Brighter and Brighter

Slide 1: 

September 17, 2008

Which Light Would You Choose? : 

Which Light Would You Choose? Brighter & Brighter 2

Spiritual Surgery : 

Spiritual Surgery Think about this in this matter – if you were going to have surgery: which light would you desire your surgeon to perform your surgery under? I say this because the LORD must perform a spiritual surgery upon those who are willing to hear HIM: *Ezekiel 11:19-20 says And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh: 20 That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. Brighter & Brighter 3

Our Text:Matthew 5:14 : 

Our Text:Matthew 5:14 YE are the LIGHT of the world. A CITY that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Brighter & Brighter 4

Life is the Pathto the LORD’s CITY : 

Life is the Pathto the LORD’s CITY Hebrews 11:10 For he (Abraham) looked for a CITY which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. We Too Are Seeking Hebrews 13:14 For here have we no continuing CITY, but we seek one to come. Brighter & Brighter 5

BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTER : 

BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTER Here is a image of New York city – notice how it lights up the dark night! Christ Jesus said “YE - YOU” are the light of the world after He returned to the Father! Everyone is looking to go somewhere – find their destiny! The trouble is most are looking in the wrong place – they are looking at the light that draws and kills rather than gives true and eternal light! God has a city prepared and on our path to it as we all come together in HIS WORD that path of life gets brighter and brighter! Brighter & Brighter 6

BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTERor Darker and Darker : 

BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTERor Darker and Darker John 8:12… I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. Brighter & Brighter 7

BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTERor Darker and Darker : 

BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTERor Darker and Darker As we stated earlier Christ Jesus our Lord has already mapped out the path back to the CITY – to HEAVEN sort of speak so now all we must do is follow HIM!! JUST THINK ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZING IT TOOK FOR THIS NATION TO BECOME WHAT IT IS TODAY! In May, 1804, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark set out on an amazing expedition across the Louisiana Territory. It has been nearly 200 years since then, and the bicentennial of their historic journey is rapidly approaching. These true American heroes faced unknown people, harsh conditions and unexplored lands to secure a place in history as two of the world's greatest explorers! Brighter & Brighter 8

One Path or the Other Proverbs 4:10-19 : 

One Path or the Other Proverbs 4:10-19 HEAR, O my son, and RECEIVE my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. 11 I HAVE taught thee in the way of wisdom; I HAVE led thee in right paths. I HAVE (to cease; finish) Christ has ALREADY done the trail blazing – now its time we all join on board by faith in HIM and start walking! Brighter & Brighter 9

One Path or the OtherProverbs 4:10-19 : 

One Path or the OtherProverbs 4:10-19 12 WHEN thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened (be narrow) ; and WHEN thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble (waver ) . Brighter & Brighter 10

One Path or the OtherProverbs 4:10-19 : 

One Path or the OtherProverbs 4:10-19 You may not realize – you may not wish to admit it but we are on a journey – a path! The question is which path have you chosen to place your destiny? The world’s path gets darker the farther along a person travels on it! While the path the LORD has blazed gets brighter and brighter! There are going to be times of walking in the LORD and running in the LORD! Brighter & Brighter 11

One Path or the Other Proverbs 4:10-19 : 

One Path or the Other Proverbs 4:10-19 13 Take fast hold of instruction (chastisement; figuratively reproof) ; let her not go: KEEP HER; for she is thy life. Brighter & Brighter 12

One Path or the Other Proverbs 4:10-19 : 

One Path or the Other Proverbs 4:10-19 14 ENTER NOT into the PATH of the wicked, and GO NOT in the WAY of evil men. Brighter & Brighter 13

One Path or the Other Proverbs 4:10-19 : 

One Path or the Other Proverbs 4:10-19 King Solomon with all his knowledge – wisdom and understanding in his old age allowed his heathen wives and concubines led him away from the path! BE ON GUARD! The devil will scam you and me just like he has countless others in times past! Brighter & Brighter 14

Remember Lot : 

Remember Lot Think about Abraham’s nephew Lot! He is a perfect example of not being teachable! All of that time watching Abraham and how he walked with God and was blessed continually yet he chose to enter the wickeds path and the evil man’s ways! Brighter & Brighter 15

