The Son's Light for a New Year
Sunday Evening English Worship
January 5, 2020 - 5:00 pm
Messenger: Don Frank
Bible Passage: Isaiah 58:8 & others
Introduction: Light is truly wonderful. Isn't that a beautiful scene to start off our New Year? I was fortunate enough to climb to the top of Mt. Fuji when I was 19 years old. And I can tell you, it was a gorgeous sight with all that beautiful sunlight coming through. I know I pretty much always take light for granted every day. But we absolutely have to have it. This planet we live on would die quickly if we didn't have it. And that's exactly how God designed it. That's what it says in the 3rd verse of the Bible, "And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light."
And as we begin this New Year of 2020, I would like to keep studying with you the many aspects of God including this one... God Is Light. So, let's just dive right in and learn more about this terribly important topic. The title of my message tonight is The Son's Light for a New Year and I'd like us to study tonight a number of wonderful passages, beginning with Isaiah 58:8. In fact, if we add them all up, there are over 200 different references to light in the Bible. So, let us begin.
1. The Son Dawns - Isaiah 58:8 (BSB) Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will come quickly. Your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
This matches perfectly with what we were just talking about, the first sunrise of the New Year here in Japan. And I’ve highlighted several keywords that I think are important to dig into. The first one of course is light, but this word could also be translated as salvation or favor. Just like the light of dawn, God sends out the light of his salvation and favor and then quickly after that comes His healing. Just like in the physical world where we need sunlight on our bodies to survive, his spiritual light floods our souls and makes us pure. Then after that, Isaiah speaks in military terms. Just like an army that has soldiers at the front and back of a group, in front of God comes his righteousness and after him comes his glory. And where are we believers during all of this? We are right beside God in the middle, protected by his righteousness and glory! So, let's look at our next Bible passage.
2. The Path Shines - Proverbs 4:18 (BSB) The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.
And this reminds me so much of Psalm 23 because we don't stay in those dark valleys of trouble. The good shepherd leads us back out by his light to have a feast at the end of that psalm! The light that we have here in this life may be rather dim, but that's nothing compared to the light that's coming. The dawn is just the beginning of the day. It may take several hours, but midday is definitely going to come. The righteous ones that are talked about here are of course us. But we're not righteous on our own, instead we get our righteousness from Jesus Christ, the Son of God! So what does that mean? That means that the brighter he gets (and he's going to shine more and more through all of eternity) we are going to shine more and more too! Now, on we go.
3. Healing, Freedom and Joy Come - Malachi 4:2 (NLT) But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.
The prophet Malachi goes on teaching us more about this light or sun of righteousness. To me, thinking only in English, it seems like a play on words. From the New Living Translation, the word sun and righteousness are capitalized and it also mentions his wings. We could almost get the image that he's talking about Jesus Christ. And I think that matches other passages in the Bible.
The wings that are mentioned here are like the beams of sunshine that come out and bring healing and freedom and joy. In fact, the prophet says it gives us so much joy that we are like calves that are jumping around after being first lead out of the barn. Would you like to see what that looks like?
4. The Light of Life Is Ours - John 8:12 (NASB) Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."
Now let's move on over into the New Testament, to the book of John, and see what Jesus actually says about light. Here is the Son of God telling us straight out that He is the Light! Then it seems that he is drawing an image from Psalm 23 again that if we follow him like the good shepherd, we are not going to need to worry about darkness. In fact, he tells us just plainly that we will have the Light of life. In fact, this is just 1 of 7 of the I Am sayings of Jesus. I am... the 1. the Bread of Life, 2. The Light of the World, 3. The Door of the Sheep, 4. The Good Shepherd, 5. The Resurrection and the Life, 6. The Way, the Truth and the Life - and 7. The True Vine. Wow, what a wonderful God we serve!
5. The Lamb of Light Shines Forever - Revelation 21:23 (NLT) And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light.
Now let's dive into one final passage tonight that, I honestly have to say, I've taken for granted and haven't really given much thought to until I started putting this study together... and that's Revelation 21:23.
Here we have one of the final spots in the Bible where light is mentioned. We jump in our time machine and head off into the future when we're all gathered together in heaven. And what do we see? We see a city that probably has no sun or moon over head in the sky and yet everything is bright and well-lit. Where's that light coming from? The glory of God makes this city a bright, cozy place. And there in the center Jesus Himself, the Lamb that takes away the sins of the world, is the only light that city needs or will ever need!
Conclusion: So, the final thought that I'd like to leave you with tonight comes from one more very special Bible promise, Ephesians 3:20-21. And it reads like this, "Now all glory to God who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. To Him be the glory forever and ever! Amen!"
What do you need tonight? Do you need light for your daily life? No problem. Do you need someone to guide you to do what is right? You got it. Are you looking for a healing touch down deep in your heart? He has promised it. Are you hoping for a future where all will be set right and all the dark times of trouble will never bother us again? God has promised us that we can't even imagine what joy and happiness await us in the great, final and bright city that He is preparing! God is indeed our Light!
Closing Prayer: Let's close out our evening by reading one of our Bible passages together.
John 8:12
Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."
Now let's look at our closing prayer, based on God's Word and pray it back to Him together:
Our Dear Lord, Savior and our Light, thank you for teaching us more about Yourself tonight. We know that Your Word is light to our path and a lamp to our feet. Thank you for setting us free from sin. And we ask You tonight to fill our hearts with Your light, Your hope and Your joy. Please strengthen us for this new year that is just beginning. Help us to trust You more and know You better day by day. We pray this now in Jesus' precious name, Amen.
