Your Purpose is More Profound Than You Think!
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Introduction: High School was a challenging time in my life. I was not the best student. I did not work hard on things I didn’t enjoy…
As graduation time approached, I felt more and more pressure to determine where I wanted to go to college and, on top of that, declare what I planned to do with the rest of my mortal existence! No pressure. My entire future in the hands of an immature, goofball geek who just wanted to have fun! In fact, I don’t think I had a serious bone in my body when I was 17. When I think of it in those terms, it is a miracle of God that I am where I am today!
But I did begin to wrestle with what I was to do with this life of mine.
I wanted to be in radio…a cool disc jockey…
I thought about acting…
I wanted to be an oceanographer…
I thought about being a graphic artist…
My parents thought I should be a teacher…
There were many options, but I couldn’t figure out what my purpose was. I pursued college, because that is what you are supposed to do, all the while unsure and a little frightened.
Honestly, it wasn’t until I was confronted with the message of the gospel that I began to see a purpose forming in my life. When I finally got to the place of repenting of my sin and placing all my faith in Jesus Christ as my only hope of eternal life, then and only then (for me) was I able to finally recognize that God had a purpose for my life.
Now I am not suggesting that unsaved, non Christian people cannot be driven and purposed people. They can be and countless are. One must be driven and purposed to get through medical school for example.
However, there is a difference for those of us that are followers of Christ. I refer to it as a deeper purpose, a purpose of ETERNAL proportions. A purpose that has far less to do with my will and far more to do with the will of God! Each one of you here that are in Christ have a PURPOSE! You have something to accomplish for the Glory of God and the furtherance of His Kingdome!
A few months ago I preached a message from called “The Standard of Christ’s Kingdom in which I argued from the text saying that the Sermon on the Mount was Christ’s Inaugural address as the long awaited messianic King who would establish His real, literal kingdom on this earth. What Jesus was doing in that message was laying down the gauntlet to the Jews saying “I am the King you have been waiting for! I am the one promised to sit on the throne of David.” But being part of my Kingdom has far more to do with character than race.
In order to be part of His kingdom, to be His subject meant that one must repent and have faith that He (Jesus) is not only the King of kings and the Lord of lords, but that He is God Himself in the flesh…
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
How many of you have received this amazing salvation? How many here this morning would say that by faith you are a subject of the Lord Jesus Christ’s Kingdom? Say Yes I am! If you are not, I will have some hope for you later…
Now understand that the physical Kingdom of Jesus Christ (what the Bible refers to as the Millennial Kingdom) is to take place in the future, but He is starting His kingdom in the most interesting place! Do you know where? In our hearts! ()
And for those of us who are “in His Kingdom” does not your HEART yearn and even burn for His Kingdom to become a reality? Where wrongs will be made right! Where the Lion sleeps with the lamb! Where the little child can play with a poisonous snake and not be harmed! Do not your hearts Burn for the Lord Jesus Himself to rule and reign on this earth! No more politics! No more power broking! No more maneuvering for personal gain! No more wondering who is telling the truth…because we will be ruled by the TRUTH Himself! EVEN SO COME LORD JESUS!!! And everyone said! AMEN!!!
And for those of us in His Kingdom, it is our responsibility and privilege to bring a little of His Kingdom to the world we live in. An appetizer if you will. A taste of better things to come! That is our PURPOSE! That is why we are still here! That is why He doesn’t zap us out of here when become His follower. We are to bring His Kingdom to the Kingdom that is currently ruled by Satan himself! We are to do battle against the Evil One and our weapons are TRUTH and LOVE! Two things Satan knows nothing about.
In Jesus’ sermon, He likens the subjects of His Kingdom to two common items; common, yet extremely important objects. Objects that make such a difference, life would be unlivable if we did not have access to them; salt and light. Jesus likens you believer to salt and light. Without you, life as we know it, would be unlivable. If that’s not purpose, I don’t know what is.
Main Idea: Just as salt and light have a specific purpose, so do you! Believe it and Live it! Otherwise your life will be worthless!
Interrogative: I hope you are sitting there this morning asking this very important question of yourself…What is my purpose? What does God want of me? Perhaps you are thinking, “I don’t have much to offer, how could God use me?” Join the club! None of us have much to offer apart from the gifts God has given us! Anything I have is because God has given it to me, but He expects me to do something with it! And you can, no matter how great or small, you can make a difference for Christ!
Transition: The text tells us exactly what our purpose as believers is. It even gives us our motivation!
