WEDNESDAY'S WORD - BREAKING THE CHAINS OF POVERTY - 01/13/16 - Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

POVERTY is the state of being extremely poor: lacking sufficient money to live at a standard considered comfortable or normal in society.  In our Consider the Poor training, poverty is the extent to which a person is without resources, whether human relationships, financial access or literacy, or in-kind supply. A person can be living in generational poverty; their family having been in poverty for 3 or more generations.  Or they can be in situational poverty from a job-loss, un-or under-employment, divorce, bankruptcy, death of spouse, or some other trauma.  Poverty is definitely a chain - a force that binds or restricts - and it needs to be broken.  Cincinnati is the #2 City in the US for child poverty. 52% of our children overall and a startling 74% of African-American children live in poverty here. - Cincinnati Urban League's State of Black Cincinnati.  If so many of our children are living in poverty, it's safe to assume that their parents are as well.

In Luke 4:18, the first place Jesus announced that His ministry would touch was the poor. "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free. (NLT) He did it in practical terms: feeding the hungry, healing the sick (who no longer needed to beg or have physician's bills), and instructing on Kingdom economics.

In the Old Testament, God commanded that the poor be attended to by the righteous. "Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them will receive many curses." (Prov. 28:27) Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward them for what they have done. (Prov 19:17) Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor. (Prov. 28:8)

That's great, Sadell you say, but what if I'M THE POOR? I'm not an orphan in a foreign country. I'm the working poor, and I can't make ends meet. I'd love to give, but there's nothing disposable.Yesterday at Mosaix Cincinnati, Oneya Okuwobi, who is studying for her PhD at Ohio State in sociology, gave us a startling statistic that African-Americans make 10 cents vs. every dollar a Caucasian person makes! and a hush went across the room. According to the Census Bureau, the net worth of Caucasians is 13 times that of African-Americans: $141,900 vs. $11,000. Becoming further educated, owning houses or businesses, or participating in investments and improving your status is difficult to impossible when you have no assets or liquidity. Many don't have enough even for the basics. In the US that we know this has it's roots in slavery and racism over many generations, and there's a mentality that follows long-term poverty, not really addressing that here.  Whether you're African-American or not, if you're poor, you probably want that chain broken by the power of Almighty God! and that is possible, Jesus came to set us FREE!

For the next few Sundays, January 17th & 24th Pastor Jackie Jackson will be our guest speaker at New Life Covenant addressing this very issue.  He will be doing an intensive at BOTH our Bible Study at 10:00 AM and our Service at 11:00 AM at Urban Artifact 1660 Blue Rock Street, 45223.  If you are struggling in this area, please come! The LORD wants to deliver, instruct with Biblical wisdom, and set you free.

Pastor Sherman Bradley will be preaching THIS SUNDAY NIGHT at 7:00 PM at New Prospect Baptist Church 1580 Summit Road, Cincinnati OH 45237. The New Life Covenant Worship Team will join with the Holy Spirit in leading us into our Father's presence.  We hope to see YOU there!!

21 DAY ENCOURAGEMENTS PRAYER & FASTING - CARE FOR THE HOUSE OF GOD - Sherman Bradley - 01/13/16 - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

Today is the 4th Day of New Life Covenant's 21-Day Fast.  We are fasting and praying for many things...one of them is self-control and discipline in our financial lives.  To that end, members of the church and its pastors are writing daily encouragements.  Thought we'd share them with you.  Be blessed!

CARE FOR THE HOUSE OF GOD

The LORD said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give….Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Exodus 25:1-2; 8

And all the skillful men who were performing all the work of the sanctuary came, each from the work which he was performing, and they said to Moses, "The people are bringing much more than enough for the construction work which the LORD commanded us to perform."  Exodus 36:4-5

In the Old Testament, God was specifically concerned for the building of His Sanctuary.  The obedience of the children of Israel when Moses approached them with God’s command to give an offering was remarkable. They continued to give freewill offerings until there was more than enough to build the sanctuary.  God told Moses to tell them to stop giving.

Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so the people were restrained from bringing more, because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work. Exodus 36:6-7

This is every pastor’s dream!  It’s one thing for you as a leader to be committed to God’s dwelling place…it’s another when your people are so cheerful and generous about the Lord’s house, and the Lord’s work that they give more than what is needed. 

Giving to God will never leave us bankrupt, but our withholding and sparse giving counteracts potential blessings (2 Cor 9:6) and prevents us from prospering. As we take care of God's house He will assuredly take care of ours. You can never out-do Gods giving!

