Mystery of Light part 3
Opening Illustration: Video clip – To reference Bob’s comment last week at the end of the service. Show video clip on the need for son glasses (humorous).
Thesis: Scientists are baffled by the mystery of light they can study it but still don’t understand what light is. God is light according to the Bible and he’s as mysterious as light in the natural sense but like scientist we can study God and understand what light does in our life.
Texts:
Matthew 5:14-16 NIV
14“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither 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. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16 The Message
“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.
2 Corinthians 4:1-12 NIV
1Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”£ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. 12So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
2 Corinthians 4:1-12 The Message
Since God has so generously let us in on what he is doing, we’re not about to throw up our hands and walk off the job just because we run into occasional hard times. We refuse to wear masks and play games. We don’t maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes. And we don’t twist God’s Word to suit ourselves. Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see and judge for themselves in the presence of God.
If our Message is obscure to anyone, it’s not because we’re holding back in any way. No, it’s because these other people are looking or going the wrong way and refuse to give it serious attention. All they have eyes for is the fashionable god of darkness. They think he can give them what they want, and that they won’t have to bother believing a Truth they can’t see. They’re stone-blind to the dayspring brightness of the Message that shines with Christ, who gives us the best picture of God we’ll ever get.
Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we’re proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you. It started when God said, “Light up the darkness!” and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful.
If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us. As it is, there’s not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we’re not much to look at. We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus’ sake, which makes Jesus’ life all the more evident in us. While we’re going through the worst, you’re getting in on the best!
We’re not keeping this quiet, not on your life. Just like the psalmist who wrote, “I believed it, so I said it,” we say what we believe. And what we believe is that the One who raised up the Master Jesus will just as certainly raise us up with you, alive. Every detail works to your advantage and to God’s glory: more and more grace, more and more people, more and more praise!
So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.
Introduction: For the last three weeks we have been exploring and learning about this mystery of light. “You are the light of world,” Jesus said. Lamps are designed to be put on a lamp stand in full view of everyone. Why? So that everyone will see the light of heaven beaming out.
This word picture helps us realize that the values we hold as citizens of Jesus’ kingdom are to find expression in our behavior. Our behavior is to draw attention to our difference from the world. Those who come to know us will gradually realize that we are different because of our relationship with our Father “in heaven”. The kingdom of heaven is to break into our world, today, through you and me as our light shines in darkness!
T.S.- Let’s learn another lesson from the scientists and discover how important it is to tap into God’s power source of light.
I. Scientists tell us we can never travel faster than the speed of light.
a. Here is there view:
b. Contemporary physics states that no object should be able to travel faster than the speed of light
c = 299’792’458 m/s (meters per second).
i. Although the value of c appears to be enormous when compared with conventional traveling speeds, it suggests a limit to which renders a practical realization of interstellar travel improbable.
c. In essence they are saying we can never surpass light.
d. We can go as fast as light they say but never faster.
e. God is light and in essence we can never out do God. He is the holiest and fastest power in the universe but the Bible tells us that he has placed some of the light power including the speed of light in our lives. But the key is are we using that power. Or are we holding it back or are we taping it?
f. Scientists believe one day they will be able to make a space ship which will be transported or propelled by the power and speed of light. They believe that once they design a sail that can catch light, like sailboats catch wind, then they will have the ultimate space ship.
i. There idea is to have this space ship with a sail that would catch the beam of light from a powerful laser. The way this would work would be to aim that beam at Mars and the space ship would catchy the beam in there sail and they would be propelled at the speed of light to Mars.
ii. The key here is to catch the power of light in motion and use it to propel a ship at the speed of light to a given destination.
g. As we use this scientific idea my minds reflects on the spiritual application here. We need to let out our sails and get caught by the power of light to propel us to the desired point God wishes us to reach. In this world we are to catch the wave of light and shine in this dark world of hopelessness.
i. God’s light is all around and yes even in us. But are we catching the wave of light and sailing with it? For many in the Christian church they are like sailboats set a drift on the ocean of the world going nowhere. Why? Because they won’t raise their sails and catch the power of light to propel them across this vast ocean of life.
ii. I have had many come into my office and say, “I am going nowhere in my Christian walk!” I have heard them blame others for their lack of movement. I have heard them blame leadership in the church. I have heard them blame God. But seldom do they take responsibility for their lack of motion themselves. For many all they have to do to move in God’s power is raise the sail!
