The Lamp of the Body
Notes
Transcript
Opening Illustration
Opening Illustration
Several years ago there was a terrible accident in which several youth were killed when their car was struck by a train.
At the trial the watchman was questioned:
“Were you at the crossing the night of the accident?”
“Yes, your Honor.”
“Were you waving your lantern to warn of the danger?”
“Yes, your Honor,” the man told the judge.
But after the trial had ended, the watchman walked away mumbling to himself, “I’m glad they didn’t ask me about the light in the lantern, because the light had gone out”
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Wow!
That is so sad...
Many youth lost their lives not because a lamp was missing...
That was covered...
But what use is a lamp if there is no light in it?
Today, we discuss this very subject.
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So, please turn your Bibles to the Gospel of Luke.
We will conduct our study in Chapter 11 and focus on verses 33 through 36.
Our message this morning is titled, “The Lamp of the Body”
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As you are turning to our passage...
Keep this in mind...
The message today will focus on Jesus’ warning for us to have make sure we have a lamp that is healthy and in working order...
A lamp that is full of light.
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So, this morning we will cover three main points:
1) The Light
2) The Lamp
And...
3) The Warning
Opening Prayer
Opening Prayer
Before we consider our text, please join me in prayer...
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Heavenly Father...
You are You are the light of our life...
And You are the light that guides us in the darkness...
When have no hope in navigating this world without You.
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Help us understand the importance of having a lamp that is filled with light...
Help us to overcome the darkness that has left many people blind.
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Thank You for not leaving Your children in the dark...
Thank You for sending Your Son to go after us, Your lost sheep...
And thank You for opening our eyes to see the truth!
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And it is in Jesus’s name we pray all these things...
Amen.
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Let’s turn to our text for today:
Reading of the Text
Reading of the Text
33 “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light.
34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness.
35 Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness.
36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.”
So, let’s look at our first point...
1) The Light
1) The Light
Verse 33: “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light.
Jesus starts off by describing the obvious use of a lamp...
No one lights up a lamp to then go and hide it...
That wouldn’t make any sense at all.
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In fact, when a lamp is light up it is then typically placed on a stand in order to light up a room.
So, the “lamp” mentioned in our opening verse...
The lamp which is lighted and placed prominently so that it illumines all who enter a room...
That light is a reference to Jesus Christ and His message.
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You see Beloved, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not to be hidden...
It is not something we are to keep for ourselves...
But it is to be proclaimed to all...
It is to be a lamp placed on a stand for all to hear!
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Therefore, the hearing of Jesus’ message lays a responsibility on the hearer to respond.
In Jesus’ day He shared the Gospel message with all...
Although, some of His hearers where not satisfied with the light the Jesus gave to the world...
They tried to accuse Jesus of withholding the light He had...
And they wanted more signs and wonders which they thought was the true light...
They wanted grander signs as the previous section that we covered last week in Luke 11:29-32 says:
29 When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.
30 For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.
31 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.
32 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.
You see Beloved, signs ans wonders is not where we will find the true light...
The true source of light is found in Jesus Christ...
As theologian Darrel L. Bock says:
“Luke’s main point is that Jesus’ teaching is not secretly disseminated, it is openly proclaimed.
Indeed, it is to function openly; it is to be put to use.
The response called for is unlike the crowd’s action.
If one does not receive guidance, it is not because the lamp has been hidden, but because there has been no response to the light.
No further sign is necessary.”
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So, the light of Jesus himself, which shines for all to see, makes any other sign pale by comparison...
Beloved, we need to have the same attitude as the psalmist says in Psalm 18:28:
28 For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness.
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You see Beloved, we need the light so that we may walk on the narrow path...
We need to light to be able to travel on our journey...
For this is the pilgrim's path that every born-again believer must journey on to get to the celestial city...
That city which is the Kingdom of God...
That is why Jesus says the phrase “those who enter may see the light” for this describes one’s entrance into God’s kingdom.
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Beloved, I can’t stress this enough...
We can’t make it to God’s Kingdom with our works!
We can’t do enough good works to earn a spot in the Kingdom.
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In fact, without Jesus as our light we are just wondering around blind in a thick darkness...
Grasping in the air...
Waling in circles...
Tripping and falling all over the place.
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As the Apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:8:
8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
Do you see what Paul is saying?
Paul counts everything else as loss...
And that includes all of our good works!
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Everything else is considered as rubbish in comparison to Christ!
Literally a heaping pile of dung!
The only truly surpassing worth is to know Christ and to be known by Him!
To loss it all but to gain Christ is absolutely worth it!
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Next, Jesus talks about anther lamp...
This one is the lamp of one’s body...
And that takes us to our next point.
2) The Lamp
2) The Lamp
Verse 34: Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness.
So, let’s start this next section by looking at the term “eye” which signifies the center of one’s being...
That is the soul or spirit according to the rabbis of the time.
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In terms we use today in would be like saying one’s intentions or one’s “heart.”
