Kerwin Baptist Church Daily Broadcast

Welcome to the Kerwin Baptist Church broadcast our desire is for the word of God spread throughout all me know join is now for a portion of one of our services here at Kerwin Baptist Church located in Kernersville, North Carolina John chapter 8 verse 12 then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world versus on the screen. If you don't have your Bible this morning.

That way you can see it, he that followed with me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Three. This one more time. Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world he that fall with me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life, then John chapter 9 verse four. I wanted you to be able to see this versus morning where God says this Jesus speaking I must work the works of him that sent me while it is day, the night cometh when no man can work as long as I am in the world. I am the light of the world. Interesting little statement there as long as I am in the world I am the light of the world. So for even get started this morning a little question for you is he in the world that he died on the cross rose again, but he ascended back into heaven, so he said that he was going to be the light of the world as long as he was in the world and yet is that still the case or was that window gone well. May I remind you that he lives inside of you.

Did you hear me you got. I remember now, God the father, God the son God the Holy Spirit and are all God and you have to understand that you know people say, well, Jesus. We get what he said. He said I do not leave you comfort less and he gave to us. From that point on ministry of the Holy Spirit that when you and I become believers in Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to indwell the believer and I'm here to tell you there is still light in this world because he still lives inside of you and we still have his good job yeah what is going on with you guys this morning.

That is a doornail. All this good music this morning and it okay we have is wormwood as well as a the beginning was the word the word was with God and the word was so as long as we have his word.

There's light in the world and wonderful wonderful promise let's him, pray in the budget. If you don't mind him, he that car Donna Marilyn sent and I want to honor them. They been nice enough to want to read this. Thank you. Carful, we pray, and you continue to pray for them and obviously had the funeral for Marilyn's mother this week. Dear church family. We appreciate the flowers phone calls, text cards, food, and visits during the passing of my mom.

Thank you so much for all of your thoughts and prayers for our family during this time. Love John and Marilyn.

I hope that you continue to pray for them. When you lose a parent there's always a season, there will be seasons of thinking of things and just hope you'll continue to keep them in your prayers. Lord we love you today already do our best to honor you to rightly divide your word when you made this powerful statement that you are the light of the world. Lord, I pray you help me. We want to do right, but Lord may each person here when they leave today understand why this statement is so important to them as individuals, as believers in Christ and Lord. If there's anyone here that is not a believer in Christ and might not even understand it right now at this point that they're not saved. Lord I pray that your convicting power would show them their need and Lord I pray that before they leave today that they would put their faith and trust in you, not in a religion, not in a church, not in a baptism but in you, Lord, I pray you help me today and in Jesus name we pray. Amen so as to understand fully this and we've had some marvelous statements so far. You know that for Jesus to say I am the bread of life. I am the way, the truth life. I am the door.

I am the good shepherd. All of these statements describe something else about Jesus and what it means to you and me, and although they didn't understand it at the time. May I also say that many of us sitting right here in church many times don't fully understand what that means our life and I don't know that I can ever fully explain the richness of the statements in our lives, but I'm to try for us to understand at least a little bit more, I first want to give you this morning but by sake of outline wanting to be the context.

So the first thing in order for us to understand what he is saying and why he is saying it and why. He said it when he did, we have to understand the context now. First, and in these first 11 verses Jesus, has an interesting thing happened, the scribes and Pharisees bring to him a woman that they caught in adultery now. I've always wondered and know if you thought about this. We all have our own little ideals but how did they catch her in this act, how would they have known exactly where she would be in exactly who she would be with.

Seems a bit suspect, doesn't it, and so they bring this woman and and obviously they did this to Tim Jesus and try to catch him and snag him and they said here. This woman is taken in adultery. This is what the law says what are you going to do about this and so obviously we all know the story that Jesus bent down and wrote in the sand and in one of the great mysteries of the Bible and the senses is all of us thinking what he wrote in the sand. We all have our own opinions, but whatever. He wrote did the job and by the way, may I say this, whatever he writes does the job and so whenever they solve that Jesus said hey you know he that is without sin in the first stone in the sentence or the again to leave very quickly and Jesus looked at her and he said they don't condemn you and I don't condemn you and so you know, go but as you go sin no more.

