WEBVTT

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 Okay, so we're continuing to think about the tabernacle as this visual aid for worship,

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 revealing spiritual realities to us. And when we come to the lampstand,

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 I think we're invited to think of God's shining glory. The lesson of the lampstand is,

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 here is the God of infinite shining glory, who comes to live among His people,

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 and who wants His glory to shine in all the world. And the way that He tells that lesson is through

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 this lamp that's always burning. Now, we can look outside our windows, and we recognize we are now

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 hitting the depths of winter. It's that time of year where we begin to long for the light, either

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 sunlight, or we long to get the Christmas tree lights out. It's nice to see decorations go up.

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 Some people find it a really hard time of year. They also get the sad lamps out. Darkness can be

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 hard, and light is good for us. Also in the dark, and this is something that we'll come back to,

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 if you're going to visit someone, and you see the lights on in the window, then you know that they

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 are at home. And that's important to what's happening in the temple. Because think about the

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 scene. So remember, this is a group of people living in tents in the wilderness. So as night would fall,

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 as darkness would come at dusk, there in the center of the camp, because God's tent is right there in

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 the middle. At the heart of their national life, they have a lamp that continues to shine brightly.

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 And here is this visual reminder, this symbol, that God would bring joy to the hearts of His people,

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 because God Himself has come to be at home with them, to be their light and to be their salvation,

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 Psalm 27. Of course, we also use the imagery of light and darkness to speak to spiritual needs.

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 So this week, the Free Church had their national day of prayer on Wednesday. And as we pray for the

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 nation, we recognize that for many people, there is a spiritual darkness, a lack of understanding and

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 knowledge of who the true God is. Our greatest need as people is to know the God who describes Himself

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 as light and with whom there is no darkness at all. To know God the Creator who said,

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 let there be light, and there was light, and then there was everything that came to be.

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 And we need to know this God is our Redeemer, our Savior. Also, the one who said,

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 2 Corinthians 4 verse 6, let light shine out of darkness, has made His light shine in our hearts

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 to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ Jesus. This is the

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 God of light that we need to know, our Creator and our Savior. And wonderfully, for everyone who is here

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 who's a Christian, we have that testimony, we have that experience that once there was darkness, and we

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 were in darkness, but now there is light in the Lord. But it's also for us as well, our great mission,

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 that people would know this God. And it's the great need of people that don't know God. And so we need to

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 think about the truths of this lampstand, both for what it says about God and what it also says about our mission,

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 as the people of God, that with God's help, we might in some way

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 be dazzled by the truths represented by this lampstand, the truth that God is with us,

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 the truth that God provides for us,

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 the amazing privilege that God wants us to shine for Him,

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 and especially,

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 perhaps especially at this time of year, that in Jesus God sends the true light

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 into the world. So we're going to think about those four

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 simple things. The first truth,

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 that God is

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 with us.

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 Verse 31

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 we're introduced to a description of the lampstand.

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 Make a lampstand of pure gold.

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 And it's beautiful. It's got flower-like cups.

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 It's got buds and blossoms.

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 And we thought about this in the tabernacle, that the gold of the tabernacle speaks of beauty.

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 It speaks of royalty.

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 It speaks of glory.

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 In Exodus chapter 27, we discover that this lampstand, one of the jobs of the priests

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 was to make sure that there was always oil for the lamp, that the lamp was always burning.

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 And so God always wants His glory to be on display.

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 God has already chosen to identify Himself with light.

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 And light throughout the Bible comes to be identified then with ideas of God's purity,

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 God's glory, and God's presence.

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 The Lord is my light and my salvation.

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 In the book of Exodus, it's a key theme.

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 God appeared to Moses

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 in the burning bush.

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 And it's significant, I think, that the lampstand looks a bit like a tree.

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 And God has also been appearing to the people of Israel day by day in this pillar of fire,

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 going before them and guiding them.

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 So because the light is a symbol of God's presence,

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 it stands to reason that this lampstand needs to be beautiful,

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 because God is glorious.

