Walk in Light Getting around on a bright sunny day is much safer than after dusk when everything gets cloaked in darkness. It’s then that where you are able to go without mishap has everything to do with the shining of another light. Objects within the range of the light’s beam are made visible and a choice can be made to either access or avoid them. Attempting to venture into the darkness has great risk of collision or falling. The quality, range and direction of the light, then, becomes essential for any significant progress to be made when there is darkness all around. Beyond life on this earth, when we are experiencing eternal life in heaven, it will be like living in the brightness of the day, with no darkness at all. While we are still here, though, there is a great darkness that seems to cloak much of our surroundings. Steps attempted without a light to clarify obstacles hidden there are in danger of stumbling and falling. Because of so much lurking peril, fear constricts and prohibits attempts to venture out at all. Strength and confidence that come from joining together in fellowship with others is avoided and vulnerability to the dangers of the darkness are dramatically increased. As members of the body of Christ, however, we are not without a light, and the darkness that threatens our world need not affect us in the least. With every application of God’s Word there is a bright beam of light shown to dispel the darkness and clarify the safe path. In the fulness of the Spirit there is complete liberty from uncertainty and insecurity. Rather than becoming overwhelmed by what is dominating in the world around us, we can become increasingly bold and confident in the brightness of the Light’s shining. Instead of receding into independence and isolation, we can be strengthened and enabled by the brothers and sisters who have also been drawn to this same Light. While we’ve been provided with a Light for safe passage, it is yet up to us to either choose to live within its reach or somehow attempt existence in the darkness. This choice will determine the surety of our remaining walk. What a gift we've been given to be able to live continually in the Light of His presence/Word/revelation. Notes From the beginning – Light's shining, whether understood or not John 1:1-5 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. Darkness is ineffective in God’s Light Psalms 139:11-12 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” Even the night shall be light about me; 12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You. Where the Word brings clarity – light for a walk Psalms 119:105,130 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. 130 The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. “Is”, “Are” – representations of a walk vs diversion Daniel 5:14 14 I have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. There is deliverance and security of footing that enables a walk in the light Psalms 56:13 13 For You have delivered my soul from death. Have You not kept my feet from falling, That I may walk before God In the light of the living? The Light for the Walk – From His presence/Word/revelation Only from the Word of the Lord - possibility for peace/removal of war Isaiah 2:3-5 3 Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4 He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore. 5 O house of Jacob, come and let us walk In the light of the LORD. Knowing the joyful sound of worship – walk in the light Psalms 89:15-17 15 Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O LORD, in the light of Your countenance. 16 In Your name they rejoice all day long, And in Your righteousness they are exalted. 17 For You are the glory of their strength, And in Your favor our horn is exalted. In Christ – translated from darkness to light Colossians 1:12-13 12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In Jesus’ presence – the beam of life’s light. John 8:12 12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” Walk G4043 peripateō Thayer Definition: 1 to walk 1a) to make one’s way, progress; to make due use of opportunities 1b) Hebrew for, to live 1b1) to regulate one’s life 1b2) to conduct one’s self 1b3) to pass one’s life Where you walk determines your light identity. Ephesians 5:8-10 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. The Light is not just ours, but when walked in, joins in fellowship 1 John 1:5-10 5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. To be awake is to be in the Light, aware of the true times 1 Thessalonians 5:4-8 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. In His light – purpose in praise 1 Peter 2:9-10 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. In the Light of God’s presence – everything already ours for life’s goodness/perfection James 1:17 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Overview There is great darkness in the world around us that removes clarity of vision, restricts confident and safe movement, and separates us from the strength of fellowship. There has always been a Light to dispel the power of this darkness and make it as if it weren’t even there. This Light is found in the presence of the Lord and in the revelation of His Word. When this Light is more than an occasional diversion, but the actual walk of life, it becomes a defining identity. Drawn to freedom in His light are all those who make up a fellowship of strength and unity that repels the power of sin. Together we are enabled to proclaim and project the Light of life, no matter the depth of darkness that surrounds. Prayer: As I draw near to You now in the joyful sounds of Your worship, flood every part of my heart and mind with the Light of Your truth. Expose all those hidden things that would threaten with harm and fill me with confident boldness, together with Your body, to proclaim Your goodness in the land of the living. Declarations: Though there is great darkness all around I choose to walk in the kingdom of Light where I’ve been taken to in Christ. As the Light of the Lord is continually shining with His presence and revelation of truth, the walk of my life will be right there with Him without diversion. Steps taken in the Light are made to join together with others in His body that strengthen, encourage and empower for projecting His Light to the world. Every good and perfect thing that I need for life comes in the Light of God’s presence where I walk continually with freedom and boldness.