27th Mar 26 | 16:08
Studies by Book
02 Acts 14 08-20 THE MINISTRY AT LYSTRA 38 Acts 14 15-17 Bringing light into the darkness
📖 Acts 14:08-20
38 – Fri, 28 Nov 2025 – *Bringing light into the darkness*- _Acts 14:08-20_ – THE MINISTRY AT LYSTRA – _Acts 26:18_
_Acts 14:15-17 and saying, "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, *and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them*, (16) who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. (17) Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness."_
Barnabas and Paul intended to bring the people of Lystra from darkness to light.
_Acts 26:18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.'_ This is the mission that God has entrusted to each of us in the church.
God is life, and He is light. _John 1:4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men._ This is what Jesus said. _John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "*I am the light of the world.* He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, *but have the light of life*."_
It is light that overcomes darkness. _John 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it_ (NIV). The darkness in the world seems so forceful and threatening. We look at the darkness in our world and shy away, for we fear it may overwhelm us. *How crucial it is for us to carry our light, which is the light of Jesus, and run into the darkness.* If we do not do so, we are allowing the darkness to spread in our world.
Darkness seems to be increasing in our world, and the reason is that the lights (you and me), who were meant to dispel it, are not present where darkness is. Even if we were, we have failed to shine as the lights of Jesus. We have allowed the darkness to overtake us and let our lights go dim.
This is the encouragement that the Psalmist gives us. _Psalm 27:1 A Psalm of David. *The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?* The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?_
Jesus has come into the world so that no one should remain in darkness. _John 12:46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness._
Having come to Jesus, we must walk in His light. _Ephesians 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. *Walk as children of light.*_ We are here to proclaim the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness to light. _I Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, *that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light*;_
It is Satan who is bringing darkness into the world. _Luke 22:52-53 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, "Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? (53) When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. *But this is your hour, and the power of darkness*."_ People love darkness for their ways are evil. _John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and *men loved darkness rather than light*, because their deeds were evil._
In coming to the light of Jesus, we receive the forgiveness of our sins. _Colossians 1:13-14 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, (14) in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins._
When we walk in the light of Jesus, we are sanctified by His Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our inheritance in Christ. _I Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, *but you were sanctified*, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and *by the Spirit of our God*._ / _Ephesians 1:13-14 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, (14) who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory._
This work of sanctification of the Holy Spirit in us is a work of faith. _Romans 8:13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but *if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live*._
We are sent into the world to dispel the darkness and bring the light of God. _II Corinthians 4:6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, *who has shone in our hearts* to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ._
```Paul could declare with confidence that he had fulfilled the purpose of God to bring light into the darkness.```