LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE (CC)

FEBRUARY 10, 2013 ZION LUTHERAN, TORRANCE, CA SERMON TEXT: 2 CORINTHIANS 4:3-6 LET US RISE FOR THE READING OF THIS MORNING'S SERMON TEXT RECORDED FOR US BY THE APOSTLE PAUL IN HIS 2ND LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS, WHERE WE READ FROM CHAPTER 4, BEGINNING WITH VERSE 3: AND EVEN IF OUR GOSPEL IS VEILED, IT IS VEILED TO THOSE WHO ARE PERISHING. THE GOD OF THIS AGE HAS BLINDED THE MINDS OF UNBELIEVERS, SO THAT THEY CANNOT SEE THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL OF THE GLORY OF CHRIST, WHO IS THE IMAGE OF GOD. FOR WE DO NOT PREACH OURSELVES, BUT JESUS CHRIST AS LORD, AND OURSELVES AS YOUR SERVANTS FOR JESUS' SAKE. FOR GOD, WHO SAID, "LET LIGHT SHINE OUT OF DARKNESS," MADE HIS LIGHT SHINE IN OUR HEARTS TO GIVE US THE LIGHT OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GLORY OF GOD IN THE FACE OF CHRIST. THIS IS THE WORD OF OUR LORD. LET US PRAY: GLORIOUS AND GRACIOUS GOD, MAY THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH AND THE MEDITATION OF EACH OF OUR HEARTS BE ACCEPTABLE IN YOUR SIGHT, OUR ONLY SOURCE OF HOPE AND COMFORT. AMEN. [TEXT TAKEN FROM THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, 1973, 1978, 1984, USED BY PERMISSION OF ZONDERVAN BIBLE PUBLISHERS] DEAR FOLLOWERS OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST: IN THE BEGINNING, THERE WAS GOD. IN THE BEGINNING, THERE WAS ONLY GOD. HOW HARD AND DIFFICULT IT IS FOR OUR HUMAN MINDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT CONCEPT. BECAUSE OUR CONCEPT DEPENDS SO MUCH ON THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED; THE THINGS THAT WE SEE AND THE THINGS THAT WE TOUCH. AND YET, WE KNOW FROM THE BASIS OF SCRIPTURE, THAT IN THE BEGINNING, NONE OF THAT EXISTED. IN THE BEGINNING, THERE WAS GOD. AND GOD SAID: LET THERE BE LIGHT. AND THE LIGHT BROKE THE DARKNESS. THE LIGHT BEGAN TO SHINE WITH WHAT MUST HAVE BEEN THE MOST BRILLIANCE THAT WE COULD IMAGINE. THAT IN THAT MOMENT GOD CHANGED EVERYTHING! FROM HIM BY HIMSELF TO CREATING A WONDERFUL WORLD IN WHICH HE WOULD PLACE HIS GREATEST CREATION. THAT HE WOULD CREATE A HOME FOR THE SPECIAL CREATURES THAT WOULD BE HIS. THAT HE CREATED A MAN AND HE CREATED A WOMAN BRINGING THEM TOGETHER TO POPULATE THE EARTH. AND TO BE HIS OWN. BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT LOVE FOR HUMANITY. THAT ACT OF CREATION IS SUCH A MARVELOUS THING. IT JUST SHINES WITH STRENGTH AND POWER. AND THAT SAME STRENGTH AND POWER IS WHAT GOD DOES EACH AND EVERY TIME HE COMES INTO A HEART THAT IS DARKENED BY SIN. INTO A LIFE THAT DOES NOT KNOW GOD; THAT IS CONDEMNED TO HELL BECAUSE OF THE SIN INHERITED FROM HIS OWN MOTHER AND HIS FATHER. TRACING THAT ALL THE WAY BACK TO ADAM AND EVE WHO BROUGHT THAT SIN INTO THE WORLD AND CREATED THEIR CHILDREN IN THEIR SINFUL IMAGE. THAT INHERITED SIN THAT CONDEMNS EACH AND EVERY SOUL TO AN ETERNITY OF SUFFERING IN HELL OUTSIDE OF GOD. AND IN THAT DARK HEART AND IN THAT DARK LIFE GOD SPEAKS HIS WORD. THE POWER AND THE STRENGTH OF HIS WORD AND BRINGS FAITH IN THE LIFE THAT JUST BURSTS FORTH INTO THAT DARKNESS ... TO THE CREATION OF FAITH. THAT FAITH THAT THAT PERSON NOW HOLDS ONTO TIGHTLY. HOLDS ONTO WITH ALL OF THEIR STRENGTH BECAUSE IT IS THAT FAITH THAT KNOWS AND TRUSTS NOW IN THE