I’m sure most of us know that old chorus;

It’s a cute song, however, we as Christians are not to have just a little light – in these days, God is calling us to manifest the light of the glory of His kingdom – and as I heard one dear black sister say, "Honey, that ain’t no little light!"

Too many people seem to have the idea that we are just to be some little flickering candle set off in the corner of the room somewhere! But the Lord said, "You are the light of the world"! Think about that! A light that lights up the darkness of this world is no little night–light stuck in the corner of a room – dimly lit! No! He tells us to let the light of His Name, the light of His kingdom, and the riches of the glory of His grace, let it shine! And, let it shine, not simply in the confines of the church! He didn’t say, "You are the light of the church". He said, "You are the light of the world"! Contemporary Christians tend to isolate themselves by ministering to each other instead of reaching out to help people as Jesus did. We are to let our light shine in the darkness and gloominess of this world! That means getting out of the church and into the streets, into the market places, and into every aspect and level of society.

Do you want to know how bright your light shines (or doesn’t shine?) Get involved in soul winning! Get involved in taking a stand for righteousness! Get involved in touching the world for Jesus! That’s what your light is for!

Every year I lead a team from our church down to New Orleans to do street evangelism during the Mardi-Gras festival.

Some people inevitably always ask me, "Why do you bother to go to Mardi-Gras?" "What’s the use?" "Isn’t it a waste of time? It seems so futile!"

Friends, light works best in the darkness! Most of those who object to Christianity are simply spiritually blind, and our job is to lovingly help bring them into the light.

Christian! Come out from underneath your basket! Come out of the fortress of the church! God isn’t calling us, and hasn't called us, to sit in a church and feel ‘safe and secure in Jesus’ while the world goes to hell in a hand basket!

The question before us is, are we letting it shine? Or, are we hiding it under a bushel? A great many people have turned the church into a basket! They would like it just fine if we kept our light to ourselves and within the four walls of the church. Now, it’s one thing for the world to see things that way, but there are far too many Christians who also live that way! My friend, the Church was never meant to be a basket for Christians to hide under from the world!

How many of you have turned the church into a lampshade? How many Christians are there, who hide themselves in the confines of the church, never letting their light shine out in the world, out in the darkness where it is needed? They’ve turned the church into their basket.

Christians who live that kind of Christianity end up becoming "basket case" Christians! Do you want to know why there are so many Christians, who are "basket cases"? It’s because, they’re too busy burning the light up on themselves, instead of letting the light shine outward on others! They’re too busy complaining about others, complaining about the church, complaining about their leaders, so that the oil has gone out from their lamp, and there is no light. They’re moanin’ and groanin about the darkness, and they can’t see that, if they would only let their light shine by serving others they would forget about their problems and God would meet them. But I think some people just love to dwell in darkness and misery even as Christians! My friend if that’s you, then it’s time to cancel your plans to be miserable! Let the joy of the Lord be your strength and let the light of the glory of Christ shine out from your life!

So, how do you let it shine?

The answer lies in the context of this verse; "That they may see your good works…"

Preaching the gospel, spreading the gospel, living the gospel! Living righteously with all boldness, living, "...without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world," (Phil. 2:14-15)

I want to tell you that the glory of the Lord is rising upon His people in this hour! If we would get into His presence and seek His face, and spend time with Him "up on the mountain", His glory would be upon our countenances like a blazing sun that would pierce the darkness and convict the sinner!

The Lord in this day simply wants us to be a conduit of His glory; to be a conduit that radiates the light of His Kingdom, the light of His grace and mercy, the light of His love and salvation. A conduit from which flows the, "...light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, [that it] should shine on them…"

So then beloved, get to work! Extend yourself to be used of the Lord, and let your light shine! Don’t just sit around waiting for something to happen. "Oh I don’t just sit around" you say, "I have very busy days, I’m too busy to do anything else!" Well then, you’re busy with the wrong things!

Sacrifice your time – Redeem the time for the days are evil! I’m not saying you have to do what I do, or what Bro. or Sister So and So does – but for heavens’ sake DO SOMETHING – to let your light shine!

"Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising. "Lift up your eyes all around, and see: They all gather together, they come to you; …(Isa 60:1ff)

Some people have an excuse, others have an experience, but the Lord is saying in these days, "I’ve caused my glory to be upon you. It’s my glory in you that will attract the people in these days, says the Lord. I’m causing my glory to arise over you. Even as you sing the songs of my train filling the temple – I will cause the train of my glory to fill the land says the Lord. For you are the train of my glory.

I saw in my spirit the Lord with his hands spread over the land, and the light of His glory emanated from His Face and from His body. And, I saw His robe hanging down from his shoulders and arms; "The wings" of His garments flowed from Him and I saw then, that the garment was made up of the faces of His people – the robe was the body of Christ that was arising in this day to carry the gospel of peace, hope, and salvation into the land. The train of His robe was His people – emanating with His glory, filling the streets and filling the city with His presence. And it is this, "people of Glory", that are they, that will draw the lost into his arms and into his presence!

Therefore,

Remember He said, "His glory will be seen upon you"! And they shall come to your light!"