The Light Shines In The Darkness

"And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." (Jn. 1:5)

"The light shines" is in simple present tense; the darkness did not comprehend it is in past tense (in Greek, aorist). This is a testimony about Jesus Christ.

1. It points to the eternality of Christ, the light, who always shines, has always shone, and will always shine. There is no shadow of turning in Him. Yesterday and tomorrow are as today for Him. Therefore, His voice through the Spirit is always in the today.

2. It points to the defeat point of darkness as in the past. There is no present or future possibility left for darkness. The Scripture does not say " The darkness will not comprehend"; it says that it did not comprehend. In other words, the defeat of darkness is a finished fact. Christians must rest assured that it is impossible for darkness to ever gain the upper hand. Its defeat is over forever.

3. It points to the fact that those who love darkness can never come to the light. In order to walk in light, we must first long for the light.

"And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God." (Phil. 3:19-21)

Glory of the Son in Us

Christ is the brightness of God's glory (Heb. 1:3). God's glory is incomparable with anything in creation.

"...the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.  There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory." (1Cor. 15:39)

Christ's glory far exceeds anything in creation. That Infinitely glorious one emptied Himself of holding on to that glorious form alone and took the form of man 2000 years ago.

"Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being." (Phil. 2:6-7, NLT)

"So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son." (John 1:14)
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And that's not all.

The glory of the Son shines in our hearts through the Gospel.

"For God, who said, "Let there be light in the darkness," has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ." (2Cor.4:6, NLT)

We are transformed into that same image as we read God's Word.

"But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ....

"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2Cor. 3:14,18)

And when He returns, He will transform our mortal bodies into the likeness of His glorious body.

"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself." (Phil. 3:20,21)

We look towards that glory.

"The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God." (Rom. 8:15-21)

Imprisonment and the Law of Moses

The Romans were the first who used imprisonment as a form of punishment, rather than mere detention. The Law of Moses didn't prescribe jailing as a form of punishment. The Cities of Refuge were places of protection for those who accidentally killed someone. OT Law was based on the "tooth for tooth" principle of justice (not the "stone for brick" one). The closest form of imprisonment (when fines or debt became unpayable) was slavery. But, it had the limit of 6 years; the slave had be set free in the 7th year and also given means of survival. The goal was that the slave could pay back in service what he couldn't in cash or goods. Also, there were laws to protect the slaves against oppression. However, the Law didn't have mercy on those who violated the Law through acts of murder, rape, violence, theft, and so on. The Judge had to pronounce judgement on the basis of the Law. Debts could be forgiven; violation of the Law (the Decalogue), never.

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Genesis tells of Joseph being put in Egyptian prison. However, historians agree that the Egyptians didn't use prisons as a punitive measure but only as places of detention or remand.

Spirit-filled Preaching

The No.1 qualification of being a Spirit-filled Preacher is not to have a degree from a "great" University or have the recognition of a "great" movement; but, it is to be Spirit-filled and totally in tune with the work of the Holy Spirit in the world today.

SPIRIT-FILLED PREACHING
1. Convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment
"And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." (Joh 16:8 NKJ)

Spirit-filled preaching will not speak about grace without first convicting the world of sin; it will not talk about divine blessings without first demonstrating the righteousness of God; it will not talk of eternal life without first warning the world of judgment.

2. Will guide the listeners into all truth
"When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth" (Joh 16:13 NKJ)

Spirit-filled preaching doesn't ignore some truths and highlight others; it is not customer-oriented, but is Spirit-mandated.

3. Is not self-originated but originates in the Father and the Son
"He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak....
He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you." (Joh 16:13-15 NKJ)

Spirit-filled preaching is not based on self-imagination, personal interpretation, or opinions of men. Unless the man of God has listened the voice of the Spirit, he cannot speak the words of the Spirit.

Spirit-filled preaching does not abound in quotations of humans, as if indicating the superiority of their authority. The Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit and is self-sufficient and totally effective and sufficient in convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment.

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Heb 4:12 NKJ)

4. Tells things to come
"He will tell you things to come." (Joh 16:13 NKJ)

Spirit-filled preaching has an eschatological focus. The Holy Spirit is the unveiler of God's Plan for the Ages.

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (Rev 2:7 NKJ)

He was there when the Ages began:
The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. (Gen 1:2 NKJ)
You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; And You renew the face of the earth. (Psa 104:30 NKJ)

He foretold the First Coming of Christ and bears witness of the Second Coming:
"for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. (2Pe 1:21 NKJ)
"the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Rev 19:10 NKJ)
"Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow." (1Pe 1:10-11 NKJ)

5. Glorifies Christ
"He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you." (Joh 16:14 NKJ)

Spirit-filled preaching glorifies Christ. It doesn't exalt any man, culture, organization, or human ideal. It isn't afraid of humans nor seeks to please any man. It is not boastful of self or its accomplishments. The chief end of Spirit-filled preaching is to glorify Christ.

Praying for Good Things

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! (Matt. 7:11)

Good Things..
1. Are not things of lust/covetousness
James 4:3 - evil desire.  Therefore, they ask but don't receive .
Israel lusted after evil things 2Cor. 10:6
2. Are not things of compromise
Num. 22:12,19- Balaam wanted to go, though God forbade. He began double checking to see if God would change mind. Jude 1:11
3. Are not things of despair, anger, and frustration
1Kgs.19:4-5 Elijah wanted to die, but God answered in the opposite
Jonah 4:8-9 Jonah wanted to die out of anger, but God reproved him
4. Are not things against God's nature
Exo. 32:32,33 Moses wanted to die instead of israel.. But, God is not unjust

Examples of What We Must Pray For
1. Holy Spirit .. Not just gifts but the Person (Lk. 11:13)
2. Wisdom..  (James 1:5; 1Kgs. 3:6-9)
3. Grace in time of need (Heb. 4:16)
4. Boldness of speech (Acts 4:29)
5. That you may not fall in temptation (Mk. 14:28; Lk. 21:36)
6. Healing... (Jas 5:14)
7. Divine health.. (3Jn. 1:2)
8. Protection,  deliverance 2Thess. 3:1-2)

Examples of Biblical Propositions or Implications That Challenge Science

1. God created the world out of nothing.
This contradicts the scientific assumptions that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, and that something cannot come out of nothing. The Bible is unique in its proclamation of creatio ex nihilo.  Even quantum physics based theories of the universe presuppose something preexisting, at least the quantum laws.

The biblical doctrine sets apart God as transcendent, infinite, immutable, and one.

2. The material world is not the only reality.
While certain psychical societies have been investigating this claim, science in general cannot include the supernatural into its equations, obviously. Anything beyond the material is beyond science. Science cannot base predictions on anything apart of realities that submit to laws of nature, as it knows.

However, Bible believers can identify and predict many things that relate to the non-material world. These include events that involve angels, prophecies, faith, and cases of demonic activities.

3. All have sinned
Science can recognize natural laws or laws of nature but cannot establish moral law. Some psychologists concluded that the moral law and the human conscience were products of human societies and relative to them, not absolute in themselves.

However, the Bible clearly declares humans as being in rebellion against God.

4. Resurrection and Salvation
Obviously, this the offence of science that Christ resurrected from the dead and there will be a resurrection of those who die in Christ (the living will be transformed).

For, believers this keeps them from the eat-drink-and-be-merry-for-tomorrow-you-die kind of hedonistic attitude towards life. This gives them a hope for the future and a reason to be altruistic and live a just and righteous life.