Let your light shine

[0:00] Let your light shine. Let your light shine. That is my message tonight. Simple message really.

[0:17] ! And I trust a simple truth yet important, critical, foundational. Let your light shine. Our Lord Jesus says, Matthew 5 from verse 14, he says, Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

[0:35] Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick. And it giveth light unto all that are in the house. He's saying this lamp, this light, let it shine.

[0:48] Don't shroud it, hide it, cover it. Let it shine. Let it shine. Let your light shine so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

[1:03] Notice it says here, let your light shine. Ye are the light of the world. Not the light of the church, the light of the world. We're meant to shine out there, out amongst those that know not the Saviour.

[1:16] We're meant to be seen by men, seen by the world. Our Christianity, in other words, is not meant to be hidden away. Don't get that light and hide it away somewhere.

[1:30] Let it shine. Let it shine. Let it be seen of men. And our Christianity is meant to be evident and for the world to see. And the point is here really, don't hide your witness for Christ.

[1:43] Don't hide the light of your faith. Let it shine. Be a witness for Christ. Let your light so shine before men. We know that we are to do all things to the glory of God.

[1:57] That is the motive. That is the object. The aim for our lives. To do all things to the glory of God. And friends, tonight, this simple truth, if you can just grasp this simple truth, God wants you to shine.

[2:14] To shine. And people will notice that. And as a result of that, God will get the glory from your life. We represent heaven on earth.

[2:27] The question is, how is our light level? Are you only five watts? Maybe 25 watt? 100 watt?

[2:38] 200 watt? 2,000 watt? You know, wouldn't it be a blessing to know that our light is shining as bright as God wants it to? Light is called for.

[2:50] The Lord calls us to be light. To be a light set for all to see like a city set on a hill. What does light do? Light removes darkness.

[3:01] When light comes into the room, when you switch the light on, the darkness escapes. Light reveals danger. We think of lighthouses. They reveal danger. And light shows the path.

[3:13] When you're going down a path, you get the torch and you know where to tread. And we likewise are meant to shine as lights in the world. We're meant to shine. How?

[3:23] By our good works. By the good works that we do. And our good works should shout out His praise and His glory. So, just some thoughts around this theme of good works.

[3:35] The Bible speaks much about good works. Good works, what we are called to display. And what do they look like? Philippians 2 from verse 12.

[3:47] What does the Bible say about the good works we are called to display? Philippians 2 from verse 16. Verse 12 rather. Wherefore, my beloved, you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence.

[4:02] Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.

[4:13] Do all things without murmurings and disputings, that you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.

[4:28] Holding forth the word of life, that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. Paul tells the Philippians, let your light shine, work out your own salvation.

[4:42] God is at work in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure. And He's called us to shine where? As lights in this world. Though it be a crooked and perverse world, let us shine as lights in that dark place.

[4:58] How about you? How is your light? What watchage are you? How is your light? How can it shine brightly? How can it shine brighter still? We've not only received light, as the Lord Jesus is the light of the world, and we've received Him, but we've been made light.

[5:15] We've been made transmitters of light. Transmitters, reflectors of His glory. Now light is the opposite of darkness. What is your relationship with darkness?

[5:28] As a Christian, it should be a contrast, shouldn't it? There should be a contrast there. Do we dabble with darkness? Do we fellowship with darkness? The Bible says no, we should have no fellowship with darkness.

[5:41] For our light to shine brighter, we need to let go of those things that are doubtful. Those doubtful, dark things. And rather seek after good works to come and glorify God.

[5:56] And not blend in with the darkness. We see in Ephesians 5.11, it tells us clearly there have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

[6:07] Stand against them. Withstand them. Rebuke them. Reprove them. What could these works of darkness look like? We know the Bible tells us much of sin, of the works of darkness, of doubtful things, of the world, the flesh, the devil.

[6:21] These are things that we as believers want to steer widely from. Have a wide berth from them. Put a barge pole, as it were, between you and doubtful things. Doubtful associations.

[6:32] A mixture of error and truth. A spending of, wasting of time. You know, it boggles my mind how many spend time on things that are not profitable for their soul.

[6:46] Now, I question why some, for example, spend hours and hours playing useless video games. Why?

[6:57] Why are you doing that? Why are you doing that? Why are you doing that? Christian, be challenged. It's a time-wasting occupation. Some are playing with alcohol.

[7:09] It's playing with fire. With fire. Going to worldly events that promote rock music. We must be careful about who we are associating with. Who we're joining in with.

[7:20] Who we're promoting and participating with. It's darkness. If it's doubtful, it's darkness. And as God's people have been called out.

[7:31] Out of darkness. Out of darkness. 1 Peter 2 tells us, you know, a chosen generation. A royal priesthood. A holy nation. A peculiar people that you should show the fort.

[7:42] The praises of him. Who has called you out of darkness. Into his marvellous light. And so be encouraged. And so be encouraged. Be exhorted. Be challenged.

[7:52] Ask the Lord to convict you. To show you. Those things that are doubtful. Those things that are of darkness. To come out of them. Our world desperately needs light.

[8:03] And we're not to dabble with the darkness. But to dispel the darkness. God wants us to truly shine. What are the characteristics of light? The light shows what is real.

[8:14] And what is wrong. You know, you hold something up to the light. And you can see the imperfections. You can see the cracks and the faults.

[8:26] Whatever it is. When you hold it up to the light. You can see when a jeweler looks at some jewel. And they look at it in the light. And they magnify it.

[8:36] And they can see whether it is right. The light shows what is real. What is right. And what is wrong. And we have a responsibility to let our light shine.

[8:49] He expects us to. How can we shine God's light? The Lord Jesus says to us. Let your light so shine before men. That they may see your good works. And glorify your Father which is in heaven.

[9:02] It says we are meant to have good works. Good fruit. And so I urge each one tonight. So check out your wattage. What is your wattage?

[9:14] How is your faith? Is it working? Is it bright? Or is it dimmed? Does that globe need a bit of cleaning up as it were? That your light might shine brighter as a Christian. That you would remove that which dims your light.

[9:26] That dulls your light. In the sense of the spiritual shining. That we are meant to be bright and shining for God. And that our good works should spring forth out of faith.

[9:38] So how are we to do good works? We read that the word of God shows us how. 2 Timothy 3 says, All scripture is given by inspiration of God.

[9:49] And is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

[10:00] The man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. All scripture is given. Why? That we may be perfect. That we may be thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

[10:15] The word of God is precious. It's eternally true. And it's eternally relevant. And the voice of the shepherd speaks to his sheep through these pages today.

[10:28] By God's word we can be equipped for God's service. We also read that it is grace that teaches us to be a people zealous of good works. In Titus 2 we read from verse 12.

[10:40] Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. We should live righteously, soberly and godly in this present world. Looking for that blessed hope.

[10:50] And the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ. Who gave himself for us. That he might redeem us from all iniquity. And purify unto himself a peculiar people.

[11:02] Zealous of good works. There's that word again. Good works. God's will is that we be zealous of good works. And he's shown us how. By grace teaching us.

[11:12] So think of it now practically. On a practical level. I don't want this just to be a theoretical concept of good works.

[11:23] Without kind of expanding it. And prompting us to think. What are the good works that he's called us to? How about the good works he's called us to in our relationships?

[11:38] May they be loving and caring. He's called us to them. How about in our dress? Our Lord commands us to modest apparel. How about in our language?

[11:49] The Bible tells us to avoid coarse jesting. And vulgar and crude corrupt language. That our speech be gracious and godly. It's how we shine.

[12:01] It's how we shine. In all these ways. In our use of money. To be good stewards of it. To use it wisely. Not fritter it away. But to use it wisely.

[12:11] Invest it. Our music. Isn't that which is godly? That's god glorifying? Really? Question these things.

[12:23] How do we conduct ourselves in our day by day lives? When we're there at the coalface. In the work site. In the workforce. At the home place.

[12:37] How is our daily life? Our home life. Our work life. When the rubber hits the road. When church people aren't watching you. But your family's watching you.

[12:49] The community's watching you. Your workmates are watching you. Your schoolmates are watching you. Do we brighten the corner of the place where we live? Where we go about our lives?

[13:01] These are important questions for us. Brighten the corner of your world. Brighten the corner where you are. It's one of the purposes of the church too.

[13:13] To provoke one another unto love and to good works. That's what I'm exhorting you to today. That's what you can exhort me to. That's what we can exhort one another to.

[13:24] When we fellowship. There's an exhorting. A provoking one another. In a good way. I like to be provoked. In a good way. Provoked to love. One another.

[13:34] Provoked to serve one another. Provoked to good works. And so should we. And so be committed to your church fellowship. Let your light so shine before men.

[13:46] That they may see your good works. And glorify your Father which is in heaven. How are our works today? Ask yourself the question. How can my works be more brighter shining?

[13:58] How can my life be lived more brightly for God's glory? That God's will will bear fruit in my life? It says, our Lord shows us that he speaks of those who claim to be prophets and are false.

[14:15] He says by their works we can see the real from the false. You know, it's been truly said that God wants spiritual fruit. Not religious nuts. Spiritual fruit.

[14:26] Spiritual fruit. Not religious nuts. And God has ordained us to be fruitful. The Lord Jesus says, I want you to bear much fruit. I've designed you for them. That's my will for you.

[14:37] He's ordained us to good works. He's created us for this purpose. We read in Ephesians 2 from verse 8. For by grace are ye saved through faith that not of yourselves.

[14:50] It is the gift of God. Not of works lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works.

[15:04] Which God before hath ordained that we should walk in them. He's created us. You're his workmanship. You're shaped and designed and constructed and made with God's design, with God's will.

[15:17] That you produce good works. He wants you to be a Christian who brings forth good fruit, good works.

[15:27] And that our lives be filled with his glory. That we can lighten our darkness that we live in and give hope and joy. And show others the light of Christ shining in a dark place.

[15:42] Friends, think of it. This world is a dark and evil place. We know, we see the escalation of evil.

[15:55] We see that it's like a snowball, isn't it? What's going on? What people were horrified about last decade is almost blasé.

[16:09] You know, that's, oh, whatever it be. I don't really want to go into it. But we can see that it's picking up pace.

[16:20] And we see what the world accepts now, they wouldn't have accepted 10, 20 years ago. Those things that 10, 20 years ago were a criminal offence. Now they're walking down the streets and saying, come and join us.

[16:34] Come and celebrate our sin. Our gayness, whatever it be. When the Bible says there's nothing gay about it. Nothing at all.

[16:45] Friends, I pray we'll see the darkness of the world cause for light. We have to shine our light. We have to be that powerful picture of God's hope in a hopeless world.

[16:57] To bring light. To bring joy. To bring hope. And the ultimate aim for all of us is that as men, as women, we're called to good works.

[17:08] That will glorify God. God will be glorified. Friends, we're called to be ambassadors. Ambassadors. Ambassadors. The good works that we're called to is to be ambassadors.

[17:22] We don't represent this nation or any worldly, earthly nation. We represent the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.

[17:33] And we're called to a high and holy calling as ambassadors for Christ. Think of what an ambassador means. An ambassador is one who stands faithfully for their sovereign, their governor in a foreign land.

[17:49] As a representative to speak for and stand up for the kingdom that they represent in this foreign land. In honour of their king, their government, the one they've called to represent.

[18:05] They've been sent to represent. And so too for us. This is a foreign land. You know, I'm a foreigner here. I come from England. But England's not my home either.

[18:17] England's not my land. I don't belong to England. I'm a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven. I belong. My citizenship. My birthright is in that land.

[18:33] In that land. Yet to come. In that better country. And we speak for that better country. We speak for that great king that we have the honour of representing here on Earth. And so friends, that's the picture of us.

[18:46] In this land. In this world of darkness. We come as light bearers. As ambassadors for Christ. As representatives of our great God and King.

[18:57] And represent heaven on Earth. So we call to a godly character. To Christian conduct. And a conduct that matches the glorious gospel that we profess to believe.

[19:09] In Philippians 1.27. It says, Only let your conversation or your conduct, your way of life, how you live, let it be a conversation that is becoming of the gospel of Christ.

[19:22] So we call to live in a manner worthy of the gospel. What is the gospel? It's the great news. It's the glad news. It's the good news. Of God's saving grace.

[19:33] And our conduct should be becoming of that. Our conduct should not have a mismatch with that. That in what we say and do, we will honour our Lord and King and Master who we represent.

[19:45] And so we call to live a different life. A different culture. We're separated. A called out people. Yet living on this planet.

[19:57] For just a span. Just a season of time. And we're meant to represent this kingdom of God. As servants of God. And we represent our Lord wherever we go. All the time.

[20:08] We don't clock off. We're a bit like these police on the beat. If something's going wrong, they're expected to jump in and do something. Or the soldiers. The military. They really can be called onto duty at any time.

[20:22] Without notice. And they've suddenly got to serve. And say, I'm here to serve. I'm on duty. And as a Christian too. You are a 24 by 7 Christian.

[20:33] You don't clock on when you come to church. And then you can kind of clock off. And just go back to what the world does. And act just like your neighbour does. You're a Christian.

[20:44] 24 by 7 by 365. And so. We represent our Lord. Wherever we go. All the time.

[20:56] All the time. There's a man in the army of Alexander the Great. And his name happened to be Alexander. And one day he was accused of doing something wrong. Being a coward. Doing the wrong thing.

[21:07] And not standing up for what he was expected to do. As a soldier in Alexander the Great's army. And he was brought before Alexander the Great.

[21:20] The military commander. And Alexander the Great asked the man what his name was. And he replied softly. Alexander.

[21:32] I can't hear you. The ruler said. The man again said a little louder. Alexander. The process was repeated one more time. After which to Alexander the Great comment said. Either change your name.

[21:44] Or change your conduct. Amen. He didn't want the name Alexander. Dragged in the mud. By this poor representative. Of the name Alexander. What about us? We that bear the name Christian.

[21:56] We bear the name Christian. So we represent the kingdom of heaven. Do we represent our Lord well? Now this is not to condemn anyone.

[22:08] Or make us feel unworthy. None of us are worthy. All of us can lift our game. All of us can lift the bar. As it were. And try to pick up the pace.

[22:18] And press towards the mark. Forgetting those things that are behind. Where we've messed up. And press towards the mark. For the prize of the high calling. Of God in Christ Jesus.

[22:29] None of us are worthy. And all of us. At times. Speaking on myself. We don't always measure up. But let that not dissuade you.

[22:40] But rather. Encourage you. To dig deeper. And to go harder. When it comes to a time of giving account. Will we have represented. Our Lord well.

[22:51] I know I was speaking to a preacher. Recently. And how. It says. The preachers. That we will face. A greater judgment. There will be a greater judgment.

[23:02] On me. A greater judgment on me. And so. I want to make sure. I'm telling you. Crystal clear. The truth. God helping me too.

[23:15] By the grace of God. God. And. Woe to me. If I preach not the gospel. And woe to me. If I preach something that's wrong. I will be. Called to account.

[23:26] For that. And I've got to give account. For your souls. Let it be with joy. Not with grief. I'd like to hope and pray. That. That you will finish strong.

[23:39] That's my hope and prayer for you. That you'll finish strong. In the gospel race. And so. When it comes to. A time of giving account. Well we have represented. Our Lord well. And honour his name that we bear.

[23:51] Do our lips match our lives? Do our. Does our walk match the talk? And. In all the practical things of life. Our Lord says again.

[24:01] Let your light so shine before me. That they may see your good works. And glorify your father which is in heaven. Your father. Which is in heaven. So what do these good works look like again?

[24:12] And here's some scriptures. We could just. Touch on. And there's many many more. Through the word. That we could think. There's so many scriptures. Matthew 5. This was read. In the context of.

[24:24] How to. Live that life. Of being a light. Of being soul. Titus 2. Is another example. We can look at. Young men likewise. Exhort to being. Sober minded. In all things.

[24:34] Showing yourself. A pattern. Of good works. There's that word again. Good works. That phrase again. Indoctrine. Showing incorruptness. Gravity. Sincerity. Sound speech.

[24:45] That cannot be condemned. But he that is of. The contrary part may be ashamed. Having no evil thing. To say of you. Above reproach. Above reproach.

[24:55] Again. So. What you say in church. And how you act in church. It's not just putting on a front. It's not just putting on a performance. But that you are.

[25:06] The real deal. Monday morning. Through. Saturday night. Does the world find something evil. In us. To say of us.

[25:17] Let's not give them any ammunition. Amen. Don't give them any ammunition. Rather. That they'll have nothing. No evil thing.

[25:30] To save you. Wouldn't that be good? That's God's will. Isn't it? Are we showing ourselves a pattern. A role model of good works. For others to follow. Look there again.

[25:41] It says. A pattern of good works. A doctrine showing. Uncorruptness. Gravity. Sincerity. Sound speech. These are the aspects of life. That we call to. Make that honest self-assessment.

[25:52] Someone has said. If it looks like a duck. Acts like a duck. Sounds like a duck. It must be a duck. Now that may not always be so. No. There's lots of. Lots of lovely Mormons.

[26:02] Who look like a Christian. And act like a Christian. And sound like a Christian. But they're not. Because they haven't trusted. The grace of God. But. Let's look like a Christian.

[26:13] Act like a Christian. Sound like a Christian. Let's. Condor. Not mismatch. Our claims. In Christ. And. We're living in a corrupt culture. Matthew 5.

[26:23] Tells us. How it's a function like salt. To the world. Salt. Counteracts. Corruption. Doesn't it? And so should we. This world is hostile to believers.

[26:34] The world is looking at you. All the time. As it were. Through the microscope. Looking at you. To find fault with you. Those. Who want to pick on you.

