As Shining Lights

Matthew Allen

 

FILING INFORMATION:

2001042

Subject: Example

Preached Originally: 08/12/01 – Rapid City, SD

 

Introduction:

A.    Mt. 5:14-16 is a text that should bring joy to our lives.

1.    Isn’t it a glorious/joyful thing to be a Christian?

2.    Blessings found only in Christ….joy of helping others…..hope of going home to heaven.

B.    Not only should this passage bring joy; but it should stop and make us take a moment to:

1.    Test ourselves.

2.    stop & take a look at our position & experience.  Are we doing the best we can?

C.   Christians should stand out in a world full of spiritual darkness.

1.    There should be a great contrast between the Christian & the world.  Difference should be easily seen.

2.    Bible says world in state of gross darkness.

3.    Christian = only one who can give light.  This = our claim/boast.  This needs to be our mission.

a)         Stevens:  ordinary Christian (having no book on philosophy) knows & understands more about life than the greatest expert who is not a Christian.

b)         The man in the world has not learned about life & God’s meaning for it.

c)          May sound like foolishness…but read 1 Cor. 1:21…

D.   I hope this lesson will motivate us to look at our individual lives & see where we are spiritually.

1.    We need to make a detailed analysis of our lives from time to time.

2.    2 Cor. 13:5 – Paul encouraged Christians to examine themselves.

3.    When we find things amiss – let us have the courage to make correction where necessary.

 

I.  How can this statement be true of me?

A.    5:14 – It is because of my relationship with Jesus.  My relationship needs to be characterized as Paul’s – Gal. 2:20

1.    When someone sees me – can they tell something different about me?  Can they see a happy; warm person; friendly; godly?

2.    They can – if I put on the new man – Gal. 3:26-27.  Cloth yourself in Christ!

a)         something evident to all…

b)         literally:  to array oneself.  Thayer: of that in which any person or thing is inherently fixed, implanted, or with which it is intimately connected.

c)          We need to be connected to Christ – as this is the only way our light will shine.

B.    We must be steadfast in our relationship with Jesus.  Eph. 5:8-10; Phil. 2:15.  Strive to live above reproach.

C.   I can be the light of the world through my sharing of the gospel.

1.    Back to 5:13-14.  Consider the order of emphasis.

a)    5:13 – 1st great result of being a Christian & having Christian character….is that we are the salt of the earth.  This tells me WHAT I am.

b)    5:14 – 2nd great result….I am the light of the world.  This tells me what I DO.

2.    Tells us that first our lives must speak (influence must be good) which will give us an opportunity to speak.

3.    this will aid us greatly as we seek to win others to Christ.

 

II.  Light is Powerful.

A.    Each one of us can play powerful role in point way to Jesus.  How?  We have gospel!

1.    Rom. 1:16 – it = POWER of God unto salvation!

2.    Word “power” denotes great force; or thrust.  Can cause great movement or agitation.

3.    power = word of God – in which gospel is contained.

B.    Power of God’s word is felt in lives of men.

1.    Heb. 4:12-13;

2.    Felix – Acts 24:24-25 – feared God when he heard gospel preached.

C.   Power of gospel & Godly influence seen in lives of changed men/women.  (Saul/Paul; Gentiles (1 Cor. 6:11)

D.   Therefore…or light must shine … or we will not dispel darkness.

1.    What good is a broken light bulb?

2.    What good is a good light bulb not turned on?

3.    When men afraid or unwilling to teach God’s truth; He is as one who hides light under a basket. (Mt. 5:15)

E.    A life w/o the truth of God radiating from w/in is a life swallowed up in darkness.

1.    A life that does not shine is a robber that steals from God the honor & glory that belong to him.

 

III.  What is the Effect of Light?

A.    It exposes darkness.

1.    1 Thess. 5:4-7 – whole world divided in 2: children of light & children of darkness.

2.    Lives should sharply show the great contrast b/t the Christian & the world.

a)    is there a great contrast between myself & the world?

B.    Light also shows the cause of darkness.

1.    Man made for God by God.  God put certain rules out to follow – when man fails to conform – things b/g to go wrong.

a)    Jhn. 3:19

2.    Cause of man’s troubles = his separation from God.

C.   Light points the way out of darkness.

1.    Way out of darkness is responding to Christ in obedience to gospel.

2.    By b/c new creation & living new life w/new aspirations; changed outlook; new desires.

3.    This is very attractive to the person struggling in his sins.

 

IV.  We are to let our lights shine – Mt. 5:15-16

A.    Note comparison to lighting a lamp.

1.    Must keep spiritual lamps full of oil.

a)    what is that oil?

b)    The new spiritual life – the presence of Jesus.

c)    It is seen in the prayer of Paul – Eph. 3:14-19

2.    We must keep wick of our spiritual lamp trimmed.

a)    dirty wick will keep a lamp from shining.

b)    Our lives must be characterized by self discipline & self control; & self denial.

c)    Jesus said that our lives are to bring glory to God – not self.

B.    Our light will shine through our good works.

1.    Mt. 5:16.  Eph. 2:10 – created for good works.

2.    1 Tim. 6:18 – to be rich in good works.

3.    Our light will shine when we do good works with sincere motives.

4.    The Scriptures define and establish all “good works.”  2 Tim. 3:16-17

 

Conclusion:

A.    Do the people of the world see something different a/b us?

1.    Is my life a silent rebuke to the world & those who have turned their back on God?

2.    Is there something in me that causes others to stand up & take notice of who I am and what I am about?

B.    If you are outside of Christ – would you like to get the burden of sin off your back?

1.    Would you like to get out of the darkness & into the light?

2.    Jesus is the answer!  Jhn. 1:4-5, 9

3.    Obey the gospel today!

C.  I N V I T A T I O N