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 But we need to recognize that this lampstand,

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 it both displays God's glory.

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 It's intended to show to Israel and indeed to the nations that God is glorious.

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 But it's also an indication of His grace.

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 Because one of the things that's really important about the lampstand

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 is that it enables the priests to do their work.

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 They are to minister in God's presence both day and night.

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 But if they didn't have the lampstand,

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 they wouldn't be able to work.

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 So God is making provision

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 so that the priests can come near to God.

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 And the priests are God's representative for the people

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 and the people's representative before God.

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 And so God is allowing His people to draw near.

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 So it displays His glory and His grace.

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 So again, if we go back to the camp, Israel's camp,

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 tens of thousands of tents in the wilderness,

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 and they would all be lit up by their own little candles.

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 But there in the middle, there's this great lamp.

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 There's this one tent that shines more brightly.

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 It's God's tent.

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 That when darkness came and it was time for lights out

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 and every other tent,

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 one light would still be seen glowing dimly behind the curtain.

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 God's light.

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 God's glory.

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 God's presence.

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 God's grace.

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 Permanent reality for the people of God.

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 And so the lampstand then illuminates this truth for us

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 that in Jesus, the God of glory and grace will come near.

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 That He will come as the light of love and truth

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 shining in the darkness.

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 That just as God provided for His people in the Old Testament,

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 so in a new way God has provided for us today

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 light in our darkness.

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 Whether that's the darkness of fear

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 or loneliness or suffering.

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 Because He's given us Himself.

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 That the truth of Jesus, the glory of Jesus

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 is able to shine through and penetrate

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 and bring light and life.

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 Because God is with us, the lampstand says.

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 Here's the second truth that we can learn from the lampstand.

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 God provides for us.

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 We need to do a little bit of thinking with this one.

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 So think about designers that we are familiar with.

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 Designers like to use branding

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 so we can easily identify their products.

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 You see a Nike swoosh.

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 You know exactly who made it.

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 You see those flowers.

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 And you know those are Rennie Macintosh flowers.

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 We understand the connection between a designer

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 and what they produce.

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 In verse 40, we're reminded that this lampstand

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 was to be made according to God's great design.

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 See that you make them according to the pattern

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 shown you on the mountain.

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 So God designs.

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 Every part of the tabernacle is designed by God.

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 We've got a special emphasis here.

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 So God wants to be identified with this lampstand.

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 And the details that we find within the lampstand

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 then reveal truths about the grand designer.

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 Because it's an amazing design.

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 Think about verse 32.

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 Let's read that.

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 Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand.

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 Three on one side and three on the other.

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 So this tree, so people that know their botany,

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 have long identified this as looking somewhat like an olive tree.

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 So there's these pairs of upward curving branches.

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 We know what the lampstand looks like with that central trunk.

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 And so there's these seven lamps.

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 There's this complete light.

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 And it represents an olive tree.

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 Now why is that important?

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 Because the olive tree is one of those images

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 that God uses in the Old Testament

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 to represent His people Israel.

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 You can find that in Psalm 52, Jeremiah 11, Hosea 14.

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 So the lampstand is a reminder

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 that God has established His people as His own.

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 He's given a new identity.

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 They are the people of God.

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 Think about all that we've seen in the book of Exodus.

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 He has chosen them.

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 And He's made promises to them.

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 And He's acted in power to save them.

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 And He's met with them.

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 And He's given them the law.

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 And they've established covenant together.

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 And now He lives right among them.

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 And so they are His people.

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 And He is absolutely committed to them.

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 God the designer wants to communicate that.

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 But it's not just that it's like an olive tree.

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 There's all those mentions about the almonds.

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 Verse 33,

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 Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms

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 are to be on the branch.

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 Three on the next.

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 And the same for all six branches.

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 So it's a bit like an olive tree.

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 And it's a bit like an almond tree.

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 Now what is the significance of the almond tree?