January 5, 2020 - 5:00 pm
Messenger: Don Frank
Bible Passage: Isaiah 58:8 & others
Introduction: Light is truly wonderful. Isn't that a beautiful scene to start off our New Year? I was fortunate enough to climb to the top of Mt. Fuji when I was 19 years old. And I can tell you, it was a gorgeous sight with all that beautiful sunlight coming through. I know I pretty much always take light for granted every day. But we absolutely have to have it. This planet we live on would die quickly if we didn't have it. And that's exactly how God designed it. That's what it says in the 3rd verse of the Bible, "And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light."
And as we begin this New Year of 2020, I would like to keep studying with you the many aspects of God including this one... God Is Light. So, let's just dive right in and learn more about this terribly important topic. The title of my message tonight is The Son's Light for a New Year and I'd like us to study tonight a number of wonderful passages, beginning with Isaiah 58:8. In fact, if we add them all up, there are over 200 different references to light in the Bible. So, let us begin.
1. The Son Dawns - Isaiah 58:8 (BSB) Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will come quickly. Your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
This matches perfectly with what we were just talking about, the first sunrise of the New Year here in Japan. And I’ve highlighted several keywords that I think are important to dig into. The first one of course is light, but this word could also be translated as salvation or favor. Just like the light of dawn, God sends out the light of his salvation and favor and then quickly after that comes His healing. Just like in the physical world where we need sunlight on our bodies to survive, his spiritual light floods our souls and makes us pure. Then after that, Isaiah speaks in military terms. Just like an army that has soldiers at the front and back of a group, in front of God comes his righteousness and after him comes his glory. And where are we believers during all of this? We are right beside God in the middle, protected by his righteousness and glory! So, let's look at our next Bible passage.
2. The Path Shines - Proverbs 4:18 (BSB) The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.
And this reminds me so much of Psalm 23 because we don't stay in those dark valleys of trouble. The good shepherd leads us back out by his light to have a feast at the end of that psalm! The light that we have here in this life may be rather dim, but that's nothing compared to the light that's coming. The dawn is just the beginning of the day. It may take several hours, but midday is definitely going to come. The righteous ones that are talked about here are of course us. But we're not righteous on our own, instead we get our righteousness from Jesus Christ, the Son of God! So what does that mean? That means that the brighter he gets (and he's going to shine more and more through all of eternity) we are going to shine more and more too! Now, on we go.
3. Healing, Freedom and Joy Come - Malachi 4:2 (NLT) But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.
The prophet Malachi goes on teaching us more about this light or sun of righteousness. To me, thinking only in English, it seems like a play on words. From the New Living Translation, the word sun and righteousness are capitalized and it also mentions his wings. We could almost get the image that he's talking about Jesus Christ. And I think that matches other passages in the Bible.
The wings that are mentioned here are like the beams of sunshine that come out and bring healing and freedom and joy. In fact, the prophet says it gives us so much joy that we are like calves that are jumping around after being first lead out of the barn. Would you like to see what that looks like?
4. The Light of Life Is Ours - John 8:12 (NASB) Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."
Now let's move on over into the New Testament, to the book of John, and see what Jesus actually says about light. Here is the Son of God telling us straight out that He is the Light! Then it seems that he is drawing an image from Psalm 23 again that if we follow him like the good shepherd, we are not going to need to worry about darkness. In fact, he tells us just plainly that we will have the Light of life. In fact, this is just 1 of 7 of the I Am sayings of Jesus. I am... the 1. the Bread of Life, 2. The Light of the World, 3. The Door of the Sheep, 4. The Good Shepherd, 5. The Resurrection and the Life, 6. The Way, the Truth and the Life - and 7. The True Vine. Wow, what a wonderful God we serve!
5. The Lamb of Light Shines Forever - Revelation 21:23 (NLT) And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light.
Now let's dive into one final passage tonight that, I honestly have to say, I've taken for granted and haven't really given much thought to until I started putting this study together... and that's Revelation 21:23.
Here we have one of the final spots in the Bible where light is mentioned. We jump in our time machine and head off into the future when we're all gathered together in heaven. And what do we see? We see a city that probably has no sun or moon over head in the sky and yet everything is bright and well-lit. Where's that light coming from? The glory of God makes this city a bright, cozy place. And there in the center Jesus Himself, the Lamb that takes away the sins of the world, is the only light that city needs or will ever need!
Conclusion: So, the final thought that I'd like to leave you with tonight comes from one more very special Bible promise, Ephesians 3:20-21. And it reads like this, "Now all glory to God who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. To Him be the glory forever and ever! Amen!"
What do you need tonight? Do you need light for your daily life? No problem. Do you need someone to guide you to do what is right? You got it. Are you looking for a healing touch down deep in your heart? He has promised it. Are you hoping for a future where all will be set right and all the dark times of trouble will never bother us again? God has promised us that we can't even imagine what joy and happiness await us in the great, final and bright city that He is preparing! God is indeed our Light!
Closing Prayer: Let's close out our evening by reading one of our Bible passages together.
John 8:12
Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."
Now let's look at our closing prayer, based on God's Word and pray it back to Him together:
Our Dear Lord, Savior and our Light, thank you for teaching us more about Yourself tonight. We know that Your Word is light to our path and a lamp to our feet. Thank you for setting us free from sin. And we ask You tonight to fill our hearts with Your light, Your hope and Your joy. Please strengthen us for this new year that is just beginning. Help us to trust You more and know You better day by day. We pray this now in Jesus' precious name, Amen.