25th June 2025

25th June 2025


Pray (ACts)


Read (Philippians 2:14-18 focus v15)


Message (Alan Burke)


I just discovered that you can get a star named after you for like only thirty quid, you get a wee certificate and everything or you can push the boat out and spend sixty five quid and get an extra bite star and as long as your name isn’t more than twenty five characters you can have a star in the night sky named after you. Like if it was me and you were getting me a star not that I’m tell you you should but hint hint, I’d want more than just ‘Alan Burke’, id’ wan’t ‘The Wonderful Alan Burke’ and that’s only twenty four characters. I’m all excited now because I'll be getting like sixty three stars named after me. 


The reason why I talk about stars is because the NIV says we are to do everything without complaining or grumbling so that we may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe. If you’ve have an ESV or a KJV before you you’ll read ‘lights in the world’ rather than stars in the universe. The NIV has gone for a thought for thought translations rather than a literal translation and it is much better translated as ‘lights in the world’. The NIV tries to convey the sentiment that Paul is sharing clearly by using stars in the universe rather than lights in the world. The reason why I suspect is that many of us do not truly appreciate the darkness of this world, we see good, we might think that there is much to laud in this world. The teaching of scripture paints a very different picture of the world and the human race for this is a world of darkness under the power of the evil one (See for example Eph 6:12, 5:8, Jn 3:19, 8:12, 14:30).  


The scriptures make it clear that this world is in darkness, it is Satan’s dominion, people love darkness and are evil. But for the believer we have been brought from darkness into light and we are to shine like lights in the world. Or figuratively as lights in the universe as the NIV says. We are to let our light shine before men, that they might see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven (Matt 5:16). We each one of us who know, who have been illuminated by the light of Christ by the work of the Spirit are to manifest this light, we are those who are in what we do reflect the character of of Christ. Our task as the church as those who have been called from darkness to light is to live in the light and to make known the light of God’s kingdom in how we live and as we proclaim the good news of the Gospel about Jesus Christ the Son of God. 


The reason why God had called a people to himself was that they would be lights to the world. Those who are in Christ act as lights, we are to shine as the Father has made us to do so without grumbling or arguing. We are to be blameless and pure, without fault. We are to DO EVERYTHING without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation. Let us live as the children of God and put these things from us and let us live as lights in the darkness. For all of us, sadly the church often doesn’t shine like lights in the world, or stars in the universe because instead of living as we should, of putting selfish ambition and vain conceit, and living in humility considering other better than ourselves (v3) we live the opposite way and we are quick to complain, grumble, argue. If that is how you find yourself today then repent, for we should live as blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation. 


And just take a moment to think how different our lives and the church families we belong to would be transformed if we sought to live like that. Maybe there are things in the past or present you need to repent of, your attitude, your actions, what you’ve said or not said where you haven’t lived as light in the darkness but help cover up the darkness with more darkness. Let us live as those who we are, light for as Jesus said “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (Jn 8:12). Let us live as who we are in Christ Jesus. 


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC
Q12 What special act of providence did God exercise toward man in the estate wherein he was created?
A. When God had created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him, upon condition of perfect obedience; forbidding him to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, upon the pain of death.
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