Did you know God’s Word is LIGHT? It is a lamp for your feet and a light to your pathway of your life’s FAITH ADVENTURE. His Word is life and light of men and women (John 1:1 – 4). God’s Word is filled with LIGHT (Divine Illumination; Insights; Inspiring Ideas; Godly Innovations and Revelations).

 

Psalms 119:130 (NKJV) – “The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.”

Ephesians 5:10 – “Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.” “Proving” means revealing. You are revealing what is acceptable to the Lord when you walk in the light and your production is good and righteous. The Bible says in Psalm 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” God’s Word is a light unto my feet showing me where to go. It is also a lamp to reveal objects in the road that could hurt or trap. The same light that shows me where to go shows me what to avoid. So light has two functions: (1) to instruct in truth and (2) to reveal error. The Word reveals what is acceptable to the Lord. Ephesians 5:11 – “And have no fellowship [association] with the unfruitful [barren] works of darkness, but rather reprove [expose] them.” Remember, we shared that…Those closest to you will determine the outcome of your life. In other words, the single most important factor defining your future is the relationships you embrace. Your life is built by relationships. You will receive both the consequences and the rewards of those who are closest to you. Your associations determines your assimilations. This verse of Scripture in Ephesians 5:11 is showing us…”Don’t associate with the barren production of darkness”. The world produces darkness because it has no light in them. As born-again Christian believers, and as visible and verbal Christ-followers (Kingdom Disciples), we are not to put our lamps under a bushel. (Matthew 5:15-16.) When this happens, the world cannot see our light, and we look no different than a child of darkness. We, like Gideon, need to smash the pots which surround our lamps and let the world and the enemy see our light. This verse is another command not to act like the world. First Corinthians 3:3 says that Christians who are carnal look and act like unbelievers. In the Amplified Bible they are called “mere men.” Thank God we are not mere men, but we are supermen and superwomen. A carnal believer is no longer spiritual. He also produces darkness because he is not responsive to nor controlled by the Holy Spirit in him. Friends, the flesh cannot produce light. We are children of light and should walk, talk and live like children of light.

 

I have had some people say to me, “The way to win unbelievers is to associate with them and do what they do.” This is not true. Don’t go into bars and jest and drink so you can win them. It won’t work. You have dropped your standard. Have you ever noticed when you walk into a room where people know you are a Christian, all the talk stops? Have you prayed when you have been in a restaurant? Many people will look at you. You make them nervous. You expose them. Don’t associate with the barren works of darkness. Instead, expose them. When there is no bushel over your light, you cannot help but put the sinner under conviction. Light exposes what darkness hides.

 

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). He did not say try to be light. A lamp does not try to shine. It just shines. We do not need to try to be a witness and expose the works of darkness, we just do. The Holy Spirit came on us to be a witness. We are a witness. We can’t hide it, if we walk in the light. We can’t force it or cover it up. We just have to be what we are.

 

Okay Friends, here’s more good news… God has an amazing FAITH ADVENTURE in store for you that leads to the land of His Thumbprint – – a place where God’s Presence, power, goodness and generosity marks every area of your life!

 

We’ve been studying faith and the basic principles of faith on Sundays this month @ TWCC. Every faith adventure begins at an “X marks the spot.” This is where you’re at currently. It might be good starting point and it might be not so good. But – – the good news is, you don’t have to stay there! You have “faith in God” or “the God-kind of faith” (Mark 11:22 – 24). Your faith can grow, your faith can develop – – Jesus is the author and developer of your faith (Hebrews 12:1 – 2).

 

Family, our faith adventure navigates through or by 5 “Villes”, places. These 5 “Villes” include: Prayerville (Praying in or the Pray of Faith – (Matthew 21:22; Mark 11:24; James 1:5-6; James 5:15-16)), Promiseville (What you believe, speak, say and confess about the situation); Doubtville (What you try your best to avoid and eliminate from your journey (Philippians 4:6-8; 1 Peter 5:7-9); Actionville (After believing in heart and speaking with your mouth – you act in faith; faith is your belief in action; act your faith/act on the Word (James 2:14-26)) and Patienceville (through faith AND patience we inherit the promises – Hebrews 6:12; Hebrews 10:35-36). Every “ville” is important and teaches us so much – – until one day “tada!” we arrive to the land of God’s Thumbprint!