Embracing Hope: Christ as Our Light in Darkness

 

Summary

In the book of Isaiah, we find a profound message of hope and balance, a theme that resonates deeply with the essence of the Christian faith. The scripture speaks of a people who walked in darkness but have seen a great light, a light that shines upon those dwelling in the shadow of death. This light is none other than the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, the child born unto us, the son given to us, upon whose shoulders the government shall rest. This passage reminds us of the importance of maintaining a balance in our spiritual lives, avoiding the extremes that our sinful nature often leads us to. The Bible, in its entirety, is a testament to this balance, illustrating the interconnectedness of its parts, much like the body with its many members.

The baptism with the Holy Spirit, a subject we've explored in recent weeks, is a part of this greater whole. It is crucial to remember that the Holy Spirit's work is ultimately to glorify Jesus Christ, not to draw attention to itself. The Spirit's purpose is to illuminate the glory of Christ, who in turn glorifies the Father. This Advent season, we are reminded of the centrality of Christ's coming, the very foundation of our faith. While we may not rigidly adhere to a church calendar, there is value in reflecting on the entirety of our faith, ensuring we do not become fixated on particular aspects to the detriment of the whole.

The gospel is a message of hope, a divine "nevertheless" that breaks into the darkness of our world. It is a protest against despair, a proclamation of God's intervention in human affairs. As Christians, we are called to embody this hope, to be the voice that says "nevertheless" in the face of the world's troubles. The world, in its ignorance and darkness, often fails to recognize its need for this light. Yet, it is into this very darkness that Christ came, bringing light, deliverance, and joy. The message of Christmas is one of divine intervention, a reminder that God has given His Son for us, to bring us out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Key Takeaways:

1. Balance in Faith: The Christian life requires a balance, avoiding extremes and understanding the interconnectedness of scripture. Just as the body is a whole made of parts, our faith must be seen in its entirety, not isolated doctrines or experiences. This holistic view helps us grow in grace and knowledge. [01:09]

2. Purpose of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit's role is to glorify Jesus Christ, not to draw attention to itself. This reminds us that our focus should always be on Christ, who glorifies the Father. The Spirit's work is to illuminate Christ's glory, guiding us to a deeper understanding of His purpose. [04:51]

3. The Gospel's "Nevertheless": The gospel is a divine "nevertheless" that breaks into the darkness of our world, offering hope and salvation. As Christians, we are called to embody this hope, proclaiming God's intervention and the light of Christ in a world filled with despair. [13:02]

4. Christ's Humble Beginnings: The message of Christmas is one of divine humility, with Christ born in a stable, not a palace. This reminds us that God's ways often defy human expectations, bringing hope and salvation in the most unexpected ways. [35:34]

5. Light in Darkness: Christ is the light that shines in the darkness, offering guidance, deliverance, and joy. This light reveals the truth about God, ourselves, and the path to eternal life, transforming our lives and bringing us into God's glorious presence. [40:26]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:09] - Introduction to Isaiah's Prophecy
- [00:31] - The Importance of Balance in Faith
- [01:09] - Scripture's Holistic View
- [02:00] - The Body Analogy
- [02:30] - Baptism with the Holy Spirit
- [03:57] - The Role of the Holy Spirit
- [05:10] - The Centrality of Christ
- [06:44] - Systematic Scripture Reading
- [09:18] - The Gospel's "Nevertheless"
- [14:08] - Christian Hope in a Troubled World
- [19:22] - The World's Ignorance and Darkness
- [29:38] - The Unexpected Place of Christ's Coming
- [35:34] - Christ's Humble Beginnings
- [40:26] - Light in Darkness

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Isaiah 9:2, 6 - "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder."

Observation Questions:
1. What does Isaiah 9:2 mean when it says, "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light"? How is this light described in the sermon? [16:49]
2. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the phrase "unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given"? [37:00]
3. How does the sermon describe the role of the Holy Spirit in relation to Jesus Christ? [04:16]
4. What examples from the sermon illustrate the concept of "balance in faith"? [01:09]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon interpret the "great light" mentioned in Isaiah 9:2? What does this light represent in the context of the Christian faith? [16:49]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the Holy Spirit's purpose is to glorify Jesus Christ? How does this understanding affect the way Christians should view the work of the Holy Spirit? [04:16]
3. The sermon emphasizes the importance of balance in faith. How does this balance help Christians avoid the extremes that can arise from focusing on isolated doctrines or experiences? [01:09]
4. How does the sermon describe the world's ignorance and darkness, and what role does the "nevertheless" of the gospel play in addressing this condition? [19:22]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt you were "walking in darkness." How did you experience the "great light" of Christ in that situation? [16:49]
2. The sermon highlights the importance of balance in faith. Are there areas in your spiritual life where you feel unbalanced? How can you work towards achieving a more holistic view of your faith? [01:09]
3. How can you ensure that your focus remains on glorifying Jesus Christ in your daily life, rather than becoming overly fixated on personal spiritual experiences? [04:16]
4. The sermon describes the gospel as a "nevertheless" that breaks into the darkness of the world. How can you embody this message of hope in your interactions with others? [13:02]
5. Consider the humble beginnings of Christ's birth. How does this aspect of the Christmas story challenge your expectations of how God works in your life? [35:34]
6. In what ways can you be a light in the darkness for those around you, offering guidance, deliverance, and joy? [40:26]
7. The sermon mentions the world's ignorance of its own darkness. How can you help others recognize their need for the light of Christ without coming across as judgmental? [19:22]

