Shining Lights

By

Shelby G. Floyd

June 30, 2006

 

 

             Jesus said, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5: 14, 16.)  To the Philippians Paul said, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” (Philippians 4: 4.)

 

Let Your Light Shine

 

There is no place for us to stop, for we must be always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that our labor is not in vain in the Lord. (I Cor. 15: 58.) We especially rejoice in those that have been baptized, because it has been by the power of the gospel that these persons have been brought to the truth. (Romans 1:16-17.) The gospel is the message that God wants us to preach to every creature upon the whole earth. When Jesus gave the great commission he said, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and. is baptized shall be saved.” (Mark 16:15-16.)

 

The Gospel Must Be Preached

 

Without the gospel no person can possibly be saved from his sins. Realizing this, every member of the church urgently needs to personally do his part in taking the gospel to the whole world. A weighty respon­sibility rests upon every preacher and every teacher of God’s word, to preach only the gospel of Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul said, “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel.” (1 Corinthians 9: 16.)

 

The gospel must not be changed or perverted in any way, because God has pronounced his curse upon anyone who would do so. (Galatians 1:6-9.) It is to be preached publicly and privately. The first gospel sermon was preached by Peter on the day of Pentecost, and when he announced the conditions of salvation, we are informed, “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” (Acts 2:41.)

 

The Word Is Powerful

 

Numbers were important enough that the author of Acts states that three thousand persons obeyed the gospel in the beginning of the church. The gospel will not be preached without opposition. (1 Thessalonians 2: 2.) When Peter and John continued to preach the word in Jerusalem they were put in prison; but this did not stop the advance of the cause of Christ, for many of them that heard the word believed, and the number of men was five thousand. (Acts 4: 4.) They were warned not to speak anymore in the name of Jesus Christ, but they replied that they must hear God above man and that they could not but speak the things which they had seen and heard. (Acts 4:18-20.) Even the sin and punishment of Ananias and Sapphira could not stop the growth of the Jerusalem church, for afterwards great fear came upon the members of the church, “And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and. women.” (Acts 5: 14-15.)

 

Later when Peter and. John were beaten and again threatened not to preach the gospel, “daily in the temple, and. in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” (Acts 5:42.) From this we can draw the conclusion that if we are ever to take the gospel to every creature in the whole world, we must preach the gospel publicly, and from house to house.

 

20-20 Vision

 

Someone has said the church needs to have 20-20 vision; by this they mean Acts 20:20, in which Paul said, “And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house.” The members of the Lord’s church should be studying the Bible in the homes of many people each week who are willing to hear the gospel of Christ.

 

Christ Taught Publicly and Privately

 

           Some of the greatest sermons that were ever preached by Christ and his apostles were private meetings, in the homes of friends’ and strangers. On one occasion, Jesus was in the house preaching the word of God, and so many people crowded in to hear him that there was not even enough room for people to come in through the door. (Mark 2: 1-12.) Jesus preached to private indivi­duals, such as his interviews with Nicodemus concerning the new birth into the kingdom of God (John 3: 1-8); and the woman at the well in Samaria concerning the water of life. (John 4: 1-26.) Paul preached publicly his sermon in Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13); but he also preached the gospel to individuals such as the Philippians jailer, and to a few women out by the river­side, in the city of Philippi; and before such notable persons as King Agrippa and. Felix, the governor.

 

We Are To Be Shining Lights

 

If we will do our part by sow­ing the seed, which is the word of God (Luke 8:11), God will do his part because the power is in the word. (Hebrews 4: 12-13.)  Let every child of God go everywhere preaching the word.  Christians should “shine as lights in the world.” (Philippians 2:15.)  Copyright © 2006 All Rights Reserved