One Path or the Other Proverbs 4:10-19 : 

One Path or the Other Proverbs 4:10-19 15 AVOID IT, PASS NOT BY IT, TURN FROM IT, and PASS AWAY. MUTATION Brighter & Brighter 16

One Path or the Other Proverbs 4:10-19 : 

One Path or the Other Proverbs 4:10-19 MUTATION WHAT IS CANCER AND HOW TO AVOID ITI am sure that we have all heard of this disease before. It is when a cell becomes abnormal in such a way that it cannot recognize its natural boundaries and is able to spread to distant sites in the body and divide in an uncontrolled way. It mutates – this is what the devil tries to do to the Christian by taking him to places that cause a transformation in thinking, speaking and acting! Brighter & Brighter 17

One Path or the Other Proverbs 4:10-19 : 

One Path or the Other Proverbs 4:10-19 16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. 17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. Brighter & Brighter 18

One Path or the Other Proverbs 4:10-19 : 

One Path or the Other Proverbs 4:10-19 Just think of all the vices the devil uses in and from this world – THEY HAVE GLITTER – SEEM LIKE PURE HAPPINESS but all of sudden that season of pleasure is gone forever and the chains are wrapped to tight to free yourself! Let’s skip to Verse 19 Brighter & Brighter 19

Proverbs 4:10-19 : 

Proverbs 4:10-19 4:19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. Brighter & Brighter 20

Proverbs 4:10-19 : 

Proverbs 4:10-19 18 BUT the path of the just is as the SHINING LIGHT, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. Brighter & Brighter 21

BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTER NATHANAEL’S EXAMPLE : 

BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTER NATHANAEL’S EXAMPLE *John 1:44-51 says Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 PHILIP FINDETH NATHANAEL, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. 46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! 48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. 49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. 50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? THOU SHALT SEE GREATER THINGS THAN THESE. Brighter & Brighter 22

BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTER NATHANAEL’S EXAMPLE : 

BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTER NATHANAEL’S EXAMPLE PHILIP FINDETH NATHANAEL John 1:51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, HEREAFTER YE SHALL SEE HEAVEN OPEN, AND THE ANGELS OF GOD ASCENDING AND DESCENDING UPON THE SON OF MAN. Brighter & Brighter 23

BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTERPaul’s EXAMPLE : 

BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTERPaul’s EXAMPLE Just to keep the context of what is happening: *Act 26:13-15 says At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. 14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. “BUT RISE” #450 (an-is'-tay-mee) to stand up - Thayer Definition: 1) to cause to rise up, raise up 1a) raise up from laying down 1b) TO RAISE UP FROM THE DEAD Brighter & Brighter 24

BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTERPaul’s EXAMPLE : 

BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTERPaul’s EXAMPLE Act 26:16 BUT RISE, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, TO MAKE THEE a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Brighter & Brighter 25

BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTEREXAMPLE : 

BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTEREXAMPLE Act 26:18 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. (SOWING & REAPING) Brighter & Brighter 26

BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTEREXAMPLE : 

BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTEREXAMPLE *Acts 26:19 says Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I WAS NOT DISOBEDIENT UNTO THE HEAVENLY VISION: Brighter & Brighter 27

BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTEREXAMPLE : 

BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTEREXAMPLE Acts 26:20 says But showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do WORKS meet for repentance. Works & Light??? Brighter & Brighter 28

BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTERBy YOUR Obedience : 

BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTERBy YOUR Obedience Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, That they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Brighter & Brighter 29

In Closing : 

In Closing Brighter & Brighter 30

Think on the Boat & Stairs : 

Think on the Boat & Stairs Brighter & Brighter 31 Two gentlemen were crossing the river in a little boat. They began to argue about faith and works. The man who was rowing them across the river was a fine, enlightened Christian and on hearing their discussion he turned to them and said, "I believe I can solve your difficulty. I hold in my hands two oars. The one I call faith and the other works. Now watch it. I pull the oar of faith alone. You see, we can only go around and around; we cannot go forward. Now I pull the oar of works; again we move around and around. Now, see, I pull both of them together and on we go." Then the Christian ferryman added his conclusion, "In my opinion, a faith without works is dead, or works without faith will not suffice" (James 2:26).