Waverly Church of Christ
Letting Your Light Shine To The Glory of God
Sunday Morning Worship
Locations & Times
Waverly Church of Christ
438 W Main St, Waverly, TN 37185, USA
Sunday 9:30 AM
Introduction.
Perhaps you have heard the proverb, “It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness.” This is often claimed to be an ancient Chinese proverb, but its earliest known usage was in a sermon by W. L Watkinson around the turn of the last century. There is more to the proverb — “It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness. In the face of bad times or hopelessness, it is more worthwhile to do some good, however small in response, than to complain about the situation.” However, as many of you know it is easier to complain about the situation. But this isn’t what Jesus teaches those of us who are Christians to do — in His Sermon on the Mount He said:
Perhaps you have heard the proverb, “It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness.” This is often claimed to be an ancient Chinese proverb, but its earliest known usage was in a sermon by W. L Watkinson around the turn of the last century. There is more to the proverb — “It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness. In the face of bad times or hopelessness, it is more worthwhile to do some good, however small in response, than to complain about the situation.” However, as many of you know it is easier to complain about the situation. But this isn’t what Jesus teaches those of us who are Christians to do — in His Sermon on the Mount He said:
Shining as lights in the world is an intimidating task, especially when you consider that we live in a world which is becoming increasingly crooked and perverse. However, in this part of Paul’s letter, he gives us both direction and hope. The direction in which we need to go involves:
a. First that we “work out [our] own salvation”
b. And secondly, that we do so “with fear and trembling”
In verse 13, Paul shares with us something which should give us great hope:
a. “For it is God who is at work in you . . .”
b. We are not alone in our efforts to “shine as lights in the world,” for as Paul points out at the beginning and toward the end of this letter:
a. First that we “work out [our] own salvation”
b. And secondly, that we do so “with fear and trembling”
In verse 13, Paul shares with us something which should give us great hope:
a. “For it is God who is at work in you . . .”
b. We are not alone in our efforts to “shine as lights in the world,” for as Paul points out at the beginning and toward the end of this letter:
In our efforts to shine in the darkness there is power from God to help us.
In our lesson this morning I want us to do three things:
a. Develop a greater appreciation for the power God makes available to us as Christians.
b. Increase our understanding of the source and purpose of this power.
c. Make sure that we are allowing God’s power to work in us.
In our lesson this morning I want us to do three things:
a. Develop a greater appreciation for the power God makes available to us as Christians.
b. Increase our understanding of the source and purpose of this power.
c. Make sure that we are allowing God’s power to work in us.
I. The “Power” Available to the Christian
A. THIS “POWER” IS SOMETHING PAUL WANTED US AS CHRISTIANS TO KNOW
He mentioned it in his prayer for the Ephesians (Ephesians 1:15-23).
a. He wanted them to know “what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe” (v. 19).
b. This “power toward us” is “according to the working of His great might that He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand” (vv. 19b-20).
The power available to us as Christians is related to that power which God used to raise Jesus from the dead and seat Him at His right hand.
How is it possible that we who are Christians have experienced the same type of power God used in raising Jesus from the dead?
a. Prior to our obedience to Christ we were “dead in our trespasses and sins,”
but God “made us alive together with Christ” and “raised us up with Him” (Ephesians 2:1,5b-6a)
b. The Divine power which raised Jesus from the dead is the same power that is necessary to forgive us our sins and make us a new creation in Christ Jesus.
A. THIS “POWER” IS SOMETHING PAUL WANTED US AS CHRISTIANS TO KNOW
He mentioned it in his prayer for the Ephesians (Ephesians 1:15-23).
a. He wanted them to know “what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe” (v. 19).
b. This “power toward us” is “according to the working of His great might that He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand” (vv. 19b-20).
The power available to us as Christians is related to that power which God used to raise Jesus from the dead and seat Him at His right hand.
How is it possible that we who are Christians have experienced the same type of power God used in raising Jesus from the dead?
a. Prior to our obedience to Christ we were “dead in our trespasses and sins,”
but God “made us alive together with Christ” and “raised us up with Him” (Ephesians 2:1,5b-6a)
b. The Divine power which raised Jesus from the dead is the same power that is necessary to forgive us our sins and make us a new creation in Christ Jesus.
B. PAUL FURTHER DESCRIBES THE GREATNESS OF THIS POWER
Notice verse 20 — Paul’s doxology:
a. Here Paul describes what God is “able to do . . . according to the power that works in us”
b. Notice the superlatives He uses to describe this power:
1) “far more abundantly” (NASB), “exceeding abundantly” (NKJV)
2) “beyond (above, NKJV) all that we ask or think”
According to Paul God will provide power beyond our imagination to work in us, if we will only access it!
a. Here Paul describes what God is “able to do . . . according to the power that works in us”
b. Notice the superlatives He uses to describe this power:
1) “far more abundantly” (NASB), “exceeding abundantly” (NKJV)
2) “beyond (above, NKJV) all that we ask or think”
According to Paul God will provide power beyond our imagination to work in us, if we will only access it!
