SDCCM Blog

Matthew 5:16 – Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

What a clear word from our Lord! “Let your light shine.” We have to cooperate with the Holy Spirit in this matter of letting our light shine. He has placed the light in us, but we must choose to shine. Many times I have heard God’s people say, “I know what I should do,” but then they struggled in doing it. I remember one time I was very angry at an individual. My dad reminded me of my responsibility to forgive. I told my dad, “I know, but right now it feels good to be angry.” Our emotions can snare us and keep us from being the kind of light God has ordained us to be.  A few hours later, I chose to forgive that person and be a light of forgiveness.

Jesus taught His disciples to pray in secret. There is a time to do business with God in secret, but here He says let your light shine before all men so they might “see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Witnessing is not simply about speaking words, but it is more about how we live our lives. The first week I was in the Army, I asked God, “How can I live for you in this place?” He spoke a surprising word to me. “Be you!” That meant, continue to serve the Lord, pray, read the Word of God and share when I can. That is what I did. I had the privilege of leading many men to Christ with the evidence of changed lives. Letting our light shine is a lifestyle lived out. It is in the living out of our faith on a daily basis that others will glorify our Father in heaven. When people begin to acknowledge there is something different about you, they are recognizing the light that is shining. God is glorified!

Ask the Holy Spirit to give you good works that cause the people around you to glorify your Father in heaven. Ask Him to quicken your mind regarding how you should respond in any given situation. He will show you your responsibility and give you the ability to reflect His nature. He will give you of His wisdom and His power in order for you to carry out His good pleasure.

Matthew 5:14 – You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

The light in the world is the Lord’s church. Imagine what it would be like if the church was non-existent in the earth. Try to imagine America without the effect of the gospel on the Constitution and her laws. In fact, America would not exist as we have known her. As Jesus produces light in individual lives, whole nations are changed for the glory of God. “You” are the light of the world. Your world is where you have the opportunity to influence others for righteousness. Somebody asked the question, “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” I hope so! If so, it would mean that you are a shining light for the Lord.

As the oil of the Holy Spirit is poured into our lives, it fuels the flame that emits the light from within. That light is manifested through your personality, the way you take care of yourself, and reaching out to others in the name of the Lord. His light is demonstrated by your unwavering conviction and obedience to God’s Word, and your faithfulness to God’s people through committed relationship. A life of service and humility demonstrates the work of the gospel in your inner man. Through the ministry of “Halloween Harvest,” which was created by my friend, Mick McCoy, a pumpkin would be used to illustrate the need to first repent and allow the Lord to remove the sinfulness in our hearts, so the Holy Spirit can “light our candle.”

Ask the Holy Spirit for fresh oil. We are leaky vessels and need to be filled afresh regularly, in fact many times in a day. He is present to fill you with His oil so you can keep the light burning brightly.

LUKE 23:34 – THEN JESUS SAID, “FATHER, FORGIVE THEM, FOR THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY DO.” AND THEY DIVIDED HIS GARMENTS AND CAST LOTS.

ALL OF HUMAN HISTORY IS WRAPPED UP IN THESE WORDS OF OUR SAVIOR

FROM ADAM TO THE LAST ADAM, GOD IS A COVENANT MAKER AND MAN IS A COVENANT BREAKER

THE BIBLE GIVES THE HISTORY OF MAN’S COVENANT BREAKING NATURE

IT ALSO IS THE RECORD OF GOD’S FORGIVENESS AND HIS RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT

GOD’S MERCY IS DIRECTLY TIED TO HIS LAW OF SACRIFICE: “THE INNOCENT DIEING FOR THE GUILTY”

FULFILLED ON THE CROSS IN CHRIST THE RIGHTEOUS ONE

RECEIVE HIS MERCY GIFT IN CHRIST AND SIN IS REMOVED

REJECT HIS MERCY AND THERE IS NOTHING LEFT, BUT ETERNAL JUDGMENT

A HOLY GOD MUST JUDGE SIN! 

SIN IS JUDGED AT THE CROSS

LIFE IS GIVEN THROUGH THE POWER OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION

AS IT IS WRITTEN “HE FIRST MAN ADAM BECAME A LIVING SOUL.” THE LAST ADAM BECAME A LIFE-GIVING SPIRIT.

LUKE 23:34 – THEN JESUS SAID, “FATHER, FORGIVE THEM, FOR THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY DO.” AND THEY DIVIDED HIS GARMENTS AND CAST LOTS.

ALL OF HUMAN HISTORY IS WRAPPED UP IN THESE WORDS OF OUR SAVIOR!

