The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple (ESV)
The entrance of thy words gives light; it gives understanding unto the simple(KJV)
Understanding your word brings light to the minds of ordinary people (CEV)
Your instructions are a doorway through which light shines. 
They give insight to the untrained (NET) 
Psalm 119:130  

Psalm 119:130; Hosea 4: 6 & John 8: 32-36

Recurrent Truth 

The exposure to Gods Light (Word, Life) impacts our transformation.  

Every Christ devoted follower is transformed by their interaction, usage and engagement with the Word of God. The Word of God is called the Light, or the illumination of the truth. The scriptures states that Jesus who is Word (incarnate) is both life and light of men. The bible states that 

John 1:4  “In him was life, and the life was the light of men and 

John 1:5  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome.” 

Therefore, it is not wrong to interchangeably use Light or Life for the Word of God

The first truth we have emphasized in the past is that we are the light of world by essentially reflecting the Light of Jesus Christ. We do not have our own light but that of Jesus. The second truth that we must address is the fact that we increasingly become stronger and better disciples to the degree we interact, use, obey and employ the Word of God in our lives.

Hosea 4:6 is within a context where Yahweh God complains about the nation of Israel in how they were reckless in their pursuit of sin. This chapter begins with the list of Israel’s Sins which was as a result of lack of Knowledge. The scripture shows that the Lord was sending them into captivity because they were negligent of the knowledge of God. Israel had broken covenant with God, worshiped other gods, and thus had, exchanged their Glory against the revelatory knowledge of God. God decried the fact that lack of Knowledge was important in setting them up for captivity. 

John 8:32-35 is set within the context where Jesus confronts the Jews that they needed much more than being associated to Abraham for them to be called the children of God. Similarly, this passage relates truth as the remedy to slavery. In the first passage slavery is treated in relation to the children of Israel being taken to Babylon as captives. In the second passage Jesus confronts the people that they have ended being in all kinds of slavery because they have never adhered to the truth, the Light of God. 

The word TRUTH is used in various senses in Scripture. Essentially it denotes that which is opposed to falsehood. The Word of God is also called the Truth. 

“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 17:17

The brutal fact that we find in these two passages is that God’s people many times do not hearken nor follow the Word of God, the Truth they should live by. It is interesting to note that both passages refer to the recipients of the word as believers.  “My people," implies; they ought to have known, having the opportunity, as the people of God. But they did not know. In John it shows that they claimed they were Abraham’s children. Look at the passage again, Jesus is talking to those who know him and believe in him.

John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

Though sad, the truth is that people of God, those washed in the blood of Jesus many times do not know the truth; or they may know the truth but reject it. 

God’s people that are thus destroyed due to lack of Knowledge. Those who refuse to know His truth do not get freed.

Here Four ways of relating to the Light (Word, Truth)

1. Ignorance of the Light (Word, Truth)
   • In this case Ignorance is far from being the mother of devotion but it is the mother of destruction; 
   • Lack of knowledge ruins any person or people
   • A lot of sincere believers are ignorant of God’s Word; therefore, the Light of God does not impact their lives
   • The truth is that Ignorance of the word of God does not exempt you from the consequences of bad decisions.  
2. Rejecting The Light of God’s Word
   • There are times believers reject the Word (Light).
   • This is where we have people reject knowledge. This may be a deliberate and willful resistance to the word of God. Having known it, yet not practice it. Refusing to accept or acknowledge it,
   • In Hosea both priests and people rejected the knowledge; and therefore God rejected them. The reason why the people did not learn, and the priests did not teach, was not because they had no light, but because they hated it
   • They desired not the knowledge of God's ways, but put it from them, and shut their eyes against the light; and therefore, God rejected them. 
   • The tragedy is that we have many people in our Churches that know the word but deny it willfully as they do things contrary to what God desires. 
   • Those who refuse to learn what is right suffer the results of doing wrong. 
   • Those that rebel against the light can expect no other way but to perish in the dark
3. Following the Light (Word) as a Leaner
   • The third way of relating to the word is when one hearkens to God’s Word (Light). This is the true mark of the followers of Jesus
   • Jesus stated that “If you remain in my word, you are truly my disciples: and you will know the truth: and the truth will set you free (John 8:32)
   • Disciples are learners. Their object is to know the truth. 
   • The way to know the truth is to obey the truth, it is to allow the Word of God enter our hearts as light.
   • Discipleship begins with belief. Knowing what the word says about the truth and following the truth
   • Discipleship means constantly remaining in the word of Jesus. 
   • Discipleship, is a life-long process of listening, learning and obeying the word from the Master.
4. Following the Light that Delivers
   • Sometimes Christianity looks like it is fake, and that its claims to be a faith of liberation are never true.
   • The reality is that the many of us who claim to be Followers of Christ do not visibly show that we are His Followers
   • The second reality is that this discrepancy between our claims and our reality makes followers of Christ constant live in self conflict.
   • Allowing the Light (Word of God) to take root in our lives dispels darkness of lives 
     
     John 1:4  “In him was life, and the life was the light of men and 
     John 1:5  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome.” 
      
   • The truth we obey is the one that frees us from a specific bondage. The Light we allow dispels darkness that overwhelms us
   • The scripture clearly shows that the exposure to Light drives out Darkness. 
   • Therefore, it is It is not the number of books you read, nor the variety of sermons you hear, nor the amount of religious conversation in which you mix, but it is the frequency and earnestness with which you meditate on these things till the truth in them becomes your own and part of your being, that ensures your growth
   • Freedom (intellectual, moral, spiritual) is only attainable when we are set free from darkness, sin, ignorance, superstition and let the Light of the Word shine on us and in us. 
   • Light of God’s Word makes you free from the limiting and debasing power of sin.

Here are four Basic Freedoms that the Light of God’s Word brings 

• Freedom from Fear. 
  A disciple no longer walks alone. We have God who moves with us. In the company of Jesus Fear is gone
• Freedom from Self. 
  It is interesting to note that man’s greatest liability is himself (or self). Man can not change oneself.  Human’s heart is desperately wicked, and can only be changed by the power of God
• Freedom from other people.
  Many are dominated by the fear of what other people think of them. Sometimes the voice of our friends sounds louder than that of God. A disciple respects other people but does not fear them.
• Freedom from Sin. 
  Jesus said everyone who sins is a slave to it. But as we know the truth, the truth Jesus and we follow him we are delivered from the power of Sin.

Conclusion

We cannot effectively be the light to the City when our lives are in constant darkness. Let us allow the Light of His Word impact the darks spaces of lives

Altar Time

• Lord give me ability to obey you consistently 
• Lord give me courage to allow your light in the dark spaces of my life