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Sermon of the Week 
Thursday, October 06 2016

“Let There Be Light”…. (this week is Yom Kipor, when the Jewish people celebrate the creation, or Jewish New Year) This is a season of self evaluation, introspection and repentance, in order to begin the new year with a clean slate, positioned for blessings.

These words, “Let there be light”, were some of the first words, God is recorded as saying, in the bible… The earth was without form and darkness and chaos covered the face of the entire earth… when God said “Let there be light”!

I want us to begin in John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. v2 The same was in the beginning with God. v3 All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. v4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. v5 And the light shown in darkness and the darkness comprehended it not. v6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. v7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through Him might believe. v8 John was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of the Light. v9 He (Jesus) was the true Light, which lights every man that comes into the world”.

  John tells us that He himself was not the light, but he came to testify or bear witness of the light.  John knew who he was and what he was to be. But he was always careful to point people to the light.

Check out the stained glass window that I have on the screen today. Without the sun shining light through it, the window can be somewhat dull and dim looking; not what it was designed to be. It is meant as a light catcher, and a light reflector. When it does, what it was created to do, it is brilliant, with radiating beauty, and spectacular form and color.

A Hindu trader in India once asked a missionary, "What do you put on your face to make it shine?" With surprise the man of God answered, "I don’t put anything on it!" His questioner began to lose patience and said, "Yes, you do! All of you who believe in Jesus seem to have it. Suddenly the Christian understood, and he said, " I will tell you the secret. It’s not something we put on from the outside but something that comes from within us. It’s the reflection of the light of God in our hearts.” ..

One candle does not lose any of its light nor is it diminished when it lights another candle. If someone is sitting in a dark room with no windows, they can't see the objects in the room. Even though the room may be filled with many things. They aren't aware of the room filled with objects, because they're in darkness.  However, if someone turns on the light switch, the things previously hidden from their eyes are now very obvious….

We shouldn’t get angry at people in spiritual darkness for not being able to see what may be obvious to you. Instead, we need to bring them some spiritual light, so they no longer grope in darkness and they will be able to appreciate what was all around them the entire time.

That’s pretty much what we are designed to be…like John, to let the light of the Lord shine through us and not just on us. We are meant to be like stained glass windows, showing a world that is dim and wrapped in darkness, what you can be when the light of God shines through you. We are warned in scripture not to hide our light, not to let anything cover it up, but to let those around us see our lives and glorify the Father.

I have found that mornings come in 3 sizes, Early, Too early, and Way too early! When I was a boy growing up in the country, mom would get us up early to catch the bus with the words “Rise and shine”. “Rise and shine, sleepy head” and oh, how I hated to leave that warm bed in the winter chill, and make my way out to the pot-bellied, wood burning stove in the kitchen and then into the day. I didn’t like going to bed and I didn’t like getting out of bed. (that’s a very self-defeating attitude)

Ephesians 5:13 “But all things become clear when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. v14 For this reason it says, "Awake, you sleeper, And arise, and Christ will shine upon you."  You might say that this was John’s mission and message to his world…. just as it is ours as well… Rise and shine, for your light is come.

John’s greatness is that he didn’t want it to be about him, as some do, but he wanted all the glory to be directed at the source of the light. Like a stain glass image, He was willing to let the light of God shine through him--through his words, his motives, his voice, his actions, and his life. His message of repentance and forgiveness was like light bursting through the colors, the form and message in a brilliant and spectacular display. Freeing the people from the deep darkness that had enveloped them. LET THERE BE LIGHT!

Wherever there is the least bit of light, darkness is forced to flee. You can be in the darkest place imaginable and just a tiny match, when lit, has the power to drive away all the fearful, oppressive darkness. God’s word is referred to as light….

Psalm 119:130 “The entrance of God’s word gives light, and brings understanding.”

Psalm 119:105 tells us, “ God’s word is a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our path,”

A plant that has been in darkness, and is withered and dying, can be placed in the light and it will revive and flourish. That’s what the Lord has done for us, He brought us from darkness into His glorious light so that we could flourish and thrive, not just survive.

