Introduction:  ‘…There ariseth light in the darkness…”

Psalm 112:1-4  Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever. Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.

“Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD…there ariseth light in the darkness…”

We know that light itself of God and is in Jesus –

I.  Jesus is the Light of the world – salvation

John 1:1-12  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

“Blessed is the man…” – God, the Light, blesses us through –

  A.  The revelation of His Person – who He is.

Psalm 112:1a   “…Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD…”

Salvation –

“And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”

We need to learn three basic truths from these verses –

    1.  That the Creator of all things is revealed to be the Light of the Word.

    2.  That there are those that will reject the Light, the Son of God –

The word ‘comprehend’ here gives us the thought that there were those in darkness who could not overcome the Light, they could not control the Light, and they could not understand the Light.  As Paul wrote in –

2 Corinthians 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

That which they could not understand, they tried to destroy.

Romans 3:18  There is no fear of God before their eyes.

But as the Psalmist wrote, “Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD”

    3.  That there are those that will receive the Light, the Son of God –

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”

In revealing his Person ,we learn of –

  B.  The revelation of His Plan.

2 Corinthians 4:6,7  For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Which leads us to the truth for the blessed man that feareth the Lord –

II.  Jesus is the Light of the world – directing us in life

Because He is the Light, and when we walk with Him in His Light, we will be known by our –

  A.  His purpose – His will to be accomplished.

“Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.”

1 Corinthians 2:9-10  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

The Holy Spirit ‘illuminates’ the Word of God that we may know and do God’s will!

Ephesians 5:8  For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

As the children of light, seen of all in this world, His purpose is to establish our –

  B.  Position –  Respected and appreciated –

Psalm 112:2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.

His purpose is to supply us with our –

  C.  Provisions – Satisfied with that which is –

    1.  Precious riches

Psalm 112:3a  “Wealth and riches shall be in his house:…”

And through Him in us, we have His promise –

Philippians 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

    2.  Perservering riches

Psalm 112:3b “…and his righteousness endureth for ever. “

Proverbs 8:18-19  Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.

    a.  Current possessions received from God – ‘Riches’, ‘durable

         riches accumulated and safe.

With Paul, we can declare –

2 Timothy 1:12  “… I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”

      b.  Continuing profits being received from God  – ‘honour’, “my

           revenue” – better than silver!

Mark 10:29-30  And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

Because He is the Light, and when we walk with Him in His Light, He directs our –

  D.  Path – being lighted and secure through Him.

Psalm 112:4 Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.

Through Him, the Light, we will see His way and people will see that by following Him, we are –

    1.  Gracious

    2.  Full of Compassion

    3.  Righteous

Returning to –

2 Corinthians 4:7-9  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;…”

Illustrate with clay pot filled with gold.  The pot is valuable because of the contents.

Each of these characteristics are His, through Him and for us and others.  He gives us light that we might be blessed by Him and as such, we are a blessing to others.  They are thankful for God’s grace and for our faithfulness –

1 John 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

If you have not trusted God for salvation through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, you are in the darkness of sin.  Will you come to Him, the True Light, tonight for salvation?

1 Peter 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

If you have trusted God for salvation through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, but have wandered away into the darkness of this world, will you repent of your sin and return to Him tonight?  1 John 1:9