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 Well, if you think about Aaron's staff in the book of Exodus,

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 that's what it's made of.

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 We discover at one point when there's a challenge to Moses and Aaron's authority,

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 God shows that Aaron is His man because His staff, the almond staff, buds and blossoms.

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 But the staff of Aaron is a symbol through the book of Exodus of God's presence,

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 of God's miracles, of God's rescue mission.

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 And so within the lampstand, there is this highlighting of the fact that God has provided

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 for His people's salvation.

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 So He's given them this new identity and He's brought them salvation.

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 But it's also recognized as a general principle that this tree with lights in the middle,

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 scholars will all agree with this, that it's a reminder of an earlier tree,

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 a tree that we meet in the book of Genesis, the tree of light.

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 I think when we first spoke about the tabernacle, we went back to the Garden of Eden,

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 the Garden of Eden as the original sanctuary, this holy place where God has placed Adam and Eve

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 and where He meets with them, sanctuary.

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 And in the center of the sanctuary in the Garden of Eden, there was the tree of light with the promise of the gift of life if Adam and Eve would live in covenant obedience.

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 And now we come to another sanctuary, the tabernacle, and we have that same truth represented this time by the lampstand,

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 which looks like a tree.

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 So the God of grace has given a new identity.

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 He is the God who has saved them, and He is the God who provides and promises life with Himself in this covenant relationship,

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 calling them to faith and obedience, calling us to faith and obedience.

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 So the lampstand speaks to us of how God provides for us.

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 This week I came across an interesting article, Big Five Moments in Lighting History.

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 It's not really a passion of mine, but it's amazing what you find on the internet.

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 Top five moments in lighting history.

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 When they discover fire.

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 That was the first one, obviously.

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 Then the light bulb, which was quite some time after.

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 And then after the light bulb, it's all kind of similar.

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 There's the fluorescent, I can say that word, lights.

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 And then sometime in the 60s, LED lighting.

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 The interesting one now, coming out of Edinburgh Uni, Li-Fi.

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 So the idea that lighting can be used as a Wi-Fi router.

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 That you can get this fast data transfer.

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 So like airports, some airplanes are now using this Li-Fi technology.

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 And so I was thinking about, you know, if we were to see one of the, I don't even know what they look like.

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 But if we were to see a Li-Fi bulb, and we were to ask ourselves, what does the designer value?

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 Well, we would know that he values light.

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 But also, the information and connectivity and technology are really important.

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 When we look at this lampstand that God has designed, and he's given that design to Moses, what matters to our God?

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 What does he value as we look at that lampstand?

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 He wants his people to understand that he is their provider.

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 He is our provider.

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 He is our light.

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 He is our life.

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 He is our salvation.

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 And he shows us that even more clearly in the sending of his Son, the Lord Jesus.

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 That God in Christ provides our salvation by his coming into this world and by his going to the cross in order to die to redeem us.

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 That God in Christ provides for our new identity.

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 We become children of God by putting our faith in him.

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 That God in Christ gives the gift of life, eternal life, which is to know the Father and Jesus, the Son who was sent.

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 And so we have this wonderful promise, this wonderful hope.

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 And we've discovered it to be true if we're Christians.

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 In our darkness, in our confusion, in our searching, there is light.

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 There is the provision of light.

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 And there is Jesus, the Son of God, who says, come to me.

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 Come to the light and find true life.

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 So that's the second truth.

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 Here's the third one.

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 It's that God sends us as his people to shine.

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 So we need to do a little bit of work for this as well.

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 So remember, these are a wilderness people.

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 They are a people on the move.

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 They've been called out of slavery in Egypt.

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 They've come to Mount Sinai.

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 And they still need to get to the Promised Land.

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 They need to get to Canaan.

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 And they're being invited to build this tabernacle, which is a tent.

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 So the people are on the move.

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 And the tabernacle, the tent of God's presence, is also on the move.

