Below is video of me teaching about The Spotlight Myth. I kicked off a series through the Sermon on the Mount for this group. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPtbSUpqVFA?list=UUdLz82V0k8JPeWelvcm_gWg&w=560&h=315]
Savior before Teacher
Who is Jesus to me? He has to first be Savior and LORD before He can be my Teacher. Anyone who only calls Him Teacher must be hopeless, because no pupil or disciple could really accomplish His teaching; not even the best ever student could accomplish his teaching. I need Jesus first to be Savior and LORD. I need first that very realization that I cannot accomplish even a portion of his teaching, because THEN I am 'poor and humble in spirit' enough to know my need for rescue from my undeserving and incapable condition.
Only then can I look with any confidence at His teaching for my life as His disciple and follower. Without His rescue I would only live in despair all the days of my life in comparison to the life he teaches me to live.
Ozzie Chambers wrote, "He came to make me what He teaches me I should be."
I am saved and controlled and covered by His Spirit in those places I wish I could do on my own but could never hope to accomplish on my own. If I begin with my poor and humble need, Jesus says, "You are blessed." (Matthew 5)
You will be happy if you begin with your humble view and realization that you could never accomplish the half of His teaching on your own if not for His Spirit and salvation within.
Your shining
"You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under a bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." - Matthew 5:14-16
It is the very property of light to SHINE. We are not given a light to shine; we ARE the light that shines. Whether we like it or not. We always shine. We shine even during the times we think we are hidden. We are still seen. It is impossible to hide ourselves. We live in a house of glass walls, essentially. How do we live? We must realize that no matter how we live each day, we still shine as a Christian. The real question is, "What am I shining out for others to see?"
You cannot cover the light, but the light can be extinguished by its own choice and desire. But when that light is actually put out....when we choose to extinguish ourselves, we are no longer followers of Christ.
The simple fact is I am a Christian, and I will shine because of it, but what do I shine forth in the name of Christianity? Since we are the actual light, we can no longer remain hidden, even if we want to.