Light

Greek gods word. What if you lose your relationship. What if you lose that somehow you give something you never thought what if you lose regulation anytime you lose what so this is the last message in the series more than words were, the Bible is more than words and the title this message is why we talk about how the Bible is bread so it's nourishment to the stage water that's the breath of God.

How it there are symbols and spiritual symbols their spirit we need spiritual sight because this is a spiritual book written by a spiritual being spiritual beings hope you can go back and listen to some of these messages. But this weekend I want to focus there know that God's word is why I will get over the loop 11 in a moment we show you the Scripture. I think all your familiar with this comes from the longest chapter in the Bible. By the way, Psalm 119 verse 105 your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

Now, just think about that, even though it's a famous verse your word.

The word of God. Your word is a lamp to my feet so that I would know how to take the next step and it's a light to my path so that I would know which path in life you want me to take the next path you want me to take II.

We find that in the word of God. So let me tell you three things about like all right here's number one. Why this fails, darkness why dispels darkness.

I so let's take a little pole on every campus, every affiliate church everyone watching old liner or on television. Let's take a little pole you can answer in the affirmative by raising your hand if this is ever happening. How many of you sometime in your life have ever been walking across a dark room may be a little delighted maybe had to get up go to the bathroom. Maybe that you don't have to do that yet, but you will twice a bit. Anyway, but let's just say how many of you maybe you go in the kitchen is not, but maybe if you how many of you have ever been walking across the dark room and stub your toe tonight.look at all the clumsy people that attend a white shirt target were known or were not clumsy with we did it because we didn't have like right if we had simply had think about it, a lamp to our feet. Our like her path. We witnessed about the right thing.

Think about the analogy we are walking were supposed to walk in the spirit, but we are walking in the dark world. Would you agree with. So how many Christians are stumbling because they're not using the right not using their white and so they stumble so I didn't like dispels darkness if it takes it away. You need to know that there's no struggle between light and darkness. Now we are in the struggle with darkness as believers. But God is not in the struggle with darkness.

But why, why, just not having a fight with darkness. You walk in the room and turn the light switch own and see if there's a struggle there's no struggle will I just not say just push a little harder I get this darkness to leave but darkness leaves right wing furlough. I don't, but only so you Scripture that many people are seen in the negative will get the loop 11 a minute.

This is in John chapter 3 John three verse 20 says for everyone practicing evil hates are literally stays away from the light and does not come to the life lessons need to be exposed now. So many times we read the Bible and the negative. Why, but I don't want you to read it that way, don't you think about this. If you're if you're caught in darkness. Many people stay away from the word don't want to read the word because I don't want what they're doing to be exposed.

But this is that's not what this verse is talking about. If you're caught in the darkness, the that would note that what you would think he is the last thing I want is read the Bible know the first thing you'll do is rebut because like dispels darkness and says that his deeds may be exposed. Listen that that means that your deeds would be demolished by the light.

Think about because I was thinking about this and how many of you will not get this illustration because of your age, but we are cameras used to have something called field.

But think about field and remember how I feel it's it's developed in the dark room and member you see this on TV or some someone open the door.

Let's all you exposed the darkness you exposed the field darkness and you really listen to me. If there's darkness in your life exposed it to the light and it immediately goes away. I what you think about this. If you're saying if, if, in your mind. If you've taken pictures of dark things negative things may be a moral essential points exposed to block it will ruin that for him.

That's really good illustration so when one associate. Let me show you loop 11. This is where Jesus now is talking about this 11 verse 33. No one is lit a light puts it in a secret place are under a basket, but on a lampstand that those who come in may see the light the lamp. This is important of the body is the eye. In other words, what you look at is how light or darkness gets in your body. Therefore, when your eye is good or when you're looking at good things your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad or you're looking at bad things your body also is full of darkness.

Think about all the darkness that our eyes see everyday I actually fit for this message.