Satan has convinced the world that all the fun is in the darkness, all the really exciting music and people are those who live in the darkness, that’s why the world’s fun usually takes place when it is dark…. But without light there is no color… and no true beauty…

Those who walk in the light, should be the most exciting, fun people on the planet! We should live with a sense of wonder and awe at the amazing creation all around us. I drive the keys and have to pinch myself that I actually live in such a beautiful place with God’s handiwork displayed every day.

Those who live in His Divine light, bathe in His healing presence and are restored and refreshed each day, as the power of darkness is dispelled, we are energized and go from failure to success, from despair to hope, from weakness to strength, and from lack to sufficiency! We’ve all had dreary days that were quickly dispelled by the light of new hope, and renewed faith.

Jesus refers to the church as “a city set on a hill,” lighting up the darkness! As the darkness gathers in this end time season, we can either curse the darkness, dwell on how dark the dark is… or we can shine! God’s answer to the darkness, is “Let there be light”!!!

A young man who became a Christian went off to a logging camp for the summer, to work.  His pastor became concerned about him because he knew it would be a difficult environment, to be a light for the Lord.  So after the summer was over and the boy returned, the pastor said, “Son, I want you to know I kept you in my prayers, cause I knew it was going to be hard for you, as a new Christian. I was praying that you would be able to handle that kind of persecution.”  And the young man said, “Thank you for praying Pastor, and your prayers were certainly answered, because I didn't have it hard at the lumber camp at all.  He said, in fact, Pastor, none of them ever found out that I was even a Christian.”

If we were to find out that the Stock Island bridge was washed out, and it was storming and dark…. Wouldn’t it be foolish of us to withhold our light and not let our light shine, knowing that many people would perish if they were not able to see the danger. And yet every day we are around people who are without God’s light who are plunging head-long into the darkness and the dangers and perils that it holds for them!

Don’t let your discouragement, your fears, your intimidation, or your impatience give Satan reason to rejoice…. But let the light of your faith, hope, love and desire for others to come to Christ, shine brightly in this hour of darkness, that king Jesus may be glorified!

President Woodrow Wilson told the story of being in a barbershop and he says that he was sitting in a barber chair when I became aware that a powerful personality had entered the room. A man had come quietly in to have his hair cut and sat in the chair next to me. Every word the man uttered, showed a personal interest in the barber who was cutting his hair. And before I got through with what was being done to me I was aware of the affect that his visit had brought upon the barber shop. They did not know his name, but they knew something had elevated their thoughts, and I felt as though that place had become a place of worship. ”That man was evangelist D. L. Moody”

There are times when the light comes progressively, as the sunrise breaking over the horizon, driving back the night, and then there are times when the light comes immediately, like someone opening a curtain which instantly floods and illuminates a dark room. There are times when healing happens instantly and then there are times when it comes progressively over time, but it is HEALING, either way……. When it’s instant, it’s called a miracle, when it’s progressive it’s called a healing! I’ll take it either way, how about you?

I want to also say of the light….that it is irresistible! The work of darkness cannot resist it. When God says “let there be light”.. all the chaos, all the workers of darkness, and all the forces of wickedness can not stop it…. He has given His word on it….

1 Chronicles28:20 “Be strong and of good courage, and do it, fear not nor be dismayed for the LORD God, even my God, will be with you, He will not fail you, nor forsake you until you have finished all the work…”

Romans 9:28 “For the Lord will finish the work, and do it speedily in righteousness..”

And one more… 1Samuel 14:6 “..the LORD will work for us, for there is nothing that can prevent the LORD to save by many or by few”.

An old song says “Got any rivers you think are uncrossable, got any mountains you can’t tunnel through. God specializes in things thought impossible, and He can do what no other power can do”!!!

I want to say that when you walk in the light, everything changes….it doesn’t matter if it’s the morning, noon, or the night season of your walk.