So, the phrase “your eye” refers to one’s spiritual vision or openness and commitment to God’s Word.
Furthermore, consider this note found in the Pillar New Testament Commentary on Luke which I find to be very helpful:
“The ‘healthy eye’ signifies a pure heart, and the ‘unhealthy eye,’ envy.
The ‘eye’ as a conduit of the intentions of the heart was known to ancient Judaism, and in many parts of the Middle East still today, as the ‘evil eye.’
Saul’s evil glance at David [in 1 Samuel 18:9 which says:]
9 And Saul eyed David from that day on.
[This] led to a belief that an evil look can harm or bewitch another person.
By association, an ‘evil eye’ connoted stinginess, selfishness, and jealousy.
Scores of arts and amulets were developed to protect against the influence of the evil eye, including blue paint and an amulet in the form of an open hand in the Middle East today.
In the present context, however, Jesus emphasizes the danger of the ‘evil eye’ for oneself rather than for others.
The eye is portrayed as an aperture through which either light or darkness enters and fills the body.
A sound eye allows the kingdom of God inaugurated by Jesus to enter and infuse one’s life.
People who are receptive to the kingdom are thus given light and guidance necessary to negotiate a dark world.
An evil eye is either not open to the kingdom or is divided, duplicitous, and distracted from the kingdom.
This results in self-serving darkness rather than the light of the kingdom.
Jesus warns against a perspective that can and will corrupt the heart of an individual unless repented of and resisted.”
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Therefore Beloved, an eye that is healthy describes a spiritually healthy way of looking at things.
A bad eye, or an evil way of looking at things, results in a life full of moral and spiritual darkness.
Think of it in terms of headlights on a car...
On a brand new car or a car that was recently detailed or repaired...
It will have headlights that are super clear and that allows the light to go out from the vehicle unhindered...
That light will not only light up one’s path when they are driving but they will reveal things hidden in the dark than may be a danger to the driver...
Like deer crossing the road.
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On the other side of that we have a car that has put on some miles...
And the headlights are very foggy...
Or worse still, headlights with burnt out bulbs...
How effective is that car going to be on a night that is filled with thick darkness?
How effective is that car going to be on a night with all its hidden dangers?
As Proverbs 4:19 says:
19 The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.
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Now, in this verse...
We are not really talking about light that is going out of the lamp...
We are actually talking about light going inside someone through the lamp...
As the Expositor’s Bible Commentary on Luke says:
“‘Good eyes’ admit light;
Bad ones do not.
The implication is that the individual is responsible for receiving light.
The eye is thus a ‘lamp,’ not in the sense that it emits light, but that through it the body receives light.
The real source of light is outside the body;
If we think we can generate our own light, we must beware lest that inner ‘light’ prove to be darkness.”
So, how one responds to Jesus and his ministry determines one’s ultimate spiritual condition and final standing with God.
Therefore, as the whole person becomes filled with light upon the acceptance of Jesus and His teaching...
So to, does darkness fall upon those who reject Christ.
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Your choice, in how you respond to Christ’s light, will make you a light to the world or just a burnt out bulb in the darkness...
So Beloved, I implore you to chose light...
And if you have already chosen light...
Let that light shine!
Or as that famous gospel song goes:
“Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.”
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Likewise, take to heart the truth found in Matthew 5:14-16 which says:
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
As we said before, your good works will not save you from the darkness...
But those who have the light of Christ in them...
They shine their light by their good works!
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You see, the source of light is Christ...
And the light we as believer now have is only because Jesus gave us that light in the first place...
So, we can conclude as it says in the Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament on Luke:
“There is no automatic ‘inner light’ as far as Jesus is concerned.
What we are is related to what we take in and accept as true.
We are responsible for our spiritual condition by how we respond to our environment.
Not to take in God’s light is to risk darkness.
Light cannot be found elsewhere.
The implication is that if one has good eyes one will see the light Jesus offers, but if one’s vision is clouded by evil one will miss the light.”
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So next, Jesus finishes His point by leaving the audience with a vital warning...
And that will take us to our third and final point.
3) The Warning
3) The Warning
Verses 35-36: Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.”
So, I really like how the NLT renders verse 35 and 36 which says:
“Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness.
If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light.”
Jesus is making it clear beyond a doubt...
A life that has Christ in it will be reflected in that person’s actions...
Their whole life will be affected!
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This idea that we can claim to be followers of Jesus will making a practice of sin in our life is in no way biblical...
As Paul wrote in Romans 6:1:
1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?
A thousand times no!
If we are truly in the light then we will live in the light!
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As believers we live lives that are honest and transparent...
We are not in crippling fear that our sins may be exposed by the light...
For that is why those who live wicked lives love the darkness...
For they think that the cover of night will hide their sin...
But we must not fool yourselves...
Our sins will be uncovered...
They will be uncovered in this life or on Judgement Day...
So, there is no point in hiding it!
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We must repent of the life that is lived in rebellion against God...
We must confess our sins!
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We will never be perfect...
We will never become sinless...
