YE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

YE ARE---LIGHT

Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

We must keep in mind that Jesus was giving a brief description of the KINGDOM OF GOD when He preached the Sermon On The Mount. He was NOT uttering platitudes and high-sounding phrases. He was describing the ULTIMATE INTENT OF GOD for the Church that He was starting. NEITHER WAS HE TALKING ABOUT MAKING HEAVEN OUR ETERNAL HOME—SALVATION. The subject was THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

Comparatively few Christians believe that God is able to do what He has said He will do. We have been so programmed for failure that we can not comprehend the magnitude of what He is intending to do. We have been told so many times that the final outcome depends on what WE do, that we cannot believe that HE will get the job done by Himself.

Sometimes it nearly staggers our imagination to even THINK about what the Kingdom of God will be like. This much we know: IT WILL NOT BE A POLITICAL SETUP SUCH AS WE KNOW NOW. The Statute books will all be blank pages. The Police blotters will be blanks—in fact there will not be any policemen, no Mayors nor City Councilmen. All penal institutions will be non-existent, and no court sessions will be conducted. What money we have will be as safe in the kitchen cupboard as if it were in the First National Bank. We can throw away the house keys, the ignition keys and door locks to our automobiles. Our women can walk the streets at night without fear or danger. Sickness and disease as we know it today will have vanished from among God’s People. Hospitals and institutions will be empty and abandoned. Health workers will be idle.

We are NOT writing about HEAVEN! THIS WILL BE TAKING PLACE RIGHT HERE ON EARTH.

Isa 11:5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
Isa 11:6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
Isa 11:7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
Isa 11:8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice's den.
Isa 11:9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: FOR THE EARTH SHALL BE FULL OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD, AS THE WATERS COVER THE SEA. (every square inch)
Isa 11:10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
Isa 11:11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
Isa 11:12 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
Isa 11:13 The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.
Isa 11:14 But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.
Isa 11:15 And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dry-shod.
Isa 11:16 And there shall be a highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.

Jer 16:14 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;
Jer 16:15 But, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers. (This is describing the LAND OF THE SPIRIT, rather than a geographical location—the CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST, if you will.) “Unto HIM shall the gathering of the people be.” Isa 49:10

Let me hasten to say right here that the Church of today will have undergone a thorough overhaul by this time described in the Bible. The denominational system will have been completely demolished (by God’s own Spirit), and the people will be held together by that same Spirit. No other binding force will be needed.

Jer 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
Jer 31:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they broke, although I was a husband unto them, saith the LORD:
Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I WILL PUT MY LAW IN THEIR INWARD PARTS, AND WRITE IT IN THEIR HEARTS; AND WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
Jer 31:34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: FOR I WILL FORGIVE THEIR INIQUITY, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SIN NO MORE.
Jer 31:35 Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name:
Jer 31:36 If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me forever.
Jer 31:37 Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.

We must never forget that God caused Jeremiah to foretell the destiny of the Northern ten tribes of Israel in chapter 18. THEY WERE TO BE RE-MADE INTO ANOTHER VESSEL THAN THEY HAD FORMERLY BEEN when they failed God so miserably. They would hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and believe that He is the SON OF GOD. They would then begin to proclaim (as the Church) the Gospel around the world, and be the instrument through which God would do what He needed to do to bring about a world-wide reaping of the vast multitudes of humanity. (Three Major Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel) tell the story, though it sounds like they might be describing something else while they were writing). God will make up His Royalty (Kingdom) from among these people (whom we now know as the Church. NEVER FORGET THAT IT WILL BE ENTIRELY A WORK OF THE SPIRIT, RATHER THAN THE LABORS OF MANKIND.

How many times have we (you and I) miserably failed God? It doesn’t matter. He intends to forgive and forget them all, when we ask Him to. We can stand before Him—JUSTIFIED (declared innocent, absolved of all guilt--acquitted).

Rom 9:28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. (COMPLETELY AND DECISIVELY)--GW

We reach into the sixth century BEFORE Jesus was born for a clue to the identity of the person who is scheduled (yes, I said “Scheduled”) to “Build the Temple” that we have heard so much about the last few years. Listen to the Prophet:

Zec 6:12 And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:
Zec 6:13 Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.

Here is a “strange” (to quote Paul Harvey). Listen to John the Revelator: Rev 21:22 And I SAW NO TEMPLE THEREIN: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
Rev 21:23 And the city 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.
Rev 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it.
Rev 21:25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.