In Peanuts, Charlie Brown was trick or treating for Halloween, but his bag had a hole in it. As he walked the streets, his spoils of candy leaked out a trail. He had worked and toiled but ended up with nothing. This reminds me of the Word from the prophet Haggai to Israel:

“Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord. “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house. Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the olive oil and everything else the ground produces, on people and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.”  Haggai 1:4-11

In my analogy, the effort of the Peanuts characters who had bags without holes produced a harvest of goodies. When we obey God’s stewardship principles and prioritize what’s important to Him, it brings us into financial wholeness. When we do not obey Gods truths about stewardship we are laboring in vain and we will never have enough nor live in true prosperity and wealth. Don’t trade in the future inheritance for yourself, your children and your grandchildren by disobeying God!  Each time you acquire income don’t hold back and only take care of your own house. Instead trust God at his word. He says try me, prove me and let me show you. I will pour you out blessings you do not have room enough to receive. (Mal 3:7-12)

 Pastor Sherman

21 DAY FAST ENCOURAGEMENTS - TRUST & FREEDOM FROM ANXIETY - by WANDA BAKER - 01/12/16- New Life Covenant Cincinnati

Today is the 3rd Day of New Life Covenant's 21-Day Fast.  We are fasting and praying for many things...one of them is self-control and discipline in our financial lives.  To that end, members of the church and its pastors are writing daily encouragements.  Thought we'd share them with you.  Be blessed!

Day 3 Trust – Freedom from Anxiety - Prioritizing God and His Kingdom

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5,6 King James Version (KJV)

It is difficult to trust God when everything around us seems to be falling apart, especially our finances. We don’t know how bills will be paid, or how we will provide for retirement. Commercials show families with new cars, pristine homes and perfect lawns. We come home to mounds of laundry, piles of bills and wonder, “Where is God in this mess?”  The world seems so bright and carefree when viewed through the special effects lenses of Hollywood.  We think WE should have the shiny, new things! God wants us to be blessed, doesn’t He?  So we worry:

“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?  Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?” (Matt 6:25, 26).

Our perspective must shift from the temporary to the eternal. We can trust that God has provided all that we NEED, not necessarily all we WANT.  As we begin to seek Him and not try to figure out things for ourselves, He will direct us which way to go.  Our attention can’t remain on things that are going to pass away in an instant.  Our true treasure is in Heaven, so our hearts must focus there.

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matt 6:20,21)  

As we continue in this fast, let’s keep Eternity before us! One day soon, everything that we have struggled to obtain and maintain will vanish. We can’t take it with us! Seek God more than ever and trust in Him with all your hearts. He knows what we need and when we need it.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.  (Matt 6:33,34)

Wanda

 

21 Days of Prayer & Fasting- Day 2 - Diligent Work - Allie Daniel - 01/11/16 New Life Covenant Cincinnati

Today is the 2nd Day of New Life Covenant's 21-Day Fast.  We are fasting and praying for many things...one of them is self-control and discipline in our financial lives.  To that end, members of the church and its pastors are writing daily encouragements.  Thought we'd share them with you.  Be blessed!

Day 2 - Diligent Work
By Alessandra Daniel

For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. (2 Thessalonians 3:10)

Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor. Proverbs 12:24

Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth. Proverbs 10:4

There are a significant number of scriptures exhorting us to not be lazy, but to be productive and diligent workers.  Often times work may seem to be a burden, something necessary in order to get by in this life.  We need to put food on the table and keep our lights on and water running, right?  Recently I’ve been trying to renew my mind in order to have the perspective that God has about work, and I’m encouraged by it.  I no longer have to think of work as a burden, but instead a blessing. 

I, as a human being created in the image of God, am actually designed for work.  In the beginning God took six days to create the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1), and he instructed mankind to take six days to work and be productive as well.  God instructed mankind to rest only one day of the week (Exodus 20:8).  If we were designed primarily to work, then why should we worry about motivation to do it? especially when there is a promise of guaranteed profit, and we have the resurrection power of Christ dwelling inside of us! 

There are many people who don’t have jobs, and don’t have a relationship with the Living God.  They are not able to have peace that their needs will be supplied.  I know that I am thankful I have a job, and I realize that it is only because of God that I am able to attain and gain wealth and assets.

But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today. (Deuteronomy 8:18)

So I want to work with excellence to show my appreciation to God.  I hope that all of you are encouraged to overcome the temptation to be idle by realizing that work is not a burden, but actually a blessing and privilege to create, innovate and do good works the way God intended.

