A few years ago, General Colin Powell, the former Armed Services Chairman of the Joints-Chief-of-Staff, was making a public speech to a packed audience of listeners. During the midst of his speech, which happened to be on the topic of “Race Relations in America,” an overzealous gay rights advocate interrupted the speech by making the statement that African-Americans and Gay America should join forces and unite under one front. The heckler stated, ‘we should unite as one because blacks and gays are both publicly prejudiced and privately persecuted. General Powell’s response was along these lines, ‘we have no common ground in order to unite on, because there is a distinct and innate difference between you and I. You must understand that being black is a state of existence, whereas being homosexual is a state of mind. With regards to the color of my skin, I had no decision in the matter, but based on your implied sexual preference, it appears you have made your choice.’
I started with that story to say to all of us this; everyone in this life has choices which have to be individually made. General Powell had a choice to concede while the overzealous heckler has choice to change. Everyone has choices.
Do you not know that you and I had a choice to make this afternoon? We made an individual choice to come to worship services today. Even though this is the Lord’s Day, all day, God still gave us a choice.
The choices we make daily, can affect us in every area of our lives. They can affect us socially, sacredly and even spiritually. In looking at the spiritual aspect, we have choices to make as to,
Accept Jesus as Savior of our lives
Study God’s word privately and corporately
To live for God completely
If you have not accepted Christ as Savior, make a wise choice and accept him today. And If you have accepted him, there are still choices you need to make.
Even after the point of salvation, you and I have a choice whether we’ll live our lives in spiritual contentment; in scriptural continuance, or whether we’ll live our lives remaining in a sinful condition.
Let me show you what I mean.
Matthew 4:17 records, “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The keywords in that passage are the words “repent” and “kingdom”. Looking at the word “kingdom, we find it’s a compound English word derived from two words (one being the word “king” and the other being “dome”). The word “king” speaks of reign or one with authority, while the word “dome” (where we get our word “dominion”) and it refers to the realm or the area of authority. What’s the point, those which live a life of spiritual contentment are individuals which have repented and asked Jesus to come into their lives as Savior, but don’t allow Christ to be “the king” (reign) of their lives nor have “dominion” (realm) over their lives. These are some of the same folk who don’t give, don’t go and cause divine grief because they have not discovered growth yet. Spiritually content.
But on the other hand, those living their lives in scriptural continuance, are those which make a conscience effort to learn more about Jesus Christ (and His walk, His way, His actions and His attitude). These are the ones which will stand boldly and share openly their faith in the LORD. They know because of their relationship with Jesus and their studies of the scriptures, that when you study God’s precepts and practice God’s principles, then (and only then) will you be a recipient of God’s promises. These are the ones living their lives in scriptural continuance because they have dug in the scriptures.
But then there are those of us which live our lives continuing in a sinful condition. That’s the category most of us fall into. We’re saved, but instead of standing boldly and sharing openly, we clam up out of a choice of fear. The interesting thing is that those living in a continued sinful condition are not afraid of what they might have to say (in regards to witnessing), but rather they are fearful of what might be said to them. Its not a fear based on a lack of faith, but rather a fear brought about by sin.
How can you witness effectively to a friend about what the Bible says regarding adultery, when this same friend knows how you are messing around on your spouse? You just won’t talk about it! The same can be applied to gambling, lying, stealing, etc. The list is endless!
These are the ones living in a continued sinful condition, why? Not because of a lack of discovered growth or inaccurate interpretations while digging from the scriptures, but, rather because of a disobedient disposition.
The choices we make in this life are totally up to us. Whether we live in spiritual contentment, scriptural continuance or continued sinful condition, the choice is ours for the choosing.
But can I help us here, in your choosing (if you are saved), just remember that you and I were placed (on this Earth; in this country; in this state; in this city; in our neighborhood; on our street) in order to “Change The World For Christ”.
Understand, we were not saved to “prance” and “parade” our salvation, but we were saved for a purpose. And that purpose is to “seek out the lost” and “disciple the found”!
Well in this passage, Jesus the Master Teacher, sits down on a hillside in order to deliver the greatest discourse ever known to man. We take note of him teaching his disciples lessons of the kingdom regarding their character and conduct. What was intended for the disciples back then, is very much applicable and beneficial for us today.
With that, I believe Jesus gives us three specific directives (instructions) outlining to us how we (believers) can better change our world.
I/. Personal Admonition
"Let your light so shine..."
The first directive is not really a personal instruction but rather a personal warning. He says, "Let your light so shine..."
The word "Let" means to allow someone or something to come forth. It’s a word which grants permission. What’s interesting about this is that on the flip side, this same word also implies that there is a constraint or hindrance which is not allowing whatever or whomever to come forth.
