The God Of Light And Life

SERMON OUTLINE

• 💭 Consider this: Whom has God used to shine His light into your life, and in what ways?
• I. The Significance
• II. The Application

TRANSCRIPT

Our text for today's message is taken from Exodus 37:17–24. The title of our message is: The God of Light and Life.

If you remember, the tabernacle was a huge tent with no windows. It had four thick layers of coverings. The inner layers were made of fine linen covered with cloth made of goat's hair. The outer layers were made of ram's skin. On the top was a waterproof layer made from the skin of sea cows.

With all these layers, you can imagine how dark it was underneath. If no light could penetrate through, then the priests entering the holy place would have to move around in darkness. How then could they perform their priestly duties?

So God provided the golden lampstand, which is essentially what this passage is all about. Exodus 25 talks about the command given to build the golden lampstand, and here this passage records that it was actually built.

When I visited the Holy Land many years ago, I bought a replica of the golden lampstand. But it is impossible to make the exact replica because the bible does not give any measurement as to the size of the golden lampstand. However, we can have a good idea what it looked like based on the description given here.

The golden lampstand was placed in the holy place opposite the table of showbread. There was a main shaft that was connected to the base with six branches, three on each side. The lampstand was made of pure gold.

The bowl is the fruit cup shaped like an almond. The knob is the bud and the flowers are the blossom. In other words, it was carefully crafted and decorated with flowers, buds, and fruits. There was a fruit cup at the top of the main shaft and the six branches, and it was designed to hold a lamp to give out light. That was why it was called seven lamps.

Each little cup was filled with oil to provide fuel for the light. Then a wick was placed on the rim of the lamp to light the fire. Once it was lit, the lamps would provide the light, not only to the table of showbread but also for the rest of the room.

In Numbers 8:2, Aaron was commanded, "When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick."

There were tongs and trays used to trim the wicks on the lamps. Everything was made of pure gold. And the total weight was one talent. One talent is about 30-35 kilograms. If you weigh about 60 kilograms, it would be about half your weight. That is pretty heavy.

I. The Significance

The important thing we want to learn about the golden lampstand is its significance. Therefore, we need to look at both the Old and New Testaments to understand what it represents.

Obviously, the primary purpose of the lampstand was to provide light in the holy place to enable the priests to see what they were doing as they carried out their priestly duties. Every home needs light, and God's holy place was no exception.

The opposite of light is darkness, and spiritually speaking, darkness is often used to symbolise sin, evil, unbelief, or a life without God. Like when someone describes you as a person full of darkness, he means you are a very sinful and evil person. But when he describes you as a person full of light, he means you are a very righteous and truthful person.

But there was another meaning, though not that obvious. Notice the lampstand was made in the shape of a tree. The main shaft formed the trunk of the tree from which the branches spread out with beautiful fruits, buds, and blossoms with flowers. It was not merely decorative but symbolic. As the lampstand branched out, it was budding, blooming, and ripening with fruits. In other words, the three stages in the life cycle of a tree were occurring simultaneously.

Therefore, the purpose of the lampstand was to show that in God's presence, there was light and life. If you remember, when God first created the heavens and the earth, He said, "Let there be light." And there was light. God was the one who put light in the sky to mark the different seasons, days, months, and years. God is the source of light. He’s the light-giver.

When God created Adam and Eve, He was the one who gave them life. He breathed into them the breath of life. When He placed Adam and Eve in the garden, He gave them the tree of life to eat from it and be nourished from that tree. But the moment they fell into sin by disobeying God and ate the forbidden fruit, they were cut off from the tree of life. The wages of their sin was death — physical, spiritual, and eternal death.

If nothing was done, they would be eternally lost. They would not have life. But God had a salvation plan for His people by providing them with new life through the blood of the sacrificial animal, which pointed to the ultimate Lamb — Jesus Christ.

So God, as the source of light and life, was not only true in creation; it was also true in redemption. This was clearly seen in the deliverance of Israel out of bondage in Egypt when God led His people out of slavery and into freedom by the presence of His glorious light. Throughout their days in the wilderness, God was their source of light and life.

