Worship Devotional CXXX
The Kingdom Of Light
Worship Devotional from 7/24/22
Isaiah 60:1:
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord shines over you.”
As those who have been set free from our bondage to sin and death, who have been redeemed by the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross, and who have been adopted into the family of the one true and living God, we are now vessels of God’s Spirit, messengers of hope in this world, citizens of an eternal kingdom which is not of this world, here as temporary residents to declare the praises of the One who is able to rescue those who are lost in the darkness of deception and death, and bring them into the glorious light of His everlasting truth, love, and life. We have rejoiced in the Lord for our new identity in Him as children of God, giving thanks to our Heavenly Father for loving us and giving us freedom in Christ Jesus the Son of God through the Holy Spirit who lives in us. Now having been made new and brought back to true life in Jesus, we do not use our freedom for selfish gain. Instead, we are free to be who we really are in Christ, which means we are free to love and to serve the living God in holiness and righteousness. This is what we were created for.
We are citizens of God’s kingdom who have been granted the freedom of heaven by God’s grace, yet we are living in this world which is full of darkness, slavery, war, and death. We carry the light of the gospel within our hearts as those who have believed in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Living in this world and in these decaying bodies of flesh means we must struggle in this life against the sinful desires of the flesh, the spiritual forces of evil all around us, and the powers of the darkness of this age. We are prone to wandering after foolish desires and wasting time on worldly things. We must stand up and fight, resisting the temptations of evil, and walking in the light and power of the Holy Spirit who is with us and in us. This is not always easy, as we experience much suffering, struggle, and sorrow in this life. However, the One who is in us is greater than he who is in the world, and His word will be accomplished. He has spoken to us and called us, church, to rise up in the light and to shine forth with the gospel of salvation that is found only in Jesus Christ, who is the true light of the world. Now is the time! May we fight in prayer against the powers of darkness, holding fast to the word of God, which is the light to our path. May we rise up in the light that dwells within us and shine to a broken world with the hope and truth and love that is only found in Christ. May we live our lives for the things of God’s kingdom, walking in the light as He is in the light, casting out the darkness that still lingers in our minds and in the corners of our hearts, so that we may see the kingdom of God be established on earth as it is in heaven, setting people free and redeeming lives for God, healing the broken and providing for the poor and destitute, that God may glorified through His church in all the earth.
2 Corinthians 4:6:
“For God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.”
Ephesians 5:8-14:
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light — for the fruit of the light results in all goodness, righteousness, and truth — discerning what is pleasing to the Lord. Don’t participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret. Everything exposed by the light is made clear, for what makes everything clear is light. Therefore it is said: ‘Get up, sleeper, and rise up from the dead, and the Messiah will shine on you.’”
Colossians 1:11-14:
“May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light. He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves. We have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, in Him.”
Themes: The Kingdom Of God, Light, Freedom, Spiritual Building, The Church, Revival, Good Works
Songs:
Scripture References:
2 Chronicles 7:13-14
Psalms 30, 107
Proverbs 4:18-19
Isaiah 52, 58-62
Matthew 5:3-16
Luke 1:78-79
John 1:1-18, 8:12
2 Corinthians 4:3-6
Ephesians 5:1-21
Philippians 2:12-18
Colossians 1:11-14
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
1 Peter 2:9-10
1 John 1:5-7