T.S.- We must catch the wave of light so we are shining in this world. Lets see how we can catch the wave of light and shine.
II. Last week we talked about the importance of Jesus being the light of the world and we getting plugged in to the power source so our light can shine.
a. We learned that he is the light of the world. According to John 8:12.
b. But what we also need to remember that for us to be lit up we need Jesus, the power source for any light in the spiritual realm.
i. The Scriptures tells us how to become a light Romans 10:9,10:
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”
ii. 2 Corinthians 4:1-12 highlights our necessity to shine and be plugged into the power source of light. Especially if we are going through tough times.
T.S.- It is vital that we be plugged in to the power source so our light can shine.
III. The importance of the shining light in a dark world.
a. Light is to be the distinguishing factor between the followers of Christ and the world of darkness. Light is the necessary ingredient we need to shine forth in this world.
i. TRICIA MCCARY RHODES stated, ”When He delivers us from sin’s dark cell, an amazing thing happens: Our eyes are unveiled to see what we were created for, what we’ve longed for without knowing it. “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6). This is the joy of all joys, the wonder that transforms our hearts and fills our lives with preeminent purpose.”
b. “Let your light shine before men” Matt. 5:14–16. In biblical times every home had its lamp burning all night. The lamp did not give much light, but it testified to the fact that the house was inhabited. These lamps, small oil-filled bowls, were set high on pottery stands. Jesus told His hearers that citizens in His kingdom are to be like lamps, lights in the world. The good deeds performed by Jesus’ people are to testify to the fact that this world, however dark it may be, still is inhabited by the King of light.
i. When the good deeds of Christ’s people are seen, men will grasp the source and praise “your Father in heaven.” Don’t let anyone deny the role of good deeds in the Christian life.
ii. A Christian who does not perform good deeds is as useless to God and others as a lamp hidden under a bowl.
c. Romans 13; 11-14 exhorts us to shine.
11And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
T.S.- We have seen that we are instructed to shine the ability to shine comes from Jesus but you still might be thinking how?
IV. What does light look like in everyday life? How do we shine in this life we live?
a. This comparison should help to answer this frequently asked question.
i. The fruits of the spirit: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22,23).
1. Love- Means the light that puts others first. The ability to be like Jesus. Having a deep tender feeling of affection for others
2. Joy- Having a good attitude in spite of difficulty. Being happy, having great pleasure in living and serving.
3. Peace- Having a sense of security and contentment. Freedom from war and strife.
4. Patience- staying calm in the midst turmoil, being willing to wait on the Lord. Not demanding attention now. The ability to wait and endure without complaining or losing self-control.
5. Kindness- Doing nice things for others, thinking of others first. Being loving to others. One who is not greedy.
6. Goodness- Doing good things like God. One who is unspoiled or contaminated by bad.
7. Faithfulness- Being committed to the Lord and to his institutions the church. He created them not man. The ability to maintain allegiance to Jesus and His kingdom. One who is loyal to the cause of Christ.
a. To be faithful means we keep the message of the Gospel in the forefront. We don’t neglect it or ignore it.
b. “The gospel is the one great treasure of the church,” states Hook. He goes on to add the following thoughts:
i. It is the “pearl of great price” for which the jeweler will pay all that he has (Matthew 13:45-46).
ii. It is the great truth for which Stephen died and which Paul devoted his life to proclaim.
iii. It is the one thing which clearly distinguishes the church from all other religious and benevolent organizations.
iv. The church today, however, does not always prize the gospel as its greatest treasure.
1. The church is sometimes tempted to emphasize its own human dynamics rather than that which God offers us in Jesus Christ.
2. The church sometimes calls people to its ministry, its programs, or to its facilities instead of calling people to salvation in Jesus Christ (Hook, Sermon Outlines for Growing Christians).