Isaiah 2:5 “…Come, and let us walk in the light of the LORD”. That beautiful song “Amazing Grace” came forth from African slaves, chained and treated as cattle in the bowels of a slave ship. But the cruelty and the inhumane treatment could not block the light within. It could chain their legs but it couldn’t keep them from walking in the light!

Paul and Silas were chained in the depth of the dungeon darkness, with their feet in stocks, but it couldn’t keep them from walking in the light and having revival in the prison house!

Corrie Ten Boom, in spite of all that the Nazi guards did to her in the night season of the hellish concentration camps, they couldn’t keep her from walking in the light… and she won them to Jesus, by her faith, her undying hope and her Christ-like love.

Isaiah 60:1 “Arise, shine; for your light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. v2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon you, and His glory shall be seen upon You.”

Let me say also, that what we see here is the light of separation…. Light always prevails over darkness, and in doing so it separates everything that is in the light from that which is in darkness. It’s not difficult to tell the difference….one thing is in the light the other is in darkness. It doesn’t take special discernment and it’s not rocket science!

Genesis 1:4 “…And God divided the light from the darkness”. The moment you become a Christian, darkness begins to struggle against light, to erase the dividing line… and pull us away from the light … but we must use our nogg’n and know that the light is stronger! If you begin to seek the shadow zone, you will soon find yourself in the dark zone!

We must be like the personal assistant who was hiring a driver for his boss. Many showed up and he took each candidate for a test drive. With each one, he would direct them to an area where the road skirted a cliff which had a 100 foot drop. He would direct each candidate to come as close to the edge of the cliff as he could and some had the edge of the tire over the cliff. But the one he hired, drove as far from the cliff edge as he could. The safest place is as far from the edge as you can get! They may call you prudish, square, old fashioned, and out of touch….but God calls it dividing light from darkness!

Romans 7:24 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh (the pull of darkness), but according to the Spirit (of His light).”

Grandpa had a habit of grumbling and complaining about the food his wife placed before him at family meals. Then he would ask the blessing and eat. One day after his usual combination of complaint and prayer, his little grand-daughter asked, "PawPaw, does God hear us when we pray?"

"Why, of course," he replied. "He hears us every time we pray."

She thought on this a moment, and asked, "Does he hear everything we complain about?" "Well, yes, dear, every word," he replied, encouraged that he had inspired his grand-daughter to be curious about spiritual matters. But his pride was quickly turned to humility...when she asked him…"Then if that’s true, which one does God believe, PawPaw?"

We must give light and darkness a name and a designation….. Genesis 1:5 “And God named the light “Day”, and the darkness He named “Night”. We need to call sin, sin, just as we need to call righteousness by it’s name. We want to excuse darkness when it comes to matters of the heart and the word sin sticks in our throat when it comes to our loved ones who practice it. But there can be no salvation, without an admission of sin. How can a person repent, if they never acknowledge their sin. Can we say “forgive me of my sins” if there is no admission of it in our lives.

Isaiah 5:20 “Woe unto them that call evil good, and call good evil, that call darkness light, and call light darkness. That call bitter sweet, and call sweet bitter! Folks will say they’ve failed, they’ve made bad choices, or they’ve misjudged situations. But they can’t seem to bring themselves to say they’ve sinned. It kind of sticks in their throats….

On a sunny Sunday afternoon, two young church members who got really inspired about the pastor’s message on witnessing, went out door to door to invite people to visit the services. When they knocked on one door, it was immediately clear the woman who answered was not happy to see them. She told them in no uncertain terms that she did not want to hear their message, and before they could say anything more, she slammed the door in their faces. To her surprise, however, the door did not close. in fact, it bounced back open. She tried again, really putting her back into it, and slammed it again with the same result - the door bounced back open.

Convinced these rude young people were sticking their foot in her door, she reared back to give it another slam that would teach them a lesson. When, one of them said quietly: "Ma'am, before you do that again, you really need to move your cat."