Devotional

Day 1: The Interconnectedness of Faith
In the Christian journey, maintaining a balance in faith is crucial. This balance involves understanding the interconnectedness of scripture, much like the body with its many members. Each part of scripture contributes to the whole, and isolating doctrines or experiences can lead to an imbalanced spiritual life. By viewing our faith holistically, we grow in grace and knowledge, avoiding the extremes that our sinful nature often leads us to. This approach helps us appreciate the full narrative of the Bible, seeing how each part supports and enriches the others. [01:09]

"For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another." (Romans 12:4-5, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your faith that you tend to isolate or focus on too much? How can you seek a more balanced understanding of this aspect in the context of the whole scripture today?


Day 2: The Holy Spirit's Glorification of Christ
The Holy Spirit plays a vital role in the Christian faith, not by drawing attention to itself, but by glorifying Jesus Christ. The Spirit's work is to illuminate the glory of Christ, guiding believers to a deeper understanding of His purpose. This focus on Christ, who in turn glorifies the Father, reminds us that our spiritual journey should always center on Him. As we reflect on the Holy Spirit's role, we are encouraged to align our focus with its purpose, ensuring that our lives reflect the glory of Christ. [04:51]

"But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me." (John 15:26, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in glorifying Christ in your daily actions and decisions today?


Day 3: The Gospel's Divine "Nevertheless"
The gospel is a powerful message of hope, a divine "nevertheless" that breaks into the darkness of our world. It offers hope and salvation, proclaiming God's intervention in human affairs. As Christians, we are called to embody this hope, being the voice that says "nevertheless" in the face of the world's troubles. This calling challenges us to be a light in the darkness, sharing the message of Christ's coming and the hope it brings to a world often filled with despair. [13:02]

"For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Corinthians 4:6, ESV)

Reflection: How can you be a "nevertheless" voice of hope in a specific situation or relationship in your life today?


Day 4: Christ's Humble Beginnings
The message of Christmas is one of divine humility, with Christ born in a stable, not a palace. This humble beginning defies human expectations and reminds us that God's ways often bring hope and salvation in unexpected ways. As we reflect on Christ's birth, we are encouraged to embrace humility in our own lives, recognizing that God's plans may unfold in ways we do not anticipate. This perspective helps us trust in His wisdom and timing, even when circumstances seem contrary to our expectations. [35:34]

"But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days." (Micah 5:2, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life can you practice humility today, trusting that God's ways may be different from your expectations?


Day 5: Light in the Darkness
Christ is the light that shines in the darkness, offering guidance, deliverance, and joy. This light reveals the truth about God, ourselves, and the path to eternal life, transforming our lives and bringing us into God's glorious presence. As we embrace this light, we are called to reflect it in our own lives, becoming beacons of hope and truth in a world often shrouded in darkness. This calling challenges us to live authentically, allowing Christ's light to shine through us in all we do. [40:26]

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone." (Isaiah 9:2, ESV)

Reflection: How can you intentionally reflect Christ's light in a specific area of your life or community today?

Quotes

"Now there is nothing that is more important in the Christian Life one must inevitably deduce from the reading of the scriptures nothing more important than that we should keep a balance by nature and as the result of sin we are inevitably creatures of extremes we tend to go from one extreme to the other we find it very difficult to maintain a balance and to see the relationship of things to one another." [00:34:55]

"But as we've been doing so there may very well have been a danger in the minds of some to look upon that subject that great Doctrine in isolation and it is a particular Temptation with regard to that Doctrine to do so because it leads to certain subjective experiences as we've been seeing to certain experimental results and again by nature as the result of sin we're all always very interested in that in the subjective in the experimental." [00:18:36]

"The Holy Ghost is not sent to call attention to himself he is sent peculiarly to call attention to the Lord to glorify him to make him known the Lord Jesus Christ says that he the son has come to glorify the father and the spirit will come to glorify him he will not speak of himself he says meaning by that that he will not speak out of himself he shall glorify me." [00:04:22]