POWER OF GOD REFLECTED IN HIS SON JESUS CHRIST. TRUSTING WHAT JESUS CHRIST CAME TO ACCOMPLISH WHEN GOD SENT HIM INTO THIS WORLD TO BE THE SAVIOR OF MANKIND. TO BE THE ONE WHO WOULD BUY BACK THOSE SOULS FROM THE HAND OF SATAN. TO PURCHASE THEM WITH HIS VERY OWN BLOOD. AND THROUGHOUT CHRIST'S MINISTRY, THE FATHER COMES BACK TIME AND TIME AGAIN WITH THE REASSURANCE TO THOSE PRESENT: HERE IS MY SON. THE ONE I LOVE. LISTEN ... TO HIM. FROM THOSE WORDS THAT WE HEARD THE FATHER SPEAK AT CHRIST'S BAPTISM. TO THE WORDS THAT WE HEAR THE FATHER SPEAK ONCE AGAIN AT JESUS' TRANSFIGURATION, THAT THE FATHER PUT HIS STAMP OF APPROVAL ON HIS SON THAT HE LOVED TO BE THE SAVIOR OF MANKIND. TO BE THE ONE WHO WOULD OPEN THE DOORS OF HEAVEN TO PEOPLE ON THIS EARTH. AND WE HAVE THAT KNOWLEDGE! WE HAVE THAT LIGHT OF GOD SHINING WITHIN US! AND THE APOSTLE PAUL CAME TO THE CHURCH IN CORINTH AND THE SAINTS THAT WERE THERE THAT HAD THAT SAME LIGHT TELLING THEM AND REMINDING US THIS MORNING TO LET THAT LIGHT SHINE. TO LET EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US BE THE BEACON OF CHRIST'S LIGHT IN THIS WORLD. BECAUSE IN THIS WORLD THE GOD OF THIS AGE HAS BLINDED PEOPLE TO THE TRUTH. THE GOD OF THIS AGE ... THE GOD OF THIS WORLD WANTS TO DIMINISH CHRIST. WANTS NO ONE TO KNOW OF CHRIST. WANTS TO SILENCE THE CHURCH. WANTS TO TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY IT CAN TO REACH OUT IN WICKEDNESS TO DESTROY THE TRUTH OF GOD. AND YOU AND I GO OUT INTO THAT WORLD EVERY DAY. THAT'S THE WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE. THAT'S THE WORLD THAT ATTACKS OUR FAITH AND WANTS TO WEAKEN IT. THAT'S THE WORLD THAT WANTS TO PUT OUT MY LIGHT AND YOUR LIGHT. AND SATAN IS VERY ACTIVE TO MAKE SURE THAT HE HOLDS TIGHTLY TO EACH AND EVERY SOUL THAT HE CAN. AND THAT SHOULD NOT SURPRISE US. BUT IT CERTAINLY SHOULD WAKE US UP TO THE FACT OF WHAT IS OUT THERE AND WHAT WE ARE UP AGAINST. BUT WE COME WITH THE STRENGTH OF CHRIST. WE COME WITH THE RADIANCE OF GOD. IT IS NOT OURSELVES THAT WE PROCLAIM. WE PROCLAIM THE TRUTH OF GOD'S SON IN ALL OF ITS GLORY, IN ALL OF ITS SPLENDOR. NO MATTER HOW DIFFICULT IT IS FOR OUR HUMAN MINDS TO REASON THROUGH. WE SET THAT ASIDE WITH THE EYES OF FAITH. TO SEE JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND SAVIOR OF ALL. WE HAVE SEEN HIM IN THAT TRANSFIGURATION. THAT ACCOUNT THAT WE READ WHERE HE SHINES WITH THE BRILLIANCE OF GOD AND HIS OWN HOLINESS. HE DID THAT FOR HIS DISCIPLES SO THAT THEY WOULD BE ENCOURAGED IN WHAT LIE AHEAD OF THEM IN THE WEEK OF HOLY WEEK, AND THE HORRIBLE DEATH THAT HE WAS GOING TO SUFFER. TO REMIND THEM OF WHO HE WAS: THE SON OF GOD. AND WHAT HE WAS COMING TO ACCOMPLISH. AND WE NEED THAT SAME REMINDER ESPECIALLY IN THE FACE OF THE GODS OF THIS WORLD WHO WANT TO ROB US OF THAT JOY. BECAUSE IT GOES BACK TO THE FACT THAT GOD SENT HIS SON TO DIE FOR SINNERS OF WHICH I AM THE WORST. THAT GOD SENT HIS SON TO DIE FOR ME. THAT JESUS CHRIST ROSE FROM THE GRAVE FOR ME. THAT I HAVE ETERNAL LIFE BECAUSE OF WHAT GOD HAS DONE. THERE IS MY STRENGTH. THERE IS MY CONFIDENCE. THERE IS THE WEAPON THAT I USE IN THE ATTACKS OF SATAN AND THIS WORLD AGAINST MY FAITH. BECAUSE I KNOW THAT JESUS CHRIST IS MY LORD AND SAVIOR. THAT IT IS HIS LIGHT THAT SHINES IN ME. THAT IT IS HIS FAITH THAT I PROCLAIM. THAT IT IS HIS LOVE THAT