Matthew 5:13-16 (NKJV)
13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Since God has called us salt and light He expects us to affect the earth. The question now is: How do we do it? If we are salt let’s look at salt’s significance.
· Salt represents a covenant.
· Salt was put on offering presented to the Lord.
· Salt has healing qualities.
· Salt creates thirst & prevents dehydration.
· Salt is used for seasonings,
· Salt is used as a preservative.
· Salt changes everything it touches.
· Salt placed on meat retards its spoiling tendency
· Salt is sometimes used on newborns allows umbilical cords to heal quicker.
Salt Represents A Covenant
· Covenant of Salt -- Bedouins in Sahara requires salt to live in that environment.
Salt & Offerings
· Used in offering presented to the Lord.
Leviticus 2:13 (NKJV)
13 And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your grain offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt.
13 And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your grain offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt.
Salt And Healing.
· Healing qualities for wounds – Who has ever had a tooth pulled and been advised to use salt water to hasten healing?
Ezekiel 16:4 (NKJV)
4 As for your nativity, on the day you were born your navel cord was not cut, nor were you washed in water to cleanse you; you were not rubbed with salt nor wrapped in swaddling cloths.
2 Kings 2:20-21 (NKJV)
20 And he said, "Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it." So they brought it to him.
21 Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, "Thus says the Lord: 'I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.' "
4 As for your nativity, on the day you were born your navel cord was not cut, nor were you washed in water to cleanse you; you were not rubbed with salt nor wrapped in swaddling cloths.
2 Kings 2:20-21 (NKJV)
20 And he said, "Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it." So they brought it to him.
21 Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, "Thus says the Lord: 'I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.' "
Creates Thirst
· In the natural salt help your body maintain it water content, very necessary in a dry desert ecosystem
Matthew 5:6 (NKJV)
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
Salt is Used As Seasoning
· Our food would taste very bland without salt;
· God’s wants to use our presence on the earth to be as His seasoning of grace and blessing to flow, though not forever, to this world.
Job 6:6 (NKJV)
6 Can flavorless food be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
Colossians 4:6 (NKJV)
6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
6 Can flavorless food be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
Colossians 4:6 (NKJV)
6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
Salt Is A Preservative
· Used as preservative - meat and fish when rubbed with salt prevents spoiling extending the time of their value as food.
Salt Is A Synonym For Righteousness
· Humanity Is Morally Lack In Righteousness.
· We Cannot Say To God, “O Taste And See That Mankind Is Good For Mankind Is Not Only Tasteless Without Salt Is Rotten. The Only Remedy Is The Salt Of Righteousness.
· In Noah’s Day There Was One Family That Was Salt To The Earth
Genesis 6:11 (NKJV)
11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
· The righteous, as salt, would have spared the city. In Sodom had God found as many as ten righteous He would have spared the city.
Genesis 18:32 (NKJV)
32 Then he said, "Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?" And He said, "I will not destroy it for the sake of ten."
32 Then he said, "Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?" And He said, "I will not destroy it for the sake of ten."
· Do you see the significant of what Jesus was saying? Salt is not a final solution to decay, at best it can only delay the process.
Matthew 5:13 (NKJV)
13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
· Scripture doesn’t give the expectation that the whole world will be saved by evangelism
Acts 15:14 (NKJV)
14 Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.
14 Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.
· The world is under judgement it is doomed to fall and never to rise again and nothing we can do will change that.
Revelation 17:18 (NKJV)
18 And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth."
Revelation 18:3 (NKJV)
3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury."
18 And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth."
Revelation 18:3 (NKJV)
3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury."
Our attitude about this Earth
· We are not looking for a paradise on earth because it will be destroyed.
2 Peter 3:10-13 (NKJV)
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
· Our citizenship and or inheritance are not earthly but heavenly.
Philippians 3:20 (NKJV)
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Hebrews 11:13-16 (NKJV)
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.
15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Hebrews 11:13-16 (NKJV)
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.
15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
We must oppose Sin.
· Violence, greed, materialism, dishonest, and immorally are prevalent in the world in which we live.
· If the presence of a Christian has a restraining influence on profanity and smut in his work place that is Christian is salt
· There are pressures to permit euthanasia, the use of human embryos for scientific experiments
· We are prisoners of conscience especially for believers who are being killed each day for the gospel. Millions are perishing each your yet we are powerless in the natural to stop it.
What Responsibly Do The Churches Have?
Question: Are Christians to try to influence society in these areas? Answer is Yes!
· Yes! But through revival, that changes Men’s hearts
· A Spirit filled church will do just that. Far-reaching social changes have always come, even if not immediate in the wake of a spiritual revival
· Social action such is not a part of the Great Commission to the Church.
The Great Commission.
· The church must be confined to evangelism, which includes healing, deliverance, and the disciplining of those who believe.
Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV)
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
Matthew 10:8 (NKJV)
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
What about Social issues? Social action is an individual matter. Some are called & they must know what part of this massive need they are to address. Social matters are campaigning against, abortion, animal right programs, and air pollution, keeping highways clean, policing the internet, recycling, depleting our natural resources, Etc.
