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God Is Light |
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Podcast (for ipod and ipad) |
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Introduction Light gives off a very special energy, which also effects what it touches: bulbs, fire, lightening, sun light. Light effects the iris, which becomes smaller. Fire gives off heat, which warms people and things. Sun light produces heat and light, which makes life possible on planet earth. Light communicates with everything it touches, even the plants which turn toward the sun, heliotropism. Light comes from God because He is the origin of light. He is light in all senses. 1John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. The first thing God commanded into existence in the physical world was light, which consists of an energy called quanta or photons which behave like waves and particles; the only thing that has both attributes. Immediately we see not only the dual aspects of physical light, which is good in the sense that it provides good like heat and energy, but also represents the aspect of God that He is good, righteous. Furthermore, as will be explained in detail later, light represents good and darkness a lack of goodness or righteousness. Gen. 1:3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. Hebrew The Hebrew as we know quite well has root sounds for many words including light. Let us examine these root sounds of light. 216. or [21c]; from 215; a light:— 215. or [21a]; a prim. root; to be or become light: Ex. 13:21 The LORD was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. People need light to travel and enlightenment to follow the route to salvation. 225. uth [22d]; a prim. root; to consent, agree: Light has the sense of agreement to God’s enlightenment and way of light. We agree to have activities because of the creation of the daylight to work and play. The light gives us six days to work to earn food, clothing, shelter and transportation; we agree to work to obtain our needs. 226. oth [16d]; from 184; a sign: First thing God created is light so people can see and observe, look and understand, spot and walk on the way of life. Sun and moon as signs for festivals (including Sabbath). Both give light, except for the moon for a day or two of the new moon. God gave us these two lights for several purposes. Sabbath to rest as He did and during the break from work to isolate on God’s Word, even if only dwelling on the aspects of the Creation: light, separation of land and water, creating life of plants, animals, insects and other “lower” forms like bacteria (good and bad). While sunsets every week mark the beginning of the Sabbath, moons delineate Holy Day seven times a year. 184. avah [16c]; a prim. root; to sign, mark, describe with a mark: Light leaves marks: gashes from lightning, heat from sun light, vapor from the evaporation of water due to the sun’s heat, sun burns or tans, a glow on the retina from glancing at the sun, plants growing toward the sun (as mentioned above), activities needing light to see, dark to rest each night, shining on particular spots at the right time of day to mark that place, like in Indiana Jones and the Lost Ark. Greek The Greek has an interesting set of words that come from their light, phos, from which we get phosphorescence and other words. The root of phos in the Greek is phoneo, from which we get spoken words like phone or phonetics. N.B., English readily absorbs words from various other languages because of the nature of its grammar and sound systems. 5456. phone; from (to shine); a voice: 5455. phoneo; from 5456; to call out, to speak: 5322. phanos; from 5316; a torch or lantern: 5457. phos; from the same as 5456; light: 5461. photizo; from 5457; to shine, give light: —bring to light(2), brought to light(1), enlightened(3), enlightens(1), illumine(1), illumined(2), illumines(1). The Greeks had a word for it. However its vocabulary did it, it merged light and words together as if it understood Genesis 1:2. “God said, Light.” The Word became light and the two meanings are forever united as one. “The Word was God” and “God is Light.” This combination gives us great insight or illumination into the power of God’s Word and Words. Certainly, our eyes see the written word, just as our ear understands the word. Word Hebrew: 1697. dabar [182a]; from 1696; speech, word: Greek: 3056. logos; from 3004; a word (as embodying an idea), a statement, a speech: God’s Word reveals how His Light produces so much good apart from its natural virtue. His light protects and saves people taking away their fears. Psa. 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; Put another way God’s Light deflects all evil and produces nothing but goodness. Psa. 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; Obviously, God’s Light illuminates His Word and all that it means. Again the Word creates enlightenment. Dan. 2:22 “It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; Light gives life both in the physical and the spiritual worlds. The first thing God commanded into existence was light that shows the aspects of His light. Psa. 36:9 For with You is the fountain of life; James 1:17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. The following verse links the Word and Light profoundly. Acts 22:9 “And those who were with me saw the light (phos), to be sure, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking (phone) to me. Light will continue forever but emanating directly from God, not the light He created. Is. 60:19 “No longer will you have the sun for light by day, See the Light God’s Word shines like the sun and gives us internal light (understanding). Psa. 