The Gift Of Perfect Light

30 Dec The Gift Of Perfect Light

Posted at 12:29h in English Service by Preacher Huijun 0 Comments

Pastor Vincent - 19 December 2013

Run In Such A Way To Get The Prize

Watch
Listen

An important message to wrap up 2013, giving us important prayer topics for the coming 2014. May we aim for the crown that last forever - not out of conscience, courage nor responsibilities, rather, it's God's children being made courageous by deeply comprehending the Holy Spirit and how it works beyond ourselves. Not because we are able, it's because God has made it able for those whom He loves. What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel. Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. (1 Corinthians 9:18-27 NIV)

From Series: "All English Service"

Download Video View Notes

Powered by Series Engine

Christmas is in fact about light in darkness. People are lost in a fallen world covered by the darkness of sin, sufferings and dissatisfaction. So Jesus came as the perfect Light to drive out darkness, and bring warmth to the soul. Light is what we need to help us see our way and find the Answer we are searching for.

Christmas: Light in Darkness

1. The world is darkened.

Darkness:
1. Evil / Sin.
2. Ignorance.
<Isa 8> 20 Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn. 21 Distressed and hungry, they will roam through the land; when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse their king and their God. 22 Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness.
Darkness blinds our eyes.

2. God shines His light into our darkness.

<Mt 4:16; Isa 9:2> the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.
<John 8:12> When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Gospel: Not what we humans can do, but what God has done!
JESUS: Light of the world; light of life.
1) What does LIGHT do?
1. Enables us to see:

2 Cor 4:4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
See just how sinful we are
See how much we need Jesus
See the glory of God
See how dignified we are, created in God’s image
See devil lurking in the dark
See the blessed way to go

1. Warms.

Comforts.
Reignites our cold hearts towards God.

1. Gives life.

Makes us born again.

2) Yet, strange reaction to light:
- Strong light pains our eyes.
- Thus, some people want to get away from Jesus.
- Like to indulge sins.
- Don’t like our ego hurt.
- Don’t like to lose freedom.
- But the blessed will appreciate light.
3) Darkness will never overcome light.
- <John 1:5> The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
4) Light from God comes to draw us, rather than turn us away.
- <John 3:17> For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

3. God’s invitation during Christmas.

<Mt 1:22> All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
To be with us and have a personal relationship with us.
Accept Jesus as our Redeemer.
Welcome Jesus as the King of our lives.
To walk in the light as children of God.
- <Ep 4:11> “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness…”
- <1 John 1> 5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
To witness about the Light.
- <Mt 5:16>In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Print page

Preacher Hui Jun

[email protected]

Huijun serves as Secretary of The Blessed RUN Ministries. She is also the Preacher at The Life Church and Missions (Singapore). She graduated from Singapore Bible College and currently lives in Singapore with her husband, Chengji.