Salt of the Earth

Tyler Schorder, Emery Arndt and Ben And betty Long

We all have people that we wold call the Salt of the earth…they don’t have to try they just naturally are.

I love how a familiar passage of scripture can jump off the page in a brand new way. I think this speaks to the dynamic nature of God’s word and how important it is to always read the Word of God with and open heart and open mind.

Not open to my feeling at the time but open to the Guidance of the Holy Spirit in that moment. You see the key to being Salt and Light is not to battle through on our own but to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in our everyday surroundings not contrived or orchestrated moments...

As I read this passage God opened my eyes to something that I had never really thought about. Jesus is calling us Salt of the earth...a very good and honest person or group of people.

Jesus starts out by calling all of us who are listening “The Salt of the Earth” Jesus is was referring to the disciples then and now as a vital function in many aspects of daily life.

Jesus starts out by calling all of us who are listening “The Salt of the Earth” Jesus is was referring to the disciples then and now as a vital function in many aspects of daily life.

Oh…by the way you andI are modern day disciples....Learners, followers and doers of Jesus teachings.

Each person hearing this message was given value and also presented with an expectation of what it means to follow the teachings of Jesus.

What is incredible to me is that Jesus tells his disciples and all of us that we are Salt of the Earth...

With expectation comes responsibility and each person was being challenged to go deep in the teachings of Jesus and to preserve them in a way that when lived out, was of appeal to the world around them even if it really did not seem so.

He then goes on to call us the light of the world…again I believe God is giving me a different persepctive…Jesus is saying that if we are the light of the world nothing can hide that not even ourselves. Bushell baskets…this little light of mine....

He then goes on to call us the light of the world…again I believe God is giving me a different perspective…Jesus is saying that if we are the light of the world nothing can hide that not even ourselves.

Jesus is Calling you and me the Salt of the Earth....and the Light of the World.

Bushel baskets…This little Light of Mine....

Now before we get to carried away Verses 17-20 remind us that this does not mean that we are the center of the universe but that if we are going to believe like we talked about last week that we are blessed in spite of our circumstance we like the people I talked about at the begining of the message will naturally bring the flavor, presevation and purty of Jesus to Light naturally.

Jesus is Calling you and me the Salt of the Earth....and the Light of the World. Now before we get to carried away Verses 17-20 remind us that this does not mean that we are the center of the universe but that the Word of God is the center of the world. Jesus came as a fulfilment of the Word of God and only through the leading of the Holy Spirit will we be able to actually be Salt and Light.

Jesus came as a fulfilment of the Word of God (

the law)and only through the leading of the Holy Spirit will we be able to actually be Salt and Light.

I have been in ministry long enough to hear this passage preached in a way that does one of two things.

It can be used to make you think that unless you are sharing the plan of salvation with everyone you meet that you are horribly failing God....this leads to seeing the task of outreach as something to dread or something that only a few people can do.

It can be used to make you feel like the fate of the world coming to Christ is in your hands.

It has been taught in

Neither of these are true…so if you were waiting for me to tell you that you are not doing enough you can take a deep breath and relax...

What I am telling you today is that if you believe you are blessed like we talked about last week…you can believe that Jesus sees you as the salt of the earth....and the light of the world using the words He gives you in your everyday life.

You do not need a Church program to win someone to Jesus... you do not need to memorize a specific method even though both of these tools are helpful.

What you and I do need is to allow the Holy Spirit to Guide us....Give us the right words....Live the right life…and reap the harvest from the field you and I are already working in.

Luke 12:11

New Living Translation Chapter 12

11 “And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what to say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said.”

Instead of begging God to show you how you can be Salt and Light or lamenting that your life is not as productive as others ask God to reveal it to you when you are already in that moment…Yes I know this sounds terrifying!!!! But when you are familiar with the Voice of the Spirit of God this type of thing comes a bit easier.

Instead of begging God to show you how you can be salt and Light ask God to reveal it to you when you are already in that moment.

Taking friends notes....He knew the material but his insecurities kept him from delivering the message....Sometimes our insecurities keep us from being the Salt of the Earth and the Light of the World that Jesus has already said we are.

New Living Translation Chapter 5

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.

Teaching about the Law

17 “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. 19 So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

20 “But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!

If you believe you are blessed by God before you do anything like we talked about last week it makes sense that in being yourself you are ableare who God says you are…You are the salt of the earth…you are the light of the world.

Stop believing you are less than who God already says you are…You are the salt of the earth…you are the Light of the world because Jesus says you are…Not because you are gifted as an evangelist.

ll as Intentional

You are blessed it is time to be yourself and allow God to use you as you live your best life.

Seek Christian Community

Today some of you have been beat up by the world, you have been beat up on the job in relationships maybe even in the church…Some of you beat yourself up and believe that God Could never really bless you or use you.

Scripture priority

You are overwhelmed with a since of insecurity that God did not place in your life. You are blessed to be a blessing you are worthy of being created, you are able to do the things God says you can do.

Act on revelation

Stop making up reason why this is not so. Stop allowing negative self talk to keep you living a life always wondering if you are good enough.

Give up the lies and embrace the promise of God.

New Living Translation Chapter 5

16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Be Open as well as Intentional

Altar

Prayer…Communion.

To be Salt and Light is gaureenteed to thos

Instead of begging God to show you how you can be salt and Light ask God to reveal it to you when you are already in that moment.

Chances are it will not be because of something you chose to do to intentionally around those searching for peace…it will be in an everyday normal moment where God wants to be salt and light.

Not by down playing who God is and what He wants from us but instead living as God wants and sharing peace in that moment.

New Living Translation Chapter 12

11 “And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what to say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said.”