God's Representative

You Are Employed By God to be the Will of God

13 You are the salt of the earth…

Salt - a symbol of lasting concord [a state of agreement: harmony], because it protects food from putrefaction and preserves it unchanged; Wisdom and grace [the quality or state of being considerate or thoughtful] exhibited in speech

pu•tre•fac•tion - [the decomposition (rot to become unsound or weak, to become morally corrupt) of organic matter; corruption - a departure from the original or from what is pure or correct]

Earth– people, mankind

You Can’t Do This Without God

But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled on by men.

Lost – perish [cease to exist], faint [dim – hardly perceptible]; insipid [not enjoyable to eat or drink because of having very little taste] Taste – discernment[power to see what is not evident to the average mind, the power to distinguish and select what is true]; flavor [characteristic (something that distinguishes or identifies) or predominant quality (nature-an inner force)]

The Taste is the Spirit (Your Superpower)

John 6:35

35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

John 6:55-56

55 for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. 56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. because he descends from God and offer life that comes from God. The bread of God that comes from heaven and gives eternal life

Eat my flesh – consume his nature [incorruptible - not capable of being persuaded to do anything illegal or immoral; equity - a fair and reasonable way of behaving toward people, so that everyone is treated in the same way]

Drink my blood – experience the sacrifice [die in the flesh]

Ephesians 4:30 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption.

Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit – do not refuse His counsel or rebel against Him

John 15:4-6 4 Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

Humility Is Required

Proverbs 11:2 2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace; but wisdom is with the humble.

Pride – insolent [overbearing, domineering in power], presumptuous [showing too much confidence and not enough respect, failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate] Disgrace – ignominy [a situation where you feel embarrassed and lose other people’s respect]

Wisdom –shrewdness [marked by clever discerning awareness and hardheaded acumen (the ability to make good quick decisions and judgments); discernment]

Humble - submit

· Your Organization Is Called To Be A Lighthouse

14 “You are the light of the world…

Light –Revealed Knowledge, God’s light of truth and knowledge, together with spiritual purity; that which is exposed to the view of all, something that makes vision possible. The glory of Christ illuminating the believer who fulfills the conditions, so that being guided by His light we reflects His character;

World - the ungodly multitude; the whole mass of mankind alienated from God, and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ.

Don’t Be Afraid of the Gospel

· You Are An Ambassador of Reconciliation

…A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.

Hidden– conceal [to prevent disclosure or recognition of]; not accessible to view, conceal

Our Pride Causes An Eclipse That Conceals The Light

Eclipse - a time when someone or something starts to seem less important, because another person or thing has become more important than they are

· Be An Example Of God’s Grace (Present Yourself to God)

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 in heaven.

Let – to allow [to admit or accept something as true]

Shine– to emit [to send something out into the air, especially light], to be conspicuously [obvious to the eye or mind] evident [implies presence of visible signs that lead one to a definite conclusion]

emit [to issue with authority]

Before – in the presence [the part of space within one’s immediate vicinity] of; in the sight of

See – perceive by sight; to know [understand, recognize the nature of, to be aware of the truth, to be convinced]; take notice of consider, pay attention to

Good Works – moral excellence Glorify – praise

Since You Have Received the Gift of Grace

1 Peter 4:10-11 10 Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. 11 Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

Steward - The careful use, control and management of the possessions of another that have been entrusted [to place in someone’s care] to one

James 1:17 17 Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights,

[1.] Whatever ability we have of doing good we must own it to be the gift of God and ascribe it to his grace. [2.] Whatever gifts we have received, we ought to look upon them as received for the use one of another. We must not assume them to ourselves, nor hide them in a napkin, but do service with them one to anotherin the best manner we are able. [3.] In receiving and using the manifold gifts of God we must look upon ourselves as stewards only, and act accordingly. The talents we are entrusted with are our Lord’s goods, and must be employed as he directs. And it is required in a steward that he be found faithful. [Matthew Henry]

2 Timothy 3:12

12 Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

Matthew 5:14-16

5 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, 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 in heaven.

Intrinsic nature

In the ancient world salt has religious significance. Because of its purifying and seasoning and preserving qualities it is a symbol of endurance and value.2It is linked with God, as putrefaction and corruption are linked with demons. For this reason it was much used in worship, as in the OT. It was sprinkled on or mixed into the sacrifices (Ex. 30:35; Lv. 2:13; Ez. 43:21). Newborn children were rubbed with it (Ez. 16:4). It was used by Orientals to drive away evil spirits. (Theological Dictionary)