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 And as they go, led by the pillar of fire and the pillar of cloud, they go as a people on a mission.

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 And that mission, of course, is God's mission.

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 And it takes us back to God's original purpose for people, for all people.

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 That God has made us in his image that we would glorify him.

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 God wants his glory to spread, to shine in the world.

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 Creation of Adam and Eve.

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 The first image bearers.

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 Their calling was to live in obedience to God, to live in this perfect garden, to live

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 in perfect relationship with God, and to spread the glory of God, to move it beyond the Garden

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 of Eden, that the glory of God might fill the earth.

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 Now, of course, we know that they failed in that mission because they wanted to take glory

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 to themselves.

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 And so they rejected God's Word and God's will, and sin came.

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 And now Israel has been given this same task.

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 Book of Exodus, they're described as God's Son.

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 And they too are set apart in order to display his glory among the nations, that they will

00:17:35.119 --> 00:17:37.259
 become the light of the world.

00:17:38.639 --> 00:17:43.240
 They are supposed to live literally with God at the center of their existence in true worship

00:17:43.240 --> 00:17:49.839
 and true obedience, as a pilgrim people of God, walking through places of intense spiritual

00:17:49.839 --> 00:17:50.380
 darkness.

00:17:51.460 --> 00:17:55.920
 The people that they would meet, they would always be worshiping a whole variety of different

00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:56.359
 gods.

00:17:56.940 --> 00:18:01.079
 They would have these small gods for the land and the sea and the crops and fertility and

00:18:01.079 --> 00:18:02.000
 all of these things.

00:18:02.900 --> 00:18:04.940
 And they needed the light of truth to shine.

00:18:04.940 --> 00:18:06.700
 That was Israel's job.

00:18:07.660 --> 00:18:13.259
 In that sense, their mission was an attractional one, to attract others to God's light.

00:18:15.080 --> 00:18:17.180
 Like moths are drawn to flame.

00:18:17.400 --> 00:18:24.539
 As the people of the nations saw the unique way in which Israel lived and worshipped, they

00:18:24.539 --> 00:18:26.299
 were to be drawn to the true God.

00:18:26.299 --> 00:18:32.579
 No one else has the true God living with them like those people.

00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:36.240
 No one else has good laws like God's people.

00:18:36.680 --> 00:18:37.980
 I'm going to join them.

00:18:38.539 --> 00:18:40.259
 That's how the mission was supposed to go.

00:18:40.339 --> 00:18:41.460
 How did Israel get on?

00:18:41.579 --> 00:18:47.099
 Well, we understand, don't we, that ultimately they too would fail, that so often what happened

00:18:47.099 --> 00:18:48.579
 instead was that they were drawn away.

00:18:48.680 --> 00:18:50.359
 They were drawn into the darkness.

00:18:51.659 --> 00:18:53.259
 But there was always that promise.

00:18:53.259 --> 00:18:59.720
 And it becomes really clear in the prophet Isaiah, I think especially, of this servant,

00:18:59.859 --> 00:19:04.660
 this chosen one, this son, this true Israel who would come as the light of the world.

00:19:04.740 --> 00:19:11.019
 And Jesus comes as the light of the world and he succeeds where all before him failed.

00:19:12.379 --> 00:19:17.240
 And so the beauty and the glory of God is in Jesus on full display.

00:19:17.240 --> 00:19:25.039
 And he is building the church and he is extending the glory of God by drawing people to himself.

00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:29.960
 Calling people out of the darkness of sin.

00:19:32.220 --> 00:19:35.420
 And causing people to enjoy the gift of God's salvation.

00:19:37.099 --> 00:19:40.720
 And so he stands up and says, I am the light of the world on multiple occasions.

00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:47.079
 But he also says to his church, you are the light of the world.

00:19:48.880 --> 00:19:50.980
 As he sends the church on mission.

00:19:52.100 --> 00:19:54.339
 We've seen it in the book of Revelation.

00:19:55.120 --> 00:20:01.440
 The lampstands in Revelation represent God's churches.