· Activities Other than Evangelism, Healing the Sick, Delivering those Bound by Satan and Disciplining Believers are individual matters.
Matthew 10:8 (NKJV)
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
· Involvement in these activities by believers does reflect the compassion of Christ who fed the multitudes, which paved the way for them to listen to the gospel
· You can’t expect a man with no food in his stomach and not shirt on his back to listen to the gospel.
· We are to let the world see our good deeds.
Note: this is talking to individuals and not to the entire church.
Matthew 5:16 (NKJV)
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Titus 3:8 (NKJV)
8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.
Titus 3:14 (NKJV)
14 And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Titus 3:8 (NKJV)
8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.
Titus 3:14 (NKJV)
14 And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.
The Church Must Stay On Course.
· The church must always watch that it is not deflected from its major task of evangelism by the vast needs of suffering humanity.
How Salt Works.
· For salt to work it must be different in nature than meat. Meat has a much shorter life span then salt. When salt is applied it increases meats’ life span.
· Believers and unbelievers are as different as chalk and cheese.
· They are different order of being.
· Jesus didn’t say try to be like salt he said, “You are salt”.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
1 Peter 1:16 (NKJV)
16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
1 Peter 1:16 (NKJV)
16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."
Is The Gospel That Is Being Preached Diluted In Order To Increase Its Acceptance?
· There are some churches that are seeker friendly, what exactly does that mean?
· Does it mean we want large numbers so let’s make it easy to become a Christian?
· I would be the last to suggest harshness in our preaching but Jesus didn’t compromise, he said hard thing, such as, “you must take up your cross and follow me.” Anything that would prevent you from doing this; get rid of it, sell what you have and give to the poor.
· The bible says we must, and we want to love the unlovely, but somehow I wonder if we haven’t gotten something out of balance.
· We might be making converts and not disciples; the disciple is always different, he is a very salty salt.
Mark 16:15 (NKJV)
15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV)
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV)
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
· How do we relate to the world? Do we relate with I’m ok you are Ok? Can you love and relate to someone without adopting his or her life style?
· You can’t preserve fish buy putting them in one barrel and the salt in another
· Jesus lived a life that was an excellent example of how we can relate to the world.
· He could talk with Nicodemus the theologian, Zacchaeus the tax collector or the woman with a suspect history of sin at the well.
Matthew 11:19 (NKJV)
19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' But wisdom is justified by her children."
Hebrews 7:26 (NKJV)
26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens;
19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' But wisdom is justified by her children."
Hebrews 7:26 (NKJV)
26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens;
Significance Of Light
Matthew 5:14 (NKJV)
14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
· We see the salvation message in “Genesis (1) one
Genesis 1:16 (NKJV)
16 Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also.
16 Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also.
· Jesus said I am the light. This corresponds to what Jesus said, he is the sun, and we are the reflected light to the world as is the moon.
John 8:12 (NKJV)
12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."
12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."
Ephesians 5:8 (NKJV)
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
Ephesians 5:14 (NKJV)
14 Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light."
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
Ephesians 5:14 (NKJV)
14 Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light."
· We have no light of our own but we are to a reflection of His light to this world as the moon is to the sun
John 1:4 (NKJV)
4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
· God has a reason for making us a light to the World
Matthew 5:16 (NKJV)
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
We Are Not Saved Not By Good Works, But To Do Good Works.
Ephesians 2:8-10 (NKJV)
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
· The fruit of Christian character will automatically be an output of Good Works.
· Our Christianity is not the doing a good turn for a neighbor
· That good turn is but an expression of a totally different life style.
Such Good works will mean:
· At times to confess Christ before men.
Romans 10:9-10 (NKJV)
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
· Witnessing to what he has done for us
Mark 5:19 (NKJV)
19 However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you."
19 However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you."
· Giving a ready answer to those who ask us about our hope
1 Peter 3:15 (NKJV)
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
· Letting our light shine means influencing other by our life and by our words
There Can Be No Compromise
· The same way that salt reacts to corruption light reacts to darkness
· Light has nothing to do with darkness but to expose it.
Ephesians 5:12-13 (NKJV)
12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.
13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.
1 John 1:5 (NKJV)
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
Ephesians 5:8-9 (NKJV)
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),
Ephesians 5:11 (NKJV)
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.
13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.
1 John 1:5 (NKJV)
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
Ephesians 5:8-9 (NKJV)
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),
Ephesians 5:11 (NKJV)
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
The Light Must Not Be Hidden
· If salt loses its ability to make things salty it is good for nothing, the same about light if it fails to light the paths it is good for nothing.
Matthew 5:15 (NKJV)
15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
· There were people in Christ’s day, and are still around today, that by their lack of testimony are failing to let their light shine and are robbing God of his due
John 12:42-43 (NKJV)
42 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue;
43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
42 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue;
43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
· They are also robbing the church, the world, and themselves of the benefits of living for God.
Matthew 10:32-33 (NKJV)
32 "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:16 (NKJV)
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
32 "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:16 (NKJV)
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
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