Sermon: Children of the Light

12/20/09 Children of the Light
John 12:36 – Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light." When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

Philippians 2:14-16 – Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.

We are children of the Light by virtue of our personal relationship to Jesus Christ, who is the light of the world
• We can choose to be His children
• John 1:9-13: Christ was born into a Jewish community, but they rejected Him
As children of the Light, we are enlightened by the Spirit of Jesus in our inner person
• Ephesians 1:17
• Wisdom: mind and experience
• Knowledge and experience wielded together
• Revelation: revealed by God to us
• We didn’t think it up
As Children of the Light, we are to shine as lights “in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation”.
• Shine like stars
Why does it matter that believers are children of the Light?

I. We live in a world of darkness
• Deuteronomy 32:5
• Crooked: a generation that left the straight path that God gave us
• In this generation, Christians have declined
• Because we live in a world of darkness
• Evil is the influence of the evil one
• There are bad, immoral things that have become a part of everyday life
• We brush them off because society tells us its ok, even if it goes against the Word of God
• Why should we shine? Because we have a message of Light

II. We have a message of Light
• We are to always be visible in a dark world
• We should shine in the darkness
• Genesis 1:14-19: we are placed to provide a light for the world
• The light Jesus gave isn’t for us, but it is for others
• Ephesians 5:6-10: don’t live like the average person who does not know Jesus
• We must shine out for others
• Do it without grumbling so we can be blameless
• Philippians 1:27-28
• To be unafraid of those who oppose
• We don’t provide the light to the world as we should
• Philippians 2:15
• Numbers 11:1-6
• Numbers 1-14 – grumble against Aaron and Moses (because they shine)
• Matthew 5:14-16
• Never get comfortable where we don’t recognize the darkness we live in
• Hold out the word of life
• John 1:1: Word was God, God built it Himself through Jesus Christ
• The bible tells us that God loves us
• God is love
• John 6:63
• We’re the light that shines
• Hold out the word of life

Challenge:
• Become aware of the darkness
 Tv
 Internet
 We live here to reach out
• Cultivate a servant attitude
 know Christ, and be His servant
• Ask God to confront you with a need
• Share the Gospel with at least one person

We are Children of the Light by virtue of our acceptance of Jesus Christ, the light of the World. As children of the Light, we are shine as lights in a darkened world. Dr Phil Linerberger