We will be looking at Matthew 5:13-16 this morning.
If you do not have a Bible please take out the insert in the bulletin and the Scriptures will be on it.
(ME)
I have several continual prayer requests. One of them is simply, “Lord, let me a person of influence to my family, my church and my community.”
I will not always be in a position of power but I am always in a position of influence. I may not be the one in charge of a project or community cause but I am always an influencer because of my relationship with Christ and the Holy Spirit working through me.
As we look at Matthew 5:13-16 this morning I want us to keep in mind that God calls His children to be agents of influence in a decaying and dying world. A life lived for the kingdom of God can have immeasurable influence on its surroundings.
(TRANSITION) In his book Has Christianity Failed You? Ravi Zacharias points to one of the greatest proofs for the truth of Christ and the reality of his resurrection: the changed lives of Christians. He writes:
(WE)
"During the course of nearly 40 years, I have traveled to virtually every continent and seen or heard some of the most amazing testimonies of God’s intervention in the most extreme circumstances. I have seen hardened criminals touched by the message of Jesus Christ and their hearts turned toward good in a way that no amount or rehabilitation could have accomplished. I have seen ardent followers of radical belief systems turned from being violent, brutal terrorists to becoming mild, tenderhearted followers of Jesus Christ. I have seen nations where the gospel, banned and silenced by governments, has nevertheless conquered the ethos and mind-set of an entire culture."
Zacharias gives many examples of Christ’s power to transform lives but example is very appropriate for us this morning. Zacharias writes of A.N. Wilson a noted atheist:
“The British author A. N. Wilson, who only a few years ago was known for his scathing attacks on Christianity...celebrated Easter [in 2009] at a church with a group of other church members, proclaiming that that the story of the Jesus of the Gospels is the only story that makes sense out of life and its challenges. [Wilson said], 'My own return to faith has surprised none more than myself...My belief has come about in large measure because of the lives and examples of people I have known—not the famous, not saints, but friends and relations who have lived, and faced death, in light of the resurrection story, or in the quiet acceptance that they have a future after they die.'”
(TRANSITION) Notice what this former atheist states as the human cause of his return to faith in Christ, “...the lives and examples of people I have known...” One of the most powerful tools we have in our Christian walk is influence. We are, because of our relationship with Christ, salt and light. We are called to influence our neighbors and our community through the gospel of Christ. Let’s look at what Jesus teaches about how we are to be a positive influence to the world around us.
(GOD)
READ: Matthew 5:13-16
Remember that Jesus is preaching a sermon. Sometimes because of the way many of our Bibles have paragraph titles we think there is some sort of break and possibly even a different thought altogether. Last week we looked at The Beatitudes (MT 5:1-12) but verse 13-16 are not necessarily a separate teaching - they are connected to what Jesus is teaching in The Beatitudes.
In The Beatitudes we discovered that because of Christ and our faith in Him we are blessed - no matter what circumstances of life bring. Now Jesus is telling us in verses 13-16 that because we have had the blessing of salvation pronounced over us we are to live lives of influence.
Jesus uses two natural metaphors to give us a picture of how we are agents of influence in our world: salt and light. However, as we think about what it means to be salt and light we are confronted with some tension.
I belong to a heavenly kingdom that is pure and peaceful; full of life and life giving.
I live in an earthly kingdom that is decaying and dying; dark and decadent.
The Apostle Paul spoke of this tension in Philippians 1. He knew that death would usher him into the heavenly kingdom but he also understood that remaining in this world gave him the opportunity to influence others to Christ. He considered both sides of the coin as a GAIN. To be with Jesus would be awesome but to stay here and preach the gospel is awesome too.
Jesus understands this tension (because He too lived in this world but also knew the splendor of heaven) and offers us a solution to heal the tension so that we can be about the Father’s business.
The first solution is that we should be SALT.
Salt acts as a preservative preventing decay and rot (in the ancient world salt was seen as a way to get rid of demons - in the OT it was used as a way to seal covenants).. I am preserved in this world by my faith in Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit. In a world where things are rotting away something that is not rotting speaks to others of hope and blessing – of a kingdom where moth and rust do not corrupt.
The preserving quality of salt also may point to the idea that it is “God’s salted” play a part in holding back God’s judgment on this earth. Think about the conversation of Abraham with God about Sodom (Gen 18:20-32). God told Abraham He would hold back His judgment if just 10 righteous people in the city could be found. In Jeremiah 5:1 God tells Jeremiah that if he can find one honest person in Jerusalem He will forgive the city of its sins.
Obviously in both cases neither enough righteous or honest people could be found. That speaks of how little influence God’s people were having over the surrounding culture. However, it also speaks to the idea that God’s people can act as ambassadors who help to preserve others from God’s judgment.
It could be that God, in His mercy and grace, so desires for the world to be saved and come to the knowledge of the Son of God that He uses us as “FLAVOR” so that others can get a glimpse into a kingdom that does not decay or rot or putrefy. We are ambassadors of a kingdom that is far more BLESSED than the kingdoms of this world.
Though we live in a world of decay God still calls it blessed because in the midst of the decay are those who have surrendered to the Lordship of Christ and are serving as an influence for Him and against the gates of hell.
Remember what the world calls blessed is not necessarily what God calls blessed. The world pushes the idea that one's works and deeds can make them good (and therefore be blessed). God’s kingdom says you are blessed because of your relationship with the King. And through that relationship we are preserved (sealed by the Holy Spirit) BUT we also bring an element of preservation to the world around us. Through the righteousness we receive by faith in Christ we make it possible for others to taste the “good news” of another kingdom that is here now and will be fully realized in the future.
If we are both preserved and agents of preservation (saved by faith and ambassadors of the King) then what does Jesus mean when He speaks of salt losing its saltiness?