Allie

Daily Encouragements for a 21-Day Fast - New Life Covenant Cincinnati 1/10/16

Today marks the first day of New Life Covenant's 21-Day Fast.  We are fasting and praying for many things...one of them is self-control and discipline in our financial lives.  To that end, members of the church and its pastors are writing daily encouragements.  Thought we share them with you.  Be blessed!

Day One - God Owns It All

“The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine, declares the LORD Almighty.“ Haggai 2:8

“For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills.” Psalm 50:10

We ‘know this!!’ At least we give mental assent to it the fact that God owns it all but…

We have grown accustomed to using the words my and mine to refer to almost everything.  My money, my car, my house, my time, my child, my husband, my wife, my marriage, my gifts, my calling, my ministry, my life… all the things and people that we are to love less than God. God, who is the true owner could require any of them at any time. Paul asked the church at Corinth, “What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift? (1 Cor. 4:7b NLT)

David had been disqualified from building the Lord a house for Him to dwell, but was asked to gather all of the resources for his son Solomon to build it.  1 Chronicles 29:1-9 details the effort he took to collect the large quantities of metals, precious stones and the skillful craftsmen who would consecrate themselves to the construction of the Temple.  The leaders of families, officers of the tribes of Israel, and the officials gave willingly toward the work on the temple. (Then something great happened!)

The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders who had given wholeheartedly to the LORD.  David the king rejoiced greatly.  In verse 11, David praises God saying “Yours, Lord is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours.” In humility, he exclaims, “But who am I, and who are my of army people that we should be able to give as generously as this?  Everything comes from YOU and we have given you only what comes from your hand.”

On this first day of fasting, let it sink in deeply…God owns it ALL! even our lives. Let us put aside pride, boasting and stinginess about what we claim to be ‘ours.’

Lay down all that you have and all that you are at His feet because it’s ALL His!

Sadell

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - TESTING - 01/06/16- Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

TESTING means revealing a person's strength, quality or capabilities by putting them under strain. A TEST is a procedure intended to establish the quality, performance, or reliability of something, especially before it is taken into widespread use. (I know, that's deep!) In education and employment, a test is a short written or spoken examination of a person's proficiency or knowledge. Our schooling has taught us that tests are a part of maturing and development. They show whether or not we have acquired sufficient skills, abilities, knowledge or information to go to the next level. God tests us to reveal our readiness for greater things.

The Lord allowed Job to be tested under the greatest personal strain. In one day Job's livestock and servants were attacked and killed, his sheep and herders were burned with fire, his camels and servants were raided and his sons and daughters were killed by winds that collapsed his home. (Job 1) The test didn't come because he was sinful and godless, but because he was an upright man whom God wanted to use to give Him glory. Job would worship Jehovah no matter what his losses or stresses were.The Bible
says "In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing." (Job 1:21) Even when God allowed the devil to touch Job's physical body, he did not curse his Lord.  Throughout Scripture, the patriarchs and matriarchs were tested. Abraham had to leave his family and comfort zone, and sacrifice his only son. Esther's courage was tried to petition the king for the salvation of the Jews. The Hebrew Boys and Daniel's commitments to worship God were tested in the fiery furnace and the lion's den. James said that we are to count, or consider it all joy when we face trials of many kinds, because the testing of our faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4) So endure the testing...and don't quit!!

I've never been a fan of tests - particularly not the multiple-choice ones. Most annoying are the ones where several things can be true at the same time, or only one thing is the most true. It seems that is how life presents itself. We have to make decisions by faith between complex options that could have negative or positive outcomes. Our tests involve risks in finance, relationships, and calling.  Tests present grueling choices without guarantees. Will we be fully persuaded that God is with us? Will we worship Him no matter what the outcome? Passing this test could qualify you for widespread use!

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - RELEASE - 12/30/15 Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati!

RELEASE means to allow or enable to escape from confinement; to set free . It also means to remove restrictions or obligations from someone so that they can be available for other activity. In media and communications, to release is to allow art or information to be made generally available. In legal or banking terms, release means to remit or discharge a debt, surrender a right, or make over property or money to another person or entity. As we close out 2015, there are things from which we need to be released, in order to release what God has placed inside of us!  
 
