Focus on the Light

A Study on God and Relationships

1 John 1:5–2:2

The New King James Version

Fellowship with Him and One Another

05 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.

06 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

07 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

08 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

09 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

01 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

02 And He Himself is the atonement for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

Focus on ATTITUDES:

Attitudes we have reviewed in the last several weeks:

Attitude about Adoration:

Who God is and What God has done;

Attitude about Confession:

Agreeing with God about our sin;

Attitude about Thanksgiving:

God wills that we be thankful all the time;

Attitude about Supplication:

Pleading a humble petition to God;

Attitude about Fellowship:

Be Ready to do any good work in His name;

Attitude about Joy:

Spiritual maturity produces lasting joy.

Walking in the Light

(Walking by the Spirit).

ATTITUDE: Walking in the light is another attitude.

A strong desire to know Jesus and spend time with Him.

In the New Testament, “walking in the light” is directly related to following Jesus.

To “walk” is, in short, to live one’s life.

A lifestyle or way of life can be considered a “walk.”

Walking is a good picture because it’s one step at a time;

Walking in the Light / in the Spirit is putting “one spiritual foot in front of another”;

-We walk in the path of obedience to Scripture;

-Empowered by the Holy Spirit.

The word also indicates progress.

Walking is related to growth; it is taking steps toward maturity.

- The Holy Spirit who lives in every believer and who directs our steps.

- He directs our steps both by way of biblical truth and by way of internal power.

- The Bible sets the course,

- The Spirit, in us, provides the power,

- Walking obediently in that course.

1. LIGHT IN THE BIBLE CAN BE A METAPHOR:

for life, happiness, righteousness, or understanding.

The Bible is clear that light comes from the Lord God, the Father of the heavenly lights. (James 1:17).

He is the opposite of evil.

Putting it all together, walking in the light means growing in holiness and maturing in the faith as we follow Jesus.

The apostle John repeatedly used the “light” metaphor in relation to the Messiah.

- Jesus is the true light that gives light to every man;

- If we walk in the light as God is in the light, we have fellowship with Him;

- God’s very nature is light. Jesus, then, is the conduit or provider of light to the world;

- Jesus: I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life;

- And this is the judgment, that the LIGHT is come into the world.

2. FOCUS ON THE LIGHT:

God’s character is holy and pure. (1 John 1:5);

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.

Our nature is dark and depraved. (1 John 1:6);

- If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

Our hope is in confessing and cleansing. (1 John 1:7-10);

- If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

- If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

- If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

- If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

When we sin, Jesus speaks to the Father on our behalf. (1 John 2:1-2).

My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin.

- And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

- And He Himself is the atonement for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

3. LIGHT IS IN CONTRAST TO DARKNESS:

Light is the Absolute opposite of Darkness:

To describe God as absolute LIGHT means that God and darkness (error or evil) are mutually exclusive.

To say that God was LIGHT means that He is absolute:

• in His glory;
• in His truth;
• in His holiness.

Believers are to conduct their lives in obedience and faithfulness to His absolute glory, truth, and holiness.

You were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord;

- God is absolutely perfect in truth and holiness;

- Walk as children of Light;

- For the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth;

- Evidence of this spiritual life is devotion in truth and righteousness;

- Believers fall far short of that perfection;

- BUT will manifest a desire for and continual striving toward truth and righteousness.

God gives light through the Spirit who works through His congregation of anointed people.

The Holy Spirit provides us with the light we need.

4. LIGHT IS THE NATURE OF GOD:

NOTE: 1 Peter says that we are partakers of His Divine Nature and can take full advantage of that inner life of a Christian as we draw near to Him.

God is spirit;

John 4:24 New King James Version

God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.

God is love;

1 John 4:8 New King James Version

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

God is light.

1 John 1:5 New King James Version

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.

We are not told that God is the Spirit, or the Light, or the Love:

But God is spirit, is light, is love: spirit, light, love are His very Nature.

They are not mere attributes, like mercy and justice: they are Himself.

John 12:46: I have come as light into the world.

He means by that is He didn’t come to bring information, He came to bring life;

Jesus came as LIGHT into the world: Everyone who believes in Him escapes darkness;

He came to save the world. Saving the world by giving eternal life;

Bringing light is the same thing. Light equals eternal life.

