WEBVTT 00:04.387 --> 00:10.431 [SPEAKER_00]: As we learn this week of the light of God, today will look to Jesus who is the light. 00:11.432 --> 00:13.093 [SPEAKER_00]: What does this mean about the Lord? 00:13.653 --> 00:15.695 [SPEAKER_00]: And what does this mean for us personally? 00:16.615 --> 00:23.340 [SPEAKER_00]: May our eyes behold Him today as we search out the source of goodness, beauty, and holiness. 00:24.281 --> 00:32.787 [SPEAKER_00]: May our hearts grow in wonder, worship, and awe, and may our lives be forever transformed at the sight of Him. 00:33.743 --> 00:35.063 [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the first 15 podcast. 01:05.268 --> 01:17.300 [SPEAKER_00]: Our Scripture for today comes from Isaiah 60 verse 20, Scripture says, Your Son shall no more go down nor your moon withdraw itself. 01:18.281 --> 01:24.027 [SPEAKER_00]: For the Lord will be your everlasting light and your days of morning shall be ended. 01:27.585 --> 01:34.608 [SPEAKER_00]: To live in the light is to center our lives wholly around its only true source, Jesus. 01:35.609 --> 01:47.995 [SPEAKER_00]: Jesus powerfully declares in John 812, I and the light of the world, whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. 01:49.484 --> 01:55.547 [SPEAKER_00]: As those committed to following Jesus, we are constantly being led by Him into the light. 01:56.387 --> 02:05.291 [SPEAKER_00]: He is constantly beckoning us away from the darkness of this world and calling us to a life centered around Him and His kingdom. 02:07.032 --> 02:09.473 [SPEAKER_00]: In and of ourselves, we have no light. 02:10.707 --> 02:15.671 [SPEAKER_00]: Left to our own devices, we would live our entire lives in darkness. 02:16.411 --> 02:21.255 [SPEAKER_00]: Void of the abundance of joy and peace available to us in God. 02:22.496 --> 02:25.017 [SPEAKER_00]: But through Jesus, the light has come. 02:26.398 --> 02:32.042 [SPEAKER_00]: The Holy Spirit now dwells within us, the glory of God in the hearts of man. 02:33.272 --> 02:44.074 [SPEAKER_00]: If we will simply surrender our lives to God and the light He brings, we will experience a life of freedom and joy founded in His unconditional love. 02:45.354 --> 02:56.357 [SPEAKER_00]: If we will choose to place Jesus at the center of all we do and who we are, we will receive mighty deliverance from the constraints and bonds of darkness. 03:03.478 --> 03:07.660 [SPEAKER_00]: We can't escape darkness if darkness is all we're looking toward. 03:08.641 --> 03:15.924 [SPEAKER_00]: We can't escape sin by just focusing on it and trying to fix it, heal it or set ourselves free. 03:17.205 --> 03:28.010 [SPEAKER_00]: Freedom comes by turning our attention to the God who conquered sin and death and fixing our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith. 03:29.725 --> 03:44.489 [SPEAKER_00]: Second Corinthians 4-6 says, for God who said, let light shine out of darkness has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 03:46.529 --> 03:48.610 [SPEAKER_00]: The light of God is within you. 03:49.690 --> 03:53.031 [SPEAKER_00]: Your life as a Christian is hidden in Christ. 03:54.051 --> 03:56.152 [SPEAKER_00]: The darkness will not overcome you. 03:57.317 --> 04:00.218 [SPEAKER_00]: Your freedom has come in the person of Jesus. 04:01.379 --> 04:09.983 [SPEAKER_00]: The love of God is real, available, and powerful enough to set you free from whatever darkness entangles you. 04:12.084 --> 04:14.485 [SPEAKER_00]: Turn your attention fully toward Jesus today. 04:15.845 --> 04:18.246 [SPEAKER_00]: Center your life around his loving kindness. 04:19.767 --> 04:26.090 [SPEAKER_00]: Open your ears and heart to this good God who would lay down his life to save yours. 