Salt was basically made two ways: 1) from evaporated Dead Sea water or 2) from salt marshes. Salt from the sea was, by and large, pure. Salt from the salt marsh came with lots of impurities and when attempting to wash out the impurities the salt would dilute and become useless.
Dead Sea salt was considered valuable and a commodity (Roman soldiers were paid in salt – the Latin words for “soldier” and “salary” refer to the giving or receiving of salt). The salt marsh salt was of little value because of its diluted taste. Also, some merchants of the day would mix salt with gypsum. This would eventually change the flavor of the salt (becomes alkaline). Either way, salt mixed with impurities did not do much to make things taste better.
Salt cannot lose its flavor unless something else causes it too. Salt is not a spice or herb but a chemical (sodium chloride). The only way to make salt lose its flavor is for it to be watered down.
If Christians are preserved by their relationship with Christ what then can make their testimony and effectiveness in the world lose its impact?
Paul tells the church at Corinth, “bad company corrupts good character” (1 Cor. 15:33).
In the Corinthian context Paul is telling the church that keeping company with those who do not believe the resurrection can corrupt their faith in Christ.
In our context today we must realize that a steady diet of worldliness without the fellowship of believers can lead to a corruption of our faith in Christ.
If our faith is corrupted then we will be ineffective in our ability to act as a preserving agent – thus we begin to lose our ability to help others taste of the “good news.” WE BECOME LESS SALTY.
We are called to stay faithful to the King of our kingdom and live in relationship with Him. Doing so, even in times where we must repent of sin, we remain an agent of preservation and an ambassador of the “good news”
Though there is debate among scholars about the phrase, “lose its flavor” it should actually be translated “became foolish.” (If salt became foolish how can it become salty again...)
Ancient Rabbi’s often used salt as a metaphor for “wisdom.” Thus, some scholars point to the idea that Jesus is telling His disciples not to become fools by surrendering the gospel and their salvation to the corruptive elements of the world.
We know that salt cannot be foolish - but humans can.
No matter how we translate this verse the point is the same. Believers in Christ ARE SALT (not might be) and are called to influence the world around them for the kingdom. We can live in this world and not be affected by it - but it requires staying close to Christ.
Jesus goes on to use another metaphor – light.
“A key thought in both the pictures of salt and light is distinction. Salt is needed because the world is rotting and decaying and if our Christianity is also rotting and decaying, it won't be any good. Light is needed because the world is in darkness, and if our Christianity imitates the darkness, we have nothing to show the world. To be effective we must seek and display the Christian distinctive. We can never affect the world for Jesus by becoming like the world.”
The very moment you profess faith in Christ you become salt and light to a rotting and decaying world. THAT MAKES YOU UNIQUE – DISTINCTIVE! Just like taking on the impurities of the world causes us to lose saltiness so attempting to hide the light from the world causes us to be ineffective for Christ’s kingdom.
If we are living under the reality that I am BLESSED because I am in relationship with Christ then we can be effective for Christ. Whether you are rich or poor; loved or hated; in charge or meek – you are CHIEFLY A CHILD OF GOD (if you have been born again)! As such, you have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to resist sin and live a life of righteousness – a life you need not be ashamed of.
Look at Paul wrote to Titus:
Titus 2: 11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
Matthew 5:16 provides the glue that holds together what I have been saying. We are salt and light for one reason – TO GLORIFY GOD. But what should be the RESULT of our glorifying God? Others, who do not know Christ, will PRAISE God the Father.
Jesus is not saying we do good deeds so that others will NOTICE US or PRAISE US but so that they will see God.
In a world of corruption and decay and darkness the distinctive nature of God’s children shining light and standing in the gap should cause others to ask, “By what power do they do these deeds?” The power lies in our BLESSED RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST. Though we are thankful that others notice what we are doing to make the world a better place – we recognize and point to the reality that without the Triune God residing in us we would be powerless to do anything good – we would succumb to the decay and darkness. BUT WITH CHRIST IN US WE CAN DO THE WILL OF GOD!
(YOU)
The question you should be asking is not, “Am I salt and light?” If you are a believer then you are automatically salt and light. The question you should be asking is, “Am I salty and shiny?” In other words, is my life pointing people toward the “good news” of Christ and His kingdom?
Let me offer some practical ways to live a life of influence:
Be Authentic: people are not as concerned about you being perfect as you think. What people really want to see is how your relationship with God impacts you during times of failure and success. Do they see you growing closer to Christ even in the midst of challenging circumstances or do they see you trying to find other means of solving a problem.
Be Friendly: it is OK to smile and talk to strangers (if you are responsible adult)! Proverbs 18:24 tells us if we want to have friends we must be friendly. This ties in with being authentic. If you are not genuinely being friendly then you are just a flatterer.
Be Humble: the world is full of arrogance and celebrity. Living a life of humility means that we ask people to follow us as we follow Christ. Humility accepts the responsibility of being observed and seeks to live a life of godly influence.
Be Understanding: the word understand actually comes from the Old English phrase “stand under.” It was a phrase used to describe authority and government - to be understanding meant you were willing to live under authority and be accountable. Are you living a life that is accountable - not just to Jesus - but to other believers and godly leaders? People in the world need to see how we treat each other in the Christian community and how authority works to help accomplish godly goals.
(US)
As a church our goal should be to become a place of influence in our community. A place where people and officials look to for answers in times of distress and celebration.
As a church we want to have certain Core Values that guide us in our mission to be a church if influence. Here are the Core Values we at Odessa First Assembly will look to so that we may have influence in our community:
CONCLUSION (ALTAR TIME)
I would like for us as a church to respond to the preaching this morning by praying that God would make us a person of influence and that our church would be a place of influence in Odessa.Would you join me in that prayer this morning?
