PRAYER FOR LIGHT AND TRUTH


A. "O SEND OUT THY LIGHT AND THY TRUTH: LET THEM LEAD ME; LET THEM BRING ME UNTO THY HOLY HILL, AND TO THY TABERNACLES."
  1. This prayer is most revealing of the attitude of the suppliant:
    1. He knew that his knowledge of light and truth was limited - Prov. 4:18; 1 Cor. 13:9-12; John 16:12, 13
    2. That God has more light for him - Prov. 4:18; John 16:12, 13
  2. How different is the attitude of so many professed and nominal Christians:
    1. Say they, "I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing" - Rev. 3:17
    2. "And the vision of all is become . . . as the words of a book that is sealed" - Isa. 29:11
    3. They are too engrossed with the cares of this world, that they have neither interest or time to pray for more light. - Mi. 2:12
B. OUR OPENING TEXT BRINGS TO LIGHT THREE GREAT FACTS ABOUT LIGHT AND TRUTH
  1. Light and truth do not come to us all at once:
    1. God knows our limitations, and treats us accordingly - John 16:12
    2. We are not capable, nor are we ready and open, to receive all light God may have for us - 1 Cor. 13:9-12
    3. Environment and habits slow down our ability and our willingness to receive new light.
    4. Prejudice is still another factor we cannot ignore - Matt. 13:54-58
  2. Light and truth are carried by God's chosen human instruments:
    1. Angels could do a wonderful job; but they cannot do it as effectively as dedicated men can.
    2. Paul's experience on his way to Damascus illustrates this point - Acts 9:6
    3. The experience of Cornelius gives added light on this point - Acts 10:5, 28
    4. The Ethiopian has the same experience - Acts 8:26- 39
    5. It is God's plan to send light and truth through consecrated human beings - Acts 1:8
  3. The grand purpose of light and truth:
    1. "That they may lead me."
    2. This petition is in direct opposition to the ways of many professed Christians -
      1. They look to wise and able men to guide them - Hos. 10:12, 13; Isa. 29:13
      2. Paul predicted that such would be the attitude of many in the last days - 2 Tim. 4:1-6
    3. Said the Lord of them, "O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths" - Isa. 3:12
    4. We are warned not to place our trust in the wisdom of men - Jer. 17:5
    5. The grand and soul-saving purpose of light and truth is, as our opening text says -
      1. "Let them bring me to thy holy hill." That is the goal of all who profess Christianity.
      2. The kingdom of heaven should be our first and greatest concern - Matt. 6:33
      3. "And unto thy tabernacles." Said Jesus to the disciples, "Let not your heart be troubled, ye believe in God, believe also in me . . . I go to prepare a place for you" - John 14:1-3. The tabernacles of the Lord are the goal of every child of God and properly so - Ps. 15:1- 6; 23:1-6
C. WHY THIS PRAYER APPEALS TO MY OWN HEART
  1. I want to be in the kingdom of God:
    1. To be in the coming kingdom is my greatest ambition, and I pray that nothing in this world will keep me out of it.
    2. I realize that the only way for me to get to the kingdom are light and truth.
    3. Light and more light is what this sinful world needs today - Isa. 60:1-3
    4. The Bible, all of it, is the great light which will, if accepted, dispel gloom and darkness - Ps. 119:105; 2 Pet. 1:16-20
  2. But it is not enough for me to pray for light and truth:
    1. I must appropriate them to get any blessing out of them - Jas. 1:22
    2. I must walk in them to be accepted - 1 John 1:7-9


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