June 19, 2011
Evening Service

What a blessed week we have had with VBS.  I have been told by many of the adults involved that they received at least the same blessing, if not more, than what our kids got.

 

God indeed is faithful as He proved again that it indeed is “more blessed to give than to receive.”

 

Last week we finished up with the plan for a “new you,” It included putting off several of our bad habits and putting on kindness, mercy and forgiveness.  These were not simply suggestions or guidelines, but commandments from our Lord. (ICor. 14:37)

 

Sunday night we were encouraged by Paul to be “followers of God;” creating for Him a sweet smelling aroma of sacrifice with our lives.  We are in constant battle fighting to overcome temptations of the flesh and from conforming to this world’s standards.  It really is a battle of good versus evil and light versus darkness.

 

 Phi 3:13-14  My brothers, I do not count myself to have taken possession, but one thing I do, forgetting the things behind and reaching forward to the things before,  (14)  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

 

 

Eph 5:13-14 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.  (14)  Therefore he says, "Awake, sleeping ones! And arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light."

·         Light illuminates darkness.  The things that were once hidden become visible to us when the light shines on it.  Light represents purity and holiness as Jesus Himself displayed by living a sinless life.

 

Joh 12:46 I have come as a Light into the world, so that whoever believes on Me should not remain in darkness.

·         Jesus illuminated us not only with His life, but also with His teaching.  In the Sermon on the Mount, He magnified the law (illuminated it) for us.

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Mat 5:20 For I say to you that unless your righteousness shall exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of Heaven.

·         Murder was illuminated to include being angry with your brother.

·         Adultery was illuminated to include looking lustfully at someone.

·         Divorce was illuminated that it was only justified from sexual immorality.

·         Oaths were illuminated to be avoided and let our yes be yes and our no be no.

·         An eye for an eye was illuminated to turning the other cheek.

·         Love was illuminated to include your enemies.

·         Charitable deeds were illuminated to remain in secret and not to brag about them.

·         Prayer was illuminated to become our private conversation with God not a show for others.

·         Fasting was illuminated to be done as matter between you and God alone.

·         Wealth was illuminated to not mean earthly riches, but treasures in heaven.

·         Judging was illuminated as something we do ourselves not others.

 

The Pharisees seemed to be extremely righteous in their actions but Jesus’ light (life) exposed the hypocrisy of their heart.

 

 

 

 

 

Joh 8:12 Then Jesus spoke again to them, saying, I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

·         He illuminated what His true plan for all mankind was, to draw us unto Him and use us as His hands and feet.

 

Joh 3:20-21 For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light, lest his deeds should be exposed.  (21)  But he who practices truth comes to the Light so that his works may be revealed, that they exist, having been worked in God.

·         Those who love sin will hate the light because it exposes them for what they really are. 

·         We who are in the light have nothing to hide.  We continually confess our shortcomings and ask for forgiveness.  We openly admit our weaknesses and continually work to overcome.

·         The church is not full of perfect people only forgiven ones.

·         Jesus made unrighteous people uncomfortable because of His righteousness.

·         You will notice that when people know you are a Christian, they will either greatly respect you for it or greatly challenge you.

·         You will also find that as you shine in your environment, others who also love the light will be drawn to you.

 

Eph 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light

 

1Jo 1:5-7 And this is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.  (6)  If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.  (7)  But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

·         Through the last few weeks we have covered a lot of very practical way to walk in the light.

o   We walk by using our gifts wisely, walking in unity, putting off the “old man and putting on the “new you.”  Paul even has more for us.

 

Eph 5:15-21 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,  (16)  redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  (17)  Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.  (18)  And do not be drunk with wine, in which is excess, but be filled with the Spirit,  (19)  speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;  (20)  always giving thanks for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,  (21)  submitting yourselves to one another in the fear of God.

·         We are commanded to walk circumspectly, living according to what we believe(wise not foolish)

·         Redeeming the time, using it wisely to overcome evil.  Like money if we do not control it, it will disappear from us leaving us wondering where it went.

·         Because evil abounds and time is short we must seek to know and be do God’s will at all times.

·         Just as being “drunk with wine” affects how we talk, walk and act,; so should we allow the Spirit to work within us. The results of being filled with the Spirit will include:

o   Speaking palms, hymns, and spiritual songs-our heart will become so filled with His goodness that we it will overflow out of our mouths.

o   Singing and making melody-we will be so filled with joy that it will bubble over causing us to sing praises constantly.

o   Giving thanks to God-the Spirit will keep us in the proper perspective that we owe everything to God and we will portray and attitude of gratitude and appreciation.

o   Submission to others-displaying the Christian virtues (humility, gentleness. Patience, love and peace) in our relationship with our brothers and neighbors.

 

My prayer is that each of us continually seek to “walk in the light of His Word” being doers and not hearers only.