YOU ARE THE LIGHT - Pastor Larry Gatlin

YOU ARE THE LIGHT!

Pastor Larry Gatlin, So Oregon

Matt 5:13-16 NKJV �You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.� 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.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT LIGHT:

ONE IS THAT LIGHT ALWAYS DISPELS DARKNESS.
THE SECOND IS THAT MOST OF THE LIGHT THAT WE USE IS REFLECTED LIGHT. IN FACT ABOUT 85 TO 90% OF THE LIGHT WE USE DAILY IS REFLECTED LIGHT.

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THAT MEANS THAT WE ARE TO BE REFLECTORS OF THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD, JESUS. BRINGING HIS LIGHT INTO A DARK AND DISMAL WORLD. EVERYWHERE WE GO OUR LIFE SHOULD SHINE SO BRIGHTLY THAT WE DRIVE BACK THE DARKNESS OF THE WORLD AND PRESENT THE LIGHT OF CHRIST FOR ALL TO BE SEEN.

�� IN CHAPTERS 1-4 WE SEE THE BIRTH OF THE MESSIAH, GOD LEADING HIS FAMILY TO EGYPT FOR PROTECTION, AND THEN LEADING THEM BACK TO NAZARETH. WE ALSO SEE THAT JOHN THE BAPTIST BECOMES THE PREPARER OF THE WAY FOR JESUS TO LAUNCH HIS EARTHLY MINISTRY. JOHN THEN BAPTIZES JESUS AND JESUS IS LED INTO THE WILDERNESS WHERE HE FASTS AND PRAYS FOR FORTY DAYS AND NIGHTS. AT THE END OF HIS FAST, JESUS WAS TEMPTED TO SIN BY SATAN. THE TEMPTATIONS THAT JESUS FACED COVERS EVERY TEMPTATION THAT WE COULD EVER FACE. ACCORDING TO 1JOHN 2:16 ALL SIN IS CONTAINED IN, THE LUST OF THE EYE, THE LUST OF THE FLESH, AND THE PRIDE OF LIFE. JESUS SUCCESSFULLY OVERCAME ALL THREE AREAS. HE COULD HAVE TURNED THE STONES INTO BREAD (LUST OF THE FLESH). BUT HE RESPONDED THAT IT IS WRITTEN MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE WORD OF GOD. HE COULD HAVE THROWN HIMSELF OFF OF THE HIGH PLACE AND TRUSTED THE ANGELS LIFT HIM UP (PRIDE OF LIFE). BUT HE PROCLAIMED THAT IT IS WRITTEN, THOU SHALT NOT TEMPT THE LORD THY GOD. HE COULD HAVE RULED THE KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD (LUST OF THE EYE). BUT HE RESPONDED BY SAYING IT IS WRITTEN THOU SHALT WORSHIP ONLY GOD AND HIM ALONE. I�M CERTAIN THAT SATAN NEVER GAVE UP BUT JESUS WAS TEMPTED IN EVERY WAY THAT WE COULD EVER BE TEMPTED AND NEVER SINNED.

�� THAT LEADS ME TO AN AREA THAT HAS BEEN BOTHERING ME A LOT LATELY. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF AREAS OF FALSE TEACHING THAT IS BEING PERPETRATED ON OUR SOCIETY TODAY. ONE IS THE AREA OF WITCH CRAFT. IN COMES IN SUBTLE FORMS. LIKE �HARRY POTTER� AND A NEW MOVIE ENTITLED �BEWITCHED�. TWO MOVIES OR STORY LINES THAT THE WORLD CONSIDERS INNOCENT. BUT ARE THEY?

THE WORD OF GOD TEACHES US THAT SATAN COMES LIKE THE ANGEL OF LIGHT. HOWEVER, WE KNOW THAT HE IS REALLY THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS. THESE TWO MOVIES OR BOOKS PORTRAY ALL OF THIS ACTIVITY AS HUMOROUS AND LIGHT HEARTED. BUT IT IS MY SINCERE BELIEF THEY ARE A DISGUISE. ONE THAT SATAN USES TO MAKE WITCH CRAFT APPEAR TO BE ACCEPTABLE AND INNOCENT. BUT AS WE READ THE WORD OF GOD WE KNOW THAT GOD FORBIDS WITCHCRAFT IN NAY FORM. EVEN HUMOR. Deut 18:10-12

Deut 18:10-12 NKJ �There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11 or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 12 For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you.

THE OTHER AREA OF CONCERN IS, �THE DAVINCI CODE�:

IT NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME HOW PEOPLE, EVEN CHRISTIANS CAN BE SO EASILY DECEIVED. THIS BOOK IS FICTION. WEBSTER�S NEW WORLD DICTIONARY DEFINES FICTION AS, AN IMAGINARY STATEMENT OR STORY. LITERARY WORKS WITH IMAGINARY CHARACTERS OR EVENTS. WHAT PART OF IMAGINARY OR FICTION DON�T PEOPLE UNDERSTAND? HOWEVER, THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO USE THIS FICTIONAL BOOK AS TRUTH. WHAT A TRAVESTY!

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�� BECAUSE OF ALL OF THIS FOOLISHNESS IT IS MORE IMPORTANT IN THE AGE THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY LIVING THAT WE BE THE LIGHT OF THE EARTH AND SALT. SATAN OUR ENEMY IS TRYING TO DECEIVE AS MANY SOULS AS HE CAN IN THESE CLOSING DAYS OF TIME.

�� THE APOSTLE PAUL SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME AIMED AT THIS SAME TYPE OF BEHAVIOR. IT SEEMS THAT SATAN HAS ALWAYS LIKED TO USE PARTIAL TRUTH TO DECEIVE FOLKS. IN PAUL�S ERA IT WAS THE GNOSTICS THAT WERE THE PROBLEM. THEIR BELIEFS WERE BASED UPON, CATCH THIS, SPECULATION, FABLES, AND MORAL LAXITY. DOES THAT SOUND FAMILIAR TO ANY ONE? LIKE FICTION BECOMING TRUTH.

1Tim 4:1-5 NKJ �Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; 5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.�

�� WHEN IT COMES TO THESE TYPES OF ISSUES WE CHRISTIANS MUST SPEAK OUT AND NOT BE AFRAID. IF WE DON�T, WHO WILL? WE ARE CALLED TO BE SALT AND LIGHT.

�� SALT WAS USED IN TWO WAYS IN THE TIMES OF CHRIST. ONE WAS AS A SEASONING FOR FOOD. THE OTHER WAS AS A PRESERVATIVE. WE ARE CALLED TO SEASON OR BE SALT TO THOSE WE COME IN CONTACT WITH. WE ARE ALSO CALLED TO PRESERVE AS MANY AS POSSIBLE FROM THE PUTRIDNESS OF THE WORLD.

�� AS I MENTIONED EARLIER LIGHT DISPELS DARKNESS AND IS REFLECTED. ARE WE BEING THE LIGHT AND SALT THAT OUR WORLD NEEDS TO BE SPARED THE COMING JUDGMENT? WE ARE ALL CALLED TO BE JUST THAT TO THIS PRESENT WORLD.

�� ISN�T IT TIME THAT WE CHRISTIANS BECAME THE SALT AND LIGHT THAT A DYING WORLD NEEDS? SO THEY MAY ESCAPE THE JUDGMENTS AND WRATH SOON� COMING UPON THIS REBELLIOUS AND WICKED WORLD.

�� IT IS TIME FOR US TO BE SALT AND LIGHT. DON�T GIVE UP. YOU NEVER KNOW WHO WILL BE LISTENING WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR STAND FOR CHRIST.

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