Rev 3:12 HIM THAT OVERCOMETH WILL I MAKE A PILLAR IN THE TEMPLE OF MY GOD, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is NEW JERUSALEM, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name

The disciples of Jesus were as helpless to understand the things Jesus taught them as we are-- until Jesus, BY AN OPERATION OF THE SPIRIT, performed a miracle on their minds. One of the last things Jesus did before ascending to Heaven is recorded in Luke 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, (minds) that they might understand (sort out and put together) the scriptures, (a simpler translation, based on Strong's Conc.)

Try as they might, the disciples had not been able to comprehend the scriptures nor the words of Jesus, because they did not have access to, nor see the need of, the operation of the Holy Ghost. Jesus told Peter (Mk 8:33) "Thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men." (That is our problem today also).
So Jesus gave them a "Preview of Pentecost" with a Spiritual Illumination of the scriptures.
Spiritual understanding does not come from education. We educate fools, and produce educated fools, whom we send to the Pulpits or to Congress, with varying degrees of disaster.
Nor does understanding spring from human ingenuity or cleverness. In fact, human intelligence is at a total loss to comprehend Spiritual Truths. Mk 8:21 "How is it that ye do not understand?"
I Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned. Mk 9:32 "but they understood not--"
It is only as we humble ourselves in obedience to the Gospel (accepting the Salvation which is offered us through the Blood of Jesus) that we can have access to Spiritual Understanding which reveals the Truth to us.
Hebrews 11:3 THROUGH FAITH WE UNDERSTAND--
Psalms 25:14 The SECRET OF THE LORD [is] with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.

Part of the problem with Job and his friends was that THEY WERE SPEAKING WITHOUT THE INSPIRATION OF THE ALMIGHTY. Instead of solving problems, it created a bunch more.
Job 32:8 But [there is] a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
Jesus told His disciples that the Holy Ghost would be their instructor in Spiritual things.
John 14:26 But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you
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There is a COMMUNION, an EDIFICATION, an INSPIRATION, in speaking in the unknown tongue which CAN NOT BE RECEIVED in ANY OTHER WAY. Our spirit is made aware of things which our mind can not teach it, for the mind can not know them. When we pray in the unknown tongue, OUR SPIRIT is IN COMMUNION with the SPIRIT WHICH SPOKE THE WORLDS INTO EXISTENCE, and KNOWS EVERYTHING. OUR SPIRITS ARE TAUGHT BY HIS SPIRIT.

I Corinthians 14:2 For he that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth [him]; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

If we commune with God in the unknown tongue, we soon discover that we KNOW things which we didn't learn. Our Spirit has been taught things which our mind cannot comprehend. We do things without knowing WHY we do them. The prompting of the Spirit.

Job 33:16 Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,

The Apostle Paul became excited while writing to the Romans about the plan of Salvation. He exclaimed:
Romans 11:33 O THE DEPTH OF THE RICHES BOTH OF THE WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE OF GOD! how unsearchable [are] his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

In Collosians he again referred to the Wisdom and Knowledge of God: Colossians 2:3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

In Ephesians, he again mentions the magnitude of the message of Jesus Christ, and His Salvation. Ephesians 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

David had a little "Glory Spell" also as we read: Psalms 40:5 Many, O LORD my God, [are] thy wonderful works [which] thou hast done, and thy thoughts [which are] to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: [if] I would declare and speak [of them], they are more than can be numbered.

Again in Psalms 104:24 O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.

Listen to Job: 5:9 Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number:

Wisdom speaks. Proverbs 8:12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
Proverbs 8:14 Counsel [is] mine, and sound wisdom: I [am] understanding; I have strength.

The Prophet says. Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

The Apostle declares. I Corinthians 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

2Co 4:6 FOR GOD, WHO COMMANDED THE LIGHT TO SHINE OUT OF DARKNESS, HATH SHINED IN OUR HEARTS, TO GIVE THE LIGHT OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GLORY OF GOD IN THE FACE OF JESUS CHRIST.


A “City” (The New Jerusalem, the Kingdom of God, the “Paradise of God”) that is set on a hill (The Hill of His Holiness, My Holy Hill) cannot be hidden. (Mat 5:14)

Rev 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
Rev 21:23 And the city 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.
Rev 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it.
Rev 21:25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
Rev 21:26 And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.
Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.