(Isa 42:1-9, 赛42：1-9) 

This year our church’s theme is on我们教会今年的主题是 Matt 5: 14-16, “you are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither people light a lamp, and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” 你们是世上的光。城造在山上是不能隐藏的。人点灯，不放在斗底下，是放在灯台上，就照亮一家的人。你们的光也当这样照在人前，叫他们看见你们的好行为，便将荣耀归给你们在天上的父。”(马太福音 5:14-16)  What does ‘you are the light of the world’ mean? 你们是世上的光, 是什么意思？Jesus Christ says in John 8:12, 主耶稣在（约翰福音8：12）说 “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. John 8:12” “我是世界的光。跟从我的，就不在黑暗里走，必要得着生命的光。” Jesus is the light of the world. 耶稣是世界的光。He is the source of light. 是光的源头。Jesus is the true light who gives light to those who follow him. 耶稣是赐跟从他之人的真光。The key word here is: FOLLOW. “跟从”是这里的关键字。As long as we FOLLOW Jesus, 只要我们跟从耶稣，it says we will never walk in darkness, 这里说：我们就不在黑暗里走，but will have the light of life. 必要得着生命的光。We all acquire this knowledge, 我们虽然都知道这知识，but when it comes to practicing it, 可一到操练的时候，questions may arise.问题就出现了。 

Once, a born-again Christian asked me, 一次，有位重生的基督徒来问我说， “I follow Jesus. 我已经跟从耶稣了，I read the bible and pray quietly often. 也常常读经祷告。Why do I still walk in darkness by being addicted to drugs and sexual sins throughout the 18 years of my Christians life? 可信主十八年来，还是被吸毒和性犯罪捆绑，在黑暗里行，这是为什么？” This Christian doubted God’s word when he failed, 当这位基督徒跌倒后，他居然怀疑神的话，rather than examining whether his way of following Jesus was God’s way or his own way. 而不去监察自己的跟从之路，是跟从耶稣还是自己。God’s word is true! He never lies, 神的话是真实的！祂从不说谎，“whoever follows Jesus will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” “跟从我的，就不在黑暗里走，必要得着生命的光。” 

Last Sunday, we talked about following Jesus. 我们上周讲的是跟从耶稣。This week, 这周，we’ll continue to look at how to follow Jesus, 让我们继续来分享如何跟从耶稣，so that we live a life of bring light to the world. 好使我们能活出照亮世界的生命来。Let’s look at Isa Isa 42:1-9,  我们来读以赛亚书42：1-8。 

1, The light is from relationship with God. (v.1, 5-6)这光来自和神的关系（1节，5-6节） 

Jesus’ light is not of human origin. 耶稣的真光不源于人。V.1 says, 第1节说， “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations. 看哪，我的仆人－我所扶持所拣选、心里所喜悦的！我已将我的灵赐给他；他必将公理传给外邦。 Matthew quoted Isaiah’s prophecy in Matthew 12 to testify that Jesus Christ is the fulfilment of this prophecy. 马太福音十二章引用以赛亚书，来证明耶稣基督应验了这个先知预言。 In Luke 4, 路加福音4章说，when it comes to Jesus’ mission, 当耶稣开始传道时，it says, “the spirit of God is on me, because he has anointed me,” “主的灵在我身上，因为他用膏膏我，” Christ lived a life of walking and serving through the Spirit of God on earth. 基督在地上活出了一个靠神的灵行走和事奉的生命。And Jesus himself testified that,耶稣自己也见证说，“the spirit gives life, the flesh counts for nothing” 叫人活着的乃是灵，肉体是无益的。

The perfect and united relationship between the Son, the Spirit, and the Father ensures Jesus Christ is the light of the world. 子和圣灵、与父完全合一的关系，使耶稣基督成为世界的光。Christ comes from the Father, 基督从父而来，speaks for the Father, 为父代言，and goes back to the Father. 又回到父那里去。Christ is one with the Father. 基督与父原为一。It’s from Christ’s unique relationship with the Father, 是因基督与父独有的关系，he therefore is the light of the world. 他才成为世界的光。In other words, 换句话说，God alone is the light of the world.唯有神是世界的光。

