Let your light shine (Quality: Average)

[0:00] In the Gospel according to St. Matthew, chapter 5 and the 16th verse.

[0:13] St. Matthew's Gospel, the 5th chapter, verse 16. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

[0:42] These are the words of the King. And where the word of the King is, there is power.

[0:56] And the King has been unfolding to his followers, his disciples. Somewhat to the principles of the Lord and the kingdom of God.

[1:15] As we see him there on the mountain set with his disciples around him, we cannot fail to see in the background a great multitude of people.

[1:35] A multitude who should eventually find expression in their astonishment at his doctrine.

[1:45] For he was as one that stayed with authority and not as the scribe. Yes, it is for their sakes, as well as for the sakes of his disciples, that he so enumerated these principles concerning the kingdom.

[2:14] He would so communicate of these mysteries unto his disciples, that they in their term and at the right time might communicate of those mysteries unto us.

[2:35] What God gives, it is to be given out by the receiver.

[2:47] What God may favor and bless us with, is to be made made earnest unto others. To this end we are reminded of two words which are repeated ways.

[3:05] In this same chapter. In this same chapter. We are. And what we are is unto that end. That the influence of your life and of your character may be beneficial.

[3:22] That it may be made a blessing unto all them that are about you. Yes, we have here before us the Beatitudes.

[3:36] We have the word blessed. The word that signified the position of the character.

[3:48] The blessed and the gracious position in which he was put. And there is another word. And there is another word likewise. Which is not in the context.

[4:03] But nevertheless bears the same translation in the original. And it is the word happy. Happy are the poor in spirit.

[4:16] And so on. And happiness has that reference unto the consciousness of the recipient relative to his blessings.

[4:31] And when the two are brought together. There you have the truth of vital, godly prosperity.

[4:45] If he would know what it is to prosper. Then it is to be found in this position. And to have this consciousness within thy soul.

[5:00] Of that wherein. He has brought you. Into this blessing. Sometimes. Sometimes. It has been our lot so to go down the honors list.

[5:19] And as we have looked down the honors list. We have been made aware that in the past. That that which is relative unto those honors.

[5:31] Have been distributed amongst them. Who have had in possession much. And after the first war. How that the honors list.

[5:44] Took a turn for the better. In as much. As those honors were distributed. Towards those characters. For what they had done.

[5:57] But now look at that which relates. To the honors. To the honors characters. That are spoken of in these words. And you will not find that they possess any.

[6:13] And you do not find that they ever did any. And yet they were blessed. They had nothing.

[6:25] And yet they possess. All things. They had not worked. For that which was relative unto the blessing. And yet the blessing.

[6:39] Was bestowed upon them. And in that wherein the blessing is so given. He so declares.

[6:50] This truth. Ye are the sword. Of the earth. Ye are the light. Of the world. Here are two influences.

[7:04] That work. That work. In consequence. Of that wherein they are possessed. By the individual. Thought is that which is inwardly possessed.

[7:19] It is a preservative. It is a preservative. Against corruption. But it does not cure.

[7:30] Corruption. But in that wherein it preserves. It exercises an influence. For good.

[7:40] The earth. The earth. The earth. The earth. The earth. The earth. The earth. The earth. To have the sort of grace. Possessed within the soul.

[7:53] So to know. That the reason and the cause. For the possession of such. Only originates with him. Who is the giver.

[8:05] That it is in that work. Of regeneration. That wherein we have been brought. Into that communion. With himself.

[8:17] Wherein there is the bestowment. Of the riches. Of his grace. That that which he so. Giveth us to possess.

[8:28] Must inevitably manifest itself. In our character. In our life. In our influence. And he declares.

[8:42] That which is relative. Unto the outward testament. We are the light. Of the world. These two.

[8:53] Are bound up. The one with the other. There can be no emission. Of life. Save. As ye are made. To be a possessor. Of the soul.

[9:06] It is. In that. Wherein he. Giveth. That there is. The transmission. In consequence. Of that. Inward possession.

[9:17] In its. Manifestation. Open. And publicly. Unto others. The character. The character. The character. The character. The character. The character. Then stands.

[9:28] Before you. In the transformation. Of the divine. Grace. In that wherein. It hath wrought. In him. In that wherein.

[9:38] It hath so. Communicated. Unto him. That which is. His life. And that life.

[9:49] Which shall. Evidence. Its soul. In the shining. For. Of that divine influence. Of grace. So he declares.