00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:04.759
 And Jesus is with his churches.

00:20:05.539 --> 00:20:07.940
 And he gives power and grace to his churches.

00:20:08.039 --> 00:20:13.940
 And those churches are to shine with God's glory for God's glory.

00:20:14.059 --> 00:20:20.180
 So our mission as the people of God, like Old Testament Israel,

00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:22.180
 is to be the light of the world.

00:20:23.299 --> 00:20:24.580
 That in the way that we live.

00:20:25.460 --> 00:20:26.559
 And in the way that we love.

00:20:26.600 --> 00:20:27.500
 In the way that we work.

00:20:28.360 --> 00:20:29.600
 In the way that we worship.

00:20:29.599 --> 00:20:33.980
 That we are to display the grace and the glory of God.

00:20:35.019 --> 00:20:36.459
 As Paul puts it in Philippians.

00:20:36.539 --> 00:20:40.579
 We're called to shine in a crooked generation like stars in the sky.

00:20:40.799 --> 00:20:43.819
 As we hold firmly to the word of life.

00:20:45.259 --> 00:20:46.319
 But how do we do that?

00:20:46.399 --> 00:20:47.519
 How do we shine?

00:20:48.639 --> 00:20:55.419
 In such a way that we might lead people towards God and salvation.

00:20:56.740 --> 00:20:57.740
 To help us.

00:20:58.519 --> 00:20:59.579
 Swallows and Amazons.

00:20:59.939 --> 00:21:01.639
 That classic novel.

00:21:01.899 --> 00:21:03.519
 Made into a film fairly recently.

00:21:05.019 --> 00:21:06.139
 Hopefully some of us.

00:21:06.159 --> 00:21:07.980
 I know some of us are familiar with it.

00:21:08.599 --> 00:21:12.219
 But it is a family.

00:21:12.740 --> 00:21:13.459
 Some children.

00:21:13.959 --> 00:21:15.779
 Who have holidays in the Lake District.

00:21:15.879 --> 00:21:17.379
 And when they have holidays they go sailing.

00:21:17.819 --> 00:21:20.659
 And on these sailing expeditions they come across an island.

00:21:20.759 --> 00:21:22.379
 Which they name Wildcat Island.

00:21:22.380 --> 00:21:28.500
 And it becomes apparent that it's quite difficult to get their little sailboat into Wildcat Island.

00:21:28.640 --> 00:21:33.160
 And so they have this idea of setting up the leading lights.

00:21:33.160 --> 00:21:37.080
 To warn of the dangers of the rocks around.

00:21:37.079 --> 00:21:38.980
 And to guide to safe harbor.

00:21:38.980 --> 00:21:40.139
 That's what leading lights do.

00:21:40.220 --> 00:21:41.259
 They warn and they guide.

00:21:42.339 --> 00:21:43.879
 Think about that image.

00:21:44.119 --> 00:21:45.779
 Warning and guiding lights.

00:21:46.079 --> 00:21:48.859
 As we think about our mission in the world.

00:21:48.859 --> 00:21:51.959
 That we as the people of God.

00:21:51.959 --> 00:21:54.000
 As those who have been called into the light.

00:21:54.119 --> 00:21:56.439
 We have a responsibility.

00:21:56.440 --> 00:21:56.640
 A calling.

00:21:57.640 --> 00:21:58.400
 A calling.

00:21:59.279 --> 00:22:01.140
 To warn others.

00:22:02.559 --> 00:22:07.059
 Of the very real danger of rejecting God.

00:22:07.660 --> 00:22:09.900
 And of refusing to honor God.

00:22:10.400 --> 00:22:12.259
 Which is the root of all sin.

00:22:14.500 --> 00:22:20.259
 To speak the hard solemn truth of the reality of spiritual darkness.

00:22:20.259 --> 00:22:22.900
 And death.

00:22:23.900 --> 00:22:26.079
 And separation from God.