In V. 5-6 This is what God the Lord says—the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: 6 “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, 5-6节 创造诸天，铺张穹苍，将地和地所出的一并铺开，赐气息给地上的众人，又赐灵性给行在其上之人的　神耶和华，他如此说：我－耶和华凭公义召你，必搀扶你的手，保守你，使你作众民的中保（中保：原文是约），作外邦人的光， In the bible, 按照圣经，we know that God made the first covenant with Abraham, 神的第一个约是与亚伯拉罕所立，God promised Abraham, 那时神应许亚伯拉罕，“I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you. All of the families of the earth will be blessed in you” (Genesis 12:2-3). 我必叫你成为大国。我必赐福给你，叫你的名为大；你也要叫别人得福。为你祝福的，我必赐福与他；那咒诅你的，我必咒诅他。地上的万族都要因你得福。”(创世记 12:2-3) God’s heart for His chosen people are not just for them to be blessed, 神向选民的心意，不是只让他们自己得福，but for them to be a blessing to many!而是让他们成为多人的祝福！

Israel as God’s chosen people misunderstood God’s heart. 作为神选民的以色列民误解了神的心意，They tended to think that their covenant relationship with God was their own privilege. 他们倾向于把他们与神的立约关系看作是自己的特殊待遇。But God didn’t call them to be privileged but to be of service. 但神并未呼召他们享受特权，而是呼召他们服事。Israel as God’s covenant people were called to be a light to the Gentiles. 以色列民被呼召成为外邦人的光，Unfortunately they failed. 但不幸失败了。God therefore sent His own Son Christ Jesus to establish a new covenant in grace. 神就差遣自己的儿子耶稣基督立下恩典之新约。And anyone who turns and accepts Jesus as his Lord and Saviour, 任何一个回转接受耶稣为自己的主和生命救主的人，will be given a new life through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. 都会因圣灵内驻拥有新生命。The same Spirit who dwelt in Christ now is within us! 住在基督里面的灵现在也住在我们里面！Isn’t that good news? 难道这不是大好消息？The light of the world is within us! 世界的光住在我们里面！We are the new covenant people of God through the redeeming blood of Jesus. 藉着耶稣流血的救赎，我们成了神新约的子民。We are called to be blessings to many. 我们蒙召成为多人的祝福。We are called to be blessings to our families,蒙召成为家庭的祝福, and to our communities,社区，to the world.世界的祝福。“Why is my husband so stubborn and not baptised? 为何我丈夫那么顽梗？Why are my children so rebellious against me?为何我的孩子那么悖逆我？” Stop blaming others but examining our own hearts, 不要去计算他人的恶，反倒要监察自己的心，“Lord, am I disobedient to Your commands?”“我正在悖逆你的话吗？” We are also called to be light for the Gentiles. 蒙召成为外邦人的光。This light is from the relationship we have with Jesus.那光来自我们与耶稣的关系。

2, Follow the light of righteousness, humility and compassion. (v,2-4, 7) 跟从公义、谦卑、怜悯之光（2-4，7节） 

Now how should we behave in everything we do to be light to the world? 如今我们在凡事上该如何行，可以成为世界的光？We have an example to follow. 我们可跟从我们的榜样。v. 2 He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. 他不喧嚷，不扬声，也不使街上听见他的声音。 The light of the world, 耶稣，显明神公义的世界的光，Jesus who displays God’s justice isn’t loud or forceful, 他既不喧嚷也不强逼，He brings justice gently and humbly. 而是温柔谦卑地带下公义。Let’s think about ourselves, 想想我们自己，when do we raise our voices? 什么时候我们就会提高声音？Or we may not raise our voices outwardly but inwardly? 或是外面强忍，心里面却很大声？When we think that we are right, but our kids don’t listen to us; 是当我们觉得自己对，可孩子不听我们的；when we are offended, and so on. 或当我们感到恼火生气；等等。But Jesus never forces or manipulates anyone to listen to him in this way. 但耶稣从不强逼或操纵人听他的。The light of the world is a humble and sinless Lamb. 世界的光是谦卑无罪的羔羊。He never showed off how powerful he was, 他从不显耀自己多有能力，even though the winds and storms listened to him, 尽管风和海都听他，the dead were raised by Him. 尽管他能使死人复活。Jesus our Lord, the light of the world was numbered with the sinners, 我们的主耶稣，这世界之光，被当成罪人，because people hated Him when he pointed out their sins, 人因他指正罪恶而恨他，and they didn’t wanna turn to the true light, 不愿转向真光，but rejected and tried to kill him. 却厌弃他，治死他。In the face of opposition 面对人的抵挡，he poured out his life to save his enemies from their sins. 为仇敌倾倒生命使罪得赦免。This is the way the true light - Jesus brings justice to sinners. 真光是耶稣为罪人施行公义。And this is also how we should behave. 这也是我们所当行的。‘The true light’ dies to his own judgement,这真光向自己的判断死，and allows the Father to judge and to save.却将自己交托按公义审判的父来拯救。 

