Focus 4|Is Already Shining
There are a lot of ways to see people better. Where there is darkness, there is opportunity for light. Let this encourage you when things seem darkest—and should they seem to get even darker, remember that there's just more opportunity for light. Light is not the only thing out there, though, so when you find good evidences of the shining of the light, cherish, celebrate, and proclaim them. Help people see the difference between the light and the darkness in those places where both are concurrent.
Consider this ice breaker question to get started.
What is the brightest light you have ever seen? ? ?
What is the brightest light you have ever seen? ? ?
See what this Spotlight—and series— is focused on.
Tap on the words "Focus 4" in the image below to read this Spotlight's summary.
Tap on the words "Focus 4" in the image below to read this Spotlight's summary.
Let's talk about this thing.
Read this section when you’re ready to begin today's Spotlight. (And welcome, by the way! It’s great that you’re here!)
Here’s a question: When was the last time you got caught doing something that you were trying to hide? Every day, millions of people do millions of things that they sincerely hope they will "get away with" - and in some sense, they do. The problem with this behavior, though, is that it pretends at a lie - and not just the lie that is being covered up. The greater lie that trying to "get away with" anything has to assume is that life would be better if you were able to be unseen. That's false.
In the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve and God hid nothing. They simply interacted with each other, unfiltered. Nevertheless, God still saw them, and as he saw them, he loved them. The true light continued to shine even in the darkness.
Read this section when you’re ready to begin today's Spotlight. (And welcome, by the way! It’s great that you’re here!)
Here’s a question: When was the last time you got caught doing something that you were trying to hide? Every day, millions of people do millions of things that they sincerely hope they will "get away with" - and in some sense, they do. The problem with this behavior, though, is that it pretends at a lie - and not just the lie that is being covered up. The greater lie that trying to "get away with" anything has to assume is that life would be better if you were able to be unseen. That's false.
In the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve and God hid nothing. They simply interacted with each other, unfiltered. Nevertheless, God still saw them, and as he saw them, he loved them. The true light continued to shine even in the darkness.
Let's say a prayer together as we dive into this Spotlight.
Lord,
The true light is already shining, and we can already enjoy it.
Give us the wisdom and patience to see it and take advantage of it.
Let our interactions and love for one another be a source of this true light.
Amen.
Lord,
The true light is already shining, and we can already enjoy it.
Give us the wisdom and patience to see it and take advantage of it.
Let our interactions and love for one another be a source of this true light.
Amen.
Welcome Perspective
Live as children of the light.
Live as children of the light.
Find hope in the "already shining" light.
Before the beginning of time, there was only God, the all-powerful, all-knowing, triune God. The apostle John reminds us of this in the powerful opening statement of his gospel:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” (John 1:1-5)
In Creation, God the Father used that Word as he spoke the command that brought the world into being. The first chapter of Genesis describes the earth before God spoke:
“Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep.” (Genesis 1:2)
In a world of switches, streetlights, and cellphones, it is hard to imagine darkness without the option of light, but it was into this, a thick, palpable darkness, void of substance, that God spoke.
“And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. God saw that the light was good” (Genesis 1:3-4)
Simple words – but just think what a difference those words made! First, nothingness; then light! The Genesis account goes on to tell of the creation of the world: God created a perfect world according to his perfect plan. In the movies, that’s where the credits would roll: Perfect Adam and perfect Eve living happily ever after in the Garden of Eden. They could have sung this hymn in happy contentment.
Practically speaking, that prayer could have been humanity's positive, joyful prayer until the end of time. But sin changed that. Tempted by Satan, man fell into sin, and God’s perfect world became a tension between darkness and light. Into that tension, in the Garden of Eden, a merciful God sparked hope in the hearts of his beloved Creation. Swiftly after the consequences of sin were pronounced, the Light of a Savior was promised. Throughout the Old Testament, God’s people looked ahead to the coming of the one who would be light itself.
Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. (John 12:46)
Let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. (Romans 13:12)
God...made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. (Ephesians 5:8)
God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. (I John 1:5)
Listen to this song as you pray.
Personal Prayer Prompts
LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS
1 John 1:5
God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
List a few things in your life that are “dark” right now.
You could list a question without an answer.
You could list a problem without a reason for existence.
You could list a person you’re struggling to understand.
For God, nothing is dark.
What can you ask of him concerning the things you’ve listed?
What do you hope he’d shed light on for you?
Write your answers.
Finally, write the questions: “Where can I find light?” The answer, of course, is God, in whom there is no darkness. How will you draw nearer to him?
FREE FROM DARKNESS
1 Peter 2:9-10
But you are a chosen people,
a royal priesthood,
a holy nation,
God’s special possession,
that we may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness and into his wonderful light.
Once you were not a people,
but now we are the people of God;
one you had not received mercy,
but now we have received mercy.
“We are the people of God.” These are bold words.
Write down some of the things that “the people of God” should do that you don’t see happening enough in your life or in the world around you.
Write down the names of a few “people of God” who have been called out of darkness that you know. They could literally be in the room with you right now.
Pray directly that those people would be moved to do the things you listed.
