HEALTHY CHRISTIAN/HEALTHY CHURCH
(Children of Light - May 23, 2021)
Series Big Idea: "Christ followers find their identity and mission in their covenant relationship with God"
Sermon Big Idea: "A Christian's influence should be visible not hidden"
Key Scripture (Matthew 5:13-16 )
Last week we talked about a portion of a sermon Jesus preached called the Sermon on the Mount. The particular section concerns Matthew 5:13-16. This is at the beginning of His sermon and comes just after Jesus has laid out blessings or what we call the Beatitudes. We focused on the first part of that section as Jesus portrayed the Christian as being salt in a flavorless world.
(Matthew 5:13-16)
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled on by men. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
This picture Jesus painted of light is similar to the one He gave for salt in that they both have the ability to influence the world for Christ. But this influence is a little different. The function of light is to make truth and reality visible so direction may be given by what is seen. Light is a theme that runs throughout the Bible (Isaiah 9:2/46:6/Matthew 4:16/John 1:4-5, 9/12:46/Ephesians 5:8/Philippians 2:15/1 Thessalonians 5:5).
(Ephesians 5:6-13)
6 Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrath is coming on the disobedient because of these things. 7 Therefore, do not become their partners. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light — 9 for the fruit of the light results in all goodness, righteousness, and truth — 10 discerning what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Don’t participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret. 13 Everything exposed by the light is made clear, 14 for what makes everything clear is light.
Jesus made clear that this is what a disciple of His is already. It is not something they will become later. It is our nature as Christians to be the light of the world. One commentator has said “Any believer who fails to function as light is going against his nature as God’s new creation.” But we don’t have light in us until Jesus comes to rule in our lives. Christians are to reflect. Nothing is to come between them and their source of light.
Philippians 2:13 (HCSB)
13 For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose.
CONCLUSION
Jesus finished this section of His sermon by giving two examples to help illustrate His point. The first is of a city that is situated on a hill for everyone to see and also a lamp that is prominently displayed on its stand. This is so that their light can be seen by as many people as possible over a huge area. In verse 16 Jesus explained these examples.
Matthew 5:16 (HCSB)
16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
The light is representative of our good works. These good works must be performed with such integrity that everyone who sees will have no choice but to give glory to God the Father. Our Christian influence in this world is to be visible. It is to be obvious. We are not to hide it from the world. We must let the world know that we love the Lord.
When we shine our light out in the world by living righteously, we are revealing God to the world. It is our commission as Christians to live in such a way that makes only God visible in a world that is blind to Him.
Pastor Beaver's thoughts and ideals for this message, are inspired by:
Holman Christian Standard Bible
English Standard Version Bible
King James Version Bible
Christian Standard Bible
The Bible Knowledge Commentary by John F. Walvoord/Roy B. Zuck
The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge by Jerome H. Smith
Water, Mark, ed. Encyclopedia of Bible Facts. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2004. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016. Print.
NIV, Archaeological Study Bible, eBook: An Illustrated Walk Through Biblical History and Culture
Walter C. Kaiser Jr., Duane Garrett, and Walter C. Kaiser Jr.
NIV, First-Century Study Bible, eBook: Explore Scripture in Its Jewish and Early Christian Context
Zondervan, Kent Dobson, and Ed Dobson
Hughes, Robert B. and J. Carl Laney. Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1990. WORDsearch CROSS e-book. Revised edition of New Bible Companion.
Vincent, Marvin Richardson. Word Studies in the New Testament. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1887. Print.
Robertson, A.T. Word Pictures in the New Testament. Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933. Print.
MacArthur, John F., Jr. The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006. Print.
Wilkins, Michael J. Matthew. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2004. Print. The NIV Application Commentary.
Blomberg, Craig. Matthew. Vol. 22. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992. Print. The New American Commentary.
Weber, Stuart K. Matthew. Vol. 1. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000. Print. Holman New Testament Commentary.
Morris, Leon. The Gospel according to Matthew. Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press, 1992. Print. The Pillar New Testament Commentary.
Brown, Jeannine K. Matthew. Ed. Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2015. Print. Teach the Text Commentary Series.
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