The light of God is a precious gift!

1
The light of God is a precious gift!

• We live in a dark world that is ruled by the
  prince of darkness. (Eph 612)

2
The light of God is a precious gift!

• Ephesians 612 (NKJV) - For we do not wrestle
  against flesh and blood, but against
  principalities, against powers, against the
  rulers of the darkness of this age, against
  spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly
  places.

3
The light of God is a precious gift!

• It can seem as if darkness is overwhelming and
  unstoppable.

4
The light of God is a precious gift!

• Our God sent His Son Jesus Christ to bring light
  to a world of darkness. (Lk 179, Jn 812)

5
The light of God is a precious gift!

• Luke 179 (NKJV) - To give light to those who sit
  in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our
  feet into the way of peace.

6
The light of God is a precious gift!

• John 812 (NKJV) - 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.

7
The light of God is a precious gift!

• Do you understand what it means to find this
  light?

8
The light of God is a precious gift!

• Do you understand what it means to find this
  light?
• Satan seeks to keep you proud and
  self-sufficient so that you will not see. (2 Cor
  43-4)

9
The light of God is a precious gift!

• 2 Corinthians 43-4 (NKJV) - But even if our
  gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are
  perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has
  blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of
  the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the
  image of God, should shine on them.

10
The light of God is a precious gift!

• People are gullible to be influenced by the
  prejudices of others so that they close their
  minds to the light of God. (Jn 11-5)

11
The light of God is a precious gift!

• John 11-5 (NKJV) - In the beginning was the
  Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
  God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All
  things were made through Him, and without Him
  nothing was made that was made. 4In Him was life,
  and the life was the light of men. 5 And the
  light shines in the darkness, and the darkness
  did not comprehend it.

12
The light of God is a precious gift!

• Many fear the light but they should not.

13
The light of God is a precious gift!

• This light will bring radical changes to your
  life if you will let it.

14
The light of God is a precious gift!

• This light will bring radical changes to your
  life if you will let it.
• I would like to share with you how I came to find
  the light of God.

15
Gods light must become your only guide

• Jesus set the example of how we handle the light
  from God.

16
Gods light must become your only guide

• Jesus set the example of how we handle the light
  from God.
• Jesus whole life was focused on doing the will
  of the Father who sent Me. (Jn
  519-21, 30)

17
Gods light must become your only guide

• John 519-20 (NKJV) - Then Jesus answered and
  said to them, Most assuredly, I say to you, the
  Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees
  the Father do for whatever He does, the Son also
  does in like manner. 20 For the Father loves the
  Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself
  does and He will show Him greater works than
  these, that you may marvel.

18
Gods light must become your only guide

• John 530 (NKJV) - I can of Myself do nothing. As
  I hear, I judge and My judgment is righteous,
  because I do not seek My own will but the will of
  the Father who sent Me.

19
Gods light must become your only guide

• There was not a single thing Jesus did without
  the fellowship and authority of
  the Father. (Jn 828-29)

20
Gods light must become your only guide

• John 828-29 (NKJV) - Then Jesus said to them,
  When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will
  know that I am He, and that I do nothing of
  Myself but as My Father taught Me, I speak these
  things. 29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The
  Father has not left Me alone, for I always do
  those things that please Him.

21
Gods light must become your only guide

• Jesus light was delivered in the form of words.
  They were recorded for us to see and respond
  to. Jesus showed us the response He expects! (Jn
  1246-50)

22
Gods light must become your only guide

• John 1246-50 (NKJV) - I have come as a light
  into the world, that whoever believes in Me
  should not abide in darkness. 47 And if anyone
  hears My words and does not believe, I do not
  judge him for I did not come to judge the world
  but to save the world.

23
Gods light must become your only guide

• 48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My
  words, has that which judges himthe word that I
  have spoken will judge him in the last day. 49
  For I have not spoken on My own authority but
  the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I
  should say and what I should speak. 50 And I know
  that His command is everlasting life. Therefore,
  whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me,
  so I speak.

24
Gods light must become your only guide

• From these verses Jesus teaches us how to view
  and handle His word.