00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:27.140
 And all that is good.

00:22:29.980 --> 00:22:31.500
 There is bad news.

00:22:32.079 --> 00:22:34.599
 There is part of the gospel of good news.

00:22:35.440 --> 00:22:36.299
 And we need both.

00:22:36.379 --> 00:22:37.160
 So we need to warn.

00:22:37.559 --> 00:22:38.720
 And then we need to guide.

00:22:39.819 --> 00:22:44.319
 Guide people that they might see Christ as the safe harbor.

00:22:45.879 --> 00:22:49.839
 Guide them to see that Christ is the one who would shield us from judgment.

00:22:50.259 --> 00:22:53.140
 As he himself takes the darkness.

00:22:54.400 --> 00:22:56.400
 To point people to Jesus.

00:22:56.599 --> 00:22:58.720
 The light who gives salvation.

00:22:59.440 --> 00:23:00.420
 Who brings life.

00:23:01.960 --> 00:23:04.359
 And that takes us to truth number four.

00:23:04.640 --> 00:23:09.339
 That in Jesus God sends true light.

00:23:10.700 --> 00:23:15.480
 It's really significant I think that Jesus when he comes to Jerusalem.

00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:17.660
 When he comes to the temple.

00:23:17.859 --> 00:23:20.059
 He chooses to stand up and to declare.

00:23:20.259 --> 00:23:22.839
 I am the light of the world.

00:23:23.099 --> 00:23:25.559
 Because in this moment what's happening is he's.

00:23:25.799 --> 00:23:28.799
 It's as if the spotlight is moving away from the temple.

00:23:29.099 --> 00:23:31.740
 The temple is the place where you come to meet with God.

00:23:31.740 --> 00:23:35.460
 Now it shines on Jesus himself.

00:23:36.680 --> 00:23:38.500
 He is now where you come to meet with God.

00:23:38.500 --> 00:23:40.400
 Here is where the glory of God shines.

00:23:40.519 --> 00:23:43.299
 Here is where all of God's provision now rests.

00:23:43.400 --> 00:23:44.859
 He is the one who gives true life.

00:23:46.160 --> 00:23:50.359
 And so the theme of Jesus and light runs through the New Testament.

00:23:50.359 --> 00:23:52.980
 Just to think about it at the beginning and the ending.

00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:55.500
 Think about John's prologue.

00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:57.720
 John chapter 1.

00:23:57.799 --> 00:23:59.500
 As he begins to introduce Jesus.

00:24:00.339 --> 00:24:01.519
 Chapter 1 verse 4.

00:24:01.640 --> 00:24:03.579
 In him was life.

00:24:03.660 --> 00:24:05.559
 And that life was the light of men.

00:24:06.680 --> 00:24:08.960
 Recognizing Jesus the one who came into the world.

00:24:09.059 --> 00:24:10.480
 Is the life giver.

00:24:11.920 --> 00:24:13.180
 Chapter 1 verse 9.

00:24:13.299 --> 00:24:15.799
 The true light that gives light to everyone.

00:24:16.039 --> 00:24:17.779
 It was coming into the world.

00:24:17.980 --> 00:24:18.960
 And then it's so interesting.

00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:20.480
 Just a few verses later.

00:24:21.720 --> 00:24:26.160
 John says the word became flesh and tabernacled among us.

00:24:27.779 --> 00:24:29.980
 And it's just possible that even at this stage.

00:24:30.279 --> 00:24:32.660
 John is inviting us to think about Jesus.

00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:38.660
 As the fulfillment of the lampstand within the tabernacle.

00:24:39.559 --> 00:24:41.640
 The one who shines the glory of God.

00:24:42.100 --> 00:24:44.420
 The one who tells us that God is present with us.

00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:48.799
 That in Jesus the God of glory makes his home among us.

00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:54.000
 And we know he comes to shine the light of God's truth into a world of darkness.

00:24:56.259 --> 00:24:58.279
 And then you come to Matthew's introduction.

