Salt & Light
Notes
Transcript
“You Are the Salt of the Earth”
“You Are the Salt of the Earth”
I think that we have all heard someone say… “He is the salt of earth.” What do we mean when we say this..
He/she is real, genuine, generous, unpretentious, common, “you’d never know that he had, “a bunch of money.”
I’m sure that we all know people like this...
I want to be known as “Salt of the Earth.”
but I have a ways to go...
So…you might ask what makes one “salty” enough to be salt of the earth.” It’s a good question… I hope that we can answer that one today.
Jesus is speaking here in a New Testament - Proverb.
I tell the guys at Bible study that is helpful sometime to think about the end of a phrase and let the Spirit enlighten you.
So let’s do that...
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
Mt
There is a clause there… “of the earth.” We won’t deal with that.
Try this one for a fit...
Salt you are…of the earth!
You have this LIMITLESS supply of salt to spread around inside yourself, your church, community and the world.
Jeff… this sounds a lot like revival. Are you saying that I, you, we have the worldwide revival inside of us!!
I say Yes.
Where did we get all of this power?
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Acts 2.
The Holy Spirit brought them… No not all are Pastors, Teachers, not all heal, not all speak in tongues, not all have the gift of prophecy.
But all together we have all the gifts necessary at this time and this place to provide our world, as small or as big as it with SALT!!!
Principle #1 - Your “salt” is meant to season.
Principle #1 - Your “salt” is meant to season.
Salt was and is one of the most valuable compounds in the world… How was it that Jesus knew this? Did he go to “Jesus” school?
Salt as you may know is one of the most plentiful compounds on earth. The weight of the salt in the oceans alone is 36 to the 15th power, tons of salt!
36,000,000,000,000,000 tons of salt
Your body is roughly 1% salt. Even a variation of .1% of that salt in you body can cause you massive problems or even kill you.
Let’s listen to the whole proverb, stand if you will as we read the scripture to for today
Let’s listen to the whole proverb, stand if you will as we read the scripture to for today
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matt 5.13-12
V.13
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
There is a similar metaphor from the earlier in Matthew
8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things?
8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
John
In
Jesus used “salt” because of its message and value to the people. There was a time when salt had more value that diamonds or gold.
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
Jesus used “salt” because of its message and value to the people. There was a time when salt had more value that diamonds or gold.
Jesus used “salt” because of its message and value to the people. There was a time when salt had more value that diamonds or gold.
Jesus used “salt” because of its message and value to the people. There was a time when salt had more value that diamonds or gold.
Salt indicates Godliness …What does it mean to be Godly?
Let’s go back to beginning of the chapter 5 and find out what it means to be Godly.
To be poor in spirit
To comfort those mourning
comforted
To be meek
To be hungry and thirsty for righteousness.
To be merciful to those around us
To be pure in heart
To be at peace and strive for unity among all humankind
You are the essence of Godliness on the Earth
Please start acting like it...
It is our responsibility to bring “saltiness” to ALL of humankind.
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But, Jesus says that as “easy” as it was to get Godly…is as easy it is to turn your back on His teaching and for your salt to lose its saltiness.
Salt is a compound that even the smallest amount can flavor the water that it is in.
Let’s continue using this metaphor
Principle #2 - You stay “salty” by adding salt
Principle #2 - You stay “salty” by adding salt
I know a friend who adds salt to everything he eats… why? He likes his food salty. If it looses its “saltiness” its no longer food to him.
If you loose your focus on God… you are no longer useful to him. Continue adding salt…continue adding Godliness, continue learning, continue being mentored, continue mentoring, continue on your on discipleship journey. Whatever your doing to the Glory of God, for God’s sake don’t stop!
Jeff… help! I don’t know what to do? I don’t know how to start? I don’t know who to go to? Will you help me along?
This is a Pastor’s dream!!!! The answer is OK, OK, OK and finally YES! YES! YES!
Jeff… I think I’ve lost my “saltiness,” its gone is there any hope I can get back my salt?
