04-20-13 God's Holiness Through Us

Proverbs 13:9 "The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out."

Isaiah 60:1 "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you."

Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

Luke 11:35-37 "See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.”"

2 Corinthians 4:6 "For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ."

Now, if the point has not been made abundantly clear in the verses above, I will give it to you straight.  When we regard the Lord, our Father - making room for the Holy Spirit to clean out the darkness within us and give us the Light - what does He give us?  The light that shines, the glory that rises upon us and is displayed in the face of Christ (who happens to be Who we want to look like), it is the very Holiness of our Father Who is lavishing Himself upon us.  

Why? Because we need His Light to see in this ever-increasing darkened world.  A world that is turning against Him faster than it is turning towards Him.  If His Holiness and Glory does not shine through us, who will it shine through to reach a dying world who needs a Saviour - to free those who are captive - physically, mentally, spiritually or emotionally.  To be constantly asking the Lord for discernment and words of knowledge - so that it's not just the Light of countenance that shines - but the Light that permeates every cell of our being.  

We were spared - some of us quite literally from death's door for such a time as this.  To be His Lights - beacons - that shine in the night so that others will see the Light and be drawn in.

I want to be like Peter - with whom the people would line the streets just so His shadow would move over them and heal them. They had that much faith and the Lord obviously endowed Peter with His Presence so strongly that those around Him could be touched.  Now, we are talking about Peter - with whom I identify with.  The same Peter who denied knowing Jesus three times before Jesus was taken to death.  But the same Peter who the Lord restored by asking a similar question three times, before telling him to take care of and feed His sheep (people).  

There have been times when I've felt the power of God - the glory of God coming before someone comes down a line to pray for me.  They could be three people away, but the Presence of God is so strong, it reaches out and surrounds them.  

I've felt the power of God come upon me so strongly that I thought I couldn't take anymore unless I gave it away while praying for people. But what is spectacular about all of this?  Jesus said that greater things than He did we will do.  THAT'S what we want and strive for.

In order for that to happen, though.  We desperately need to have a great respect and have great honor for the One Who gave us the breath of life - Our Father, through His Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit... the Three in One.

Continuing to give our lives over to the care of God, without self getting in the way.  I believe that it was possible in the Old Testament, in the New Testament and still today.  God does not change.  His Holiness and Greatness does not change.  His desire to bring us even closer to His Love and His Power does not change.  He was, is and ever will be the Most High God.

Shine - Newsboys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=givCI1M9Rh0