THE SECOND DAWN
Jude 1:21
Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy
of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
We’ve talked a lot about light and dark today. This verse is all about light – light that we experience now, and light that we’ll experience at the end.
List two things you could do tomorrow that would “keep yourself in God’s love.”
List two things you look forward to as you look forward to the day you’ll meet Jesus.
Circle all four things and write: “keep me.”
Pray that God uses things like those to do just that.
Before the beginning of time, there was only God, the all-powerful, all-knowing, triune God. The apostle John reminds us of this in the powerful opening statement of his gospel:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” (John 1:1-5)
In Creation, God the Father used that Word as he spoke the command that brought the world into being. The first chapter of Genesis describes the earth before God spoke:
“Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep.” (Genesis 1:2)
In a world of switches, streetlights, and cellphones, it is hard to imagine darkness without the option of light, but it was into this, a thick, palpable darkness, void of substance, that God spoke.
“And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. God saw that the light was good” (Genesis 1:3-4)
Simple words – but just think what a difference those words made! First, nothingness; then light! The Genesis account goes on to tell of the creation of the world: God created a perfect world according to his perfect plan. In the movies, that’s where the credits would roll: Perfect Adam and perfect Eve living happily ever after in the Garden of Eden. They could have sung this hymn in happy contentment.
Practically speaking, that prayer could have been humanity's positive, joyful prayer until the end of time. But sin changed that. Tempted by Satan, man fell into sin, and God’s perfect world became a tension between darkness and light. Into that tension, in the Garden of Eden, a merciful God sparked hope in the hearts of his beloved Creation. Swiftly after the consequences of sin were pronounced, the Light of a Savior was promised. Throughout the Old Testament, God’s people looked ahead to the coming of the one who would be light itself.
Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. (John 12:46)
Let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. (Romans 13:12)
God...made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. (Ephesians 5:8)
God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. (I John 1:5)
Listen to this song as you pray.
Personal Prayer Prompts
LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS
1 John 1:5
God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
List a few things in your life that are “dark” right now.
You could list a question without an answer.
You could list a problem without a reason for existence.
You could list a person you’re struggling to understand.
For God, nothing is dark.
What can you ask of him concerning the things you’ve listed?
What do you hope he’d shed light on for you?
Write your answers.
Finally, write the questions: “Where can I find light?” The answer, of course, is God, in whom there is no darkness. How will you draw nearer to him?
FREE FROM DARKNESS
1 Peter 2:9-10
But you are a chosen people,
a royal priesthood,
a holy nation,
God’s special possession,
that we may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness and into his wonderful light.
Once you were not a people,
but now we are the people of God;
one you had not received mercy,
but now we have received mercy.
“We are the people of God.” These are bold words.
Write down some of the things that “the people of God” should do that you don’t see happening enough in your life or in the world around you.
Write down the names of a few “people of God” who have been called out of darkness that you know. They could literally be in the room with you right now.
Pray directly that those people would be moved to do the things you listed.
THE SECOND DAWN
Jude 1:21
Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy
of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
We’ve talked a lot about light and dark today. This verse is all about light – light that we experience now, and light that we’ll experience at the end.
List two things you could do tomorrow that would “keep yourself in God’s love.”
List two things you look forward to as you look forward to the day you’ll meet Jesus.
Circle all four things and write: “keep me.”
Pray that God uses things like those to do just that.
Worship Perspective
What light does is what pleases the Lord.
What light does is what pleases the Lord.
Explore Ephesians 5:8-20 using the presentation below.
Navigate through the presentation by using the buttons and arrows in the frame below.
Navigate through the presentation by using the buttons and arrows in the frame below.
Learn Perspective
In the light, we can submit out of reverence.
In the light, we can submit out of reverence.
Practice the Aurora Prayer Shield prompts.
The Aurora Prayer Shield was developed by Seattle Foursquare.
THE PURPOSE
The Aurora Prayer Shield initiative was birthed out of prayer for the Aurora corridor. There is a need to restore the dignity of all who are addicted and enslaved in this hurting city.
Why Should We Pray
Read Isaiah 58:6-7
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?"
We believe God is calling us to pray for our community. The Aurora Prayer Shield is a prayer covering, not an outreach or an evangelism tool. So often, we think we must do something other than praying, but there is power in prayer (1 Jn 5:14, Mt 21:21-22, Lk 11:9). For now, we are preparing the ground for planting. The purpose is to both undergird and support outreach and evangelism.
Instructions
It is recommended that you go with a team of people (Mat 18:20). We know for some people praying out loud can be intimidating. Perhaps you are new to prayer. That is okay, you can go and agree silently. The purpose for going in a group is for safety and accountability. Find a safe place to park within the Aurora corridor. It is recommended that you find a worship instrumental playlist. You want this to help set the atmosphere for your time of prayer. Use the backside of this card if needed to guide you through the next hour of prayer. We recommend that you read the scriptures aloud.
Things to Remember
PRAYER PROMPTS
Read 1 John 4:1-4
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
Read Luke 4:18
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Read Isaiah 59:19
"From the west, people will fear the name of the Lord, and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory. For he will come like a pent-up flood that the breath of the Lord drives along."
