LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE

THE JOY OF SERVING JESUS SHOULD BE REFLECTED IN OUR LIVES

Certainly serving Jesus puts lots of happiness in our lives. I believe one of the most noticeable ways we let our lights shine is by our joy which we cannot contain within ourselves. We have found life, peace, contentment, joy, fulfillment -- we could go on. We have what so many are looking for. We work hard to have those fruits of the spirit which are ours if we want them badly enough and are will to keep our hearts and minds open. I know there are things which make us sad for a brief period of time in this life but to say a Christian is an unhappy person is like a contradiction in terms. Note the passage.

Galatians 5:22

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith

Ephesians 3:19

to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

27 JOYFUL, JOYFUL WE ADORE THEE - VERSES 1, 2, 3, & 4
11 I AM SO GLAD - VERSES 1, 2, & 3

PRAYER THANKING GOD FOR THE BLESSING WHICH HE GIVES US

OUR LIGHT MUST COME FROM JESUS

We have all been in darkness at one time or another. But there was a light out there for us. Sometimes it is a passage of scripture, sometimes it is a person who encourages us, and sometimes we have to really work to dig ourselves out of the messes we get ourselves into. God is always there and if we can ever be smart enough to learn that then coming out of those dark times is easier and eventually we learn not how to get out but how to stay out.

John 8:12

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

Phil 4:6

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

561 GRANT ME PEACE AND HOPE - VERSES 1 & 3
506 STEPPING IN THE LIGHT - VERSES 1, 2, & 3
256 EACH STEP I TAKE - VERSES 1 & 2

IF OUR LIGHT COMES FROM JESUS, THEN WE SHOW JESUS TO OTHERS

Acts 4:13

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus

129 ALL THE WAY, MY SAVIOR LEADS ME - VERSES 1, 2, & 3

As Christians we are special in this world we need to see ourselves as lights so that the teachings we have from Jesus show to the world who we are.

Philippians 2:14

Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.

454 LET THE BEAUTY OF JESUS BE SEEN - VERSES 1, 2, & 3

PRAYER THAT JESUS WILL BE THE GREAT LIGHT IN OUR LIVES

IT TAKES A CONTRAST FOR OUR LIGHTS TO BE SEEN

In this life we cannot all expect to have everything happen just right. Neither can we expect to never be tempted. It is in those times when we are tempted and when things don't go just right that our lights can shine the brightest. The expression "out of darkness, into light" illustrates that principal. At the naming of John the Baptist Zacharias prophesied concerning John saying:

"And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest;

For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,

To give knowledge of salvation to His people

By the remission of their sins,

Through the tender mercy of our God,

With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;

To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,

To guide our feet into the way of peace."

Ephesians 6:14

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

112 TEACH ME THY WAY - VERSES 1, 2, 3, & 4
371 CHRIST'S LOVE IS ALL I NEED - VERSES 1, 2, & 3

WE ALL DO NOT HAVE A GLORIOUS MOMENT, WE MUST SHINE WHERE WE ARE

The story goes this way. A ship was coming into the Cleveland harbor late one night, darkness prevailed, and the winds were pretty high. As they approached the Captain asked the pilot, "Are your sure your going right? I don't see the lower lights." The pilot replied, "They have gone out sir, but if we don't make the harbor we will perish." Many lost their lives that night. P.P. Bliss, on hearing this account, wrote:

Brightly beams our Father's Mercy

From his Lighthouse evermore,

but to us he gives the keeping

of the lights along the shore.

Let the lower light be burning.

237 LET THE LOWER LIGHTS BE BURNING - VERSES 1, 2, & 3

MANY WANT TO COME OUT OF DARKNESS AND NEED THE LIGHT

We may be the only one who can give the light that someone else needs. It may be anywhere, any time, or, any place. II Timothy 4:1-4

I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables

Jesus said in Matthew 5:14-16

"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 lamp stand, 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

If our lights are going to shine when they need to shine, we need to be ready. This takes preparation. It takes a closeness with the Master. A familiar passage: I Peter 3:15 says:

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

555 INTO OUR HANDS - VERSES 1, 2, & 3
519 SEND THE LIGHT - VERSES 1, 2, & 4
531 A SOUL WINNER FOR JESUS - VERSES 1, 2, & 3

PRAYER THAT WE CAN BE A LIGHT TO OTHERS AND WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LET OUR LIGHTS SHINE.

INVITATION

Now for the question we all must answer. Are we the lights we should be. Jesus words keep ringing in my ears. "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" Anyone who is not a Christian needs to step into the light. Jesus is there shining brightly for all to see and follow so that following we show to all the light in which we live. In the invitation song which follows verse 3 begins:

Where livest thou, there is a place to stay, tis in the Christ, the true and living way.

If you are subject to an invitation, won't you come now?

318 WHERE LIVEST THOU - VERSES 1, 2, & 3

PRAYER THAT OUR LIGHT MIGHT SHINE BRIGHTLY AS WE CONTINUE IN THIS LIFE.

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE

THE JOY OF SERVING JESUS SHOULD BE REFLECTED IN OUR LIVES

27 JOYFUL, JOYFUL WE ADORE THEE - VERSES 1, 2, 3, & 4
11 I AM SO GLAD - VERSES 1, 2, & 3

PRAYER THANKING GOD FOR THE BLESSING WHICH HE GIVES US

OUR LIGHT MUST COME FROM JESUS

561 GRANT ME PEACE AND HOPE - VERSES 1 & 3
506 STEPPING IN THE LIGHT - VERSES 1, 2, & 3
256 EACH STEP I TAKE - VERSES 1 & 2

IF OUR LIGHT COMES FROM JESUS, THEN WE SHOW JESUS TO OTHERS

129 ALL THE WAY, MY SAVIOR LEADS ME - VERSES 1, 2, & 3
454 LET THE BEAUTY OF JESUS BE SEEN VERSES 1, 2, & 3

PRAYER THAT JESUS WILL BE THE GREAT LIGHT IN OUR LIVES

IT TAKES A CONTRAST FOR OUR LIGHTS TO BE SEEN

112 TEACH ME THY WAY - VERSES 1, 2, 3, & 4
371 CHRIST'S LOVE IS ALL I NEED - VERSES 1, 2, & 3

WE ALL DO NOT HAVE A GLORIOUS MOMENT, WE MUST SHINE WHERE WE ARE

237 LET THE LOWER LIGHTS BE BURNING - VERSES 1, 2, & 3

MANY WANT TO COME OUT OF DARKNESS AND NEED THE LIGHT

555 INTO OUR HANDS - VERSES 1, 2, & 3
519 SEND THE LIGHT - VERSES 1, 2, & 4
531 A SOUL WINNER FOR JESUS - VERSES 1, 2, & 3

PRAYER THAT WE CAN BE A LIGHT TO OTHERS AND WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LET OUR LIGHTS SHINE.

INVITATION

318 WHERE LIVEST THOU? - VERSES 1, 2, & 3

PRAYER THAT OUR LIGHT MIGHT SHINE BRIGHTLY AS WE CONTINUE IN THIS LIFE.