Guiding light
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Guiding light
Guiding light
Light exposes truth
if we were in the middle of the woods at night we would need a light to make sure we knew where we were stepping, or where we are going
running into a tree or tripping over a branch or even falling off a cliff
Light guides us, and protects
There is a Reason why John said “In Him was life and that life was the light of man. The light shine in the darkness and the darkness cannot over come it.”
Jesus is the light of the world
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
What is the darkness that we are in?
Identity- The world tells us we need to look this way, acted this way, be this person.
It sells us an image of what success and happiness looks like
it makes broken promises of if you just do this you will be happy
but yet we never find fulfillment
Brokenness- Family/ love ones sometimes hurt us- sometimes abuse us
sometimes there speak words that cut us
sometimes there actions leave wounds that stick with us
Depression- because we are in so much darkness it has become normal so are lives have accepted the results of living in darkness
the people dwelling in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
on them a light has dawned.”
Light has come a pierced the darkness
Light also guides us
Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,
to keep your righteous rules.
I am severely afflicted;
give me life, O Lord, according to your word!
Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord,
and teach me your rules.
I hold my life in my hand continually,
but I do not forget your law.
The wicked have laid a snare for me,
but I do not stray from your precepts.
Your testimonies are my heritage forever,
for they are the joy of my heart.
I incline my heart to perform your statutes
forever, to the end.
God did not just leave us here in darkness
The word of the Lord is a Lamp that lights our paths
How do we use this light?
How do we use this light?
I have sworn to keep your righteous rules-
Walking in the ways of Christ - we are allowing God to shape us into His image
God’s righteous Decrees-
You are saved by Grace- now Live like you are
You are now adopted into God’s family- now live like you are
You now have a hope and a future- Start living like it now
Walk in the things of God and God will make you more like Christ
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
Abide means to remain or stay
In order for light to guide us we must be connected to the source of life which is the light of man
We stay connect to God through prayer and through His Word
as we abide with God- His Spirit produces fruit in us
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
I am severely afflicted;
give me life, O Lord, according to your word!
When we are going through times of trouble and hardship
we only want the words of God to speak to our hearts
We want His truth to Shine in
We don’t to anyone or anything else cause God is the giver of life
“I am afflicted and this stink right now, but you have the life I need! It is here in Your word!”
We don’t turn to anything else but God and allow His word to speak to our hearts and guide us
Notice the writer is turning to God as the source of Life even when everything is falling apart
Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord,
and teach me your rules.
Allow God’s word to guide us, leads us to Praising God
We look at our life and we see all that God has done for us and what else can we do put praise Him
A.W. Tozer: “Sometimes I go to God and say, "God, if Thou dost never answer another prayer while I live on this earth, I will still worship Thee as long as I live and in the ages to come for what Thou hast done already. God’s already put me so far in debt that if I were to live one million millenniums I couldn’t pay Him for what He’s done for me.”
How can we Keep from singing the praise of the God who while we were lost came and saved us
How can we keep from singing the praise of the God who show his love for
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
And the God who hears our cries, who helps in times of troubles, who in with us and never leaves us
There is also the desire to know the truth of God’s word
“Teach me your Rules”
“Your testimonies are my Heritage forever they are the joy of my heart.”
What God says about us and our future that is our joy here on earth and into eternity
The wicked have laid a snare for me,
but I do not stray from your precepts.
I do not stray from your direction- Because it is the lamp that guides us
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
God has given us the light of His word but we must follow it
to conform is to allow yourself to be molded by the world- and what are the results?
brokeness
to transform- to change the essential form or nature of something
It is a change of the heart- everything about us is changed through the renewing of our minds through the guiding light of God’s word
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
Light is here, will we follow it’s guidance?