| “Your Word is a Lamp” A. “This is the
message we have heard from him and proclaim to you”(1 John 1:5-10). B. This “good news” was written so that it
might be dispersed far and wide (1 John 1:1-4). C. The eyewitness-authors believed that we
could share in their joy through the power of their words. I. Darkness Fills the Vacuum Left by the
Absence of God’s Word A. The tragic
reality: we either are or have been in___________________.1. When we suppress the truth of God’s
existence, we turn our backs on light (Rom 1:18-32). 2. The resulting “futility” of mind can best
be described in terms of darkness (Eph 4:17-19). 3. Walking in darkness is an ancient epidemic
that was lamented by Job (24:13-17). 4.
Humanity had not evolved beyond this epidemic in the days of Jesus
(John 3:18-20). 5. The gospel is
tragically veiled to those who are perishing (2 Cor 4:3-6). B. Ours is a world that has been and presently
is enveloped in darkness. II. The Good News: The True Light Has Come Into
the World A. We have not been
abandoned to the darkness of ignorance and rebellion (John 1:1-5, 9-14).
B. The “eyes of our hearts” can
be“__________________”(Eph 1:18; Heb 6:4; 10:32). C. The word is our God-given lamp (Psa
119:105,130; 19:7-11; Prov 6:20-23; Isa 2:5; 42:5,16) 1. In the____________(Psa 59:16-17; 88:13;
90:14; 92:1-2; 143:8) 2. In the
daytime (Rom 13:13-14) 3. In
the____________(Psa 65:5-8; 141:1-2) 4.
In the watches of the night (Psa 63:1-8; 119:147-148) 5. Like the rising of the sun, illuminating
our____________(Eccl 12:13-14) 6. Like
a flash of revelation concerning our story and God’s intervention (Romans) 7. Like a lamp, spotlighting the___________of
our days on this earth (Jam 4:14; Psa 90:12) 8. Like a darkness-defeating torch in times of
temptation (1 Cor 10:13; Eph 6:17) 9.
Like a fire, providing a comforting glow in times
of_______________(Psa 73:23-26) 10. Like a lighthouse in times of stormy
uncertainty (Phil 4:4-7) 11. Like a guiding light for the church, home life,
our work ethic, discipline, and maturity D.
God’s word is the means he uses to reveal himself as the
all-satisfying____________(Psa 23). E. “Come, let us walk in the light of the
LORD” (Isa 2:5). |
