Nov 8, 2020 Sunday Morning Worship Service

Good morning, everyone glad that you're here with us.

Glad that we can come together and worship our Lord and savior understand what his sacrifice means to us and and understand that we can Relish in the grace of God and I'm at Grace's is indeed necessary for us, you know as much as there are over there Commandments in the New Testament then as much as we need to obey those commitments. We sometimes slip up we sometimes fall and to put it mildly sing. And so that's where the grace of God comes in. That's where the the blood from the cross comes in. But that's where the mercy in The Compassion of Christ comes in and what do you think about the need of forgiveness? I'm always reminded of what Solomon tells us. His compassion is renewed every morning. There's a new star with a spiritual life in Christ. Jesus everyday and I love the idea of compassion being renewed compassion simply means with passion. His passion for you is renewed every morning. That's a blessing that is indeed. One of the major blessing that we can Relish in today. We begin a new series of lessons go into the light. I got that title from

a weird place Come from that movie Poltergeist. Never that little old lady. She said go into the light go into the well, that's the title of our lesson and that's going to be the title of our Shari's for the next several weeks because we're going to be talkin about life. Jesus is the light. God is like you are laughing Jesus is the light of the world. You are the one by all the world. So we're going to be dealing with that theme for several weeks and I hope you'll benefit from these lessons because when we think about what I can always remember that commercial was Tom bodett was the spokesperson for Motel 6. When you leave the light will always leave the light on for you. That's exactly what we're talkin about. Jesus is the light and that light is always there for us. And of course, you can remember I know I can remember coming home. and and I was always afraid to come to the side part of the of the house because the light was never on but when I went out mama always made sure that light was on so that showed me that she cared for me. He was concerned for me that she wanted me to be safe when I came home. And that light represents all of that and that light tells me it's good to be home. It's good to be in a safe environment. It's good to be with those whom we love it's good to be with our father in Heaven who loves us so much that he gave his only begotten son to save you and me from fire eternal hell amazing, and we now have all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus. Can I get an amen? That's an amen. We have all that and we ought to be grateful for that. We ought to be thankful for that every song that we sing. I want to be song with joy every time that we wake up on a Sunday morning. We're saying you know what I'm going to thank Jesus today. Call about him all about Jesus Christ, you know, we're going to start something new in January. And as we consider something new in January, we always start with those New Year's resolutions this year. One of the things that we're going to do and we're going to pray pray more. I pray for things that we need. We're going to pray for this country. We have a new Administration coming in no matter if you agree with him or not. God says you pray for your leaders. And so we're going to do then, you know rather than saying well, I don't agree with him and I don't like him we're going to do it to something different. We're going to say We want him to succeed because if he succeeds you and I both succeed and the freedom we enjoy in this country helps us to worship Him in spirit and truth that much greater. So we need to pray and we're going to be praying more and we're going to be praying for everything and anything because we want to talk with our father and we're best to talk with our father then in association with one another in his presence on the first day of the week. We need to do that. And so we will I'm so as we consider the idea of like the Bible tells us in John chapter 8 verse 12. Jesus says I am the light of the world whoever follows me will never dwell in darkness. So whoever keeps on following. Will never be in darkness now the idea of keeping.