[26:45] Oh. Gosh. She's a Christian. Ha. He's a Christian. Look at what he did. The world is hostile. To believers. And it's like sometimes. We're living in a fish bowl.

[26:56] Isn't it? We're always getting looked at. Watched constantly. The world just loves to catch Christians. Behaving badly. To trip us up. Let your light so shine before men.

[27:08] That they may see your good works. Your good works. And then they can glorify your father which is in heaven. So let's be consistent in our witness. Be encouraged today.

[27:20] To let's determine. God helping us to. That we're not going to let our guard down. We're not going to give ground to the enemy.

[27:31] We're going to try rock solid. Trusting in Christ. To help us through. One day at a time. One step at a time. One challenge at a time.

[27:42] And know that our good works will witness. They will show our faith. Paul judged young Timothy. In 1 Timothy 4.12. Let no man despise thy youth. But be thou an example to the believers.

[27:55] In word. In conversation. In charity. In spirit. In faith. In purity. Are we living as examples to others? There's. You know. I've heard it said. Really.

[28:06] And it's true. Is that we're all leaders. There's no leaders in the church. That are above another. Really. We're all servants together.

[28:17] And we're all leaders. In our own way. So that younger Christians are looking to you. You've been a Christian. Some of you could say. I've been a Christian. 20 years. 25 years. 30 years.

[28:29] Those that are younger than you. In the faith. Will look up to you. You are leading them. Parents. You are leading your children. By what you say.

[28:39] And by what you do. Be thou an example. An example. And another case. It says. In another verse. It says. 2 Timothy 2.

[28:51] That we're like vessels. Prepared by our Lord. For every good work. It says. If a man therefore purge himself from these. Talking about wicked things.

[29:02] Getting it. Cleaning up our act. If you like. He shall be a vessel. Unto honour. A vessel. A vessel. A vessel. A containment. Filled with God.

[29:13] As it were. A vessel. To God's honour and praise. Sanctified. Made holy. In other words. Meat. Made fit. For the Master's use. And prepared. Unto every good work.

[29:24] There's that word again. Friends. God calls us to be vessels. Some are vessels to wrath. Some are vessels to honour. Vessels.

[29:36] Containers. Of God's glory. Fit for the Master to use. And that's what God wants for us. Each of us today. Our Christian profession. It should make a difference.

[29:47] In every day. Ephesians 5. Verse 8. It says. For you are sometimes darkness. But now. You are light. In the Lord. Walk as children of light. Here's what someone said.

[29:57] You are writing a gospel. A chapter each day. By the deeds that you do. And the words that you say. Men read what you write. Whether faithful. Or true.

[30:08] Just what is the gospel. According to you. Our Lord does not leave us. Without his help. In these things. You might feel. This is just. Impossible for me. I failed.

[30:18] And failed. And failed. And I'll probably fail again. But you have the indwelling spirit. Of God. You have God's indwelling power.

[30:30] His. Spiritual power. The power. And strength. Of God Almighty. In the person. Of the Holy Spirit. And he will help you. He will strengthen you. He will empower you.

[30:42] And he will use you. For his good work. So friends. Be encouraged today. To lean on him. To find your strength in him. In the spirit's power. To stand out from the world.

[30:52] Not blend in. Not join in the works of darkness. But shine the light. Brightly shine. For God's glory. Be that forthright witness. Not a weak. And compromised.

[31:04] Blended in Christianity. Get that. Get that light. And give it a bit of a shine. Now. What's dimming your witness for Christ? Ask God to help you.

[31:15] To shine brighter for him. To not have a compromised standard. Where you just go with the flow of the world. And you just. Act just like your neighbour does.

[31:26] Who doesn't know Christ. God forbid that I should glory. The world's crucified to me. Galatians 6. Friends.

[31:36] Be encouraged today. Paul. Sees this world as a corrupt system. Rotten. Vile. It should be crucified to us. And we to it. And we are called to.

[31:48] Let our light shine. John the Baptist was called a burning. And shining light. A burning. And shining light. We see back through. The pages of scripture.

[31:59] We see through the record of church history. The men and women of God. Some of them were burned. At the stake. Yeah. Because of their faith. They were on fire. Literally.

[32:11] Burnt to death because of their witness for Christ. As a burning and shining light. God wants us to be that doesn't he? He wants us to shine. He wants us to shine as lights in this darkened and Christ forsaking world.

[32:24] He wants you to shine. Brother. He wants you to shine. Sister. He wants you to shine. What are some of the ways that we can make our faith shine? That's a personal question for you to consider.

[32:35] And I pray you'll reflect on that question. Let us pray.