8. Gentleness- the ability to be mild and pleasant. Not one who is harsh and or rough.
9. Self-control-One who is in control of ones self, or ones emotions, desires and actions.
a. These are the messages of light to a people who are in darkness.
ii. The acts of darkness are clear in Scripture Galatians 5:19,20:
1. These are sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and the like.
* The darkness looks like this in the world and the U.S.A.:
a. There are over 1 million abortions a year in the world.
b. 100 million children are homeless in the world.
c. 1 million women and children are forced into the sex trafficking industry.
d. George Barna reported that in the year 2000 only 32% of Christians claimed they tithed to the church. When they checked the household income it showed that only 12% of the families actually tithed.
e. According to one recent pole only 44% of the population in the United States attend church worship services on a Sunday morning.
f. 48% of teens are sexually active in the world today.
g. In an area school district a survey was done of the school to find out how many students felt premarital sex was wrong. 68% of the school students said it was not wrong.
h. There are over 20,000 murders in the U.S.A. in a year.
i. The Divorce rate for Christians and the world is 53%.
j. A Journalist is murdered this week in Pakistan and the killers have no remorse for cold-blooded murder.
2. The Olympic games suppose to be a time of peace and goodwill toward fellow athletes are filled with controversy and accusations, jealousy, envy.
* They have been full of accusations of scandal and insults.
* The skate gate scandal in the pairs skating.
i. Ill will has been the dominant theme of the Olympics this year.
3. How dark is this world you might ask? Listen to yesterday’s headline news:
* Swedish aid worker killed in Somalia.
3 Shot to Death in N. Philadelphia PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Gunmen opened fire early Saturday inside a row house apparently being used as an illegal after-hours bar, killing three people and injuring five, police said.
CAMBRIDGE, MA, 21-FEB-2002: Roman Catholic priest John Geoghan listens to Judge Sandra Hamlin at Middlesex Superior Court in Cambridge, Massachusetts, February 21, 2002. Geoghan was sentenced to 10 years in jail for having sexually abused a 10-year-old boy in 1991. Geoghan faces two more criminal trials on charges of sexual abuse of children and more than 80 pending civil cases alleging sexual molestation, in addition to 50 cases involving him, that the archdiocese has settled for more than 10 million USD. [Photo by The Boston Globe, copyright 2002 by AFP and ClariNet]
*SAN DIEGO, CA, 22-FEB-2002: San Diego Police Chief David Bejarano (C) answers reporters’ questions during a press conference, February 22 2002, at police headquarters in San Diego, CA announcing the arrest of a suspect in the February 2 disappearance of seven-year-old Danielle Van Dam. A family neighbor, David Westerfield, has been linked to the girl’s disappearance by DNA testing of her blood found on his clothes as well as in his motorhome.
A women is on trial for drowning her kids in a bath tub.
Conclusion:
What happens if we don’t shine? The headline news gets worse and worse.
The church is crippled by its lack of commitment today.
By it’s lack of giving of their time.
By it’s lack of giving of their finances.,
They are losing their impact on a lost and dying world.
The churches ministry is becoming more and more worthless and meaningless because they are not rescuing anyone from the darkness.
Many of you are saying your right Pastor Mike- but here comes zinger you and I are the ones who make up the church!
The problem is not with God! He has given us the power source to sail this ship – The church. The problem is no one wants to raise their sails and sail under His wind of light.
Many want to row on their own-do their own thing-go against the wind of light. Some say, “ We don’t need this ship we can swim on our own.”
The questions for you to answer for yourself today are these:
Do you allow the light to shine forth out of your life?
Are you catching the wind of light with your sail and being propelled forward in the work of the kingdom.
Are there acts and deeds of a child of light coming from your life?
Are you giving like the Bible says in regards to your finances?
Are tithing?
Are you giving offerings to God’s ministries?
Are you giving of your time to help lead people out of darkness?
Are you serving on the sailing the ship – the church?
Or are you just living your own life hiding out for the end?
Swimming in the ocean of life all alone?
Caution: If you are all alone out there in the ocean I want to warn you because there are great black sharks out there that will chew you up for food.
