You Are the Light of the World

You Are the Light of the World

February 20,2005

Introduction

In Mat 5:14-16, Jesus says, "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. It’s a verse we’ve heard so many times that it may mean very little to us, but I hope when we leave today, it will mean more to you than it does right now.

I have preached on this text several times during my years of preaching. I’ve considered how we put our light under a basket, and how we are to do good works that men may glorify God, and these are very important ideas, but what else does this verse say? What is it about light that is so important?

Body

I. Without light, there would be no life.

God’s beginning of creation was the creation of light.

(Gen 1:3-5 NKJV) Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. {4} And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. {5} God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.

We’ve probably all kicked a board or rock off of grass or a plant that is either dead or dying because it is without light.

1. Jesus is our spiritual light and life.

(John 1:4 NKJV) In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

2. Without light, men sit in the shadow of death.

(Mat 4:16 NKJV) The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned."

II. How important is light?

A. Jesus identified Himself as the light of the world.

(John 9:5 NKJV) "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

B. God dwells in unapproachable light.

(1 Tim 6:16 NKJV) who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.

C. God is also described as the Father of lights.

(James 1:17 NKJV) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

D. John the Baptist was called a burning and shining light.

(John 5:35 NKJV) "He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.

1. They were willing “for a time” to rejoice in his light.

III. What a privilege to be called lights.

A. Jesus calls us the light of the world..

"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. (Mat 5:14-16)

B. If we are to be lights, we are not to put our lights under a basket.

1. We can do that by keeping silent.

2. We can do that by living lives that are inconsistent with what the Bible says about how we are to live.

3. We may be the only hope of light that someone has.

IV. There are things that hinder the light.

A. The Blind cannot see the light of day.

Dr. Burford was blind, but he had a wood working shop. Sometimes he would work in his shop at night with no lights on. He would get calls from very concerned neighbors who were afraid he would cut off a finger or worse, running his table saw without any light. Of course, Dr. Burford never saw the light of day.

B. There is, of course, spiritual blindness.

(2 Cor 4:4 NKJV) 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.

C. Jesus spokes of the Jews blindness.

(John 9:40-41 NKJV) Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, "Are we blind also?" {41} Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains.

V. How important is the light?

(1 John 1:7 NKJV) 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.

Conclusion

I. Are you walking in the light?

Are we helping others to see the light?
Are we in fellowship with God?
Are our lives consistent with the Word of God?

II. Are we blind, or being hindered from seeing?

Dr. Lowell G. Perry, who was one of my teachers at ACC, was killed in a plane crash in Cedar Hill. As I remember the story, the fog was heavy, and the wing of their plane hit one of the guy wires of one of the towers, and their plane came down. Not being able to see because of the fog was fatal.

A. Are you living in the fog?

1. Is the fog caused by wrong attitudes on your part?

2. Is the fog caused because you haven’t made the effort to really understand what the will of the Lord is?

III. Are you ready to walk in the Light as He is in the light?

Hit Counter

Back to home page Welcome to my Web site

Back to Index of Sermons Sermons I have Preached