Flavor & Illumination
Be Different • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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This morning we will finish the sermon series, BE DIFFERENT. And the big idea that we have been pointing to the last four weeks is this: As a Christian, because you are saved and follow Christ, you are set apart, chosen by God. And because you are set apart and chosen by God, our lives should be different from those who don’t believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord. And, that difference should bring a light that is seen in your life that people would see and want to know WHY you are different.
For the last three weeks, we have seen Peter’s first letter to believers who were far from him, but he wanted them to understand this difference that they should be in their culture. And today we leave the words of Peter, and look to the words of Jesus in Matthews gospel. He also talks about how we should be different. And he shows us two ways: our lives are to add flavor to the word, and illuminate, shine a light for Jesus so other may come to know him, and they can be different.
++++WHAT WE BELIEVE AS A CHURCH
++++WHAT WE BELIEVE AS A CHURCH
Open your Bibles to Matthew 5.
These words that come from Matthew 5, and continue in Matthew 6 & 7 are what we know as the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus had taken his disciple's up on the side of a mountain and began to speak to them. Jesus was sitting down and teaching while his disciples were sitting down on the grass and hearing his words.
The first part of Matthew Chapter 5 is what we call the Beatitudes. You know some of these verses:
3 “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
Also…
4 God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
In all of his words from verse 3 until verse 11, he was teaching them a way of living that was different than they had never heard. He was saying that the poor would be blessed, those who mourn would be blessed, those who would be persecuted would be blessed.
Do you remember what I told you last week about the meaning of the word blessed? What is it? Happy. So the poor will be happy. Those who mourn will be happy, and those who are persecuted will be happy. It was a totally different teaching than they had ever heard. And even right now, if someone were to come in and beat me of flog me because I was preaching the gospel, Jesus said that I would be blessed…I would be happy.
So as we live in this world, in this culture, right here in Opi, to BE DIFFERENT, means that we need to change our minds about what it means to be blessed.
You may say, “Come on Dad, how can someone be happy if they are being persecuted for believing in Jesus?”
Look at what Jesus says in verse 12.
12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.
Being Different means understanding that what you are experiencing now is nothing. The life you are experiencing now is only preparing you for eternity. Remember this is only your temporary home. Remember what Peter said:
11 Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.
We have to train our minds to think differently than what the world would have you beleive. The world will say…get money and you will be blessed. Get cars and you will be blessed. Get what YOU want and you will be happy. But that’s not what Jesus, our Lord and Savior says, he says be different from the world, then you will be blessed.
Look what he says next. Look at verse 13.
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.
15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.
16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
We’ve read Peter’s words about how we need to be different, now Jesus gives us two WORD PICTURES of what that looks like. Do you understand what I mean by WORD PICTURE? He gives us an example that when we hear it, we can see it in our mind.
When he talks about salt and its flavor, we know what food taste like without salt and we know what food taste like with salt. We can see that in our mind.
The same thing with light. We know that if we take a light and cover it, then the light is no good. It makes a room dark. We understand what that means.
So what does that have to do with being different?
Jesus is showing his disciples, and us that to be different we must be like salt that adds flavor to our world, and be like light that removes the darkness in the world.
So how can we be like salt? How can add flavor to our world?
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
Now Jesus doesn’t explain what it means to be the salt of the earth, but he does show us what happens when we are not being like salt. Think about it this way, Jesus says you are the salt of the earth. So if salt adds flavor and taste to make the food better, then you, as his child, saved by grace, are bringing a difference to people around you.
But he also adds that if you follow Christ, and you are not being different for the unbelievers around you, then you are just white powder. No taste, no flavor. Your witness to others is nothing. It can just be thrown on the ground and stepped on.
The salt is worthless. Your testimony is worthless. We are not called to be set apart only for ourselves, we are also called to be set apart so that we can be a testimony to others. The same Jesus that you called on his name, is the same Jesus that your friend needs, and you may be the one that God has chosen to tell them.
We are different because we have the flavor of the Savior to pass on to our world.
Look at verse 14
14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.
To be different you will be the salt of the earth, and the light of the world. What does light do? It shines. It reveals. It shows what is in the dark.
