In John 8:12 Jesus said to the people, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
The world needs Jesus! There is so much darkness in this world, but Jesus is the way, the truth, and the light. Jesus is a convincing person if you are looking for TRUTH! Pastor Clay reviewed his teaching two weeks ago about Jesus.
1. Teachings
2. Lifestyle – He is authentic in a world of shadow and lies. Jesus is truth. Born in the lowliest of
circumstances and died in the worst of deaths, He rose again! Everything He did is good and true.
He is the Light of the world.
3. Power in Life and Miracles – Pastor showed us a photo of the Point Loma Lighthouse and “Devil’s
Punchbowl”. The lighthouse represents the Light of the world – Jesus – everything good.
Everything else is like “Devil’s Punchbowl -sinking sand.
4. Birth/Death
5. Resurrection
The focus of the message today: Jesus said: “YOU are the Light of the World.”
Matthew 5:14-16 “YOU are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do men light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they many see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Jesus wasn’t just talking to one person, but to followers corporately. Individually we shine our light for Jesus as ambassadors for Christ anywhere and everywhere. The Holy Spirit loves to act outside the walls of the church. But TOGETHER -Wow! Where 2 or 3 are gathered – Wow! Lives can be changed. Look around our congregation. You are part of a body. The church is a family, meant to shine together.
God calls us to shine our lights in our community. We aren’t like mirrors, just reflecting an image. Christians have light in us because Jesus dwells in us.
Pastor Clay showed us a lightbulb. How is it that a lightbulb can shine enough light from a lighthouse? A lighthouse shines light to warn and protect from danger and show the way to safety. We were shown a photo of a Fresnel lens used in lighthouses – a picture of the true nature and mission of the church. This lighthouse lens is made up of hundreds of prisms, each bending their light into a single beam. You and I are like those prisms. We have the light of Christ inside of us, a spiritual temple that works in coordination with others. Together we can shine light out the world far more effectively than any one of us can.
As a church: 1. We are gathered for love.
Loneliness is so prevalent. As the song in the TV show Cheers said, “People want to know go where everyone knows their name.” People need people. With the love of Jesus in our hearts we have so much to offer. God wants to knit us together as a family to reflect God’s light and truth to a needy world. When people visit our church, we want them to feel they are home and that they belong. The church of Jesus Christ cannot afford to be powerless in a world that is increasingly dark. Faith Chapel has been through a lot in recent times. God’s best years are ahead for this church! This church needs to be the church where people feel love, community, and a unified spirit. Be eager to maintain unity of spirit for it reflects the unity of God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
As a church: 2. We are gathered for power.
God goes with us wherever we go. Pastor Clay told a powerful personal story of the power of the Holy Spirit. He and his wife were waiting in ER during covid. A single comment to another led to a movement of the Holy Spirit among many strangers in the ER. In a very unlikely setting, Jesus showed up, leading to touched lives, hugs, tears, prayer, sharing God’s message, and changing lives. A group of people with very different backgrounds ended up joining in heartfelt worship. What a story! Breakout of God’s presence in the Emergency Room. We have a tremendous opportunity in a world of loneliness. We are His lighthouse!
As a church: 3. We are gathered for revelation.
A city on a hill needs to shine for everyone to see, revealing His goodness. The Columbus Memorial Lighthouse in the Dominican Republic is a huge structure in the shape of a cross, built in memory of Columbus’ first voyage. Besides the horizontal lights going around, it has flood lights on top of the cross shape pointing to the sky. In Ephesians 3:10, it says “His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms…” The cross of Jesus is the intersection of man’s sin, god’s holiness, and God’s love, taken upon by the Son. The church is called as God’s family for revelation, truth, hope, victory, and light for the world.
Faith Chapel is at a threshold moment in our history. WE are called to impact our neighborhood, county and world. Every one of us can be one of those prisms, working together with our gifts to build up the church and spread light. God is here. Great things are happening now in the church – there is no treading water. Greater things are ahead if we all jump in. Be one of those prisms. Love your family. Seek God’s glory. Stand on truth so this lighthouse will be a pure house. God will be glorified, and people saved! We want to be spirit filled, unified in love and purpose and biblically solid. This church needs to
listen to Jesus! Leaders, staff, elders, board: Make room for Jesus. Congregation, be one of those prisms and offer your body, prayer, gifts, tithes, and abilities to make your life count. Jump in and be used to glorify Jesus!
What a timely, Spirit led, God inspired word for each of us individually and as a body at Faith Chapel. May this church be a lighthouse for Jesus, a beacon of hope for the lost. Individually and corporately, may we reflect Jesus to strengthen one another, the church, and the community around us.
Written by Debby Jarrell