3 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;. 压伤的芦苇，他不折断；将残的灯火，他不吹灭。 Bruised reed: 压伤的芦苇，the suffering, 受苦之人，the people who have been hurt.受伤的人。They have been wounded emotionally or spiritually. 他们情感或精神上受伤害。Smoldering Wicks: 将残的灯火，those whose faith has been weakened, 信心软弱的人，like a flame that has died, 像火苗已熄灭，but its wick (lampwick) is smoking and not dead yet. 灯心还飘散一丝白烟，亮光未尽。The love, humility, and compassion of God in Christ is light. 基督里面发出的神的爱、谦卑、怜悯，就是那光。He came to bring forth justice. 他来施行公义。Some say, 有人说，“It’s unfair that man is born to sin,人出生就有罪，and put under the curse of sin, 被放在罪的咒诅下，to suffer diseases, illnesses, and death.去承受疾病，病痛和死亡。”God’s justice demands payment for sin, 神的公义要求罪一定要偿付代价，and Christ paid it for us! 而基督为我们付了这赎价！Jesus is compassionate enough to intercede for wounded people who behave badly rather than despise them; 耶稣充满怜悯，没有藐视行为不好的受伤之人，却为他们代求；His mercy enables those whose faith is weak to be strengthened rather than criticize them. 祂没有挑剔信心软弱的人，而是以怜悯仁慈坚固他们。Therefore, this is the way of Christ who lights the dark world that we need follow: 这就是我们当跟从的 照亮这黑暗世界的光的基督的道路：

a, Pray for those who are brokenhearted constantly; 常常为那破碎的心祷告祈求；

b, Lead those who are in darkness to repentance and to receive the light of the world Jesus; 引导在黑暗中的人悔改，接受耶稣这世界的光；

c, help the weak to be set free from their sins in the power of the Holy Spirit.靠着圣灵的能力帮助软弱的人脱离罪的压制。 

3, Follow the true light, deny the false light. (v.8-9) 跟随真光，弃绝假光(8-9节) 

Jesus is the light of the world. 耶稣是世上的光。We are called to be the light of the world as well, 我们也被呼召成为世上的光，because of the relationship we have with Jesus. 因着我们与耶稣所建立的关系。We need to pray daily,我们需要每天祷告，to get rid of all kinds of negative emotions that are against His divine nature. 以除去各样与祂神圣性情相背的负面情绪。In Him, there is No hatred and No complaints! 在祂里面没有仇恨、没有抱怨! All he contains is sinlessness and justice, 祂的心充满清洁和正义，humility and gentleness, 谦卑和温柔，forgiveness and love, 饶恕和爱，kindness and compassion.慈爱和怜悯。This is what the light of the world looks like. 这就是世界之光的样子。

Jesus forgives, 耶稣饶恕罪人，and gives life to his sinners. 并赐给他们生命。He hates sin, 祂恨恶罪恶，and love sinners. 却爱罪人。He points out people’s sins, 祂指出人的罪，but was willing to die for them when they rejected Him and wanted to kill Him. 但当他们拒绝祂、想要杀祂的时候，祂愿意为罪人死。Jesus declares, 耶稣宣告说， “I am the light of the world.” “我是世界的光。”This implies,这意味着，that there is no light other than Him! 除祂以外别无真光！In other words, 换句话说，all others are darkness. 除祂以外一切都是黑暗。 Light or darkness. 或光明或黑暗。Jesus or darkness. 或耶稣或黑暗。There is no third alternative. 没有中间道。There is no other light.没有别的光。 

But the world says, 但世界说: “Without Jesus we have light!” “没有耶稣我们一样有光!”For example, 比如，many who are non-Christian have donated goods and material to support Wuhan, when they heard that Wuhan needed masks and protective suits, or other things, 当许多非基督徒听说武汉需要口罩和防护服，或其它东西，他们也捐赠物资去支持武汉，due to the outbreak of the coronavirus that was more severe than expected; 因为冠状病毒的爆发比预期更严重;and many medical workers are risking their lives to save the infected.许多医务工作者冒着生命危险救助感染者。The world claims that they are all lights of the world. 世人就说他们是世上的光。

I know a singer, 我知道有一位歌手，despite the difficulties, 她不惧困难，who did her best to help by sending scarce material to hospitals,竭力帮助把稀缺物资送到医院，until she herself got sick, 自己却病倒了。while The Wuhan Red Cross society held the goods that people donated,而武汉红十字会却把人们捐赠的物资扣留，and didn’t distribute them to the needy. 没有分发给需要的人。Netizens said that this person was an angel,网友们说这位歌手是天使，and she was the light of the world. 她是世上的光。But she is a Buddhist,但她是佛教徒，and has no relationship with Jesus. 与耶稣没有任何关系。 Is she the light of the world?她是世上的光吗? 

