WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.319 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:02.479 --> 00:00:07.040 We pray this message encourages you and provides the hope and light of Jesus Christ. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:08.640 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:20.800 --> 00:00:23.039 Hey, welcome to Awakening Church. 00:00:23.199 --> 00:00:31.440 We're in a series we started last week called Jesus Is, where we're really asking the question: who is Jesus or who did Jesus say he is? 00:00:31.519 --> 00:00:37.759 I think anybody who has any intellectual integrity really needs to ask those questions. 00:00:37.840 --> 00:00:38.799 Like, who is he? 00:00:38.960 --> 00:00:44.880 I mean, he fundamentally reshaped the world as we know it in only three years. 00:00:45.119 --> 00:00:50.479 And so we're asking this question and looking at his very words of what did he say? 00:00:50.719 --> 00:00:53.679 And why does it matter to us today? 00:00:53.920 --> 00:00:56.719 And I have a little bit of a confession. 00:00:56.960 --> 00:01:01.679 Um, I haven't been so nervous for a series in a really long time. 00:01:02.159 --> 00:01:04.879 Last week I was super nervous. 00:01:05.359 --> 00:01:06.719 This week, again. 00:01:06.879 --> 00:01:10.079 It almost each week feels like Easter to me right now. 00:01:10.239 --> 00:01:18.640 Like, like, like that level of nervousness of like, oh gush, gush, I can't even get gush, whatever that is, gush. 00:01:18.879 --> 00:01:19.280 Right? 00:01:19.439 --> 00:01:20.640 I want to get it right. 00:01:20.799 --> 00:01:23.120 I don't want to mess it up. 00:01:23.439 --> 00:01:26.159 And so would you pray with me as we begin? 00:01:26.319 --> 00:01:29.040 Because that's where we need to start. 00:01:29.599 --> 00:01:34.000 Heavenly Father, we invite you here, ask for you to speak. 00:01:34.480 --> 00:01:36.480 God, would you get me out of the way? 00:01:38.000 --> 00:01:40.319 And may your word be clear. 00:01:40.480 --> 00:01:50.719 May we hear from you, respond to your word, be changed by you, and make us a people who are more and more like your son Jesus. 00:01:50.879 --> 00:01:52.319 And it's in his name we pray. 00:01:52.480 --> 00:01:54.000 And all gets people said. 00:01:54.480 --> 00:01:55.120 Amen. 00:01:55.920 --> 00:02:00.400 It was the summer before my um freshman year of high school. 00:02:00.560 --> 00:02:06.480 My dad was teaching at a family camp, actually, just over the hill in the Santa Cruz Mountains called Mount Hermon. 00:02:06.799 --> 00:02:08.960 Um, I was there, woo, yeah. 00:02:09.680 --> 00:02:12.240 If you're gonna woo, woo, let's do it, all right? 00:02:12.479 --> 00:02:13.280 There you go. 00:02:13.520 --> 00:02:17.520 Because we got baptisms coming up later, and we really need to woo, okay? 00:02:17.759 --> 00:02:21.120 Um, so so my dad's teaching at this camp. 00:02:21.280 --> 00:02:26.080 I'm there with him, my little sister's there, my older brothers are off in college. 00:02:26.400 --> 00:02:33.360 And what happens at a camp like something like this often happens is a little summer love, a little camp, you know, flinging. 00:02:33.439 --> 00:02:51.360 I met this girl, not Jenny, uh, just so you know, and and I met this girl like, oh my goodness, and this little, you know, 15-year-old heart went fluttering, and we started hanging out, and her family actually owned a cabin or a house in the mountains there, right on the property of Mount Herman. 00:02:51.599 --> 00:02:57.680 And so one night we go to her family's house, we're playing cards and games, it was great, and it was time for me to come home. 00:02:57.759 --> 00:02:59.919 It's like 10 o'clock at night or 11. 00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:01.360 I don't know what time it was. 00:03:01.520 --> 00:03:10.479 Um, but it that night there was no moon, it was pitch black, and I'm walking home in the woods there, and I get lost. 00:03:11.039 --> 00:03:15.360 Again, if you remember, this is the 90s, there's no cell phone coverage either. 00:03:15.439 --> 00:03:17.759 Uh, there, because there's no cell phones. 00:03:17.919 --> 00:03:20.319 Um, no light. 00:03:20.560 --> 00:03:21.520 I get lost. 00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:25.599 Eventually, I I get off the path as well. 00:03:25.759 --> 00:03:29.759 I'm wandering for about an hour, not really sure where I'm at. 00:03:29.919 --> 00:03:32.159 I'm under the canopy of the redwoods. 00:03:32.240 --> 00:03:34.639 Uh eventually I just go like I start running. 00:03:34.719 --> 00:03:35.360 I don't know why. 00:03:35.520 --> 00:03:38.000 That's what a 15-year-old does when they're lost and scared. 00:03:38.080 --> 00:03:39.599 Like it's spooky, you're disoriented. 00:03:39.680 --> 00:03:40.879 You're hearing woo, you know. 00:03:40.960 --> 00:03:45.120 And it wasn't like the good woo that just happened here, it was like the bad woo, right? 00:03:45.520 --> 00:03:46.960 I'm freaking out. 00:03:47.120 --> 00:03:50.240 I fall down a ravine, I stumble down it because I'm running. 00:03:50.400 --> 00:03:53.199 And so then now I'm kind of like cut up and bruised. 00:03:53.360 --> 00:04:04.879 And eventually, after wandering what felt like for hours, I see this little glimmer of light through the trees, and so I make my way towards the light, and I'm actually on the back side. 00:04:05.039 --> 00:04:05.840 I didn't know this. 00:04:06.000 --> 00:04:13.120 Uh, came up to the back side of the main part of the campus of Mount Herman, and I was finally, finally there. 