Or keep on following with Jesus is embodied. In first John chapter 1 verse 7. We know that first well, but if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another we have fellowship with one another and he says the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanses us from how much sin o sin that's how powerful the blood of Jesus Christ is what he says when you walk in the way you have that fellowship with one another and with God So they call Doctor the vertical relationship in a horizontal relationship based upon the blood of Jesus Christ based upon walking in his word. That's what means to walk in the light get to that just a moment so we can see the light. We also must consider the relationship we have with that light, you know, we know that verse well in the beginning was the word the word was with God. The Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. We understand that right and he was in the beginning with God and so he goes on to explain that he is the life and the life was the light of men. Jesus Christ, is that light and told you're there for the Jesus says I am the True Light. No one comes to the father except through that light through that person that Jesus John goes on to sell you said there was a man sent from God whose name was John this man. He said this man came for a witness. To be a witness that is he came for it with us to be a witness and that to Bear witness all the life that all through him would believe and then he goes on to say he was not that light. But he came to preach that light and that life is not true life talking about Jesus. I found it interesting that John who was the Lord closest friend his best buddy is writing about John the Baptist John was the Forerunner to Christ and lo and behold we find John he was the one who Prepare the way for the Lord for the people in Israel. So John himself was alive bear. He brought light. Do the gyms any straighten out the pass that is he made straight those pesky purified the people through his teaching and what did the people do at his teeth? Will they went out to the Waters of the of the Jordan and they were baptized by John? And then all the sudden Jesus comes to be baptized by John the Baptist and John 4-minute protest. He says I can be baptized by you. And he says permitted so well, this will fulfill. All righteousness Heaven John the Baptist baptizes Jesus Christ in the River Jordan. Not for the remission of sins but to fulfill all righteousness on his behalf. And so from that moment Jesus Christ arose from that watery grave. He came up out of the water and there was white lie to mankind when we think about life. We think about Jesus Illuminating the world. He's the light when you see a light that illuminates things Jesus is said in John chapter 1 verse 18 That he came to reveal the father. Now. There's an interesting word there hermanito and it simply means to interpret to explain to explain so the ideas that Jesus came to interpret the father to us. And he did that through several ways through his teaching and through his own actions. And so he interpreted the father for mankind. We find that Jesus came to illuminate mankind mankind about the father. You know, what's interesting you go back to the the book of Psalm chapter 19. We know that Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in all the Bible. Wright's got 170 some odd passages to it. So we find that's the longest chapter in the Bible. But then we go to Psalm 90. And we find that song 19 is a little miniature Psalm 119. And what you find is the first 6 verses is about how God reveal himself to Mankind through creation. He made the Sun the moon the stars. He did all that. He created everything and he says man can see that there was a God, but then from verse 7 on down now, he's talking about the word of God a special Revelation. Now God revealed himself to me in time first to reveal himself through creation. And now he has revealed himself through his own word through the teaching and the preaching of God's men. And that's how we have an intimate relationship with him there for God illuminated the minds of certain men who would be able to preach and teach so that are mine would be illuminated in knowing god knowing his will for us in our lives. So there is that idea of Illumination. And so there's the idea that we need to understand that Jesus is certainly the light of the world.

I know I got slide to your brother. Okay, here we go.

So here we go back in the beginning was the word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God all things were made through him. And without him nothing was made that with me till we get an idea. Of Illumination, what's an illumination again? It simply means to shed light to shed light on our mind there for the Bible. He was telling us that Jesus is the one that made everything. He's the one without him. Nothing was made that was made. He's the Creator. He was in the beginning with God and it's interesting we go back it says in the beginning was the word. In the beginning was the word now our English doesn't capture the Greek syntax their the great send text if we says in the beginning was the word and continues being the word that's the idea. And so it's talking about his eternality that he's an eternal being with God and was God. That's who Jesus is in the Bible or lumens are mine. It sheds light for us. It provides us understanding that's life that's being illuminated. It's all God illuminates us through his word weekend understanding from his word. So I'm 119 verse 105, right understanding. So therefore as we continue reading says all things were made through him and without him nothing was made that was made in him was life. In the life was the light of men now here we find John combining the two together life in life who sang Life Is Life Life Is Life Life is white and life is life and Jesus brought them. You can't have one without the other and the light shines in the darkness and the Darkness did not overcome it comprehend it according to the new King James. And so we find here This Magnificent passers talking about Jesus Christ, you know. And we know it's Jesus Christ, obviously because he's the log of us. He's the word and then it verse 14 and tells us that the word the Lagos became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory. So therefore we understand talking about Jesus. He is the word. What that means is again going back to what Jesus is thought to be in John chapter 1 verse 18 is that it is he's The Interpreter of God, he interprets God for us. And so with the word the Lagos Jesus he interprets God for us through his teachings through his instructions. And therefore that instruction is the light of men and all we need to do is turn to his word and we are immediately a lumen We come to a better understanding of who Jesus really is. Brother, you're going to have to go there. There you go. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. This man came for a witness for a witness. Jesus to Bear witness on that that all through him might believe he was not that like John but was sent to Bear witness of that like Christ. That was the True Light gives light to every man coming in to the world. I think it's better translated that that was the True Light coming into the world which gives life to every man. I believe that's how it should be rendered. But any case there we have it that without Jesus. There is no life. Without Jesus there is no light and without Jesus we have eternal damnation. That's why I keep saying since we did our study on hell that Jesus came into the world to save Sinners. Paul says of his mom chief. But the reason he saves Sinners supposed to keep him safe from what he'll Hellfire Eternal damnation Eternal destruction. Here, you've heard me say before that. We all have an inward man of Solace spirit. What was just going to live someplace? It's either going to be with God in heaven words going to be with Satan in Hell one place or the other. We all know where we need to be and we all know where we desire to be because we don't want to go to that other place. So as we consider the light of Jesus Christ and as we consider our own responsibilities of being like just as Kayden to the good job in Reading Ephesians, he says he says but you are no longer Darkness light in the Lord as children of life. The idea of walking is to Simply say live as children of light to walk is to live is how we do things in our lives. That's the walk then he says that the fruit of the spirit is all goodness righteousness and Truth goodness. We're supposed to do good works were supposed to do good on right goodness righteousness. We're supposed to do right do right. That's basically the basic definition of righteousness. Right Dewey to do right? So as we consider righteousness what you will hear in a second that first John chapter 3 verse 7 says do not be deceived little children. He who practices righteousness is righteous just as Christ is righteous. So we need to practice the idea of practicing is walking that's the idea. The idea of walking is living right living righteously so lows are the rest of the message that we're going to be talking about when it comes to like but as he said, he says finding out what is acceptable to the Lord through what through doing good through doing righteousness and following the truth was wrong. With one another the truth righteousness and doing good all the Bible tells us that we are to do good. We're all to do those things right for the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. So the the Bible the grace of God the grace that instructs us told us that we have to shun ungodliness. And of course we read the New Testament and it tells us all the different things that comprise on godliness. And then it goes on to say that we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present age. So not only does the bible tell us what not to do. It tells us what to do. And so we find the necessity of relying upon that illumination. God has shed light on the matter. And are we finding Titus Chapter 2 beginning of verse 11 and 12 those very things so he goes on to say But have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. So what are the unfruitful works of darkness while he just said that we are the fruit of the spirit is in all goodness righteousness righteousness and Truth finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. Going to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. So those who do not. Do not do good. Those who are not righteous and those who do not live according to the truth. Those are the ones who are not finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. They don't care what is acceptable to the Lord. And so he says there an error they are not to be in fellowship with you because why you were once in darkness, but now light in the Lord walk as children of Life, they're not walking as children of light. They're still in darkness. That's all the concept of light is about all of that righteousness truth. Love doing all good darkness that represents evil. It represents wickedness. It represents things that are opposed to God. and his were so Paul finds it incredibly important says but have no fellowship with those folks they walk in darkness.