God is Light tells us of:

- His splendor and glory:

Blaze of light; Piercing darkness;

- His self revealing nature:

Light is seen; there is no secret with Him; To be seen and known by mankind;

- His purity and holiness:

White purity and stainless holiness; No hidden darkness in Him;

- His guidance:

He shows us the way; the road is plain; Guides our footsteps;

- His revealing quality:

Our flaws and stains are easily seen; Obvious in His light.

5. FINAL THOUGHTS ABOUT THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD:

The Light of the world will produce spiritual fruit in our life:

The Light of the world will preserve us from Sin;

The Knowledge of God and Obedience to Him go hand in hand;

Knowing what God commands us and Doing what God commands us are expected !!

Focus on Joy

1 John 1:1-4 The New King James Version

What Was Heard, Seen, and Touched

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life;

2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us;

3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

Focus on JOY: Another ATTITUDE:

Attitudes we have reviewed in the last several weeks:

Attitude about Adoration: Who God is and What God has done;

Attitude about Confession: Agreeing with God about our sin;

Attitude about Thanksgiving: God wills that we be thankful all the time;

Attitude about Supplication: Pleading a humble petition to God;

Attitude about Fellowship: Be Ready to do any good work in His name;

Now Attitude about JOY:

JOY is Another ATTRIBUTE of the fruit of the Spirit produced when we walk in the Spirit.

- Walking by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit who lives in every believer and who directs our steps.

- He directs our steps both by way of biblical truth and by way of internal power.

- The Bible sets the course,

- The Spirit, in us, provides the power,

- Walking obediently in that course.

Walking is the picture because it’s one step at a time;

Putting “one spiritual foot in front of another”;

-We walk in the path of obedience to Scripture;

-Empowered by the Holy Spirit.

FULL AND COMPLETE JOY:

Result of us surrendering our life to Jesus and cultivates a personal relationship with Him.

Result of us living by the two Great Commandments (Matthew 22)

- Loving God;

- Loving others.

Joy is born, Joy is not bought;

It is the cause of our happiness, not the effect of our pleasure;

It is a deep and abiding inner rejoicing;

It is as promised to those who abide in Christ;

Joy affects the whole and entire personality;

Joy is not found in the things of this world;

Temporary happiness maybe but that is not the same thing.

Joy is a maturing attribute;

Joy to the fullness implies it requires growth;

Joy to the fullness implies it requires these disciplines:

Spiritual disciplines include:

1. Prayer

2. Supplication

3. Fasting

4. Personal Bible study

5. Submission and obedience to God

6. Confession

7. Worship

Joy is the end result of the Spiritual Disciplines functioning in our lives.

God brings about the transformation of our lives through these disciplines,

Genuine joy requires a transforming work within us.

Can our Joy be stolen ?

Our joy is always under assault;

External circumstances steal our joy;

Internal moods or emotions steal our joy;

So SIN steals our joy;

Disunity is THE BIG JOY STEALER in a fellowship;

Disunity is destructive to our joy;

Disunity is destructive to our message of Christ to the world.

How should we pray concerning unity in out fellowship ?

What God has joined together, let no Man put asunder.

What bounds us together in unity?

It is NOT external unity that is holding us together.

It is Internal unity that is a force pulling us together in Christ.

Jesus said you will know His disciples by their love for one another.

Don’t be passive in your loss of joy;

Recognize the great loss;

Do everything you can to draw close to God;

Reclaim the fullness of joy!

One aim of the entire Bible is to help us glorify God as we experience the deep joy of a close relationship with Him and close relationships with one another.

As we grow in obedience to loving God and loving others, we will grow in joy.

Purposes of this scripture:

Informing the congregation:

- so that you too may have fellowship with us;

- so that our fellowship is with the Father and His Son;

- so that our joy may be made complete;

- so that you may not sin;

- so that you may know that you have eternal life.

So, the next several weeks we are studying from the Book of First John:

Three important themes in First John:

a. The importance of eyewitness testimony the words and works of Jesus;

b. The importance of His earthly ministry;

c. The knowledge that Jesus is God’s revelation of Himself;

d. The eternal life available to believers in Jesus Christ.

NOTE: An uncomplicated worldview of right and wrong:

-Christ versus anti-christs;

-Light versus darkness;

-Truth versus falsehood;

-Righteousness versus sin;

-Love of the Father versus love of the world;

-The Spirit of God versus the spirit of the world;

-Children of God versus children of Satan.

