Spread the Light (8/13/12)

Shalom,

Please begin by reading 1 Pet 2:9-10.

A church board chairman stated the following during a meeting. "We need a new chandelier for the sanctuary." The secretary jumped right in and replied, "I don't think so. First of all, I can't spell it. Second, there's no one here who can play it properly. And third, what we really need is more light in the sanctuary." This may be funny, but it's also a bit sad because of the miscommunication displayed. Many boards and councils function without the guidance of the Holy Spirit because of a lack of hunger for the truly spiritual. We're called to live in the light of the Gospel and to spread it.

Born-again, Bible- believing, Holy Spirit-seeking Christians have no need to fear the darkness. Our problem is that it's very easy to trip over something worldly when we dwell in darkness. Yahweh's light brings insight, understanding, and knowledge. Eph 5:9 says, "the fruit of Yahweh's light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth." If we'll dwell in our Lord's light, we can make better decisions and trust that they'll be approved by him. If we're truly operating as the Body of Christ, Holy Spirit illumination will guide us through troubles and direct us onto good paths.

Some people are persuaded by the deep truth found in the story of Jesus on earth, the Light of the World who came to us to save us from our sins. Yet others hate that same truth because it interferes with their selfish ambition and willful sin. Some even go so far as to oppose the Light, being foolish enough to think they can manage without it. Some see the impurity of sin exposed by the Light and respond by crying out for cleansing. Some see it and complain that God is trying to spoil all their fun. We need to be a people who stay in the light and allow it to do it's work.

There are lots of things Yahweh hasn't revealed to us yet. Really, he hasn't told us but a very small portion of all he could reveal to us. It's actually amazing how little he's truly shared with us. But when we get to Heaven we can anticipate learning all of Yahweh's wisdom. For right now we must strive to understand what he's revealed. We too often waste a lot of time trying to figure out things he hasn't opened up to us. Look where his light is shining and stay there. Don't go wandering off in the dark exploring or getting yourself lost.

The spreading of Yahweh's Light is why we're "a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to Yahweh." We should have a hunger and strong desire to make Yahweh's Light as plain to our world as we possibly can. We use candles and flashlights and lanterns to light our way in dark places. And Yahweh, through the activity of the Holy Spirit, works to illuminate the minds of men to his Truth. People need our help to find the Light of the Gospel. We have that Light if we're true believers and followers of Jesus.

For example, the Gospel is the Light shining in the darkness of men's hearts. There are references to churches being candlesticks and ministers being stars in our Bibles. Both jobs are to dispense light. The light given by the Holy Spirit through the Gospel is spiritual knowledge and understanding. So then, to illuminate is to teach, attempting to shine Yahweh's Light into the darkness of mankind's corrupt hearts and minds. The true Light will expose sin and help people see their need for Jesus the Savior. No matter how painful that can be to some people, it's our job to shine this piercing light.

But we can't stop at shining the Light. Once people respond to the Gospel we must then disciple them. Having knowledge of salvation isn't enough without the obedient actions of Christian discipleship being lived out. We can't ever stop shining the Light, but we must be certain that we help each one who responds to mature and grow in their faith. Always go on to teaching the elements of Christian maturity.

To be Yahweh's chosen people means being the ones responsible for spreading his Light around the world. Chosen actually breaks out as "OF THE CALLED." In Matt 22:14 Jesus said, "Many are called, but few are chosen." He's asking us to do what's necessary to be a chosen one. Being chosen isn't a passive thing. It requires active faith and seeking on the part of a disciple. We must choose to do the things that place us in the category of called. Yahweh wants every human being to be part of his called ones. Everyone who chooses to follow Jesus has volunteered to spread his light. Don't try to tell him you didn't sign up for that part of the task because it's a strong stipulation of being called.

Some translations have chosen generation because this word refers more to a family group than a nation. But isn't that what we're supposed to be, sons and daughters of the Most High God? Things that once exclusively applied to Israel have now become the responsibility of each and every Christian. We didn't replace them, we were grafted into Yahweh's family to be directly connected to their calling and heritage. In Isa 49:6 Yahweh tells Israel, "I will make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth." In Matt 5:14 Jesus told his disciples (that means us, too), "You are the light of the world." We've been given the exact same work to do that Israel was called to do.

We're Yahweh's royal priesthood because Jesus is both a King and a priest. This also connects us to Israel because in Ex 19:6 Yahweh told Moses to tell the people, "You will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." Rev 1:6 and 5:10 both tell us we've been made into "a kingdom and priests to serve our God and Father." Priests do the regular work of interceding on behalf of others. They put themselves between Yahweh and man and try to help us all draw closer to our loving Father.

The priests of the first covenant were the regularly appointed religious teachers for their nation. They all came to their positions by heredity, just like we do when we're born again as brothers and sisters of our Lord Jesus. It's this same heredity that makes us royal and kingly. If Jesus is the King of kings and we're his brothers and sisters, we're of royal blood. We should carry this nobility in a solemn and purposeful way. It's a huge responsibility to live up to, but we've been given the resources to serve in this capacity.

To be Yahweh's holy nation is an act of grace. Gentiles were strictly kept on the outside looking in before Jesus came. There was a process where one could become Jewish, but prejudice often short-circuited it. After Israel returned from its Babylonian exile, the priests worked to purify the nation and went overboard. They became highly zealous in proving family lines and began to exclude those without a good pedigree. Remember the heartache and trouble caused by Paul when he brought Gentiles to the Temple.

By an act of grace Yahweh brings us into his family and anoints us to "declare his praises." A holy group of people should stand out from the world. We should act and talk and live differently enough to be easily noticed. This is where lifestyle evangelism comes in. Accept Yahweh's holiness and obediently serve him. Our habits should be different from unbelievers. Our activities should be different, too. People should know we stand for something other than getting ahead in this world or surviving. We work for the High Priest in Heaven, and our holy actions should prove that.

The last descriptor gives people some trouble. We're called "a people belonging to Yahweh." The Amplified Bible puts it: "God's own purchased, special people." We're special to our heavenly Father because he bought us at a great price. A museum actually contains many quite ordinary items: hats, canes, furniture, and toys. But they're significant because they once belonged to someone from our past. Yahweh takes ordinary people and makes them special in much the same way. Since Yahweh has bought us, we truly belong to him. If he owns us, how is it that we believe we can do whatever we want and ignore his righteous standards? Don't ignore this fact and become a spectator instead of an active participant in spreading the Light.

Yahweh has used wonderful symbolism with us since the beginning. Light is actually many-colored. We often think of light as being white or slightly yellow. But when we look through a prism we see all its components. Yahweh gave us the rainbow after the Flood. This many-colored light shining through droplets of water is a marvelous sign of his covenant. There will be no more world-wide floods. Our Creator used light to give us a sign of his love. We need to use the light to help people find his love.

The God who created the universe has to be a God of wisdom. And a God of wisdom certainly has a purpose for his Creation. History proves that man is unable to come up with a proper explanation of human origins without considering the Creator. Wise men may build ladders of thought trying to reach Heaven, but our tallest ladders fall far short of the dwelling place of our Creator. To find him we need a revelation, a light. And Yahweh has provided exactly what we need, then he's placed the responsibility of sharing upon the people who have found the Light.

The Light has been made known to us. Yahweh has ordained us as his messengers to carry the message of his Light to the whole world. Yahweh has assigned us to the work of the priest, to call all people to that Light and to teach them his ways. Everyone who's said yes to Jesus has been "called out of darkness into his wonderful light." Make sure you're shining that light wherever your Lord and Master sends you.

Blessings & Peace, Mike