IT’S OUR TIME TO SHINE
You are the Light of the World
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. (Mathew 5:14)
In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, He began to teach His disciples who they were and what their value was here on earth. The Lord did this on purpose. He knew back then and it still holds true today; if you do not know what your true identity and value is (only taught from the Word of God), then the world is more than happy to give you a false identity and a wrong representation of your value here on earth.
The world system could never accurately define you because it didn’t create or make you. There are so many people in this world searching for their true identity. They look to the world and the world’s system hoping to discover who they really and truly are. The world and the worldly system could never accurately tell you who you are. God created you, so of course He knows what purpose He has created you for. The creator of a person or thing is the only one who has the right to define it.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis: 1:1)
God created man in His own image in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them. (Genesis 1: 27)
For example, Thomas Edison created the light bulb to be used for a specific purpose. He had a vision; he had an ideal. Other people of that time couldn’t understand his vision. Up until that time, people were used to using lanterns and candles to light their homes at night and the sun to light the day. To make a little glass light bulb that would harness and focus light so it could be controlled and used to help mankind see at the flick of a switch was unheard of.
Thomas Edison didn’t allow people to define what he could or couldn’t do. He didn’t allow people to define who he was nor the value of his vision. Thomas Edison was known to be a practicing Christian who believed, with God’s help, that all things are possible. What if Thomas Edison would have let the world define what he could or couldn’t do? What if he would have listened to the critics who tried to define his capabilities based on their perception of who he was? If he would have listened to the critics, he would have missed out on one of the greatest inventions of the twenty first century; the light bulb. I believe someone else would have created the light bulb if Thomas didn’t create it. Not only would Thomas Edison not be one of the famous names in history, he would have also missed out on all the benefits. Thomas Edison dared to be different. He dared to believe that he could do the impossible.
The results were life changing. He secured an abundant future for his family for a thousand generations. He created jobs and a whole new industry that benefits the entire world today. The light bulb can be found in every country on the face of the earth. The light bulb is used in hospitals, in schools in cars and planes and even in palaces. The light bulb is used in billions of homes around the world.
If we listen to the world’s views and accept the negative criticism of others, we will be devalued and have a false identity which will set limitations on us. We will allow the opinion and opposition of others to dictate and determine what we can and can not do for God. Who or what says you can’t own your own business? Who or what determines what you can do for God? You can own a profitable and successful business! You can be a manager; a lawyer; a doctor, or whatever God directs you to do and be. All you need is God’s help. You don’t need a PhD or a lot of money. What you have right now is what God can use to help you start and finish what He called you to do. Only the maker of a thing gets to define it and determine the value of a thing or in our case, people. We get our identity and value from Jesus. He bled and died on the cross for us and rose again from the dead. He redeemed us from death and sin. He took our sin and gave us His Righteousness. He paid the price for all man kind and that
is what gives us our identity and value. The good news is, my value and identity as a Christian is not deepened on what I have done or not done. My past before Jesus reads as a horror story. I thank God that Jesus loved me, saved me and changed me, and gave me His value and Identity. We are who God says we are! We also deserve what God says we can have. God’s Word says that we deserve the best and can have the best. Don’t let anything or anyone talk you out of it. We are valuable; we are priceless. We are the most influential people on the earth. It is not the President of the United States. It is not Hollywood movie stars or sports icons. The people of God are the most powerful people on the face of the earth. Jesus declared to His disciples (and us) that we are the light of the world. We all know how important light is to live in this world. Could you imagine if there was no light? We wouldn’t be able to live or exist without the light. Nothing would grow. We would have no food, and there would be chaos. The light dispels chaos and every evil thing in the world. The light prevails over darkness and over ever demonic power.
In the beginning, God saw that the earth was void, dark, and without form. This was a big problem for God, and this is how He solved it.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2) And the earth. was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3) And God said, let there be light: and there was light. God saw the light was good: And God divided the light from darkness. ((Genesis 1:1-4)
Just like in the beginning, God spoke light to the darkness and made what was void and chaotic good. Jesus seeing that the world was in darkness because of sin, spoke the light into the darkness. He did this when, He said, “You are the light of this world”. In truth, Jesus was saying that we are the hope of this world. Without you and me this planet and the people of it will die and go to hell. Without you and me, there would be chaos, and everything would be void and meaningless. I know there is a problem here on earth and in response to that problem; I am sending you to bring light to every dark and hopeless situation and person.
We dispel the darkness. We hold back Satan and his fallen angels. We show clearly the reality and the existence of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are the visible representation of the only invisible God. We are the only hope for this dark and dying world. Jesus left the earth and left us the responsibility to shine on the lost. He lives in us and works through us to bring to pass His Perfect Will on earth. The born again Christian is God’s choice to solve the problems of darkness on this earth.
