CALLED TO SHINE! Mat 5:14-16 KJV Ye are the light of the world.

A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Luke 8:16 KJV No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. Luke 11:33 KJV No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.

WE ARE CALLED TO BE LIGHTS FOR A REASON a. We live in a world of darkness Of Jesus it is written Mat 4:14-16 KJV That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; 16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. Joh 8:12 KJV Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. Joh 12:46 KJV I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. It is to be noted that he appears in the world as a light in darkness. This world lies in darkness where the truth is concerned and only the shining of the light of God can show the pitfalls and the true only Way! Of Paul Jesus said Act 26:16-18 KJV But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; 17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Pauls call is the call to every Christian to turn men from darkness to light. b. Humanity is stumbling and losing their way 2Co 4:3-7 KJV But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. Mankind is on a stumbling run into an eternity of darkness aided and coerced on by the enemy of our souls. We need to preach Christ the Light of the world for He is the light that redirects men to the path of righteousness.

WE ARE TO FULFILL OUR PURPOSE AS LIGHTS a. To expose the danger in the way Eph 5:6-10 KJV Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord Our mission as light will result in errors being detected, and dangers being exposed when we walk as children of light. b. To show the perfect path 2Pe 1:19-21 KJV We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. It is important to use the Word to reveal error and darkness. A person in darkness stumbling in an evil place is in terrible danger WE ARE TO MAXIMIZE OUR POTENTIAL AS LIGHTS a. We need to be properly positioned Mat 5:14-16 KJV Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. It does no good if we are shining brightly under a cover. No one will be helped by that light. It may even go out. Light needs to be displayed for it to be of any use. b. We need to be properly enabled Just as the lamp had need of oil so the believer has need of the Spirit. A lamp needs to be constantly replenished and the wick trimmed. Even so we need to be filled with the Spirit continuously on and to constantly ensure that nothing gets in the way of shining brightly. Before a lamp could be properly lit the wick had to be saturated with oil and in a similar manner the heart of the believer must be immersed in the Spirit of God to be effectively lit. 2Co 4:3-7 KJV But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. Eph 5:18 KJV And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Jesus commanded that we let our light shine in such a manner that men will glorify God through witnessing our good works. It is not to glorify men and have them in admiration but it is ever to point to Christ, to lift Him up to have Him glorified in us.