Reflecting the
Glory of God
Pine Valley 2011
Saturday Adult Forum
By George Miclea
Scorpions Glow
•Scorpions have an interesting quality about them
•They “glow” when illuminated with a black light.
•Due to fluorescent chemicals in the cuticle
Why bring up scorpions?
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Scorpions are great reflectors
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They are “filled” with light and “reflect” that light
very well
They can be easily defined in the dark when the
right light is shown through them.
In the same way, the light of the glory of God
shines in the hearts of believers and
“illuminates” them
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Thus defining who they are by that specific light
Illuminated by the Light
“For at one time you were darkness, but now
you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of
light for the fruit of light is found in all that is
good and right and true…”
Ephesians 5:8-9
Believers are illuminated
and defined by the Light
of Christ
What do people see when they look at you?
What do you represent?
What is light?
Dictionary Definition:
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The natural agent that stimulates sight
and makes things visible
Scientifically:
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Light is simply a name for a range of
electromagnetic radiation that can be
detected by the human eye.
What is darkness?
Darkness is merely a place where light
is not present
 Spiritual darkness is the inability to
perceive light, though it exists
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Light vs. Dark
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There is no “battle” between light and
darkness but rather, a non-relationship
Wherever light exists, darkness flees.
Darkness is never seen as pushing back
against light for fleeing is it’s only option
Spiritual darkness is to be under the power
of sin
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John 3:19 Light has come into the world, but
men loved darkness instead of light because
their deeds were evil.
Acts 26:18 …and turn them from darkness to
light, and from the power of Satan to God
Then God said, "Let there be
light"; and there was light.
God saw that the light was
good; and God separated the
light from the darkness.
Genesis 1:3-4
The Light shines in the
darkness, and the darkness
did not comprehend it… the
true Light gives light to every
man
John 1:5;9
The Light of Christ has the
power to expel all
spiritual darkness
REVISE?
Detecting the True Light
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How can one detect the “true” light from a
“false” light?
The basis of the true light resides in the Word
of God and upon it all truth should be
examined and qualified.
Recognize this guy?
Harold Camping
How is it possible to
determine whether or
not he is genuine??
How can you detect a fake?
Study and know the real thing
Detecting the True Light
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[Receive] the word with all eagerness, examining
the Scriptures daily to see if these things [are] so.
Acts 17:11
Always being prepared to make a defense to
anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that
is in you; 1 Peter 3:15-16
Warning: Did not even Satan marvelously
transform himself into an angel of light? Therefore it
is no great thing if his ministers also transform
themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose
end shall be according to their works. 2Co 11:14-15
The Word of God is the
standard by which the
true light is detected
Heat and Light
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Does anyone know how a regular
incandescent light bulb gives off light?
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The resistance of the tungsten filament causes
the flow of electricity to produce heat
The filament gets so hot that it begins to glow and
thus light is emitted as a form of visible radiation
So, light is a by-product, or a “fruit” of heat
At the same time, light produces warmth as is
the case with our Sun
Heat and Light
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How does our Sun provide warmth?
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When radiation is absorbed by matter, the
molecules get excited and vibrate vigorously thus
producing warmth
We could say that warmth is the fruit of light.
In the same way, the “fruit” of the Spirit is a
by-product of His light that shines within
Fruit of the Spirit
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Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, selfcontrol; against such things there is no law.
How much of the light of the Spirit is being
converted into evident “warmth” in your own
life?
Measuring your Warmth
2 Corinthians 13:5 – Examine and test yourselves!
Love
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Seeing the Light
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Who specifically in your life do you see the
light of Christ?
How have detected (seen or felt) the light of
Christ in others?
How can you tell that this is the light of Christ.
What characterizes the light of Christ and
how is that different from light that is sourced
by others?
Types of light bulbs
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Heat Lamp: High heat, low light
Incandescent bulb: Varied heat based on
varied light output
LED: Very low heat, high intensity light
Which one best describes you?
A Spirit-led life will
produce the fruit of a
genuine faith
What hinders our radiance
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A believer’s warmth and radiance to those around them is one of
the most important aspects of their lives.
What can hinder that radiance?
Our personal sin can distort, diffuse, or diminish the radiance of
the Light that resides within
 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no
offense in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness, and
walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going,
because darkness has blinded his eyes. 1 John 2:10-11
What hinders our radiance
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What else can hinder that radiance?
Focusing on ourselves and having a temporal perspective on life
Worry
 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the
desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it
unfruitful. Mark 4:19
We need to “brighten” our light by repentance and confession
 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the
truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness
1John 1:8-9
 Remember then how you have received and heard, and hold
fast, and repent. Revelation 3:3
Hide it under a bushel? No!
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"No one, after lighting a lamp, puts it away in
a cellar nor under a basket, but on the lamp
stand, so that those who enter may see the
light. Luke 11:33
And we are not like Moses, who put a veil
over his face so that the sons of Israel could
not steadfastly look to the end of the thing
being done away. 2 Corinthians 3:13
Personal sin can
diffuse, distort, and
even hide the Light of
Christ
Shine on
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“This little light of mine” isn’t just a song for
the kids!
