“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.
2. “Cause to sin” is from the word scandalize. To scandalize would bring ultimate destruction.
B. Verse 43. To be crippled or maimed in Jesus’ time was to make one a social outcast. Sin is serious.
1. Verses 45. 47. Hand, foot, and eye can all lead to sin. The source of all sin begins in the heart.
2. These desires can be overcome through the word of God that gives every believer strength!
C. Verse 48 (same as vss. 44,46). Hell is a real place. The soul does not die. The fire is not put out.
1. Verse 49. Some will face trials. The fire of God’s law is part of God’s salt – word for all.
2. Verse 50. Some try to remove the salt – sting from God’s law. This nullifies God’s word.
3. Jesus tells the disciples to quit worrying who is greatest. Have salt and be at peace.
D. The salt of God’s word that stings us is the law. None of us like to hear that we are sinners. We do not want to be reminded of our shortcomings that deserve eternal punishment. Yes, hell is a real place reserved for those who reject God. People too often openly reject the teaching and reality of hell as eternal punishment. Many find it difficult to understand why our loving and merciful God would send any-one to hell. But does God really make that choice? It is the unbeliever who chooses for him or herself eternal punishment. The unbeliever denies, rejects, or scoffs at God and his word. This is the bad choice of a life filled with sinful pride. Hell is their choice. "By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men"(2 PETER 3:7).
E. How are we to have salt in ourselves? The world can become an attractive yet distracting, destructive influence. Our own flesh would have us live in selfishness. The devil daily tempts us to forsake God’s truths. It is quite easy to focus on all the bad. The very structure of our society seems to accentuate the negative rather than put forth the positive. We are challenged to have salt in ourselves and live as God’s salt and light in this world. "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things"(PHILIPPIANS 4:8). This is an astounding positive list to fill up our lives.
F. Today until the very end of the ages God’s word remains our ultimate source of truth, life, light and salt. Mankind may deny and reject that validity of Scripture. This does not make God’s word any less true. Our loving Lord reminds to have salt in ourselves. Jesus does not only teach us this truth he also reveals how we can accomplish his truth. "You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me"(JOHN 5:39). Be filled with God’s word. When God’s word fills our hearts and lives there is little room for other distractions.
CONC.: “HAVE SALT IN YOURSELVES”. Jesus reminds us that salt is valuable and vital in the life of the Christian for the lives of others. Followers of Christ are just that. As Christians we follow Christ and his example rather than our own jealous and pride-filled, sinful nature. We are able to put aside the sin that dwells in us by filling up our lives and souls with the word of God. Listen to God’s promise to and for his believers. "Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness"(2 CORINTHIANS 9:10). Our gracious God and loving Lord promises us a “harvest of righteousness”. We have heaven as our home purely, freely by the love, grace, and will of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are the salt of the earth and light of the world, which continually grows darker. Rejoice in the faith that dwells in your hearts and is seen in your lives. “HAVE SALT IN YOURSELVES”. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
SERVICES: 1:00pm @ NCF Min.(Sat) / 12:00pm @ NCF Medium (Sun) / 9:30am @ Redeemer (Sun)
BIBLE STUDIES: TUES. -- 6:00pm (Min) + 7:30pm (Med) @ NCF / 10:55am @ Redeemer (Sun)
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PENT. 19 readings:
EZEKIEL 18:1-4, 25-32;
PHILIPPIANS 2:1-11;
MATT. 21:28-32;
(PSALM 25)