04:27.698 --> 04:35.707 [SPEAKER_00]: follow Him wherever He guides you in full faith that He will only ever lead you into more abundant life. 04:37.388 --> 04:45.577 [SPEAKER_00]: Sees striving for your own freedom and wrap your life up in Jesus that He might be your great 04:51.873 --> 04:54.775 [SPEAKER_00]: God has abundant grace in store for you today. 04:55.396 --> 04:58.358 [SPEAKER_00]: If you will simply position yourself to receive it. 04:59.359 --> 05:04.383 [SPEAKER_00]: Take time and guided prayer to reflect on the light that has come through Jesus. 05:05.444 --> 05:14.832 [SPEAKER_00]: Turn your attention completely toward Him and receive the freedom and healing that comes from union with the God of light. 05:43.650 --> 05:57.345 [SPEAKER_00]: As we begin, meditate on the light that has come through Jesus, allow Scripture to stir up your desire to truly open your heart and center your life around Jesus. 05:58.860 --> 06:11.004 [SPEAKER_00]: In John 812, Jesus says, I, in the light of the world, whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. 06:47.226 --> 06:53.609 [SPEAKER_00]: And next, turn your heart completely toward Jesus and focus your attention on Him. 06:55.170 --> 06:59.373 [SPEAKER_00]: Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into an encounter with your Savior. 07:38.370 --> 07:45.054 [SPEAKER_00]: And last, talk with Jesus about any areas in your life that seem to have darkness. 07:46.654 --> 07:52.676 [SPEAKER_00]: Lay down any sin and darkness at His feet and ask for His forgiveness and healing. 07:53.717 --> 08:02.540 [SPEAKER_00]: Ask the Spirit to help you follow Him as He leads you out of the darkness and into the light by focusing on Jesus. 08:03.980 --> 08:28.030 [SPEAKER_00]: Hebrews 12 verses one through two says, therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin, which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance, the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and professor of our faith. 08:28.790 --> 08:38.899 [SPEAKER_00]: who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 09:21.705 --> 09:30.449 [SPEAKER_00]: There is most definitely a place in freedom for discipline and the practicalities of stepping away from that which normally tempts you. 09:31.329 --> 09:36.551 [SPEAKER_00]: But the foundation for freedom will always be encounters with the living God. 09:37.632 --> 09:46.876 [SPEAKER_00]: There is a reason we sin that goes past the temptation to a wound, misconception, or lie that must be healed by God. 09:48.013 --> 09:56.819 [SPEAKER_00]: to not place ourselves in situations that have habitually caused us to stumble is crucial, but it will not provide healing. 09:58.080 --> 09:59.381 [SPEAKER_00]: Look to Jesus today. 10:00.241 --> 10:06.345 [SPEAKER_00]: Come to Him continually with your sin and ask Him to heal whatever is the root of it. 10:07.387 --> 10:11.095 [SPEAKER_00]: Ask him to correct any lies and heal your pain. 10:12.257 --> 10:18.010 [SPEAKER_00]: May you experience freedom today that comes from seeking the light of Jesus. 10:33.872 --> 10:36.615 [SPEAKER_00]: Thanks so much for listening to today's podcast. 10:37.135 --> 10:38.436 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Josh Miller with 1st 15. 10:39.917 --> 10:45.703 [SPEAKER_00]: Sin can be described as the interruption of Shalom, which means peace or wholeness. 10:46.764 --> 10:50.487 [SPEAKER_00]: God doesn't want to lead you out of sin just for the sake of doing it. 10:51.007 --> 10:56.712 [SPEAKER_00]: He wants to lead you into the fullness of life, the fullness of peace and wholeness. 10:57.851 --> 11:04.040 [SPEAKER_00]: May Jesus guide you into Shalom today as you seek to live in the light of His presence. 11:04.921 --> 11:09.307 [SPEAKER_00]: Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek Him.