“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you." - Isaiah 60:1-2 NIV

What type of light are you shining? This week, Pastor Denny speaks about how as believers, we can let our light shine by the way we live our life.

1.) Get out of Bed!
In today's passage, God is encouraging Israel to wake up. He is about to do something that He doesn’t want them to miss out on. What God does next is incredible, supernatural, and earth shaking.

"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” -Ephesians 5:8-14 NIV

Ephesians 5 is a reminder to believers that darkness, or living in darkness is equivalent to sleeping.

"And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed." -Romans 13:11 NIV

2.) It's time to rise up and shine.

"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.” -John 8:12 NIV

Jesus is a light that has come to live in you. He shares HIS light with us. When we come to Christ, we receive His light. Our light comes from living FOR Christ. Finally, our light comes from what we DO.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV

“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." -Matthew 5:14-16 NIV

It is impossible to conformed to the image of Christ without the Holy Spirit, the Word, and Authentic Community.

"Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” - Matthew 20:28 NIV

The church cannot be made up of consumers. The church must rise up and choose a position of serving.

"This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God." -John 3:19-21 NIV

"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Jesus is the light of the world— no other name where man can be saved." -Matthew 5:14 NIV