1. Your Motivation is to Remember Who you Are! (vs. 1-12) – I believe we, in the evangelical church, have an identity crisis today. The Church is in danger of forgetting who she is! We have seemingly lost our purpose!
In his article “The Failure of the Christian Church” Reverend Matthew Slick has some strong words for the Church today that should wake us up to who we are supposed to be. It should reignite our purpose!
Christianity is supposed to be the representative of Jesus who taught love, forgiveness, sacrifice, unity, and humility. Though that may be true to a large extent, Christians have demonstrated an amazing ability to overlook many biblical virtues and allow denominational fragmentation and bickering to weaken it. Unfortunately, because of doctrinal "refining" on the non-essentials, a desire to be comfortable in church, and a growing apathy towards making a difference in the world, the American church has, in many respects, become impotent (castrated). It spends too much time splitting doctrinal hairs, separating, and then hiding in churches designed to keep its members comfortable and safe in the "refined" truth. On the outside, the world is going to hell while on the inside, we are playing the "religion game."
Is he right? Perhaps! And the antidote is to KNOW WHO YO ARE AS A CHRISTIAN! Listen, you are a subject of the King…
The King’s Subject must be DESTITUTE (5:3) 3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The King’s Subject must be BROKEN (5:4) 4“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
The King’s Subject must be COMPLIANT (5:5) 5“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
The King’s Subject must be NEEDY (5:6) 6“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
The King’s Subject must be MERCIFUL (5:7) 7“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
The King’s Subject must be UNTAINTED (5:8) 8“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
The King’s Subject must be a RECONCILER (5:9) 9“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
The King’s Subject will be PERSECUTED (5:10–12) 10“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Because you are a Subject of King Jesus, your life needs to be lived the way He desires. However, if you are really His subject, you will desire to live the way He wants you to live.
Your Motivation is to remember Who you Are!
2. Your Purpose is to be SALT (vs. 13)
13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
Why SALT? Eight interesting perspectives about salt in the Scriptures...
Salt is a Life Preserver – “It was used generously in the arid climate of the Near East where excess perspiration resulted in the loss of natural body salts. For the inhabitants of the Bible lands, salt (Heb. mĕlaḥ; Gk. hálas, háls) was necessary for life” [1]
(NRSV) 26 The basic necessities of human life are water and fire and iron and salt and wheat flour and milk and honey, the blood of the grape and oil and clothing.
26 The basic necessities of human life are water and fire and iron and salt and wheat flour and milk and honey, the blood of the grape and oil and clothing.
Salt is a Flavor Enhancer – much to my shame, I love to sit down to a big, juicy steak and before I do anything else, I load it up with salt. Salt makes food taste better…
1. For Humans - (ESV) 6 Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt…
2. For Animals – (ESV) 24 and the oxen and the donkeys that work the ground will eat seasoned fodder…not sure about the taste factor for animals, but it certainly increased Their desire for water.
Salt is a Food Preservative – Without salt, food in the time of Jesus would rot quickly and become inedible. Salt staves off the bacterial onslaught that causes food to deterieriate to a place that it is not fit for human consumption. “As with all cultures before the technology of refrigeration, salt was also used as a preservative.” [2]
Salt has Medicinal Benefit – In an interesting parable is found describing God's relationship with Israel. Check it out with me... Again the word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, make known to Jerusalem her abominations, 3 and say, Thus says the Lord God to Jerusalem: Your origin and your birth are of the land of the Canaanites; your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. 4 And as for your birth, on the day you were born your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to cleanse you, nor rubbed with salt, nor wrapped in swaddling cloths. 5 No eye pitied you, to do any of these things to you out of compassion for you, but you were cast out on the open field, for you were abhorred, on the day that you were born. 6 “And when I passed by you and saw you wallowing in your blood, I said to you in your blood, ‘Live! ’ I said to you in your blood, ‘Live! ’
Verse 4 is interesting because it says that she (Israel) was basically abandoned at birth but the Lord found her. When he found her she was a mess and ready to die. The basic care that was given to babies, was not given to her. One of these basics was being rubbed in salt. Why salt?
Ezekiel described normal birth practices such as rubbing the newborn with salt, water, and oil, then wrapping the baby in cloth strips for seven days and repeating the process for forty days. This was supposed to enhance the child’s character and promote general health and well-being for newborn children.[3]
Many birth practices have existed since ancient times regarding cleansing and rubbing a newborn following birth. Soranus of Ephesus, a first century Greek physician published a text entitled "On Midwifery and the Diseases of Women" in ad 100. In this text he recommends that the midwife sprinkle the infant with a fine or powdery salt…. Salt…was used as mild astringent (an astringent substance or liquid makes your skin drier or helps to stop a cut from bleeding) to absorb any remaining amniotic fluid…and placenta on the newborn's skin and to make the skin less prone to develop rashes.[4]
Aren’t you happy you can to Church and leaned such a profound truth this morning?!