I REACH OUT TO WITH OTHER PEOPLE. BECAUSE I CANNOT HELP BUT DO ANYTHING ELSE WHEN I REALIZE WHAT GOD HAS DONE. WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR ME. AND WHEN I'M TEMPTED TO REMAIN SILENT; WHEN I'M TEMPTED TO HIDE MY LIGHT; WHEN I'M TEMPTED NOT TO SPEAK UP FOR FEAR THAT I'M GOING TO BE RIDICULED; OR HATED, OR JUST IGNORED, I COME BACK TO WHAT CHRIST ENDURED FOR ME. AND WHAT IS AT STAKE: THE ETERNAL WELFARE OF PEOPLE! AND I HAVE THE TRUTH. I HAVE THAT LIGHT THAT I ALLOW TO SHINE IN MY LIFE DAY IN AND DAY OUT TO BE THAT BEACON OF GOD'S LOVE. TO TAKE WHAT I HAVE LEARNED FROM SCRIPTURE AND TO SHOW IT IN MY LIFE. TO PUT INTO PRACTICE THOSE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD SO THAT OTHERS KNOW THAT I AM NOT A PART OF THIS WORLD. THAT I DON'T SERVE SATAN. THAT I DON'T SERVE THE GOD OF THIS WORLD WHICH BASICALLY IS MYSELF. THAT I AM NOT HERE FOR WHAT I CAN GET OUT OF MY LIFE FOR MY PLEASURE AND MY EXISTENCE. I AM NOT A CHILD OF SATAN. I AM A SERVANT OF THE LORD. AND MY LIGHT SHINES SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT; SO THAT THEY SEE THAT. AND JUST LIKE WHEN MOSES CAME DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAIN WITH THOSE TABLETS WITH THE COMMANDMENTS ON THEM AND HE ... HIS FACE SHOWN WITH THE BRILLIANCE OF CHRIST, THE PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE KNEW THAT MOSES HAD BEEN WITH GOD. WHEN WE LET OUR LIGHT SHINE, PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE ARE WITH GOD. WE HAVE SPENT TIME WITH GOD. WE ARE DIFFERENT THAN THE PEOPLE OF THIS WORLD. WE SPEAK DIFFERENTLY. WE THINK DIFFERENTLY. WE ACT DIFFERENTLY. BECAUSE WE ARE SERVANTS OF CHRIST. AND WE REMIND OURSELVES OF HOW EASY IT IS TO JUST NOT SPEAK. AND TO LET THE WORLD CHANGE THE WAY THAT WE THINK AND PULL US AWAY FROM THE TRUTH OF GOD. TO PUT OURSELVES FIRST AND OUR IMPORTANCE FIRST RATHER THAN THE LORD. BUT WE TAKE THOSE SINS TO CHRIST AND KNOW THAT THEY ARE FORGIVEN. KNOW THAT THAT WAS HIS REASON FOR COMING WAS TO SAVE US. TO BE GRATEFUL TO HEAR THE WORDS THAT WE ARE FORGIVEN. THAT OUR SINS HAVE BEEN REMOVED. THAT WE ARE THE DEARLY LOVED CHILDREN OF GOD. AND THAT FUELS OUR FLAME. THAT FUELS OUR LIGHT. BUT I THINK TODAY WE HAVE TO REALLY SLAP OURSELVES IN THE FACE TO WAKE OURSELVES UP. BECAUSE SO OFTEN I THINK ... WE'LL START IT TOMORROW. OR IT JUST DOESN'T MATTER WITH THIS ONE PERSON. SO WHAT IT I DON'T GO TO CHURCH? WHO'S GONNA KNOW? WHO'S GONNA CARE? SO WHAT IF I GO TO CHURCH AND IT MATTERS NOTHING IN MY LIFE? IT'S MY LIFE. WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AND EXAMINE WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A SERVANT OF GOD. ONE WHO DOES HIS WILL. NOT BECAUSE WE'RE FORCED TO. BUT BECAUSE GOD CAME AND SPOKE TO US. GOD SENT HIS HOLY SPIRIT INTO OUR DARKENED UNBELIEVING HEARTS. HE BROUGHT US TO FAITH. AND HAS GIVEN US LIFE. AND THERE WE FIND OUR CONFIDENCE; THERE WE FIND OUR JOY. AND THAT LIGHT BURNS IN US. TODAY I ASK YOU TO HEED THE MESSAGE OF PAUL. TO THE ANCIENT CHURCH, TO THE CHURCH TO US, TO THE CHURCH OF THE FUTURE. TO LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE. AMEN. LET US RISE. NOW MAY THE PEACE OF GOD WHICH GOES BEYOND ALL OF OUR UNDERSTANDING KEEP YOUR HEARTS AND YOUR MINDS AND ESPECIALLY YOUR LIVES IN THE ONE TRUE FAITH UNTO LIFE EVERLASTING. AMEN.