Matthew 5:14-16
14
(NKJV)
“You are the light of the world. A city
that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it
under a basket, but on a lampstand, and
it gives light to all who are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works and
glorify your Father in heaven.
When The Light
Becomes Brighter
MATTHEW 5:14-16
When The Light Becomes Brighter
 Have you ever gone outside and looked
up at the stars?
 If you live in the city, it might be a bit
more difficult
 If you drive out to the country, you can
see so many more stars without all the
city lights around
When The Light Becomes Brighter
 The stars that can be seen, even in the
city, are the stars that shine the
brightest
 The sun, of course, is the brightest of all
the stars in the sky
 Obviously, the brighter the star, the
more that can visibly see it
The Light of the World
 Jesus said in Matthew 5:14 that we are
the light of the world
 For centuries, those who represent
Christ to the world have allowed their
lights to shine to those around
 Some, like Paul, traveled around and
therefore their lights shone brighter
The Light of the World
 Along came inventions such as the
automobile that allowed lights to reach
more people and to shine brighter
 Airplanes did the same for our lights,
allowing us greater influence
 Radio and television gave the church
opportunity that it did not have before
The Light of the World
 Along came the internet, which allowed
anyone to have their presence and their
speech reach all around the globe
 Our lights are shining brighter today
than they ever have before
 More and more people can see the
lights that are Christians today
Our Presence Online
 Literally millions, if not billions, of
people have some type of online
presence today
 Whether it is through Facebook,
Twitter, Instagram, a website or blog,
we can be accessed by millions
 Some are accessed whether they like it
or not
Our Presence Online
 It’s been said “With great power comes
great responsibility”
 Jesus said it like this in Luke 12:48,
“For everyone to whom much is given,
from him much will be required”
 We have been given a great tool, and we
will answer for how we use it
Our Presence Online
 Does our online presence strengthen
our reputation as a child of God?
 If you took all of your activity online
and only judged your life by that, would
you stand proud or ashamed before
God?
 Remember we are Christians online as
well as when we are offline
Let Your Light Shine Online
 1. Be on guard
 We
have a pretty good understanding of
how Satan works
 “Be
sober, be vigilant; because your
adversary the devil walks about like a
roaring lion, seeking whom he may
devour” (I Pet. 5:8)
Let Your Light Shine Online
 1. Be on guard
 Satan
operates the same way online
 We
need to be careful of the websites that
we visit while online
 Certain
ads, links or images can cause us to
visit other places that we should not be
 We
are taught to guard our hearts and
minds (Prov. 4:23)
Let Your Light Shine Online
 1. Be on guard
 Satan
wants our minds because he realizes
that this is where the battle can be won or
lost
 The
more garbage that goes into our
minds, the easier it is for him to operate
 We
must “resist the devil” (Js. 4:7)
Let Your Light Shine Online
 2. Be proactive
 One
of the best ways to protect ourselves in
any situation is to be proactive rather than
reactive
 What
is meant by this is simply letting
others know who you are up front
 Let
others know that you are a child of God
Let Your Light Shine Online
 2. Be proactive
 Prayer
can be proactive; asking God to give
us both wisdom and strength
 Remember
 We
the model prayer? (Matt. 6:13)
need to have accountability online
 Parents
being friends with children,
following them on Twitter, Instagram, etc.
Let Your Light Shine Online
 2. Be proactive
 It
can be as simple as having a computer in
an open area where all can see what is
being done
 It
really boils down to us not putting
ourselves in bad spots; not getting into
positions where we are susceptible to fall
Let Your Light Shine Online
 3. Be a Christian
 It’s
not just about declaring that you are a
Christian, but acting like one
 We
need to avoid acting like the world
when we are online
 We
represent Christ whether people know
us or not
Let Your Light Shine Online
 3. Be a Christian
 Be
kind – Eph. 4:32
 Be
truthful – Rom. 12:17; Phil. 4:8
 Make
 Avoid
your message clear (tone, etc.)
gossip – Rom. 1:29; Prov. 16:28;
I Tim. 5:13
Let Your Light Shine Online
 3. Be a Christian
 Avoid
hateful language – Matt. 12:36-37;
Eph. 4:29
 Acronyms
are just as bad as saying the
actual words
 Be
careful who your friends are –
I Cor. 15:33