"This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all," (I John 1:5).
"I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness," (John 12:46).
19 "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God," (John 3:19-21).
We are about to embark on a series of revelations that are fresh manna from heaven for this generation of believers. We will explore and expound on many scriptures so that your confidence rests in the Word of God. I pray that your spirit is illuminated to these truths in such a way that you will never be the same again.
We will ask many questions along the way and lay a foundation for understanding some things about our Father that only He could reveal. It will be important for you to grasp the insights on a weekly basis so that the foundation that is laid in your spirit is complete and unshakeable in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Today's blog is introductory, but profound. There is a truth that I want to tuck deep down in your spirit: What God doesn't say is as powerful as what He does say. In teaching me from the inner perimeters of truth, God has often had to reveal to me what He didn't say in order for me to grasp the magnitude of His work and His power. In other words, even in His silence, God is mighty.
For example, the Lord asked me a question concerning the account of Creation in Genesis Chapter One. God created by using His spoken word, "Let there be..." and it was so. However, when He began the work of creation, He never said, "Let there be water". He never said, "Let there be darkness"; or, "let there be evil". Yet these things existed. The answers to why God didn't speak these things is quite profound and we'll discuss them in future blogs.
I want today's blog to spark something deep in your spirit, beloved. Read St. John 1:1-14. These verses are worth committing to memory. They will be extremely important to us in the days to come. From these verses we learn some things about Jesus Christ:
1. He is the Word that was with God from the very beginning.
2. He made all things that were made. This means that in Genesis Chapter One, Christ was there doing the work of creating.
3. Life is in Christ.
4. The life of Christ is the light of men.
5. Jesus is referred to as the Light (not just "a" light... lower case "l", but "the" Light). The definite article ["the"] sets Him apart from any other light; the capitalization of the "L" in the word "Light" honors him as deity. Jesus is God; and, "God is Light" (I John 1:5).
6. Jesus is the true Light [as opposed to Satan who transforms himself into an "angel of light" - 2 Cor. 11:14, but he's not really light at all].
7. Those who receive Him receive power to become sons of God.
8. The Word that was with God from the beginning is the same Word that was made flesh.
This passage of scripture also speaks of John the Baptist, a forerunner sent to bear witness of "that Light" (vs 7). Because that Light came into the world, condemnation came (John 3:19). We are not condemned because we sin; we are condemned if we refuse to come to the Light and allow our sins to be exposed for what they are. Those who hate the Light repeatedly find excuses to justify living in darkness. They rename sin to make it more palatable: an "alternative lifestyle" or a woman's "reproductive rights" and so forth. When we accept the rebukes and reproofs given by the Light and embrace the truth, the truth makes us free. The truth tells us to repent and it draws us out of the kingdom of darkness and translates us into the kingdom of God's dear Son (Col. 1:13).
"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life," (John 8:12).
God allowed Saul to be temporarily blinded by His Light so that his real eyes could be opened to the truth of who Jesus is. When Paul testified before king Agrippa, he revealed that he had been commissioned by God as a light to the Gentiles,
"To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me," (Acts 26:18).
As God's people, it is still our assignment to reveal God's light: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven," (Mt. 5:16).
"That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;" (Phil. 2:15).
We were once a part of the darkness. "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light," (Eph. 5:8).
"Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness," (I Thess. 5:5).
Because Jesus is the Light and we are in His image and likeness, we too are "light-beings" who radiate or shine forth.
"And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever," (Daniel 12:3).
"Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear," (Mt. 13:43).
When the Word of God speaks of light and darkness, there are both natural and spiritual connotations. For example, things associated with darkness include nighttime, Satan's kingdom, wickedness, death, misery, depression, hopelessness, sickness, fear, sin, etc. Things associated with light include joy, peace, growth, love, rest, God and His kingdom, health and well-being, life everlasting, etc.
As we study about the nature and character of natural light, we will learn more about the nature and character of "spiritual light". Both kinds of light exist in our world. Both came into being on this planet in Genesis, Chapter One.
Not once, or even twice, but three times Genesis, Chapter One deals with sending forth light. The lights were both natural and spiritual. Don't try to figure it out on your own. It will take the revelation from God to see this. And we will in next week's blog.
We may go into some of that revelation on our "Church by Phone" call this coming Monday at 9PM EST. It's going to be powerful! Dial in to listen in: 530-881-1200. Access code 448699#.
BURGESS MINISTRIES - "Building the Kingdom by Building People"
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Upcoming Events
Weekend in the Word Conference in Columbus, Ohio
hosted by Pastors Brian and Tracie Brim
FOGHouse Ministries Int'l
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