Light in the Darkness; Hope for the Future



Taking notes and gleaning from his message as Pastor Jerry was reading from Isaiah 9:1-4 and also Psalm 27:1,4-9

Isaiah 9:2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. 

Psalms 27:5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

In Life there are always changes some for the better and others for the worst.  Change is a transition, a journey.  We must welcome change as it is inevitable.

At the birth of Jesus the Star shone giving direction and also light.  The light of Christ shines from birth to death and continues after His resurrection.  

During the time of Jesus on earth there were manifestations.  His first recorded miracle was the turning of water into wine.  The host would be terrible embarrassed if they ran out of wine at the wedding feast. 

The dove representing the Holy Spirit appeared at His baptism.

In the Old Testament the children of Israel were told to teach their children all that God had commanded.

In Deuteronomy 6:4-7 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shall teach them diligently unto thy children, and shall talk of them when thou sit in thine house, and when thou walk by the way, and when thou lie down, and when thou rise up.

Jesus also gave the great commission to go and make disciples and to teach them to obey the scriptures. 

We are to reach out and share the Light of Christ to others.  Light is a comfort when it is dark. 

Darkness can bring fear, but light illuminates and sheds brightness on the fear.  Light puts out the gloom of darkness.

Often there is danger in the darkness.  Animals might be there, or things in the way to trip over.  There is danger off the path, but light goes ahead as we follow the light.  We may not see the unexpected turns in the road, but Christ illuminates each step as we trust Him.

There is fear of the unknown, fear of the dark woods.  We want to survive in the cultural change.  Governments change, policy and laws change and many suffer by it.

The early church suffered persecution and it grew by leaps and bounds.  They had a mission to accomplish and were not seeking survival. 

The important thing is that the Work of Christ be done, and for us to discern God’s will beyond survival. 

God in his perfect love casts out all fear. 

May the Love of God and His will be made known to us individually and as a corporate body of believers.