Reference: Matthew 5:14-16
Jesus made a very astounding statementwhen he said that the true christian is the light of the world. Do you, myfriend, consider yourself as being a light to this sin-sick and hell-boundworld or are you one that's hidden in some dark corner not caring where you endup at in eternity?
Why do you suppose that Jesus used theword light when he refers to the christian? Now we of course know what a lightis and how easily it can be seen. We are told to let our light shine before menthat they may see our good works and thereby glorify the Father which is inheaven. Can you say my friend that you are a light to this world or are you indoubt as to what it means to be a light?
If you are a true born again child of Godthen according to God's word you are a light to this world. Now you may have wonderedmany times if you are a light to this world or not. Do you know just exactlywhat it means to be a light to this world? Now many people share differentviews as to what a light is, but unless we truly know what being a light reallymeans then we won't truthfully know whether we are a light or not.
Have you ever examined your own life andcome to the conclusion that you are a light to this world today? Now manypeople think and believe that being a light to this world is doing the verysame miraculous works that Jesus did when he was on this earth in the form of aman. Now we of course know that Jesus performed many great and outstandingmiracles when he was on this earth. Now does this mean that the true childrenof God will be known by the great miracle working power that they possess, oris there some other way of knowing this?
If the manifesting of great and mightyworks is the evidence that proves a person is of God or not, then I'm afraidthat there are not very many true born again christians on this earth today. Isay this simply because there is only a small percent of people today whoconfess to be manifesting the great miracle working power of God. These peoplefall in the realm of the Pentecostal movements of today and they are the onlyones who stress all emphesis on God's miracle working power.
Now do you think and believe that themanifestations of God's working power is what proves a person to be of God ornot? Allow me please to tell you that it's most certainly God's working powerthat proves whether or not a person is of God or not, but please let me saythat most people today are totally ignorant of what the mighty power of Godactually is that will be manifested in and through the true children of God.
Now Jesus told the Sadducees in Matthew 22:29 that they doerr, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. Now why do you supposeJesus told these people that for? Do you think that it's yet possible that manypeople don't know what the true power of God is today?
Now I would say that most people today aretotally ignorant as to what realm in life God's power will be manifested. Most people today think that the powerof God can only be manifested in great miracles such as healing the sick,casting out devils, and many other mighty works. It most certainly takes themighty power of God to manifest these mighty works, but this is not where God'spower is being denied by many today. God's mighty working power is being deniedin the life that people are living. This life deals with the sin question andnot just being able to perform great miracles such as casting out devils, andother signs and wonders.
I certainly believe that mighty works suchas casting out devils, healing the sick, prophesying, and other works can verywell be among the true believers of God's word, but this will only be done ifGod permits. Reading the Bible will reveal to anyone that the performing ofgreat and mighty works will only be done if it's God's will for them to bedone.
We are told in Hebrews 2:3-4 that, how shallwe escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to bespoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God alsobearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles,and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
According these scriptures the mightysigns and wonders was God's will to be done. These signs and wonders easilyconfirmed the word that the apostles taught, but this in no wise proves thatGod will not yet manifest great signs and wonders among true believers of hisword as time goes on.
Many today has taken the negative attitudesaying and teaching that God does not perform any signs and wonders no morebecause these ceased when the last apostle died. This is certainly unscripturaland not true. The reason why many hold to this teaching is simply because theydo not manifest any power of God at all nowhere in their life.
The average person today that confesses tobe a christian has not been spiritually changed at all in the life that theylive. It seems that all church organizations has accepted the teaching thatit's impossible to live without sin in your life, but the Bible teachesotherwise.
If you attempt to teach the exact truthabout the christian life hardly anyone will receive and believe it. The Bibleplainly teaches that born again children of God does not commit sin and goes onto say that they cannot sin, because his seed remains in them. This truth willnot be accepted by today's denominational organizations simply because they arenot free from sin.
Many of these people believe that God cando things such as in the realm of mighty works, but when it comes to the sinquestion this is where the line is drawn thus proving where you stand in theeyes of God.
The Pentecostals of today claim to bemanifesting the miracles of God, but I'll guarantee they will not accept andbelieve the truth about the true spirit from the false anti-christ spirit. Thetrue from the false is not known by how many miracles they perform or how manythey do not, but rather it's by the confession that Christ is come in theflesh.
Confessing that Christ is come in theflesh means to be in accord with what the Bible teaches about sin. If Christ iscome in your flesh this means and reveals the fact that it's him that will liveyour life for you. Christ being our life will manifest the same life he livedwhile he was on this earth hundreds of years ago. If God wants the signs andwonders to be manifested through his people then they most certainly will be.
Mighty signs and wonders is not what theBible says that salvation is all about. We are told by Paul that all scriptureis inspired of God to instruct us in righteousness that the man of God may beperfect throughly furnished unto all good works.
We must be first instructed in allrighteousness before we can get involved with the deeper things of God.Perfection is the goal that we absolutely must strive for, but many today arebeing deceived by the many false prophets who deny the true life of Bibleholiness and righteousness....