Matthew 5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 1 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. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

I.              Opening

    A.            This little light of mine

          1.             Dad’s story – on TV

              a)             Bro. Shelby

              b)             The church had been invited down to an all black assembly at McCormick place.  The event was to be televised

              c)             He was given a chance to lead worship

              d)             He sang the song “This little light of mine.”

                  (1)           The song didn’t go over too well

                  (2)           Dad got to be on TV for about 6 seconds after editing.

II.            Natural – Let

    A.            This implies that the light that we shine is natural in its function

Genesis 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light

          1.             The light that God gave the world was natural

          2.             Let there be light and there was light

          3.             The light that we give the world must come naturally from God as well

              a)             Let your light shine

                  (1)           It should flow naturally from you.

                  (2)           Not something that you have to artificially create

                  (3)           You ought to want to shine

    B.            Allow

          1.             We can hinder the light

          2.             The light can be snuffed out by trying to contain it.

              a)             A fire needs three things to burn

                   (1)           Air, Fuel, Heat

              b)             A light that does not receive enough oxygen will go out.

                   (1)           A life that does not regularly receive enough air (spirit) Pneuma (pneumatic) the light will go out.

              c)             A light that does not receive enough fuel will go out

                   (1)           A life that is not sacrifice to God, cannot sustain the light of God’s love

              d)             A light that does not receive enough heat will go out

                   (1)           A life that does not stay passionate about the things of God, will soon lose God’s light as well.

              e)             Will you ALLOW your light to shine?

III.          Personal – Your Light

    A.            This is your responsibility

          1.             Each of us has a light to shine

          2.             Your light is YOUR light

              a)             I can’t shine it for you.

              b)             This has to be a personal decision by you that you are going to shine the light of Jesus.

              c)             Some people won’t ever make the decision to shine

                   (1)           They can’t give themselves to Jesus Christ

              d)             Letting your light shine is really an act of surrender

                   (1)           Okay God you can shine through me

              e)             Letting your light shine is an act of submission

                   (1)           Okay God you will shine through me

               f)              Letting your light shine is an act of determination

                   (1)           Okay world you want to get dark, here’s one light that’s going to shine

              g)             Letting your light shine is an act of compassion

                   (1)           Come lost souls and find your way to Jesus Christ

IV.          Powerful – so shine

    A.            The light has to shine brightly before the world

          1.             People can shine a different type of light

              a)             A prism can separate light into many different facets of color

                   (1)           This creates a confusing affect that looks cool but doesn’t really accomplish anything constructive

                   (2)           Some people are prisms for the light of God.  They have the confusing effect of focusing on abstract theological concepts to try to impress people.  But all they end up doing is diffracting their light.  It’s a cool show, but nobody is led to Christ

              b)             The lens it is shined through can diffuse a beam.  By using dirty glass or a dark lens, light can be made to be softer and not shine as brightly

                   (1)           The light is there, it is just not being used in the proper way to help someone

                   (2)           Some people are a dirty lens.  They claim to serve God, but their life is not lived for him.

              c)             A searchlight is intensified by the lens that it is shined through.  Polished glass and a lens that is curved to enhance the light can create a powerful beam that will cut through any fog or darkness.

                   (1)           A light that is shone through such a lens will be even more intense and powerful than a light just shining alone

                   (2)           Some people are God’s searchlights.  They shine into the darkness of this world, providing a beacon of hope for lost souls to steer towards.

V.            Social – Before men

    A.            The light must have a direction

          1.             We can’t just shine among ourselves

          2.             Our light has to reach out into the world

          3.             A light in a bright room does not accomplish as much as a light in a darkened place

              a)             Our light must reach out to others

              b)             We cannot remain confined to our own church we must shine the light to a lost and dying world

          4.             This means we must go before men

              a)             To those that have no light

              b)             We must be a beacon of hope and truth in an ever darkening world

Fwitn2^nd Corinthians 4: 3-6 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ

          5.             Our job is to illuminate the darkened ways of mankind

              a)             So that they can be led to the light of Christ for themselves

              b)             We are the search and rescue teams

                    (1)           We go and find those that are lost and bring them into the light

                    (2)           Notice that men will glorify YOUR Father after they have seen this light.  We are to shine the light to those that are lost, not just those in our church.

VI.           Practical – Good works

    A.            How do we let our light shine

          1.             Through our good works

          2.             Through our interactions with others

              a)             Love one for another

                   (1)           Compassion that goes beyond the ordinary

              b)             Pray for your enemies

                   (1)           Forgiveness that doesn’t hold grudges

              c)             Serve God with all your heart, not just lip service

                   (1)           Faithfulness that continues on and on

VII.        Salvational – Glorify your Father

    A.            What does the light accomplish

          1.             It leads people to Jesus Christ

              a)             Your actions will be like a beacon, leading people towards the safety of Jesus Christ

              b)             Why?  Because they do not have a light of their own.

              c)             They realize because of your light that they are living in darkness

                   (1)           Your light will shine and lead them out of the darkness.

                   (2)           It is a natural progression that your light should lead someone to glorify your God.

                   (3)           Jesus told us that when men see our good works it ought to lead them to our God.

          2.             We don’t shine for ourselves

              a)             Our job is not to exalt ourselves

              b)             Our light should not be about Illuminating our own selves

              c)             Our good works ought to lead others to Christ

                   (1)           When you do something nice for someone tell them WHY you have done it.

                   (2)           Tell them that you want to show them the love of Jesus Christ.

VIII.      Conclusion

    A.            For the lost today

          1.             The light of God can enter your life as well

              a)             Repent – be sorry and turn from your sins

              b)             Be baptized in Jesus Name – by immersion

              c)             Receive the Holy Ghost – evidenced by speaking in other tongues

    B.            To the saints – We’ve got to let our lights shine

          1.             Natural – comes from God

          2.             Personal – my light

          3.             Powerful – so shine

          4.             Social – before men

          5.             Practical – Good works

          6.             Salvational – And Glorify

              a)             What kind of light are you shining today?

              b)             Are you allowing God’s light to shine through your life?

              c)             Are you illuminating the path to Jesus for some lost soul today?

              d)             Do you have enough fuel, air, and heat?

              e)             Have you checked your lens lately?

                   (1)           Let’s shine on in this darkened world today.