00:24:58.460 --> 00:24:59.980
 As Matthew introduces Jesus.

00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:01.940
 The theme of light is there lots.

00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:05.039
 I think we'll end up speaking about that next week at the carol service.

00:25:05.139 --> 00:25:07.039
 But Matthew chapter 4 verse 16.

00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:10.200
 Is a really significant one.

00:25:10.319 --> 00:25:12.519
 Jesus just begins his preaching ministry.

00:25:13.180 --> 00:25:15.720
 And we're told that he goes to live in Capernaum.

00:25:15.720 --> 00:25:20.059
 And in doing so it's fulfilling what was said through the prophet Isaiah.

00:25:20.400 --> 00:25:22.620
 Chapter 4 of Matthew verse 16.

00:25:22.740 --> 00:25:27.319
 The people living in darkness have seen a great light.

00:25:28.120 --> 00:25:30.720
 On those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

00:25:32.480 --> 00:25:35.740
 That's a wonderful promise from Isaiah chapter 9.

00:25:35.740 --> 00:25:39.019
 A promise that this coming one.

00:25:39.019 --> 00:25:44.279
 This light will bring an end to exile.

00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:47.779
 That people who are far from God will be brought near.

00:25:48.700 --> 00:25:51.319
 It's a wonderful promise that in this light.

00:25:51.700 --> 00:25:54.839
 God will be pleased to draw people from all nations.

00:25:55.599 --> 00:25:56.880
 To worship him.

00:25:59.120 --> 00:26:01.519
 That Jesus is good news not just for some people.

00:26:01.660 --> 00:26:02.559
 For all people.

00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:05.899
 And that this light.

00:26:06.240 --> 00:26:08.720
 Who brings hope and who brings peace.

00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:12.159
 Has got a remarkable identity.

00:26:12.359 --> 00:26:14.059
 He is the wonderful counselor.

00:26:14.779 --> 00:26:16.639
 He is the almighty God.

00:26:16.740 --> 00:26:18.419
 He is the everlasting father.

00:26:18.559 --> 00:26:19.859
 He is the prince of peace.

00:26:20.200 --> 00:26:22.700
 And Matthew as he begins his gospel.

00:26:23.399 --> 00:26:24.980
 Wants us to know this is Jesus.

00:26:24.980 --> 00:26:31.980
 And so Jesus ministry is going to be a victory over darkness.

00:26:32.539 --> 00:26:34.779
 Via the cross and the resurrection.

00:26:35.319 --> 00:26:36.599
 And in that victory.

00:26:37.400 --> 00:26:39.279
 He will cause God's light to shine.

00:26:40.620 --> 00:26:42.519
 And of course that was Jesus own testimony.

00:26:42.740 --> 00:26:44.819
 We read it in John 8 and John 9.

00:26:44.900 --> 00:26:47.099
 I am the light of the world.

00:26:47.180 --> 00:26:49.500
 Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness.

00:26:49.539 --> 00:26:51.279
 But have the light of life.

00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:54.279
 Reminding us if we want life.

00:26:54.359 --> 00:26:55.279
 If we want true life.

00:26:55.359 --> 00:26:56.920
 If we want a quality of life.

00:26:57.160 --> 00:26:58.740
 The life that we were made for.

00:26:58.839 --> 00:27:00.039
 Of knowing God.

00:27:00.119 --> 00:27:01.579
 And being in relationship with him.

00:27:01.619 --> 00:27:02.940
 And living for his glory.

00:27:03.160 --> 00:27:06.019
 If we want a quality of life that never ends.

00:27:07.200 --> 00:27:08.539
 We need to come to Jesus.

00:27:08.539 --> 00:27:15.720
 But let's close where the New Testament closes.

00:27:16.599 --> 00:27:18.200
 With Christ's return.

00:27:18.839 --> 00:27:21.119
 And with the establishment of new creation.

00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:24.859
 So we think about the death of Jesus.

