Bill Johnson - Light Always Dispels Darkness
You’re a city set on a hill. What’s the point? You are in a conspicuous place so that those who recognize their need for shelter, resources, or belonging—whatever it might be—know where to go because they can see a light. A city set on a hill; you are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden, nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. This may appear rather simplistic, and I get it, but it causes me to swirl in a positive way. In May of 1979, on a Thursday afternoon, I walked in the back of the church in Weaverville because I found that if you walk while you pray, you don’t fall asleep, and if you do, you wake up suddenly.
So, I would walk and pray; it was just my lifestyle. I had my Bible and happened to be reading in Isaiah during that season, specifically chapter 60, when I began to read: «Arise, shine, for your light has come; the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.» When I read those words, something leapt in my heart. I don’t want to exaggerate, but I don’t want to underplay it either; something came alive in me that told me I was in a divine moment. I spent quite a bit of time reviewing the first 18 verses of that chapter as the Lord shifted my perspective on how He saw the day we live in. I can say with absolute honesty that every day of my life has been different since that Thursday afternoon in May of 1979 because of what He opened up, what He showed me. He didn’t just show me things; He changed my perception, my way of seeing in that chapter.
So, what does He say? He says you’re the light of the world. By the way, Jesus was identified early in life as the light of the world, and then He went, «Tag, you’re it.» Now you’re the light of the world. Obviously, the light isn’t you, it’s not me; it’s Christ in us. So let’s make that clear. Here’s this verse: a city set on a hill. When is a city on a hill visible with light? It’s at night—another easy question that you don’t trust me to provide an answer for, but that’s alright. When do you see a city that’s all lit up? It’s at night. You most likely see it when you’re in need of shelter, food, connection, belonging. You see a city, and this is one of those times in Scripture where there’s no going to preach the gospel. In this case, the city is stationary; people come to the city in the same way we would come to a stream to drink water or a fruit tree to pick fruit. We see a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden, and it is an attractant for those whose most basic drive in life is to belong. One of the most fundamental values woven into the heart of every single person is the need to belong. Listen, even the sexual drive—"two shall become one"—is really the drive to belong.
So here we have this picture: a city set on a hill. I always thought that when Jesus said we were the light of the world, that light was to expose stuff. Once again, that would be an implied or secondary truth; it’s not the context that Jesus used. What was the context He used? He said we are, number one, a community; number two, because we are a community that belongs to one another, there is something of the nature of Christ illustrated in our relationships that has caused a light to shine that attracts people who are looking to belong, looking for nourishment.
Maybe some—you know, Georgian Bantle is a great example. He escaped communist Russia, one of the countries there, back in the day and came over to California. He couldn’t speak hardly any English, but he ran into Jesus and people who liked to feed him. They would just bring him home for dinner, and he would eat. Now, one of the main evangelistic tools he has is feeding thousands of people all the time. It’s because, like what turned his life around, was being fed. Some people will go to that city, honestly, just for a meal. If I can use that metaphorically, they’re there for a meal, but something happens in the meal, as it happened to Georgian, where his life was completely transformed and changed.
The point is, it’s a community of people that belong together. There has to be something in the relationship that would actually attract people. It’s not the gathering; this isn’t the city on a hill. It’s not that; it’s how you do life with other believers. Maybe there are three or four of you in your office at work, and the way you meet for lunch and pray together illustrates the life of Christ. It’s become practical; this is important, but it’s not practical as displayed out in the public place—in the workplace, in the neighborhoods, etc. Belonging. Hebrews 13 says the sacrifice of the lips, the fruit of the lips gives praise to His name; number one; number two, good works; number three, fellowship. Then it has this phrase that says, «For with such sacrifices"—plural—"God is well pleased.»
Alright, we know praise to be a sacrifice; we know good works—how we serve and care and give for one another—to be a sacrifice. But did you know fellowship was supposed to be a sacrifice too? Often, fellowship is the act of convenience. It’s what we give as leftovers, yet sacrifice is a step beyond convenience. When fellowship becomes the sacrifice beyond convenience, the light shines, the light shines and actually attracts people into a place of safety and belonging.
One of the most fascinating things I’ve seen or heard in recent years—I heard a friend of mine make this statement probably five years ago now. He said, «The disciples belonged before they believed.» What a bizarre statement! So I thought, «That’s amazing.» I started thinking. Yes, in fact, they traveled with Jesus for a while. He would perform some miracle, and they would look at each other and go, «Who is He?» These are the guys; you know, Matthew is sitting at his desk collecting taxes, and Jesus comes by and says, «Follow me.» He goes, «Yeah, of course,» and he just leaves his job. Peter and James, the guys are fishing and they just leave their parents, their dad’s boat, their nets—everything—when Jesus says, «Follow me; I’ll make you fishers of men.» Sounds reasonable? Yeah, alright; I’m just going to quit my job and follow these people. There was something on the person of Jesus that they couldn’t identify, but they were immediately willing to lay down everything.
