Christmas Eve – 2017

Subject – The Light of the Gospel

by Rick Welborne

Luke 2:25 32 (NKJV) 

25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 

26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 

27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 

28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: 

29 "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; 

30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation 

31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, 

32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel." 

John 1:6 9 (NKJV) 

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 

7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 

8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 

9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. 

–Today, I want to tell you about some characteristics of light. Most of these you will agree are just common sense. My hope is you will leave with a better understanding of the Light in scripture. Jesus

1. Light reveals what was hidden in the dark. 

--The carpet and furniture our houses look really good until you open the blinds and let the sun shine in.  The light will show the spots in the carpet and it will show the dust and flaws in the furniture and will, in general, show us where we need to clean.

John 3:19-21 (NLT) 

19 And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. 

20 All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. 

21 But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.” 

John 12:44-46 (NIV)
⁴⁴  Then Jesus cried out, "When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.
⁴⁵  When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me.
⁴⁶  I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

2. Light is also used as a standard of measure.

 --Light travels at 186,000 miles per second. A light year is the distance light travels in a year. It is used on sci-fi movies but also used in astronomy to measure the immense distance of the universe. 

--From what I understand light is a very accurate unit of measure. 

1 John 1:7 (NLT) 

7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. 

--Our standard of measure is how much we are living in the Light – Jesus Christ! He was born in that manger so we would not live our lives in darkness anymore! How do we measure up?

3. Light can show you the way. 

--We would have never found our way in the dark had it not been for that ever so small light. When people are lost, they look for a light and start walking toward it. 

--Amazing, in the midst of all that darkness that one lamp in the window of God’s love led the way. Immanuel - - God with us. Our light (Jesus) does the same for us today. Jesus said, 

John 8:12 (NKJV)
¹²  Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." 

John 14:6 (NKJV)

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

4. Light is to be shared...No one should be in darkness!

Matthew 5:14 16 (NKJV) 

14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 

15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. 

Luke 1:67&79 (NKJV)
⁶⁷  Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:
⁷⁹  To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace." 

Luke 2:8-9 &17 (NKJV)
⁸  Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.
⁹  And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.
¹⁷  Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 

Luke 2:25&32 (NKJV)
²⁵  And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
³²  A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel." 

--Jesus is the Light of the world. (This will be an illustration).

--We, like the shepherds are to let our lights shine.

--We do not hide our Light but we let Him shine.

--We are to shine that Light to bring revelation to the Gentiles…to us!

--Acts 1:8 says we are to be filled with Holy Spirit and go to Jerusalem…Fruitland Park!

--Let our light shine in Judea…the Villages and surrounding areas.

--Let our light shine in Samaria…Wildwood, Tavares, Eustis.

--Let our lights shine to the uttermost parts of the world…missions.