He was the one who provided them with the manna from Heaven, without which they would have died of hunger. He was the one who provided them with the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. And wherever the pillars of cloud and fire went, they followed.

The lampstand in the tabernacle stood as a constant reminder that as the people approached God, they were coming to the source of both light and life. That was why the Psalmist David said in Psalm 27:1, "The Lord is my light and my salvation."

And in Psalm 36:9, he said, "For with Thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light."

So the significance of the golden lampstand was to            the people to God, who was the source of light and life.

II. The Application

Our second point is the application.

When we fast-forward to the New Testament, we can see that God’s promise to give light and life was fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

At the beginning of the Gospel of John, the Apostle John described what it meant for the Son of God to come into the world and tabernacle amongst us: "In him was life, and the life was the light of men." (John 1:4)

There are many verses in the Bible that speak about Jesus being the light and life. Allow me to quote some examples.

Jesus is the life. John 10:10: "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

John 10:28: "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."

Perhaps the most familiar verse, John 11:25: "Jesus said unto [her] (Martha), I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:"

Jesus is the light. John 1:9:  "That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world."

John 9:5 Jesus said, “I am the light of the world."

So Jesus Christ is the light and life of the world. And anyone who does not have a personal relationship with Him is still living in death and darkness.

Every man born into this world has a natural life. But what about spiritual life? The Bible says we are all dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1), and the wages of sin is death; but the gift of eternal life is from God, and it is through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23).

Before our conversions, we did not live according to the light of God’s Word. We did not hear the voice of God speaking to us in the Holy Scriptures. We may read the Bible, and at a certain level we may understand it, but it does not shine for us with the truth of God because we do not have the living work of the Holy Spirit.

And unless the Spirit of Christ illumines and convicts our hearts and minds, the Bible remains a dead book to us, and we come under the everlasting judgment of God. Outside of Christ, we are dead.

The only way to have light and life is to believe in Jesus Christ — the One who said, " I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12)

By the grace of God, you and I are saved as believers. We are called out of darkness and into His marvellous light. The Holy Spirit indwells in our hearts and transforms our lives that we may live for Christ and shine for Him in this dark and sinful world.

That is the reason why Jesus said to us, "Ye are the light of the world." (Matthew 5:14) Which means you Christians — you who are saved by My precious blood — you are the direct instrument of my light.

By nature and by definition, light must be visible in order to illuminate. So we do not light the candle and put it under a basket but on a candlestick so that it gives light to everyone in the house. A light hidden under a basket is still light, but it is a useless light. Lights are meant to illuminate, not to be hidden. It is to be displayed, not to be covered.

In other words, there is no such thing as being a secret Christian. The secret Christian is described as the hidden light. But how do we shine forth the light of Christ? Psalm 119:105 says, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

God’s light is His written Word — the Bible. With this powerful Word in our hands, we are to live our lives according to what the Bible commands. We are to proclaim God’s truth in a world that is darkened by sin and immorality. So by the way we live and by the message we declare, we are shining forth the light of Christ.

By faith, you and I are joined to Jesus, who is the source of our spiritual life. As His life flows into us, we blossom and become fruitful, and we in turn point others to Him who is able to give them light and life.

We cannot do this based on our own strength. And just like the branches on the lampstand had to be connected to the main shaft, Jesus said, "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15:5)

To abide is to remain. When we remain and are connected to Christ, we will be infused with His strength to live for Him — to be the light in the world for Him.

As Paul says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Phillipians 4:13)"

Dear friend, we must be the light of the world. And through our lives and testimonies, others may be influenced to hear the gospel message. Our lives and testimonies, no matter how good they are, cannot save anyone. We cannot make anyone believe in the gospel. It is a spiritual, supernatural work. But our lives can make the gospel more believable — as in, worthy to listen to.