At the end of every seven years, the debts of all Israelites had to be canceled within their ranks. This was called "The Lord's Release" (KJV):            

“At the end of every seventh year you must cancel the debts of everyone who owes you money. This is how it must be done. Everyone must cancel the loans they have made to their fellow Israelites. They must not demand payment from their neighbors or relatives, for the Lord’s time of release has arrived. This release from debt, however, applies only to your fellow Israelites - not to the foreigners living among you. "There should be no poor among you, for the Lord your God will greatly bless you in the land he is giving you as a special possession. (Deuteronomy 15:1-4, NLT)

God did not want His people to be in debt or captivity to one another.  He desired His covenant blessing to be felt by everyone, from the greatest to the least. He wanted a spirit of generosity to extend even to the poor of the nation.  Indebtedness often included slavery or indentured servitude.  The Lord abolished indefinite indebtedness by commanding His people to release those whom they were holding hostage for other activity. Is there someone whom you're holding in a literal debt or figurative unforgiveness? Release them!

It is time for the Lord's release! Have you been holding yourself hostage, drudging up the failures of your past? RELEASE!  Been procrastinating and afraid to unveil to the world what God has given you to share? RELEASE! Whatever is holding you back, or you are holding back, RELEASE IT! 

 

 

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WEDNESDAY'S WORD - EMMANUEL - 12/23/15 Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

Joseph is reeling because his fiancee Mary just told him she was pregnant by someone else...she claimed it was God Himself! He loved Mary, so he considered  divorcing her privately, so as not to disgrace her.  Joseph goes to sleep - I'm not quite sure how he did that under the circumstances! In a dream an angel appears and says, "Don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what she's conceiving is from the Holy Spirit.  She'll give birth to a son and you're to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins." (Matt. 1:18-21 - paraphrase) I know, crazy right?  All of this is supposed to be a fulfillment of a prophesy by Isaiah. Behold! a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (Matt. 1:22- 23) Though these swelling Words of prophetic declaration came directly from the Lord; the timing of this declaration was awful! and the answer to the key question, though true, was not desired.  Has that ever happened to you?  

Emmanuel, God is with us. I wonder if Joseph felt that way? The appearance of an angel is startling, and Joseph was so convinced that he obeyed.  He took Mary as his wife and did not consummate their marriage until after Jesus was born. (vs. 24-25) That's real conviction! Can you imagine the mix of emotions this prophecy and turn of events caused him? Public shame (you know there was talk), the piercing of his ego, the dashing of his hopes for how his marriage would be.

 

He had to walk all the way to Bethlehem to be taxed, plenty of time to think about this shame of a situation. He endured the frustration of being rejected in place after place when his wife's water is about to break. Then he had to watch his wife deliver a child that is not his! that is from who knows where...yes, I know...God! but think about Joseph at the time. Not quite the nativity scene you have in the yard, is it?

Sometimes miracles are happening that don't feel especially miraculous! Prophetic and life-changing experiences from God don't always bring the kinds of tingly feelings we desire and get from church services. God is moving and changing things dramatically right in the midst of tragedy, confusion, paralyzing fear, what seems like betrayal, when we feel awful, disappointed, rejected and humiliated. It brought Joseph and Mary into isolation but was meant to exercise their faith.  The miracle of Christmas is not just that Jesus was born in a manger...but that His parents were willing to hear and obey the Word of the Lord at all emotional, relational, reputational and financial cost to see it come to pass! Imagine their shock and awe when shepherds, angels and wise men came celebrating. Thousands of years later, we have no doubt that Emmanuel - God was with them! The whole world has changed.  The challenge is to believe Emmanuel - God is with US!...even when we don't sense or feel Him!

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WEDNESDAY'S WORD - SILENT - 12/15/15 Sadell Bradley -New Life Covenant Cincinnati

Silent means not making or accompanied by any sound; not speaking. The word is used in both positive and negative contexts: "The strong, silent type," is a person who is not prone to speak much. "Giving the silent treatment," is a stubborn refusal to talk to someone after a recent argument. Our words have power - whether spoken or unspoken. Ecclesiastes 3:7 states that there is "a time to keep silence and a time to speak."  We'd do well to distinguish between the two. Sometimes we don't know what to do or say, or what the best answer is. At other times we do, but it is better to keep our unsolicited opinions to ourselves. Our reputations are augmented by our ability to be tight-lipped. "Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues." (Proverbs 17:28)  Silence is golden.   
 

"But no man can tame the tongue," James 3:8 tells us, "it is restless and evil, full of deadly poison."  It blesses and worships God, then curses its fellow man. (vs. 9)  He calls the tongue a 'flame of fire" and a "world of wickedness" that is able to corrupt our entire body, set our lives on fire and end us up in Hell! (vs. 6) "Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way." (vs 2) Hmmm...maybe I've been directing my self-control goals and efforts in the wrong direction! What if our ability to overcome our appetites and sins could be directly impacted by controlling our tongues FIRST?!!   OH MY!!