Let me show you what I mean. In the beginning, Genesis 1:3 says, "And God said, Let there be light..." God is in essence saying, whatever is holding back the light, let it go! Permit, Allow, Release!
By the same comparison, Jesus is actually warning us that whatever is holding back your light, cut it loose!
Not only is Jesus giving us a warning (admonition) but He makes it personal by the word "your". He’s saying, I’m talking to you, "so-in-so," and you and you and you! This is my personal admonition to you, whatever it is that’s holding back your light, let it go!
If it’s lying that’s constraining your light to shine, let it go!
If it’s fornication that’s constraining your light to shine, let it go!
If it’s gambling that’s constraining your light to shine, let it go!
If it’s idolatry that’s constraining your light to shine, let it go!
If it’s jealousy that’s constraining your light to shine, let it go!
If it’s envy that’s constraining your light to shine, let it go!
Whatever it is, that’s constraining, whatever it is that’s hindering your light, let it go! It has to go in order for your light to come forth completely.
Our lights do shine. But the problem is they shine at the wrong time! We allow our lights to shine during the most hypocritical time of the week (Sunday Morning Worship Services). Our lights need to shine on our jobs; in our homes; in our neighborhoods; on the highways!
To help further illustrate this point, we must first understand that there are three functions of light in accordance with darkness.
a) Dispels (scatters darkness)
(If you don’t believe me, turn on the lights in a roach infested house and see if they don’t scatter!)
Our lives should have such an influence that wherever we are, we make evil want to leave. Or if it does not leave, we should make it feel uncomfortable.
b) Discloses (reveals darkness)
(You never knew you were in darkness until someone disclosed you to the light.) I know it sounds elementary, but its true!
The light of Christ that is within every believer should reveal the darkness that is in others. Our lives should be made a comparison with the world, in order for us to lead others to Christ. There should be something different about you that would compel others to get what you’ve got!
c) Directs (leads you away from darkness)
Our radiance should lead people out of darkness into "The Marvelous Light."
Second of all, after Jesus gave us a "Personal Admonition", he tells us in order for our lights to be most effective, it must be,
II/. Publicly Applied
"...before men, that they may see..."
Jesus tells us that the light within our lives will be most effective if it is “Publicly Applied.”
Jesus specifically tells us who we are to shine our lights for. He in essence gives us the purpose for His plan. Look at the verse, He’s telling us its fine for us to shine it at church but He wants it shined in the Malls, on the bus, wherever before men, that they may see.
Jesus commands that we are to allow our moral/spiritual lights to radiate in the presence of men. One popular writer says, "Those about us must not only hear our good words, but see our good works; that they may be convinced that religion (Christianity) is more than a bare name, and that we do not only make a profession of it, but abide under the power of it."
So in order to “Change Our World”, Jesus gives us a Personal Admonition, which needs to be Publicly Applied. And according to the remaining of the scripture, Jesus says, when publicly applied" men will begin to,
III/. Praise the Almighty
"...and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
Jesus, according to the scripture, lets us know that when we follow his Personal Admonition, in which we are to Publicly Apply, the results will manifest themselves in men Praising the Almighty!
Our aim in this life is to bring honor and praise to God. Can I get a witness?
In our actions, we not only endeavor to bring glory to God ourselves but we need to do all we can so that others will see Him as we do and glorify Him as well.
We’ve got to change our world. But how can we do it?
You may say, I let my light shine and they see my good works, but what else can I do?
Live a pleasing life to God and proclaim the news of the Gospel.
Tell men the story of how one Friday, Jesus the Son of the Living God,
(Tell the story of how)
He was hung up, for our hang-ups
He messed over, for our mess ups
He was nailed up, for our negligence
He was bloodied, for our blunders
He was crucified, for our carelessness
He gave up the ghost, for our eventual glorification
He died, for our destiny
He stayed in heart of the Earth for three days and nights (according to the scripture)
He arose that Sunday morning:
Because of His affection
Because of His adoration
Because of His attachment
With all power in His hands.
After we tell the story of what He’s done, tell them exactly who He is;
In times of adversity, He is our assurance.
In times of burden, He is our Blessing.
In times of crisis, He is our comfort
In times of defeat, He is our Deliverance.
In times of grief, He is our Glory.
In times of hopelessness, He is our help
In times of heartache, He is our Hope.
In times of discouragement, He is our inspiration.
In times of darkness, He is our Light.
In times of perplexity, He is our Peace
In times of weakness, He is our strength
In times of failure, He is our Success.
In times of turmoil, He is our trust.