A true story was told of a missionary who went to India, and he asked a Hindu scholar to teach him the native language. The Hindu scholar said, ‘No, I will not teach you my language. You would make me a Christian.’

The missionary replied, ‘You misunderstand me. I'm simply asking you to teach me your language.’ The scholar replied, ‘No, I understand you very clearly, but no man can live with you and not become a Christian.’

Although biblically speaking that is incorrect because salvation is a spiritual work that only God alone can do, however, the testimony of that missionary is so wonderful and marvellous — so much so that even the unbelieving Hindu scholar would say, ‘No man can live with you and not become a Christian.’

Just as the golden lampstand continued to shine in the tabernacle, the light and life that Jesus gives will continue to shine in us — not just in this life but even for all eternity.

Interestingly, at the end of the book of Revelation, the Bible promises that there is a tree of life in Heaven, and everyone who believes in Jesus has the right to eat from it and live forever. But one thing Heaven does not have, and does not need to have, is a lampstand to give out light. Why?

Because Revelation 21:23 says, God's heavenly city, the new Jerusalem, the eternal home for all believers, had “no need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof."

Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, is the light of Heaven. One day, we will live in the presence of God's light and life forever. But in the meantime, we are called to live for Christ and shine for Him in this dark and sinful world.

The golden lampstand not only speaks to the individual believer but also collectively as a church. That is why the seven golden candlesticks in Revelation 1:20 represented the seven churches.

Those were historical churches which existed at some point in history — the churches at Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

Some of those churches did not shine for Jesus. They were not the light of the world and they received only condemnation. Others received both commendation and condemnation. Only two churches received only commendation — and they were Smyrna and Philadelphia.

What do you think God will say to us as a believer and as a church? Will we receive only condemnation? Or will we receive both commendation and condemnation? Or will we receive only commendation?

The only way to receive only commendation is that we must obey the command to let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven. So we shine for Jesus by our lives, by our worship, by our services.

We do our work without murmuring and complaining. We give generously and sacrificially to the Lord's work. We share the gospel and tell the people what God has done through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as an individual branch. When you look at the golden lampstand, just take one of the branch. The ray of light has its limited influence.

But collectively as a lampstand it gives the light brightly to the entire room. Likewise, as an individual, the light we shine forth, the life we live, and the message we declare may have limited influence for Christ, but collectively as a church and together with other Bible believing churches, when the light shines, the influence will be great and the change will come by God's grace.

Dear friend, this world is full of lost sinners and they have to hear the gospel including our unbelieving grandparents, parents, children and friends. They cannot see their way above the distraction of this world, and they cannot find their way to the Father's house.

So individually and collectively as a church, we must be the light of the world and point the people to Jesus Christ, the only Light and Life who can save their souls.

I would like to end with this wonderful story of D.L Moody. D.L Moody was a very famous preacher. He once visited an art gallery and he saw a painting that caught his eyes. He said, ‘It was the finest thing I had ever seen. It was the picture of a man struggling in the dark waters and clinging with both hands to the cross.’

But afterwards, Moody saw another picture which he said was better than the first painting. It was the picture of a person coming out of the dark waters with one arm clinging onto the cross, but with the other arm she was lifting someone else out of the waves.

Dear friend, that is the way you and I should live our lives as believers. We have been saved from the dark waters of sin and death by clinging onto the cross. But with the other hand, we should also lift someone else who is in the same predicament as we were in the past from the dark waters of sin and death.

One hand clinging to the cross and the other reaching out to the lost souls. What a wonderful and beautiful picture of a faithful believer. So I pray that all of us will do likewise. God is the source of light and life and He gives this light and life to us and He wants us to continue to shine for Him, and we cling onto the cross as well as reach out to those who are lost.

May God use us as His instruments to be the light of this world faithfully.

Let us pray. Our Father in Heaven, we give Thee thanks for enabling us to consider this portion of Scriptures. Indeed, as we study through the book of Exodus and we consider the golden lampstand, the significance of it shows that God is the source of both light and life. And as we look into the New Testament, we have learned that it was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. He is the Life and the Light of the world. And He who is the Light and the Life of the world has given us this life and light. And He says to us, ‘Ye are the light of the world.’