"Everything that the Holy Spirit brings to us and enables us to do is ultimately designed to make us glory in the Lord Jesus Christ he shall glorify me very well we therefore take advantage of this season to remind ourselves of the coming of our blessed Lord in into this world and I trust that as we do so we shall be led to rejoice in him and to glorify him more than we've ever done before." [00:09:33]

"The gospel is always an announcement and a message of hope we are so familiar with these things that we tend to lose that but this is what we've got to tell the world this morning that there is a hope a hope one and only but there is hope now that's introduced here in a very dramatic manner by this word word nevertheless." [00:11:33]

"Nevertheless now that's the gospel that's precisely how the gospel always comes com in and nothing is more important than that we should be constantly reminding ourselves and other people of that very thing the gospel is something that breaks in upon us it comes with this nevertheless it's a surprise it's a kind of protestation but above all it is a great announcement." [00:12:55]

"You and I as Christians are living in the same world as everybody else we are aware of the troubles the trials and the problems and all that is so true of this modern world and yet we are different and yet that's it we are always the people who are saying nevertheless what does that mean well it means this that we listen to men and women they talk about the world they say have you heard the news what do you think of it what's going to happen and they give their opinions and indulge in their for boings and so on." [00:14:27]

"The world has come to its end the Christian begins at that point if you like we can put it in the familiar statement man's extremity is God's opportunity but it's all summed up in this word nevertheless you watch this word as you read through your Bible from beginning to end this is the saving word often in the New Testament it's but it's the same thing it's always this protest it's it's it's coming to the world and saying all right of course you can't go any further you've said all you've got to say but listen nevertheless we go on men's extremity is God's opportunity." [00:15:34]

"The world is always telling us that there is but it never materializes I'm old enough to have seen a great change in the world in this respect I remember a time when rarely people believed that political action could change the universe those who remember the conditions before the first world war will know exactly what I mean there was on optimism political action even the church fell into the Trap and the great days in the Assemblies of all the denominations used to be when the leading politicians came and gave addresses this was wonderful these were the great leaders nobody believes that sort of thing any longer thank God for that." [00:24:30]

"Galilee was the most despised part of the land of Palestine it was furthest away of all from Jerusalem it was a back of Beyond place and it was actually bordering on the lands of the Gentiles and thus it was utterly despised as today even then people thought that all great things happen always in the capital city that's one of the great fallacies of the human race I trust none of you have come to London because you're guilty of that felly but people do think London are the center there you rely are at the center that's where you really see things and understand and you you're glad you've come from some little Village away in the backwood somewhere that nobody's ever heard of the Galilee of the Gentiles they called it Nazareth can any good has any good come out of Nazareth the thing is utterly important but you know that's where he came from he was Jesus of Nazareth he spent most of his time up there that's where the great things were done that's where the great messages were preached galile of the Gentiles." [00:29:10]

"Unto us a child is born unto us a son is given and here you see it of course at its very ecme what is this salvation how is it going to come well says the Greek it's going to be some great philosophic declaration that's what we are waiting for we are waiting for a great mind to propound a theory we need is we need some Enlightenment and help we are waiting then for some great philosophic pronouncement all the Jews in their blindness they argued that what was needed was a great military leader and conqueror someone with exceptional strength some great king who was going to conquer all enemies and set up his own Throne there above all the universe that's how they expected it but it doesn't happen like that a little child is born a helpless babe is born and again remember in a stable straw cattle mangers not in palaces not in a great palace in the capital city no no Little Town of Bethlehem despised Bethlehem Judah the very least of the Cities as it were of Judah the very least always the least and as I said the circum ances look at them helpless babe that's the Savior look at the condition circumstances poor poverty couldn't afford a lamb could only afford two Turtle dos my dear friends this is Christianity this is the thing that keeps on breaking in that's why there's always hope for the most vile the most desperate the most hopeless it's God and this is how he does it unto us a child is born." [00:35:34]

"The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light they that dwell in the land in the shadow of death upon them the light shine what a man needs in darkness above everything is light and it's come I am the light of the world he is the light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of his people Israel suddenly into the midst of the darkness and the despair there comes this great light oh how ridiculous even as it were to mention it go and work it out for yourself my dear friend listen to this no man has seen God at any time the only begotten who is in the bosom of the father he hath declared him I am the way the truth and the life no man cometh into the father but by me light on God light on men light on living light on dying light on the glory of Eternity it's the whole message this light and there's none anywhere else he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of Life the people that walked in darkness you see they were walking in it he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of Life they've seen a great light is there anybody here who hasn't seen it you can't be a Christian without seeing this light the light that comes in the face of Jesus Christ the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ there it is for you again God who commanded the light to shine out of Darkness chaos was over the Earth the spirit brooded over the deep it was all in a state of Chaos inor and suddenly comes the command let there be light and there was light and Order begins to follow and God who commanded the light to shine out of Darkness as Paul has shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ light light of the world forever ever shining there is no night in thee." [00:40:26]

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Transcript
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