Matthew 5:13-20 "Don't Lose the Mustard"
1. Consider some of the uses of salt.
A. It is has been used for currency and actually fought for in wars.
B. Salt is used to cure and store meats
C. It is used to disinfect wounds
D. It is used in pottery
E. It is also used to make food taste better.
F. Scriptures speak of salt there is the city of salt according to Joshua, The Chronicler speaks of the valley of salt, Moses refers to the Salt Sea, there were Salt pits, animal sacrifices were seasoned with salt, covenants were ratified by salt, Elisha cast salts into the pool of Jericho to purify it.
I was preaching at a nursing home an elderly lady made a comment about the way I preached she said, "You got mustard." Didn’t know for sure what the lady meant by that comment. I didn't know if having or not having mustard was good or bad. I found out later on this comment was a positive remark. Someone shared it means you have salt, the goods, the right stuff, you are exciting and not boring. I think in today's lesson that what salty-ness is it means you got mustard or you don't.
2. Jesus points out those who belong to him do a lot of good things just like salt does a lot of good things.
Those who have salt or mustard consider the following
A. Those who have mustard tell others about Jesus in verse 14"You are the light of the world.
B. If one has the mustard they cling to Christ Christ is the center ones being, including the mind and
emotions.8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
C. Mustard causes one to love their enemies They are like the Peace makers 9Blessed are the
peacemakers, they promote peace and they reflect the character of God which is peace
D. When the mustard is present so is feeding the needy
E. If you got mustard you also got usefulness. you are A city on a hill cannot be hidden vs 14, you let your light shine you do not put it under a bushel , those who have mustard put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the
house
3. When we don't have mustard
A. The world misses out on experiencing the kingdom of God
B. If we don't have mustard we don't have joys and blessings
C. If were without mustard we follow the flow of society it's alright
D. Without mustard eyes linger towards worldly stuff or In directions they should not
E. Without mustard hearts are filtrated with self-indulgence. Self
righteousness, and the results are uselessness Christianity.
"Blindsided by brokenness, we react with brokenness, and before we know it, rather than being the people of God's world -- people who flavor, challenge and preserve godly values and present a godly presence -- we're just like everyone else, in the people's world." Quote by Timothy Merrill author and theologian
4. Good news if you have lost the mustard you can get it back.
A. You can come to the well of forgiveness, grace, and mercy. The woman at the well had lost her
mustard or maybe she never had the mustard The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming" (who is called Christ). "When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us." Jesus said to her, "I am he, the one who is speaking to you." What is Jesus speaking to her about? forgiveness, grace, and mercy. Forgiveness is speaking,
Grace is Speaking, Mercy is speaking.
B. You can focus your eyes in a new directive for your life. The new directive can be I am listening
and I will go. That is what Isaiah said, Also I heard the voice of the Lord , saying , Whom shall I send , and
who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
C. You can experience the joy of living in the kingdom again. ; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation ; and uphold me with thy free spiri
D. You can redirect your uselessness and become useful. Mustard can be refilled.
5. My friends I beg you don't miss out on experiencing the kingdom of God.
Come to the well of forgiveness the well of forgiveness is deep it can reach way down