Overture forgiven, but you need to repent of that sin and turn from it and then the very next verse he makes this statement. I am the light of the world.

Who is he talking to will use talking to these Pharisees and scribes because it says and he spake under them again. They are always the ones trying to find something wrong in Jesus, but if I can give you the greater context of the story, Jesus makes this statement during the East of the tabernacle. Now why this was interesting is that Jesus made the statement that we've already studied as you would remember that he was the bread of life he made that during the Passover and the whole significance of bread in the Passover and during that during that that that national thing that the Jews all celebrated was so important to their culture.

He makes a statement as their concentrating on earthly bread. He makes a statement.

I am the bread of life. But now he makes this statement. I am the light of the world during the feast of Tabernacles know why is it so important well this let me explain with the feast of the Tabernacles was.

It was a seven day festival and what it really celebrated it it it it annually celebrated the fact that God had been with Israel during the 40 years in the wilderness, and while he was there.

The Bible makes a statement that God was a fire by night, and if you understand he was a cloud by day and a fire by night and they celebrated this in the feast of the Tabernacles that God was a fire by night and and was present and led and protected in all then provided for.

Obviously, the children of Israel.

So what would happen during this feast of Tabernacles. They would literally set up these these four humongous kind of stands. I guess you would Sally really know how to describe it but they were in the Temple court and that they were for enormous stands in each of them held for golden bowl, and in each of the 16 bowls they would get up on ladders and they would put the priest garments than they would take those garments put them in the bowl and they would like those on fire and so you have 16 bowls there was literally four on each of these four stands in the Temple court and it would light up for seven days and and it was said that you could literally maybe see the light from the city from it. Maybe a mile or two away. See the glow in the sky and also during this feast that each individual can light their own little lantern or bowl or whatever the case was and literally it was signifying that God had been light to Israel and they were celebrating this fact and right in the middle of this, Jesus, and of course they didn't mind the fact that they were celebrating God. But Jesus makes a statement and they knew exactly what he was saying he was claiming to be God because he said this I am as are looking at these these humongous golden bowls filled with fire lighting up a city. Jesus says I'm not the light of the city and I'm not even the light of this continent on the light of the world. Leave it to Jesus to just absolutely agitate the living daylights out of the religious leaders I think Jesus is still agitating religious leaders, don't you, so I want you to notice the contrast he makes a statement and when Jesus makes the statement, he introduces something that we call contrast. It's an contrast is basically two choices, and their contrasting choices. Notice if you would, in verse 12 he says this I am the light of the world he that fall with me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. So he says I am the light of the world. Then he says he that follows me. Then he says that there is darkness.

And there's light so he brings a number of contrast in just one verse, and I want you to understand that for you to understand this passage we all have to understand is notice first. Here is the contrast between Jesus and religion. He said he that follows me on the light of the world.

Religion is not the light of the world. We see what religion has done for the world.

Nothing. But Jesus says and not if you follow route you follow me so already we have the contrast that that they the religious leaders did like it's either Jesus or its religion that you're going to choose.

Notice this other contrast, there is a contrast here between following the word and following the world. He says he that follows me, so there's a contrast if you're following me or your following someone or something else.

So either you're following the word or your following the world, which automatically introduces us to the next contrast is a contrast between right and wrong is literally next.

The contrast between the flesh and the spirit you guys get this statement be sin if you follow me, you will be in darkness. You'll be in line so just that statement means that there's a contrast between those that follow me and those that don't. There's a contrast between literally light and darkness.

There's a contrast, really between me and religion or the world or anything else and and and he begins not only that the introduces us to this next contrast.

It introduces the contrast between the truth and lies really really what it boils down to a man say this, Jesus always brings us to the point where we have to choose. It is always there to be one of the other. God hates apathy.

God hates an individual that's neither hot nor cold.

They're just lukewarm.

