The Power of Light

God Company Sri Lanka

is the last of a series of four Presentations expanding from “The Key Elements of Christian Living”. The Four Key elements are being presented as four separate presentations. Faith

Forgiveness

LivingExample

Love

THE KEY ELEMENTSOF CHRISTIAN

LIVING

This study…

The Power of Faith The Power of LoveThe Power of ForgivenessThe Power of Light

The Power of Light

We can defeat darkness only with light. The instant a light is lit darkness disappears. Light and darkness cannot remain at the same place at the same time.

If you are living in darkness you have no idea what lurks beside you – whether good or evil because you are unable to see. It can be the most venomous snake beside you but you will not see. Likewise when you are embroiled in Sin(moral darkness) you don’t see right from wrong. Evil deeds are self justified.

When we bring light in to our lives we will be able to observe the things gone wrong (Evil) in our lives, the things that we do that are sinful and most importantly, we get to understand what displeases God.

The Significance of Light

God sent us His only begotten son Jesus...

Who is the Light.

John 3 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Matthew 4 16 the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death  a light has dawned.”  17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Light that God sent

Humanity existed in a world of “moral darkness” with mankind exceedingly becoming Godless and evil. God sent us a light in Jesus...so that we may find the way to light up our lives and beat the darkness - and also help others to find light in their lives.

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.”

Jesus is the light

We are Christians because we believe in Jesus. He requires us to read, hear or learn His teachings and transform our lives by practicing these Teachings. If we don’t... then we cannot call our selves Christians or Christian establishments.

Christians follow the light

46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.” – Jesus (Luke 6)

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people 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. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven Matthew 5

Jesus said...

As Christians we have to...

13 “You are the salt of the earth- Jesus

14 “You are the Light of the World - Jesus

How a simple compound called salt is required by the whole world because it is essential... How even a small light can give light in the darkest room...

Think...

Therefore Christians have to be a group of people who are required by the whole world...and be a shinning light so that others may see our good example...and praise God in HeavenWe have heard this requirement many times over in our life time... but let’s take a look at what it really

means.

CHRISTIAN EXAMPLE

You are the SALT OF THE EARTH You are the

LIGHT OF THE WORLDBe wanted by the

whole world

HOW ?

LIVING WITH... Love, Forgiveness,

Goodness, Selflessness, Care, Help, Compassion,

Kindness, Honesty,

DependabilityGod fearing

Conduct our lives in a manner that is

exemplarily so that other who see will give praise to God

(and be drawn to our salvation)

Two Requirements

Be a living Example to

others so that in contrast they may see the

darkness in their lives and turn to

God

JESUS SAID

HOW ?The Christian

Living Example

As Christians WE ARE REQUIRED enlighten our world by holding up the light of the Christian example. Unfortunately what we see today is the very opposite of what it should be. A world filled with evil, greed and destruction as every day occurrences... Evil ways have become the way of the world.

In today’s world Christians too are embroiled in this mêlée of Evil - without living in sharp contrast to the example of the ungodly activities that are exponentially prevailing in the world today...

CHRISTIAN EXAMPLE

We have to always remember that Christians are required to be a living example and THROUGH OUR GOOD INFLUENCE PRODUCE A GOOD CROP by brining more to our God – for

sake of their Salvation.

Contrasting Good against Evil

We can enlighten the world by patient and firm perseverance in releasing Goodness in to the world. Our lives should be filled with perpetual light, constantly working firmly against the moral darkness that is around us.

THIS PERPETUAL LIGHT IN US cannot be a flickering, wavering, and an uncertain light. It has to be clear, steady and burn bright - even at the toughest times - so that many would see our good example in STARK CONTRAST TO THE EVIL that is going on around us each day.

Jesus said: “Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.” Luke 11 : 36

A Christian living examplein contrast to moral darkness...

light in a dark world

Many Christians living examplein contrast to moral darkness

Together we can Change the world

If Christians in their individual capacity and as a community that is spread worldwide, were to set a living example of goodness, it is only then that we could dispel the moral darkness that is engulfing the world today.

The Power of Light

Because more and more will see our good example, and want to learn about these special people... In stark contrast to themselves notice the Goodness that is released by Christians and be influenced by these actions to turn to our God.

With the Power of Light we can change the world to be a better place as intended by Jesus.

We have to be the Light

In keeping with Jesus’ teachings we have to fill our lives with love as it is a Key requirement for Christian Living. With Love we have to adopt an attitude of Forgiveness as decreed by Jesus many times in His teaching.

It is only when we achieve this plateau of Christian Living that wecan fulfill Jesus’ directive for us and be the salt of the Earth and the Light to the world!

When we give our lives to Jesus we are able to repent for our sinfulness and receive Forgiveness for our Sins. Thereafter we have to protect our salvation “with fear and trembling” by conforming our lives in keeping with Jesus’ teachings... This enhances our Faith in God which in turn causes our lives be filled with light...with righteousness.

It is our responsibility...

23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” Matthew 13

Christians have to hear, read, learn, understand, Live and practice the teachings of Jesus. When our lives are filled with Faith, Love, Forgiveness and Gods light, our good example is comparable to the seed that fell on good soil in the Parable of the Sower. IT IS ONLY THROUGH THIS GOOD EXAMPLE that we will be able to produce a good crop – 30, 60 or 100 times...in accordance to His expectation.

The crop that Jesus refers to is obviously the increased numbers of non believers finding salvation through our living example.

The Four elements of Christian Living

FAITHChristian Faith relates to a confident assurance of Salvation through Jesus Christ and being certain of His Guidance, protection and blessings upon your life(...and others whom you pray for).

LOVE Love is an essential element in Christian living: 1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 1 Corinthians 13

FORGIVENESS14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins - Jesus (Matthew 6)

LIVING EXAMPLE13 “You are the salt of the earth...14 “You are the light of the world...

The true Christian...

Lives with absolute Faith in God and His teachings

Lives with Love and for God and Mankind

Lives a life with an attitude of Forgiveness

It is only then that you can become a Living Example that others can learn from and due to your exemplarily goodness give praise to our God and hopefully turn to Him for their Salvation...

The Living Example13 “You are the salt of the earth...

14 “You are the light of the world...

See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness... - Luke 11:35

We pray

 God Company Sri Lanka

Thank you