Divine Influencers.

I want to begin this morning by asking you some questions that may seem a bit odd.

With a show of hands, how many of you know what is meant by the term social influencer?

They dominate the online world and social apps people use daily and have become household names.

Social media platforms have elevated individuals around the world to reach an audience of millions, with YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter) all boasting users in the tens of millions – and in some cases, even hundreds of millions.

A social media influencer, usually referred to as simply an influencer, can be any individual with a significant follower count.

They typically have established credibility within a certain niche and use that credibility to connect with people via social media.

Do you know who the world’s top 5 social influencers are? (according to socialmediatoday.com)

Christiano Rinaldo — 517 million

Justin Bieber — 455 million

Ariana Grande — 429 million

Selena Gomez — 425 million

Taylor Swift — 361 million

Dwayne Johnson — 342 million

I couldn’t leave him out...

Did you know there are levels of Social Media Influencers (By Follower Count)?

I did not until this week…

Nano Influencer (1,000 to 10,000)

aka grandkids...

Micro Influencer (10,000 to 100,000)

Macro Influencer (100,000 to 1,000,000)

Celebrity Influencer (1,000,000+ followers)

I think we need to add one more level...

Main Point: Be A Christ-like Influencer!

Explain series....Key Verse...Matthew 5:20 ““For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”

So we are learning what our King expects of those who claim Him...kingdom citizens

This morning we are examining the expectation Jesus has for His people to be influcencers!

The thing about modern day influencers is its all about them...

for the Christ-like influencer, it is all about pointing people to Jesus...

Jesus employs the use of metaphors here to challenge us to live out the reality of what already exists...

In both metaphors he says “You are”…

You are the salt of the earth...

You are the light of the world...

“You” — emphatic…meaning, “You, you alone”… Jesus states his disciples…all believers are the only ones capable of doing this…

Christians are the only ones who can have this kind of impact on the world...

Notice he didn’t tell them…just Palestine, or Jerusalem…he said the earth, world...global impact...

…Jesus is expressing an extreme confidence in his people!

Think about that…in spite of our imperfections, our Savior has confidence in us to be this kind of influence.

Three keys to help us be Christ-like influencers...

Don’t Be Afraid to Be a Bit Salty! (13)

Matthew 5:13 ““You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.”

Why “salt”?

Salt has always been a valuable commodity in human society, especially in Biblical times.

The Romans believed that, except for the sun, nothing was more valuable than salt.

In fact, sometimes Roman soldiers were paid in salt…that is where the expression "not worth his salt" originated.

The word “salary” comes from the Latin word, “salarium” meaning “salt-money”.

When we say don’t be afraid to be a bit salty, we are not talking about being abrasive...we know salt has an abrasive quality...Jesus is not telling his disciples to go looking for trouble, to be the kind of Christian that no one wants anything to do with...

Ephesians 4:15 “but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,”

So what does Jesus mean by using this metaphor...let’s think briefly about what salt does...

Salt is a Preservative...Doing our part to slow down moral decay.

Fundamental to our understanding of this metaphor is to realize that in the ancient world, the number one function of salt was its use as a preservative!

Refrigeration was not an option for them.

The only way to preserve meat was to salt it down or soak it in a saline solution…the decay and decomposition of meat was very rapid…the only way to prevent this was to soak the slabs of meat in a strong solution of salt.

The implication of this is that the world trends toward decomposition, in fact, I think we can see clearly how our world is actually rotting away!

When left to his own devices, man will not naturally seek God. The world is moving further and further away from God and as it does, it decays and becomes more putrid.

Believers are to function as a retardant to decay…a preservative in a decaying world...

The Christian who is “salty” will retard decay simply because they are living a life above reproach to the sin of those around them…

There are always going to be people who tell filthy stories or jokes in the presence of those who enjoy such vulgarity…however, when the believer who lives above reproach enters the circle, those conversations tend to cease…

it is not that the salty believer is self-righteous or judgmental, but the evidence of their life makes those ungodly conversations seem shallow and inappropriate.

We need to understand that God wants believers to be like salt at every level of society...

God only knows how much crime would exist without the presence of godly believers in the legal system…the corruption that is stopped because of believers who take a stand...

Believers in the workplace who live like salt promote honesty and hard work...