FROM ADAM TO THE LAST ADAM, GOD IS A COVENANT MAKER AND MAN IS A COVENANT BREAKER

THE BIBLE GIVES THE HISTORY OF MAN’S COVENANT BREAKING NATURE

IT ALSO IS THE RECORD OF GOD’S FORGIVENESS AND HIS RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT

GOD’S MERCY IS DIRECTLY TIED TO HIS LAW OF SACRIFICE: “THE INNOCENT DIEING FOR THE GUILTY”

FULFILLED ON THE CROSS IN CHRIST THE RIGHTEOUS ONE

RECEIVE HIS MERCY GIFT IN CHRIST AND SIN IS REMOVED

REJECT HIS MERCY AND THERE IS NOTHING LEFT, BUT ETERNAL JUDMENT

A HOLY GOD MUST JUDGE SIN! 

SIN IS JUDGED AT THE CROSS

LIFE IS GIVEN THROUGH THE POWER OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION

AS IT IS WRITTEN “HE FIRST MAN ADAM BECAME A LIVING SOUL.” THE LAST ADAM BECAME A LIFE-GIVING SPIRIT.

Matthew 5:13 – Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great.

Although there are many challenges in this life, we are passing through to a greater time where rewards will be given for faithfulness in the kingdom of God. Jesus promises a “great” reward to those who have suffered insults and persecution for His sake. “He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet is promised a prophet’s reward” (Matthew 10:41). “When you receive a righteous man in the name of a righteous man, you receive a righteous man’s reward” (Matthew 10:41). Even the giving of cold water qualifies one for a reward (Matthew 10:42). “When you lend, expecting nothing in return, your reward is great” (Luke 6:35). Paul says, “Each one will receive their own reward according to their own work “(1 Corinthians 3:8). Works that are built upon an imperishable foundation will receive a reward according to 1 Corinthians 3:14.

Don’t throw away your confidence, because it has a great reward (Hebrews 10:35). John the apostle said, “Watch yourselves that you might not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward” (2 John 8). The Lord Jesus Christ promised that He “is coming quickly and His reward is with Him, to render to every man according to what he has done” (Revelation 22:12).

Finally, diligence carries the promise of reward “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV). One does not have to wait for heaven to begin receiving rewards from our gracious Savior. Faithful diligence releases God’s favor throughout one’s life.

Ask the Holy Spirit to show you about His reward for you. The Father loves to give to His children. Don’t be bashful about expecting to receive rewards from Him. The Holy Spirit loves to honor the sons and daughters of God in this life. So be in a receiving mode now and in an expectant mode about the future.

Matthew 6:10 – On earth as it is in heaven.

God’s will is for heaven’s influence to be brought to earth. His plan from the beginning was that His creation man would fill the earth with the righteousness of heaven. He began by creating man in His own image. Because of man’s disobedience in the Garden, sin entered the scene.  In God’s dealings with Adam and Eve, He looked down the annals of time and said, “I will put enmity between you and women, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel” (Genesis 3:15). We have come to understand that the Lord was speaking about the battle between Satan and Christ.

Jesus came to provide redemption for all mankind. In the process, Satan bruised Him through the crucifixion, but Christ the Lord crushed Satan’s ability to stop the advancement of the Lord’s kingdom purpose in the earth. One day, the old earth and heaven will be destroyed and a new heaven and earth created. “The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10). This is a prophetic mystery about which the Scriptures speak. We should not get hung up in mysteries and things which are not altogether clear. We need to trust God about the future, while in the present we seek His face to know His will for our daily lives. As long as we draw breath, we are called to affect the earth with heaven’s perspective and heaven’s authority.

Worship and praise must be continual throughout my life, for this is a part of bringing heaven to earth. My daily walk should include intimate fellowship with the Godhead. This is bringing heaven to earth. As I observe needs in the lives of people, I am a ready servant to help meet those needs as God enables me. This is bringing heaven to earth. As I allow the Holy Spirit to fill me and release His gifts through me to others, this is bringing heaven to earth. God’s love for me and God’s love in me released to others in my daily walk, most assuredly helps bring heaven to earth. Keep this phrase in your mind “on earth as in heaven” it will help you to be more sensitive to the Holy Spirit and His plans.

Father, I pray that my life will be used to manifest heaven’s will here on earth. Please continue to change me into Christ’s likeness. Help me put on the mind of Christ in all that I do and in everything that I say. Lord, You are faithful, so please cause me to be faithful in doing Your will consistently.