Text:                            Isaiah 60: 1-5

Recurrent Thought:

Believers need to respond to shining of their light to meaningfully impact lives of people in their communities

Introduction:

In Isaiah 60, the people are called to respond to the shining of their light. The people are called to rise up and shine, as a response to God’s glory and their light arriving in their midst. This is a prophecy but it appears it does not refer to a specific trouble Israelites faced and as such we have the liberty to apply it to various experiences the children of Israel went through in their life time.  At different times the children of Israel were subjected to successive foreign rule by Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans. In this chapter God is calling a downtrodden nation, to arise and let their light shine in the midst of darkness.

When the Jews returned out of captivity they had light and gladness, and joy and honour; they then were made to know the Lord and to rejoice in his great goodness; their light had come. God is the father and fountain of lights (holy character of God representing all that is pure, good, honest etc.). It is in his light that we shall see light. As far as we have the knowledge of God in us, and the favour of God towards us, our light has come.

Although there is darkness over people in our city, there is hope in God. God is calling people who are called by his name to rise up and shine.

What is the duty which the rising of this light calls for: “Arise, shine; not only receive this light, and”  “be enlightened by it, but reflect this light; arise and shine with rays borrowed from it.” The children of light ought to shine as lights in the world.

If God’s glory be seen upon us to our honour, we ought not only with our lips, but in our lives, to return the praise of it to his honour, Matt. 5:16; Phil. 2:15.

Testimony

Two years ago a mother from Area 47 whose daughter comes to our Church brought a thanksgiving offering. When asked why she had taken this step, she said it was in response to the evidence of a transformed life of her daughter since she joined ICA a few years ago

The call to all of us at ICA is to rise up and shine for our light has come.

We can borrow a leaf from the prayer of Paul in Romans 10: 1 where he says

Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. He agonizingly prayed for the salvation for his own people. We can do the same

Conclusion

Let us arise and shine so we can be instrumental in the salvation of many people living in our city. We can witness by word, deed and sign. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Matt 5:16

Prayer

Arise and Shine for your light has come. Pray that this light will penetrate every home in the city of Lilongwe.