“LIVING AS LIGHTS IN A DARK WORLD”
Introduction
Our Lord Jesus Christ established His church to “shine as lights,” in the midst of a dark world. The church is to shine forth the 'Light', which is the life of Christ in us, the light that shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehended it not.
A call to live as 'Light' is a call for Believers to continually imitate God by living in truth and in holiness. To live in the light, we must accept the word of God and make it a lamp to our feet according to Psalm 119:105.
To live in the light, we must also embrace holiness and show by deeds that we have been redeemed from the darkness of this world, having been once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. So, if you have received Christ, show it to the world by your deeds.
In John 8:12, Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” In Psalm 27:1, God is called “light” and if we have Him inside of us, then His nature and characters should show forth in our lives.
In John 8:12, Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” In Psalm 27:1, God is called “light” and if we have Him inside of us, then His nature and characters should show forth in our lives.
The 'Light' is your Good Works
A Christian is heaven’s royal representatives “in the midst of crooked and perverse generation” - Phil2:15. The world has gone astray morally and departed from the pattern and plans of God. Men have become lovers of themselves, haters of truth, as long as it hurts them.
Jesus says “You are the light of the world” and this light is our “good works”. Let men see your good works that they may glorify your Father who is in heaven - Mathew 5:16. Your good works touch the souls of men and cause them to give praises to God.
What are these good works?
They include every act of kindness made with pure heart, visible works of love and compassion shown to neighbours, evangelism and soul winning, as well as the manifestation of gifts of the Spirit to edify men and women.
People's lives are touched when we become an instrument for their blessing using any of the gifts of the spirit like the gifts of working miracles, prophecy and healing. 1 Cor 12:8-10. There is also the gift of cares, men and women the Lord has filled their heart with kindness that they can whatever they have with anyone in need. Acts of kindness is a strong tool for soul winning.
Gifts operated with grace and humility make the gospel come alive to many people, with power gifts of healing and prophesy points people to solution to their problems and make them believe that indeed Jesus is alive. The gospel without these gifts in the church will appear weak, God forbids.
Living for the Gospel
Shining forth the 'Light' is also a question of character and godly zeal. Apostle Paul did not live to “please himself;” rather he lived and laboured for Christ (Phil 1:21). This what we that are alive today should do, just as our Lord did not live to please Himself, but to do the work of His Father and to complete it. We must have the same mind, the mind of Christ.
The bible says that Jesus endured the suffering to the cross because of the joy set before Him - Heb 12:2. Apostle Paul caught the spirit of the Christ and we all the effect of that. His life was one of continuous sacrifice, for he suffered many things in order that he might take the gospel to people of all nationalities and win them to Christ - 2 Cor 11:23-29.
The implication of all these is that every Believer that will shine forth the light of Christ will necessarily go through 'fire'. Like gold that is purified through fire, so shall you be that wants to shine forth the Light of God. Jesus speaking about John the Baptist says he was a 'burning and shining light' and people rejoiced in his light, though it was for a season - John 5:35.
Crooked and Perverse Generation
Though the world is crooked and perverse, Christians must “shine as lights” in the world. Living faithfully and purely is not negotiable if we will fulfil the mandate the Lord has given us. To carry the message of Christ around the world, we must be people, to whom the devil will come to secretly, but finds nothing in us.
This testimony of Christ should be our portion if we are to take the message of salvation to a dark world. There are agents of satan that will leave the paths of holiness to walk in the ways of darkness; who delight in doing evil and rejoice in the perverse things they do, whose paths are crooked, and who are corrupt in their ways, but we are saved from such and separated unto Christ, sanctified by His Word unto good works.
Without doubt, the way we live as children of God has a dramatic impact on how we influence others, Christians and non-Christians. Yes, the world is crooked and perverse, morally or spiritually corrupt. There are deception and fraud, many people delight in doing evil and some ignorantly say there is no God, but we must live and speak differently, and through our speech and lifestyle put such people to shame.
We have to prove through our speech and conducts that though we were formerly darkness,” we are now “light in the Lord”, walking as children of Light (Eph 5:8).
