Let YOUR Light Shine (Matthew 5:14-16)
Gary McManus, 01/28/2024Part of the New Life series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
January 28, 2024 Matthew 5:13-16
Honesty: Pastor didn’t save the best for last.
Please lower your expectations for this sermon right now.
Besides, over 500 sermons are available at DCC website.
So, how is any sermon the last one?
Today: Jesus, the light of the world. DCC affirmation
of faith: the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness
has not overcome it.[Or, there is no darkness capable of
overcoming this light.]
Pastor has seen his work as a lighthouse keeper.
Pastor’s work is to illuminate. . .
(And prevent shipwrecks of faith (1 Timothy 1:19))
But the word “lighthouse” is not a Bible word.
That is because Israel had no seacoast. Israel had shepherds;
the Bible model for Pastors and Elders.
However, focusing on “shepherd”, we miss the depth of Matthew
5:15. Pastor is a lampstander placer? It is Biblical. Pastor Gary
Prefers “lighthouse keeper.”
The prophets are told to get up to high places for the
Word of God: Isaiah 40:9, (Watchtower--Isaiah 21:6),
Ezekiel 40:2, Revelation 21:10.
What do you know about lighthouse keepers, ancient or modern?
No longer need lighthouse keepers in the modern world (nor do
we use oil lamps made of clay).
So what do Jesus words in Matthew mean?
Never miss the obvious:
Jesus is talking about following Jesus on earth.
W.D. Davies, Matthew Commentary: the word YOU is emphatic.
YOU, Jesus follower, are the light of the world. . .
not the Pharisees, not the High Priests and the their priests.
And YOU, Jesus follower, are not just a light to Israel.
YOU, Jesus follower, are the light of the WORLD.
W.D. Davies: the Jesus followers are the location of
God’s activity. . (.as DCC declares in our closing blessings
. . .[Jesus is]working in you what is pleasing in His sight.”
( Hebrews 13:21)
And God, who gives off light (Psalm 4:6, 18:28, 31:16,
2 Corinthians 4:6) shines through the Jesus followers
just as God’s glory shone through Jesus Himself. (Matthew 4:16).
When we are all together as the church of Jesus,
we are one big light. Pastor’s job, as a light house keeper is to
make sure that the light is always on in the light house.
The light house of DCC was here before Pastor Gary came.
The light is still here. DCC will get a new lighthouse keeper.
And notice the order of events: follow Jesus first, then
How many of you have walked up light house stairs?
Literally and figuratively, it is harder for Pastor Gary
to get up those stairs.
The lighthouse keeper needs to be faithful to his work.
The safety of ships, people and cargo depend on the
lighthouse keeper--their safety depends on all lighthouse
keepers. But the lighthouse keepers will never know how
many lives he saved.
(Pastor Gary learned vigilance in recording the Sunday
sermon.)
Vigilance even for one person.
Pastor has realized over the years that he has to be faithful
to get up the stairs to make sure that the light is on for
others to see in the darkness.
Jesus made it simple. You Jesus followers light up the
room, do not hide your light. Don’t keep it in a closet.
There was a hymn in this church’s old hymnal.
“Let the lower lights be burning.”
Let the lower lights be burning! Send a gleam across the wave!
Some poor struggling sinking sailor, you may rescue,
you may save. Amen.
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