So have no fellowship with the unfruitful dhahran fruitful fruitful Darkness, but those folks not because we need to for the sake of exposing them but to correct them to correct them.

You know the book of Hebrews chapter 12 tells us that God disciplines those he loves. And I'm very thankful that he loves me because I have been disciplined by him in many ways over the years and so haven't you that means he still active in my wife and like any good parent any good parent is going to discipline their child when they need discipline, right? Spare the rod spoil the child every child needs a ride. That's how I learned because I didn't have the pain in my wife to learn from I keep on doing it. No other people are smarter than me and they understand that pain is bad and they don't want that so they don't need a ride because they actually correct themselves without having to go to the extremes of a belt or Iran or a switch or a hand.

What disciplines needed? It's all God disciplines his children. Who should we so should we? And then of course toward we don't discipline every child the same way every child's different every child. Some child just needs a talking-to. I need a beating.

I wish I think back and I said, oh man. I wish I just could have sat in the corner.

But that wasn't the case.

So let's go to the next slide brother. Here we go. First John chapter 1 verses 5 through 7. This is the message which we have heard from him and declare to you that God is light and in him is no Darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness. We lie and do not practice the truth. So we do not practice the truth if we are walking in darkness. That is why we removed ourselves from the light of Jesus Christ. We removed ourselves in the light of God's word and the light of its instruction. Walk in darkness to do as I please and then and you continue to send. Says that's why because you said to me that you were going to dedicate yourself to me when we got married. Well, when did we get married the moment we came up out of the Waters of baptism. We were bound to Jesus Christ. We said I do. And ever since then we had to live and continue to live to honor him. As our spouse is so that's why it's important to understand the analogy. Those husband-and-wife. Analogies are used in the new Tesla. They show us the relationship that we have with the father. He's not saying it's a marriage. It's a like a marriage. That's the point. It's a simile. Not a literal rendering but the whole point is is that if we lie because we're walking in the light and darkness rather than light it's because we're not practicing the truth about notice the the contrast here he says 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. The son cleanses us from all sin. Go to the next slide. This is this is the message. So this is the message that we have just read and it says walk. Practice the truth walk in the light. That's what we are to do next slide.