I tried to do something for illustration. I opened up just don't. I just opened up and I was going to count how many of the articles were either about murder or immorality.

Someone getting killed or someone committing immorality and I got so discouraged I stopped counting I get.

But it was over it was what I stop. I had already gotten the 7/11 so the majority were about that. Can you imagine thank you.

I we open it because we want to read some fungible, some good, but we got all these articles about the edits just darkness count how many hours we spent reading darkness and the darkness is entering through the it's entering our body. Can you imagine if you spent the same amount of time or more reading like and letting like get your body. I was counseling with a guy one time in we were talking about lust overcoming lust and he said Robert you just don't understand how many things I've seen that I to get on my mind the pictures that are seen the movies that are saying the things that idea that I actually did that I saw that I see you don't understand first boss at Jim. I do understand because I'm human to and I have a past what your past.

I understand I said do you really want to get free. Remember Jesus said to the man that was laying do you want to be healed. That's a very boring question because there's a lot of people in bondage that they can't or won't. But they don't want to exert the effort. So I said do you really want to get free from lust decided something. Here's what I do I show to the Scriptures with 11. I told him I sent you darkness has entered your your body is full of darkness. It's full of it because you look at it but I need you look at what I said first 30 days on Vornado median for 30 days or 30 days. I want you to read the Bible. 30 minutes of it. That's all I gave 30 minutes they go there 260 chapters of the New Testament: start reading Mark.

I've learned to tell people where to read because they'll say you asked me a lot where you really I used to say to him while on the inside and out. Just but there it is. There are some good places to start. I member a letter got price once I said before you go to bed what you read the Bible sunlight is that where I sit anywhere in the next one is the word jury decide read the book the job because I need one so they said it didn't help me much though.

Okay so so I said started.

Matthew just started Matthew and just read the Bible for 30 days. I'm in and if you read about 30 minutes a day you greeted them too much. A great investment. Two months for 30 minutes so I can get that he comes back to me. A month later he says you won't believe the difference is that it is amazing how lust has been driving driven out of my mind and how much more I think about God and not then I saw about six months later and he said not say what happened. My wife and I went to see a chick flick. That's what real men call them stepsiblings a chick flick and and it was a love story and you know so they said, but he had this one see that we shouldn't abandon their them. They just I don't know why they put a band, but they just put it in and he said is what happened. He said what use to attract me was repulsive. I was repulsed, but because of the light that was is that anyone looking up please hear me read this book. Read this book. It has the power to change your life.

So number one. It dispels darkness.

Here's number two white recovers lost things. If you lose something very simple.

You get a light for should be defined right you can't find it in door in the dark place you made out like thunder your car is under the seat you get a flashlight under the couch where it is. You get a lot. Jesus tells this story about a woman who lost something. He tells it in the middle of two other sports one about a shepherd who lost a sheep remember who the shepherd is she far worksheet and he tells about a father who lost a son. The prodigal son, but he tells Reich the mill about a woman who lost a point something valuable East please hear me. All three of these are, people will talk about people because people are valuable to God. So here it is with 15 verses eight through 10 are what Allman having tea in the silver coins. If she loses one point does not light a lamp sweep of the house and search carefully until she finds and when she sounded she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, rejoice with me, for I found the piece, which I lost melt. Remember I told you all of these, people right. Look at the very next verse why lots. In other words, here's the interpretation of the allegory audition I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents excellent get back, people. But what if you lose your job what you did. I'm telling you why the note read the word of God.

Read God's work. What if you lose your relationship.

What if you lose an investment. You know what what if you lose your integrity somehow you did something that you never thought you would what what if you lose your reputation anytime you lose something why the lamp let's talk about people. There is a natural leasing and cleaving that happens with children. There is a natural progression. When a child begins to become an adult and in essence there's a little bit about a losing of control that you've had over that child and you have to begin trusting that child to make the right decision of the family be been through this but it's it's it's a it's a traumatic time because all of a sudden you realize you can't just say don't do that you have to hope he or she makes the decision on his or her own thing so one of the major decisions that should child would be when he becomes an adult legislator.