00:04:13.680 --> 00:04:16.240 There's something about the dark, isn't there? 00:04:17.279 --> 00:04:21.920 I mean, growing up, maybe you like me were scared of the dark. 00:04:22.560 --> 00:04:26.879 It's disorienting, it's stumbling, it's hard to navigate. 00:04:29.040 --> 00:04:44.160 And when we look at the world around us, and we see the events on the news, and we just look at how people act around us, it's easy to look at and go, man, the world's pretty dark, right? 00:04:45.120 --> 00:04:51.040 There's a lot of disorientation, there's a lot of things that are scary out there. 00:04:51.439 --> 00:04:55.360 How do we navigate the darkness of the world around us? 00:04:56.000 --> 00:05:00.480 How do we navigate the pain, the suffering, the tragedy, the systemic injustice? 00:05:00.639 --> 00:05:14.000 How do we navigate greed and exploitation, anger, hate, and violence, the ideology and the world system that is so counter to human flourishing? 00:05:14.160 --> 00:05:17.680 How do we navigate the world around us? 00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:25.839 And I think even a deeper and bigger question is what do I do with the darkness within me? 00:05:27.439 --> 00:05:32.079 Because it's easy to look out there and the darkness of the world out there, isn't it? 00:05:32.240 --> 00:05:40.160 But it's honestly, there's a lot more darkness in here than I care to admit, right? 00:05:40.879 --> 00:05:54.560 And what do I do with the darkness and the confusion and the pain and the hurts and the doubt and the crises and the thoughts that bubble up that go, where did that come from? 00:05:54.720 --> 00:05:58.480 What do I do with the darkness within me? 00:05:59.120 --> 00:06:07.920 We've been looking at Jesus' I am statements in the Gospel of John, where he's declaring who he is. 00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:25.040 And in the second I am statement, Jesus has this line that's so powerful, so clarifying, and if it's true, filled with immense hope. 00:06:26.319 --> 00:06:29.600 And he says this declaration. 00:06:30.560 --> 00:06:34.319 I am the light of the world. 00:06:35.920 --> 00:06:39.040 I am the light of the world. 00:06:39.199 --> 00:06:46.639 Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of light. 00:06:48.319 --> 00:06:50.800 Like, what do you do with the darkness of this world? 00:06:50.959 --> 00:06:53.439 What do you do with the darkness that's within? 00:06:53.600 --> 00:06:56.079 Jesus is saying, You guess what? 00:06:56.319 --> 00:07:01.360 Light has dawned and I've shown up on the scene. 00:07:01.600 --> 00:07:05.519 I'm here to expel the darkness. 00:07:07.439 --> 00:07:16.160 No, when we read Jesus' teachings and we study, we often miss uh when he's saying things and where he's saying them. 00:07:16.480 --> 00:07:22.560 We miss those because we read it and we're not familiar with the Jewish context or the Jewish calendar and some of these sort of things. 00:07:22.639 --> 00:07:28.160 And sometimes, doesn't it feel like Jesus just says stuff like, who says that anyways, right? 00:07:28.639 --> 00:07:30.480 You know, it's like I am the light of the world. 00:07:30.560 --> 00:07:32.399 Like he just showed up to a house party. 00:07:32.560 --> 00:07:33.839 He's like, What's up, guys? 00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:36.399 Um, turns the light on and off. 00:07:36.720 --> 00:07:37.759 Fun trick, huh? 00:07:37.839 --> 00:07:39.199 I'm the light of the world. 00:07:40.160 --> 00:07:40.639 Right? 00:07:40.879 --> 00:07:43.439 That's not what happened. 00:07:44.879 --> 00:07:47.279 It was the Feast of Tabernacles. 00:07:48.160 --> 00:07:48.959 Sakot. 00:07:50.000 --> 00:07:50.800 Or booth. 00:07:53.279 --> 00:07:54.399 When he made this statement. 00:07:54.560 --> 00:08:04.240 Now, the Feast of Tabernacles celebrates and remembers uh God's provision for the people of Israel as they wandered in the wilderness. 00:08:04.399 --> 00:08:10.959 And what they would do for seven days is literally every Jewish family, they would they would build a hut or a booth. 00:08:11.120 --> 00:08:14.959 We'd call it a tent, uh, but they actually had to build theirs, not buy theirs. 00:08:15.120 --> 00:08:33.919 And they would build a tent and they would live outside for seven days, and they would rehearse the wilderness together, and they would remember God's provision in the wilderness, in the dry land, God's provision of water through the rock and the wilderness and the dryness of the desert land. 00:08:34.080 --> 00:08:36.879 And then they would remember that God provided for them. 00:08:37.039 --> 00:08:39.919 You can read this in Exodus uh 13, verse 21. 00:08:40.159 --> 00:08:48.480 He provided direction for them through a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. 00:08:48.720 --> 00:08:50.159 And they're remembering this. 00:08:50.240 --> 00:08:59.360 And so the two big pictures of Secat or Tabernacle, the feast of tabernacle, is this water and this fire, this light. 00:08:59.440 --> 00:09:09.440 And Jesus in chapter seven, if you'll read, already says that he's the living water and he identifies with the water, that that same water that brought life in the desert barren land. 00:09:09.519 --> 00:09:10.720 Jesus says, I'm here. 00:09:10.879 --> 00:09:13.360 And then in chapter eight, he says, Guess what? 00:09:13.679 --> 00:09:15.519 I am the light of the world. 