Even in the weeks and months that followed, while they were overwhelmed by the miracles and the life in every word that He spoke, they still weren’t sure who He was. Then there came a time when Jesus asked the question, «Who do people say I am?» Some say, «You’re John the Baptist,» some say, «You’re one of the prophets.» «Who do you say?» Peter says, «You’re the Christ, the Son of the living God.» There came a moment when they knew who He was, and they were so grateful they had stuck with it during those times. But the point was they belonged.
Do you understand that there are people in our community who have zero interest in Jesus, but they want the peace that’s in your house? They don’t have an interest; all they can think of are religious systems and belonging to some organization. They want nothing to do with that, but they are very interested in how your children are respectful to you, and they’ll do anything to get that. There are these moments where we bring people into our lives; we let them taste and see that the Lord is good, and they then find the very thing they’re looking for as a person who helps to make sense of it all. You’re the light of the world.
This passage out of Isaiah 60 says, «Arise, shine, for your light has come; the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.» Bold darkness will cover the earth; deep darkness, that’s mental depression, deep darkness the people. But His light will appear upon you; His glory will arise over you. Listen to this phrase: «Kings will come to your light and nations to the brightness of your rising.» Kings will come to your light and nations to the brightness of your rising. What does this verse mean? You’re a city set on a hill! What’s the point? You are in a conspicuous place so that those who recognize their need for shelter, resources, belonging—whatever it might be—know where to go because they can see a light. A city set on a hill.
We’re already seeing some of that happen now, and I believe it’s going to increase dramatically in the next 10 to 15 years. Kings will come to your light. We already have—as Nicodemus had a private quiet meeting late at night with Jesus. I mean, Eric spoke on that, and it so moved me that Jesus had a place to meet with a guy privately, a religious leader. He was willing to meet with him without anybody watching, who then later made a bold public confession of his faith in Christ. The point is, there are people all sprinkled around our community that look to you. And here’s this passage: «Kings will come to your light and nations to the brightness of your rising.» I don’t think it’s complicated; I don’t think you need to know. I believe so much in deliverance, healing, and the power of gifts. They certainly impact people’s lives. I would be the first to say amen to them, but the ache in people’s hearts usually isn’t for a miracle; it’s usually to be valued. The ache in the heart is rarely, even when they’ve experienced tragedy, looking for an answer: «Why did this happen?» Even when people ask me that, what I’ve found is they’re rarely asking for an answer; they’re usually asking for peace.
Let me quote Chris—I’m right in this. Listen to this verse out of Isaiah 58. This chapter just wrecks me. «This chapter deeply moves me; it’s a great consecration in faith.» Alright, here we go. Verse six says, «Is this not the fast I have chosen to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free? To break every yoke?» I saw a great meme the other day: «If you’re fasting and still gossiping, you might as well eat.» Isaiah right here is saying this. Here’s the reason for the fast: it’s to free people. If you’re fasting and people are getting freed, you might as well eat. Alright, let’s move on. «Is it not to share your bread with the hungry; that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out? When you see the naked, that you cover him and do not hide yourself from your own flesh.»
Then your light—we’re back to the subject of being the light of the world—your light shall break forth like the morning. Here’s the release of miracles; your healing shall spring forth speedily. This is the second time in about 20 chapters of Isaiah where the supernatural is released through the value of community. Amen, amen. It’s Isaiah 35. Miracles are the result of the word of affirmation and encouragement from one believer to another. The result is God. It’s an invitation for the supernatural. Here it is again: «Then your light will break forth like the morning; your healing will speedily spring forth; your righteousness will go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your regard.» Then you will call, and the Lord will answer. You will cry, and He will say, «Here I am.» A healthy community—the light of the world, the city of the redeemed together—invites the supernatural. Because then it’s not just for one individual; it’s for how we do life together.
Instead, it’s that secret sauce, that touch of God on the sacrifice that we make for one another. Then suddenly we hear once again about this miracle and that miracle—these things breaking out—because it’s His amen to our embracing what’s important to Him. Remember, when it all boiled down to one element, He said to love one another, and in this way prove that you’re My disciples. There’s something about the sacrificial affectionate care for another human being that attracts the God of the impossible into the environment to take us in measure and ways we’ve never yet witnessed.
I’m thankful for what we’ve seen. I was reviewing some of the stories this last week with some of our students as they were asking questions. I remember, «Oh man, I forgot about that; that was amazing, and this was amazing.» I’m thankful for all of those, but there’s something redemptive about the presence and power of God that is to yet heal the city, and you and I get to be a part of it. So here it is: you’re the light of the world; you’re the salt of the earth. We’re here to bless the community, add flavor, and give a context for people to belong and find meaning.