25
Gods light must become your only guide

• From these verses Jesus teaches us how to view
  and handle His word.
• If we do not have positive authority from Gods
  word then we do nothing!

26
Gods light must become your only guide

• From these verses Jesus teaches us how to view
  and handle His word.
• If we do not have positive authority from Gods
  word then we do nothing!
• God has given us all things for us to follow.

27
Gods light must become your only guide

• From these verses Jesus teaches us how to view
  and handle His word.
• If we do not have positive authority from Gods
  word then we do nothing!
• God has given us all things for us to follow.
• The respect we have for Jesus word is the
  respect we have for Jesus.

28
Gods light must become your only guide

• Are you following the footsteps of Jesus?

29
Gods light must become your only guide

• Consider the implications of the inspiration of
  Gods word. (2 Tim 316-17)

30
Gods light must become your only guide

• 2 Timothy 316-17 (NKJV) - All Scripture is given
  by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
  doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
  instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of
  God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for
  every good work.

31
Gods light must become your only guide

• What does perfect mean? What does every good
  work mean?

32
Gods light must become your only guide

• What should we do when the Bible does not speak
  on a subject?

33
Gods light must become your only guide

• What should we do when the Bible does not speak
  on a subject?
• Some say it is allowable as long as the Bible
  does not condemn it.

34
Gods light must become your only guide

• What should we do when the Bible does not speak
  on a subject?
• Some say it is allowable as long as the Bible
  does not condemn it.
• Jesus taught us to do nothing that is not to
  practice it.

35
Gods light must become your only guide

• What should we do when the Bible does not speak
  on a subject?
• Some say it is allowable as long as the Bible
  does not condemn it.
• Jesus taught us to do nothing that is not to
  practice it.
• We are not allowed to act when the Bible is
  silent! (Col 317)

36
Gods light must become your only guide

• Colossians 317 (NKJV) - And whatever you do in
  word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord
  Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through
  Him.

37
Gods light must become your only guide

• As a young man I started a Bible reading on my
  own one summer.

38
Gods light must become your only guide

• As a young man I started a Bible reading on my
  own one summer.
• I had earlier prayed to God to help me find His
  way.

39
Gods light must become your only guide

• As a young man I started a Bible reading on my
  own one summer.
• I had earlier prayed to God to help me find His
  way.
• A prayer for light is a prayer that God will
  answer! (Ps 8913-18)

40
Gods light must become your only guide

• Psalm 8913-18 (NKJV) - You have a mighty arm
  Strong is Your hand, and high is Your right hand.
  14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation
  of Your throne Mercy and truth go before Your
  face. 15 Blessed are the people who know the
  joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of
  Your countenance.

41
Gods light must become your only guide

• 16 In Your name they rejoice all day long, And in
  Your righteousness they are exalted. 17 For You
  are the glory of their strength, And in Your
  favor our horn is exalted. 18 For our shield
  belongs to the Lord, And our king to the Holy One
  of Israel.

42
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• Love for my Lord demanded that I surrender things
  that divide. (Jn 1720-23)

43
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• John 1720-23 (NKJV) - I do not pray for these
  alone, but also for those who will believe in Me
  through their word 21 that they all may be one,
  as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You that
  they also may be one in Us, that the world may
  believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which
  You gave Me I have given them, that they may be
  one just as We are one

44
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• 23 I in them, and You in Me that they may be
  made perfect in one, and that the world may know
  that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You
  have loved Me.

45
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• I was raised in a religious body that had good
  sincere people in it.

46
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• I was raised in a religious body that had good
  sincere people in it.
• Why does division exist? What could I possibly do
  as a single individual?

47
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• I was raised in a religious body that had good
  sincere people in it.
• Why does division exist? What could I possibly do
  as a single individual?
• One of my first challenges came as I examined the
  Lords Supper. (Mt 2626-28)

48
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• Matthew 2626-28 (NKJV) - And as they were
  eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it,
  and gave it to the disciples and said, Take,
  eat this is My body. 27 Then He took the cup,
  and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying,
  Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My
  blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many
  for the remission of sins.