Salt was Everlasting – (ESV) 19 All the holy contributions that the people of Israel present to the Lord I give to you, and to your sons and daughters with you, as a perpetual due. It is a covenant of salt forever before the Lord for you and for your offspring with you.”
Salt was used in Israel’s Worship –
1. An ingredient in the Grain Offering - You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. You shall not let the salt of the covenant with your God be missing from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt.
2. An ingredient in Incense - and make an incense blended as by the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy. 36 You shall beat some of it very small, and put part of it before the testimony in the tent of meeting where I shall meet with you. It shall be most holy for you.
Salt was considered and Agent of Destruction –
1. - But Lot's wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.
2. the whole land burned out with brimstone and salt, nothing sown and nothing growing, where no plant can sprout, an overthrow like that of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, which the Lord overthrew in his anger and wrath—
3. And Abimelech fought against the city all that day. He captured the city and killed the people who were in it, and he razed the city and sowed it with salt.
Salt was associated with a Miracle - Now the men of the city said to Elisha, “Behold, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees, but the water is bad, and the land is unfruitful. ” 20 He said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it. ” So they brought it to him. 21 Then he went to the spring of water and threw salt in it and said, “Thus says the Lord, I have healed this water; from now on neither death nor miscarriage shall come from it. ”
As you can see, salt was valued highly in biblical times…but that leaves the question…
How you are like SALT? – I think Jesus had two characteristics of salt in mind when he refered to His disciples...
You are a Preservative –
According to D.A. Carson, “In the first metaphor Jesus likens his disciples to salt. Implicitly he is saying that apart from his disciples, the world turns ever more rotten: Christians have the effect of delaying moral and spiritual putrefaction. If their lives conform to the norms of verses 3-12, they cannot help but be an influence for good in society.”
Let’s simply apply one of the Kingdom norms out of the eight…
You are a Preservative when you show Mercy – 7“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Do people deserve mercy? Of course not! If they did, it would cease to be mercy! But that is the amazing thing about mercy. It is a fantastic tool of God to catch people off guard!
We live in a world where if you mess with me, I am going to mess back even harder! You cross me, me and my cousin Vinny, we gonna pay you a little visit, if you catch what I’m talkin’ bout…
But Jesus says that His followers are to be different than that. They are not to seek revenge! No, they are to withhold just punishment! Even if someone legitimately wrongs you, you are to offer him more! If he strikes you check, offer him the other one. If he takes you coat, offer him your shirt as well. That’s how a child of the King behaves! I don’t need to worry about revenge, that’s not my department! That’s God’s! tells me He will take care of everything in the end. “Vengeance is mine, I will repay” And so by faith I trust that promise and keep doing what I am supposed to do, namely dispense MERCY.
Yes it is true that we need to hold others accountable and to help right them when they go wrong. My kids didn’t get a pass in the discipline department because I was captain merciful. But If I am going to follow God’s example in how he has dealt with me over the years, I have experienced His mercy one hundred fold in comparison to his hand of chastisement! “His MERCIES are new every morning”, not his spankings!
Husbands and wives – Are you determined to be offended at each other? Do you look for things that irritate you about your spouse and then run with it? How is that showing mercy? My wife read me this advice the other day for a successful marriage…
Step 1 –“Don’t sweat the small stuff”
Step 2 – realize that everything is “small stuff”.
By the way, unbelievers are watching to see if your Christian marriage is any different than theirs…mercy makes all the difference!
Parents – News flash! Your kids aren’t perfect! More astonishing than that? They never will be in this life! Even bigger news flash!!! Neither are you! Your unsaved kids will get a clear picture of your view of God in the way you handle them. Mercy is a powerful picture of the God of the Bible. Do they see it in you?
Life in general – people are simple blown away when you give them mercy instead of what they truly deserve. And what that gets for you is a golden opportunity to share with them why you are acting in such a way.
Can you imagine if you purposed to be merciful ALL the time? Isn’t God? Do you need help being merciful? Don’t forget from where you have come!