00:09:15.679 --> 00:09:25.120 You know, that light that led our ancestors, that led you through the darkness and protected you, has arrived here. 00:09:25.919 --> 00:09:33.120 Now that's what was happening when Jesus says, I am the light of the world, but this is where he said it. 00:09:33.279 --> 00:09:34.720 It gets even better. 00:09:35.039 --> 00:09:39.120 He actually said it in the area known as the court of women. 00:09:39.200 --> 00:09:40.320 And I got a little slide. 00:09:40.399 --> 00:09:45.519 It's actually in the temple of God here for you, the Jewish temple. 00:09:45.679 --> 00:09:50.080 It had multiple courts, and each court was a different level of access. 00:09:50.159 --> 00:09:53.039 And so the outer court was the court of Gentiles. 00:09:53.440 --> 00:09:58.240 Many or most, maybe all of us, most of us, that's as far as we could go. 00:09:58.399 --> 00:10:01.600 The court of gentiles, huge, massive area. 00:10:01.840 --> 00:10:08.480 And then you would actually go up into the temple, and you would the first area then would be the court of women. 00:10:08.559 --> 00:10:13.039 And this is where the treasury was, and the tithes and offerings uh would be given. 00:10:13.120 --> 00:10:15.840 There would be 12 uh huge horns. 00:10:15.919 --> 00:10:18.960 They're called um horns because they were shaped like a horn. 00:10:19.039 --> 00:10:23.039 They're golden, and where you'd throw your treasury or your gifts into. 00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:24.399 And this was the court of women. 00:10:24.480 --> 00:10:30.000 This is as far as women could go in the Jewish temple, and unless they were offering a sacrifice. 00:10:30.159 --> 00:10:36.720 And then you had the inner place, uh, the Holy of Holies, and the court of priests, and the all of those areas. 00:10:36.879 --> 00:10:38.879 So Jesus is in the court of women. 00:10:38.960 --> 00:10:43.600 Now, here's what was happening during the Feast of Sukkut or Tabernacle. 00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:55.120 On the very first day of the Feast of Sukkut, uh, they would build these huge stands in the court of women's so that everybody could come in and participate and be a part of this. 00:10:55.519 --> 00:11:16.799 They would build these stands and they would put four massive uh candelabras in there, and they would light this minute it got to dusk and evening, they would light these candle abras, and it would lit such a brilliant flame that it lit up the entire, all of the courts were completely lit up. 00:11:17.519 --> 00:11:30.480 And all night long, I mean, thousands of people all gathered in this court, and all night long the wisest and the most righteous of men would dance and sing unto the Lord. 00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:43.200 It was this brilliant party, and just can imagine, remember, there's no electricity, and all of a sudden the temple is set aflame with fire and light for the entire night. 00:11:43.360 --> 00:12:04.879 And some uh scholars suggest this happened every single night for seven days, and it's here in that court with that light that Jesus then declares I am the light of the world. 00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:11.200 You see those lights up there, those candelabras, they're bright and they're amazing, they're brilliant. 00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:12.399 That's fantastic. 00:12:12.720 --> 00:12:15.440 By the way, they're gonna go out, they're gonna be taken down. 00:12:15.600 --> 00:12:19.039 I am the light that never extinguishes. 00:12:19.279 --> 00:12:24.399 I am the light of the world. 00:12:26.799 --> 00:12:40.480 And the first thing I want you to notice about Jesus' statement about who Jesus is, is that Jesus is not one of many lights in the world. 00:12:41.519 --> 00:12:44.639 And he didn't leave that option available to us. 00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:51.360 We like Jesus is a good teacher, he's a nice guy, he did a lot of good works. 00:12:51.919 --> 00:12:57.360 He made claims that did not leave that available to us. 00:12:57.519 --> 00:13:00.159 He didn't say, I am a light. 00:13:00.720 --> 00:13:06.879 He said, No, I am the light of the world. 00:13:09.039 --> 00:13:11.200 Here's what I want you to realize. 00:13:11.440 --> 00:13:15.120 Jesus' claim is exclusive. 00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:18.720 It's not popular right now. 00:13:19.519 --> 00:13:20.960 It's exclusive. 00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:27.360 There is one light, and it's inclusive. 00:13:28.639 --> 00:13:31.039 I am the light, but who's the light for? 00:13:31.200 --> 00:13:32.399 Read it up there, and it's in yellow. 00:13:32.480 --> 00:13:33.600 You don't have to guess. 00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:35.200 The world. 00:13:36.639 --> 00:13:44.320 For every single person on the planet, which was not even in the minds and thoughts of the ancient-day people. 00:13:44.559 --> 00:13:55.120 It was prophesied through the prophecies in the Jewish scriptures that there would be this messianic light, this light, this person that would come that would be a light even for the Gentiles. 00:13:55.279 --> 00:13:56.080 But you know what? 00:13:56.240 --> 00:13:59.200 Your God's protected you and was just for you. 00:13:59.360 --> 00:14:02.240 And Jesus says, No, I'm for everyone. 00:14:02.720 --> 00:14:04.159 I'm for everyone. 