Life Group Leaders’ Notes
Title: Your Light Has Come
Key Text: Isaiah 9:2 / Isaiah 60:1
In such a dark world we can have great hope, both for now and the future, both for us and our families and friends.
The prophet Isaiah put it like this in Isaiah 9:2: The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
In the words that our Christmas series is based on we read in Isaiah 60:1-2: Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you.
These words were originally addressed to the Jewish people who were sad and depressed after seeing their nation and Temple destroyed by the Babylonians. So many Jewish people had been uprooted from their homes and taken to live in a foreign country.
They seemed powerless to change their situation. But the prophet Isaiah saw of and told of a time that was soon coming when they would no longer be prisoners in Babylon. They would be rescued from their despair and restored to their homeland and a new relationship with God.
There was light coming to remove their darkness. Now these famous words do not only apply to these Jewish people years ago, but also to us now in this present day.
Jesus is the Light of the World. Jesus wants to Light up your life. Jesus wants you to shine His light in the world.
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One of the most inspirational books of modern times is called Deep Down Dark. It's written by novelist and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Hector Tobar and it tells of how there can be hope in the darkest situation when there seems to be no way out.
It was 5 August 2010. For seventeen days all rescue attempts failed. There was no sign of life in the copper mine. The trapped miners had enough food for three days and a little drinking water. In total however, the men survived a record sixty-nine days underground before they were brought to the surface. More than a billion people watched the rescue live on television. "We realized we had only one alternative, and that was God himself," he recalled the 56-year-old, as reported by CNN.
The story of the rescue of the miners from the darkness of their underground captivity into the light of day, is a very clear picture of what Christmas and Christianity is all about.
All of us know that we live in a world of great darkness that we have to live in and in which our children and grandchildren are growing up in.
Jesus is the light of the world
Light came into the world 2000 years ago when the Saviour of the world was born in Bethlehem’s stable. Jesus Christ said in John 8:12 "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life."
Jesus came to light up the world. John’s gospel 1:4-5 says simply: ‘in him was life, and that light was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.’
Light comes into our lives when we choose to follow Jesus. When we make that decision to follow him – we don’t have to worry about anything. There is a way out and that is through Jesus who came to rescue us from all sin and all forms of evil.
Do you feel like you are trapped, in darkness or alone? Jesus came to bring light to the world. Do you feel like you need the Light of God to shine into your life?
Jesus wants to light up your life
Isaiah 60; says ‘your light has come.’ The light of God has to come to each one of us individually.
In John 14:6 - Jesus clearly says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Light comes into our lives the moment we decide to follow Jesus.
When we truly know Christ has come to us, we no longer have to walk in darkness. We don’t have to stumble about in our decisions and relationships. The closer we draw near to Christ through prayer and the study of God’s word the clearer we can see where we are going and how to act and react.
When you receive Jesus into your life it is like a light is switched on and your whole life is illuminated.
Do you know that Jesus is there waiting for you? Do you want Jesus to bring light into your life, but you haven’t taken the first step yet?
3. Jesus wants you to shine his light in the world
Christians are people who not only have light; we are also people who are to transmit light.
Jesus not only said ‘I am the light of the world’ He said also in Matthew 5: 14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
We must increasingly experience the light of God in our lives and then shine that light far and wide in our homes, work places, communities and nations.
Christians individually and together as the church have responsibility to bring light into the world because of our relationship with Christ.
It’s time to shine our lights in public places and personal relationships so that everyone can see who we are and what we believe. Christians need to shine out in their workplaces and in every circle of influence. We do this:
By living holy lives
Romans 13:12-13: ‘let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.’
Ephesians 5:8: ‘For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light’
By being illuminated by the Word of God
Psalm 119:105; Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. We must daily read and meditate on God’s word to see where we are going. We must be a people of the Word.
By being in right relationship with your Christian brothers and sisters
1 John 1:7: ‘But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another.’
1 John 2:9: ‘Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.’
By living under the direction of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth. We must have the insights and direction of the Holy Spirit.
By speaking positively and sharing the good news about Jesus
Make sure you speak up for light and right. Don’t go with the crowd. Stop being intimidated by the opinions of others. Say what needs to be said. Above all you tell people about Jesus.
He’s the hope that people need. He’s the one who can bring them out of the darkness and sin and the gloom of depression.
By your good deeds
Matthew 5:16 ‘In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven’
Let’s do all we can to be kind to people and to help them practically, especially at this season.
Luke 4:18-19 tells us how Jesus fulfils the prophesy of Isaiah. “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free”
Today you might feel that you are being held captive by a certain situation past or present; that you cannot see a way out of your personal prison - whether that be sickness, debt, depression, disappointment, fear, guilt or shame, emotional or physical pain, family breakdown in a marriage or other relationship; or something else which you know is really oppressing you.
Even though you may have been one of ‘the people walking in darkness’ you can see the ‘great light’ of Jesus dawn on you in a land of deep darkness.
Although you may have felt like you are in a prison in your life, now is the time for freedom. That although you have felt blinded by your circumstances and unable to move forward, He will give you the sight to see all the good - the hope and future He has for you. And that despite having felt oppressed and held captive, you are being set free. Today is your day to be set free.
Today you need to hear the truth of God’s word for your life: The NLT version says in Isaiah 60:19-20
The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.
20Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end
So, everyone be very sure of this. The Lord wants to help you and heal you. He can cleanse you and forgive you.
· He can lift you up out of guilt and shame and fear and pain.
· He can bless you greatly and make you a great blessing and force for good to the whole world
· He can remove all the darkness and depression in your life and flood you with His light
In the words of the great carol: ‘Light and life to all He brings/Risen with healing in His wings.’ And it goes on to say:
Born that man no more may die/Born to raise the sons of earth/Born to give them second birth
Hark! The Herald angels sing/"Glory to the newborn King!"