You gotta choose. It is either the Bible says God or Mammon. There is always a contrast in life and that contrast always requires a choice and that choice always boils down to Jesus or something else you have any middlemen every day. You and I choose to follow Jesus from the fall of my flesh or follow others to follow the culture wrong to follow the world wrong to follow my desires every day we have a choice between two notices last contrast which is the main one that he brings in, and you'll find through the entire book of John that this contrast is everywhere. It's a contrast between light and darkness, light and darkness guy give you just a couple quick things about darkness is that your choice that's that's our choice. It's my choice. Jesus said this, he said he he who follows me will should not walk in darkness, but walks in light so that means you and I have the choice to walk divorce. We now have the choice. We can either choose to walk in darkness, or we can choose to walk in light now going to be just three things I can review 10 things but on time this morning about darkness. Do you know just versus the thought. Darkness confuses you know we live in a dark culture we live in darkness. This is what the world is it's in darkness right now, in a sense, because sin is leading this world and our culture and all that but darkness what you know is that if it it if you turn all the lights and you have nothing but complete darkness. It confuses you, because if you take steps you don't know exactly where you're at, you don't know where you're heading, you don't know what's behind you, you don't know what's in front of you don't know what's on either side of you. Darkness can confuse you and darkness. By the way is confusing. People every day notice likely darkness distorts I'm in II can see you pretty clearly. But if you draw the lights out and we don't have Windows and when an absolutely dark building. I can't tell what you look like, and to be honest with you summons someone's coming toward me in the dark. Ike I don't know if their friend or foe. That's what darkness does it have people that they can't distinguish the difference between right and wrong between wise and dumb notice. This darkness is dangerous.

You know if you're walking in darkness, you can walk into something you can walk off of something and not know it, you can have something coming at you and you don't even realize it because you can't see it. And Jesus said this, that if you follow me, you don't have to go through life like that you can walk in the light.

Interesting. The contrast but now want you to notice the claim that he makes here in verse 12, just in one verse. Think of these things then spake Jesus again and to them saying here's his claim.

I am the light of the world, which means what, let's think about what he just said.

First, the claim is this that I'm the one second thing is I am the light and the third thing is this on light of the world.

So there are there. There's just a myriad of things, but this is his claim.

I am the light of the world. Now what was outrageous to them is that he would have the audacity to say that he was the light, not just a light, it wouldn't matter to them if Jesus what is that I am a light in the world aren't we all. But he said I am the light of the world and that was an outrageous claim, but the outrageous claim to them is the fact that he said he was the light to the whole world, on really. I mean, Jesus said a lot of things that take them off, but this really got them. Madden of all things for him to say it during the feast of the Tabernacles where we are literally lighting up a CD to display or to declare the glory of God.

Now he says he is a greater light than those light now he says he is equal with God. This word light is the Greek word Foss means to shine light it means a fire burning. It means that Jesus is saying I am here to shine on everyone it means Jesus is saying I am here for everyone to see. It means Jesus is saying this without me there would be nothing but darkness cannot tell you in your life without Jesus, there is nothing but darkness. Now, as we understand him making this claim and he is the light of the world. What's literally physiologically thinking in a sense and and as we look at the earth and we look at horticulture and all these things was the closest thing that we could even come to trying to understand this statement it would be our son and obviously our son lights our planet. And you know I've shared this with you in a way that is still just boggles my mind that you and I go out today and the sun is 93 million miles away 93 million miles away, even a hybrid couldn't get there on a Philip okay and even that you and I still can't even stare at it because is that powerful. It is literally the sun is 864,000 miles across 800 and literally put it this way you could fit 1 million earths in the sun in your mind, you can fit 1 million of our entire Earth's in the sun at the core of the sun.

The temperature is 28,799,540°F you could fry an egg quick. I've often wondered how do they measure that whoever did didn't live the telephone to say that right now. Last thing I heard this hot and yet the sun listen to me can only light just a portion of our solar system yet fails and falls short to light the whole world. Jesus says I'm greater than the sun greater than any light you've ever seen on the light world so this brings next. The challenge what is Jesus say he makes his claim. Whenever Jesus makes a statement that always implies a challenge.

You see, when Jesus makes a statement of who he is. You gotta do something it means now you gotta make a decision you're going to believe it or you're not going to believe it and accept it, or you're gonna reject your gonna follow it or you're knocking to follow it, but you have to do something. So here's the challenging verse 12 is that I am the light of the world he that follow with me shall not walk in darkness, this word follow this. This is challenge. I am the light of the world, so he that follows me his challenges this if you follow me, then you are not going to have to walk in darkness, but you will have the light of life. If you follow me interesting. This word follow was a Greek word accolade with Aon. It means this it means its use 90 times by the way, in the New Testament and in most all of these instances it's used between Jesus and his disciples.