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet Psa. 19:8 The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; Psa. 43:3 O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me; Psa. 119:130 The unfolding of Your words gives light; Prov. 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light; Eph. 5:13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. John 3:20 “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. Paul waxes eloquently about the light of God’s Word, Way and world and the darkness surrounding those without God. Eph. 5:8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light Eph. 1:17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. God bestowed His Light on His Son and transformed all those others born of God with light as well. 2Cor. 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. Seven Spirits of God The seven Spirits of God are not seven angels or other beings but rather aspects of God character or mind. Rev. 4:5 Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God; Remember the ruach means mind, breath, wind, spirit; therefore, the seven lamps represent major elements of God’s Way of Thinking and acting. The first word God uttered in the beginning was, “Light.” The Word became Light with all its physical and inherent meanings. Gen. 1:2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving (actually, hovering) over the surface of the waters. After the Creation and all else God said and did, Isaiah noted these various aspects of God’s Spirit, which the lamps in Revelation express. Is. 11:2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him, By God’s Spirit, the power of His spoken word, He created an Earth for man that he may inherit eternal life by adhering to man’s nature, being made in the image of God. Spirit of Wisdom Wisdom is a daunting subject in and of itself, which fills the Book of Proverbs and aspects of many other Books. Wisdom begins with fearing the Lord; this fear means total dread as well as complete reverence. Nonetheless we can love God by acceding to both by following His Word by heart and soul, which puts dread into its great motivating force, not the negative shivering or dumbstruck attitude. Job 28:28 “And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.’” Psa. 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Ex. 20:20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin.” Heb. 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; James 1:3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Spirit of Understanding The Spirit of Understanding brings God’s Word into the forefront of one’s life and explains all circumstances to a person. Deut. 4:6 “So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ Deut. 8:3 “He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD. Understanding goes beyond knowledge and gives a person insight in various situations. 1Kings 3:9 “So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” Job explains that the Language of God within produces understanding. Job 28:28 “And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; The Spirit of Strength, discussed below, comes from understanding. Job 36:5 “Behold, God is mighty but does not despise any; Spirit of Counsel Advise given based on God’s Word and Way cannot always be apprehended alone and people need to get it from others with different experiences and understanding. Counsel, unlike criticism, brings out the positive into arena. Psa. 107:11 Because they had rebelled against the words of God Discipline trains a person in the Way to think and go. Prov. 19:20 Listen to counsel and accept discipline, Spirit of Strength Physical strength comes from the Almighty God, and pales in comparison. The power that comes from God’s Word and Way is the real power, especially the one at work within. Psa. 147:5 Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; As noted above, strength comes from understanding in the power of the Spirit. Job 36:5 “Behold, God is mighty but does not despise any; Look at the heavens, as Abram did, we may, too, understand the power of God, the Creator. Jer. 10:12 It is He who made the earth by His power, Spirit of Knowledge Beyond hearing, reading or speaking the Word, is doing the Word. When one walks in the Way, the knowledge of Him extends from the mind and mouth to a person’s complete being. Col. 1:10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Doing the Commandments, in the same way, completes the Love of God. 1John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. 1John 2:17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. Spirit of the Fear of the Lord To be in dread, be in awe of and have great reverence for defines fear of the Lord and initiates and completes the Seven Spirit represented by the seven lamps. Seven Spirits and lamps reflect the fact that God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh day, making it holy. That rest completes everything. Prov. 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Prov. 8:13 “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Prov. 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, God gives light to live and enlightenment to get life and life more abundantly. Without both kinds of light, we would not have physical life now and eternal life to come. Let God’s Word light up your life. Amen. Gil Kovacs, Pastor Sabbath Christian Church |
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