There are 8 billion people in the world today. Lifeway Research notes that there are almost 2.56 billion Christians today. By 2050, that number is expected to top 3.33 billion. It is easy to see that nearly 5 billion people worldwide still need Jesus! The world is your huge mission field, and the Holy Spirit is looking for people He can use to reach the world with the Word of God.
In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus used the word pictures of SALT AND LIGHT to teach His followers how useful they can be to reach the world with the Good News of Christ. We, believers, are the ones whom God uses to saturate the Kingdom of this world with the Kingdom of God: that of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost here.
We are to be salty and bright! (SLIDE 1). Let's read: Matt. 5:13-16 (NKJV) – (Slide 2- 3)13
"You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it loses 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, giving 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." The Holy Spirit points us to Jesus. Jesus points us to the Father, so everything He does is to the praise of the Father.
This morning's text is part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, which seems to be the longest sermon of Jesus recorded in the Gospels. In this Sermon, Jesus laid down the principle and rules of the Kingdom.
IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT: JESUS LAYS DOWN THE PRINCIPLE AND RULES OF THE KINGDOM.
A. Kingdom Attributes (5:1-12)
1. The poor in the spirit. (5:3)
2. Those who mourn. (5:4)
3. The meek. (5:5)
4. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. (5:6)
6. The pure in heart. (5:8)
7. The peacemakers. (5:9)
8. Those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness. (5:10-12)
The Beatitudes (blessedness) described the traits/attributes that begin to develop and manifest in the lives of His followers as we yield our desires to God. These traits should become the norm in the blessed life of Jesus's followers - the residents of His Kingdom. And the best example of these traits is found in Jesus Himself.
Living like Christ, as He taught in His sermon, is living like salt and light in this world.
B. Kingdom Actions (5:13-16)
1. To function as the salt of the earth (5:13)
- flavor enhancer ; seasoning –
- preservatives
I OBSERVE THE AMOUNT OF SALT CONCENTRATION WHETHER TO ADD FLAVOUR OR PRESERVE HAS A LOT TO SAY ON HOW much SALT there is.
ILLUSTRATION: VOLUNTEER – PINCH OF SALT IN A GLASS OF WATER AND A SPOON OF SALT
It has no value if SALT does not add flavor/taste to your cooking.
If salt gets contaminated, you cannot use it for any purpose.
The salt of the Gospel preserves people from destruction. And as people who have born again spirit, we are to allow the salt of the gospel to preserve us from harmful contaminants of this world. You are precious to God! He desires that everyone become a wise virgin!
• PRESERVATIVES – JESUS CALLS HIS DISCIPLES TO ARREST CORRUPTION AND TO PREVENT MORAL DECAY IN OUR WORLD. WE are not called to control secular power structures. But we must remain active preservatives agents in calling the world to heed and submit to God's standards of morality. There is no morality without God because man's whole idea of morality is derived from God. If there is no God, why worry about morals? But we are moral people because our inner man is conscious that there is God who is holy.
Mark 9:49-50 – Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavors, how do you make it salty again?
I LOVE THIS BROTHER in the Philippines – HE testified that when He got saved and surrendered his life to Jesus, he quit smoking, quit drinking, stopped going to bars, left an illicit affair, left his old life, and abandoned his harmful and unholy lifestyle all because He saw God as holy. That earned him the right to be heard. People listen to him because they have seen the change. When you understand the value of God's Kingdom, you will voluntarily leave everything you hold dear. You are wise enough to know that no one who has the light of Christ will remain walking in darkness. You will lose the appetite to keep your old life, worldview and practices, and anything you valued before you met Christ and vice versa.
Acts 1:8 – power/synonymous with the anointing of the Holy Spirit – the power of the Godhead! That power of the Godhead is enough! It is enough for you to be salty enough and preserve yourself, moral decay, and those around you.
2. To function as the light of the world (5:14-16)
- illuminate
- shut darkness
We have no light of our own. We get our light from Jesus. If not for Jesus, we would still be living in darkness. Jesus said to the people, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness because you'll have the light that leads to life (John 8:12). For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true" (Eph. 5:9)
Jesus brings the quality of life to those who believe and trust in Him. We know, and we know that quality of life is what these 8 billion people in the world are looking for.
AT least two lessons to practice from Jesus' metaphor of salt and light. Believers, Christians, and born-again followers of Christ are:
1. in the world for the world.
2. In the believers' mouths is the word for the world. In the world for the world. These metaphors of salt and light raise an important question about how we are to remain active contributors to our society.
• Not "we and them" but "we for them."
• Not an exclusive club – buddy system –
• Meant to permeate society as agents of redemption
The Kingdom of this world, opposite the Kingdom of God, can be a nasty place. BRIEFLY SHARE MY EXPERIENCE – UNFAIRNESS, RACISM, INJUSTICE, TREACHERY. JESUS PUTS IT THIS WAY, "THE WORLD IS WATCHING HOW JESUS' FOLLOWERS WILL RESPOND. The Devil wants us to retaliate and do the same thing to them, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, to fight back with meanness, so that I lose the right to witness to them about the goodness of God, about the forgiveness of God, etc. Because when I lose it, whatever I say or do in God's name will be thrown out and stepped upon like a worthless grain of salt. That's what the Devil is after. On the contrary, God wants us to preserve our right/privilege to testify for Him. We can make this place into a better world for those around us.
