SHINE

GLORY TO GOD TODAY!
REJOICE!
THE LAMP IS ON SUPERSONIC FULL BLAST THIS MORNING

IT IS A MINI MANUAL
PRINT IT OUT AND DISCUSS IT AMONG YOUR SELVES.

AMEN!
THANK YOU HOLY SPIRIT!

The Lord Jesus said,

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 5:16


OUR ABILITY TO SHINE IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO HOW CLOSELY WE WALK WITH THE FATHER.

It's not Bible study alone, it's understanding and then seeking to exemplify what we have understood.


We can't shine apart from the Father.

When I talk about shining I'm talking about each individual in the body being bright like a hundred points of light.



All of the gifts of the Five fold ministry were given unto men that they would reflect and shed light on the truth of God.



That whatever we do would testify to the glory and majesty of our Saviour and our God who formed us.

There is much talk about the New Church and questions about what's happening to the local church, on line ministry and our role as Christians in "winning others".



Whether we should plant churches in other states or not while neglecting our own cities?
What's up with the Internet ministries?
Are people leaving the local churches?
Should Joel Osteen come and plant a church in Detroit?

Have you heard from God?
It's not just telling folks that they need Jesus although that is true, it's us In Christ being that light who shines out of darkness.



How is that done?

It sounds good to say, "Let your light shine" and it's easily said, we can always say what needs to be done, right?
Don't omit to go into how we do that.


It's done by first understanding the hope that's in you.
If you fail to understand the hope that's in you, you can't share that hope with other people.
Hope is not condemning and it's not easily disturbed.

The hope that's in us is the love of God and it reflects out of us.
The commission as some call it as I have found in scripture in Acts 26 was Paul defending himself against the accusations of his Jewish brothers by testifying of his conversion on the road to Damascus.

The Lord as a bright light shined and gave Paul his assignment to the Gentiles those who did not have the law of Moses and open their eyes, and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power/ bondage of satan unto God, so that they could receive the forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance with those who are sanctified by faith In Christ Jesus.


It's not challenging people to a duel about the existence of God, Apologetics has taken on a doctrine of it's own.

If we look at how Paul used (apologia) the majority of the time it was when speaking with other religious men.

Those who were clinging to the law of Moses and had trouble receiving the Gift of Christ.

Folks holding onto bodily circumcision and not the circumcision of the heart.



It's the love of God that has been shed abroad in our hearts that is the fire in us.


We are to able to give an answer, a reasoned statement to every man that asks us for the reason of the hope that is in us, but first they have to be witness to that hope.

We have to reflect that hope so that men will even ask or be curious about it.
I'm not talking a false humility or neglecting the Word of correction or sharing our faith.
We want to send folks out who don't represent hope to share hope.


A balance is God's way, apologetics can easily become a self seeking pursuit, a ministry of vainglory that will produce a self promoting heart.

The word teaches us not to debate over words because it births strife, contention and confusion and we know that God is not the author of confusion but of faith.
Arguments won't bring faith but division.

Galatians 6:1 teaches us that if a man be overtaken in a fault, you who claim to be spiritual, restore them in a spirit of meekness, considering your self before you be overtaken in a fault.
Colossians 3:12 teaches the same about meekness.
Ephesians 4:1-3 teaches the same.

2Timothy 2:23-26 says and this is for teachers specifically
Avoid foolish and unlearned questions, knowing that they do produce strife.
The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, able to teach, patient.

In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves ( because they are opposing life eternal and blessing, and favour, the gift of God); if God peradventure would give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil.

Our witness along with what we say is their opportunity to be snatched out of the control of the enemy.

Don't forget the superiority of the Word of God, it will not return unto God void but it will produce where ever it is sown.

This is why the Bible teaches us that the sower sows the Word.

To be implanted by instruction, it has to be deep in us first.



The Word that we sow has the power to produce confidence.

The lifestyle that we live has the power to multiply hope, faith and confidence.



If you really want to know how to defend the faith, listen.



The Word of God teaches wives who have unbelieving husbands that they can be won over without words, but by the chaste behaviour of their wives.

