Be the LIGHT
There is this question that I literally get asked ALL THE TIME!! “Are you always this happy?” Deathly afraid of public speaking my entire life!! It’s amazing what God will do with your life if you surrender it fully to him! Back to the question “Amber, are you always this happy”-God has freed me from brokenness, so for the most part.. the answer is YES! How could I not be?
The Bible says:“For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!”
Ephesians 5:8 NLT
This was me!Full of darkness!
-Kid (parents divorcing)
-Teenager (looking for love in all the wrong places)
-Then God saved me and called me to be a light!
The bible says:“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.
No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
Matthew 5:14-16 NLT
So, if God has saved you from darkness, and has called you to be light you must not hide under a basket, but be placed on a stand! (Don’t have time for you to hide) My question for you is, ARE YOU HIDING UNDER A BASKET?-If the answer is YES, then WHY? ( I HAVE FELT ALL OF THESE!)
Is it FEAR?-He says not to fear, He is with us.
“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
Feeling UNQUALIFIED?-Moses didn’t feel qualified either! Anytime I am called to speak and I feel unqualified to do so I remember this story.
“Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.” Exodus 4:10-11
Feeling UNWORTHY?-He says, YOU are chosen and YOU are his child!
“…for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9
-We serve a God who looks beyond your mistakes, He looks beyond your qualifications. His word says you are CHOSEN, you are His CHILD!
-It is time to stop HIDING under the BASKET!
-But how?
You need to be connected to the RIGHT SOURCE!-What source are you plugged into? (WRONG source, your light will go out)
“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.” Ephesians 3:16
God will give you unlimited resources and he will empower you and give you strength IF you are connected to HIM!
-Make sure you are connected to the God as your source, because the world will slowly burn you out and your light will fade.
You need to have CHILD-LIKE FAITH!-When I think of having childlike faith I think of this story about our youngest daughter Bella.
- But that’s one of the things I love so much about children! They believe BIG! They have BIG faith!! Can us adults have faith like a child? Actually God calls us to! Look at what he says!
“About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. 3 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 18:1-4
You need to go ALL IN! Summer series! Stories about summer. Carson with swimming lessons. Some of you have just been sticking a toe in the water. GO ALL IN! Stop hiding under the basket! Go ALL IN and be the light God has called you to be! You need to BATTLE through the trials!-They will come. They have come for me. Joy has to come from Jesus NOT circumstances)
“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.” Romans 5:3
-Endurance has developed in me. And through it all, I felt the closes to Jesus
You need to STRIVE to be like JESUS!-Jesus was the best example of being a light!
-Jesus was making friends every where he went.
-(Story of Matt not letting me go into gas stations)
-EVERYONE is important. Everyone matters. Everyone deserves a friend, and everyone deserves to see the light of Jesus.
If we are NOT changing what’s going on beyond these walls of this church, then we are missing it!Ask yourself this question: Are you hiding your light under a basket? Or are you making sure your light is out on a stand?
Challenges:
Invite someone to church! Invite someone into your home! Share your testimony with someone! Join the Dream Team!