Salt And Light Witnessing Series

“Salt and Light Witnessing”

Matthew 5:13-16

THEME: We are the salt the silent work of influence and the light the visible manifestation of God in people’s lives.

INTRODUCTION:

a) There are two things that we value that seem so insignificant but are part of our survival. We either complain because to much of these two things or we want more of these.

b) One is hardly seen. Yet too little of it you can taste the difference and too much of it can ruin your food.

c) The other is visible it is need during the night or when it is dark. Yet too much of it in the morning well make you say, “Turn it off” yet too little of it can make you feel unsafe.

d) What is it? It is salt and light. One works as it comes into contact with the food and the other one as turned on.

e) Jesus said you are the Salt and the light. Today I want to share with you an ancient formula that can turn this world upside down.

I. A CHRISTIANS INFLUENCE Vs.13

Salt Witnessing

A. SALT

1. Matthew 5:13-16 In the Sermon on the Mount we stated that the Beatitudes are the elements of the Christian life. But this next section deals with the Christians influence. A Christian that is merciful or is t meek, or is a peacemaker, or that is pure in heart will have a tremendous influence in the lives of those who have not given their heart to God.

2. In ancient times salt was seen as a necessity of life. Because of its seasoning and preservative qualities was one of the most highly prized minerals. In many societies it was so highly valued that it was used for money. The English word salary is derived from the Latin word Salarium which refers to the payments made to a Roman soldier with salt.

3. Herod’s temple had a chamber of salt for ceremonial use of salt. (Mish. Midodoth, v.3)

4. Whenever a city was defeated the custom was to throw salt through out the city. This mean that the city had been separated from its past. Elisha used salt to purify the water of Jericho (2 Kings 2:20)

5. The normal procedures when a child was born was to be rubbed with salt (Ez. 16:4)

B. The use of Salt

Salt was gathered in Palestine from along the seashore or inland lakes.

1. SALT MAKES YOU THIRSTY

2. SEASONING: In Bible times and till today salt is used for seasoning our food. Who likes to eat food without salt? Even though salt is so small and yet hardly noticeable it makes a difference when applied to the substance.

a) Salt was used to flavor the offerings and sacrifices (Lev. 2:13, Ez.43:24) “All who would present themselves “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God: (Rom 12:1), must receive the saving salt, the righteousness of our Saviour.”

b) In order for our lives to be a living sacrifice for God they must be preserved and seasoned with righteousness of Christ.

3. Preservative: But it was also used to preserve food. They did not have the refrigeration systems that we have today.

4. Friendship: Salt was seen as a covenant relationship “It is a covenant of salt forever before the Lord with you and your descendants with you.” (Numbers 18:19) So salt also represented a relationship. “It represented hospitality that cemented on friendship” Arab Saying “There is salt between us”

C. You are the Salt of the Earth

1. What did Jesus mean by this statement? It is the silent witness of the Christian believer. It is the influence that you have over other people’s lives to season, and preserve for eternal life. Christ is saying let your influence season people’s life for the kingdom. Salt changes things; a little salt can flavor a big pot of beans. It only takes on salt to flavor a whole community a whole neighborhood a whole workplace.

2. The whole issue of salt is the seasoning, the influence you might say. Like some one said, “The salt is no good if it never leaves the salt shaker, it is only an decoration to the kitchen table.

3. We deny the salt function when we fail to mingle with people that are lost; we deny the function of the salt when we fail to be kind, merciful, peacemaker. To deny the salt function is to deny the principles of the kingdom of God. We are not to draw away from society, we are not of the world but we live in the world. And if we as Salt don’t rub against those who have no flavor, those who are perishing who will?

4. Jesus said, “You are the salt” It is emphatic He didn’t say you are the earth. He didn’t say you might , you ought to be No, you are the salt. We are either the salt or the world.