The requirement for Shining forth the 'Light'
Anyone that will shine forth the light of the Lord, is certainly an Ambassador of Christ, whether he is a Pastor or not. Such a person will subject himself to the directions of the Holy Spirit and obey Him always. The minister will be conscious of his calling into an honest and unselfish ministry. 2 Cor 4, 5 and 6:
Honest Ministry
The Christian that wants to shine forth as light must necessarily ensure the 'old man' inside of him or her is dead. Every manifestation of the flesh like pride, greed, the lust of the eyes and flesh are dead. The death of 'Mr Flesh' and it motions of sin and carnality will usher you into the life of honesty.
A man or woman who has renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending him/herself to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
Righteousness.
There are two aspects to this fruit. First, it has to do with our relationship with God. Romans 4:5 says, “However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.” In salvation, God gives us his Son’s righteousness to make us acceptable in his eyes.
True believers practice a lifestyle of righteousness. As those justified and made righteous by God, we must daily practice righteousness. James 2:17 says, “Faith without works is dead.” First John 2:29 says, “If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.”
Unselfish Ministry
Paul did not preach himself, but Christ the Lord, who is the image of God. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Ministry of Suffering
That person will be a child of God who can endure all trouble and shame and remain steadfast. You may be troubled on every side, yet not distressed; perplexed, but not in despair. Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed, bearing in your body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in your body.
Bold and faithful Ministry
You should be bold to speak and preach the word of God freely. Having the Spirit of faith as it is written I believe, and therefore have I spoken. A bold servant fears no man, but God.
Faithfulness is important if we will win the race. Many people have been discouraged along the line that they backslide instead of waxing bold. Some of them because they did nothing to grow their faith in the Lord. Also, they removed their eyes from the Lord and rather focus on their troubles and challenges. Once we receive the Lord, we should have a personal relationship with Him and trust Him to help us in times of need.
Hard Working Ministry:
Faithfulness is important if we will win the race. Many people have been discouraged along the line that they backslide instead of waxing bold. Some of them because they did nothing to grow their faith in the Lord. Also, they removed their eyes from the Lord and rather focus on their troubles and challenges. Once we receive the Lord, we should have a personal relationship with Him and trust Him to help us in times of need.
Hard Working Ministry:
You should be confident of His mercy and work hard to remain in the faith and be accepted by Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Reconciliation:
You should be a born again child of God, who hath accepted the ministry of reconciliation given to us by Jesus Christ. To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
For we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Blameless Ministry:
You should be a minister who gives no offence in anything that the ministry be not blamed. But, in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in affliction stripes, imprisonment, in necessities in watching and fasting.
Living as 'Light' in a dark world
To live like 'Light' we have to come out from among the world and have no business with all unrighteousness. We should cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, touch not the unclean things so that the Lord will receive us as His own. We should perfect holiness in the fear of God.
We should also cultivate acceptable kingdom lifestyles that are in accordance with the Word of God and live it out daily. We should:
1. Learn to wait on our gift before the Lord, so we can develop and grow it and be able to operate and prophesy according to the proportion of faith. Whether it is to prophesy, to heal, teach or exhort. Let us do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
2. Let us love one another without expecting anything back in return. Let our love not be with discrimination and according to the status of the person. Let us abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
3. Let us be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
4. Let us not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
5. Rejoice in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
6. Let us happily distribute to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
7. Let us bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
8. Let us rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
9. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
10. Let us recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
11. If it is possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
12. Let us avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
13. If we find our hunger, feed him; if he thirsts, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head
14. Let us allow the evil that men do to us to change our perception and faith in Christ. Let us not be overwhelmed by such evil, as to begin to repay them evil for evil. We must overcome evil with good - Rom 12:5-21
Conclusion:
Christians must put their light on a stand and we should consider this when deciding where to live, work and do business, even the church to attend.
We should ask ourselves, how can we most effectively spread our light, win more people to Christ and fulfil our calling as children of God. We should diligently remove anything that might dim our light or make it ineffective.
One must realize that living a holy life is with a price. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into the fire for not bowing down to Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 3). Daniel was cast into the lions’ den simply because he prayed three times a day to the true God instead of false gods (Dan 6). Jesus was crucified.
Believers should be ready to place their light on a stand for all to see.
FIRE...
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