God declares in v. 8神在第8节中宣告: “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.”  “我是耶和华，这是我的名。我必不将我的荣耀归给假神，也不将我的称赞归给雕刻的偶像。”  It’s clear that God is telling us,很显然，神在告诉我们，that some others or idols are stealing glory from God. 有人或偶像偷窃了神的荣耀。But God says, 但神说，there are no other gods who deserve glory! 再没有别神配得荣耀！He alone is the true light of the world! 惟祂是世上的真光！Why? 为什么?Because the whole world has sinned, 因为世人都犯了罪、and all have gone astray.都走迷了路。And all are confused about what the light of the world should be like! 世人对世界之光该有的样子感到困惑！Are we the light of the world if we just do good things to be seen by people? 我们若行善只为叫人看见，我们是世上的光吗? Buddhists and other religious people who don’t have the true light can do these too. 佛教徒和其他没有真光的宗教人士也是这样做。Will people see their good deeds and give glory to the Father? 人岂能看见他们的好行为并将荣耀归给父呢？No! 不!They give glory to themselves!他们把荣耀归给自己! 

I heard that the singer who did good things have spoken abusive words against those who had offended her. 我曾听说那个做了善事的歌手辱骂那些冒犯她的人。True light comes from God’s holiness. 真光来自神的圣洁。Jesus judges, 耶稣断定: “for the mouth speaks what the hearts is full of.” “因为心里所充满的，口里就说出来。”If the heart is full of criticism and unforgiveness, 人若心里充满论断和不饶恕，even though they do good as seen by people, 即使他们做了人眼中的好事，they are still in darkness. 他们仍行在黑暗中。 

That’s false light! 那是虚假的光！That’s self-righteousness!不过是自以为义！What’s why the Pharisees couldn’t see the true light! 这就是为什么法利赛人看不到真光的原因！Because they did good deeds outwardly, 因他们外面行善，but inwardly they were not clean, 里面却不洁净，full of self-righteousness, 充满自义，fear, 惧怕，jealousy, 嫉妒，greed, 贪婪，and unforgiving thoughts. 和不饶恕的意念。The true light of the world Jesus,世上的真光耶稣，never hates sinners, 从不恨罪人，but hates sin. 祂恨的是罪。

As followers of Jesus, 作为耶稣的跟随者，we are called to be cleansed from the inside out.我们被呼召由内而外都得洁净。Col 3:1-2, tells us, 歌罗西书3章1-2节告诉我们， If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 【西3:1-2】所以你们若真与基督一同复活，就当求在上面的事，那里有基督坐在　神的右边。你们要思念上面的事，不要思念地上的事。Some other versions say, 有其它版本说，“set your hearts on things above.” “你们的心要思想上面的事”，God’s first concern is, 神最关心的是，whether our minds and our hearts are being renewed into Christlikeness or not. 我们的思想和心灵是否更新成为基督的样式。If the heart is clean,我们的心若洁净，(if the motivation is clean),（动机若洁净）,our outward actions will be clean also. 外在行为也必洁净。The light therefore shines!真光必照耀！

That’s why Ephesians 4:31 says, 这就是为什么以弗所书4章31节说，“get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander along with every form of malice.” “一切苦毒、恼恨、忿怒、嚷闹、毁谤，并一切的恶毒（或作“阴毒”），都当从你们中间除掉。” So, 因此，to let your light shine, 你要作光，is to allow ‘the true light’ to do His work inside of you and through you. 就要让那“真光”在你里面藉着你做成祂的工。For Jesus himself testifies, 因耶稣自己作见证说：“John 3:21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” 【约3:21】但行真理的必来就光，要显明他所行的是靠　神而行。” In other words, 换句话说，in God’s eyes, 在神的眼中，he who lives a life of true light,一个活出真光生命的人，must be the one whose actions have been done in God,他所做的是被神做成的 （他必在神里面行事），not in his own strength而不靠他自己的力量(by his old-man). (不靠旧人)。 