Think of the impact salty believers have in the military, education, etc…

The level of depravity that would exist without believers is unfathomable…so the question we need to ask is are we salt within the arena that God has placed us?

Let’s go a step further…not only are our lives meant to reprove evil, God also wants us to elicit the best from those around us...

Salt Enhances Flavor...Doing our part to bring good to life.

In Biblical times, salt was also a condiment, a spice.

Our relationship with God ought to make us a joy and delight because in spite of the presence of decay, life is still good!

Just as salt provides flavor to our food, so Christ in us provides flavor in an unsavory world.

Jesus brings a flavor that makes a real difference.

When a person comes to know Christ as savior, everything changes. (2 Cor. 5:17)

Our patterns of thinking change…Our marriages change…Our parenting changes…Our communication changes…

Because of Christ, everything we do should stand out.

We should be the most faithful, most generous, the hardest working, the most loving.

Salt Makes Us Thirsty...Doing our part to make others want to know God.

Jesus made people thirsty for God…are we salty enough to make people thirst after God?

Evangelism is more than just the words we use, it is the way we live our life.

People who get that are different.

Are the people around us rejecting the Truth because they see us living double lives?

The conversations and activities we participate in at work or school or in our free time are far from godly and then perhaps occasionally we throw in something we learned at church on Sunday morning...

Are we promoting a thirst for God because of the difference our relationship with Him makes?

How are we doing at making someone thirst for the knowledge of God?

Beware the Danger of Losing Effectiveness...Doing our part to avoid the foolishness of the world.

“if the salt has become tasteless...”

tasteless = is a word that was used in various ways throughout the NT...

In some contexts it is translated as “stupid, or foolish”...

Romans 1:22 “Professing to be wise, they became fools,” same word...

In the context of Matthew it applies to taste meaning “bland, lacking flavor”

it is dangerously easy for Christians to lose their salty, preserving influence in the world

In Biblical times, salt was either mined from the salt cliffs along the Dead Sea (OT referred to this as the Salt Sea) area or evaporated from the waters of the Dead Sea…either way it had the potential to be contaminated with other minerals and may have had a flat taste or was ineffective for food preservation…

it was useful for only keeping vegetation off the paths and roadways…the more impure it was, the more useless it became…People would be careful not to throw it on a garden or field, because it would kill whatever was planted.

Ineffective salt would be thrown onto a path or road, where it would gradually be ground into the dirt and disappear.

The contamination caused it to lose its value as salt...it could no longer perform it’s function...

Jesus is not speaking of losing salvation.

We can lose our effectiveness in the kingdom when sin and worldliness contaminate our lives.

salt can become “tasteless” when contaminated by other minerals…believers who continue to act foolishly loose their effectiveness as salt.

Paul put it this way…1 Cor. 9:27 “but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”

We are already salt...there is no escaping it...it is a fact...if we maintain our commitments and convictions to Christ with grace and humility, people will inevitably take notice.

As the Savior’s salt we are to infiltrate the earth with the seasoning of godliness, fairness, holiness, justice, and righteousness.

God’s people should be known for their courage and convictions but also for their compassion, grace, humility, and love toward others.

Don’t Be Ashamed to Light Things Up (14-15).

Matthew 5:14–15 ““You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.”

Salt works secretly, while light works openly...Salt works from within, light works from without...

Again Jesus employs the emphatic use of “you”....you and only you...

Remember You’re A Reflector.

This is what separates our influence from those in the world.

Worldly infuencers want the spotlight on them and so they absorb the light...

Christ-like infuencers want the spotlight on Jesus...so they reflect the light that already exists.

Jesus referred to himself as the light of the world and now calls his disciples that same light.

John 8:12 “Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.””

John 9 5 ““While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.””

God did not redeem us and call us into his kingdom to hide us. He did not save us to be silent saints.

What does light do?

Light Destroys Darkness — Jn 1:5.

John 1:5 “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”

Darkness is the absence of light. As we shine the bright light of Christ’s righteousness, darkness is driven back.

Light Detects Evil — Jn 3:19-20.

John 3:19–20 ““This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.”

How sad is it that many choose to live in the dark. They love iniquity so much they would rather wallow in darkness rather than turn on the light of Christ.

