I’m Gonna Let It Shine

I’m Gonna Let It Shine

Matthew 5:14-16Matthew 5:14-16

The Shining LightThe Shining Light• Article in Article in The Times of LondonThe Times of London,, Dec. 2008Dec. 2008

• ““As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God” As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God” by Matthew Parris, www.timesonline.co.ukby Matthew Parris, www.timesonline.co.uk

The Shining LightThe Shining Light14 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; a hill cannot be hidden; 15 15 nor does anyone nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. are in the house. 16 16 Let your light shine before men in such a Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”(Matthew 5:14-16)(Matthew 5:14-16)

LightLight1 1 In the beginning God created the heavens In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. and the earth. 2 2 The earth was formless and The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. over the surface of the waters. 3 3 Then God Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. (Genesis 1:1-3)(Genesis 1:1-3)

Light vs. DarknessLight vs. Darkness• Jesus, the eternal Word, is the true light:Jesus, the eternal Word, is the true light:

The Light shines in the darkness, and the The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. darkness did not overcome it. (John 1:5)(John 1:5)

Light vs. DarknessLight vs. Darkness16 16 “But get up and stand on your feet; for this “But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; which I will appear to you; 17 17 rescuing you from rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, whom I am sending you, 18 18 to open their eyes so to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.” by faith in Me.” (Acts 26:16-18) (Acts 26:16-18)

Light Represents God’s Light Represents God’s WordWord

• Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. my path. (Psalm 119:105)(Psalm 119:105)

• Those who walk in sin, apart from God’s Those who walk in sin, apart from God’s Word, walk in darknessWord, walk in darkness (Ecclesiastes 2:14, (Ecclesiastes 2:14, 1 John 2:11) 1 John 2:11)

Light Represents Light Represents SalvationSalvation

19 19 “This is the judgment, that the Light has “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for darkness rather than the Light, for their their deeds were evil. deeds were evil. 2020 For everyone who does For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 2121 But whoever lives by the truth comes into But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through what he has done has been done through God. God. (John 3:19-21)(John 3:19-21)

Light Represents Light Represents SalvationSalvation

““For it is God who said, ‘Let light shine out of For it is God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ who has shone in our hearts to darkness,’ who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Christ.” in the face of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:6)(2 Corinthians 4:6)

Light and Darkness Light and Darkness Summary in ScriptureSummary in Scripture

DARKNESSDARKNESS evilevilliesliesnot knowing Godnot knowing GodsinsinimmoralityimmoralitydeathdeathSatan (fallen creature)Satan (fallen creature)judgment judgment

LIGHTLIGHT goodnessgoodnesstruthtruthknowing God knowing God righteousness righteousness puritypuritylife life Christ (Creator)Christ (Creator)salvationsalvation

Counter-Cultural Counter-Cultural ChristiansChristians

““You are the light of the world. A city set on a You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden…Let your light shine hill cannot be hidden…Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14, 16)(Matthew 5:14, 16)

Two EffectsTwo Effects

1.1. Slow down the moral decay of society as salt Slow down the moral decay of society as salt 2.2. Shine the light of God’s truth/salvation Shine the light of God’s truth/salvation

3.3. Salt Salt deters decay deters decay – light – light dispels darkness dispels darkness 4.4. Salt Salt retards corruption retards corruption – light – light reveals Christreveals Christ5.5. Salt works secretly – light works openlySalt works secretly – light works openly

Lamps on a LampstandLamps on a Lampstand• No one lights a lamp and puts it under a No one lights a lamp and puts it under a

basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. (v. 15)to all who are in the house. (v. 15)

The Absurdity of a The Absurdity of a Secret ChristianSecret Christian

14 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; a hill cannot be hidden; 15 15 nor does anyone nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. are in the house. 16 16 Let your light shine before men in such a Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”(Matthew 5:14-16)(Matthew 5:14-16)

The Church is the LightThe Church is the Light

• ……the word of the Lord has sounded forth from the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place also in every place youryour [plural] faith toward [plural] faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything to say anything (1 Thessalonians 1:8) (1 Thessalonians 1:8)

• First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because you all, because youryour [plural] faith is being [plural] faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world. proclaimed throughout the whole world. (Romans 1:8)(Romans 1:8)

The Church is the LightThe Church is the Light

• Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. honored, just as it was with you. (2 Thessalonians 3:1)(2 Thessalonians 3:1)

The Mission of the MessiahThe Mission of the Messiah

• ““I am the LORD, I have called You in I am the LORD, I have called You in righteousness, I will also hold You by the righteousness, I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You, and I will appoint hand and watch over You, and I will appoint You as a covenant to the people, as a light to You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the nations.” the nations.” (Isaiah 42:6)(Isaiah 42:6)

• ““I will make You as a I will make You as a lightlight for the nations, for the nations, that My that My salvationsalvation may reach to the end of may reach to the end of the earth.” the earth.” (Isaiah 49:6)(Isaiah 49:6)

The Mission of the Messiah The Mission of the Messiah ExtendedExtended

• ““For so the Lord has commanded us, ‘I have For so the Lord has commanded us, ‘I have placed you as a placed you as a lightlight for the Gentiles, that for the Gentiles, that you may bring you may bring salvationsalvation to the end of the to the end of the earth.’” When the Gentiles heard this, they earth.’” When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. eternal life believed. (Acts 13:47-48)(Acts 13:47-48)

The Mission of the Messiah The Mission of the Messiah ExtendedExtended

1414 Do everything without complaining or Do everything without complaining or arguing, arguing, 1515 so that you may become so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe in which you shine like stars in the universe 1616 as you hold out the word of life… as you hold out the word of life… (Philippians 2:14-16)(Philippians 2:14-16)

Can We Really Be the light?Can We Really Be the light?

• ““I am the Light of the world; he who follows I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” have the Light of life.” (John 8:12)(John 8:12)

• ““I have come as Light into the world, so that I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.” in darkness.” (John 12:46)(John 12:46)

• ““While I am in the world, I am the Light of While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.” the world.” (John 9:5)(John 9:5)

Can We Really Be the light?Can We Really Be the light?

• The Moon reflects the light of the SunThe Moon reflects the light of the Sun

Shining Christ’s LightShining Christ’s Light

Shining Christ’s LightShining Christ’s Light2 2 “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. contempt. 33 Those who have insight will shine Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” ever.” (Daniel 12:2-3)(Daniel 12:2-3)

Shining the Light = The Great Shining the Light = The Great CommissionCommission

1818 “All authority has been given to Me in “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. heaven and on earth. 1919 Go therefore and Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit, 2020 teaching them to teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

Piccadilly CircusPiccadilly Circus

How Does Evangelism How Does Evangelism Relate Relate

to Good Works?to Good Works?1.1. What is the purpose of good works?What is the purpose of good works?

2.2. How will unbelievers most glorify your How will unbelievers most glorify your Father in heaven?Father in heaven?

• The Glory of God, and, as our only means of The Glory of God, and, as our only means of glorifying Him, the salvation of human souls, glorifying Him, the salvation of human souls, is the real business of life. – C. S. Lewisis the real business of life. – C. S. Lewis

How Do We Grow as How Do We Grow as Witnesses?Witnesses?

• Spend time in the lightSpend time in the light

ApplicationApplication