Go, Taking God’s Word to a Lost World

Growing strong in God is important and something I love to see young people do.  But equally important for your spiritual walk with Christ is to continue growing in God.  Even as we get older, each of us should be growing.  Many times, around the first of the year, I look back and ask myself, “Did I grow in Christ last year?” Because I want to know that I am still growing spiritually.  So we understand that God wants us to grow.  But along with growing spiritually, God gave us another important task.

In His last conversation here on earth, Jesus left His disciples with a critical commission.  They were to be His witness to all the world.

Hechos 1: 8

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

During their time together, Jesus taught the disciples how to know God and grow in understanding.  He taught them the right way to worship, how to pray,  to love each other and how to love those they met along the way.  The disciples walked with Christ for approximately three years.  Then Christ shared with His disciples their purpose and gave specific instructions as to what they were supposed to do after he ascended to heaven.

Mark 16:15

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

Jesus told the disciples in Mark 16:15, “Go ye into all the world.”   In Acts 1:8, Jesus told the disciples they needed to be witnesses for the Gospel.  Once we know God and we grow in him, God gives us a mission – something for us to do.  Christ directs us to go out and spread the seed that He planted in our lives.  Jesus charged the disciples to plant the seed in Jerusalem.  Jerusalem is where Jesus and the disciples lived.  And we also need to plant the seed in our own communities where we live.  Then Jesus told them to go into all Judea, a little further out from where the disciples lived.  We need to do the same.  Go and plant the seed of God’s word in our schools and workplaces.  Then Jesus told them to plant in Samaria.  Samaria was a place where the Jews didn’t go.  Our commission is to carry the seed to places we may not want to go sometimes.   Jesus told his disciples to take the seed of God’s word to the ends of the earth.  Likewise, we need to carry the seed of God’s word to places we may never think possible for us to go.  This commission may seem like a difficult task for a young person, but God sent the Holy Spirit to empower us with knowledge, with words, and with boldness.  Christ sent His spirit, and His spirit knows exactly what we need when we need it.

How do we go and spread the seed of the Gospel?

Matthew 5:14-16

“14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Jesus tells the people, “Ye are the light of the world…Let your light so shine before men.” What is this light?  In Genesis chapter 1, God said let there be light, and when God said it, there was light.  When we do not know God, we are without light.  The first thing that God works in men’s hearts through salvation is that He gives them light.  The Lord pours light into the soul so that we can see Christ by faith.  That light takes hold of the inner man, so he only sees the light from God.  This light not only shines upon the heart, but it radiates from the heart, illuminating outwardly.  Have you been lit with the light of God?  God wants us to receive his divine light so we can shine brightly for Him in this dark world.  God has many lights, and you might be a small light because you’re ten years old today, but your age doesn’t matter if the Lord gave you His light He wants you to shine.

(Canción)

THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine,
Every day I’ll let my little light shine.

Shine all over my neighborhood I’m gonna let it shine
Shine all over my neighborhood I’m gonna let it shine
Shine all over my neighborhood I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine let it shine all the time.

Hide it under a bushel, NO!, I’m gonna let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel, NO!, I’m gonna let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel, NO!, I’m gonna let it shine,
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Our children in America sing this song.  While they’re singing, they hold up their finger and twirl them in the air.  Their finger is a symbol of their light.

(Exercise)

CANDLE LIGHTING LESSON

You can do this exercise with as many people as you have candles to give.  Pass your candles out to your group.  Have one person come to the front and light their candle.  This first candle flame gives off a little bit of light.  Have the first person with their candle flame light the person’s candle next to them.  Now that second person with their lit candle lights the next person’s candle.  Continue until each person lights the candle of the person next to them.  Now hold your candles up high together so everyone can see your light.  This exercise is symbolic of what God wants us to do.  He wants to put His light in our hearts so we can give that light to someone else, and they can shine for God too.  Together all the candles light up the area!

God was telling the disciples, you are the light of the world hold your light up high.  Do not hide the light under a bushel or cover.  Let your light so shine so it can light other people toward God.  Jesus grew up a carpenter, but we seldom think of Him as one.  We think of Jesus as the Savior of men, a servant of God, or the light of the world.  We ought to live in the same way, so if we’re the carpenter, the Christian part of us swallows up the carpenter.  If we are a student, a teacher, or whatever our occupation is in life, we need to live so that the most well-known fact about us is that others will say they’re a Christian.  You are a light, and your one business is to shine.  Bring Christ into everything that you do.  Let Jesus shine out of everything.  When we’re lit, this means we shine every place we go.

The first place we need to shine is in our own home.  Can those in your home see you shining, or are they saying, “Uhh, my brother is so mean!”.  What about your parents?  Do they know that your light is shining?  What about when we have a terrible day at school and come into the house?  What about when our brother or sister borrows our clothes we don’t want them to wear?  Our light should be shining where we live.  In our home, everyone should know we are Christian.  Our lights should be shining in the other parts of our lives as well.  Is your light shining while you play football, or you’re involved in other activities outside of the home?

This light should be so precious to us that we take special care of it.  Do not let anything cover your light.  When we’re with unchristian people, the devil wants us to hide our light for God.  But God is calling you to let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works.  If your light burns dim where you are, there will be a dim light in the world.  What would the earth be like without the sun?  We would live in darkness all the time with no light.  God calls all who love Him to let their lights shine brightly.  God wants you to shine your light in your home, your village, and your school so that others can experience your light.  Do you know the responsibilities of presidents, emperors, kings, and members of congress, do not compare to the responsibility of a Saint to shine God’s true light in the world?  These great ones in society are not the world’s lights, but God calls His children to be His light to the world.  Without Godly light, the world will fall into judgment and hell.  Ask God to help you be a light shining for Him in this dark world so others will see a path to God.