Think of it this way… as believers we are light. A light reveals the darkness that this world is living in. If we are a light, and we don’t shine, then we are no good. Darkness remains, and people who need the light of Jesus Christ may never see it because you have chosen to cover yourself up.
Why should we be salt and light?
Jesus answers that question in verse 16:
16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
If you are a Christian, you have been saved and you have given your life to Christ…. while you are here on earth, we are to glorify God. Glorify God.
How can you glorify God right here in Opi…. be different. Be salt. Show the flavor you have to others by your beleif in Jesus Christ. Be a light. One that shines in the darkness of Opi and that you can look back on your time on earth and say because I was different, there are people who now are being salt and being light for HIS glory.
This morning as I was studying these words from Jesus, I thought, the reason Jesus came to earth was to bring back his image, us, to him. He came to die for us, and rose again for us. Without that sacrifice, you and me would have no hope. And if you have chosen to give your life to him and believed that he is who he said he is, then your life has changed. And when your life changes, then you will be different.
So, are you being salt? Is your life adding flavor to the world around you? Or does your life have no taste, no flavor that others might see that you are different.
What about light? Are you hiding the light that you have been given so that no one can see that there is light available to them through Jesus Christ.
Not only words…but actions. Being different isn’t just the things your don’t do, but also the things you choose to do.
But that is a choice only you can decide.
—-
For the last four weeks we have been seeing what the Bible says about how the Christian should live here in Opi. Have your life should be different.
But before you can be different…. You have to be his. You have to believe in him, follow him, love him, so much that nothing else would matter.
So, let me ask you this question. Listen carefully. Are you a Christian? Are you a Christian? I’m not asking, do you know some bible stories. I’m not asking if you go to church every Sunday. I’m asking, can you remember a time when you said I need Jesus more than anything in my life. I want to make him my Lord and Savior.
Because if you haven’t done that, you cannot be different.
Why is this the most important decision you will ever make?
This is why.
Everyone from the moment you are born by your mother is separated from God. Sin is what seperates us. The Bible says that Romans 3:23
23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
We cannot be in fellowship with God because of our sin. We have no hope. No hope to be with him one day when we die. No hope to be with him forever in heaven.
But God, made a way. God made a way to rescue you from your sin. Jesus went to the cross and died for you! 1 Peter 3:18
18 Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.
So what should we do? When we know we are speratrted from him, when we know what he did to bring us back to him… we turn to him, call out to him for forgiveness and a new life in Jesus. Acts 3:19
19 Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.
If we do that, he will hear us. If we beleive in him and call out to him we will be saved. Romans 10:9-10
9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.
Then you can begin to be different. Have you done that? Have you believed and called upon his name? If you haven’t this morning, your life and your eternity could cange forever.
(Bow your heads)
LORD SUPPER / COMMUNION
(Raoul/Darlington)
This morning we are going to observe one of the two ordinances that we as a New Testament church observes. Two things that we as a church have been told to observe until the time that Jesus returns. Two weeks ago we observed one: Baptism. A celebration of salvation. Jesus said in Matthew 28 to go into the world, to teach and to baptize those who beleive. Baptism is the first ordinance. The second is Communion. Jesus told his disciples that they should take communion until the time of his return. So we are going to do as the Lord said and REMEMBER this morning.
We do this to remember Jesus’ body that was broken and blood that was shed for us. He said remember, keep it on the top of your mind.
Two things about this bread and the cup. Some believe that the bread turns in to the body of Christ and the cup turn into the blood of Christ when you take it. No where is the Bible is that said. Like the water in baptism, this bread and this cup are symbols. Symbols to help us remember.
The second is this, as a church, we beleive that the only people who should take this bread and cup are those who have believed and called and called upon the name of the Lord as their Savior, and have been baptised after they have come to Christ. If that is not you, its ok. For now, we just ask that you do not take this bread and cup. This observance is meant for those who have made Jesus Christ their Lord and Savior.
Here are the words of the Apostle Paul…
23 For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread
24 and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
25 In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.”
26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.
(Lord I need you Song)