THE GOAL IS EFFECTIVENESS IN GOD'S KINGDOM. YOU ARE AN INFLUENCER. WHAT YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU DO CARRY A LOT OF WEIGHT. YOU HAVE A STRONG INFLUENCE ON THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU.
"I can see Jesus in you! I can feel Jesus in you. I can smell Jesus in you. I can hear Jesus in you." RESULT! They will come to Jesus because of you. They will surrender to Jesus because of you. They will worship Jesus. They would want to know Jesus because of you. They would like to be like Jesus because of you.
We hide our light and lose our flavor to the world when we:
3. Choose to be quiet; we should speak up about the forgiveness that only Jesus can – timing is critical.
4. Choose to go along with the flow even when we know we should stand up for God's standard of morals and at the expense of Christ's teachings and examples.
5. When we deny that we belong to the Light; when we are ashamed of our identity and allegiance to Jesus
6. Let sin put out our light – when we continue to live from sin that Jesus cleanse and forgive us from
7. We don't explain our light to others.
8. Ignore the needs of others – What would Jesus do?
9. Choose not to be a beacon of light - a fire or light set up in a high or prominent position as a warning, signal, or celebration:
Jesus saves, heals, and blesses people. He is compassionate, just, and fair. His heart is beautiful. He brings people to the Father. He teaches people to love; bring hope to people. He makes people feel better, whole and not wasted; the best in people; strengthens people – most of all, He forgives sinners! The world must know Him.
2. In your mouth is a word for the world.
• You are a kingdom witness!
(Slide 11) – when and where to witness it?
• In the home and family (Mark 5:18-19) demon-possessed man; had been alone and unable to speak. This man wanted to stay with Jesus, but Jesus sent him home instead. He sent him home to friends, families, relatives, and the neighborhood, who knew him as dumb and mute.
• To individuals (John 1:40-42)
40 Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who had heard John's words and had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing he did was to find his brother Simon. He said to him, "We have found the Christ!" 42 Andrew took Simon to Jesus. When Jesus saw Simon, He said, "You are Simon, the son of John. Your name will be Cephas." The name Cephas means Peter or a rock.
• In the assembly - (Acts 17:17) 17 So he (Paul in Athens) reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.
"Witnessing is simply sharing Christ to others in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the result to God." Dr. Bill Bright, Founder – Campus Crusade for Christ/CRU
Methods of Witnessing – this is how you minister on your own/individually – this is how you fulfill your God mission in the Kingdom of God you live and represent
1. Personal testimony (John 4:29; Acts 22:3-8)
God never intended his followers to hide in a closet. And even if, for example, that is the case, anyone who has experienced the goodness of God and the mercy of the Lord is like a loose cannon that is hard to tame. His tongue is loosed to speak how much the Lord has done for them. (CLG MANILA TESTIMONY)
Jesus said to the demon-possessed guy that He healed, "go home and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you and how he had compassion on you. Where is home? Among the Gentile community a pagan area.
2. Explaining the Scriptures (Acts 8:30-35) - Philip and the eunuch – do you understand what you are reading?
3. Using prophetic gifts (1 Cor.14:24-25)
4. Answering questions (John 9:8-11; 15-17;24-25; 1 Peter 3:15) - people will be curious to know; the Pharisees were skeptical – a blind man from birth –
5. Through writing/printed materials (John 20:31; Luke 1:1-4) - 31 But these are written that you may believe[a] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
6. Through holy living (Matthew 5:16; 1 Pet. 3:1-2)
7. Through acts of devotion (Matt. 26:6-7; Luke 7:36-38; John 112:1-3)
Matthew 26;6-7 / 6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
The Manner of Witnessing (personal BS)
1. With love (Mark 10:21; Philippians 1:15-17 )
Mark 10:21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
2. With urgency (2 Cor. 5:20; Ezek. 33:7-9)
3. Fearlessly (Eph. 6:19-20; Acts 4:29)
4. Clearly and courteously (1 Pet. 3:15; Acts 26:1-3; Colossians 4:4-6)
Jesus is the hope of the world. He died for the world. He was buried for the world and raised to life for the world. He went up to heaven for the world. And he is coming back again for the world. Jesus is not an enemy of the world. He is not angry with the world. He is a friend to a world filled with broken people needing to be made whole again. He is a friend of sinners needing forgiveness and cleansing from sins, a friend to the unhealthy that needs restoration and health. JESUS SAID, "YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH. YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. Let your light shine among men that they may glorify Your Father in heaven! (v16)
ALL THAT SOME PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT GOD, they know from you and your life. BE SALTY ENOUGH. GLOW IN DARKNESS. LET HIS LIGHT IN US PENETRATES THE DARKNESS AROUND US. IT IS HIS LIGHT THAT BREAKS THROUGH THE NIGHT.
