Let your light shine
Authentic Church 8th March 2014, by Lynne
When Jesus said we are the light of the world He was showing us how much He trusts us with His glory.
Jesus and Zaccheus
This was a message I gave at Horsham Downs Community Church Sunday 19th January 2014.
The Pharisees observed that Jesus had “gone to be the guest of sinners” – He still does the same today.
Despite the bad in us Jesus says “I’m coming to dinner – if you want me.” And it’s because of his love and our potential that he also says “I’m coming to dinner – because I want you”.
Is it really true that no one wants to hear the gospel?
Is it really true that no one wants to hear the gospel?
No it’s not true! In fact it is the complete opposite. Isn’t that typical of the deceiver to try and deceive and to stop us opening our mouths with truth? The Bible clearly says in John 4:35 “lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.” People are keener to hear the gospel than we are to share it! So why don’t we share the gospel? It’s that ‘e’ word, evangelism. It is spelt FEAR to many and to others it is fobbed off to the evangelists to proclaim. Some have tried to share, out of obligation, feeling that as a Christian it’s kind of what you’re supposed to do, and failed. Can I encourage you, “you” being everyone, that you can share the gospel and be effective. It’s helpful to have appropriate tracts to get you started. Here’s what happened to me a couple weeks ago.
I went into a shop and spoke to the lady behind the counter “Here’s a website you might like to check out. It could change your life.” The card made reference to http://www.Biblein11.com. She said “This is amazing, I was just talking about religion this week. I’ve never really thought much about it before. Thanks so much I’ll look up the site tonight.” Two days later I was at the checkout counter of the supermarket and I said the same thing to the university student behind the checkout. “I’m not religious,” she said,” but I’m spiritual.” I said “Great.” (not really being sure of what she meant by that). She said she was taking religious studies at university. I said ”This will really help you with your religious studies,” and handed her a gospel tract “How to be sure of going to heaven when we die.” She showed definite interest and eagerly thanked me. Later that day in another shop I handed over a Biblein11 card to the university student behind the counter. She saw it was about Christianity and said “This is amazing, I actually prayed for the first time this week, I don’t know why and now you’re giving me this. It’s uncanny.” I felt to ask her if she’d like to meet up sometime to answer any questions she might have and she was keen. I’m meeting her this week. I will be following up the other two ladies as well as I know where they work.
Being equipped is a key to effective evangelism. As believers the Holy Spirit empowers us to share the gospel and it’s up to us to be diligent in seeking out, by reading appropriate books or having training, how each one of us can share on a regular basis around our everyday lives. If you need some tips please contact me.
Whoops……I made a mistake
We pick up the story in Matthew 16:5……..
The disciples get in the boat and the following discussion ensues:
“Have you got the bread James?”
“Nah – Philip said Peter was going to get it”
“Peter! Didja grab the loaf”
“Me? I thought you had it in your bag!”
…..small silence as eyes are sheepishly cast downward
“er……….Jesus……. we forgot the bread”.
Jesus: “Why even bother talking about it. Don’t you remember guys? It was only yesterday! How many loaves did we start with? And how many baskets of leftovers did we end up with?”
Even when we make mistakes, God’s grace covers. Jesus doesn’t berate them for their mistake (forgetting to grab the packed lunch) but for their unbelief now that they have experienced heaven’s supply (the multiplication of the loaves and fishes just a few hours before).
As one who has made mistakes with my “bread” and now finding the cupboard is a little less full than what I would like, I take great comfort in this. Although the principle of sowing and reaping is relevant and must be respected, Jesus reaped on the cross from all of the bad seed I’ve sown. Thus I can now reap from heaven’s supply as I am not bound to past mistakes.
When God writes
In Exodus 19:20 God came down on Mount Sinai and then in Exodus 31:18 He wrote the Law on two tablets of stone with his finger.
In John chapter 8 Jesus came into the temple and wrote on the stone floor with His finger. This is the passage where the Pharisees bring before Jesus a woman caught in adultery and test Him on His response to the clear instruction in the Law to stone her. Jesus replies with the now classic phrase “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her”.
My paraphrase of Exodus 31:18 – God stooped down and wrote on the stone with His finger
My paraphrase of John 8:6 – Jesus stooped down and wrote on the stone with His finger
I’ve heard the question asked about Jesus in John 8 “what was He writing?” Wrong question – the question is “why was He writing on the stone floor with His finger”. And the answer is – because He is the same God who did it with Moses so long ago.
The lesson that Jesus was giving was:“You want to use the law? I wrote that law! You’re just as guilty as she is and you’ve missed that it’s all about relationship with me.”
This is repeated in James 2:10-13 which basically says “you want to uphold the law? If you accuse someone of adultery and you commit murder you’re just as guilty. Mercy triumphs over judgement.”
The law was a fence to keep people on the path so they would find their way to God. All the Pharisees could see was the fence. Jesus turns up as the end of the pathway and the Pharisees are still studying the thickness of the wire and the gap in the mesh.
Declaring His Word
Right at the start when God opened His heart
He spoke to the night and said “Let there be light”
He could have just thought and the world would appear
But He chose to use words so the lesson was clear
From His power and His glory He spoke from above
To create His own family to share in His love
Now He’s passed on to us the power to declare
That Jesus is king and His presence is near
God’s word is the tool that allows us to rule
We agree and decree, we address and confess
We declare and establish and He lights up our way
We remove all the mountains with the words that we say
When we turn on the tongue then the reach of our speech will turn night into light, death into breath.
Give voice to His word and let it be heard
Preach it and teach it – let it out with a shout
The works of our Father are what we’re about
We believe and we speak and we say our “Amen”
Knowing what He has done He will do it again
The angels are waiting for our activating
When we issue the command they’ll be there on demand
Speak His word as a fact and His messengers will act
His winds and his fire will accomplish His desire
Don’t leave the word on the page but let it engage
With those that surround us, declaring heaven has found us.
With the word as our sword we say Jesus is Lord
The words of our story will bring forth His glory
Heaven and earth will not last but His word will hold fast
He’s entrusted to us the word of His power
To make known His kingdom in this glorious hour.