00:14:04.399 --> 00:14:12.000 Yeah, there's only one light here, but my light isn't just for the right people, the perfect people, the religious people. 00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:15.759 I am for every single person. 00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:22.480 Um I I recently went light shopping, like light bulb shopping. 00:14:22.960 --> 00:14:24.559 How many of you bought button? 00:14:24.639 --> 00:14:25.440 I speak for a living. 00:14:25.600 --> 00:14:27.360 Have bought light bulbs. 00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:28.240 Yeah. 00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:29.679 Isn't that crazy? 00:14:29.759 --> 00:14:30.799 Have you gone to the aisle? 00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:32.799 Like I was standing at the aisle. 00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:34.720 I was overwhelmed. 00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:36.320 I used to be overwhelmed with eggs. 00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:38.320 Now I'm overwhelmed with light bulbs. 00:14:38.639 --> 00:14:39.279 Right? 00:14:40.559 --> 00:14:42.080 I mean, just think about this. 00:14:42.159 --> 00:15:02.000 There's there's like globe light bulbs, there's candle light bulbs, there's tube light bulbs, there's Edison light bulbs, there's, you know, I'm like, there's LED light bulbs, there's smart light bulbs, there's there's 40, 60, 80, 100 watt light bulbs, there's soft light, there's bright light, there's warm light, there's so many light bulbs. 00:15:02.159 --> 00:15:04.639 And then I have a bin, I meant to bring it. 00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:10.399 I have a bin in my, you know, one of our closets of light bulbs. 00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:15.039 Of just random different kind of light bulbs. 00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:22.480 And here's what we think, and the way we think about it, is you have your light, I have my light, and I have this little bulb, and you have this little bulb. 00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:32.799 And the reality is, is there is only one light of the world. 00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:43.120 And what we do, and the way we think about it, is Jesus is a nice light for me. 00:15:44.559 --> 00:15:45.120 Right? 00:15:45.919 --> 00:15:47.360 Jesus works for you. 00:15:48.159 --> 00:15:48.799 Awesome. 00:15:48.960 --> 00:15:50.480 But he doesn't work for me. 00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:52.000 Wrong. 00:15:54.559 --> 00:15:57.840 You have your light, I have my light. 00:15:58.559 --> 00:16:01.200 Jesus says, No, I am the light. 00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:07.919 Isn't that a radical shift to the way we're thinking and the way we've thought about things? 00:16:08.480 --> 00:16:09.519 No, no, no, Ryan. 00:16:09.679 --> 00:16:12.480 You just have to look within yourself. 00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:14.639 The divine spark. 00:16:14.960 --> 00:16:19.200 By the way, the divine spark is not Christian, it is Gnostic and New Age. 00:16:19.279 --> 00:16:20.320 It is not Jesus. 00:16:22.080 --> 00:16:26.879 Stop looking within yourself, start looking to Jesus. 00:16:29.840 --> 00:16:31.600 I am the light. 00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:33.919 It's exclusive and inclusive. 00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:34.799 It's exclusive. 00:16:34.960 --> 00:16:35.759 He's the only one. 00:16:35.840 --> 00:16:36.639 It's inclusive. 00:16:36.720 --> 00:16:37.440 It's available. 00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:39.360 He's available to anyone. 00:16:39.440 --> 00:16:42.399 And the beautiful part is the light is not a nice idea. 00:16:43.200 --> 00:16:44.720 The light isn't a set of beliefs. 00:16:44.879 --> 00:16:46.159 The light isn't a philosophy. 00:16:46.320 --> 00:16:47.600 The light is a person. 00:16:48.320 --> 00:16:49.600 It's Jesus. 00:16:49.840 --> 00:16:53.519 And when you have the light of Jesus, you have Jesus himself. 00:16:55.519 --> 00:16:56.799 So what does light do? 00:16:59.120 --> 00:17:01.279 Let me give you just three things that light does. 00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:06.480 And the first is the reason we don't want to embrace Jesus as the light of the world. 00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:08.480 Even as Christians. 00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:12.319 The first is light reveals. 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:16.400 Light does two things. 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:21.680 It illuminates truth or reality and it exposes what was dark and hidden. 00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:28.319 That's why we don't want Jesus to be the light of the world, because it illuminates what's true and what's real. 00:17:28.480 --> 00:17:35.279 And as long as we're living in the dark, we can feel good about ourselves, and we don't have to look in the mirror and see what's actually going on. 00:17:35.440 --> 00:17:37.359 It's not lit up for everybody to see. 00:17:37.440 --> 00:17:41.119 And so we're going, you know what, I'm just fine, and I'm looking at you, and you're just fine. 00:17:41.200 --> 00:17:44.319 But the minute you turn on the lights, you go, whoa, baby. 00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:50.160 Because we don't want to have our hearts exposed. 