when the Holy Spirit is trying to convict me the next time to be able to hear Him. And what happens the light within me grows dim.
Please, keep the communication between you and the Holy Spirit open. Don’t blog it up with disobedience.
Conclusion
I cannot imagine living the Christian life in isolation, without all of you, without God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I know it takes that fellowship with you and God to live the Christian life, yet I struggle sometimes to stay connected.
Today, if you are not connected, I plead with you to draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. I also implore you to plug in this fellowship. Attempt something out of your comfort zone, and let’s see what God will do. Let us pray.
