LIGHTS IN THE WORLD
December 25, 2005 AM
Sermon Outline
PHIL 2:14-16
INTRO: How many of you have ever been afraid of the dark? I recall the Jesus said that there were people who preferred darkness over light because their deeds were evil (Jno 3:19). It does seem true that so many bad things happen in the dark! If you walk through a very dark house in the middle of the night, you may well trip over some toy which was left where it did not belong ... and fall. One of the improvements made to many neighborhoods is the installation of street lights. A neighborhood is much safer if it is well lighted at night. Here is a fact: light makes the world a better place. How very appropriate is the theme for this years graduation - Lights In The World. The spiritual connotations of light are everywhere to be found in scripture.
I. CONSIDER:
A. 1 Jno 1:5 - ...God is light
B. Jno 8:12 - ...I am the light of the world
C. 2 Cor 4:3,4 - ...the light of the glorious gospel of Christ
D. 1 Jno 1:7 - ...if we walk in the light
E. The Source of true light is with God
1. light originates with Him
2. but there is another thought which we need to consider
II. CHRISTIANS ARE LIGHT!
A. Mt 6:14-16 - Ye are the light of the world
1. at virtually the beginning of His earthy ministry there is this notable word
2. and the purpose of light is to give light - to dispel darkness
3. in this passage it is the good works of disciples which are to be seen - and which will glorify your Father which is in heaven
4. as Christians, we have a responsibility to good works - Eph 2:10
B. Phil 2:14-16 - ...among whom ye shine as lights
1. Jno 1:5 - the world is a dark place ... 1 Jno 5:19
2. and, yes, people do love the darkness - Jno 3:19
3. what can dispel the darkness? Holding forth the word of life
4. you and I are light bearers - we have a God given obligation to preach the word of life ... the light giving word ... in a dark world
III. BUT THERE IS A DANGER ... DIMMING OF THE ALIGHT
A. This is certainly implied at Mt 5:14-16
1. yes, a lamp can be placed under a basket ... and will not give its light
2. the obligation of light is to shine ... to enlighten
3. but we must acknowledge the danger here
B. Our light can be dimmed by murmuring and disputing
1. Phil 2:14 - such practices, unfortunately too common, dim the light
2. Jno 13:35 - murmuring, disputing, complaining give a contrary message
3. the love and unity among disciples is one of the great differences between people of the world and people of the Lord - it is tragic if we let our negative behavior endanger that quality
C. Our light can be dimmed by failing to be obedient to the Lord
1. Phil 2:12a - if we are not obedient, we tell the world our relationship to the Lord really is not very important
2. why, then, would people drawn to the gospel, to the Lord?
3. 1 Pet 1:14,15 - our obedience brings glory, honor to the Father
D. Our light can be dimmed by our carelessness about our salvation
1. Phil 2:12b - our salvation should be the most important thing to us
2. we should be studying, learning, living the faith every day - focused
3. Heb 2:1-3 - neglecting our salvation will diminish fervor for the gospel
E. Our light can be dimmed by our failing to remember Gods pleasure
1. Phil 2:13 - ...his good pleasure - this is our great purpose
2. when we forget that we no longer live to ourselves and return to seeking our own pleasure, our own purpose, there is not much light left
3. 2 Cor 6:19,20 -people cannot help but see such devotion ... and be drawn to the light by what they see in you
CLOSE: In the heavens there are two kinds of lights. There are those bodies such as the sun which are light givers. And there are those bodies such as the moon which reflect light. We are like the moon. And we must be careful that nothing gets between us and the sun ... or there will be an eclipse. And such an eclipse of a spiritual nature would be tragic for the world.
Cecil A. Hutson
25 December 2005