00:17:51.599 --> 00:17:52.880 It exposes. 00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:59.599 Light exposes the hidden parts and reveals what's in the dark. 00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:02.160 It illuminates what's true. 00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:07.680 Light allows us to see things as they really are. 00:18:08.160 --> 00:18:12.640 And then it exposes the darkness, the lies, and the falsehood. 00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:15.119 Oh, we need this today. 00:18:16.160 --> 00:18:18.400 Christians, you need this today. 00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:26.400 Where instead of looking for something else to reveal truth, you look to Jesus and go, You're the light of the world. 00:18:26.559 --> 00:18:30.720 Only you can illuminate my life and show me reality. 00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:38.640 Instead of letting everything else and everyone else define reality. 00:18:39.119 --> 00:18:40.799 First thing it does is light reveals. 00:18:40.880 --> 00:18:43.200 The second thing it does is light guides. 00:18:43.519 --> 00:18:44.559 Light guides. 00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:56.880 One of the concepts for light in the Jewish tradition was the idea that light, the Torah or the Word of God was light, that it guides and it directs, right? 00:18:57.119 --> 00:19:00.799 Psalm 119 says, Your word is a lamp unto my feet. 00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:05.200 Like if you want to be guided in life, Jesus says, I'm a guide for your life. 00:19:05.359 --> 00:19:13.440 If you want to know how the flourishing way of life, if you don't want to get lost on the path and fall into the ravine like Ingram, then you know what? 00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:17.119 Hello, look to me and I will guide you. 00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:23.599 You got lots of people with good hearted advice. 00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:27.279 But he says, I'm the one who will guide you. 00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:31.519 Light reveals, light guides, and then light brings life. 00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:37.519 I was gonna say light grows, but things grow even without it. 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:45.119 But light is necessary for life, and the reality is nothing good grows in the dark, does it? 00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:48.720 Can you think about anything good that grows in the dark? 00:19:51.759 --> 00:19:52.960 Yeah, it's a fungi. 00:19:58.880 --> 00:20:02.880 And the truth is, in your life, nothing good grows in the dark. 00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:13.039 And so we live in secrets and we live in shame and we live stuck because we won't step into the light. 00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:15.759 And he says, No, actually, it's life. 00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:17.359 It's life. 00:20:17.599 --> 00:20:19.680 I want to give you life. 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:22.079 Would you step into the light? 00:20:22.400 --> 00:20:27.279 Jesus is not one among many lights, he is the light. 00:20:27.519 --> 00:20:31.599 Let me ask you, who or what are you looking to to light your life? 00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:40.640 Who or what are you looking to to bring light, to bring guidance, to bring life to your life? 00:20:41.839 --> 00:20:50.720 And so and so only Jesus can dispel the darkness and the chaos in your life. 00:20:52.880 --> 00:20:54.400 Only Jesus. 00:20:55.759 --> 00:21:04.400 If he is really, I told you, if this statement is true, it is so powerful and so wonderful and so hope-filled. 00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:13.039 Only Jesus, and what good news, because then you don't have to search and run after so many things hoping this thing will work. 00:21:13.440 --> 00:21:28.960 Only Jesus will dispel the darkness and the chaos, the emptiness, the loneliness, the generational sin, the secret life that you have within. 00:21:29.920 --> 00:21:44.000 Those evil thoughts, the brokenness in you and relationships, your need to control, need to measure up, to prove your worth, to manipulate others to get what you want, to have your way. 00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:48.319 Only Jesus can dispel the darkness and the chaos. 00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:49.119 And I love this. 00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:51.279 His next line says, I'm the light of the world. 00:21:51.440 --> 00:21:53.680 Whoever, open invitation. 00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:57.119 Whoever follows. 00:21:58.319 --> 00:21:59.839 Me will never walk in the darkness. 00:22:00.960 --> 00:22:04.319 The people of Israel were wandering in the wilderness. 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:08.880 There was a pillar, like I said, a fire by night and a cloud by day. 00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:23.200 Some scholars actually think that cloud was actually covered the entire group to protect them from the harm of the sun and the pillar by night to not only guide and lead them, but to protect them. 00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:27.440 And wherever the pillar moved, then the people moved. 