Turn On The Light
Matthew 5:13-16 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Jesus Body, You & Me
World NOT turned off by Jesus
BUT carnal Christians
We must enlarge from INSIDE OUT…
Big Inside…Big Outside
Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only,
but now much more in my absence, work out
your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Isaiah 54:1-3 Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD. 2 Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; 3 For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.
Break Out, Break Even, Go with Flow OR Bring Hope
Salt, Light, City… 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
1 Peter 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
1 Peter 4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of,
but on your part he is glorified.
God’s Glory is Heaven’s First Agenda, Not Salvation, Not Reformation, Not even Transformation
Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven.
PRAY ….
In Matthew, Jesus speaking to outcast, poor, wrong side of tracks, non-elite, unable to believe they could have any impact on society and says, YOU are the salt, light, city. They said, You know who you are talking to? WHO ME???... Let your light so shine…
God knows your heart,,,,good, bad, truthful, faking, political, genuine, motivation, intent, right reasons, wrong reasons, U Compliment someone,,,thinking
I really wish you were dead. God knows your HEART but the person next to you doesn’t have a clue.
Only way people know your heart is by your actions.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
I know, can’t earn it, BUT,,, Any time works is mentioned, we throw it out, anytime we talk of works, lifestyle, actions or behavior, we are called legalist
and accused of going back to the law. “
I am under Grace and not the Law”.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus UNTO good works, which God hath before ordained that we SHOULD walk in them.
John 14:12-15 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name,
I will do it. 15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
1 John 2:3-4 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith,
I know him, and keepeth not his commandments,
is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1 John 2:7-8 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you,
which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself
a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
James 2:14-26 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body;
what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise, also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Jesus said, 16 Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
The world won’t know that Jesus is Lord of your life, till they see how you conduct your life. Your works causes men to want your God. People want to know what is different about you. Why won’t you gossip with us, cuss, smoke, or even listen to dirty jokes, take a bribe, go to places you know you should stay out of.
Because your works causes men to want your God. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father ….
#1 The battle you are in is NOT for now…..
but for the future.
Yesterday is gone but I can start fresh and new today. Today’s fight is for the future cause if I fail and die here, I don’t get there, my destiny. Coal to a Diamond.
Can’t celebrate 50th wedding if you can’t survive 4th.
#2 We either influence our environment
or it will influence us.
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren,
by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies
a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Don’t be so well adjusted to your culture
that you fit into it unnoticed.
Man was created to influence HIS environment.
Genesis 1:26-28 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth,
and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over it.
Adam in small garden and told to have dominion over the whole world, 25000 mi. around. Adam, If you be what I called and anointed you to be you can influence the whole world. Then sin entered,”disobedience”,
not crack, not liquor, not murder or adultery. He ate the fruit. He no longer had influence but became
a victim. The blame game. Adam, Why are you hiding, I’m afraid, Why are you afraid. Why did you do it.
It was that woman YOU gave me. KEEP LOOKING RIGHT AT ME !!! Do yo know what kind of ministry I could have if it wasn’t for her. If it wasn’t for her
1 million people would be saved by now. OK, Eve,
why did you do it. She’s a victim too, the devil made me do it, that serpent. The devil no one to blame so he took the fall, JUST KIDDING !!!
Today,,,,Why aren’t you living up to your potential. NO self-responsibility, it was my neighborhood.
It was my family, my school, this country, nobody gave me a chance. We RATIONALIZE to be VICTIMIZED and end up PARALIZED to our potential.
I break the spirit of victimization and liberate this people to be and do what God has ordained. You are not a victim, you are anointed. You are salt, light, city.
Salt influences everything it comes in contact with. FOOD Salty, Salt too FOODY ??? Light drives out darkness, ever heard of “Turn on the dark”, no,
Turn on the light and darkness has to leave,,, USA?? hell in a handbag, no, we need to turn on the LIGHT.
Church today is not a victim of the government,
we have dominion, not fear, the world fears,
the world doesn’t have the Holy Spirit, Gifts of Spirit, HOPE, no revelation of future. Only hope is Jesus…
2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
We don’t bring change by rewriting laws….
but by infiltration. Salt, Light, City…
#3 We must build our lives on expectation
and not past experiences.
Build our family, business, personal life, ministry…
Preacher, you don’t know what I’ve been through, things just didn’t work out, disappointed, hurt,
people stole from me… I’ve been dumped on.
It’s time to be the real deal, get rid of the masks,
own up to why you are bitter, bad mood, bad attitude, angry, mad and mean. So for the rest of your life
you just go into to your shell and stay locked up.
