This week Bro. Leo continues us on a study of how Christians should be acting in the midst of all the chaos that is ramping up in our culture.  In the past few weeks we have learned that the “salt” represents our Christian character and the absolute truth’s of the Bible, we are preserving the culture from the Judgement of God.

Today we learn that the “light” represents our voice/actions.  The word “candle” in Matt.5:15 is translated from the Greek word “luchnos” which means a portable lamp or lantern that was filled with oil.  It has to be lit and filled with oil.  Christians are a vessel filled with the Holy Spirit and if we remain silent we are of no good to our culture.  This is how the American Church is operating for the most part and why our culture is acting the way it is currently.

In John 5:32-35 we learn what Jesus means when He says we are to “Let your light so shine before men” in Matt.5:16.  In John 5:32-35 Jesus tells us John “was a burning and a shining light”  because John “beareth witness of me” and “he bare witness unto the truth.”  So, the way we let our light shine is by bearing witness of what Jesus has done in our lives and standing for the truth’s of the Bible.  In John 5:31 the word “witness” is translated from the Greek word “martureō”  which means to be a witness, to speak the truth concerning what one has seen, heard or knows to be true.  The word “testimony” in John 5:34 is translated from the Greek word “marturia” which means a declaration by a witness that bares record of a fact(s), speaking with authority of one who knows, speaking with the knowledge, power and authority of one who knows.

In order for a Christian to have the ability to witness and testify they have to know what it is they are witnessing and testifying about, they need to have personal knowledge and an undeniable knowledge of what they believe.  In 2Tim.1:11-12 Paul gives that exact kind of testimony.

In John 1:6-8 the word “light” is translated from the Greek word “phōs” which means a light that can not be kindled or extinguished, sun light, light created by God-man can’t start it and man can’t extinguish it.  In vs.23 tells us we are a voice for God.  As a voice we are to take a stand, a voice unheard is of no good to anyone.

John 3:28, 30-31 tells us our witness and testimony should be about God, not ourselves.  In vs.30 the word “decrease” is translated from the Greek word “elattoō” which means a suppression of self, lessening of self and a decrease of self.

Jesus tells us in Matt.10:32-33 that the confessors will be confessed.

Scriptures used in today’s study:

Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Mat 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Luk 12:35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
Luk 12:36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
Luk 12:37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

Joh 5:32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
Joh 5:33 Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.
Joh 5:34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
Joh 5:35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.

2Ti 1:11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
2Ti 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Joh 1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
Joh 1:7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
Joh 1:8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

Joh 1:23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

Joh 3:28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
Joh 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
Joh 3:31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

Mat 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.