As believers, we are the direct instrument of His light and we want to shine forth this light most faithfully. So use us as we live our lives, as we declare Thy message, as we evangelise to others, as we do Thy work, by our speech, by our actions, and even in our thoughts. We want to be truly the light of the world.

And this is a supernatural spiritual work that only Thou alone are able to wrought in us. So we must remain and stay connected with Christ. He is the true vine and we are the branches. And if we abide in Him and He in us then we will produce much fruit. For without Him we can do nothing.

So help us to live such a life to the glory of Thy precious Name. We pray all this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

THE BOOK OF EXODUS

God’s Prophecy and Promise Had Come To Pass

God’s Prophecy and Promise Had Come To Pass

Exodus 1:1-7

From Prosperity to Persecution

From Prosperity to Persecution

Exodus 1:8-14

God’s Protection in the Midst of Adversities

God’s Protection in the Midst of Adversities

Exodus 1:15-21

The Faith Of A Beloved Mother

The Faith Of A Beloved Mother

Exodus 1:22-2:10; Hebrews 11:23

The Faith of Jochebed

The Faith of Jochebed

Exodus 1:22-2:10

Moses in Egypt

Moses in Egypt

Exodus 2:11-15

Moses in the Desert of Midian

Moses in the Desert of Midian

Exodus 2:16-25

Moses and the Burning Bush

Moses and the Burning Bush

Exodus 3:1-9

Who Are You?

Who Are You?

Exodus 3:10-15

Who Am I?

Who Am I?

Exodus 3:10-15

God’s Message to Israel and Egypt

God’s Message to Israel and Egypt

Exodus 3:16-22

What If They Still Don’t Believe?

What If They Still Don’t Believe?

Exodus 4:1-9

Send Someone Else

Send Someone Else

Exodus 4:10-17

Moses’ Return to Egypt

Moses’ Return to Egypt

Exodus 4:18-20

When Things Seemed to Get Better, They Got Worse

When Things Seemed to Get Better, They Got Worse

Exodus 5:10-21

When We Have Done Everything Right, and Yet Trouble Comes

When We Have Done Everything Right, and Yet Trouble Comes

Exodus 5:22-6:5

Having to Learn the Same Lesson Twice

Having to Learn the Same Lesson Twice

Exodus 6:6-12

Faithful or Unfaithful

Faithful or Unfaithful

Exodus 6:13-27

Biblical Lessons About Fasting

Biblical Lessons About Fasting

Matthew 6:16-18

What God Wants Is Our Faithfulness and Obedience

What God Wants Is Our Faithfulness and Obedience

Exodus 6:28-7:7

The First Plague - The River of Blood

The First Plague - The River of Blood

Exodus 7:14-25

The Second Plague - The Frogs

The Second Plague - The Frogs

Exodus 8:1-15

The Third Plague

The Third Plague

Exodus 8:16-19

The Fourth Plague

The Fourth Plague

Exodus 8:20-32

The Fifth Plague

The Fifth Plague

Exodus 9:1-7

The Sixth Plague

The Sixth Plague

Exodus 9:8-12

The Seventh Plague

The Seventh Plague

Exodus 9:13-35

The Eighth Plague

The Eighth Plague

Exodus 10:1-20

The Tenth Plague

The Tenth Plague

Exodus 11:1-10

The First Passover

The First Passover

Exodus 12:1-13

The Feast of the Unleavened Bread

The Feast of the Unleavened Bread

Exodus 12:14-28

Departure From Egypt

Departure From Egypt

Exodus 12:29-42

This Do In Remembrance of Me

This Do In Remembrance of Me

Exodus 12:43-51; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32

Message 2: What is Church to you? My Covenantal Family!

Message 2: What is Church to you? My Covenantal Family!