49
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• In the Baptist church I never remember partaking
  of it.

50
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• In the Baptist church I never remember partaking
  of it.
• Driving home from Samford University I heard a
  radio sermon on the subject. The early church met
  on the first day of the week! (Acts 207 1 Cor
  161-2)

51
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• Acts 207 (NKJV) - Now on the first day of the
  week, when the disciples came together to break
  bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke
  to them and continued his message until midnight.

52
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• 1 Corinthians 161-2 (NKJV) - Now concerning the
  collection for the saints, as I have given orders
  to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also
  2 On the first day of the week let each one of
  you lay something aside, storing up as he may
  prosper, that there be no collections when I come.

53
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• I tried to imperfectly practice what I had
  learned.

54
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• Gods light directed me to find the forgiveness
  of sins. (Col 112-14)

55
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• Colossians 112-14 (NKJV) - giving thanks to the
  Father who has qualified us to be partakers of
  the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He
  has delivered us from the power of darkness and
  conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His
  love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His
  blood, the forgiveness of sins.

56
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• While attending the University of Alabama I heard
  a basic presentation on how Jesus directed men to
  be saved. (Mk 1615-16)

57
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• Mark 1615-16 (NKJV) - And He said to them, Go
  into all the world and preach the gospel to every
  creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will
  be saved but he who does not believe will be
  condemned.

58
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• It was important not to base your conclusion on
  just one verse. What did Peter preach? (Acts 238)

59
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• Acts 238 (NKJV) - Then Peter said to them,
  Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in
  the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of
  sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy
  Spirit.

60
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• Consider how the apostle Paul found the light.
  (Acts 93-11)

61
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• Acts 93-11 (NKJV) - As he journeyed he came near
  Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him
  from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and
  heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are
  you persecuting Me? 5 And he said, Who are You,
  Lord? Then the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom you
  are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick
  against the goads.

62
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, Lord,
  what do You want me to do? Then the Lord said to
  him, Arise and go into the city, and you will be
  told what you must do. 7 And the men who
  journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a
  voice but seeing no one.

63
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• 8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his
  eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him
  by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And
  he was three days without sight, and neither ate
  nor drank. 10 Now there was a certain disciple at
  Damascus named Ananias and to him the Lord said
  in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Here I am,
  Lord.

64
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• 11 So the Lord said to him, Arise and go to the
  street called Straight, and inquire at the house
  of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for
  behold, he is praying.

65
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• Paul came to repent and follow whatever Jesus
  asked him to do.

66
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• Paul came to repent and follow whatever Jesus
  asked him to do.
• He also prayed for 3 days. Was Paul saved?

67
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• Paul came to repent and follow whatever Jesus
  asked him to do.
• He also prayed for 3 days. Was Paul saved?
• Paul needed additional light and Ananias gave it
  to him. (Acts 2212-16)

68
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• Acts 2212-16 (NKJV) - Then a certain Ananias, a
  devout man according to the law, having a good
  testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, 13
  came to me and he stood and said to me, Brother
  Saul, receive your sight. And at that same hour
  I looked up at him.

69
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• 14 Then he said, The God of our fathers has
  chosen you that you should know His will, and see
  the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. 15
  For you will be His witness to all men of what
  you have seen and heard. 16 And now why are you
  waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away
  your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

70
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• Was Paul right to leave Judaism? (Acts 2618)

71
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• Acts 2618 (NKJV) - to open their eyes, in order
  to turn them from darkness to light, and from the
  power of Satan to God, that they may receive
  forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among
  those who are sanctified by faith in Me.

72
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• In the 4 spiritual laws tract part of Gods
  light was left out!

73
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• As I examined all the verses on this subject, I
  found that whenever baptism and salvation
  (forgiveness of sins) are mentioned together that
  baptism always is placed before salvation. (1 Pt
  320-21)

74
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• 1 Peter 320-21 (NKJV) - who formerly were
  disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering
  waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was
  being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight
  souls, were saved through water.

