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LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE (Kent Smith Notes 10/27/24)

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE

PSALM 34

ISAIAH 60

MATTHEW 5:13-16

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PSALM 34:1-5 THE POWER OF A TESTIMONY:

V.1 I will bless the Lord at all times;

His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

V.2 My soul will be its boast in the Lord;

The humble will hear it and rejoice.

V.3 O magnify the Lord with me,

And let us exalt His name together.

V. 4 I sought the Lord, and He answered me,

And delivered me from all my fears.

V.5 They looked to Him and were RADIANT,

And their faces will never be ashamed.

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Written by David while a fugitive from Saul, where David flees to Gath of the Philistines (the home city of Goliath!)

He’s being sought by the King of Israel

He escapes to a cave in the land of his fiercest enemy.

He’s accompanied by others who may have been sought in Israel – criminals

And the poor and destitute that would go anywhere (even to the Philistines) to find relief from their troubles.


      I will  - a personal decision

Bless the Lord - a choice to praise

At all times -  in all circumstances

His praise -  He is the object of our praise

Shall continuously -  repeatedly, again, and again

Be in my mouth. -  Verbalized physically (not just in the mind)


2.          My soul - From the depth of our being

            will make its boast - we all praise and boast about something

            in the Lord; - let your brag be on the Lord!

            The humble will hear it - others will hear your boast, but the humble we respond differently than the proud.

            and rejoice. - The humble (those who understand God is greater)  will rejoice to hear of God’s goodness.

 3.             O magnify the Lord - an invitation for others to join you in magnifying the Lord: - to make Him appear even greater. (perception- see God as bigger)

            with me, - your verbal praise invites others to join you in praising God.

            And let us - Invite others to praise God too

            exalt - elevate, lift up, to see as greater in rank power and character

            His name - His name:  not just any deity – But Yahweh, Jehovah, Jesus -

            together. - Praising God is multiplied when it is done together. (Multiplied not just added)


4.         I sought the Lord, - An intentional effort to pursue God. To know Him and experience His presence. 

            and He answered me, - God wants to communicate with us, especially when we are seeking Him.

            And delivered me - God wants to act on our behalf, so we learn to trust Him and know Him more intimately.  

            from all my fears. - We are delivered from our fears when we experience God showing up in our life circumstances again and again.

5.         They looked to Him - We are part of a greater community of believers who are praising God together

            and were RADIANT, - When we do this our countenance becomes RADIANT!            And their faces - Our face reflects our true heart!

            will never be ashamed. - Expressing praise of God publicly reflects a heart of joy in God, but failing to give Him public praise reflects that we are ashamed of Him..

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ISAIAH 60:1-5 THE GLORY OF HIS PROMISES

V.1 Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

V.2 For behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; But the Lord will rise upon you and His glory will appear upon you.

V. 3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

V. 4 “Lift up your eyes round about and see; they all gather together, they come to you. Your sons will come from afar, and your daughters will be carried in the arms.

V. 5a THEN YOU WILL SEE AND BE RADIANT AND YOUR HEART WILL THRILL AND REJOICE!

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V. 1 ARISE, SHINE;    Rise and shine

     FOR YOUR LIGHT HAS COME,  God’s light is real and personal / individual 

     AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD HAS RISEN UPON YOU.  His light is a visible reflection of His glory (Transfiguration)

  Here is our reason to embrace the day!

  We are partakers and vessels to hold and express His grace and glory

V.2  “For behold, darkness will cover the earth  The world is covered in darkness

     And deep darkness the peoples;  People are in even a deeper darkness (spiritually blinded by the enemy)

     But the Lord will rise upon you  But God rides like the sun and illumines us!

     And His glory will appear upon you.  He reveals His glory to us, and it shines out from within us

V.3  “Nations will come to your light,  This is OT prophecy particularly regarding God’s Chosen Nation.  We have been grafted into the        And kings to the brightness of your rising.  covenant promises God made to Israel.

V.4 “Lift up your eyes round about and see;  Isaiah prophecies of Israel's coming glory,  They all gather together, they come to you.  That is fulfilled through Christ and His church. Your sons will come from afar,  We are the ones who have come from afar, we the church And your daughters will be carried in the arms.  Have been cradled in the arms of God’s Covenant to Israel.

5 “THEN YOU WILL SEE AND BE RADIANT,  As we recognize our part in God’s great redemptive plan

AND YOUR HEART WILL THRILL AND REJOICE;  our face should shine, and our heart should thrill and rejoice.

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MATTHEW 5:13-16 LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE

V. 13 You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.

V. 14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

V. 15 Nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

V. 16 LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE MEN in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

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V. 13  You are the salt of the earth;

        but if the salt has become tasteless,

        how can it be made salty again?

       It is no longer good for anything,

       except to be thrown out

       and trampled under foot by men.

V. 14  “You are the light of the world.

       A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 

V. 15  nor does anyone light a lamp

        and put it under a basket,

        but on the lampstand,

        and it gives light to all who are in the house. 

V. 16  Let your light shine before men

       in such a way

       that they may see your good works

       and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

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ARE YOU ILLUMINATING YOUR WORLD?

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