John chapter 8 verse 31 and 32. If you abide in my word, you are my disciples indeed and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. If you abide in my word, that means exactly what he said in first John chapter 1 verse 7, but if we walk in the light that's equivalent to abiding in his word. You are my disciples indeed. So there's a lot of people in the church. They say I'm a disciple of Jesus Christ a Christian. I'm a follower of Jesus Christ. But they don't do one thing. Jesus asked him to do. So he says who is the true disciple here, right? We can know who is so here is a point where as Christians we have the right to judge others. Notice, I'm not saying judge all people but others who are Brethren paw says the same thing just who are we to judge those on the outside? But we judge those on the inside right where we are. Our Brother's Keeper work are responsible for wondering if that's what the church is about if I see you strain. I need to correct you if you see me string you need to correct me both parties. We want to this is the church. It's about helping one another get where to heaven.

So we need to understand that if we're abiding in his world were walking in the light. He says through your precepts I get understanding therefore. I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. The word of God is that it directs our steps if we're in a living in this world of Darkness. Everything is sin sin sin sin is a three-letter word for the four-letter word four-letter word. Dark. That's what it means. It's bad. It's dark decreased Darkness. And we need to understand that our loved ones. Our friends are workmates. Our schoolmates are in darkness. It doesn't do any good. I'm going to be honest with you. It doesn't do any good. to suggest That my child whom I love dearly. Even though he's not a Christian is a good person and God going to take him in. That doesn't do any good that sues my heart for the present, but it does not remedy the situation for the permanent.

If we have friends who are in darkness, it does no good to say while you're there just as good as I am. It's not about being good. It's about being in Christ Jesus. His blood makes us good. That's the difference.

What about your work makes what about your schoolmates? Do you love them? Do you love your family? Do you like to chat? Do you love your aunt? And uncle do you love everybody?

You know a lot of us have people leaving real families who wandered away from Christ. They wanted away from the church and it hurts. But we got to keep making the attempt to bring them back. You notice the numbers on the board here. But not so good.

We're shrinking.

The Book of Revelation says that's dying we're dying on the vine. But the barn is Jesus Christ. any supposed to inject power interest and so the idea is to focus our attention now on Lost Souls. That's what he means what he says for you were once in darkness, but now light in the Lord do as children of God should do walk as children of light. And so part of being a Christian is to bring others to Christ and it begins it begins with your own family. If you love your child you love your spouse.

Make sure they get to know Jesus without Jesus and I'm not saying the person Jesus I'm saying the teaching of Jesus. That's what it means. You know the juice we have priced the what did the Jews have with Moses the law? What do we have with Christ the New Covenant the gospel the word the faith also known as words we have that we called the law of Christ. There was a lot of notice now. We had a lot of Christ or amitabul to him. That is we are to submit ourselves to him to his teaching. I want you to stress that for the people in our lives. We want everyone to go to heaven and I can't imagine. When I read those images of hell. I don't know how anybody could stand to think about that? I think about having your loved ones go there. When I read that it's internal. What I read of pitch darkness when I read of separation from Jesus Christ for an eternity. That means I can never pray. That won't help.

That means I can't I came to feel sorry for myself because it's over with.

What a travesty. We don't want people to go there. So it's incumbent upon each of us to be the light of the world.

Write Jesus says no man who has a light or a candle puts it under a lid and covers it. Rather he exposes it. He wants that light shine. So as a Christian as a child of God, we are to do our very best in example in word and deed and also to share Jesus with others that they too might make the determination to obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Now as we consider light for the next several weeks and want us to understand those things. These are Concepts that are vitally important for our salvation salvation, but we do know this that Christ indeed has illuminated the way of Salvation. Jesus said he that believes and is baptized shall be saved. That's a grand illumination. He says you believe in me believe in what I said be baptized. Mercedes But as down so we got to continue being faithful, right? So that's a start. The beginning. We've been a little bit and we're in the light of Jesus Christ, but now he says you keep shining your life. Don't let that like burn out some may have been there like to dim a little bit. Maybe they put a bowl over who knows but there's always a new day. His compassion is renewed every morning and every day's a new day and a new opportunity say Lord. I'm sorry. I'm coming back. I need your help. I know it's not going to be easy. But I know with you all things are possible.

If you're subject to the imitation of Jesus Christ was bored and want to come together as we stand inside.