[10:02] In our text. Let your life. So shine. Before men. That they may see. Your good work.

[10:14] And glory. By your God. Who which is in heaven. The light. The light. It must of necessity.

[10:25] Be received. By the character. Neither do men light a candle. The light. Of not originate.

[10:36] In the candle. It must be brought. It must be communicated. That which is relative. Until the candle.

[10:47] Is useless. Without. The candle. May be there. But it will abide. In the dark. There is no emission.

[10:59] Of that wherein. There is any evolence. Of that wherein. It is possessed. Eventually. Whereby. Being lit.

[11:10] It sent. It formed. The light. Of testimony. And of witness. Unto the fact. That it has been. So dealt. Yes.

[11:23] The candle. The light. The love. They are all combined. And in that wherein.

[11:34] The light. Is so received. Let us remember. The words. Of holy testimony. Ye were sometimes. Darkness.

[11:46] But are now. Light. In the Lord. Walk. As children. Of light. And have no.

[11:57] Fellowship. With the works. Of darkness. The driver. Reprove. Reprove. To me. ye were the children of the night but now ye are children of the day and if ye are such then ye should be blameless and harmless the sons of God without a review in the midst of this crooked and perverse generation that ye should show forth the life you see that wherein there is the working of the divine grace upon the sinner inevitably so he thinks that wherein the change shall be made manifest unto all that wherein the character is so dealt with through the communication of this grace doth so transform him that that wherein the darkness has been now the darkness has to yield unto the light the light shone in the darkness and the darkness comprehended it not that the darkness had to yield unto the light unto the light now let us go for a moment unto the words of our Lord we read ye are the light of the world and we remember that our Lord likewise distinctly proclaim

[14:03] I am the light of the world and on another occasion while I am in the world I am the light of the world but he likewise declared that he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of light in that wherein the soul is so directed unto the giver there is the reception of that illumination whereby the image of Christ shall be made manifest do you want proof of here it is it is found in the glorious gospel of Christ who is the image of God and this is that light which shone unto us that God who commanded the light to shine out of the darkness is he who hath likewise shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ to be possessed in our consciousness and that which is relative unto the light is the strength by the mighty power of God in his constant communication unto the soul of grace and yet more grace yes the light has to be received and in that wherein it is received there is the evidence that once made note of the fact of separation

[16:20] God declared let there be light and there was light and he divided the light from the darkness my friend if thou hast indeed received of him then thou wilt indeed be separated from the darkness there will be no mingling of the two in him there is no darkness at all and in that wherein we are called as his children to walk in the light as he is in the light there is a distinctive separation from all that which relates unto a wolf that life in darkness for this light that he so giveth that separates is the light of conviction it is the light of discovery it is the light which so draws the soul into the knowledge of the

[17:49] Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and where he so possesses the soul in that glorious manifestation of his salvation of his redemptive love there is the line that so marks the complete separation of the soul from all that which pertains unto all of these which are darkness itself he is alone the true light it is this light that so illuminated thy soul in the knowledge of himself yes there can be no fellowship there can be no coming together of that where in the light shining and that where in the darkness is followed light does thou know the separation we cannot in and of ourselves except we are the subjects of that wherein we have received of him because it is a distinctive light men will wonder this character they'll wonder the change that has come to that character and they'll see the evidence of the change and they'll be conscious of their own ignorance to account for it they know not the cause nor the reason for that which has taken place in that individual they only know that even as they hated him who was the light they hate that which is now made manifest in that individual they hate and despise it because they cannot comprehend it or have you that distinctiveness of light in your character that call forth the enmity of the world that call forth the persecution of the world he has been talking to us about rejoice and being exceeding glad because the reward of such is great in heaven but do we know what it is to have that distinctiveness in our own profession in our own testimony concerning him that our life reflects the light of the knowledge of God in the face of

[20:58] Jesus Christ that our light as it were so illuminates that which is relative to all that is around us that they cannot get away from the fact that here is that which is wrought which the darkness cannot comprehend oh let your light so shine yes it is a light that is sustained that is it is continuous he who so supplies the candle with its light he who so gives unto the lamp the supplies of oil constantly replenishes it is the light which is going to shine more and more unto the perfect day the light whereby he so illuminates thee can never go on it can never be extinct if you talk about being one of his and yet give evidence that that light that understanding of which you have spoken has now become as that which is a negative that which is swallowed up in complete and positive unbelief then mighty hear thou hast no evidence at all that thou wast indeed lit by him now you can as it were throw buckets of water over this you can do what you like but as we read in