Carried to the Table - Leeland
Wounded and forsaken…I was shattered by the fall…Broken and forgotten…Feeling lost and all alone…Summoned by the King…Into the Master’s courts…Lifted by the Savior…And cradled in His arms
I was carried to the table…Seated where I don’t belong…Carried to the table…Swept away by His love…And I don’t see my brokenness anymore…When I’m seated at the table of the Lord…I’m carried to the table…The table of the Lord…You carried me, my God…You carried me
Mercy is just one out of the eight norms of His Kingdom…if you don’t like where our culture is going, commit to live out all eight norms and you will being to change your world!
Not only are you a PRESERVATIVE…
You are a Flavor Enhancer – You make life taste good! You (believer in Christ) of anyone in the world should exude joy and celebration every day of your life! Even when days are hard and tough, God has placed a new song in your mouth for you to sing so that a lost world around you will hear and fear God ()! Not all things are good, but God is working good in all things! Christians know this, but living it is altogether a different challenge.
I have to constantly battle myself with this concept! I can be the consummate Eeyore! “O bother!” “Nobody likes me!” “This job is too hard!” “Those people drive me nuts” “Why doesn’t Wayne do it my way?” (by the way, I only call him that when he is out of town) or “God, you want me to do WHAT?” “O bother”. Christian, follower of Christ, you only get so many words in your life! Stop using them up on complaining! Start using them to further His Kingdom! We shouldn’t be known for what we are against! Jesus said we should be famous for our LOVE!
G.K. Chesterton - “If I can put one touch of rosy sunset into the life of any man or woman, I shall feel that I have worked with God”
Don’t you want to work with God? Even more amazing than that is God wants to work with you!
He doesn’t need you, but He wants to use you to bring Joy and peace into the lives of those that are around you. And just between you and me, I think we make this activity more difficult than we need to. Why? Because just about everybody I talk to are looking for -- you guessed it -- joy and peace. So, we already have half the battle won. And we know how they can get joy and peace! Jesus Christ! And we know how they can have a relationship with Jesus Christ! By repenting and placing their faith in Him.
The King’s Subject must be a RECONCILER (5:9) 9“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
This was the Apostle Paul’s life. He went around reconciling Man with God! He wasn’t mad about it, intimidate by it, frustrated from it. But he was passionate about it…It consumed his heart and mind. He was the consummate peacemaker…
(ESV) 3At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. 5Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
How do I do this? How can I be a good flavor enhancer?
· Love People…
· Get over the fact that you are not part of the God-head…just witness and leave the detail to Him…
· Identify yourself as a Christian…
· Be gracious in your speech all the time so they will listen at the important time…
· Make them thirsty for more…
· Know what you are talking about…if you don’t, admit it and find out the answer with them…
· Don’t dismiss the “little act” that God can and will use to draw people to himself.
According to Morton Salt Company, the biggest problem of food grade salt is RUST! The problem in the church today is rusty, inactive Christians.[5]
Your purpose is to be SALT
3. Your purpose is to be LIGHT (vs. 14-16) 14
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Why Light? First of all, Jesus makes it very clear that his disciples are the light of which He is speaking. “You are the light of the world”
There is no question who the true “Light” is!
· I am the light of the world (; )
· I have come as light into the world ()
· the light that enlightens every man ()
· daylight from on high dawns on us ()
· John came to bear witness to the light (; )
· And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever ()
In a sense, we are like the moon because we should reflect the true “Light”.
5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.
5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.
8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),
)
36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.
Eh 5 8-9
8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),
· 8for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true) ( ESV)
· 36While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” ( ESV)
Jesus gives two illustrations for light in these verses. The light of a city and the light of a lamp.
The Light of a City on a Hill – We need to be careful that we do not read our industrialized world into Jesus’ illustration. I understand that under certain conditions, in certain areas of the world, the dark of night can be so thick, one cannot see his hand in front of his face. But if there is a city, even hundreds of miles away, its light gives bearing and direction.
The Light of a Lamp – We are spoiled to say the least. To illuminate a room, we don’t even think about it. We simply flip the switch. In fact when the power has gone out at our house, I will still walk into a room and flip the switch!
In Jesus’ day they lit a room with a simple oil lamp. Now, to our standards, it wouldn’t be very bright, but when that is all you have, that little lamp can chase the dark away quite nicely.
Mammoth cave oil lamp expedition -
How you are LIGHT? – In both examples that Jesus gives, your light of salvation is to chase the away the darkness and give people hope. Without light, people are blind to their circumstances. They are trapped in their sin! We shouldn’t be mad at them or fearful of them (perfect love casts out fear). They have no idea that the comfort they are receiving from their sin will not bring them lasting joy but eternal death. Your light gives them hope! It illuminates their situation and shows them a better way! Have pity on them, they can’t see! Isn’t it true that not too long ago you were just as blind? I remember when I was…
(ESV) 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
And who opened my eyes?