You can keep slamming the door, but until you call sin what it is, and repent, it won’t go away!!! Conviction is like the cat caught in the door, so you can’t shut it….and Repentance is like opening a curtain and letting the light come pouring in and driving away the guilt and condemnation!

Scripture says that God named the dark and He called the light “Day”.. God told Abraham In Romans 4:17 to “call those things which are not as though they were. In other words, to give a name to the things God has revealed that He has for you, but it just hasn’t gotten to you yet. You’re reclaiming what may still be waiting to be called out of the darkness…..

Keep naming the things of the light, that God has promised, and don’t quit, no matter what it looks like….

An archaeologist was digging in the Negev Desert in Israel and came upon a mummy. After examining it, he called the curator of a prestigious natural-history museum. "I've just discovered a 3,000 year-old mummy of a man who died of heart failure!" the excited scientist exclaimed. To which the curator replied, "Bring him in. We'll check it out." A week later, the amazed curator called the archaeologist. "You were right about the mummy's age and about his cause of death. How in the world were you able to name it so precisely?" "Oh that was easy. There was a piece of paper in his hand that said, 'I bet 10,000 Shekels on Goliath." Keep at it and you will get better and better at calling the things God has for you.

Name the light….Call it what God calls it….Call your healing done… it’s a sure bet! The Light of Christ’s wholeness, drives out the darkness of sickness and disease. Name your finances done… the Light of the riches of God in Christ, drives out the darkness of debt! Name your God given dreams fulfilled… the light of your Divine destiny, drives out the darkness of failure and coming short of His glory! Name your family saved….The light of the Saviour, drives out the darkness of sin and condemnation!

Philippians 1:6 “For we are confident of this very thing, that He which has begun a good work in you will perform it til the day of Jesus Christ.”

I also want us to see today, that God said in Genesis1:5 that “the evening and the morning were called the first day (a new day, a new way, and a new season)”.

When we begin to name the light, instead of dwelling on the darkness, we usher a new season into our lives. A new day begins to dawn. We decide to rejoice instead of complaining…. We decide to focus on eternal things instead of fading, temporary things… the light brings new values and new principles for living into our lives…. Old things and old ways are passed away and everything becomes new!

“Walk in the light. Live as children of the light. Keep your face towards the source of light… and never settle for the shadows or the darkness again, because you are IN THE LIGHT as HE is the light!

And God said… “Let there be light”!!!!

Charles Bradlaugh, an avowed infidel, once challenged the Rev. H.P. Hughes to a debate. The preacher, who was head of a rescue mission in London, England, accepted the challenge with the condition that he could bring with him 10 men and women who could tell what had happened in their lives since trusting Christ as their Savior. They would be people who once lived in deep sin, most having come from dysfunctional, poverty-stricken homes caused by the vices of their parents.

Hughes said they would not only tell of their conversion, but would submit to cross-examination by any who doubted their stories. Furthermore, the minister invited his opponent to bring a group of non-believers who could tell how they were helped by their lack of faith and their “God does not exist” philosophy. When the appointed day arrived, the preacher came, accompanied by 10 transformed lives. But the atheist Bradlaugh, never showed up. The result? The meeting turned into a testimony session and many sinners who had gathered to hear the scheduled debate came the saving light of Jesus. And God is still saying….“LET THERE BE LIGHT”!!!

Prayer….Father, I thank you for the glorious light of Jesus that comes to illuminate our lives and usher in a new day and a new season. What a joy to walk in that light and know that all darkness must bow and flee before it. Thank you for encouraging and enlightening us together today and inspiring us to press on in and never back off. Light of God, shine through us that others may see the light and Glorify our savior. Give us courage and boldness, Holy Spirit of God, that we may proclaim with all that we do, the transforming power of God’s word. So I pray, as we turn our attention to this Communion observance that should there be any who are struggling today, may they experience the reality of your cup of the new covenant, and Your bread of wholeness and healing. It's for the power and honor of your beautiful name I pray, Thank you Jesus…We honor and magnify Your wonderful light….amen.

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