LIFE #4
THAT LIFE WAS THE...
John 1:1-5 "1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
I’m sure we’ve all experienced what it’s like to walk into a dark room and turn the light on. It reveals things, it makes our path clear and it seriously helps us relate to the other people were interacting with. We need light.
In Him is life, He is the word, so in the Word was life, and that life was the light of men
LIFE THAT IS THE LIGHT IS IN THE WORD - IT'S A LIVING BOOK
The word of God is living and active
Hebrews 4:12-13 "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."
After dad’s inspiring testimony of abundant life last week, Allow me to indulge in the glorification of God. To testify some examples from my Life of the WORD where that living book rocked my world and brought eternal life into my life. These are scriptures and experiences based on the word which radically impacted my encounter with the life that IS the light of men.
- David Peters Prophecy
HEY CALEB - WHY DO YOU HAVE A PLUG?
Deuteronomy 15:12-17 "12 If any of your people—Hebrew men or women—sell themselves to you and serve you six years, in the seventh year you must let them go free. 13 And when you release them, do not send them away empty-handed. 14 Supply them liberally from your flock, your threshing floor and your winepress. Give to them as the Lord your God has blessed you. 15 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you. That is why I give you this command today. 16 But if your servant says to you, “I do not want to leave you,” because he loves you and your family and is well off with you, 17 then take an awl and push it through his earlobe into the door, and he will become your servant for life. Do the same for your female servant."
KEEPING THE LIGHT TO OURSELVES IS NOT AN OPTION
Ezekiel 33:8-9 "When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require from your hand. 9 But if you on your part warn a wicked man to turn from his way and he does not turn from his way, he will die in his iniquity, but you have delivered your life."
Paul affirms the Ezekiel 33 scripture is a New Testament reality.
Acts 20:25-27 "25 Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. 26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you. 27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God."
THE MOST IMPORTANT QUALIFICATION WHEN IT COMES TO THE LIGHT OF MEN
- have you been with Jesus?
Acts 4:13 "13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus"
WHAT DOES MEGAMORPHIC MEAN?
2 Corinthians 3:18 "And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."
Hebrews 12:1-13 (collaboration and confrontation are like twins. They go hand in hand)
I had quite a struggle in my teenage years where I kept asking dad who he was accountable to. I learned that a Deliberate written approach to collaborative meetings confronts individualism. You’re accountable to everyone when you do this. This is exactly how God led the way with His word.
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
God Disciplines His Children
4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
FAITH.
Eternal Life comes by faith. We have relationship with Christ by faith. The Word being a light to your path, it’s by faith. And that faith needs to increase!! Did you know it can?
Faith increases.
2 Corinthians 10:15 "15 Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith increases, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand"
What are you doing to increase your faith??
Romans 10:17 "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing the word of God"
Jude 20 - build up your most holy faith by praying in the spirit
What’s greater? Your revelation? Or your situation? How do you get revelation that’s greater than your situation?
FAITH WILL GROW IF YOU SOW
Sowing and reaping
2 Corinthians 9:6; "The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
HOMEWORK - read Hebrews 11. The Hall of faith.