LET THERE BE LIGHT
MATTHEW 5:14-16
Genesis 1:4, “And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.” MATTHEW 5:14-16, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15-Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16-Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Introduction:
Solomon said that the physical light is said to be sweet: Ecclesiastes 11:7, “Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:” It is a pleasant thing to see the sun.
I believe there is something much more pleasant to feast our eyes upon and that is the Light of Gospel of Jesus Christ. What a privilege we have to share that LIGHT with others.
I. THE GOSPEL LIGHT IS INFINITELY MORE PRECIOUS
A. For the Gospel Light reveals eternal things…
1. The deep things of God, 1 Corinthians 2:10, “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”
2. His everlasting mercy, Psalm 100:5, “For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”
3. Everlasting life, John 3:36, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
B. The Gospel Light ministers to our need of the Saviour.
1. The sick need a physician, Mark 2:17, “When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
2. It tells us where we can find help, Hebrews 4:16, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
II. THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVES US SPIRITUAL LIGHT
A. He reveals the Saviour, Galatians 1:15, “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, 16To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:”
1. That He is the Son of God, Matthew 16:16-17, “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”
2. To give knowledge of the Glory of God, 2 Corinthians 4:6, “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.”
B. He sets forth the plan of mercy.
1. “Come unto me,” Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
2. Come with your heavy burden…
a. Of sin, Psalm 38:4, “For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.”
b. Put that burden on Him and He will give you rest…
1) For the penitent sinner, Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
2) For the burden believer, Psalm 55:22, “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
c. His burden is light, Matthew 11:29-30, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30-For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
III. THIS GOSPEL LIGHT IS…
A. The light of Wonderful knowledge, Psalm 139:4-6, “For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. 5Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. 6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.”
IV. THE LIGHT IS JOY
Psalm 5:11, “But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.”
C. The light of Holiness, Ephesians 4:10, “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
1. Established in true holiness, 1 Thessalonians 3:13, “To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.”
2. You are called unto holiness, 1 Thessalonians 4:7, “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.” 1 Peter 1:15-16, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16-Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
D. The light of Life, Colossians 3:3, “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4-When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”
CONCLUSION
Satan is doing everything he can to see that the light of the Gospel does not reach the lost. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:4, “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” We need to do everything possible to see that the Light of the Gospel shines through us.