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I’m Gonna Let It Shine

I’m Gonna Let It Shine. I’m Gonna Let It Shine. Matthew 5:14-16. The Shining Light. Article in The Times of London , Dec. 2008 “As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God” by Matthew Parris, www.timesonline.co.uk. The Shining Light.

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I’m Gonna Let It Shine

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  1. I’m Gonna Let It Shine I’m Gonna Let It Shine Matthew 5:14-16

  2. The Shining Light • Article in The Times of London,Dec. 2008 • “As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God” by Matthew Parris, www.timesonline.co.uk

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

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

  5. Light vs. Darkness • Jesus, the eternal Word, is the true light: The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. (John 1:5)

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

  7. Light Represents God’s Word • Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105) • Those who walk in sin, apart from God’s Word, walk in darkness (Ecclesiastes 2:14, 1 John 2:11)

  8. Light Represents Salvation 19 “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God. (John 3:19-21)

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

  10. Light and Darkness Summary in Scripture

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

  12. Two Effects • Slow down the moral decay of society as salt • Shine the light of God’s truth/salvation • Salt deters decay – light dispels darkness • Salt retards corruption – light reveals Christ • Salt works secretly – light works openly

  13. Lamps on a Lampstand • No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. (v. 15)

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

  15. The Church is the Light • …the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your [plural] faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything (1 Thessalonians 1:8) • First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your [plural] faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world. (Romans 1:8)

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

  17. The Mission of the Messiah • “I am the Lord, I have called You in righteousness, I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You, and I will appoint You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the nations.” (Isaiah 42:6) • “I will make You as a light for the nations, that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:6)

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

  19. The Mission of the Messiah Extended 14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life… (Philippians 2:14-16)

  20. Can We Really Be the light? • “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” (John 8:12) • “I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.” (John 12:46) • “While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.” (John 9:5)

  21. Can We Really Be the light? • The Moon reflects the light of the Sun

  22. Shining Christ’s Light

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

  24. Shining the Light = The Great Commission 18 “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

  25. Piccadilly Circus

  26. How Does Evangelism Relate to Good Works? • What is the purpose of good works? • How will unbelievers most glorify your Father in heaven? • The Glory of God, and, as our only means of glorifying Him, the salvation of human souls, is the real business of life. – C. S. Lewis

  27. How Do We Grow as Witnesses? • Spend time in the light

  28. Application

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