Exodus 12:48-49, Colossians 2:11-12

Redemption and Consecration

Redemption and Consecration

Exodus 13:1-2, 11-16

Precious Lord, Take My Hand

Precious Lord, Take My Hand

Exodus 13:17-22

Between the Desert and the Red Sea

Between the Desert and the Red Sea

Exodus 14:1-14

Crossing the Red Sea

Crossing the Red Sea

Exodus 14:15-31

The Song of Praise

The Song of Praise

Exodus 15:1-21

Will You Obey Or Not?

Will You Obey Or Not?

Exodus 15:22-27

The Danger of a Complaining Spirit

The Danger of a Complaining Spirit

Exodus 16:1-3

God’s Response to Israel’s Complaints

God’s Response to Israel’s Complaints

Exodus 16:1-10

The Test of Faith

The Test of Faith

Exodus 16:11-20

Lessons About the Sabbath

Lessons About the Sabbath

Exodus 16:21-36

Do Not Test God

Do Not Test God

Exodus 17:1-17

Lift Up Your Hands

Lift Up Your Hands

Exodus 17:8-16

The Blessedness of Reunion

The Blessedness of Reunion

Exodus 18:1-12

Why Do We Have Leaders?

Why Do We Have Leaders?

Exodus 18:13-27

I Will Carry You On Eagles’ Wings

I Will Carry You On Eagles’ Wings

Exodus 19:1-6

Approach God Fearlessly or Fearfully

Approach God Fearlessly or Fearfully

Exodus 19:7-15

God Reached Out And Spoke

God Reached Out And Spoke

Exodus 19:16-25

Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods

Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods

Exodus 20:1-3

Thou Shalt Not Make Graven Images

Thou Shalt Not Make Graven Images

Exodus 20:4-6

Thou Shalt Not Dishonour God’s Name

Thou Shalt Not Dishonour God’s Name

Exodus 20:7

Thou Shalt Keep The Sabbath Day

Thou Shalt Keep The Sabbath Day

Exodus 20:8-11

Honour Thy Father And Thy Mother

Honour Thy Father And Thy Mother

Exodus 20:12

Thou Shalt Not Kill

Thou Shalt Not Kill

Exodus 20:13

Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery

Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery

Exodus 20:14

Thou Shalt Not Steal

Thou Shalt Not Steal

Exodus 20:15

Thou Shalt Not Lie

Thou Shalt Not Lie

Exodus 20:16

Thou Shalt Not Covet

Thou Shalt Not Covet

Exodus 20:17

The Response To The Ten Commandments

The Response To The Ten Commandments

Exodus 20:18-21

How God Wants Us To Worship Him

How God Wants Us To Worship Him

Exodus 20:22-26

Why Would God Allow Slavery?

Why Would God Allow Slavery?

Exodus 21:1-11

The Punishment Fits The Crime — a life for a life

The Punishment Fits The Crime — a life for a life

Exodus 21:12-17

The Punishment Fits The Crime — an eye for an eye

The Punishment Fits The Crime — an eye for an eye

Exodus 21:18-36

The Punishment Deters The Crime — property laws

The Punishment Deters The Crime — property laws

Exodus 22:1-15

The Character Of God

The Character Of God

Exodus 22:16-20

Reaching Out To The Down-And-Out

Reaching Out To The Down-And-Out

Exodus 22:21-24

The Compassion, Authority & Holiness Of God

The Compassion, Authority & Holiness Of God

Exodus 22:25-31

Truth Cannot Be Subjected To Anything But Truth

Truth Cannot Be Subjected To Anything But Truth

Exodus 23:1-9

Remember Who God Is

Remember Who God Is

Exodus 23:10-19

What Must We Do To Have Victory

What Must We Do To Have Victory

Exodus 23:20-33

How We Ought To Worship God

How We Ought To Worship God

Exodus 24:1-4, 7

On What Basis Can We Approach His Majesty?

On What Basis Can We Approach His Majesty?

