Pastor Dave Martin ~ Cross Creek Community Church ~ Dec 16, 2007

 “Light up your World”

Mt 2:1-12 (Pew Bible page 681)

I love Christmas lights this time of the year…

        I read of the captain of a ship looking into the dark night and saw faint lights in the distance. Immediately he told his signalman to send a message: "Alter your course 10 degrees south." Promptly a return message was received: "Alter your course 10 degrees north." The captain was angered; his command had been ignored. So he sent a second message: "Alter your course 10 degrees south--I am the captain!" Soon another message was received: "Alter your course 10 degrees north--I am a seaman third class Jones." Immediately the captain sent a third message, knowing the fear it would evoke: "Alter your course 10 degrees south--I am a battleship." Then the reply came: "Alter your course 10 degrees north--I am a lighthouse."

Here’s a neat picture of the lights of earth as seen from space…

The story of the Wisemen…

Read Mt 2:1-12, p681 pew bible

Matthew 2:1-2 ¹ After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem ² and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

The Wisemen followed the Star… a bright light in the sky

It was unique, one of a kind, attractive, directional, supernatural, observable light

We’re going to get into a fascinating look at light itself… (found some 234 times in the NIV Bible)

What is Light?  Electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength that is visible to the human eye.  Light is Energy that produces a sensation of brightness that makes seeing possible.

·         Supplies energy for plant life & sets our biological clocks – literally light sustains life itself.

·         Mysterious entity with many  “theories” (at least 12) to help explain (wave, particle, plenum, quantum, etc)

·         Light is used to measure distances: Light speed is 186,000 miles/sec

o   Milky way is 120,000 light years in diameter & farthest star G11 is 25 billion light years away!

o   To travel the distance to the moon of 240,000 miles would take just over a second going that speed…

o   Circumference of earth is approx 25,000 miles… take 1 second to go around the earth seven times!

·         Light moves from place to place instantly yet it’s invisible (Einstein’s theory of relativity E=MC2)

o   Transparent materials passes light

o   Translucent materials scatters light

o   Opaque materials blocks light

o   Mirrored materials reflect light

·         Light is sometimes referred to as “pure energy” – light is energy!  (solar panels – “free & clean” energy) 

·         But in reality, where does light energy originate?  What or who is the source?  (Do you feel small? Good!)

All Light Originates with God.

Genesis 1:1-3 ¹ In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ² Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. ³ And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. …

·         “Created” – bara - idea of instantaneous, miraculous, something out of nothing… God willed & it happened.

·         Holy Spirit “hovering” – energizing creation (magnetism, gravitational fields, earth’s rotation, nuclear… etc

·         God said, “light be” and light was! We know what light does but NOT what light is! Light pierced darkness!

May also use: Colossians 1:15-17 ¹⁵ He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. ¹⁷ He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

·         Jesus Christ holds the universe together, right down to the tiny atom with electrons spinning light speed!

Light used to speak of:       

            Intellectually – the Knowledge of God (truth) 2Co 4:6

            Morally – the Holiness of God (purity) Eph 5:8-9

            Physically – the Glory of God (vision) Rev 21:23

1 John 1:5,9 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all… The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

1 Timothy 6:15-16 ¹⁵ which God will bring about in his own time--God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, ¹⁶ who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

Science tells us light is made up of three distinct properties.  (Intensity/Frequency/Polarization)

Remove any one property from the other two and it ceases to be light.

How can we live a victorious Christian life?  How can we walk in His light of life?  How can we make a difference in lives of people around us?  How can we light up our world for Christ?

To Light up your World…

1. Recognize God’s Light

            V2 “We saw His Star…”

·         The Wisemen saw “His” star… they were well versed in O.T. scriptures & astronomy (Dan 2:8)

·         Most likely from the Persian empire (Iran)… called Magi – highly trained/wisdom/wealthy/kings

·         Guided by a light in the sky, they came seeking the newborn king of the Jews ~ Jesus. 

·         An unusual journey, guided by a star.  Not a comet, meteor, super-nova, alignment of planets…

Someone pondered what the first Christmas might have been like if wise women had come from the east instead of wise men…They probably would have asked for directions, made it to Bethlehem on time, helped with the delivery, cleaned up the stable, made a decent meal. But I’m not sure about that.

·         But a supernatural miraculous light guided them from afar, like us – afar from God – dead in sin.

·         What “star” may have God put into your life to guide you – into His perfect will? Recognize it.

·         As the Wisemen of old, we too must recognize God’s Light… look what Jesus said -

John 12:46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

·         The world today for the most part is walking in darkness because their deeds are evil.

·         Our loving Father sent His Son into this world as light to redeem sinful man from darkness of sin

Responses: Herod was disturbed/fear…the Jews were indifferent…the Wiseman were rejoicing

·         Our earthly walk can be in darkness or in the light… light of eternal life!  How are you doing?

2.  Remain in God’s Light

            V9 “…the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them...”

·         After Herod sent them on their way… the star appeared again, they followed it S. to the house…

·         They searched faithfully staying in the light seeking newborn king… continued on in the light.

·         This takes deliberate effort… takes work on our part… God saves our soul… God’s light…

I read about an old farmer making decisions in the dark that led to some regrettable consequences. Back in the days before electricity, a tightfisted old farmer was taking his hired man to task for carrying a lighted lantern when he went to call on his girl friend. “Why,” he exclaimed, “when I went a-courtin’ I never carried one of them things. I always went in the dark.” “Yes,” the hired man said wryly,” and look what you got!”  ---  Remain in God’s Light!

·         It’s our responsibility to seek the Lord continuing to walk in His light… living as children of light

·         God only lights up our path so far… like a flashlight… stay walking in the light God has given…

·         We who were dead in our trespasses/sins, now are children of light–live like a child of the King.

Ephesians 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

·         Illustration using the follow spot from the sound loft… don’t walk in darkness, stay in the light.

3.  Reflect God’s Light

Vs 11b-12 “…Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.  ¹² And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.”

·         The Wisemen presented their treasures to the Lord Jesus… gold – royalty/purity… frankincense – aromatic/divinity… myrrh – spice for embalming/death… Gentiles reflecting God’s light.

·         Outward demonstration of a changed life, a new life will reflect God’s Light by your tithes & offerings, in serving, in ministries, in giving, in witnessing, being sensitive to hear God, Christ like attitudes, blameless lifestyle… What do people see, when they look at you? You or Christ?

2 Corinthians 3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Philippians 2:15 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

A pastor warned a young man in his church that was moving away that the company he was joining was very worldly and could be a bad influence on him, and furthermore, they would treat him very badly for being a Christian. Months later he heard just the opposite, that the boy’s experience had been ‘nothing but pleasant.’ The pastor asked, ‘you mean they haven’t persecuted you for being a Christian?’ He replied, ‘Nope! Matter of fact, they haven’t even found out!’

·         We reflect God’s light that dwells within us!  Remember Moses face shone (Ex 34:30)

·         We live in a fallen depraved world… Lord tells us we need to be shinning like stars in universe!

4.  Rejoice in God’s Light

Vs 10-11a When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. ¹¹On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him…”

·         The Wisemen were overjoyed in experiencing God’s Light… they came to the house

·         Notice carefully they bowed down and worshipped Jesus… not Mary.

·         You NEVER find worship/prayer of or to Mary taught in God’s Word… a lie of the enemy

·         Walking in the presence of God, walking in the Light – you will light up your world!

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Christmas Program tonight at 6pm            Let’s Pray

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