Dear Christian friends:

Today we begin the Epiphany Season. Epiphany Season ends on Ash Wednesday, when Lenten Season begins. Epiphany means what? (See if anyone knows. If not, explain.)

During Epiphany the lessons and the preaching show that Jesus Christ is the light for our dark world. (John 8:12)

The Church has received God's light in Jesus Christ, therefore it can shine. Isaiah says, “Arise, shine! Your light has come." (verse 1) We Christians who have God's wonderful light must let it shine to the dark world. We must not hide our light.

We the Church of need to hear God's command:


The world needs our light.

In our text Isaiah says, "Darkness as black as night shall cover all the peoples of the earth." (verse 2) Isaiah says 'the-darkness," not a "darkness." He does not mean every darkness. By "darkness" he means ignorance. This special darkness is ignorance of God.

People are born without knowledge of the true God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. People know their is a god. This beautiful earth and all the wonderful living things on the earth prove that their is a god. Only a fool says that there is no god. (Psalm 14:1) But people do not really know God, that He is three-in-one, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Also people are in darkness because they do not know their relationship with God. People know that they have sinned against God, and they do not feel right and comfortable with God. Often they feel enmity against God. People don't know how to become comfortable and friends with God. That is their darkness.

Some people try to hide their sin or excuse it, the same as Adam and Eve did when they first broke God's command. They tried to hide from God, and when He found them they tried to make excuses for their sin. (Genesis 3:8-13)

Some people, like the Christian Scientists say, "There is no sin." Others admit that there is sin and evil in the world, but they say there is no God. Many others confess, "Yes, there is a God, and yes, we have sinned against Him, but if we fast and suffer, God will forgive our sins. Hindu holy men, monks and others think this darkness. Others, and there are many in America and in American churches, who say, "Yes we sin, but if we are sorry God will forgive us, especially if we try our best to improve.

All these ideas about God and how to become friends with Him are false. This is “the darkness that covers the earth and the black darkness that covers the people."

Today as we begin a new year, most people are in this spiritual darkness and need to come to our light. One and one-half billion are Christians, but four and one-half billion people people on earth are not Christians. They are still in spiritual darkness. Yes; "darkness covers the earth and much darkness covers the people." (verse 2)

We must arise and shine, tell the Good News about the true God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We know the Father who loved us sinners and gave His Son Jesus to be our Savior. We know Jesus, the Son, who willingly obeyed the Father and suffered death upon the cross for us. And we know the Holy Spirit whom the Father sends to live in our hearts giving us faith in Jesus, new birth and new life, even eternal life. We know this wonderful Triune God. We have the light. Our light has come, the Lord's glory is shining on us. Therefore we can arise and shine.

Also, we let God's light shine through us by our witness and support of District and Synod missions. Our New Year's resolution should be to do more personal evangelism, and support our District and Synod mission work better during the new year.

We have God's own promise that if we obey His command and arise and shine, He will bless our efforts. In our text Isaiah tells the Church: “Nations will come to see your light and kings will come near to see you. Look around you and see what is happening. The people gather to come home. Your sons will come from far and your daughters will come near and eat. You will see this and be filled with joy. You will tremble with excitement. The riches of the nations will come to you; yes, from across the sea the riches will come. Many camels will come from the countries of Midian and Ephah. They will come from Sheba bringing gold and perfume. And they will tell the Good News about the things the Lord has done." (verses 3-6)

During the past xxxx years since Jesus' birth much of this prophecy has happened exactly. The camels have come from Midian, Ephah, and Sheba. They came when the Wise Men rode on them to worship Jesus at Bethlehem. Since then people from every nation on earth have come to the light and joined the Christian Church. During the past years the Good News of Jesus has been preached to all nations and millions have believed and have died and are now in heaven with Jesus.

It is true, if we obey God's command and let our light shine, He will bless our efforts and we will be very happy to see many people come to join the church. (verse 5)

Therefore, arise, Shine! Your light has come!

Amen.

Additional sermon notes:

How do we let God's light shine? How do we arise and shine?

1. During the church service God's light shines brightly in the darkness. We join in the going from darkness to light, and from death to life in the church service here each Sunday.

a. In Baptism we die with Jesus Christ and arise with Him.
b. In the confession and absolution
c. In the 3 Bible lessons (Epistle, Gospel and sermon text)
d. In the Creed.
e. In the sermon.
f. In the Lord's supper we chiefly arise and shine. We show that Jesus Christ has come: that He gave His body and shed His blood for the world's sins, that He is risen from death for the world's salvation and that He is really here offering His body and blood for the life of the world. "For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup you are retelling the message of the Lord's death, that he has died for you. Do this until he comes again. (1 Corinthians 11:26)

2. Through the Christians holy life God's light shines in our dark world.

a. Their love, kindness and forgiveness, even to enemies.
b. Their hope for heaven.
c. Their contempt for the this world's things.
d. Their patience in suffering.

All these are light that God can use to attract the people still in darkness.