Jesus is the LIGHT of the world
Bible Text: John 1:1-14 | Preacher: Pastor Steve
John 1:1-14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it…That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Winter Solstice
Monday, December 21, 2015 at 8:49 PM PST
Sunrise at 0756 Sunset at 1621
The longest night and shortest day
Light in the Bible
1 John 1:5 God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all.
2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, Let there be light in the darkness, has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.
John 8:12 Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.
L – LIGHTING OUR LIFE
I – INTEGRATING GOD’S WORD
G – GUIDING OUR STEPS
H – HEALING OUR HURTS
T –TRANSFORMING OUR LIVES
LIGHTING OUR LIFE
I am the light of the world means…
…if we don’t follow Jesus, we walk in darkness.
…the world has no other light than Jesus.
…there is either light or dark and no other alternative.
…the world was made for HIS Light and that one day this world will be filled with HIS Light.
Jesus came to SAVE us; not SCARE us.
John 12:46
I have come as a light to shine in this dark world so that all who put their trust in Me will no longer remain in the dark.
INTEGRATING GOD’S WORD
John 18:37 Pilate said, so you are a king? Jesus responded, you say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth…
Jesus ALWAYS (100%) tells us the TRUTH!
Our job as followers of Jesus is to learn the Word and then integrate and apply it in everything!
This is not always easy, but to help us the Lord provides the HOLY SPIRIT!
John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes; he will guide you into all truth.
What is God’s plan?
God wants to be in a relationship with us!
John 14:1-4 …trust also in me…I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.
GUIDING OUR STEPS
John 8:12 I’m the light of the world. If you follow Me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness for living light will flood your path.
We tend to create substitutes for the Lord’s light.
First flashlight
Relationships
Second flashlight
Job/Career
Third flashlight
Location/Geography
What do you do when you CANNOT SEE?
Flip on the light switch – turn on the light.
God’s light is turned on by OPENING THE BIBLE! STUDYING! PRAYING! SEEKING THE LORD’S VOICE! FASTING! COUNSEL!
HEALING OUR HURTS
Jesus came to heal our hurts.
ONLY God can heal a broken heart. ONLY God can heal a broken spirit. ONLY God can heal a broken relationship. ONLY God can heal a broken dream.
John 12:47 I did not come to judge the world but to save it.
Jesus came to SAVE you!
Psalm 103:3 He forgives all my sins and He heals me
TRANSFORMING OUR LIVES
Galatians 6:15
What counts is whether we have been
transformed into a new creation.
New Life
Micah 7:18-20 Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? …You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Abundant Life
John 10:10
I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.
Ephesians 4:21-24
…let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.
Put on your new nature, created to be like God truly righteous and holy.
Eternal Life
John 3:15-16
…so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.