Let Your Light Shine Before Others
Shine For Christ
MATHEW 5:14-16
“”You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 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. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
”Matthew 5:14-16 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.5.14-16.NKJ
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You cannot hide a city on a hill top, it can be seen from miles around, from every direction. In the same way, we believers cannot be hidden; our deeds, good and bad can be seen by all and the devil is watching.
He will do all he can to hide the light of Christ by exposing one’s sin or even bringing false allegations, for the devil is a liar (REVELATION 12:9).
Therefore we need not only live right before God, but must be seen to live right in this world through God’s wisdom and our actions before people.
If we bring smoke through foolish living, the world will assume fire.
If we are truly seen to live for Christ, we will shine bright for all to see with joy, peace, and contentment in Christ.
But the truth is, we cannot be right before God by our own power, knowledge, abilities, or even keeping the Law, for we are all sinners in need of a Saviour.
My beloved, good works of the flesh cannot save us nor produce anything good.
But we thank God for His Holy Spirit, who is with us, and in us to help us and lead us in all truth (JOHN 14:15-18; 16:13).
God’s Holy Spirit joins with our spirit through our commitment (1 CORINTHIANS 6:17), and leads us in His righteousness.
“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”
Romans 8:12-17 NKJV
The Spirit leads us and guides us in all truth, and manifests Himself through our flesh to do His good works throug our bodies and out of the belly/ heart shall flow rivers of living waters (JOHN 7:38).
But for that to happen, one must put his own lust to death, for nothing good comes from the flesh.
When one falls to his own lust, the Spirit retreats from the flesh and remains quietly within one’s spirit, working from within to convict him to repentance.
It feels like the Holy Spirit has left, but His promises still stand, that He will never leave us orphans (JOHN 14:18).
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”
Romans 8:1-2 NKJV
But my beloved, though their is no condemnation to those in Christ, their are certainly consequences for sin, for sin lets the devil in to reside within one flesh to influence one’s very soul (our minds, will and emotions) to bring torment, false teachings and prophecies, addictions, torments, curses, fear, depression and all kinds of health issues and such as these, and shall remain until repentance is complete and the devil is evicted.
James put it like this, saying, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
James 4:7-10 NKJV
We all have choice, to live to satisfy the lust of our flesh, or to live for God. If we live only to satisfy our worldly desires, nothing good shall come from us.
“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”
Galatians 5:16-26 NKJV
Many say, one cannot become possessed by demons if he has the Holy Spirit, for God won’t share His dwelling place with the devil, and possession is ownership.
But God’s dwelling place is not within the flesh, but in spirit, and manifests Himself through the flesh to do good works. Furthermore, possession is not ownership. If someone steals a vehicle, he has taken possession, but he doesn’t own it. When caught and challenged, like squatters in a house, they are taken before a judge and evicted.
Therefore, “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.”
I Corinthians 6:12-17 NKJV
My beloved, God is love, and love is the foundation of our faitth; a weapon of mass destruction against our enemies.
But to love is a choice and an action of care toward others, including our enemies (MATHEW 5:43-44).
Our loving kindness toward others that can only come from God (1 JOHN 4:19); our willingness to help and give to the needy, our ability to forgive and not judge, the signs and wonders of Christ that He brings through His obedient believers, and all the fruits of the Spirit (GALATIANS 5:22-26) will be seen by all in the world to attract many to Christ and bring glory to our Father in heaven.
Only by the Spirit within can we believers shine for Christ.
You don’t put a light under a basket, you put it on the table where it will illuminate the whole room.
We hide God’s light by failing to speak out when we should, or by going along with the sinful crowd.
We hide His light by joining in ungodly ways such as gossiping about others, laughing at inappropriate jokes, by involving in sinful actions and lies, and by ignoring the needs of others.
We hide His light when we use God’s Word to manipulate, control, or bring about our selfish ambitions or to steal God’s glory by placing our good deeds and actions before men (MATHEW 6:1).
My beloved, live so that you can lift up your face with joy and confidence, be a beacon of truth and let your light shine before men, that they see the good works that the Holy Spirit brings through you; not to glorify yourself, but to glorify your Father in heaven.
Let all see how our Father is good, let them see the joy, peace, and contentment we have in Christ, for Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.””
John 8:12 NKJV
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
