Matthew 5:14-16
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Affective evangelism doesn't really happen until our Love for Jesus is so a part of our DNA that it oozes out of us!
What is Bioluminescence?
Definition - the biochemical emission of light by living organisms
Seeing things that we deem as regular that are also emitting light just trips us up. It causes us to stop what us in our tracks, and just be mesmerized.
God is our source of light, but He doesn’t just keep that holiness to Himself, He invites us into holiness. He changes our whole identity, and causes us to be people who aren’t just phosphorescing Him, we are creating light in the new life thats in us.
John 8:12
12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
… it doesn’t say “experience” the light of life or “see” the light of life…. it says, HAVE the light of life. When we talk about evangelism, that’s what God wants from you. He wants you to embrace His light, but also, let him build it into your DNA!
That’s how Bioluminescence works: a species must contain luciferin: a molecule that, when it reacts with oxygen, produces light.
In the Bible
This light that God has put in you isn’t just for you… It’s transferable. Not only does he want to change your DNA, he wants to change everyone around you. And, Ultimately what He is doing, is fixing your DNA to pump out the light it was supposed to pump out from the very beginning.
The Ministry of Reconciliation
2 Corinthians 5:11-21
11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13 If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.
14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
We are Christ’s ambassadors!
Definition: an accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to a foreign country.
YOU, are Christ’s ambassador from a world of LIGHT, to a world of DARKNESS.
2 Corinthians 4:4
4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
This world has absolutely blinded everyone in it to that fact that they are even in darkness. Your life may be the one and only chance that many people around you have to see the light of Jesus.
How do we do that?
1. Live a life worthy of the Gospel.
Philippians 1:27
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.
2. Realize that you literally ARE the light to the people in your life.
3. Figure out how to use the light in you.