 

I attended a Quaker School called Friends' Central in Merion, PA for 12 years. Each Wednesday, worship services called Quaker Meetings were held in complete silence unless someone was moved by God or their own revelation to share a thought that would benefit the group. Can you imagine an auditorium of children/teens sitting in silence for a whole period of 45 minutes?!  Well, we did! weekly. It was one of the BEST experiences of my life. The discipline of silence kick-started my ability to listen: to hear from God and others, and to reflect on my own thoughts - which has served me tremendously well. Here's an exercise: Turn everything around you off, still your mind and sit in total silence for 2 minutes with your hands on your knees.  See if you can do it, many adults cannot. Silence is a form or worship. "The Lord is in His holy temple, let all the earth keep silence before Him." (Habakkuk 2:20)

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - ACQUIESCE - SADELL BRADLEY 12/07/15 New Life Covenant Cincinnati

Last Wednesday's Word was exposure - an encounter that brings light or reveals something.  Recently, I was exposed to several new, awesome and intimidating things. I journaled my thoughts, knowing that one day these things would be a part of my life. I had a lot of questions, and some anxiety. The Holy Spirit replied, "I just need you to acquiesce and agree."  My first thought was, "Isn't that the same thing?" Agree means that you will do, allow, or accept something that is suggested or requested by another person. Yet the Lord was deliberate in using the word acquiesce. He says weird words I don't normally use so I know it's Him and not me, lol! So, I looked it up. ACQUIESCE - means to accept, agree, or allow something to happen BY staying silent or BY not arguing. I couldn't put it any better than the Rock does in this meme.  God was saying, "I'm not asking you to do or question it.  Be quiet! Let Me accomplish it."

 

In Luke 1, Zacharias and his wife Elisabeth were barren, old, and had prayed for years for a child to no avail.  They were righteous people who loved God, but what they desired seemed unlikely, if not impossible. Zacharias was a priest, which made the delay even more public and shaming. The angel of the Lord appeared to Zacharias and said, "Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth." (L uke 1:13-14) John would be a great prophet who would turn many people back to the Lord. (16-17) Zacharias, started in with the questions..."Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well-stricken in years." The angel Gabriel replied that he was sent to bring the glad tidings, then executed this judgment on Zacharias: "And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season." (Luke 1:20) What if God shut our mouths when we didn't believe?

Zacharias and Elisabeth in God's time, would be a part of the greatest story ever told.  The Messiah would be conceived by their cousin Mary, a virgin, and their reproach would be wiped away by the birth of His forerunner, John the Baptist.  "For with God nothing shall be impossible." (vs 37) Zacharias did not speak until after his son was born. The people tried to name him Zacharias Jr. but he wrote down, "His name is John." Immediately his mouth was opened again and his first words were praises to God and prophesy about what God would do through his son, this precious gift he'd received despite his questioning! (vs.59-80) Some of what God has promised, ONLY HE can bring to pass! Your job is to agree with God and ACQUIESCE - accept what He has said, allow Him to do it, know your role...and shut your mouth!!  

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - EXPOSURE- 12/2/15 - Sadell Bradley- New Life Covenant Cincinnati

EXPOSURE has several meanings including: the state of being in contact with something; the revelation of an identity or fact, especially one that is concealed.  In photography, exposure is the amount of light per unit area reaching a photographic film. To be underexposed means the film has had light for too short a time, and vice versa.  Whether in photography or in life; it is important for us to deal properly with exposure. How much light is in my life...and what is it revealing?

Jesus said that "everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God."  (John 3:20-21) Paul warned the church at Ephesus..."there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving." He goes on to say that these habitual behaviors revoke inheritance in the Kingdom of God. Then he admonishes them,  "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible-and everything that is illuminated becomes a light." (Ephesians 5:3-13) Exposure is a serious thing!

Exposure has another, more positive light. When we are underexposed in life, we have not had enough experience in a certain arena.  Our information or access is limited and we need someone more knowledgeable to guide us. Some struggle if they're not the smartest person in the room, but if you are always that person...you need more exposure to grow!  People who have lived in poverty need exposure to another standard of living to change their status.  Those who have only experienced the US need  exposure to other countries to have a well-informed perspective of the world.  Spiritually, Elisha prayed during the battle that his servant's eyes would be opened to see that the army of the Lord with them was more than the enemies coming against them. (2 Kings 6:17) The servant had not been exposed to the concept of spiritual warring in the heavenlies. If you're stuck at a certain place in life...you might check to make sure you have the correct exposure!