Check Your Lights! Sermon Recap

Originally presented on Sunday, March 6th, 2022

Scripture Focus:
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden… Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” - Matthew 5:14,16

Reflection

During times of prayer and fasting, God doesn’t just call us to disconnect from distractions - He calls us to examine our witness.

In other words:
Is my light actually on?

Jesus did not say try to be the light.
He said, you are the light.

The question is not whether we have light.
The question is whether we are allowing it to shine.

You don’t fully appreciate light until you experience real darkness.

Think about driving on a road with no streetlights. Suddenly, what you took for granted - headlights, visibility, direction - becomes everything. Without light, you can’t see where you’re going, what’s around you, or what’s coming toward you.

Spiritually, the same is true.

When believers dim their light:

• People lose direction.
• Truth becomes harder to see.
• The world grows more confused - not because light doesn’t exist, but because it’s being hidden.

You’re Not the Source - You’re the Carrier

A lamp doesn’t create light.
It holds the light.

Jesus said in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world.”

That means we are not the power source.
We are the vessels designed to carry His light into dark places.

When we forget this, we either:

• Try to shine in our own strength (and burn out), or
• Hide completely because we feel inadequate.

But the call isn’t to manufacture light.
It’s simply to reflect Christ.

Every car has two kinds of lights:

• Low beams — used for everyday driving.
• High beams — used when the road is especially dark.

Spiritually, we need both.

Individually (Low Beams):
We shine through daily obedience - kindness, integrity, prayer, encouragement. These moments seem small, but they guide people right in front of us.

Collectively (High Beams):
When the Church comes together in unity, our witness reaches much farther. Together, we illuminate paths that individuals alone cannot.

The world doesn’t just need scattered lights.
It needs people willing to shine together.

Why Lights Grow Dim

Sometimes we hide our light intentionally:

• Fear of rejection
• Fear of standing out
• Fear of consequences

Other times, life dims it:

• Grief
• Exhaustion
• Disappointment
• Unanswered prayers

There are seasons when you don’t stop loving God- you’re just too weary to shine.

And that’s when God uses the lights of others to guide you.

We were never meant to shine alone.

Jesus’ metaphor wasn’t poetic - it was practical. Light has purpose.

Light Provides Direction
Psalm 119:105 — “Your word is a lamp to my feet.”
When we live out truth, we help others see their next step.

Light Guides People Home
Our lives should point people not to ourselves, but to Christ.

Light Reveals What’s Real
Darkness hides. Light exposes—and heals.

The Church Is Meant to Be an Embassy

We live in the world, but we represent another Kingdom.

An embassy doesn’t adopt the culture around it- it represents the authority of the country it belongs to.

The Church is God’s embassy on earth.
We are here to reflect Heaven’s values in a dark world.

If we blend in completely, we stop guiding anyone home.

A Simple Spiritual Checkup

During this season of seeking God, ask yourself:

• Have I allowed fear to cover my light?
• Have distractions dimmed my focus?
• Have hardships made me withdraw instead of shine?
• Am I trying to shine without staying connected to Christ?

This isn’t about guilt.
It’s about realignment.

Your Light Matters More Than You Think

One light may seem small.

But when many lights shine together, they become a beacon- visible from far away.

Your encouragement.
Your prayers.
Your consistency.
Your quiet faithfulness.

These are not insignificant acts.
They are how God guides people through darkness.

Prayer:

Father, Search my heart and show me where my light has grown dim. Remove fear, distraction, and weariness that keep me from reflecting You clearly. Help me stay connected to You, the true Light, so that my life may guide others toward hope and truth. Let my words, actions, and spirit glorify You. Teach me to shine faithfully—whether anyone notices or not.
In Jesus’ name, amen.

Journal Prompt:

Where has my light been hidden—by fear, fatigue, or compromise?
What is one intentional way I can let Christ shine through me this week?