I understand that, but, “We must build our lives
on expectation and not past experiences.”
1 Corinthians 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope,
and love, ; but the greatest of these is love.
ALL three are future focused. Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen.
HOPE, the earnest expectation of something good. LOVE is future focused. 1 Corinthians 13:7
LOVE, 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Someday you will go back to some and say “thank ya” for dumping on me cause you just fertilized my dreams and destiny. I’m a better person because of your STUFF. I’m building my life on expectation now,
I expect to prosper, I expect to be healed, to walk in health, favor, God’s goodness, children, grandchildren to fulfill their destiny, promise & blessings.
I refuse to live any more on yesterday’s problems.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace,
and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
The children of Israel were captive to the Babylonians and would be slaves for the next 50 years and God said you have an expected end. See from God’s perspective.
Rug for $850.00, just a blurry mess. It was upside down, front was a masterpiece. God sees the end,
an expected end. Salt , Light , City.
#4 Contamination in our lives dilutes and pollutes
and destroys our ability to influence.
Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
How can salt lose it’s flavor ??? Salt today is manufactured, then it came from the Dead Sea. Salt formed on rocks, rocks scraped and other junk came off with it. It had to be filtered, sifted and separated.
2 Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
When you allow mixture in your life, you dilute, pollute and destroy your ability to influence.
You may make it to Heaven but your life
will be of no effect down here.
If people can’t see any difference in you and them, why would they want to serve your God.
People say, I can get souls saved by going to the bar, by hanging out with the worldly crowd, but when was the last time somebody got saved in a bar. People said that Elvis could reach millions for Christ by singing “How Great Thou Art” at his concerts but how many people got saved at an Elvis concert, how many people did Elvis ever lead to Jesus,,,,NONE !!!!
A church staff told the Pastor to watch a movie with them, he read the reviews first and found that it had the “F” word in it 91 times and it had two nude scenes. He asked the staff if when watching, if they knew that it had the “F” word 91 times in a 90 minute movie, once a minute, and if they enjoyed the two nude scenes. They said they never noticed. Don’t fit into your culture to the point you fit in so well that you don’t notice sin. How many “F” words are too many, 50, 25, how about 10. It was just a little bad. Mother told her son that he could not go to that movie. He didn’t understand so his mother made him his favorite brownies and put some kitty poo in it and just before he put some in his mouth, his mother told him what she had done. He said, were you really going to allow me to eat that, she said why not, it was just a little.
The flesh hates to be told NO. Fasting, Watching, Listening To, Going To, Associate With….
You have to get the Devil out. Devil out of you. Mamma tried to spank it out of you, school tried to educate it out of you, your good job couldn’t buy it out of you/just made it worse. Good job, all go, no tithe.
GO to the CROSS and let Jesus LOVE it out of you, fall in love with Jesus and you won’t want to sin.
You will want to be in church, you will love to give.
1 John 2:15-16 Love not the world, neither the things in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world,
the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Why so much warfare? Ide-ology, desensi-ti-zation.
2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not,
lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ,
who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to
the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world:
now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
Hard to win children when your living in sin. Hard to win boyfriend when you are sleeping with him,
and still not married. LUST of eyes, lust of flesh !!!
Pride, I’m grown, don’t tell me what to do.
I refuse to be contaminated any more,
I will be an influence to my world,
I am the,,,Salt , Light , City ……………..
Cause I am the Real Deal……………
#1 The battle you are in is NOT for now
but for the future.
#2 We either influence our environment
or it will influence us.
#3 We must build our lives on expectation
and not past experiences.
#4 Contamination (mixture) in our lives dilutes, pollutes and destroys our ability to influence.
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
“Turn On The Light”
Notice to Sermon Central Users:
My name is William Poovey, and I pastor at Bethel Church in Olar, SC. I have been a long-time user of Sermon Central and truly appreciate its content and contributors. Some of the best sermons I’ve ever preached have been reworked material from this website. As you use the material from my sermon bank, understand that it is work that has been done from not just myself, but from hundreds of other pastors as well. If you see part of your message, or a lot of your message with my name on it and this upsets you, please email me and I will quickly respond and cite you as the main source. My intent is not to claim someone’s work as my own. I am disclaiming up front that I use the resources from Sermon Central and appreciate the tool. I simply want all those who use my work to know that some of these messages were inspired by the Holy Spirit working through other pastors. Because I do use the messages of other pastors I waive all claims of originality or origin of creativity for the messages posted under my messages. I pray God blesses your preaching ministry for the glory of His Kingdom.
Respectfully,
William Poovey