What a concept.

Won by witnessing the lifestyle and not merely the Words and wisdom of men.



So this means that we don't have to pressure them or try and make them feel guilty or debate with them.

We also don't have to set out and try and personally be someone else's confirmation from God.

Trying to be Holy Ghost Jr.



But when they see the purity and reverence of our lives they can be won.

This is produced through a spirit of meekness.

To be able to give an answer.

Your lifestyle is your answer.



Matthew chapter 5 speaks of the blessed.

The Lord said blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called the sons of God.

when you think about natural peacemakers you think of someone who helped to put a stop to an argument or a fight.

Someone who calmed a ruckus or a disturbance down.



We In Christ are the peacemakers, the children of God who give light to the house and carry the power to understand spiritual truth in our hearts and in our mouths.



A light that sheds light.

A lamp, that which is exposed for all to see.

People are watching how we live, conduct business, react to life situations.

That's the fire.



To be able to give an answer.

The question is, Is this God real that they speak of?

Is He the good God who will turn my life around and give me peace, the oil of joy for my mourning?

Can they see that this is what The Father has done in us?



I know you at church and you wear a suit and a hat but are you complaining or resting in God to do what He said He would do?



I know you have memorized scriptures but what are you saying every day?



Equipped to be a witness.

There was a crippled man in Acts chapter 3, born without the ability to walk.

Every day I suppose as soon as he was old enough to, this crippled man would lay outside the temple gate begging for money.

The gate "Beautiful" how beautiful are the steps of those who preach the gospel.



Hallelujah!

One day Peter and John went up to this very temple to pray well the crippled man saw Peter and John on their way in and began to beg of them.

Peter and John looked at this man and told him to look at them.



This man looked and the Word says Peter fastened his eyes on the man and this man listened to John and Peter expecting to receive something of them.

When I see the word fastened I think about when my grandparents would say, "Fasten those buttons on that shirt."



Bringing something together to close it up.

Amen.



Peter said, Silver and gold I don't have; but such as I have, give I thee: In the Name of Jesus of Nazareth rise up an walk.

And he took him by the right hand (fellowship), and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.



And this man who had never walked in his entire life, leaped up with no lessons, no walker, no crutches, no cane stood, and walked, and then went on into the temple with them leaping and praising God!



Wait!

And all the people saw him walking and praising God.

Now he is equipped!

It began when he had expectation back at the gate.



People see you walking and praising God, they see your expectation.

Peter and John didn't have money but they looked like they had something.

It must have been in the way they walked and the way they talked.

It wasn't an argument that they brought.



Do you know why you won't ever debate those who greatly oppose the gospel?



One, because it's a selfish prideful desire of your heart to simply be right about something.



Two, Because the Father wants them saved and not debated.



They know that He exists they just have a twisted view of who He is.



Three, The Father wants someone to sit down across from them who will reflect His care and love for for them in their crippled state.



And all the people saw this man who they knew had been cripple and who had a reputation for begging and being pitiful or being self righteous, angry and crazy.

You know like you used to be before Christ came into your life.



Well the people saw the change in him (light) and they were filled with awe and wondered what happened to him.

What happened to Lolita, she used to be scared of her own shadow?

What happened to Lolita, she doesn't have a degree?

What happened to Lolita, her mother was a drug addict and a drunk?

Acts 3:11 says,

And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.

Peter saw it and he began to preach.

The man was equipped when these men of God gave him what they had that day.

They shined a light on the fact that In The Authority of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, you could get up if you had never even walked in your life and leap and praise God.

There are some things that you may have never ever done before in your life.

I don't have the English or literature skills of a sixth grader but I write everyday.

Christ has equipped me and made me a light.

The Lord Jesus has made us to be a light in this world a city set on a hill, not to be hidden, your lifestyle is not hidden no matter how you believe that it is.

You entertain angels everyday without knowing.

If our light gives light to the people in the house, they will be praising God.

I PRAY THAT YOU CONSIDER AND THINK ON EVERY SCRIPTURE IN THIS BLOG TODAY.

1John 1:5

SHINE

LOVE Y'ALL