Light Be | Russ Kalenberg
Recap
The Living Word congregation was blessed to hear special guest minister Russ Kalenberg preach his message entitled, “Light Be.” In the beginning, Genesis says the world was a chaotic mess, a scene of disorder and confusion. Does that sound familiar? The world today is very much a chaotic mess, a scene of disorder and confusion. What is the answer? It’s the same as it was in the beginning! “Light be!”
Dive Deeper
The title of this message is “Light Be.” In the Book of beginnings, Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning, God created.” Many people don’t believe the first five words of the Bible. They don’t believe that God created the world. They believe we evolved. However, we are “created” beings.
Genesis goes on to say that God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void and darkness was on the face of the deep. The earth was a chaotic mess, a scene of disorder and confusion.
Does that sound familiar? The world today is very much a chaotic mess, a scene of disorder and confusion.
What is the answer? It’s the same as it was in the beginning!
Genesis goes on to say the Spirit of God hovered over the face of the waters. Then God says, “Light be! And there was light.”
Notice God did not rebuke the darkness. You might try to rebuke the darkness, but it’s not going to leave. But if you bring the light, darkness has no choice but to leave.
When you walk into a dark room, what do you do? You turn on the light switch. What happens? The darkness leaves the room. How many times does that work? Every time!
Light is greater than darkness. The answer to chaotic mess, a scene of disorder and confusion is to bring light to the situation!
Psalm 36:9 says, “For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.”
Pastor Russ said, “I heard this statement many years ago and it’s always stuck with me: Light is given not just to see, but to walk in.”
When the light comes on, you can say, “Now I see.” It’s one thing “to see,” but it’s another thing to “walk in that light.” You can see the light, but are you walking in that light? Meaning, the light of the Word.
The Passion translation of Psalm 36:9 says, “The fountain of life flows from you to satisfy me. In your light of holiness, we receive the light of revelation.” In Christ, we are separated from the world. In Christ, we are separated from darkness. We are now in the kingdom of light, the kingdom of holiness. As we continue to walk this path, revelation never ceases.
Psalm 112:4 says, “Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness. He is gracious and full of compassion and righteous.” Also, Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp into my feet and a light into my path.”
The Word of God is light. Light and the Word of God are synonymous terms. When you have the Word of God, you have light. Without the Word of God, there is no light of life.
The Word of God is a lamp unto our feet. What does that mean? It means that the lamp unto my feet shows me where I’m at today. The Word of God show us where we are today. The Word also gives us direction we need to take in life.
The Spirit of God shows us where we are and where we need to go. If you need to make any course corrections to stay on the path, you better make them… if you want to stay on the path of light.
Psalm 119:130 says, “The entrance of Your words gives light. It gives understanding to the simple.”
Proverbs 4:18–19 out of the Passion translation says, “The lovers of God walk on the highway of light if I truly love him. Because to God it’s more than words.”
It’s important to say “I love you” to the Lord, but God is looking for more than words. Jesus said, “If you love me, you’ll do what I say.” That’s the true test: Doing what He says!
“The lovers of God walk on the highway of light.” Sadly, there are believers that exit off the highway of light. That’s called deception. It can be subtle. It can be a small compromise at first. The Spirit of God will illuminate to you when you are off path. Don’t ignore that illumination.
Exiting the highway of light will take you to a place where you will regret ever having taken that exit.
Read About It
Gen. 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
Psalm 36:9, “For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.”
Psalm 112:4 “Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness; He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.”
Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
Psalm 119:130, “The entrance of Your words gives light.”
Discussion Questions
Why can’t you rebuke darkness to get it to leave?
In the beginning, the world was… what?
God is the Creator. What does that say about evolution?