Light Shining Into Darkness

John 1.5
John 1.1-14

We are taken back to the Beginning in this morning's passage, before the creation of the world. At creation there was darkness. God created light. This illumination, this shining forth came from Him. He created all things, but this is what He is, Light.

God is light.
1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.

The Psalmist spoke of it:
Psalm 118:27 The Lord is God, and He has made His light shine on us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar.

Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?


1.The Power of the Light
Darkness cannot overtake it.
It is its nature. A little light will show up in the darkness.
It will dispel the darkness. Small flashlight... Ray Toca, mine, Headlight.

Wherever believers go it spreads! The Church has never been knocked out of commission by persecution, on the contrary. It has however become lukewarm and distasteful to the LORD when its riches increase and it doesn't sense its need of Christ.

The light of God.
Let there be light.

The prophecy of Isaiah
Isaiah 9:1-2 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan— The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

The prophecy of Zechariah, John the Baptist's father:
Luke 1.78b- 79 by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.

The Birth of Jesus. Angels in the sky.

The Transfiguration

Jesus's own words about Himself
John 9:4-5 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

No need for the sun in heaven. The Lamb of God is the light.
Revelation 21:23-25 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there.


2.The Problem with the Light
Men's deeds are evil They don't understand due to stubborn refusal.

They have not been able to extinguish it, but neither have they been able to comprehend it.

I have to really work on not arguing with my atheist connections. They remind me of someone heading off a cliff while telling everyone they will be fine. They cannot see, they cannot comprehend the love of God. I pray for their blinded eyes to be opened.
Love takes away the blindness, not debating or arguing, even if we are right!

Light shining in darkness is an irritant to the eyes. Also to the soul.
John 3:19-21 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

But the light also can be used to clean, light on a front of a vacuum...

Ephesians 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.

1 John 1:5-7 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 Thessalonians 5:5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.

I John 5.20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.



3. The Promise of the the Light
Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 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. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.


Shine before men
They will see your good works
Glory will go to Our Father in Heaven

Preach the Gospel always and when necessary use words.

Ephesians 4:1-3, 17-21, 25-26, 28-32 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.


4. The Personal Aspect of God's Light
My light Psalm 27.1

The Word that was with God in the beginning, God's Son became flesh, dwelt among us, touched lepers, fed 1,000's, took children in His arms and blessed them and whenever He did a healing there was personal contact. He even stopped everything one day when He realized power went out from Him but He didn't know to whom.

Jesus did not do mass healing. Each person He called He called personally.

We need to pray more for people walking in darkness to come into the light. We need to pray for the LORD to shine His Light into their hearts through our lives.

Dear friends, if you and I know our real destiny, and are the servants of God, we are sent that men might, through us, believe in Jesus. John was a special witness; but we ought all to be witnesses to complete the chain of testimony. Every Christian man should reckon that he is sent from God to bear witness to the great Light, that, through him, men might believe. -Spurgeon