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Becky Carriker

Sunday Sermon, 12/8/2024

JESUS THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING

THE LIGHT FOR YOUR DARKNESS


Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the

government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of

Peace.


John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we

have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of

grace and truth.


John 3:16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and

only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but

have eternal life.


Psalm 32:8 “The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best

pathway for your life. I will counsel you and watch over you. “


Psalm 103:13 “The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and

compassionate to those who fear him.”


John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may

have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I

have overcome the world”.


Isaiah 9:2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great

light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light

shone.


Light is a major theme in the Bible.


1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim

to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.


John 8:12 “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the

world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have

the light of life.”


Jesus is the eternal Light that keeps on lighting up our lives.


John 12:46 “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever

believes in me may not remain in darkness.”


He's talking about personal darkness.  


THE DARKNESS OF DISAPPOINTMENT


Job 30:26  “ But when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for

light, darkness came”


THE DARKNESS OF DISTRESS


Psalm 69:3 I have wept until I am exhausted; my throat is dry and

hoarse; my eyes are swollen with weeping, waiting for my God to

act.


Psalm 142:4 I look for someone to come and help me, but no one

gives me a passing thought! No one will help me; no one cares a bit

what happens to me.


THE DARKNESS OF DOUBT


John 12:35b "The one who walks in the dark does not know where

he is going."


THE DARKNESS OF DEPRESSION


Lamentations 3:19–20 (GNB) “The thought of my pain, my

wanderings, is bitter poison; 20 I think of it constantly and my spirit is

depressed.”


Psalm 88:18 (NLT) “You have taken away my companions and loved

ones. Darkness is my closest friend.”


God cares. He loves you. He cares about you because you matter to

him. Your pain matters to Him and He cares about it.  


1 Samuel 22:29 "You Lord, are my light; you dispel my darkness."


1.  He encourages me with His eternal Presence and His Promise

when I'm disappointed.


Psalm 34:18 "The Lord is near to those who are discouraged, he

saves those who have lost all hope."

 

The first way God encourages us is He says, "I'm with you."


He is Immanuel -- God is with us!


The darkest part of the night is when the light shines the brightest.


Psalm 138:8 “The LORD will work out his plans for my life— for your

faithful love, O LORD, endures forever…”


Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT) “For I know the plans I have for you,” says

the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a

future and a hope.”


2.  He empowers me and gives me His strength when I'm distressed.


Philippians 4:13 (Amplified) "I have the strength for all things in

Christ who empowers me.  I am ready for anything and equal to

anything through Him who infuses inner strength into me."

 

Philippians 4:13. "I can handle anything with the power that Christ

gives me in His strength.


Psalm 23:4 "Even though I go through the deepest darkness, I will

not be afraid, Lord, for you are with me."


The theme of Psalms in one sentence: Life is tough, but God is good.


3.  He will guide me when I'm doubtful.


Feelings are highly unreliable.


God’s Word won't steer you the wrong way.


Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my

path.”


Darkness cannot stamp out the light no matter how hard it tries. It

can't extinguish it.  


4.  He will change me when I'm depressed.


Ephesians 5:13–14 (NCV) But the light makes all things easy to see,

14  and everything that is made easy to see can become light. This is

why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper! Rise from death, and Christ will

shine on you.”


Ephesians 5:8-9 “For once you were full of darkness, but now you

have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9 For this light

within you produces only what is good and right and true.”


When you allow Christ to fill your life with His spirit, it brings out the

best in you.  


He is the gift that keeps on giving His light for us that we may not

remain in the dark night of the soul.


It's one thing to know there's a light in the world. It's another thing

to follow the light.  


You can choose darkness or light.  


If you want to get out of the dark days, then you must choose to

start living in the light.

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