A CONTRAST COMMUNITY: Light 對照的社區：亮光

“You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:14–16 CNVT

你們是世上的光。建在山上的城是無法隱藏的；人點了燈，不會放在量器底下，而是放在燈臺上，就照亮一家人。照樣，你們的光也應當照在人前，讓他們看見你們的好行為，又頌讚你們在天上的父。

MPS: Because Christ lives in you, He shines through you, to make visible the invisible God.

INTRO: Being different to stand out: all about personal glory. Jesus has called us to SHINE, to stand out, but not for our glory but for the glory of God our Father.

CHRIST IN YOU

You are the light of the world你是世界的光

A World In Darkness

First parents sin: Adam and Eve

We choose sin, we are blindfolded

God Promises A Deliverer

Jesus’ prophecies

Isaiah 42:6 CSB

“I am the Lord. I have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will hold you by your hand. I will watch over you, and I will appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations,

Isaiah 9:2 CSB

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness.

Isaiah 42:6 CNVT

「我耶和華憑著公義呼召了你；我必緊拉著你的手，我必保護你，立你作人民的約，作列國的光，

Isaiah 9:2 CNVT

行在黑暗中的人民，看見了大光；住在死蔭之地的人，有光照耀他們。

Jesus comes!

First thing that is said about Him?

Luke 2:32 CSB

a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory to your people Israel.

Luke 2:32 CNVT

為要作外族人啟示的光，和你民以色列的榮耀。」

Light to the nations True light that enlightens everyone Delivers from darkness How do we get delivered?

John 8:12 CSB

Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12 CNVT

耶穌又對眾人說：「我是世界的光，跟從我的，必定不在黑暗裡走，卻要得著生命的光。」

It is by believing in the true light We become children of light(light of the world) . Let just stop right here and make this clear church family. The only way we are saved from our spiritual darkness is by trusting in Christ and Christ alone. It isn’t through being enlightened or Jesus plus anything else. It is only through repenting and trusting in the Jesus. Have you trusted in Jesus? If you haven’t come to Christ as the true light that saves your from darkness, you are still walking in spiritual darkness. I

We receive same commission as Jesus

Acts 13:47 CSB

For this is what the Lord has commanded us: I have made you a light for the Gentiles to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 13:47 CNVT

因為主曾這樣吩咐我們說：『我已立你作外族人的光，使你把救恩帶到地極去。』」

YOU, Church, are the light of the world: not just who you will be, but who you ARE. Right now wherever you are at we the church, are the light of the world.

We can hate on the church we can be critical of the church, but there is NO PLAN B. The local church is the vehicle for God’s work on this earth.

Ephesians 3:10 CSB

This is so that God’s multi-faceted wisdom may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens.

Ephesians 3:10 CNVT

為了要使天上執政的和掌權的，現在藉著教會都可以知道　神各樣的智慧。

Christ in YOU church, is the light of the world. We have been given the light of the Gospel.

illustration: everyone walking in darkness and someone comes and hands you the flashlight: you know that you did not create that light yourself, but it was given to you and you are shining it for everyone to see. This is what we have been given in Christ. Not enlightenment or spirituality, but the true light of the Gospel. That means our visible witness must, must, must, must be about the Gospel of Jesus. Can’t just be social works, but must be about the Gospel of Jesus, because morality is not the light of the world, JESUS is.

Christ SHINES THROUGH YOU

Matthew 5:16 CSB

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16 CNVT

照樣，你們的光也應當照在人前，讓他們看見你們的好行為，又頌讚你們在天上的父。

Let your light shine: who or what is our light? Jesus

LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING. As disciples of Jesus, Jesus says your faith must be visible to the world around you. Not hidden but visible. Not covered, but let shine.

“To flee into invisibility is to deny the call. Any community of Jesus which wants to be invisible is no longer a community that follows Him.”

What does it look like for our faith to be visible? Good works:

Need to explain what good works are

good works are not the products of human effort alone, but are the outworking of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit They include, the fruit of the Spirit, they include a labor of love, service, speech, Always the result of our salvation not why we are saved(dead works trying to be saved, good works done by those who are already saved) Always done through the power of the Holy Spirit Can’t do them apart from our fellowship with Jesus

HIT THIS. Our ability to shine comes from our fellowship(our union) with the true light. John 15. You can do nothing apart from me.