Thank you for choosing to be an active partner in prayer. We believe that God will do a mighty work through the prayers of His people.
The Aurora Prayer Shield was developed by Seattle Foursquare.
THE PURPOSE
The Aurora Prayer Shield initiative was birthed out of prayer for the Aurora corridor. There is a need to restore the dignity of all who are addicted and enslaved in this hurting city.
Why Should We Pray
Read Isaiah 58:6-7
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?"
We believe God is calling us to pray for our community. The Aurora Prayer Shield is a prayer covering, not an outreach or an evangelism tool. So often, we think we must do something other than praying, but there is power in prayer (1 Jn 5:14, Mt 21:21-22, Lk 11:9). For now, we are preparing the ground for planting. The purpose is to both undergird and support outreach and evangelism.
Instructions
It is recommended that you go with a team of people (Mat 18:20). We know for some people praying out loud can be intimidating. Perhaps you are new to prayer. That is okay, you can go and agree silently. The purpose for going in a group is for safety and accountability. Find a safe place to park within the Aurora corridor. It is recommended that you find a worship instrumental playlist. You want this to help set the atmosphere for your time of prayer. Use the backside of this card if needed to guide you through the next hour of prayer. We recommend that you read the scriptures aloud.
Things to Remember
- Pray for the pimps, prostitutes, johns, the homeless, and the addicted, not against them. We are not doing this so that they will leave our area. We are doing this so that they may be set free from addiction, slavery, and sin by the power of our resurrected Jesus.
- People are not our enemy and what our focus should be is to push back the darkness from the Aurora corridor and break up the hardened spiritual ground of this area.
- We do this through prayer that is focused on lifting people up and praying that the strongholds of the deceiver will be pulled down.
PRAYER PROMPTS
Read 1 John 4:1-4
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
- Evil and darkness are in the world, and we must stand against them as Christians. Ask the Lord to give you discernment and the power to pray for those who choose to walk away from evil behaviors.
- Pray for the leadership over your community, schools, city, state, and country. Ask God to raise up godly leaders who are wise and lead with righteousness.
- Ask God to stop the evil over which you have no control (e.g., crime, natural disasters), and pray you will find ways to help minister with righteousness, grace, and mercy in our community.
Read Luke 4:18
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
- Poverty and homeliness are an epidemic in our community. Pray that God would reach them with the good news of Jesus Christ.
- Pray that those held captive by addiction would be released and restored.
- Ask God that those who are enslaved would be set free.
Read Isaiah 59:19
"From the west, people will fear the name of the Lord, and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory. For he will come like a pent-up flood that the breath of the Lord drives along."
- Pray that the fear of the Lord would be felt throughout the Aurora corridor, that this fear would cause sinners to live a life that pleases God.
- Ask God to blow through the Aurora corridor that the wicked spirit of this age would be dethroned, and God’s authority would be in position, and His people would follow.
- Pray that many would hear the call of God in their own lives and that they would respond to His call for them.
Thank you for choosing to be an active partner in prayer. We believe that God will do a mighty work through the prayers of His people.
Feel free to submit a prayer request by filling out the below form.
(If you choose to make your request public, you'll see it display in the Current at the end of the Spotlight along with anyone else who did the same.)
(If you choose to make your request public, you'll see it display in the Current at the end of the Spotlight along with anyone else who did the same.)
Pray through your requests—together—as a group.
After submitting your requests in the above form, take some time to share with your group whatever requests the group might have for this week.
After submitting your requests in the above form, take some time to share with your group whatever requests the group might have for this week.
Follow along with this prayer guide with your group.
Follow this simple, written suggestion on how to pray about the prayer requests shared during this Spotlight.
Lord, today we place __________ in your hands.
Show us your will in this regard and make us part of the work of seeing it done.
Surprise us with the rest.
Follow this simple, written suggestion on how to pray about the prayer requests shared during this Spotlight.
Lord, today we place __________ in your hands.
Show us your will in this regard and make us part of the work of seeing it done.
Surprise us with the rest.
Serve Perspective
Make the darkened things lights.
Make the darkened things lights.
Let's recap what we have learned in this Spotlight—and series.
Discuss: What's the difference between "believing the light is already shining" and just "being optimistic?"
Discuss: What's the difference between "believing the light is already shining" and just "being optimistic?"
Sing along with (or listen to) this song to close out this Spotlight.
Feel free to sing along or simply listen. Do what makes you comfortable—but do whatever helps you focus on the song's meaning best.
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Feel free to sing along or simply listen. Do what makes you comfortable—but do whatever helps you focus on the song's meaning best.
Let's wrap things up by taking a look at what's Current at Illume.
Tap on the buttons in the frame below to see what’s currently happening at Illume—information on everything from current and upcoming online content to live events and opportunities to serve in the community can all be found here.
Tap on the buttons in the frame below to see what’s currently happening at Illume—information on everything from current and upcoming online content to live events and opportunities to serve in the community can all be found here.
Farewell perspective
The light never goes away.
The light never goes away.
Posted in Darkness is Passing
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