A Messiah of Influence
Text: Matt. 5:13-16
Introduction
1. Illustration: Historian Philip Schaff, described the overwhelming influence which Jesus had on subsequent history and culture of the world: “This Jesus of Nazareth, without money and arms, conquered more millions than Alexander, Caesar, Mohammed, and Napoleon; without science…he shed more light on things human and divine than all philosophers and scholars combined; without the eloquence of schools, he spoke such words of life as were never spoken before or since, and produced effects which lie beyond the reach of orator or poet; without writing a single line, he set more pens in motion and furnished themes for more sermons, orations, discussions, learned volumes, works of art, and songs of praise than the whole army of great men of ancient and modern times” (Schaff, Phillip, "The Person of Christ," American Tract Society, 1913).
2. Jesus was a person of great influence, not only in His time on earth, but on every generation and culture since.
3. As His disciples, Jesus calls us to be people of influence too. He tells us that:
• We are to be influential
• We are to be illuminating
1. Read Matt. 5:13-16
Proposition: As Jesus disciples, we are to influencers not the influenced.
Transition: Jesus tells us...
I. We Are To Be Influential (13)
A. Salt of the Earth
1. In the four verses that we will examine today, Jesus uses "a series of images which explain why it is important that disciples should both be different and be seen as different" (France, 173).
2. Jesus begins by telling us, “You are the salt of the earth."
a. For the most part, salt in Jesus day was very different from the table salt that we think of today. Most salt in ancient times was acquired from evaporated sea water, and would frequently contain other minerals that were fairly useless.
b. There were a number of different uses for salt in the ancient world. References to salt’s positive qualities emphasize its seasoning, preserving and purifying properties (Dictionary of Biblical Imagery (electronic ed.), InterVarsity Press: Downers Grove, IL).
c. In the ancient world, salt was a vital, even essential element of life, maybe even as essential as water.
d. What Jesus is trying to get us to see is that we are just as essential to the community in which we live.
e. Isn’t it interesting that Jesus says that we are the salt of the earth and not Him? The church is what is keeping the world from falling into complete chaos. That’s how influential we are in our world.
3. In what ways are we to be an influence in our world?
a. First, we are to add flavor to our world.
1) Our wisdom and spiritual understanding, based on our relationship with the Lord and our knowledge of Scripture, is a vital element in our world.
2) Our task is not only to tell people that there are far from God, but also to tell them how to get to Him.
b. Second, as salt we preserve the world.
1) Without the church being a source of reason and grace in the world, the human race would self-destruct.
2) 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 (NIV)
And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.
c. Third, we are a purifier in our world.
1) As proclaimers of God’s truth, we are to make clear that His standards are higher than that of our societys’ standards.
2) As proclaimers of God’s truth, we are to make clear that there is no one who is "good," no not one!
3) As proclaimers of God’s truth, it is our task to declare that the only way to be right with a Holy God is through the blood of His Son.
4. However, we need to pay close attention to what Jesus says next, “But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless."
a. An inquirer reportedly asked a late first-century rabbi what to salt tasteless salt with; he responded, "The afterbirth of a mule." In that society, everyone knew that mules are sterile; the point is "If you ask a stupid question, you get a stupid answer" (Keener, 109).
b. The point that Jesus is making here is that if we stop being salt, if we stop being a positive influence on our culture and society, we become worthless.
c. What good is it, if someone confessing to be a follower of Christ, shows no concern for the spiritual well-being of those around them?
d. What good is it, if someone confessing to be one of Jesus disciples, are not actively trying to make a difference in the world?
e. What good is it, if a Christian who sits on the sidelines while the world around them is on its way to hell?
f. In Jesus estimation, that person is worthless!
B. Impacting Our Community
1. Illustration: I once asked a friend of mine what was his biggest fear? After listening to his response, I told him that my biggest fear in life is being insignificant. If I can’t make a difference in the lives of those around me, and impact their lives for the sake of the Kingdom, then my life will have been a failure. When I leave this life, I want to know that my being here mattered.
2. We are not to be influenced by the world around us.
a. Romans 12:2 (MSG)
Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
b. We should never let our culture dictate who we are as Christians.
c. We should never allow our society to press us into its mold.
d. We must stand out; we must be different because we have been transformed by the life changing power of the Holy Spirit.
3. Instead, we are to be the ones who influence our society.
a. Jesus did not shed His blood so that we could be like everybody else.
b. Jesus did not sacrifice His life for us so that we could sit on the sidelines and be inconspicuous.
c. Jesus has called us to be difference makers.
d. Jesus has called us to set the tone.
e. 2 Corinthians 5:19-20 (NLT)
For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”
Transition: Are you making a difference? In addition to being influential...