However, 然而，as Christians we can also unintentionally follow the false light. 作为基督徒，我们有可能无意中跟从了虚假的光。That is to do things to be seen by people, 就是活在人前，yet neglect the inward cleansing of our thoughts by the Spirit of the truth through our daily prayers. 却忽视了藉着每日的祷告，让真理的灵来洁净我们的内心。Self-righteousness is the false light that steals the glory of God. 自义是偷窃神荣耀的虚假之光。It causes us to worship idols. 它使我们陷入拜偶像。The prophet Isaiah exposed the reality of worshiping idols,先知以赛亚揭露了拜偶像的真实，“Their land is full of idols; Isa 2:8a” 【赛2:8上】他们的地满了偶像， What are the idols he referred to? 他说的偶像是指什么呢？Isa 2:8b they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made. 【赛2:8下】他们跪拜自己手所造的，就是自己指头所作的。 The old self and its work. 就是旧人和旧人的工作。“I’m better than you…he is better than me…”“我比你好……他比我强……” Sometimes, we don’t even perceive that we have followed false light, 有时我们甚至意识不到自己在跟随假光，when we are in idolatry of the self through our motivation, 我们在自我崇拜中，内心的动机是，“umm, this time I’m gonna do better than last time, “嗯,这次我要做得比上次好些，because I don’t want people to say anything negative about me.” 因为我不想别人说我不好。” Fear becomes an idol to us when we unintentional bow down to it. 当我们无意向惧怕妥协，惧怕就成了我们的偶像。It motivates us to do things our way. 它驱使我们用自己的方式做事。And to earn praise from man. 和驱使人去得人的荣耀。But Christ’s motivation of doing things isn’t to gain praise from man, 但基督做事的动机不是要得人的称赞，but to please the Father and to do the will of the Father who sent him. 而是要讨父喜悦，遵行父的旨意。Thus, our motivation for doing things needs to be washed clean. 因此，我们做事的动机需要被洁净。 “First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. Matt 23:26b”  【太23:26】你们这瞎眼的法利赛人，先洗净杯盘的里面，好叫外面也干净了。 

We need to pray, 我们需要这样祷告: “Lord Jesus, “主耶稣，You alone are God, 惟有你是神，You alone are the light of the world. 惟有你是世上的光。You alone deserve glory. 惟有你配得荣耀。Thank You for leaving an ultimate example for me to follow. 感谢你成为我一生跟随的榜样。Remind me of what I need to seek. 求你提醒我当寻求什么。“I am not seeking glory for myself.” “我不求自己的荣耀。”“not my will, but Yours be done.” “不要成就我的意思，只要成就你的意思。”These are the footsteps that Christ left for me to follow. 这是基督留给我去跟随的脚踪。Keep me from being in idolatry to my own works, 求你使我不要拜自己手所做的，so that I may lose Your reward when You returns.”以至于你再来时失去了你的赏赐。1 Cor 4:7 say, 林前4章7节说，“for who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? ” 【林前4:7】使你与人不同的是谁呢？你有什么不是领受的呢？若是领受的，为何自夸，仿佛不是领受的呢？Help me to root myself in Your true judgement. 求你帮助我扎根在你真理的判断。When I think, 当我想: “he is better looking than me…“他长得比我好看……he is more gifted than me…他比我有天赋……I’m more talented than him…我比他有才干……I have this and that…我有这有那……I’m better than…我比谁谁好…or he has this and that, 或者他有这有那，he is better than…他比谁谁好…what does any of us have that we did not receive? 我们有什么不是领受的呢？The bible say,《圣经》说, “it is He who gives you ability to produced wealth.” “得货财的力量是他给你的，”Whatever we have is that we have received. 我们所有的一切都是领受的。If we all received it, 若是领受的，why do we boast as though we did not? 为何自夸，仿佛不是领受的呢？Forgive me, 主啊求你赦免我，and cleanse me through your precious blood. 宝血洁净我。Use what I have received, 让我用我所领受的—— my money, 我的钱财、 my talents, 我的才干、my gifts, 我的恩赐、 my energy, 我的精力—— use them all for Your glory. 来荣耀你。Cleanse my motivation求你洁净我的动机，into being in line with the motivation of Jesus Christ. 使之与耶稣基督的动机相合。Make me a self-denying follower of Christ, 求你使我成为舍己跟随基督的门徒，and let His justice, humility, compassion, 让祂的公义、谦卑和怜悯，overflow into whatever I do in my daily life, 从我的生命中满溢流淌，to bring glory to the Father.”让父得着荣耀。” Let the light shine to the world through Jesus’ followers! 愿这真光藉着耶稣的跟随者可以照耀世界!