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:42.400 So when Jesus says, Whoever follows me, he's drawing on the people of Israel's rich understanding of the light in the wilderness that was the light or the Shekinah glory of God, his manifest presence that was leading them in the wilderness. 00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:49.119 And he says, If you follow me, like the people of Israel followed the light. 00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:54.319 So wherever it moves, you move. 00:22:54.960 --> 00:22:56.799 When it moved, you know what they did? 00:22:56.960 --> 00:23:00.400 They packed up their tents and they got a walking. 00:23:04.079 --> 00:23:09.759 He says, Whoever follows me, whoever looks at Jesus and says, the direction you're headed, I'm heading in that direction. 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:13.920 Whoever looks at Jesus and says, Whatever you say, I'll do, I'm gonna follow you. 00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:16.799 I'm getting after you. 00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:18.640 And so as you move, I move. 00:23:21.119 --> 00:23:23.359 Whoever follows me will what? 00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:27.039 Will never walk in darkness. 00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:34.400 Never be stumbling around, groping around, trying to wonder and hope and figure it out. 00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:40.160 Now, this picture uh for the early followers of Jesus really became a significant picture. 00:23:40.319 --> 00:23:44.880 And as you read through the New Testament, you'll see it, this living in darkness and walking in the light. 00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:51.039 And the apostle Paul picks this picture up in Ephesians chapter 8, verse, or Ephesians chapter 5. 00:23:51.119 --> 00:23:52.559 There's only six chapters in Ephesians. 00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:54.799 Ephesians chapter 5, verse 8. 00:23:55.039 --> 00:23:57.759 And he says, for notice this, this is so incredible. 00:23:57.920 --> 00:24:00.000 For once you were darkness. 00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:03.920 Not just in darkness, you were darkness. 00:24:04.319 --> 00:24:08.000 Like the state of your soul was darkness. 00:24:08.960 --> 00:24:11.440 But now you are light. 00:24:11.839 --> 00:24:12.319 How? 00:24:12.640 --> 00:24:13.759 In the Lord. 00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:17.119 Like your position, your standing is in the Lord. 00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:22.079 And because you're in the Lord, because you're in Christ Jesus, you are now light. 00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:27.599 It is your standing, not because of something that is of you, but he is the light. 00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:32.480 Then it says live, and right above live, would you write the word walk? 00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:34.480 It's the Greek word for walk. 00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:39.440 Walk as children of the light. 00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:42.799 So I can be in the light, but not walking in the light. 00:24:43.119 --> 00:24:44.240 You catch that? 00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:47.440 Because I think that's where a lot of followers of Jesus are. 00:24:47.599 --> 00:24:51.839 We're in the light, we place our faith in him, but we're not following him. 00:24:52.160 --> 00:24:53.279 There's a big difference. 00:24:53.440 --> 00:24:56.720 I put my faith in you, I believe in you, and I have my fire insurance. 00:24:56.799 --> 00:25:03.039 So hell level, when I die, heaven, here I go, but I'm not following you, I'm not walking in the light. 00:25:03.119 --> 00:25:08.160 And you're wondering where the chaos and the darkness inside and why Jesus isn't working. 00:25:09.200 --> 00:25:10.880 Walk in the light. 00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:13.359 Friend? 00:25:15.839 --> 00:25:17.279 Walk in the light. 00:25:17.599 --> 00:25:22.000 Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness. 00:25:22.400 --> 00:25:28.559 Live as children of the light, for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. 00:25:28.640 --> 00:25:30.319 Don't you want that a part of your life? 00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:32.240 And find out what pleases the Lord. 00:25:32.400 --> 00:25:34.720 If I'm following you, I just want to please you. 00:25:35.119 --> 00:25:38.960 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 00:25:39.119 --> 00:25:47.519 It's shameful even to mention, although he did above this verse previous to this, what the disobedient do in secret. 00:25:47.680 --> 00:25:53.599 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, and everything that is illuminated becomes the light. 00:25:53.759 --> 00:26:01.279 That is why it says, wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. 00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:06.000 Only Jesus can dispel the darkness and chaos in your life. 00:26:06.160 --> 00:26:13.359 And here's what we're looking to in our culture in our day that is the dispeller of darkness. 