The Light That Is Within Us
2 Corinthians 4:1-6
Preached at the Laurel Church of Christ
On October 27, 2002
Introduction:
I. The Arkansas Ice Storm 2000
A. It had been many years since we had seen a sever ice storm.
1. Previously, in Kansas we had weathered a blizzard for the first time we could remember.
2. This ice storm, though, was nothing like Kansas
3. It came about two weeks before Christmas and onslaughted the region with a slight drizzle.
4. After a full day of freezing drizzle, the trees began to bend.
B. It wasn’t long before three fourths of the state was without power.
1. Some people were without power for just a few hours
2. Others were without power for a couple of weeks
3. And even others that would go from December to April without power.
C. Darkness was a reality that each person dealt with on a daily basis.
1. Without the electricity, and the common conveniences people began to realize just how important light is in our lives.
2. I remember going to Stuttgart, the next Sunday in total awe over just how many power lines were down.
3. It was an hour and a half trip, and only the first fifteen minutes of that trip included power lines that were still standing.
D. Darkness is scary and a reality after the sun goes down.
II. The Laurel Church of Christ is the light in a dark world, because Jesus shines in our hearts.
A. Light is important, and the source is a real issue, when modern conveniences are taken from us.
B. Each Christian has a light that shines in the darkness, because Jesus has encamped within our hearts.
1. It is through truth that Jesus is revealed
2. People see our lights, when we are courteous and kind.
3. People see our lights when we are benevolent and helpful.
III. 2 Corinthians 4:1-6
A. "Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, 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. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The 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. For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 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.
B. God has given us a ministry of reconciliation, to reveal the darkness of sin by shedding the light of the truth upon each individual.
1. It is our duty to understand and apply what it means to be the light of the world.
C. Unbelievers are blind to the truth, because God has brought a veil over their hearts.
D. God has made Jesus shine in our hearts to remove the veil of concealment from their hearts.
Body:
I. The Light that is within us is beautiful.
A. Our light is like the sunrise.
1. Psalm 37:5-6 "Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
2. Proverbs 4:18-19 "The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble."
3. Isaiah 58:1-14 "Shout it aloud, do not hold back…then your light will break forth like the dawn."
B. Our light is like a brilliant star on a clear night
1. Philippians 2:15-16 "…so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life-- in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing."
2. I remember the first time I really got a chance to see the night sky away from the city lights.
C. The Light that is within us is beautiful
1. It is like the sun rising at dawn
2. It is like a brilliant star in the night sky
II. The Light that is within us exposes darkness
A. Romans 13:11-14 "And 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. The 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. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature."
1. The light that lives within your heart does something very important. It exposes darkness
2. So let us wake up from our slumber and let the light shine
3. Do you have sin in your life?
a. Rid yourself of the darkness
b. Live as if Jesus is coming tomorrow
c. Don’t even consider how to gratify your sinful desires.
B. Ephesians 5:8-14 " For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.""
C. 1 Peter 2:9 " But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."
D. Halloween
1. Established by the Celts about 2000 years ago for a celebration marking the end of the summer season, October 31.
2. The Romans in A.D. 43, combined their festival commemorating the passing of the dead with the Celtic holiday.
3. By the 800’s the Catholic church an Ahollowsmas, which included All Saints day on November 1
4. Today the holiday is not celebrated as such in America
5. It is a holiday to receive candy, and to dress up as something or someone different.
a. Illus: A Real Magic wand
1.) Laurie Beth Jones tells in her book, Grow Something Besides Old. She talks about one Halloween night when she had underestimated the number of children who would come to the door to trick or treat, and she ran out of candy. In desperation, she began giving out quarters, nickels and dimes.
2.) One little girl about 5 years old dressed as a fairy princess came to her door. She had the little crown, wand and everything.
3.) Jones dropped two quarters into the child’s sack, and said to her, "I’ve run out of candy, but tomorrow you can take these coins to the store and turn them into real candy."
4.) The little girl stepped back, looked up at her, and said, "Lady, this isn’t a real wand."
6. It is an opportunity for us as Christians
a. This may be the only time of year that people actually come willing to your home for a gift.
b. Take advantage of this. Hand out something spiritual and something about the church in Laurel.
E. The Light that is within us…
1. …is beautiful
2. …exposes darkness
3. …is God, himself
III. The Light that is within us is God.
A. Some Scripture
1. Ephesians 5:8 "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light"
2. 2 Corinthians 4:6 " 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."
3. 1 John 1:5-7 " This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."
B. God is light, within him is no darkness
C. You are now light in the Lord
D. God made his light shine in us
E. Your light is beautiful and exposes sin, because it is God within you.
Conclusion:
I. Illus. "Doesn’t God Show through us?"
A. One Sunday as they drove home from church, a little girl turned to her mother and said, "Mommy, there’s something about the preacher’s message this morning that I don’t understand." The mother said, "Oh, really. What is it?"
B. The Little girl replied, "Well, he said that God is bigger than we are. He said God is so big that He could hold the world in His hand. Is that true?
C. The mother replied, "Yes, that’s true, honey."
D. But Mommy, he also said that God comes to live inside of us when we obey Jesus. Is that true, too?"
E. Again, the mother assured the little girl that what the preacher had said was true. With a puzzled look on her face the little girl then asked, "If God is bigger than us and He lives in us, wouldn’t He show through?"
II. Do you have something covering your light?
A. The light within us is beautiful and exposes sin, because it is God.
III. Illus: "Shine" performed by D.C. Talk
A. This Halloween choose to shine
B. Recognize your great potential, because God lives within the Christian
IV. The Light that is within you…
A. Is beautiful
B. Exposes Sin
C. Is God
D. Do you have the light, Jesus Christ, living within your heart.