She is a might choose a government with all three of our children.

We ask them for the right to speak into their lives. During this time because that's a very important decision we said we know you better than anyone else. We we even joked about was that we've known you since you were born I tell only know you and we know the gifts that you have and we know the personality that you might meet someone who might even be a good person, but your personality and her personality will never get.

And we know these things.

Let me give you little exegesis of you know my means that word again of Hebrews 412 it says the word of God is living and powerful, and by between the spirit of the soul lesson. That means the soul is your mind you're willing your emotions, your mind and your emotions you you will you make decisions based on what you think and what you feel that one catch that your mind and your emotions what you think and what you feel. That's how we make decisions. That's our will decide sent but the Bible does it divide the soul divides between the soul of the spirit similar. It divides what we think is right. What we feel is right and what really is right to get that it divides between what we think and feel is right. But what is right okay so light recovers lost things, here's number three why shows the way.

It's a lamp to my feet and it's a light for my path. It shows the way.

Not only that should raise your hands because it will be like death rate will be hundred percent but have you ever had a decision you need to make a Porsche never need know whether to buy a home or not exist. The home.as is this the school district for our children.

Is this the college what college should show our children go to what job should I take what decisions you might what spouse should I married you know I'll be all these is that we all have decision. The Bible talks about general and specific revelation general and specific revelation is the general revelation of God. And then there's the specific the general revelation of God's how to be married. The specific reveler represent revelation of God is and can God give you specific revelation.

Of course he but I'm telling you, God can actually speak through this work so what I want to do is show you how to get a word from God from God's work and its official typing just a few minutes. It's really easy.

So, three were words remember these three words praise prayer proclaiming praise prayer proclaiming first evolved into God's presence with price of Psalm 100 irrigation thanksgiving and his courts with praise. So enter God's presence with price okay again that's Psalm 100 verse four irrigation thanksgiving from his courts with praise coming to God's presence makes this prayer. Now here's what I want you to pray about.

Pray about what you need to pray about. Pray about whatever you need.

Barbara and I will ask you do something right. Your prayers this right just write your prayers. You might even write ward. I'm going to write my prayers because Pastor Robert asked do you know him. I don't know if you write what I just write your prayers right if you know him you know how he should also just write your first right but I need to pray.

I need to know about this job that's what I bring. Write your prayers and then proclaim, proclaim his read God's word.

Now you say where word I read God's work. Let's say that you're praying about marriage, your marriage situation.

Think about any verses or any chapters or any stories of marriages in the Bible read about Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachel Boaz and Ruth, there's a marriage in the Bible Jesus in search for Ephesians 5, so just read some passages about marriage so my daughter years ago was trying to decide whether to go to OR you so I would type Elaine Debbie and I we tour the campus we went met with Dr. Rutledge. He talked to us for little while but then he turned and just started talking to Elaine and it was so clear and so godly. He was saying what you want.

She said I really think that God is calling me to speak and write on them like my dad's in space that will that's great how are you going to prepare for the Savior, your dad, he said your dad is a theologian in the body of Christ, and he prepared so how are you going to prepare to be able to write books that people want to read and be able to preach and teach messages people a good one here that will actually help you prepare so he starts talking to her and it was so clear and so on the way home. I said to her, so what you think. She said I think I'm supposed to go.

So let's break that's not good enough you can just think you're supposed to go save you have to pray and you have to get a word from God.

