2022.11.27
The Wilderness Experience
Stewards of the Mysteries - The LIGHT of our HOPE
William Akehurst, HSWC
1st Sunday of Advent…HOPE and LIGHT. The advent candle of HOPE is lit.
JESUS is OUR HOPE. And we are to not only serve HIM, but care for the message, the mysteries of GOD, which are all about HIM.
JESUS is THE LIGHT to a dark world.
WE represent CHRIST not only serving HIM, but also carrying forth these ‘mysteries’ of GOD to a fallen world. WE Carry the TORCH of HOPE and FAITH to bring the LIGHT of JESUS to expose the darkness and bring forth the light.
As we approach Christmas, Let us remember that it is time to shine forth the message of JESUS. The HOPE and LIGHT of this World. We carry the Torch of HIS LIGHT and HOPE as Stewards of the Mysteries of GOD.
ADVENT is the anticipation of the Arrival of The Messiah. As believers in JESUS, we are waiting for HIS Return. However, there are many who have not received the Gift of our Salvation, and we are to represent and carry the message of JESUS to the world around us.
1 Corinthians 4:1-2
1 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
JESUS IS THE LIGHT
Isaiah 9:2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined.
THE LIGHT HAS COME!
Isaiah 60:1-2
1 Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. 2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you.
FROM THE BEGINNING, JESUS IS THE LIGHT
John 1:1-5
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
FAITH – BELIEVING in what we can’t comprehend.
Hebrews 11:1-3
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
LOOKING TO JESUS. OUR FOCUS, OUR LIGHT AND HOPE.
AUTHOR, HE WAS NOT ONLY THE WORD IN FLESH, BUT THE WORD PROPHESIED AND MANIFEST.
FINISHER, PROPHECY FULFILLED.
Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV)
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
OUR HOPE IS ALIVE AND WELL BY THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF CHRIST JESUS. FROM WHOM WE HAVE HEAVEN AS OUR DESTINATION
1 Peter 1:3-5
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
PROPHESY FULFILLED IN JESUS, and WE TESTIFY BY PRAISE.
Isaiah 42:6-10 (A Messianic Prophecy)
6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison,
and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
10 Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth…
THOSE WHO DON’T SEE THE LIGHT ARE BLINDED. WE, HAVING RECEIVED THE LIGHT OF CHRIST (A MYSTERY), CARRY THE TORCH
2 Corinthians 4:3-6
3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT. NOW WE CAN SEE AND SHINE AS NOT ONLY A REFLECTION, BUT BECAUSE OF HOLY SPIRIT WITHIN.
Ephesians 5:8-14
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says:
“Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”
OUR PURPOSE IS TO GLORIFY GOD, AND AS STEWARDS OF THE MYSTERIES OF GOD, TO CARRY THE TORCH OF HIS LIGHT AND HOPE FOR THE WORLD TO ALL PEOPLE.
Matthew 5:14-16
14 “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.
LET’s PRAY THAT WE WILL PROPERLY REPRESENT THE HOPE AND LIGHT OF JESUS, AS WE CARRY THE MYSTERIES OF GOD TO A DARK AND DYING WORLD. SHINE FORTH.
