LIGHT

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Matthew5:14-16:"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 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. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (NKJV)
 
The world is in darkness. Just listen to the news or look around you. But even the smallest flicker of a light is so bright in the darkness. We are the only Jesus that this world will see. We are the light of the world. A city set on a hill can't be hidden. How many churches have allowed the "light" to go out. I look for the day when people are drawn into the church because of the light coming from it.
 
Sin brings darkness. Sinners are drawn to the darkness to hide their sin. They become blind in the darkness. The god of this world has blinded them. The Church needs to clean its globe. It's not going to happen automatically. We must clean the globe- our lives. We must allow the light to shine forth from us.
 
Judges 7:19-20: "So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outpost of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just as they had posted the watch; and they blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers that were in their hands. Then the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers-they held the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands for blowing-and they cried, 'The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!'" (NKJV)
 
Gideon had the men put a clay pot over the torches so that they wouldn't be seen until the right moment. Then he instructed them to break the pitcher over the torch. Can you imagine the flare up? After the torch had been smoldering in the clay pitcher, to suddenly have that broken- the flame would flare up and shine brightly! But--- they had to break the clay pitchers! 2 Corinthians 4:7 puts it this way: "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us."  Our earthly vessels must break in order for the light of the Lord to shine forth. This breaking isn't for our harm- but for our good. It is a breaking of our wills. We have to break- daily-- Paul said he died daily (1 Corinthians 15:31)- not physically- but to his will. John the Baptist said "He", speaking of Jesus, "must increase, but I must decrease". (John 3:30). It is much easier to just smolder inside the clay pot- undetected- hidden in the darkness. But God is asking His people to come out- break those clay pitchers- our self life-- and let the light of Christ shine through us. This is what will bring sinners to the Lord. They will be attracted to the light. They will be drawn unto the Lord.
 
 
(Taken from Pastor Keith's message 11/3/2013)


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