II. We Are To Be Illuminating (14-16)
A. You Are the Light
1. Jesus now moves from one metaphor to the next - being the light.
2. He says, “You are the light of the world..."
a. The "you" here is emphatic, in other words, "You, my followers and none others, are the light of the world (Carson, Expositor’s Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Matthew).
b. Light is a universal religious symbol.
c. In the OT as in the NT, it most frequently symbolizes purity as opposed to filth, truth or knowledge as opposed to error or ignorance, and divine revelation and presence as opposed to condemnation and abandonment by God (Carson, Expositor’s Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Matthew).
d. Where there is light, people can find their way and everything is clear; where there is darkness they stumble and are lost (France, 175).
e. We can see again that Jesus is referring to us in terms that indicate we are indispensable.
f. Without light, we could not see, stay warm, or even maintain sources of food.
g. In other words, without light we would cease to exist.
3. Now notice what Jesus says about us as the source of light, "...like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden."
a. Often built of white limestone, ancient towns gleamed in the sun and could not easily be hidden.
b. At night, the inhabitants’ oil lamps would shed some glow over the surrounding area.
c. Like those ancient cities, we should be easily visible to those who do not know Christ.
d. That doesn’t mean that we should go out of our way to weird, but that people should be able to look at us and recognize that we have been with Jesus.
4. Jesus goes on to say, "No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house."
a. A domestic lamp was a shallow bowl of oil with a wick. It would normally be stationary, placed on a fixed lampstand, rather than mobile like torches (France, 176).
b. Jesus argues from common sense to show that it would be ridiculous for his disciples to hide their good deeds from the world (Turner, 83).
c. We shouldn’t hide our light for two reasons.
1) First, it wouldn’t make sense to light a lamp so that we would have light and then hide under a basket.
2) That would defeat the purpose for which it was intended.
3) Second, we have all learned from experience and junior high science class, that if we cover a burning flame it goes out.
4) It cuts off the oxygen that keeps the flame burning.
5) If we try to cover up our light, we are taking the risk that our flame will go out.
5. Then Jesus gives us the reason we shouldn’t hide our lights, "In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father."
a. Jesus is trying to tell us, a true disciple impacts people and thereby brings glory to the heavenly Father (Turner, 83).
b. The goal of disciples witness is not that other emulate their way of life, or applaud their morals, but that they recognize the source of their distinctive lifestyle in "your Father in heaven" (France, 177).
c. It is not so that they recognize us, but that they recognize the one we represent - God.
d. 1 Peter 2:12 (NLT)
Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.
B. Shinning Brightly For Christ
1. Illustration: When I was in Amsterdam, working as a missionary with YWAM, a Christian music group came to the city to play at a place called "The Last Watering Hole." A number of us went to hear them play and support them in their mission. While we were there, a who was not a Christian light up a joint. Out of the "goodness" of his heart, he started going around from person to person trying to share. First, he would go to one of us YWAMers and would be turned down. Then he would go up to one of the people traveling with the band and was turned down. After a while, he began to wonder what was going on. We didn’t condemn him or look down our noses at him, we simply let our lights shine in the darkness.
2. Philippians 2:15 (NLT)
Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.
3. Believers are now the light of the world.
a. Jesus said, "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world" (John 9:5).
b. Jesus is no longer in the world, not bodily. His light is now in the lives of believers. Believers are reflections of Him.
c. Unless we are the light of the world, the world will always be in darkness.
d. Unless we reflect Jesus to the world, it will always stumble around in the darkness.
e. Unless we reflect the light of Jesus, the world will never know the truth.
4. Jesus has given us a job in this world, and that is to shine.
a. We are not to let our light go out.
b. We are not to hide our light so that others cannot see.
c. We are to put ourselves out there for the entire world to see.
5. Our purpose is to give glory to the Father by letting our light shine.
a. Our purpose is to so reflect the light of Christ that no one can say on the Day of Judgment that they didn’t know, because they have seen it in our lives, witness and testimony.
b. Let your light shine brightly that the world may see your good works and give praise to the Father.
c. Don’t try to hide it or let it go out. Shine, shine, shine!
Transition: You were created to reflect the glory of the Father. Now be what you were made to be - a light in a dark place.
Conclusion
1. Jesus has called us to be people that:
a. Influence
b. Illuminate
2. What are you doing with your life?
a. Are you influencing others, or are they influencing you?
b. Are you illuminating others darkness, or is there darkness extinguishing your flame?
3. Be what you have been called to be - a difference maker.
