Jesus is the Creator & source of light. When light was created, God saw that it was good! It is interesting to note the correlation between light & God’s Word. Light is more powerful than dadrkness, & overcomes it!
Genesis 1:2-5 – And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. Then God said, “Let there be LIGHT,” and there was LIGHT. And God saw that the LIGHT was good. Then he separated the LIGHT from the darkness. 5 God called the LIGHT “day” and the darkness “night.”
Psalm 119:130 – The entrance of Your Words gives light…
John 1:1-5 – In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God… …A fountain of life was in him, for his life is LIGHT for all humanity. And this LIGHT never fails to shine through darkness— LIGHT that darkness could not overcome!
Special note: It is interesting that Jesus, the light of the world came into this world as a small little baby... & ultimately this light will penetrate through the darkness in the world everywhere! Amazing!
Matthew 6:23 – …the light cannot penetrate and darkness takes its place. How profound will be the darkness within you if the LIGHT of truth cannot enter!
2 Corinthians 6:14 – Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can LIGHT live with darkness?
Special note: Light & darkness don’t mix well. Don’t fellowship compromisingly with darkness – the Lord isn’t pleased with people who settle for gray area living, lukewarmness, and mediocracy. He wants us to be fervent, and walk in the LIGHT as He is in the LIGHT(I John 1:7).
Ephesians 5:8 – For once you were full of darkness, but now you have LIGHT from the Lord. So live as people of LIGHT!
I Peter 2:9 – you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous LIGHT…
Isaiah 9:2 – The people who walk in darkness will see a great LIGHT. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a LIGHT will shine.
Special note: Of course the LIGHT prophesied about is prophetic of JESUS!
JESUS – LIGHT OF THE WORLD
John 8:12 – (JESUS) “I am the LIGHT of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the LIGHT that leads to life.”
John 12:46 – I have come as a LIGHT into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.
John 9:5 – As long as I am in the world, I am the LIGHT of the world.”
Special note: (illus – A flashlight or cell phone in the dark helps us see where we are going so we don’t fall)
JESUS IS THE LIGHT OF LIFE BECAUSE HE IS LIFE GIVING
He is the fountain of life! In Him we have the LIGHT of LIFE!
In Him we not only have true life, but we see true life!
Psalm 36:9 – For with You is the fountain of life; In Your LIGHT we see LIGHT.
John 1:4 – The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought LIGHT to everyone.
John 1:9 – The one who is the true LIGHT who gives LIGHT to everyone, was coming into the world.
THE COMING OF THE LIGHT INTO THE WORLD MARKED THE DAWN OF SALVATION!
John 3:14-21 – And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life“ For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. 18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. •19 And the judgment is based on this fact: GOD’S LIGHT came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the LIGHT, for their actions were evil. 20 All who do evil hate the LIGHT and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. 21 But those who do what is right come to the LIGHT so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”
The darkness robs us of faith. Some love darkness rather than light! Others love the light because it brings exposure!
I Corinthians 4:4-7 – …if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the LIGHT of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded LIGHT to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the LIGHT of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Luke 11:35,36 – Therefore take heed that the LIGHT which is in you is not darkness..(black/fake light — the devil masquerades as an angel of light). If then your whole body is full of LIGHT, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of LIGHT, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you LIGHT.”
THE CHURCH IS TO SHINE FORTH THE LIGHT & GLORY OF GOD
Isaiah 60:1 – “Arise, shine, for your LIGHT has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.” For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. 3 The Gentiles shall come to your LIGHT, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
Psalm 27:1 – The Lord is my LIGHT and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?
Matthew 5:14-16 – You are the LIGHT of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they LIGHT a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives LIGHT to all who are in the house. 16 Let your LIGHT so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Special note: Jesus who is the light, dwells within believers. He tells us to faithfully let the LIGHT of the gospel shine out of our lives through our lifestyle & good works. Are we letting the LIGHT shine to the best of our ability? Our LIGHT can become weak and powerless if we do not keep charged up, and stay connected to the power source. Our LIGHT is to be seen, and give LIGHT to others! Let’s faithfully shine the LIGHT of Jesus to a dark & dying world!
I John 1:5-7 – 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.
THE LIGHT OF JESUS IS GLORIOUS
The LIGHT of Christ changes the way you look at your life, your purpose, and the problems you face!
Psalm 43:3 – Oh, send out Your LIGHT and Your truth! Let them lead me;…
John 1:4 – The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought LIGHT to everyone.
Colossians 1:27 – …Christ in you, the hope of GLORY.
Ephesians 3:21 – …to Him be GLORY in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
I Corinthians 10:31 – Whether you eat or drink or whatsoever you do, do all to the GLORY of God!
LIGHT HAS GREAT POWER to overcome darkness!
The darkness around us can be overwhelming!
I John 4:4 – Greater is He (Jesus – the LIGHT) that is in us, than he that is in the world (the devil).
Psalm 112:4 – Unto the upright there arises LIGHT in the darkness;
I Corinthians 4:7 – But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the POWER may be of God and not of us.
Special note: Consider. a power shortage (brown-out/black-out). When the LIGHT goes out because of a lack of POWER from the source, what a disappointment! When the power comes back on, and there is LIGHT – it brings joyful celebration! A POWER source is essential for there to be LIGHT!
Matthew 6:13 – (Jesus prayed, declaring)…Yours is the kingdom and the POWER and the GLORY forever. Amen.
Acts 1:8 – (Jesus said) …you shall receive POWER when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me.
Micah 3:8 – …truly I am full of POWER by the Spirit of the Lord…
Ephesians 3:20 – Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the POWER that works in us, unto HIM BE GLORY…
GOOD NEWS!
The Good News… We can continually seek the help of Jesus Christ to find LIGHT in the darkness, hope amidst despair, & forgiveness for our sins…
When we accept Jesus as our Savior, He brightens up our life with His LIGHT!
Psalm 118:27 God is the Lord, And He has given us LIGHT…
REFLECTION
How about you? Have you accepted Jesus as your personal Savior & Lord? Is He bringing LIGHT to your life?
Is there LIGHT in your life that keeps you from stumbling in this sin darkened world?
2 Peter 1: 3-11 – …His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust… giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will NEVER STUMBLE…
HOPE
There is HOPE, for the LIGHT of Jesus still shines brightly through the truth of His Word!
Psalm 119:105 – Your word is a lamp to my feet and a LIGHT to my path.
I Peter 1:3 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a LIVING HOPE through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…
Special Acknowledgement: Thanks to Evelyn Asuncion for assisting with the preparation of this message, and sharing it at our online service.