Exodus 24:4-8

Responding To God’s Invitation

Responding To God’s Invitation

Exodus 24:9-18

The Right Attitude Of Giving

The Right Attitude Of Giving

Exodus 25:1-8

There I Will Meet You

There I Will Meet You

Exodus 25:9-22

Physical Or Spiritual Bread, Which Is More Important?

Physical Or Spiritual Bread, Which Is More Important?

Exodus 25:23-30

Let Your Light So Shine Before Men

Let Your Light So Shine Before Men

Exodus 25:31-40

The Veil That Separates

The Veil That Separates

Exodus 26:1-37

A Day In Thy Court Is Better Than A Thousand

A Day In Thy Court Is Better Than A Thousand

Exodus 27:1-19

Who Can Represent Us Before God?

Who Can Represent Us Before God?

Exodus 27:20-28:14

How Can We Know God’s Will?

How Can We Know God’s Will?

Exodus 28:15-30

Is Our Worship Attire Really Important?

Is Our Worship Attire Really Important?

Exodus 28:31-43

The Ordination Of Priests

The Ordination Of Priests

Exodus 29:1-21

The Provision For Priests

The Provision For Priests

Exodus 29:22-29

Remind Us For We Always Forget

Remind Us For We Always Forget

Exodus 29:36-46

Sweet Hour Of Prayer

Sweet Hour Of Prayer

Exodus 30:1-10

The Danger Of The Number Game

The Danger Of The Number Game

Exodus 30:11-16

The Importance Of Sanctification

The Importance Of Sanctification

Exodus 30:17-21

The Anointing Of Oil

The Anointing Of Oil

Exodus 30:22-38

No Such Thing As An Unimportant Calling Or Gift

No Such Thing As An Unimportant Calling Or Gift

Exodus 31:1-11

The Most Ignored Commandment

The Most Ignored Commandment

Exodus 31:12-18

We Forget So Quickly

We Forget So Quickly

Exodus 32:1-6

Guilty As Charged

Guilty As Charged

Exodus 32:7-14

Who Is To Be Blamed?

Who Is To Be Blamed?

Exodus 32:15-24

Who Is On The Lord’s Side?

Who Is On The Lord’s Side?

Exodus 32:25-29

I Will Die For You If I Can

I Will Die For You If I Can

Exodus 32:30-35

I Will Not Go With You

I Will Not Go With You

Exodus 33:1-11

If Thy Presence Go Not With Me, Carry Us Not Up Hence

If Thy Presence Go Not With Me, Carry Us Not Up Hence

Exodus 33:12-23

If Thy Presence Go Not with Me, Carry Us Not Up Hence

If Thy Presence Go Not with Me, Carry Us Not Up Hence

Exodus 33:12-23

I Will Show You Who I Am

I Will Show You Who I Am

Exodus 34:1-7

What It Means To Be In A Covenant Relationship With God

What It Means To Be In A Covenant Relationship With God

Exodus 34:8-17

Worship The Right God In The Right Way

Worship The Right God In The Right Way

Exodus 34:18-27

The Glory That Fadeth Not Away

The Glory That Fadeth Not Away

Exodus 34:28-35; 2 Corinthians 3:7-17

The Importance Of Keeping The Christian Sabbath

The Importance Of Keeping The Christian Sabbath

Exodus 35:1-3

Offering To God Our Best

Offering To God Our Best

Exodus 35:4-29

Serve God In God's Way

Serve God In God's Way

Exodus 35:30-35

Enough. It Is More Than Enough.

Enough. It Is More Than Enough.

Exodus 36:1-7

I Will Meet, Dwell And Live In You

I Will Meet, Dwell And Live In You

Exodus 36:8-38

This Is How I Will Be Your God

This Is How I Will Be Your God

Exodus 37:1-9

Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread

Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread

Exodus 37:10-16; Matthew 6:11

The God Of Light And Life

The God Of Light And Life

Exodus 37:17-24

Lessons About Prayers

Lessons About Prayers

Exodus 37:25-29

Jesus, The Greater High Priest

Jesus, The Greater High Priest

Exodus 37:25-29; Hebrews 7:20-28