break it (hardest part)
shake it (dangerous part)
it illuminates (most important part)
2 Cor 3:18 - And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
*God has called us to be his glowstick, to illuminate the good news of Christ. That is our responsibility as Christians.
Revelation 4:6-8 - Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."
LION
-courage.
God wants us to represent Him in the world with courage. Faithful & Focused courage.
**Courage(definition) Moving forward in the presence, not the absence of fear.
Joshua & Caleb
Moses sent 12 spies into the Promised Land to check it out.
Numbers 13:27-33 - They gave Moses this account: "We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there.The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan." Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it." But the men who had gone up with him said, "We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are." And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, "The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them."
1. We have to have the courage to Break Away from the crowd.
-This is the most difficult thing to do, because people keep trying to drag you back. You have to make a decision to follow through.
Numbers 14:1-7 - That night all the people of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, "If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn't it be better for us to go back to Egypt?" And they said to each other, "We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt." Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite assembly, "The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good.
2. We need to Shake Things Up.
-This is dangerous, because when you shake things up people are gonna cry and tempers are gonna fly. Shake it up, take a stand, actively follow Gods plan for your life!
In a glowstick the ingredients are there but you have to take the initiative to break it and shake it in order to illuminate it. The same is true for our faith.
Numbers 14:8-10 - If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them." But the whole assembly talked about stoning them. Then the glory of the LORD appeared at the Tent of Meeting to all the Israelites.
3. We need to Allow God to be Illuminated.
-The most important part happens when we break away and shake things up so that those that are trying to find God will see him illuminated and be drawn to him.
Matthew 5:16 - In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
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