Old Testament Scripture Reading: Isaiah 49:1 – 6 (KJV)
Isa 49:1 Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.
Isa 49:2 And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;
Isa 49:3 And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.
Isa 49:4 Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God.
Isa 49:5 And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength.
Isa 49:6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
New Testament Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:14 – 16 (KJV)
Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Mat 5:15 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.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
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Transforming Power Statements:
1) Every since the creation, God has set the differences between light & darkness and has provided a remnant of people who believe Him and trust Him for His mercy, grace and truth; and are selected by Him to represent Him as witnesses to His ways and His glory; even though many choose to walk in darkness and reject the truthfulness of God & therefore, walk in darkness rather than in the light.
2) God promised from the very beginning to send His Son, Jesus the Messiah to be a light to the world; especially to Israel, but also to the Gentiles as well; to forever repair the breach between God and mankind for whosoever believes in Him and that He alone was raised from the dead; proving that He alone has the only solution to the penalty for sin, which is death.
3) Because we are His children, we must not allow the world to put the light out, nor even to dim our light, but we must actively choose to live out the light of Christ Jesus in everything we say and do, and therefore, we must actively pursue the process of Lighting Up the Dark-side of ourselves in order to glorify God and be a proper witness to the fallen world rather than letting their darkness snuff out the light of the truth!