00:26:13.920 --> 00:26:15.359 It's called self-help. 00:26:17.440 --> 00:26:17.920 Right? 00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:27.440 Did you know the self-help industry globally is a, let me get this right,$43 billion a year industry? 00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:35.599 Self-improvement, self-empowerment, self-realization, self-fulfillment, the human potential movement, self. 00:26:35.839 --> 00:26:37.759 Look within yourself. 00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:41.279 Jesus, or Paul says, you were darkness. 00:26:41.440 --> 00:26:42.160 Look within yourself. 00:26:42.240 --> 00:26:44.079 There's nothing in there but darkness. 00:26:46.559 --> 00:26:48.000 Look to Jesus. 00:26:49.279 --> 00:26:50.240 Look to Jesus. 00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:52.480 Jesus is not one among many lights. 00:26:52.640 --> 00:26:56.400 Only Jesus can dispel the darkness and chaos of your life. 00:26:56.559 --> 00:27:02.559 And this might come as a big aha. 00:27:04.079 --> 00:27:07.920 But Jesus is the light that prevails over the darkness of the world. 00:27:12.559 --> 00:27:20.880 He says, Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. 00:27:25.200 --> 00:27:30.720 Earlier, John opens up his gospel and he begins with this Genesis narrative. 00:27:31.839 --> 00:27:35.759 And he he reframes it in the idea of who Jesus is. 00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:39.680 In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. 00:27:40.319 --> 00:27:47.680 He goes on to say that in him this word was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 00:27:47.839 --> 00:27:53.359 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 00:27:53.680 --> 00:27:55.920 That is good news. 00:27:57.279 --> 00:28:08.400 Especially when you're walking in the most discouraging difficult times, that the light of Christ will never be snuffed out and darkness will never overcome it. 00:28:08.559 --> 00:28:12.400 But the minute you turn on the light, darkness flees. 00:28:14.319 --> 00:28:20.160 See, we don't actually think Jesus is going to be the light that prevails over the darkness of the world. 00:28:20.319 --> 00:28:22.720 In our culture, we think technology is. 00:28:39.119 --> 00:28:40.559 You laugh now. 00:28:41.200 --> 00:28:42.240 Because what did it do? 00:28:42.400 --> 00:28:43.839 It increased your work. 00:28:45.359 --> 00:28:47.359 And then now you carry it everywhere. 00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:50.400 Is it light in life or is it soul sucking? 00:28:50.480 --> 00:28:50.960 I don't know. 00:28:51.119 --> 00:28:52.240 You tell me. 00:28:53.279 --> 00:28:54.720 But we think technology will. 00:28:54.880 --> 00:28:57.440 We think no, if we just need more education. 00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:00.559 Friends, I got news for you. 00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:05.680 We have more technology, we have more education, and we have more darkness in our world. 00:29:09.039 --> 00:29:15.119 It's time for followers of Jesus to actually believe this. 00:29:22.880 --> 00:29:28.240 And throughout scripture, you see this juxtaposition, the light of life and the shadow of death. 00:29:28.640 --> 00:29:32.880 That fundamentally we live in a land that is the shadow of death. 00:29:33.119 --> 00:29:37.519 Light doesn't cast shadows, by the way, objects do. 00:29:40.319 --> 00:29:44.400 And what has cast a shadow over humanity is death. 00:29:45.039 --> 00:29:48.240 Prophesied Isaiah of this messianic one who would come. 00:29:48.319 --> 00:29:54.319 He says, The people walking in darkness have seen a great light on those living in the land of the shadow of death. 00:29:54.559 --> 00:29:56.000 A light has done. 00:29:56.160 --> 00:30:10.799 The light of the world stepped into darkness, took on the shadow that has cast over us despair and hopelessness, death in relationships, and death ultimately. 00:30:12.559 --> 00:30:15.680 And took on death itself, rose again. 00:30:16.160 --> 00:30:33.440 And there was this, there in this line, the light of life is this messianic hope and eschatological hope that Jesus not only has conquered death now, but he will return and restore and he will make all things right. 00:30:34.000 --> 00:30:40.480 You can be confident that a better tomorrow awaits because of the resurrection of Jesus. 00:30:41.839 --> 00:30:49.839 And so we as followers of Jesus are to be the most hope-filled, light-filled people in the midst of the darkest moments. 00:30:53.599 --> 00:30:54.720 The light of life. 00:31:18.960 --> 00:31:26.400 Says, Until I return and I restore and make all things right, you are the light of the world. 00:31:27.680 --> 00:31:30.319 A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 00:31:30.480 --> 00:31:33.759 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bush. 00:31:33.920 --> 00:31:37.440 No, they light a lamp and put it on a stand so everyone can see. 00:31:37.680 --> 00:31:47.599 In the same way, let your light so shine before men that they see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. 00:31:48.720 --> 00:31:57.119 Jesus is the light of the world that dispels the darkness, and he placed you here to be light in this city. 00:31:57.279 --> 00:32:01.039 What if God has you in Silicon Valley on purpose? 00:32:02.640 --> 00:32:06.240 What if he's placed you at your workplace on purpose? 