We are the only hope for a dark and dying world. If we don’t shine our light by telling people about Jesus they will perish. If we don’t pray and exercise our authority here on earth, the enemy will take total control. We are here to prevent that; we are the only ones that can. When Jesus comes back a second time, He is not coming to win souls. He’s coming back for the souls that have been saved. The reason why Jesus came and died was so that man kind can be saved from eternal destruction and death.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever Believes in Him will not perish but will have everlasting life. (John3:16)
To believe and accept what Jesus says about you as your truth and reality is to discover who you are. When you know who you are, you will discover your purpose. When you know your purpose, you cancel out confusion and will be able to accelerate toward fulfilling your divine destiny. This will cause fulfillment, prosperity and abundance in your life as well as the lives of others.
We are so valuable that Satan spends a lot of time trying to stop us. He knows that when the light shines like it was created to do, then he doesn’t stand a chance. Don’t let the world belittle you. Don’t receive the negative perception and opinions of others that set limits and hinder you from doing and having God’s best. Remember your identity and value is not found in the worlds system. It’s not dependent on what you have or what you do for a living unless you serve God. You are the light of the world. You are valuable and priceless to the plan and purpose of God. You are valuable to the lost and dying people of this world, whether they know it or not.
____________________________________________
The Lights of the World
What did Jesus mean when He said “We are the light of the world?” The word “light” has a three-dimensional meaning. The first definition of the word “light” in this context means to shine to manifest. We are to shine and manifest the Glory of God the Father through Jesus Christ here on earth. We are to manifest His everlasting love, grace, mercy, compassion, and His Power and Presence to the people in this world. God uses us to show and communicate who He is to the people of this world. This year in 2009 we are all going to shine. This year we will show the world who God really and truly is.
The word “manifest” means to appear; to declare; to clearly show to display. The world is in a state of religious confusion and delusion. Only the true sons and daughters of God can solve this great problem. We are the true lights. Our responsibility is to manifest or show who God is to a dark and dying world.
The second definition of “light” means to shine; to set on fire; to kindle; to burn. This is the year the baptism of fire is going to hit churches and manifest in believers. God is restoring the fire back to the churches. The fire and desire to know and please God; fire and passion to win the lost; fire and passion to heal the sick; fire to cast out devils, Holy Ghost fire to do what God called us to do. No more dead churches! No more unenthusiastic, unexcited Christians! The fire is also a purifier and will purge us from everyone and everything that hinders our light from shining. No matter whom they are or what it is, God will separate us through the baptism of fire to be meat for the Master’s use. This year, God is lighting a fire in you to light a fire in those around you. God is using you to set your neighborhood on fire, your work place on fire, your city and state on fire and the world. Be a fire starter this year!
The third definition of “light” means to be brilliant, to be radiant, to give light to shine. The light God is shining through us will be more brilliant and brighter than any other light that’s in this world. Your life will shine brighter than all those around you. This year, we are going to out shine the people of the world around us in every area. The purpose of it is not to brag or hold it over them, but to shine the light of Jesus Christ on them. Paul persecuted Christians in the early church. On the road to Damascus he saw a brilliant light that shined from heaven. That light was Jesus the Christ. Although that brilliant Light blinded Paul, it didn’t kill him. That Light stopped him from sinning and changed his life. Just like Jesus shined on Paul and changed his life, The Lord Jesus is going to shine through us to change the lives of others. In (Acts 9:1-6) Paul responded to the Light of the world Jesus Christ by asking two questions, “Who are you? And “what would you havee to do?” In the same way, when people see our light shining brilliant and bright, will want to know who Jesus is, and what do they need to do to be saved? The people of this world will turn to the light for answers because they are tired of lies and tired of being mistreated. They want real answers. They want the light. People you would have never thought would be saved will be saved because of your light. You will also see our enemies getting saved. Paul, at the time he was converted, was one of the greatest enemies of the church. He was the chief persecutor of the church (Acts 9:1, 2). Saul (who’s name would later change to Paul) was a sworn enemy of the church. He hated Christians and killed them until he saw the True Light. When our enemies come seeking after us, we need to have an answer for them; we need to show them compassion. We need to lead them to Jesus no matter what they did to us. The Bible commands us to even love our enemies.
Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do well to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. (Mathew5:44)
This is the year the love and compassion of Jesus will flow from our hearts like never before. We need to get rid of that hard unloving heart. In order for our light to shine we must have love and compassion for others; even for our enemies. We must see them in a different light.
Jesus had compassion on the multitude because he saw them as sheep having no shepherd. ((Mark 6:34)
Saints, this year is our finest hour. God says that He guarantees to make us shine brilliant, radiant and bright in 2009.
