Have Salt In Yourselves

“HAVE SALT IN YOURSELVES” (Outline)

September 21, 2008 --

PENTECOST 19 --

Mark 9:38-50

INTRO: Salt is not as valuable today as it was during the time of Jesus. Salt can be purchased very cheaply. During the time of Jesus salt was used as currency. Soldiers were paid with money in order to buy salt. At times salt was even used as payment for services. Our word salary comes from the root word salt. Our Christian lives are to be “salty”. "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone"(COLOSSIANS 4:5,6). Jesus’ words in verse 50 serve as our theme:

“HAVE SALT IN YOURSELVES”.

I. Put aside all jealousy and pride.

II. Be filled with God’s word.

I. PUT ASIDE ALL JEALOUSY AND PRIDE

A. The disciples had argued about who was the greatest. Jesus taught them humility (previous verses).

1. Jesus used a child as an example of humble service. They heard. Pride was still with them.

2. Verse 38. John tried to stop the one who was driving out demons.

a. This man was not one of the twelve.

b. John did not consider him to be important.

B. Verse 39. The one doing miracles in Jesus’ name cannot be cursing Jesus at the same time.

1. Jesus clearly states verse 40. Those with Jesus are not against Jesus or his disciples.

2. Those who are not with Jesus gathering are the ones opposing Jesus and scattering.

C. Verse 40. It is not always the great things that men see that matter. Humble service pleases God.

D. Jealousy and pride are a constant threat to the very core of our Christian faith. It was pride that really led Adam and Eve into sinning against God and ruining his perfection. Pride is always with us. We like to feel important and valuable. This is sinful pride that can detract from God’s grace. God’s grace comes to us freely – without our merit. It is not that we have decided to believe in God by our own will. It is God alone who has called us out of darkness into light. We did not choose him but God first chose us. Faith puts aside all jealousy and pride. Grace leaves no room for human pride. "Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit"(1 CORINTHIANS 12:3). Faith, the gift of the Holy Spirit, confesses Christ.

E. Human pride causes many to put trust in the wrong things. Some trust themselves. Others trust in the things of this world to bring happiness. God’s truth reminds us that the things of this world pass away but God’s word never passes away. Yet – the challenge remains. For you and I and every believer spend much more time living in this world than in the safe and secure walls of the church. We spend a great deal of our lives dealing with people of the world. We may even spend more time trying to balance our checkbooks than reading the Bible. This is our human pride that puts great value on the things of this world rather than on the things of God. "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money"(LUKE 16:13). The Lord reminds us to have salt in ourselves, put aside all human, selfish pride.

F. Sinful jealousy and pride cause many not to do what is right. Today’s second lesson (Philippians 2:1-11) reminds us of the sacrifice of Jesus. Jesus humbled himself and took on human flesh and blood. Jesus humbled himself and became obedient even to death on a cross. Our world does not give very much credit to those who live humble lives of service. But this is exactly what it means to have salt in us. We put aside our own selfish pride to better serve God by helping those around us. "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself"(GALATIANS 6:2,3). Do not let jealousy or pride deceive you.

“HAVE SALT IN YOURSELVES”.

Salt in us happens when we put aside all jealousy and pride.

II. BE FILLED WITH THE WORD OF GOD

A. Verse 42. Jesus now reminds the disciples of the seriousness of sin.

1. “Little ones” means small children and those who are infants in the Christian faith.