(ESV) 12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
What was the result of such an amazing miracle? Me, a wicked sinner, was declared a child of the King…
15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
(ESV) 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
So then, what am I to do? Sit in the comfort of my home? Sit in the comfort of my church building with the comfort of my friends and wait for my death or the return of the Lord? Shall I hide and wait? No, no, no! Jesus has left us with the answer…look at verse 16…
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
In the same way as a light on a hill and a lamp in a room give off light, I want you to give off light. Now, your light is not literal light. It’s not like all of a sudden, the Spirit move and you get your Jesus groove on and you burst into flames and so show your righteous light! That’s not it at all.
So what is our light? Look back at verse 16. Our light is our GOOD WORKS!
Have you ever thought about this? Our good works do not save us, but they do help save others! Isn’t that cool!
I may be going out on a theological limb here, but generally speaking, the unsaved cannot properly glorify God. So it seems to me that Jesus is saying that our good works are so powerfully bright that God will use them in the process of opening the eyes of the unregenerate to the reality of the gospel thus enabling them to respond to the gospel so they may legitimately glorify the Father in heaven.
12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
(ESV) 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
Now, I am not going to die on a theological hill for this, but the way I understand this is that Jesus our good works (that he has prepared beforehand) are so important they are the light that allow the blind (unsaved) to see.
The bottom line is the unbeliever needs you to show them. The gospel is more than words; it is supported and verified by the very life we live! They need to see the gospel in order to hear it.
What is the number one complaint against the church in our day? Hypocrisy -- Speaking the gospel is easy, living the gospel is hard, messy, frustrating work. But oh the joy when someone is truly able to authentically Glorify the Father in Heaven.
What does this look like in your life? D.A. Carson puts it this way…
The norms of the kingdom, worked out in the lives of the heirs of the kingdom, constitute the witness of the kingdom. Such Christians refuse to rob their employers by being lazy on the job, or to rob their employees by succumbing to greed and stinginess. They are first to help a colleague in difficulty, last to return a barbed reply. They honestly desire the advancement of the other’s interests, and honestly dislike smutty humor. Transparent in their honesty and genuine in their concern, they reject both the easy answer of the doctrinaire politician and the laissez-fare stance of the selfish secular man. Meek in personal demeanor, they are bold in righteous pursuits…Prison reform, medical care, trade unions, control of perverted and perverting liquor trade, abolition of slavery, abolition of child labor, establishment of orphanages, reform of the penal code – in all these areas the followers of Jesus spearheaded the drive for righteousness. The darkness was alleviated. And this, I submit, has always been the pattern when professing Christians have been less concerned with personal prestige and more concerned with the norms of the Kingdom.
Love God, Love Others and Serve the World
· Arlan Meekoff: Light in the Government
· Jerry DeWitt, Ken Thomans and Jess Lee: The Gideons – Light in Hotels and Motels
· Larry Norman: Forgotten Man Ministry – Light in the Jails
· Cindy VanOeveran and Lisa Ryder in Lakeshore Pregnancy Center – Light to young mothers to be
· Pam Morgan: Biblical Counseling / Soul Care: Light to people who are hurting -
· Rose Currier: Dorcus Sewing circle – Light to orphans in Africa!
· Eric Morgan - Love INC / The Ministry Center –
· ABF – the Bair’s with Ruthie Cook, the Rourbough’s with Kevin , Tracy Ziska with David Lewis!
· Many, many more in our own church shining the light of Christ!
· Where is your light shining brightest?
Each one of these ministries give you the opportunity to exercise “good works” and be a light so that you can gain the opportunity to tell them about the LIGHT of the World!
Conclusion
Main Idea: Just as salt and light each have a specific purpose, so do you! Otherwise, what good are you to the cause of Christ? To be thrown out and trampled upon? May it NEVER be!
1. Your Motivation is to remember Who you Are!
2. Your Purpose is to be SALT
3. Your Purpose is to be LIGHT
[1] David Noel Freedman, Allen C. Myers and Astrid B. Beck, Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (Grand Rapids, Mich.: W.B. Eerdmans, 2000). 1153.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Lamar Eugene Cooper, Ezekiel, electronic ed., Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001). 169.
[4]http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_was_reason_for_midwives_to_rub_baby_with_salt#ixzz1IsrKANtJ
[5] Mattoon's Treasures – Treasures from The Sermon on the Mount, Volume 1.