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For you were once darkness, but now you
are light in the Lord; walk as children of light
Ephesians 5:8
Living a “worthy” life
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Colossians 1:9-10 [We] desire that you
might be filled with the knowledge of His will
in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, that
you might walk worthy of the Lord to all
pleasing, being fruitful in every work and
increasing in the knowledge of God…
Called to be a light
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Israel was called and chosen to be a light
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…I will appoint You as a covenant to the people, As a light
to the nations. Isaiah 42:6
I will also make You a light of the nations So that My
salvation may reach to the end of the earth. Isaiah 49:6
Nations will come to your light, And kings to the brightness
of your rising. Isaiah 60:3
Jesus came to be a light to both Jew and Gentile
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[Simeon] “…my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You
have prepared in the presence of all peoples, A light of
revelation to the gentiles, And the glory of Your people
Israel.“ Luke 2:29-32
Need to “walk” in the Light
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A man may think he has much light, but if it is only
notional and doctrinal and is not the light which
enlightens his nature and develops itself in his
practical walk, he lies when he talks of being in the
light, for he is in darkness altogether.
Nor is it truthful to pretend or profess that we have
light within in the form of experience if we do not
walk in it, for where the light is true, it is quite certain
to show itself abroad.
Charles Spurgeon (Sermon 663)
REVISE SLIDE
A shadow of the cross will only be
cast when one walks in the light of
Christ
Campfires
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What do you enjoy about a campfire???
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Warmth – Sitting close, warming hands and feet
Fellowship – Singing and sharing
The smell of the burning wood
Just “watching” the fire flicker with character
When was the last time you took time to love
Jesus, “The Light”, as you do a campfire?
Where’s the Love?
In your “loving to serve” have you
forgotten to “love the one” you are
serving?
Those who love Christ
will then joyfully
serve Him
Who’s influencing who?
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Six Mega-themes Emerge from Barna
Group Research in 2010
“…the religious environment in the U.S. is
morphing into something new.”
1. The Christian Church is becoming
less theologically literate.
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illiterate
“…only a minority of adults associate Easter
with the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
“…few adults believe that their faith is
meant to be the focal point of their life…”
“…a growing majority believe the Holy Spirit
is a symbol of God's presence or power, but
not a living entity.”
2. Christians are becoming more
ingrown and less outreach-oriented.
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isolated
“Christians are becoming more spiritually isolated
from non-Christians...”
“…most…who become Christians…do so in
response to a personal crisis or the fear of death.”
“most Americans are unimpressed with the
contributions Christians and churches have made
to society over the past few years.”
“As young adults have children, the prospect of
them seeking a Christian church is diminishing-especially given the absence of faith talk in their
conversations with the people they most trust.”
3. Growing numbers of people are less
interested in spiritual principles and
more desirous of learning pragmatic
solutions for life.
Insignificant faith
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“Faith is significant to [teenagers], but it takes a
back seat to life accomplishments ...”
“Among adults the areas of growing importance
are lifestyle comfort, success, and personal
achievements…at the expense of investment in
both faith and family.”
“Because we continue to separate our spirituality
from other dimensions of life through
compartmentalization, a relatively superficial
approach to faith has become a central means of
optimizing our life experience.”
4. Among Christians, interest in participating
in community action is escalating.
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shallow
“Christians are more open to and more involved in
community service activities than has been true in
the recent past.”
“However…Simply doing good works because it's
the socially esteemed choice of the moment will
not produce much staying power.”
“…churches have a window of opportunity to
support such actions with biblical perspective”
Typifies the “Do good, feel good” culture
“Making others happy will make you happy”
5. The postmodern insistence on tolerance is
winning over the Christian Church.
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Tolerant
“Our biblical illiteracy and lack of spiritual confidence has
caused Americans to avoid making discerning choices for
fear of being labeled judgmental.”
“The result is a Church that has become tolerant of a vast
array of morally and spiritually dubious behaviors and
philosophies.”
“This increased leniency is made possible by the very
limited accountability that occurs within the body of
Christ.”
There are fewer and fewer issues that Christians believe
churches should be dogmatic about.
The idea of love has been redefined to mean the absence
of conflict and confrontation, as if there are no moral
absolutes that are worth fighting for.
6. The influence of Christianity on culture
and individual lives is largely invisible.
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invisible
“The primary obstacle is not the substance
of the principles on which Christianity is
based, and therefore the solution is not
solely providing an increase in preaching or
public relations.“
“The most influential aspect of Christianity in
America is how believers do--or do not-implement their faith in public and private.”
invisible
“The most influential aspect of
Christianity in America is how
believers do--or do not--implement
their faith in public and private.”
The Light should be visible,
attractive, and influential
in a believer’s life
Are you influencing the
culture by the Word of
God, or is the culture
influencing you?
Being an Influence
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Everyone has a sphere of influence
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Job, Friends, Family, Spouse, Parents, etc…
List five things you need to change in your life
in order to be of greater influence to the
culture around you
To whom can YOU be a source of light and
warmth of the Light of Christ??
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List five people
Everyone shines for something.
What are you shining for?
Questions?