OK and “Yes, Yes, Yes”
I will say it again… salt in the smallest amount can flavor the water that it is in.
Start today… get into a discipleship process with your friend, wife or husband. Come to Men’s bible study, join Women’s bible study when it starts up again. Make it a priority to be there. Make it a priority to be in church, with God’s people, with your family and with your friends, with your friends who are like family.
V.14-15
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
This is another proverb from the maker of proverbs.
Mt 5.114-15
This is another proverb from the maker of proverbs.
Principle #3 - You are a “light.”
Principle #3 - You are a “light.”
There are people with natural charisma, which means natural gifts. We are drawn to those people. I am drawn to those people who are bigger than life.
According to the Sunnyside Police and School District People, Sunnyside has a gang problem. How do 11, 12,15,19 year old kids get sucked into the gang life?
The leaders, the recruiters are shining a light and building family connections that these kids so desperately want. The gangs are winning this battle now!
We have some warriors in this front line battle. There is a boxing gym over here on Edison that is teaching kids to box and talking about Jesus while they are doing it. PRAISE GOD!
Gallo and his Young Life leaders are reaching 60-70 kids a week in Young Life clubs. Your dollars are supporting them. PRAISE GOD!!!
Some of you parents are spending time eating meals together, supporting each other by going to sporting events, dance events, math contests, music contests or just hanging out.
Make sure that YOUR light is the brightest light in your home, in your neighborhood, in your community. Pray that kids and adults would be drawn to you for community for the breaking of bread, praying, sharing whatever you have and doing it generously.
I was an adult convert to Christ… I was drawn by the light given off by the young people, who are now as old as I aim was to draw me into lasting relationship with Jesus. I was drawn to and discipled by a guy who took time from his day and spent a couple of years walking me through my new found faith.
WE are last best hope to reach our world for God!
WE are last best hope to reach our world for God! Act like it!
Principle #4 - It’s not about you!! It’s about God.
Principle #4 - It’s not about you!! It’s about God.
The instant that it is about you, your salt begins to be diluted and begins to loose its saltiness, and without a major change is trampled down and thrown out.
The instant that it is about you, your salt begins to be diluted and begins to loose its saltiness, and without a major change is trampled down and thrown out.
The instant that you fail to stoke the fire in your lamp, other competing lamps get brighter and draw away those who are vulnerable.
V.16
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
I know that we are not Presbyterian… Thank the Lord! I am just kidding we have good friends and so do you that are more liturgical than we are. So what!
The Westminster Shorter Catechism lays out our chief end clearly.
Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
Whatever we are doing in the area of discipleship, of adding to our “saltiness” of stoking the fire in our lamps, we MUST NOT be doing it for our glory but to amplify and encourage the Glory that is given to God.
We want our lights to to shine, we want our “good deeds” to add up for God’s Glory.
In short we want to the world to see, this Jesus, our Jesus, my Jesus is the answer to your sin and separation from God.
Sadly some won’t ever catch a glimpse of the lamp, not because God doesn’t want them… He wants everyone.
But because we have all kinds of “stuff” in front of our lamp. You don’t have to answer out loud… but what have you put in the front of your light that makes it dimmer?
Your job or career
Your job or career
Your free time
Your 401K, IRA , Retirement Funds
Your property
Your business
All of these are good things unto themselves… but when you put them in the way of your light, your light goes dim.
Think about it...
When you get to be as old as I am you begin to think about a “Legacy.” Something that will be remembered you.
I’ve asked that question before to several different groups of people. I might phrase it like this.
What do you want written on your tombstone?
How do you want to be remembered?
Usually I get no answer but sometimes some very insightful and thoughtful answers.
What’s your on mind.. how would you want remembered. What do you want on your tombstone.
If any of this today has struck a nerve, has stirred something inside you… come talk me. I like to know and I’d to help if I can
In closing, I’ll go back to
Keep on, keeping on...
“Rejoice and be Glad…your reward is in Heaven...”
12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
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