And then this what she said next step will I thought you were going to do that for me. By the way a lot of people think that a lot of people think that someone else is supposed to work for them, but we all have a personal relationship with Jesus and it will mean more to you if you get word directly from God. So I said sure no it doesn't work that way. Sugar said because in a few months so right now you think you're supposed to go but in a few months when you have two papers due on a test you might not think were supposed to be there but if you have word from God. So I told her how to get word from God. Praise prayer proclamation so she went away and prayed, came back, I said did you work from God. She said I got were from under what I forgot the rest of the family that so she was riding her prayers she worshiped when she wrote her prayer so she wrote down for state peers for sexual. She said I I believe that OR you is an open book from the ugly guys opened the door for me to go to OR it's an open door. Then she wrote she thought about when Dr. Rutledge spoke to her and she thought it was so clear and she remembered Micah clear sound prescriptive 14 says if a trumpet makes an unclear sound and so she literally wrote. I felt like Dr. Rutledge voice speak was like a trumpet. It was so clear she right system. Then she wrote down. I think I'm supposed to go down to Tulsa now. The reason I'm telling you that is on the way back. She said I think I'm supposed to go down to Tulsa to let me and so I said to her will sugar let me help you a little bit with what you just said. I said when you live in Texas you don't go down supposed to go up for Tulsa because Tulsa is north of Dallas and the reason I said this is because cheap. She's not real good with geography I know may people are.

She was one time at a young adult event and one of the questions was name a country she named London so you might try said it's okay. So she wrote down. I think I'm supposed to go down to Tulsa and and then she marked up, down, for she remembered our relationship with that's important.

Write up the end of the last statement she wrote was oh I think I'm supposed to go up to Tulsa but I don't know what's going to happen next. She had met Ethan and she didn't know what not to say she was so she said I'm wondering one of my supposed to. After that, after or what's next and then she just wrote all the sudden she just wrote this statement open… The and this is like God speaking to. I'm going to give you a revelation that on the fourth will be the first of many new things for not mean explaining why she put the fourth reason was she if she if she decided to go it was the spring semester. She had to be there on January 4. So that's why before so I want to give your revelation that on the fourth will be the first of many new things for now. Then she remembered okay got supposed give me a scripture my dad's ago you and Scripture, and she saw the word revelation and look she underlined.

She felt visible from the Bible revelation and then also to just jump Dr. for in first three got for revelation for you say that and she thought I wonder if it's that easy. And so she opens her Bible revelation for one remember the four statements they she said, I think. OR you is an open door.

I think Dr. Rutledge voice was like a trumpet. I think I'm supposed to go up there, but I wonder what's going to happen next revelation. For one, says this after these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven and the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me saying come up here and I will show you the things which will take place after this.

She said I think I got a word from God. This book is more than one. It's more than great piece of living is the word of God gives a lamp to your feet and a light your path and almost asleep in your mansion. Every decision that you have an important decision or maybe even a small allowing God's word to speak. Here's what you need to be get in this book every day. This may be the first message you've heard in the series I want to encourage you get the whole series because the more we learn to understand this book, the more we are going to grow as believers in Christ and be victorious in thanks so much for watching us.

He 66 books, 1189 chapters written over the course of 1500 years. The Bible is so much more than a big old book is pages include life-giving revelation and power if we know how to read in a serious pastoral number dives into how you can read the Bible experience the miracles within it, and refresh your hunger for the word of God. We would like to send you this 74. Teaching series on CD for your gift of any amount today for your gift of $30. We will send you this series on both CD and DVD and for your gift of $75 or more, we will send you the more than word series on CD and DVD as well as the Bible. Overview book and will include a copy of the Jesus calling devotional by Siri on your personal study of God's word will only grow richer by using these special resources. The Bible overview is an amazing full-color resource that gives you a short detailed explanation of each book of the Bible includes over 150 full-color photos, charts, maps and timelines and explains key verses of each book of the Bible. Most importantly, it shows you how Jesus can be seen within every book of the Bible Jesus calling is a 365 day devotional filled with God's word and beautifully written to make your daily time with the Lord even more enriching. Call or visit us today@pastor.com to request these resources. As always, we thank you for your generous support of pastoral ministry