You are the Light of the World
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. (Mathew 5:14)
In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, He began to teach His disciples who they were and what their value was here on earth. The Lord did this on purpose. He knew back then and it still holds true today; if you do not know what your true identity and value is (only taught from the Word of God), then the world is more than happy to give you a false identity and a wrong representation of your value here on earth.
The world system could never accurately define you because it didn’t create or make you. There are so many people in this world searching for their true identity. They look to the world and the world’s system hoping to discover who they really and truly are. The world and the worldly system could never accurately tell you who you are. God created you, so of course He knows what purpose He has created you for. The creator of a person or thing is the only one who has the right to define it.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis: 1:1)
God created man in His own image in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them. (Genesis 1: 27)
For example, Thomas Edison created the light bulb to be used for a specific purpose. He had a vision; he had an ideal. Other people of that time couldn’t understand his vision. Up until that time, people were used to using lanterns and candles to light their homes at night and the sun to light the day. To make a little glass light bulb that would harness and focus light so it could be controlled and used to help mankind see at the flick of a switch was unheard of.
Thomas Edison didn’t allow people to define what he could or couldn’t do. He didn’t allow people to define who he was nor the value of his vision. Thomas Edison was known to be a practicing Christian who believed, with God’s help, that all things are possible. What if Thomas Edison would have let the world define what he could or couldn’t do? What if he would have listened to the critics who tried to define his capabilities based on their perception of who he was? If he would have listened to the critics, he would have missed out on one of the greatest inventions of the twenty first century; the light bulb. I believe someone else would have created the light bulb if Thomas didn’t create it. Not only would Thomas Edison not be one of the famous names in history, he would have also missed out on all the benefits. Thomas Edison dared to be different. He dared to believe that he could do the impossible.
The results were life changing. He secured an abundant future for his family for a thousand generations. He created jobs and a whole new industry that benefits the entire world today. The light bulb can be found in every country on the face of the earth. The light bulb is used in hospitals, in schools in cars and planes and even in palaces. The light bulb is used in billions of homes around the world.
If we listen to the world’s views and accept the negative criticism of others, we will be devalued and have a false identity which will set limitations on us. We will allow the opinion and opposition of others to dictate and determine what we can and can not do for God. Who or what says you can’t own your own business? Who or what determines what you can do for God? You can own a profitable and successful business! You can be a manager; a lawyer; a doctor, or whatever God directs you to do and be. All you need is God’s help. You don’t need a PhD or a lot of money. What you have right now is what God can use to help you start and finish what He called you to do. Only the maker of a thing gets to define it and determine the value of a thing or in our case, people. We get our identity and value from Jesus. He bled and died on the cross for us and rose again from the dead. He redeemed us from death and sin. He took our sin and gave us His Righteousness. He paid the price for all man kind and that
is what gives us our identity and value. The good news is, my value and identity as a Christian is not deepened on what I have done or not done. My past before Jesus reads as a horror story. I thank God that Jesus loved me, saved me and changed me, and gave me His value and Identity. We are who God says we are! We also deserve what God says we can have. God’s Word says that we deserve the best and can have the best. Don’t let anything or anyone talk you out of it. We are valuable; we are priceless. We are the most influential people on the earth. It is not the President of the United States. It is not Hollywood movie stars or sports icons. The people of God are the most powerful people on the face of the earth. Jesus declared to His disciples (and us) that we are the light of the world. We all know how important light is to live in this world. Could you imagine if there was no light? We wouldn’t be able to live or exist without the light. Nothing would grow. We would have no food, and there would be chaos. The light dispels chaos and every evil thing in the world. The light prevails over darkness and over ever demonic power.
In the beginning, God saw that the earth was void, dark, and without form. This was a big problem for God, and this is how He solved it.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2) And the earth. was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3) And God said, let there be light: and there was light. God saw the light was good: And God divided the light from darkness. ((Genesis 1:1-4)
Just like in the beginning, God spoke light to the darkness and made what was void and chaotic good. Jesus seeing that the world was in darkness because of sin, spoke the light into the darkness. He did this when, He said, “You are the light of this world”. In truth, Jesus was saying that we are the hope of this world. Without you and me this planet and the people of it will die and go to hell. Without you and me, there would be chaos, and everything would be void and meaningless. I know there is a problem here on earth and in response to that problem; I am sending you to bring light to every dark and hopeless situation and person.
We dispel the darkness. We hold back Satan and his fallen angels. We show clearly the reality and the existence of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are the visible representation of the only invisible God. We are the only hope for this dark and dying world. Jesus left the earth and left us the responsibility to shine on the lost. He lives in us and works through us to bring to pass His Perfect Will on earth. The born again Christian is God’s choice to solve the problems of darkness on this earth.
