Hand The World A Shaker And Turn On The Light Series

HAND THE WORLD A SHAKER AND TURN ON THE LIGHT

THE SIMILITUDES, PART 1

MATTHEW 5:13–16 “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 BY MEN. 14 “YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. A CITY 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 MEN, THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD DEEDS AND PRAISE YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN.

PROPOSITION: BE WHO WE ARE

INTRODUCTION: LET ME QUOTE JOHN PIPER, WHEN HE SAYS, ““PEOPLE DON’T ENJOY SALT. THEY ENJOY WHAT IS SALTED. WE ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH. WE DO NOT EXIST FOR OURSELVES.” WHAT A PROFOUND STATEMENT.

WHAT I HAVE HERE IS MY LITTLE SALT CELLAR. THIS CELLAR IS DIVIDED INTO THREE CONTAINERS, WITH EACH CONTAINER HAVING A DIFFERENT SALT. I HAVE BLACK HAWAIIAN SALT WHICH HAS AN EARTH FLAVOR DUE TO THE ADDITION OF CHARCOAL. I ALSO HAVE HAWAIIAN RED SALT WHICH HAS A NUTTY FLAVOR THAT REMAINS THROUGHOUT THE COOKING PROCESS. AND THEN I HAVE A FRENCH GRAY SALT, WHICH HAS A BRINY TASTE. IT IS A LITTLE CLUMPIER AS IT HAS A HIGHER MOISTURE CONTENT AND IS THE SALT OF CHOICE IN SAY, SALTED CARAMEL.

IN OUR TEXT THIS MORNING, WE ARE CALLED BY JESUS, “THE SALT OF THE EARTH.” NOW, AS THE CHILDRENS BIBLE SONG, “JESUS LOVES THE LITTLE CHILDREN”, “RED AND YELLOW, BLACK AND WHITE, THEY ARE PRECIOUS IN HIS SIGHT. JESUS LOVES THE LITTLE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD.” OUR WORLD IS FILLED WITH MANY NATIONS, PEOPLE, PEOPLE GROUPS, TRIBES, ETC., BUT GOD HAS ONLY ONE SALT. AND THAT SALT IS YOU.

TRANSITION: SO, IN OUR TIME TODAY, I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT WHAT IT TAKES TO BE SALTY IN OUR WORLD TODAY, AND THE WARNING JESUS GIVES US ABOUT LOSING OUR SALTINESS.

I. OUR DEFAULT CONDITION

a. “YOU ARE” – THIS IS A PRESENT TENSE CONDITION.

i. NOT WE WERE AS TOUGH WE HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY NOW.

1. IF GOD DID NOT WANT US TO BE PRESENT TENSE AMBASSADORS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF HIM IN THE WORLD, HE WOULD HAVE TAKEN US TO HEAVEN THE MOMENT WE BECAME WORTHY

2. OUR WORTH BEING DETERMINED BY OUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST IN OUT LIVES

b. WHAT MAKES US SALT IS CONNECTED TO WHAT JESUS HAS JUST TAUGHT ON THE BEATITUDES!

i. THESE CAN BE BROKEN DOWN INTO A FEW CATEGORIES

ii. ARE WE IN THE RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

1. POOR IN SPIRIT – UNDERSTANDING I HAVE NOTHING I CAN BRING TO GOD, AND CAN ONLY DEPEND ON HIM

2. THOSE WHO MOURN – AM I REALLY SORRY FOR MY SIN? DO I MOURN OVER MY LOST CONDITION WITHOUT THE INTERVENTION OF GOD?

3. MEEKNESS – DO I COME TO GOD WITH NOTHING AND DEPEND ON HIM

iii. ARE WE IN THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT WITH GOD

1. HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. AM, I CREATING THE DESIRE IN MY LIFE FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS IN ORDER FOR GOD TO FILL THAT NEED?

2. AM, I PRACTICING BEING MERCIFUL, REALIZING THAT I RECEIVE MERCY AS I GIVE MERCY

3. DO I DESIRE TO HAVE A PURE HEART, NOT JUST A CLEAN HEART. UNDERSTANDING THAT I CAN ONLY KNOW THE PURITY OF MY HEART WHEN I SEEK TO LIVE MY LIFE THE WAY GOD DESIRES ME TO LIVE MY LIFE AND IN DOING SO, SEEING THOSE THINGS THAT I HAVE TO LAY ASIDE.

iv. DO I UNDERSTAND AND EMBRACE THE POSSIBILITY, AND PURPOSE OF PERSECUTION

1. REVEALS THE SINCERITY OF MY WALK WITH THE LORD

2. CONFIRMS A GREAT REWARD IN HEAVEN

3. PUTS ME IN THE COMPANY OF THE PROPHETS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, THE DISCIPLES OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, AND JESUS HIMSELF

IN THE CONTEXT OF LIVING OUT THE BEATITUDES AS A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST IN THE WORLD TODAY MAKES ME SALTY.

II. THE INFLUENCE OF OUR SALTINESS IN THE WORLD

a. UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS NO PROVISION FOR US TO OPT OUT OF BEING SALTY

b. JOHN 17:15–18 MY PRAYER IS NOT THAT YOU TAKE THEM OUT OF THE WORLD BUT THAT YOU PROTECT THEM FROM THE EVIL ONE. 16 THEY ARE NOT OF THE WORLD, EVEN AS I AM NOT OF IT. 17 SANCTIFY THEM BY THE TRUTH; YOUR WORD IS TRUTH. 18 AS YOU SENT ME INTO THE WORLD, I HAVE SENT THEM INTO THE WORLD.

i. IN HIS PRAYER, THE LORD MADE IT CLEAR THAT WE HAVE A PURPOSE IN THE WORLD THAT NEEDS GOD’S PROTECTION NOT REMOVAL.