[23:07] John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress there will ever be found that one behind in sickness constantly supplying the oil whereby the light will be sustained I grant you that the light at times may flicker that it may burn very low that it looks almost at times as though it's going out yea and comes to such a point that at times it seems to emit a stench and nothing more but my dear hearer there is in the one who is the recipient of this life a gracious exercise concerning such a condition and there is in consequence a trimming of the light there will be a looking unto your ways there will be an examination of your do there will be a searching of your heart all the lamp will be trimmed that the light may indeed shine the brighter and notice that that which is relative to this light is intensely personal let your light yes

[24:40] Peter John they were indeed illuminated but they both had their own individual lights they received it direct it was their own in that wherein it was given unto them and in that which was made known and revealed to them that is the light which shone forth from them no we do not seek as it were to shine in that wherein we would aim for copy or imitate that which is relative to the profession and the actions of others we know that we may do all that and be completely outside the kingdom of God but that that wherein this light is given it is given to us individually it is a personal matter in my own soul's experience and even as it is personal so it is that your life may illuminate others he has used two figures of speech here to bring this truth before us he has declared that a city that is set on hill cannot be here the illumination of such covers a wide expanse and now he shows us that wherein the light shining lies very near very immediate yes to all that are in the house are you known as a

[26:40] Christian atone does the light shine as you go about your business is the light such that there is no mistake in it by others does it ever bring upon your head that wherein you have to suffer for his name sake does it so reprove and so rebuke that which is relative unto the works of men that it thereby honors the God who hath given that light search your hearts and see he says let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works yes and how self denied is that which is relative to the instrument who has been the recipient of the light the candle decreases diminishes by reason of the light that it gives the zeal of the

[28:05] Lord yes what did he say the zeal of thy house hath eaten me does thou know what it is to be diminished does thou know what it is to lose so much of self to find that wherein there is a taking away from you that which is relative unto the instrumentality that that which is relative unto the light may shine yes self denial because this is the light says the Lord that must be ever given given giving to others know keeping it unto yourself know it is given that it may be placed upon a gundel stick that the light may be seen of men oh is that your influence in life giving not of yourself but of that wherein the light of truth the light of the gospel have so illuminated you that it shines forth in your character in your ways in your works in that wherein ye would glory have

[29:51] God yes there is again searching truths these and it does well for us if we do not turn away from them but examine our hearts to see whether it is so with us for he has said ye are the light of the world and that brings us briefly to the shining let your light so shine there is to be no hiding then of the light all that which is relative to what he gives is not to lie as it were in uselessness it is to be you what God gives you is to be you what he has made known to you what he has revealed to you what he has taught you it is not as it were to lie dormant as a thing that is disregarded no it is to be prominent it is to be found upon the candlestick that is the place where it is put sometimes how we reason within ourselves if we were only in more congenial circumstances if the place in which we were put was more as it were friendly unto that wherein the testimony

[31:38] I would be given no it's where you are put that you are to shine and it is to be a positive shining so shine and it is to be a purposeful shine that men may see and it is a localized shine it giveth light unto all that are in the house o mighty here what a blessed thing it would be if every one of us here tonight was one of these chariots lit by by the light that he given oh if we were each burning light

[32:39] I was going to say what great light there would be found within this place do we seek it are we out of it do we aspire so to shine yes and as ye may go home that husband that wife those sons and those daughters as they look upon you do they do they see the light of the grace of that thought which is inwardly possessed within your soul is it manifest you see the shining is of

[33:43] God and the shining that is of God unto us is that it may shine out unto others that men may see your good works and the purpose why the purpose of the light is that it may be made known the purpose of the light is that you may set him forth that that wherein you have been made a possessor of the mind of Christ may indeed in its blessed influence illuminate others it is that you may so give witness unto the truth of that which possesses you if the truth is in you it will own and it is in that wherein it is to be a witness unto the power of

[34:56] God the God that possesses your life the God that having eluded your soul uses that night for the blessing of others and how shall we end the discourse that they may glory bear your father which is in heaven and we remember that word herein is my father glory may that ye bear much fruit and wherein is the fruit obtained and he gives the answer it is an abiding in me die in you and he go on to blessedly declare if my words abide in you you shall ask what you will and it shall be done unto you the blessed communication of the light of that precious knowledge you transfigure illuminate your life that men behold your good words and to others your body which is in heaven amen to

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