00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:27.799
 And we think about the resurrection of Jesus.

00:27:27.940 --> 00:27:29.259
 That first Easter Sunday.

00:27:29.379 --> 00:27:30.700
 The light dawns.

00:27:31.700 --> 00:27:33.240
 The light of the world risen again.

00:27:33.240 --> 00:27:34.279
 In glory and victory.

00:27:35.420 --> 00:27:38.319
 And now he's ruling as Lord and as King.

00:27:38.539 --> 00:27:40.819
 And we have that promise that he'll come again.

00:27:42.579 --> 00:27:45.180
 He will come again to judge and to save.

00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:48.099
 And he will come to establish the new creation.

00:27:48.220 --> 00:27:49.180
 And when he does.

00:27:50.700 --> 00:27:52.899
 We discover in Revelation 21.

00:27:53.099 --> 00:27:56.420
 That this light of unimaginable glory.

00:27:57.200 --> 00:27:57.779
 Will shine.

00:27:58.319 --> 00:27:59.079
 And shine.

00:27:59.779 --> 00:28:01.240
 And never be switched off.

00:28:01.819 --> 00:28:04.079
 Listen to Revelation 21 verse 22.

00:28:04.339 --> 00:28:06.500
 I did not see a temple in the city.

00:28:06.500 --> 00:28:08.660
 This is speaking about the city of God.

00:28:08.740 --> 00:28:09.420
 The new Jerusalem.

00:28:10.059 --> 00:28:11.799
 Because the Lord God Almighty.

00:28:12.559 --> 00:28:13.279
 And the Lamb.

00:28:14.019 --> 00:28:14.900
 Are its temple.

00:28:15.980 --> 00:28:16.660
 The city.

00:28:17.460 --> 00:28:18.920
 Does not need the sun.

00:28:19.180 --> 00:28:19.859
 Or the moon.

00:28:20.059 --> 00:28:21.339
 To shine on it.

00:28:22.259 --> 00:28:23.859
 For the glory of God.

00:28:24.500 --> 00:28:25.240
 Gives it light.

00:28:26.019 --> 00:28:26.940
 And the Lamb.

00:28:28.220 --> 00:28:29.240
 Is its lamp.

00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:32.240
 Jesus is the true light of the world.

00:28:32.420 --> 00:28:33.779
 Jesus is the true.

00:28:33.779 --> 00:28:35.279
 The lamp stand.

00:28:36.279 --> 00:28:38.039
 He shines now.

00:28:38.259 --> 00:28:39.639
 Through the pages of scripture.

00:28:39.839 --> 00:28:41.819
 He shines in our hearts.

00:28:41.920 --> 00:28:43.119
 The reality that he is.

00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:43.980
 The son of God.

00:28:44.059 --> 00:28:45.660
 He is the savior of the world.

00:28:45.899 --> 00:28:48.220
 That he provides a new identity.

00:28:48.220 --> 00:28:49.980
 That he makes us new creations.

00:28:50.099 --> 00:28:51.399
 But there is a day coming.

00:28:52.279 --> 00:28:54.119
 When we will see his light shine.

00:28:54.259 --> 00:28:55.500
 In a whole new way.

00:28:56.940 --> 00:28:57.960
 Bringing joy.

00:28:57.960 --> 00:29:00.680
 To the hearts of all his people.

00:29:02.740 --> 00:29:04.039
 And so we are invited.

00:29:04.700 --> 00:29:05.180
 Today.

00:29:05.940 --> 00:29:07.660
 To walk in the light.

00:29:09.180 --> 00:29:11.200
 And to rejoice in that light.

00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:13.700
 And to look forward.

00:29:14.140 --> 00:29:15.620
 To that greater light.

00:29:15.740 --> 00:29:16.660
 And glory and joy.

00:29:16.860 --> 00:29:17.539
 Still to come.

00:29:17.539 --> 00:29:18.440
 Dear friends.

00:29:18.440 --> 00:29:18.440


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