We are the only hope for a dark and dying world. If we don’t shine our light by telling people about Jesus they will perish. If we don’t pray and exercise our authority here on earth, the enemy will take total control. We are here to prevent that; we are the only ones that can. When Jesus comes back a second time, He is not coming to win souls. He’s coming back for the souls that have been saved. The reason why Jesus came and died was so that man kind can be saved from eternal destruction and death.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever Believes in Him will not perish but will have everlasting life. (John3:16)
To believe and accept what Jesus says about you as your truth and reality is to discover who you are. When you know who you are, you will discover your purpose. When you know your purpose, you cancel out confusion and will be able to accelerate toward fulfilling your divine destiny. This will cause fulfillment, prosperity and abundance in your life as well as the lives of others.
We are so valuable that Satan spends a lot of time trying to stop us. He knows that when the light shines like it was created to do, then he doesn’t stand a chance. Don’t let the world belittle you. Don’t receive the negative perception and opinions of others that set limits and hinder you from doing and having God’s best. Remember your identity and value is not found in the worlds system. It’s not dependent on what you have or what you do for a living unless you serve God. You are the light of the world. You are valuable and priceless to the plan and purpose of God. You are valuable to the lost and dying people of this world, whether they know it or not.
____________________________________________
The Lights of the World
What did Jesus mean when He said “We are the light of the world?” The word “light” has a three-dimensional meaning. The first definition of the word “light” in this context means to shine to manifest. We are to shine and manifest the Glory of God the Father through Jesus Christ here on earth. We are to manifest His everlasting love, grace, mercy, compassion, and His Power and Presence to the people in this world. God uses us to show and communicate who He is to the people of this world. This year in 2009 we are all going to shine. This year we will show the world who God really and truly is.
The word “manifest” means to appear; to declare; to clearly show to display. The world is in a state of religious confusion and delusion. Only the true sons and daughters of God can solve this great problem. We are the true lights. Our responsibility is to manifest or show who God is to a dark and dying world.
The second definition of “light” means to shine; to set on fire; to kindle; to burn. This is the year the baptism of fire is going to hit churches and manifest in believers. God is restoring the fire back to the churches. The fire and desire to know and please God; fire and passion to win the lost; fire and passion to heal the sick; fire to cast out devils, Holy Ghost fire to do what God called us to do. No more dead churches! No more unenthusiastic, unexcited Christians! The fire is also a purifier and will purge us from everyone and everything that hinders our light from shining. No matter whom they are or what it is, God will separate us through the baptism of fire to be meat for the Master’s use. This year, God is lighting a fire in you to light a fire in those around you. God is using you to set your neighborhood on fire, your work place on fire, your city and state on fire and the world. Be a fire starter this year!
The third definition of “light” means to be brilliant, to be radiant, to give light to shine. The light God is shining through us will be more brilliant and brighter than any other light that’s in this world. Your life will shine brighter than all those around you. This year, we are going to out shine the people of the world around us in every area. The purpose of it is not to brag or hold it over them, but to shine the light of Jesus Christ on them. Paul persecuted Christians in the early church. On the road to Damascus he saw a brilliant light that shined from heaven. That light was Jesus the Christ. Although that brilliant Light blinded Paul, it didn’t kill him. That Light stopped him from sinning and changed his life. Just like Jesus shined on Paul and changed his life, The Lord Jesus is going to shine through us to change the lives of others. In (Acts 9:1-6) Paul responded to the Light of the world Jesus Christ by asking two questions, “Who are you? And “what would you havee to do?” In the same way, when people see our light shining brilliant and bright, will want to know who Jesus is, and what do they need to do to be saved? The people of this world will turn to the light for answers because they are tired of lies and tired of being mistreated. They want real answers. They want the light. People you would have never thought would be saved will be saved because of your light. You will also see our enemies getting saved. Paul, at the time he was converted, was one of the greatest enemies of the church. He was the chief persecutor of the church (Acts 9:1, 2). Saul (who’s name would later change to Paul) was a sworn enemy of the church. He hated Christians and killed them until he saw the True Light. When our enemies come seeking after us, we need to have an answer for them; we need to show them compassion. We need to lead them to Jesus no matter what they did to us. The Bible commands us to even love our enemies.
Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do well to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. (Mathew5:44)
This is the year the love and compassion of Jesus will flow from our hearts like never before. We need to get rid of that hard unloving heart. In order for our light to shine we must have love and compassion for others; even for our enemies. We must see them in a different light.
Jesus had compassion on the multitude because he saw them as sheep having no shepherd. ((Mark 6:34)
Saints, this year is our finest hour. God says that He guarantees to make us shine brilliant, radiant and bright in 2009.
