Light Logic<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pastor Don Carpenter<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2021 Bible Reading Challenge<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I remember reading a sermon illustration given by the powerful proclaimer, Rev. Dr. A. W. Mays of Austin, Texas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told us of an incident that took place in his hometown of Austin concerning a streetlight. In Austin there was a high crime area, and the residents of the community petitioned the city of Austin to put up streetlights in this crime area. Dr. Mays stated that once the lights were up crime subsided for a while. But someone took a rock or something and knocked out the streetlights and crime in that area resumed. This took place over and over again\u2026 The lesson is that the only thing that will penetrate darkness is the presence of light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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We have finally turned the corner in our 2021 Bible Reading Challenge and are in the New Testament. This evening\u2019s text is part of the famous Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is teaching us that believers are to be salt and light, making a difference in this wicked and dark world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The message contained in our verses this evening is not only that we should be light contrasting our actions from those of the unregenerate masses, but also it is a message of how we can best use the light we have as Born Again believers. Tonight let us closely examine our Savior\u2019s teaching and discover some powerful Light Logic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You Are The Light<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/em>Matthew 5:14<\/em> (KJV)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n As salt makes a difference in people\u2019s food, so light makes a difference in their surroundings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus is the Light<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n John 1:4\u20136<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n In him was life; and the life was the light of men. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n John 1:9<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n You Were Full of Darkness<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Proverbs 4:19<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The way of the wicked is as darkness: They know not at what they stumble.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ephesians 5:8<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n You Have Christ in You<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Romans 8:9<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n You Now Are THE Light of the World<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Matthew 5:14<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n You say, \u201cNow, wait a minute, pastor. You may be the light, but I\u2019m not the light. I\u2019m excused.\u201d Oh, no. My dear friend, you are the light of the world. And, what happens, so many times, is that our members don\u2019t understand that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 It\u2019s like a general who calls his army together, and he lectures to them on the principles of war and tells them all about warfare. And then, he sends them off to eat a chicken dinner while he puts his rifle on his shoulder and goes off to war.\u2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Adrian Rogers, \u201cBright Lights in a Dark World,\u201d in Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive (Signal Hill, CA: Rogers Family Trust, 2017), Mt 5:14\u201316.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Gathering Of Lights Cannot Be Hidden!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Matthew 5:14<\/em> (KJV)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The More Folks That Get Saved, The More Light that Shines<\/p>\n\n\n\n Daniel 12:3<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Church is the Gathering of Individual Lights to Make a Bright Display.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do Not Cover, But Display Your Light<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Matthew 5:15<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n A light is ?rst and foremost something which is meant to be seen. The houses in Palestine were very dark, with only one little circular window perhaps not more than eighteen inches across. The lamp was like a sauce-boat ?lled with oil with the wick ?oating in it. It was not so easy to rekindle a lamp in the days before matches existed. Normally the lamp stood on the lamp stand, which would be no more than a roughly shaped branch of wood; but when people went out, for safety\u2019s sake, they took the lamp from its stand and put it under an earthen bushel measure, so that it might burn without risk until they came back. The primary duty of the light of the lamp was to be seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, Christianity is something which is meant to be seen. As someone has well said, \u2018There can be no such thing as secret discipleship, for either the secrecy destroys the discipleship, or the discipleship destroys the secrecy.\u2019 Our Christianity should be perfectly visible to everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Further, this Christianity should be visible not only within the Church. A Christianity whose effects stop at the church door is not much use to anyone. It should be even more visible in the ordinary activities of the world. Our Christianity should be visible in the way we treat a shop assistant across the counter, in the way we order a meal in a restaurant, in the way we treat our employees or serve our employer, in the way we play a game or drive or park a car, in the daily language we use, in the daily literature we read. As Christians, we should be just as much a Christian in the factory, the workshop, the shipyard, the mine, the schoolroom, the surgery, the kitchen, the golf course and the playing ?eld as we are in church. Jesus did not say: \u2018You are the light of the Church\u2019; he said: \u2018You are the light of the world\u2019\u2014and in our lives in the world our Christianity should be evident to all.1<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 William Barclay, The Gospel of Matthew, Third Ed., The New Daily Study Bible (Edinburgh: Saint Andrew Press, 2001), 142\u2013143.<\/p>\n\n\n\n WHO TURNED OUT THE LIGHTS?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhy would anyone try to hide a light?\u201d Jesus asked. Unfortunately many Christians do just that. We hide our light by<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 being quiet when we should speak<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 going along with the crowd<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 denying the truth<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 letting sin dim our witness for Christ<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 not explaining the truth to others<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 ignoring the needs of others<\/p>\n\n\n\n Be a beacon of truth\u2014don\u2019t shut off your light from the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Bruce B. Barton, Matthew, Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1996), 85.<\/p>\n\n\n\n God has called us to shine.\u2026 Let no man or woman say that they cannot shine because they have not so much influence as some others may have. What God wants you to do is to use the influence you have.\u2026 Remember, a small light will do a good deal when it is in a very dark place. Put one little tallow candle in the middle of a large hall, and it will give a good deal of light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dwight L. Moody*1<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Elliot Ritzema and Elizabeth Vince, eds., 300 Quotations for Preachers from the Modern Church, Pastorum Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2013).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shine Your Light<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/em>Matthew 5:16<\/em> (KJV)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Before Men- not for men\u2019s approval<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Matthew 6:2<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Through Your Good Works<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Corinthians 10:31<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Get Glory For The Father<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Romans 8:15<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n At the end of the 2012 baseball season, many people expected the San Francisco Giants to put outfielder Melky Cabrera, who had been suspended for using a banned substance, on their postseason roster to help them make a run at a world championship. The team decided character was as important as production, and left Cabrera off the roster; they won the World Series anyway. In 2014 the Giants won another championship, and Bobby Evans, one of the men who makes key decisions for the club, says his goal is the same as it was in 2012: to honor Christ in all he does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Evans has been with the Giants since 2006, and though his title has changed, his job includes negotiating player contracts, helping to acquire free agents, and signing minor league talent. Evans says there can be pressure to be dishonest in some situations, but he wants to be known for being truthful. He said, \u201cYou want your life to point people to Christ. It starts for me with my own relationship with Christ. That\u2019s going to direct and dictate what influence I have for Christ in my family, in my marriage, and in the workplace.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell<\/p>\n\n\n\n Exported from Logos Bible Software, 12:34 PM October 6, 2021.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Light Logic Pastor Don Carpenter 2021 Bible Reading Challenge I remember reading a sermon illustration given by the powerful proclaimer, Rev. Dr. A. W. Mays of Austin, Texas. He told us of an incident that took place in his hometown of Austin concerning a streetlight. In Austin there was a high crime area, and the … Continue reading Light Logic<\/span>