75
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• 21 There is also an antitype which now saves
  usbaptism (not the removal of the filth of the
  flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward
  God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

76
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• After studying and asking further questions I
  decided to be baptized into Christ and take a
  stand to be just a Christian. (Acts 191-4)

77
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• Acts 191-4 (NKJV) - And it happened, while
  Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed
  through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And
  finding some disciples 2 he said to them, Did
  you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?
  So they said to him, We have not so much as
  heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.

78
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• 3 And he said to them, Into what then were you
  baptized? So they said, Into Johns baptism. 4
  Then Paul said, John indeed baptized with a
  baptism of repentance, saying to the people that
  they should believe on Him who would come after
  him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

79
Gods Light will be in conflict with the
religions of men

• Was I right in doing that?

80
The fight to stay in Gods light never ends

• In my stand to only follow the light of God I
  have found that others who once stood with me
  have given up that stand.

81
The fight to stay in Gods light never ends

• In my stand to only follow the light of God I
  have found that others who once stood with me
  have given up that stand.
• Light comes as an opportunity it can be lost.
  (Jn 1235-36)

82
The fight to stay in Gods light never ends

• John 1235-36 (NKJV) - Then Jesus said to them,
  A little while longer the light is with you.
  Walk while you have the light, lest darkness
  overtake you he who walks in darkness does not
  know where he is going. 36 While you have the
  light, believe in the light, that you may become
  sons of light. These things Jesus spoke, and
  departed, and was hidden from them.

83
The fight to stay in Gods light never ends

• Churches as well as individuals can drift away
  and now fight the light that they once stood in.

84
The fight to stay in Gods light never ends

• Churches as well as individuals can drift away
  and now fight the light that they once stood in.
• Those that walk in the light never fear the light
  they welcome it! (Jn 319-21)

85
The fight to stay in Gods light never ends

• John 319-21 (NKJV) - And this is the
  condemnation, that the light has come into the
  world, and men loved darkness rather than light,
  because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone
  practicing evil hates the light and does not come
  to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
  21 But he who does the truth comes to the light,
  that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they
  have been done in God.

86
The fight to stay in Gods light never ends

• One of the most difficult experiences came when I
  tried to have the man baptize me study on a
  controversial subject. He angrily refused!

87
The fight to stay in Gods light never ends

• One of the most difficult experiences came when I
  tried to have the man baptize me study on a
  controversial subject. He angrily refused!
• There are many churches today that will not allow
  certain subjects to be addressed from the pulpit.

88
The fight to stay in Gods light never ends

• Years later this church invited a speaker from
  the denomination I left to be a keynote speaker
  in a series of youth meetings. He was also
  described by the news media as liberal on the
  subject of homosexuality.

89
The fight to stay in Gods light never ends

• Years later this church invited a speaker from
  the denomination I left to be a keynote speaker
  in a series of youth meetings. He was also
  described by the news media as liberal on the
  subject of homosexuality.
• Our light must always come from Gods word and
  not just depending upon what a church
  calls itself. (Isa 25-6)

90
The fight to stay in Gods light never ends

• Isaiah 25-6 (NKJV) - O house of Jacob, come and
  let us walk In the light of the Lord. 6 For You
  have forsaken Your people, the house of Jacob,
  Because they are filled with eastern ways They
  are soothsayers like the Philistines, And they
  are pleased with the children of foreigners.

91
The fight to stay in Gods light never ends

• Are you willing to trust God? (Isa 5010-11)

92
The fight to stay in Gods light never ends

• Isaiah 5010-11 (NKJV) - Who among you fears the
  Lord? Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who
  walks in darkness And has no light? Let him trust
  in the name of the Lord And rely upon his God. 11
  Look, all you who kindle a fire, Who encircle
  yourselves with sparks Walk in the light of your
  fire and in the sparks you have kindled This you
  shall have from My hand You shall lie down in
  torment.

93
The fight to stay in Gods light never ends

• Gods light will require that you take a stand!

94
The fight to stay in Gods light never ends

• Gods light will require that you take a stand!
• My family struggled with my stand but over time
  they were willing to listen.