Shine For Jesus. Bryant Hewitt Message

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/25710864
Shine As Lights. Bryant Hewitt Message
http://www.bryanthewitt.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta7ea3rd4-g

I. BY WORKING OUT OUR OWN SALVATION FIRST! (12a)

   A. AS JESUS PUT IT, "FIRST REMOVE THE PLANK FROM YOUR OWN EYE" - Mt
      7:1-6
      1. This passage, often misused to prevent any proper judging, is
         emphasizing the importance of "getting your own act together
         first"
      2. Notice, that once you have "removed the plank", you can then
         (and should) be used to "remove the speck" in another's eye

   B. IF WE ARE NOT CAREFUL, WE MAY LOSE OUR SALVATION IN THE WAY WE
      REACT TO OTHERS!
      1. Many people go about trying to change society for the better,
         using methods that will keep themselves out of the kingdom of
         God! - cf. Ga 5:19-21
      2. Paul saw the need to be very careful when trying to save others
         - cf. 1Co 9:27

[How tragic it would be, if when we go around preaching to others, do 
it such a way as to "disqualify" ourselves!

We can be more careful, and "shine as lights in the world", if we do 
so...]

II. WITH "FEAR AND TREMBLING" (12b)

   A. THE WORD "FEAR" IN CONNECTION WITH GOD IS NOT POPULAR TODAY...
      1. Perhaps a reaction to the "hell, fire and brimstone" preaching
         of another generation
      2. But could it be that we have gone to the other extreme?
         a. Have we diluted the concept of the "fear of the Lord" by our
            definitions?
         b. To the point there is no place for "trembling" in our
            definition of fear?
      3. Jesus certainly taught the "fear of the Lord" - Mt 10:28

   B. THE NEED TO HAVE PROPER "FEAR AND TREMBLING"...
      1. Without it, it is unlikely we will seriously make the effort to
         "work out our own salvation"
      2. Could this be a reason there is so much apathy and
         fruitlessness in the church today?

[There may be another reason for such fruitlessness; and that is, if we 
don't "shine as lights in the world"...]

III. BY LETTING GOD WORK IN US (13)
   
   A. TO SUCCEED AS "LIGHTS IN THE WORLD"...
      1. It will be essential to let God do His work, something He is
         able to do beyond our ability to comprehend - Ep 3:20-21
      2. He is there "working in you"! - cf. Php 1:6
      3. How?  Both...
         a. To "will" - helping us in our motivation
         b. To "do" - helping us in our ability

   B. BUT IF WE ARE NOT CAREFUL, WE CAN EASILY...
      1. Quench God's efforts to work in us
      2. Prevent God from using us altogether (at least for doing things
         for our own good)!

[Later, in another lesson, we shall examine how God is at work in us, 
and what we can do to promote such activity on His part.

Another important element in our "shining as lights" is that we go 
about our task...]

IV. WITHOUT MURMURING AND DISPUTING (14)

   A. BY MAINTAINING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE...
      1. Living in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation can
         easily get us down, where we can become constant complainers
      2. But allowing that to happen will render us less effective
      3. And as with Israel, "murmuring" can lead to our own downfall 
         - 1Co 10:10-12