II. What Is The Source of This Power, and What Is Its Purpose?
A. THE SOURCE: GOD’S “SPIRIT IN THE INNER MAN” (EPHESIANS 3:16)
Even as Paul said in Philippians 2:13, “it is God who is at work in you." I understand this to be a reference to the Holy Spirit at work in the lives of Christians:
a. As promised in Jesus’ invitation (John 7:37-39)
A. THE SOURCE: GOD’S “SPIRIT IN THE INNER MAN” (EPHESIANS 3:16)
Even as Paul said in Philippians 2:13, “it is God who is at work in you." I understand this to be a reference to the Holy Spirit at work in the lives of Christians:
a. As promised in Jesus’ invitation (John 7:37-39)
The Holy Spirit, then, is the means by which God indwells those of us who are Christians (cf. Ephesians 2:22).
a. We may not agree on HOW the Spirit indwells the Christian.
b. But that He does, and that He is the “source” of power, seems evident from what Paul writes in Ephesians 3:16
a. We may not agree on HOW the Spirit indwells the Christian.
b. But that He does, and that He is the “source” of power, seems evident from what Paul writes in Ephesians 3:16
B. THE PURPOSE: TO PROVIDE “STRENGTH” (EPHESIANS 3:16)
Or as Paul wrote to be “strengthened with power (might)”
Why? For what purpose?
a. So that you might “work out your own salvation” (Cf. Philippians 2:12-13)
b. And “put to death the deeds of the body” (Romans 8:13)
c. And “glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:20)
In other words, in order that we might do what is necessary to “shine as lights in the world.”
But we must not forget that “it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work (do)” (Philippians 2:13).
a. Strength not only to “do”
b. But strength also to “will”
In other words, God is the power behind our motivation, our hope (Romans 15:13).
Or as Paul wrote to be “strengthened with power (might)”
Why? For what purpose?
a. So that you might “work out your own salvation” (Cf. Philippians 2:12-13)
b. And “put to death the deeds of the body” (Romans 8:13)
c. And “glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:20)
In other words, in order that we might do what is necessary to “shine as lights in the world.”
But we must not forget that “it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work (do)” (Philippians 2:13).
a. Strength not only to “do”
b. But strength also to “will”
In other words, God is the power behind our motivation, our hope (Romans 15:13).
III. How Do We Access This “Power” Which Is Available to All Christians
A. THROUGH PRAYER
In other words, we must ask for it. This is what Paul was doing for the Christians in Ephesus (cf. Ephesians 3:16). It must therefore be appropriate for us to ask it for ourselves. Those who “wait for the Lord” (which includes prayer) are promised strength
A. THROUGH PRAYER
In other words, we must ask for it. This is what Paul was doing for the Christians in Ephesus (cf. Ephesians 3:16). It must therefore be appropriate for us to ask it for ourselves. Those who “wait for the Lord” (which includes prayer) are promised strength
B. THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD
Toward the end of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, as he is urging them to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might” he tells them to “put on the full armor of God” (Ephesians 6:10-11a)
Indispensible to this armor are such things as:
a. Truth (Ephesians 6:14)
b. The gospel (Ephesians 6:15)
c. Faith (Ephesians 6:16)
All of these are inseparable from the Word of God.
But the Word itself is described as “the sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17) Certainly it is the instrument needed to reach others as it discerns “the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). It is through this same word that the Holy Spirit reaches us:
a. Through the Word of truth, we have been born again (1 Peter 1:23;James 1:18)
Toward the end of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, as he is urging them to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might” he tells them to “put on the full armor of God” (Ephesians 6:10-11a)
Indispensible to this armor are such things as:
a. Truth (Ephesians 6:14)
b. The gospel (Ephesians 6:15)
c. Faith (Ephesians 6:16)
All of these are inseparable from the Word of God.
But the Word itself is described as “the sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17) Certainly it is the instrument needed to reach others as it discerns “the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). It is through this same word that the Holy Spirit reaches us:
a. Through the Word of truth, we have been born again (1 Peter 1:23;James 1:18)
Please allow the Word of God to be an avenue through which God strengthens your inner man, and works within you, both to will and to do according to His good pleasure.
C. BY JUST DOING IT
We receive a lot of help through the Word of God and prayer (primarily in the area of strengthening our “will”) But the ultimate demonstration of God’s power is seen when we “do” His will. But it won’t be seen until WE decide to do it and then do OUR part. I believe this is what is implied in Philippians 2:12-13. God is at work in us (through His indwelling Spirit). But only if we are working out our salvation with fear and trembling. So it is by FAITH that we believe that the power to do God’s will is there, and it is by FAITH that we act upon it!
We receive a lot of help through the Word of God and prayer (primarily in the area of strengthening our “will”) But the ultimate demonstration of God’s power is seen when we “do” His will. But it won’t be seen until WE decide to do it and then do OUR part. I believe this is what is implied in Philippians 2:12-13. God is at work in us (through His indwelling Spirit). But only if we are working out our salvation with fear and trembling. So it is by FAITH that we believe that the power to do God’s will is there, and it is by FAITH that we act upon it!
Conclusion
Remember the quote we began with?
“It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness. In the face of bad times or hopelessness, it is more worthwhile to do some good, however small in response, than to complain about the situation.”
If we as Christians are not “shining as lights in the world,” is it because God is not at work in us? If that is the case, it can only be because of a lack of faith on our part:
a. We lack the faith to believe God’s Word about the power to do God’s will that is available to Christians through His indwelling Spirit.
b. We lack the faith to access that power through prayer and the Word
c. We lack the faith to simply do what God says to do, trusting Him to provide the ability.
Are you willing to work out your salvation so that God may work in you and that you may shine as lights in the world?
Remember the quote we began with?
“It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness. In the face of bad times or hopelessness, it is more worthwhile to do some good, however small in response, than to complain about the situation.”
If we as Christians are not “shining as lights in the world,” is it because God is not at work in us? If that is the case, it can only be because of a lack of faith on our part:
a. We lack the faith to believe God’s Word about the power to do God’s will that is available to Christians through His indwelling Spirit.
b. We lack the faith to access that power through prayer and the Word
c. We lack the faith to simply do what God says to do, trusting Him to provide the ability.
Are you willing to work out your salvation so that God may work in you and that you may shine as lights in the world?