It's used to describe somehow the disciples following Jesus. Dr. Hill, Dr. William Barclay.

He wrote a little book and in it he said there are five different ways that this word follow is you throughout the New Testament when dealing with the disciples and their Savior and the master and and and in and in these five ways that word follow is always implied in one of these five ways. First, he said this.

It's like a soldier following a Second. He said it's like a servant following a master and by the way, so far so good, because the Bible says Jesus is the captain of our salvation.

And by the way the Bible says he is Lord. He's master Ferdie said it's used as a son following his parent, he is our father. Fourth, he said that this word follow the New Testament is often used as a subject. Following the law. Here's the rules and when you follow those rules is what this word used for no Lotus lastly said it's used as a student following a teacher in one of those five ways every time this word follow is you between Jesus and the disciples to choose one of those ways, may I say this this is the same challenge. Jesus gives to you and he gives to me. Will you be a soldier that follows his captain, will you be a servant that follows his master will you be the son that's following his father will you be the subject was following his word. Will you be the student that follows the he said if you follow me, you won't walk in darkness, you're walking like so what is this mean boy means this we discover in this text. The ideal that one who follows Jesus will never walk in darkness, interesting.

In other words, as Jesus's disciple. We should not want to walk in dark because once we've experienced the light. Who wouldn't want to walk in darkness, as opposed to walking in the light.

Yet Jesus had already revealed that there would be some that would prefer darkness, but this passage is on the screen for you John chapter 3, he had just said.

And in verse 16 that he so loved the world that he gave his only beak.

He adjusts you literally shared this verse in this precious verse we've used for years and then he says in verse 13, verse 18. To me he that believe upon him is not condemned but he that believe and not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten son of God and this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, meaning Jesus and men love darkness rather than light. Why, because their deeds were evil. For everyone that do with evil hated the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. You get where he's going with this but he that do it. The truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God. Listen to me. Following Jesus will expose the true you why's it so difficult to get people to just follow Jesus with their life because it exposes what's inside you see Jesus is the light and walking in the light means that you are exposed for who you really are.

You cannot walk in light, if you prefer the darkness.

Let me put it this way.

If I preach the pure word of God. The word is a light and I have an amen right there and if that's the case. Anyone who consistently listens to the word will have to be based with the light of God's word, exposing their life. Are you with me so far is an amen. So if I preach the word and a person listens to that word. They're going to be faced with the choice it's going to expose what's wrong or sinful in their life and they would either now have to change or to get away from the preaching of God's word. Listen, I believe with all my heart that if I am faithful to preach the word of God that either person will have to conform to the word or they'll have to leave this church.

But what I don't want is for an individual to be able to listen to the preaching of God's word and never change.

Something's wrong because he is the light of the world. Look at me.

You and I do not have to walk in darkness, unless we choose to as a preacher what you mean we don't have to walk in darkness.

Jesus did not die on the cross, look, listen to this.

Jesus did not die on the cross just to forgive you of your sin. He died to free you from that sin, you don't have to be controlled by that darkness anymore unless we choose to see the challenge Jesus offers here is to follow him. Which means to wall in the light, the challenge Jesus offers is are you willing to let the light expose you, it might force you to make some difficult choices, but it is far greater than spending the rest of your life in darkness. One of the horrors of hell and eternity in hell is that the Bible says that it will be an eternity in darkness, next receive a covenant almost. That's a covenant by the way, were almost done with verse 12 like reimburse organist in verse 12, saying I am the light of the world he that followed me there is this challenge shall not walk in darkness notices covenant here, but shall have the light of life should don't miss this. Notice what he says he that fall with me shall not walk in darkness, but shall follow the light of life.

Thank you for listening to you received a blessing from our broadcast Detroit Baptist Church is located at 4520 Old Hollow Rd. in Kernersville, NC. You may also contact us by phone at 33699351924 Kerwin Baptist Church.com enjoy our services live molar medium owner website and church. Thank you for listening. Kerwin broadcast God bless you