Scripture Reading: 1 John 1:5-7; Isa. 50:10-11; Psa. 36:9; 119:130, 105; 19:8b
Ⅰ
The function of the Word is the function, or operation, of God Himself—1 Thes. 2:13; Phil. 2:13.
Ⅱ
The divine light is the nature of God's expression; it is the source of the divine truth—1 John 1:5-6:
A
Light is God's shining, God's expression; when God is expressed, the nature of that expression is light—v. 5:
１
To walk in the divine light is to live, move, act, and have our being in the divine light, which is God Himself—v. 7.
２
The shining of the divine light makes old things new—2:7-8.
３
If we are under God's dispensing, we participate in God's nature as light and are constituted with this element of His nature—1:5; 2 Cor. 4:6.
B
The divine light is the source of the divine truth—John 1:5, 9; 18:37:
１
When the divine light shines upon us, it becomes the truth, which is the divine reality—8:12, 32.
２
When the divine light shines, the divine things become real to us.
３
Because light is the source of truth, and truth is the issue of light, when we walk in the light, we practice the truth—1 John 1:6-7.
Ⅲ
Whenever we have no light, we should trust in the name of Jehovah and not kindle a fire and walk into the light of this fire—Isa. 50:10-11:
A
Light comes from God alone, not from man—v. 10.
B
Spiritual darkness cannot be removed by human fire, which never brings in genuine spiritual light; our own fire cannot be the source of spiritual light—v. 11:
１
A Christian cannot advance in the spiritual pathway by his own fire; he should trust in the name of Jehovah and rely on his God.
２
Spiritual light does not come from our own feelings or thoughts.
３
The more a person searches inwardly for light, the more he will not find light, because light is not there.
C
We should not replace God's light with our own light; rather, we should always receive light from God—1 John 1:5; John 8:12.
Ⅳ
In God's light we see light—Psa. 36:9:
A
Through God's light we see light and the true condition of things:
１
The first light in Psalm 36:9 is the enlightening light, and the second light denotes the true nature of things.
２
We see the true nature of anything only when we are in God's light—1 John 1:5-7:
ａ
We must live in God's light before we can be one who sees.
ｂ
Only those who live in God's light will see light and the true nature of things.
ｃ
If a man is under God's light, he will discern the intrinsic nature of things.
B
When we are in God's light, we see what God sees; this is seeing light in God's light—Psa. 36:9.
Ⅴ
God is light (1 John 1:5), and this light is consolidated in the Word; therefore, the Word of God is the embodiment of God as the divine light:
A
The Word is the consolidation of the divine light, so whenever we come to the Word, we should sense that we are in an atmosphere of light—Psa. 36:9.
B
If we come to the Word with a proper attitude, we will be in the light and under the light and not merely receive light—1 John 1:7.
Ⅵ
In the experience of God's loving seekers, the Word of God is a realm of light—Psa. 36:9:
A
Because the Word is a realm of light, the opening of God's words gives light—119:130.
B
In the Word as a realm of light, God's word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path—v. 105.
C
In the Word as a realm of light, the Word enlightens our eyes—19:8b.
D
In the Word as a realm of light, the prophetic word is a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in our hearts—2 Pet. 1:19.
E
In the Word as a realm of light, we are constituted with the truth as the shining of light—John 8:12, 32.
F
In the Word as a realm of light, we walk in the light as God is in the light, and we have fellowship with one another—1 John 1:7, 5.
G
In the Word as a realm of light, we become light in the Lord—Eph. 5:8a; John 8:12; Matt. 5:14a.
H
In the Word as a realm of light, we walk as children of light and have the fruit of the light in goodness, righteousness, and truth—Eph. 5:8b-9:
１
As God is light, so we, the children of God, are children of light—1 John 1:5; John 1:12-13; 12:36.
２
The fruit of the light is related to the Triune God:
ａ
Goodness denotes God the Father, for the only One who is good is God—Matt. 19:17.
ｂ
Righteousness denotes God the Son, for Christ came to accomplish God's purpose according to God's righteous procedure—Rom. 5:17-18, 21.
ｃ
Truth denotes God the Spirit, for He is the Spirit of reality—John 14:17; 1 John 5:6c.
I
In the Word as a realm of light, we experience the kingdom as the shining of the reality of the Lord Jesus—Mark 9:1; Matt. 16:28—17:2:
１
The shining forth of the Lord Jesus on the mountaintop was the coming of the kingdom—Mark 9:1; Matt. 17:2.
２
The kingdom is the Lord Jesus shining over us, and the kingdom is the spreading of the Lord Jesus by shining over us.
Ⅶ
Whether or not the Word is a realm of light to us in our experience depends on our attitude and condition in coming to the Word:
A
We need to humble ourselves, having no confidence in ourselves but looking to the Lord for mercy—Isa. 57:15; 66:2.
B
All the chambers of our being should be open to receive the Lord's shining—Prov. 20:27.
C
We need to deal with our heart and have a proper heart toward the Lord—Luke 8:15:
１
Whenever we come to the Word, we should exercise our heart, seek the Lord with all our heart, and not have a divided heart—Jer. 29:13; 24:7.
２
If we would receive light through the Word, we need to deal with the hindrances and frustrations in our heart—Luke 8:13-15; Matt. 18:35.
D
Our eye must be single so that our whole body will be full of light—6:22-24:
１
If we store up our treasure both in heaven and on earth, our spiritual vision will be blurred—vv. 23-24.
２
If we focus our eyes on one thing, our vision will be single, and our whole body will be full of light—vv. 33, 22; Luke 11:34-36.
E
We should not manufacture light; instead, we should rely on the Lord to enlighten us—Isa. 50:10-11:
１
If we gird ourselves with self-made light, though we may walk into the light of our own fire for a while, in the end we will lie down in torment—v. 11b.
２
Only God is light, only God is the source of light, and only in the light of God can we see light—Psa. 36:9.
F
We need to be on the third story of the ark, under the skylight, the unique window, receiving light from the Lord through the ministry of the age—Gen. 6:16:
１
In God's economy and in God's church there is only one window, one revelation, and one vision.
２
We need to serve God according to the vision of the age, which comes through the ministry of the age.
G
If we are pure in heart in seeking God, we will see God, who is light—Matt. 5:8; 1 John 1:5.