John redraws lines that had begun to fade in the minds of his readers;

John speaks to compromise to the Gospel;

John takes a hard stand on truth doesn’t neglect love;

Love for God and for one another: a major theme;

John teaches: recognize the line between truth and error;

John teaches: it must always be done in a spirit of love.

False teachers were fighting to change the minds of the congregation;

False teachers were confusing the congregation;

False teachers were teaching them to compromise;

False teachers were teaching them to deny absolute truth.

But Truth doesn’t neglect Love;

Again: Love God and love one another;

Again: Recognize the line between truth and error;

Again: It must always be done in a spirit of love.

DON'T MISS THE NEXT SEVERAL STUDIES !!!

Focus on Fellowship

Question:

How does the Bible define fellowship?

Why should we have Christian fellowship?

Answer:

-The basic definition of Christian fellowship is the act of meeting with those who are converted and who possess the same general beliefs.

-It is the sharing of knowledge and the trials and triumphs of life among those who are called and chosen of God.

-Such regular fellowship meetings are an essential element in a believer's spiritual growth and development.

The Fellowship of the Believers: They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Several basic elements to fellowship for it to be successful:

Those who meet together:

1. Should have things in common like:

Beliefs

Love God. Love your neighbor as yourself. Forgive others who have wronged you. Love your enemies. Ask God for forgiveness of your sins. Jesus is the Messiah and was given the authority to forgive others. Repentance of sins is essential.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Work

Producing spiritual fruit, which is good work, is evidence of your faith in Christ Jesus.

To obey, to be ready for every good work. Titus 3:1.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:22.

Needs

Though they have been going through much trouble and hard times, they have mixed their wonderful joy with their deep poverty, and the result has been an overflow of giving to others. 2 Corinthians 8:1 - 15.

Struggles

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12.

Common purpose

How wonderful it is, how pleasant, when brothers (and sisters) live in harmony! Psalms 133:1.

Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. Proverbs 27:17.

The Need for a Common Vision. 1 Corinthians 1:10–17.

A team has checks and balances, one person watches the other one’s back.

They help them if they falter or lose sight of the goal, just like in friendship.

A good friend isn’t someone who always agrees with you, what you do, or what you say.

A real friend is someone that is willing to challenge you, to be better as a person.

A team player encourages his fellow team mates to be better players.

Teamwork and friendship both work in very similar ways.

Conviction

You should be like one big happy family, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds. 1 Peter 3:8.

Hope

We are all parts of one body, we have the same Spirit, and we have all been called to the same glorious future. Ephesians 4:4.

2. Should share in the responsibility of helping others in the faith who may lack the essentials of life:

For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints (2 Corinthians 8:3 – 4).

3. Should petition humbly with thanksgiving to God (Supplicate) for those in our fellowship:

I (the Apostle Paul) thank my God on every remembrance of you, Always making supplication with joy in my every prayer for you all, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now (Philippians 1:3 - 5, see also Galatians 2:9).

4. Should desire to walk in the light of God's word:

All believers should share in what is called the gospel mystery, "And that I might enlighten all as to what is the fellowship of the mystery that has been hidden from the ages in God . . ." (Ephesians 3:9).

Koinonia: Greek word which refers to communion or fellowship, joint participation, the share which one has in anything, a gift jointly contributed, a collection, a contribution, etc.

Non-Exhaustive Highlights of Robinson (Armstrong) LG for last 12 months:

-Recent Loss within our LG immediate families:

-Tommy Armstrong, our LG Teacher / Leader, Husband of Mary Armstrong,

-David Gillette, Husband of Bobbie Gillette,

-Ted Whaley, Husband of Katherine Whaley,

-Noah Rodriguez, Grandson of Angie Rios,

-Brother of Don McCrea,

-Wayne, Brother of Teresa Scheumann.

-Mission Project for our LG: Ghana Water Wells: over $14,000.

-Adoption for Christmas: The Blackwell Family, special offering.

-Genesis Ministry: special offerings.

-LP Food Bank: ministry offerings.

-Commissioned Paul and Jan Kordik to Lake Haveasu, AZ.

-Continued focus on small “friendship” groups.

-Care ministry: hospital,home, and food delivery visits,

-Food ministry: meals, prayer and transport of supplies,

-Event ministry: planning, organizing, managing LG events,

-Greeters and Coordinators,

-Website management,

-Prayer list management,

-Special guests: Genesis testimonies, Guest teachers, Ghana well updates,

- Events:

Men's prayer breakfast,

Ladies prayer brunch,

Ladies game day,

LG socials.