Statements of Faith - I Am The Light of The World

 

 

MATTHEW 5:14

You are the light of the world. A city lying on a hill is unable to be hidden.

    A Christian's life is more visible in the darkness of this world than any other. When we declare our differentness, we open ourselves up to be more carefully observed to see if we truly are living a different life than everyone else around us. 

    Are we living John 8:12 by faithfully following Jesus? In John 9:5 and John 12:36 Jesus told those who followed Him that He is the Light of the world BUT only while He was in the world. Before leaving He designated to His followers that if they really were following Him, they (the born again (John 3:3, 6) would become sons of light. We are filled with His Light because we have our Christ living in us! Wherever Jesus is, His Light is! 

    If we have Christ living in us and The Holy Spirit of God guiding us, then it will be impossible not to live a changed life, for our hearts have been changed and our mindset is being transformed day by day. When we remain in Him, breathing in and taking in His Word when we read it, change is inevitable. And change for the better, at that. 

    They who still live in darkness are changing, too. Except by refusing to see the Light of Christ, they sink ever deeper into the darkness of their comfort zones. It's scary becoming a Christian. Suddenly everyone you ever knew looks at you different. They know how you used to be, how you used to behave, how you used to dress, how you used to talk. The places you used to hang out you don't go to any more. You have a new hang out: the congregation of the saints. Wherever God's people are, you, the new Christian, are going to be found. 

    Your light is impacting their darkness. Some will be drawn to the light, like butterflies to nectar. Others will withdraw from the light that is in you, like shadows seeking the dark alleyways. Your light and The Holy Spirit within you reveals sin to them and convicts their sinful ways. All of a sudden, you are "persona non grata": unwanted and not welcome. 

    With such a Light burning in you and I it is impossible to not shine. A lighthouse on a clifftop is there to warn ships trying to sail into safe harbor that dangers lurks just ahead: hidden shoals, bulky rocks jutting out of the water or hidden just beneath it; reefs and cliffsides. In the thickness of fog or the darkness of night the lighthouse sends its brilliant beams of light constantly to prevent ships from crashing. So, too, does the faithful Christian. 

    We are the lighthouses of this world. Our Light is Christ Jesus. As long as we stand on The Word, our Lights will continue to shine. Even when we falter, and our light gets wobbly, we get back up again and raise our Light even higher that it may shine farther and wider. Our Lights travel all over this globe. And we will continue to shine until God either calls us home via death or raises us in the air via being caught up with Christ. 

NO OTHER NAME Planetshakers

WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE LORD Christ For The Nations

FIRE Eddie James 

FIRST THINGS FIRST  Consumed By Fire

 DRAW ME CLOSE TO YOU Michael W. Smith

GOD FOLLOWER  Steven Curtis Chapman

I Am Christian's Heart

ROMANS 10:10

For it is by believing, in your heart. that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.

I am Christian's heart: in me lives The Word of God. 

1 John 4:15

All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God.

    I am Christian's heart and The Word declares that I am wise: Ecclesiastes 7:4 "The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure." A wise heart tells people about Jesus and His gospel of saving grace. 

Proverbs 11:30 "

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise." 

1 Corinthians 9:19 "Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible."

    I am Christian's heart and The Word tells me that I am broken: Psalm 34:18 "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit (repentant heart)." 

Psalm 51:17 "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise." 

    I am Christian's heart and I have hidden His Word in me: Psalm 119:10-11 "With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments. Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You." I am hid in God's heart, too. John 17:20-21 "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; That they all may be one; as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that You have sent Me." 

    I am Christian's heart. In me and through me the love of God moves. I am able to love like God because The Love of God lives in me: It thrives because I feed It with adoration and worship. I can love people because I love God and He loves me. He chose me to live in. 1 John 4:7-11

"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; an devery one that loves is born of God, and knows God.

He that loves not knows not God; for God is love. 

In this was manifested (revealed) The Love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him (John 3:16-17).

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another."

    I am Christian's heart. Jesus Christ called me to open my door and let Him enter into me. Just like He's calling you to open the door of your hearts and let Him live in you, too: Revelation 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if anyone hears My voice, and opens the door, I will come in to them, and will sup with them, and they with me."

MARANATHA WORSHIP 70's & 80's 

THE GOSPEL - Ryan Stevenson

ABIDE IN ME - Andrew Marcus

SHEPHERD OF MY SOUL - Rivers & Robots 

MY PORTION - Isla Vista 

Given A Changed Heart

The Spiritual Transplant

Ezekiel 36:26

 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 

    Every time we try to change ourselves to be a better person our attempts fall short and many times we fall back into our old ways. We have not changed one bit.But when God changes us, we begin to be a changed person: from the inside-out. That's the only way we can begin to heal, begin to grow, begin to love.

The Christ-Filled Change

Romans 10:8-10

But what does it say? “The Word is near you; It is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved. 

    Neither our good deeds, acts of kindness, nor our charitable donations will grant us access to the heavenly places where God's eternalness is. Only this in Romans 10:8-10>Believe with our hearts and Speak our belief out loud. Justification takes place in the heart; Salvation takes place in the mouth. 

    If, when we come to Christ for our salvation, but do not shout it from the rooftops nor whisper it in someone's ear nor speak what we believe aloud, are we then not saved? Have you told someone about the change God has wrought in you? And how God is still changing you? Does your life reflect your belief?

The Holy Spirit Changed Lifestyle

1 Peter 1:14-16

As obedient children, do not conform to the passions of your former ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Isaiah 35:8

And there will be a highway called The Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel it--only those who walk in the Way--and fools will not stray onto it.

2 Corinthians 7:1

Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

    Holiness is a process. Like the seed that becomes a full grown plant (flower, tree, grain), time is essential to become holy. Patience is not only a virtue, it is required. Contentment with the portion of faith in God's ability to keep His promises to us is part of the process. 

    Holiness is a necessity. Without holiness no one can see God. And who doesn't want to see God? I want to see God and live with Him eternally. I believe that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD. And I want The Holy Spirit to continue to work in me, on me, and through me to perfect me in holiness. I will raise in life triumphant. Will you rise with me? 

LORD I OFFER MY LIFE TO YOU 
CHANGE MY HEART O GOD 

CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART

GIVE ME JESUS

WELCOME HOLY SPIRIT