00:32:07.839 --> 00:32:21.599 What if the feeling like you're the only one who knows Jesus in your workplace and everybody's against you is actually something beautiful because you are a light, and what happens is you don't need a whole lot of light. 00:32:21.680 --> 00:32:26.079 And in a dark place, the minute you put turn on the light, boom, you get a C. 00:32:26.880 --> 00:32:34.480 And he's placed you there to bring truth and grace and love and hope and life. 00:32:40.559 --> 00:32:52.799 Yesterday, my wife and daughter were at IF, and the closing speaker was Christine Kane, which is, she's, if you haven't ever heard of her, she's one of the best preachers in the world, period. 00:32:53.680 --> 00:32:58.480 Um I remember years ago she shared this story about her daughter. 00:32:58.640 --> 00:33:12.480 She was pushing her daughter uh in Walmart on a in a cart, and she um it was you know how they get you with those things that you're walking out with, and one was this flashlight, and it had you know some character on it. 00:33:12.559 --> 00:33:13.519 Mommy, can I get this? 00:33:13.680 --> 00:33:15.119 And she says, Okay. 00:33:15.519 --> 00:33:17.200 And she's flicking it on and off. 00:33:17.279 --> 00:33:20.400 And you know how Walmart is, it's just like super lit. 00:33:20.559 --> 00:33:23.759 So they're in the checkout, super lit, and flipping it on and off. 00:33:23.920 --> 00:33:25.920 And then you know what she said in the line? 00:33:26.000 --> 00:33:30.960 She said, Mommy, let's go find some darkness. 00:33:32.240 --> 00:33:33.839 So my light will work. 00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:38.079 See, in this room is a beautiful thing. 00:33:38.160 --> 00:33:40.799 This is this is filled with a bunch of light. 00:33:42.240 --> 00:33:47.039 But you were designed to go and be the light in a dark world. 00:33:47.519 --> 00:33:58.480 Where your heart, imagine if we were a church where you said, you know what, my calling and my purpose with the light of the world is now the light of Jesus living and dwelling inside of me. 00:33:58.640 --> 00:33:59.920 I am a child of the light. 00:34:00.079 --> 00:34:04.799 I am going to walk in the light, and as a result, everywhere I go, I bring the light of Jesus. 00:34:04.960 --> 00:34:08.079 I bring hope and life and truth and salvation. 00:34:08.320 --> 00:34:13.039 And so I'm finding some darkness, and it's not hard to find in the Silicon Valley. 00:34:13.119 --> 00:34:21.360 And so, hello, I'm showing up, and I am the light of the world, and my presence, just my presence makes a difference. 00:34:22.559 --> 00:34:24.719 Your presence makes a difference. 00:34:29.199 --> 00:34:31.039 I want to close this way. 00:34:31.920 --> 00:34:33.760 I've been wrestling with this one. 00:34:34.000 --> 00:34:46.320 We're gonna have baptisms, and we do practice spontaneous baptisms, and maybe you have never been baptized and you want to get baptized, and even as I'm talking, you're like, you know what? 00:34:46.400 --> 00:34:51.360 I just sense like that is that taking a step into the light today for me. 00:34:51.599 --> 00:34:56.719 Our prayer team and some of our pastoral team is gonna be in the back as we worship. 00:34:56.800 --> 00:35:01.840 I want you to go back there and just go, you know, today's my day to step, follow him. 00:35:02.159 --> 00:35:05.280 Jesus said, be baptized. 00:35:05.599 --> 00:35:10.400 That's part of following him, your public identification as a follower of Jesus. 00:35:11.280 --> 00:35:14.480 But I've been wrestling with this as we close. 00:35:15.599 --> 00:35:23.119 Like, not just an idea and like, oh, I had my heart stirred a little bit, but no, I want to step into the light. 00:35:23.360 --> 00:35:29.360 And if you need to step into the light this morning, I'm talking to Jesus followers. 00:35:35.599 --> 00:35:43.039 And maybe there's been some stuff that has been a secret and hiding in dark that you need the light to shine and expose. 00:35:44.639 --> 00:35:50.639 Maybe you've been trying to do life your own way and you need his light to guide. 00:35:51.440 --> 00:35:59.440 Maybe you've been searching for some areas and things to bring life, and you finally go, Jesus, your light alone brings life. 00:35:59.599 --> 00:36:02.719 I want to do something, and so I want to invite you to stand. 00:36:02.880 --> 00:36:10.800 We're gonna continue to worship, but if you are in a place where you need to step into the light, and I had to do it earlier. 00:36:10.960 --> 00:36:18.159 I was on my knees up here uh earlier, and I'm not saying that just to tell you, but it just was God was exposing something as we were worshiping. 00:36:18.239 --> 00:36:23.119 I was in the light and he was exposing sin in my heart, and I had to get before him and get on my face. 00:36:23.280 --> 00:36:27.039 And so as we worship, would you get before him and get on your face? 00:36:27.199 --> 00:36:36.719 And if you need to step into the light, would you do that by literally just coming forward and getting on your knees and allowing his light to shine on you? 00:36:40.239 --> 00:36:42.559 We hope you are blessed by this message. 00:36:42.719 --> 00:36:47.119 Please subscribe to our podcast for access to every episode as they're uploaded. 00:36:47.280 --> 00:36:49.360 And hey, we'd love to connect with you. 00:36:49.599 --> 00:36:55.440 Take a next step by filling out our virtual connection card at awakeningchurch.com slash card.