The Sermon on the Mount-The King’s Mandate: Send the Light
Sermon Series: The Life of Jesus: From Creation to the Cradle to the Cross to the Crown
Sermon Title: The Sermon on the Mount-The King’s Mandate: Send the Light
Sermon Text: Matthew 5: 14-16
Sermon Date: 9-25-2016
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all 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 who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16 ESV)
The supreme matter in the Kingdom is character; character is the issue. The character described in the Beatitudes makes it possible for us to affect the world. Having magnificently come to know the principles and the qualities that render us effective for God, that bring us into His Kingdom, that make us distinct from the world, He now tells us, "Move out into the world with that marvelous distinctiveness, find those that are lost, and bring them to Christ."
Salt is hidden; you don't see it at all. It just melts away into whatever it flavors or preserves. It works secretly to preserve from the inside, but light shines on the outside, and light is open and working visibly. In other words, salt is the influence of Christian character; it is quiet but powerful. Light is the communication of the content of the Gospel.
Light is a popular motif in scripture expressing a true knowledge of God
Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation.”
John 1 talks of Jesus being the light
John the Baptist father Zechariah prophesized Jesus being the light in Luke 1: 77-79
“to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Jesus calls himself the light of the world in John 8:12 “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."
1 Peter 2:9 “ But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
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The Faithfulness of Courageous Light
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Light conquers Darkness
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Light colors drabness
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Light changes deadness
II. The Forcefulness of Collective Light “a city set on a hill”
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By Surrender
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There is Light of an Institution
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There is the Light of an Individual
B. By Sharing
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By being a witness to the lost
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By being a witness to the Lord
C. By Sacrifice
D. By Sanctification
III. The Foolishness of Concealed Light
So far in 2016 over 800,000 babies have been aborted, the Church needs to shine the blessed light of Jesus
So far in 2016 31,361 Suicides, the Church needs to shine the blessed light of Jesus
So far in 2016 47,000 people died of drug overdose, the Church needs to shine the blessed light of Jesus
100% of the people who die without Christ will go to hell, the Church needs to shine the blessed light of Jesus
The whole world is lost in the darkness of sin…The light of the world is Jesus
Like sunshine at noon day, His glory shone in….The light of the world is Jesus
“Light has always been a biblical metaphor of truth and healing. It was used by Jesus to describe Himself (cf. Jn. 9:5). The question is not, ‘Will you be the light of the world?’ As a believer, you are the light of the world. The only real question is, ‘What kind of light will you be?’”