Think about the MOON and the Sun. The sun is the source of light, the moon is just reflecting that lightBE LIKE A STOVE THAT GIVES OFF HEAT. We are the vessel for the light(that the unsurpassed power belongs to God and not to us!”)

Same for us John 15?

What is the result?

So that the world might SEE, again this is something they SEE, not just hear.

Handle Matthew 6:1, that is motivated by self-glorification, not God glorification.

performers to the max. Lockdown probably has taken you through emotional highs and lows:

Give glory to who? God the Father Not concerned with the amount but the motivation of your heart.

not to be seen by others:

not motivated to impress to prove guilt condemnation, ect, but the glory of God alone.

2 Peter 1:3 CSB

His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

2 Peter 1:3 CNVT

神以他神聖的能力，因著我們確實認識那位用自己的榮耀和美善呼召我們的，把一切有關生命和敬虔的事，都賜給了我們。

The Sin of Fear

If there is one thing that will stop us from living out this calling it is fear.

Don’t hide, don’t put it under a basket. Last week we talked about the sin of pride, but now Jesus is saying that fear, fear of man, fear of death, fear of shame, ect will hinder us from having the influence Christ has called us to have.

Look at fear in the Bible. This is how the enemy works. Satan does not know your thoughts. HE is not god. But he has had all of history to tempt and wage war against us. Satan knows that fear works. . Have you ever wondered why you might get afraid about sharing the Gospel with someone? Praying for someone? Inviting someone to church? Because we are in a spiritual battle, enemy begins to whisper fear into your heart and into your mind.

He does this with me: you aren’t smart enough, you aren’t wise enough, your aren’t holy enough? And the answer to all of those accusations is: satan is right! I’m not smart enough, I’m not wise enough, I do have my own issues, but do you know WHO IS wise enough, perfect enough, strong enough, holy enough? Jesus Christ, the living Son of God, and HE lives in me and through me!

Greater is He who lives in me than he who is in the world.

So how do we overcome this fear?

Jesus gives us the power right here in this verse

Give glory to who? Your Father.

Right here placed at the end of these verses Jesus gives us the grace to overcome our fear and shine as lights in the world.

First time in Matthew that God is referred to as Father.

This is the #1 name for God. 65x’s in Matthew-Luke, 100x in John= 165x’s in the Gospels.

Jesus is trying to tell you something. The power to overcome fear and live as lights in the world is from trusting in the goodness of our Father.

Walking in the dark with my son. What does he do? Holds my hand tighter. Stays closer. Listens to my every word.

Church family we are called to be lights in a dark world, in the same way, how we overcome fear is not trying to do it alone, trying to just be strong enough, but we overcome fear by grabbing ahold of our Father’s hand, staying close to Him, listening to His every word.

When you are walk in fear, do you think more about who Christ is IN YOU, or about the enemy who is against you?

Isaiah 26:3 CSB

You will keep the mind that is dependent on you in perfect peace, for it is trusting in you.

Isaiah 26:3 CNVT

專心倚靠你的，你必保護他一切平安，因為他倚靠你。

Church family, would you join me in repenting of this sin? the battle we fight is not against flesh and blood, not against governments and people, it is a battle right here in our minds and it is a battle of faith and truth. How many of us feel crippled by fear? Fear will hurt your witness. It is a sin that needs to be repented of. Sin wants to oppress you where you don’t want to be a visible witness to Christ who lives in you. It’s not about us. It’s Jesus living in us and through us.

ILLUSTRATION:

SO WHAT does this mean for you? Stop trying to live for Jesus and let Jesus live through you.

God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. God is not glorified when I am full of myself, but when I am full of Him. God is not glorified when we rest in our own power trying to do good works fo Him, He is glorified when He does His works through us.

So shining as lights in this world?

Not about performance, about surrender.

Listen, if you’ll pray “God I want you to get glory from my life.” You will shine. CityLight will shine if that is our prayer. But the minute that this becomes about us, about you trying to prove yourself, about us trying to make a name for ourselves, our light will begin to fade.

Husbands instead of trying to control your wives or kids, what if we stopped and said, Jesus have your way in me and through me. I can not control people, but You can work through me

Wives what if instead of comparing yourselves to other moms or other wives, you just prayed “Jesus it’s not me trying to live like other people, but would You live your life through me?”

Single people: “I’m gonna challenge you and everyone else with this: do not give in to the lie that says God can not use you until you are married. If you will pray right now, and surrender, and say God have your way, glorify Yourself in my life, watch what HE will do.”