But we need to more like Christ everyday...
We need to heed the words of faithful men like John Owen who said in his book, The Mortification of Sin:
“Be killing sin or it will be killing you.”
And Beloved, that was not just a powerful saying for us to remember...
It is based on Romans 8:13 which says:
13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
So, again I say:
“Be killing sin or it will be killing you.”
Brothers and Sisters...
We are in a ruthless war with our enemy and his minions...
And he is not coming just for you and me...
He is coming for your spouse...
He is coming for your children...
He is coming for your grandchildren...
He is coming for your family...
He is coming for your friends...
And he is coming for everything that you hold dear...
For he is a thief who comes to steal kill and destroy!
But, we have a Savior in Jesus Christ!
As our Lord said in John 10:10:
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
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So, the body is only completely lighted when a lamp shines on it from the outside...
And full illumination only comes when one is willing to receive light from the lamp of God’s truth...
So, if you have not already...
Throw yourself to the mercy of Jesus...
He will never reject anyone who humbly comes to Him...
In fact, Jesus cried out to His lost sheep...
He cries out to the broken hearted...
He cries out to all those who are weary...
He cries out to those who have no hope...
And as John 12:44–46 records:
44 And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me.
45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me.
46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.
Beloved, He does not want you to remain in the darkness...
He does not want you on the road to Hell...
He wants to see you experience His all consuming light!
And in turn anyone who surrenders to Him will be a light to this dark world...
For we become mirrors that reflect Jesus’ perfect light.
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In other words, one must receive light to be light!
When a person is filled with the light of Christ, it will affect his or her whole being.
When a person is missing the light of Christ, it will also affect his or her whole body...
Just not in a good way.
So, Jesus’ application calls for a check of the person...
This is not a check of the eye...
But again, the application is a check of the person so it shows that Jesus is talking about the inner, spiritual person.
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With that in mind consider this note in the New International Commentary on the New Testament on Luke:
“A lamp is not itself the light, but merely the instrument through which the light is spread.
So when there is anything wrong with the lamp (e.g. a broken wick or a dirty and sooty chimney), it cannot serve as a suitable instrument to provide light.
So it is also with the human eye which is the lamp of the body.
When the eye is sound and right and light is shining, the eye enables you to make full use of the light—you can see where you are, how to walk and how to do your work.
But when there is something wrong with your eye you cannot make use of the light even when you are irradiated by the brightest light.
Your whole body is then, as it were, wrapped in darkness, for you cannot see where to put your feet in order to walk, where to take hold with your hands to perform your work, and so forth.
So, for all practical purposes, when your eyes are ‘wrong’ you are in utter darkness.”
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So, each and every person listening to this message need to take an inventory of their life...
They need to reevaluate what consumes their mind...
They need to reevaluate what occupies the primary spot in their heart...
They need to reevaluate what what they are spend their time and energy on.
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So, what does the survey of your life reveal?
Are you living in the light of Christ?
Or are you still tripping over your own feet in the darkness?
As Ephesians 5:8 says:
8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
If you are found to be wanting in the area of your spiritual life...
Then repent and believe in the life saving Gospel message of Jesus...
If you take in Jesus’ light, then you will be healthy.
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If you are already in the light...
If you are spiritually healthy, then you will shine brightly and give off light...
Then you will walk as children of light...
For we will be reflecting the rays of God’s truth by the way we live!
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Beloved, one of most, if not the most, famous Bible verse is John 3:16 which says:
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Let us continue and meditate on the rest of that passage as we read John 3:17–21 as it is so relevant to our study today:
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
Closing Illustration
Closing Illustration
So, as this message comes to a close...
I would like you to consider this:
At the zoo in Fort Worth, Texas, is a building where the tropical birds are kept.
The hallway where the people walk is dark; the birds are in lighted cases of glass.
All along each side of the building is a long case that looks like a tropical rain forest.
It has a miniature waterfall, a pool, trees, and all sorts of plants.
Among the trees and rocky ledges the small, brightly colored birds fly.
As people watch this, they eventually become aware that there is no glass between them and the birds.
They could reach in and touch them.
Why don’t the birds fly out?
A sign above the cage explains that the birds are afraid of darkness, and when it gets dark, they go to sleep.
They love the light and will not deliberately fly from the light into the darkness.
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So it is with Christians.
We are in the light of the kingdom of God.
We have been called out of darkness.
We will not deliberately fly back into the darkness, for we love the light.
Closing Prayer
Closing Prayer
Let’s pray...
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Heavenly Father...
If anyone hearing this message right now does not know You in a saving way...
If someone in this room or hearing this recording does not know Your all consuming light...
Allow them to experience it!
Allow them to let that light in their life and make them into something new!
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I appeal to Your Name’s sake!
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For those hearing this message who already know You...
For those who already have your light in them...
Let that light shine brighter and brighter!
Not to us but for Your name to be glorified!
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Again, I appeal to Your Name’s sake!
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It is in Jesus’s name we pray all these things...
To God be all the glory.
Amen.