It is in the presence of light that deeds are illuminated.

Light Defines Christianity — Eph 5:8, Phil. 2:14-15.

Ephesians 5:8 “for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light”

Philippians 2:14–15 “Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,”

At work, at school, in the grocery store, at the mall, wherever we are, we need to remember that our smile, our attitude, our behavior, concern for others, and even our purchases should reflect the light of Jesus.

Refuse to Hide.

Jesus gives us two examples of how light functions...

A city on a hill cannot be hidden…everyone can see it…there is no way to obscure a city on the crest of a hill…to those wandering in the darkness a city on hill is an anchoring point, a place of hope… “if we can just get to the city on that hill”

believers are to be like this…they are visible…no such thing as an invisible believer...no closet Christians...

God gives us an influential position, like a light on a hill that guides people safely home.

This light is not for a few; it is for the world.

It should attract. It should give direction. It should stand out near and far.

Believers are also like the ancient household lamp…

the principle function of a household lamp, and believers, is to provide illumination to all around…

much like the home owner would place the lamp in the most advantageous spot, God has placed us in the spot He wants us to be!

The purpose of a lamp is to give light. The purpose of a disciple of Jesus is to provide light.

By a holy life and a bold witness, we will shine bright and far, impacting more people than we might imagine.

We cannot function as a light the way God intends if our light is hidden...listen to what God says in 1 John...

I John 1:5-7 “This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

The point Jesus is making here is that light is visible.

Our lives and our words are to proclaim in vivid colors the power of God to change lives.

How beautiful this all is! God has made us visible like a city on a hill. God has enabled us to illumine life like a lamp in a dark room. God has placed us where he wants us to shine to best advantage. Our presence is meant to reveal life, sin, and goodness as they are—to provide a light that draws others to it

Live So Others Acknowledge God Is Worthy of Praise (16)!

Matthew 5:16 ““Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

This is the imperative of the text...the command...

Being salt and light are known as gospel indicatives...statements of fact that are true because of the gospel.

Let your light shine is a gospel imperative...a command necessitated by the power of the gospel.

To not let our let shine, to not be the salt God intends for us to be is to walk in disobedience...

Letting our light shine before men allows them to see our good works,

Good = (‎kalos‎) does not so much emphasize quality — though that obviously is important — as it does attractiveness, beautiful appearance.

What are “good works”?

all righteousness, everything we are and do that reflects the mind and will of God…all of what we do is to be beautiful and attractive…we want them to see the beauty of God…we want them to be attracted to God.

Psalm 115 1 “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, But to Your name give glory Because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth.”

Everything we do is to be for His glory!

1 Corinthians 10:31 NASB95

Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

This impacts every facet of our lives...

The reason we do good works is not to bring attention or praise to ourselves but to God…

Glorify (doxology) is to influence one’s opinion about another so as to enhance the reputation of the one spoken of...praise.

What are we doing that gives people the right opinion of God?

Our goal is to be that in whatever we are and in whatever we do, others may see God and draw the conclusion that He is worthy of praise.

By using the name Father = Jesus is referring to the intimacy that is available to all who believe.

Does our life indicate an intimate relationship with God is possible and what does that look like?

Do people see our love for God and want that same relationship with God that we have?

Matthew 22:37 NASB95

And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’

What’s the danger if we don’t get this right?

If it’s all about us, then when we are not so attractive, other’s view of God will be distorted!

If people are attracted to us because of what WE do instead of WHO GOD IS AND WHAT GOD does, then when we mess up...and we will mess up...what view of God will they have because of us?

Don’t Be Afraid to Be a Bit Salty!

Don’t Be Ashamed to Light Things Up!

Live So Others Acknowledge God is Worthy of Praise!

Life Lesson: Life in the Kingdom is About Pointing People to Our King!

We don’t have to be a nano influencer or even a celebrity influencer to make an impact on others…

being intentional about making sure people have a right view of our God is what God expects of us as salt and light...

We don’t have to be involved in every social problem or state our opinions about all the political hot buttons...

We take advantage of opportunities to slow down the moral decay by inserting godliness and truth into our conversations...

We bring the truth of God’s Word into focus on all of life’s issues...

We put forth our highest efforts to show righteousness and excellence in all we do…