Introduction

Good morning, beloved family. Isn't it a joy to gather together in the house of the Lord, to share in the fellowship of the Spirit, and to delve into the richness of God's Word? We are here today, not by coincidence, but by divine appointment. We are here to bask in the light of God's love, to be washed by the water of His Word, and to be fortified by the power of His promises.

Today, we are going to turn our hearts and minds to the Gospel of Matthew, specifically to the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus, our Savior and King, imparts to us profound principles that are as life-giving as they are life-changing.

Matthew 5:13-16 says, "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 underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 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. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

This passage is a clarion call to every believer. It is a call to perseverance, a call to purpose, and a call to prevail over persecution and criticism. It is a call that echoes the words of the great preacher Charles Spurgeon who once said, "By perseverance, the snail reached the ark."

Just as the snail reached the ark by perseverance, so too must we reach our destiny in Christ by the same means. We must be salt that maintains its savor, and we must be light that refuses to be hidden. We must persevere in living out our faith, proclaim our purpose as salt and light, and prevail over the inevitable challenges and criticisms that come our way.

Let us bow our heads in prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Word that is a lamp unto our feet and a light onto our path. We thank You for the privilege of being called Your children, the salt of the earth, and the light of the world. As we unpack the treasures of Your Word today, may our hearts be receptive, our minds be renewed, and our lives be transformed. May we persevere in our faith, proclaim our purpose, and prevail over persecution for Your glory. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

Let’s get started!

Perseverance in the Path of God

When we think about the path of God, we often imagine a smooth, straight road, free from obstacles and difficulties. But the reality is far from this. The path of God is often winding, steep, and filled with challenges. It is a path that demands perseverance.

Perseverance is not just about enduring hardships: It's about remaining steadfast in our faith, even when the going gets tough. It's about holding onto God's promises, even when everything around us seems to contradict them. It's about continuing to trust in God's goodness, even when we can't see the end of the tunnel.

Salt: In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us that we are the salt of the earth. But what happens when the salt loses its saltiness? It becomes useless. It's no longer good for anything. In the same way, if we lose our faith, if we give up on God, we become like tasteless salt. We lose our purpose and our value.

How do we maintain our saltiness?: How do we keep our faith alive and vibrant? The answer lies in perseverance. We need to keep going, keep believing, keep trusting, even when it's hard. We need to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.

The willingness to face opposition: Jesus tells us that we are the light of the world. But light often attracts opposition. It exposes things that are hidden in darkness. It reveals truths that some people would rather keep hidden. As followers of Jesus, we are called to shine our light in a dark world. But this won't always be easy. We will face opposition. We will face criticism. We will face rejection. But we need to persevere. We need to keep shining our light, no matter what.

The willingness to make sacrifices: Jesus tells us that a town built on a hill cannot be hidden. In the same way, our faith cannot be hidden. It will require sacrifices. It will require us to give up our comfort, our convenience, our desires. But these sacrifices are not in vain. They are part of our calling as followers of Jesus. They are part of our mission to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. And as we make these sacrifices, as we persevere in our faith, we will experience the joy and the fulfillment that comes from living for something greater than ourselves.

The willingness to live for the glory of God: Jesus tells us to let our light shine before others, so that they may see our good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven. This is the ultimate purpose of our perseverance. It's not about us. It's not about our success, our happiness, our comfort. It's about God. It's about His glory. It's about making His name known in a world that desperately needs Him.

Proclaiming Our Purpose as Salt and Light

As we continue to immerse ourselves in the richness of Matthew 5:13-16, we find ourselves confronted with a powerful metaphor ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO