HAND THE WORLD A SHAKER AND TURN ON THE LIGHT
THE SIMILITUDES, PART 1
MATTHEW 5:13–16 “YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH. BUT IF THE SALT LOSES ITS SALTINESS, HOW CAN IT BE MADE SALTY AGAIN? IT IS NO LONGER GOOD FOR ANYTHING, EXCEPT TO BE THROWN OUT AND TRAMPLED BY MEN. 14 “YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. A CITY ON A HILL CANNOT BE HIDDEN. 15 NEITHER DO PEOPLE LIGHT A LAMP AND PUT IT UNDER A BOWL. INSTEAD THEY PUT IT ON ITS STAND, AND IT GIVES LIGHT TO EVERYONE IN THE HOUSE. 16 IN THE SAME WAY, LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE MEN, THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD DEEDS AND PRAISE YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN.
PROPOSITION: BE WHO WE ARE
INTRODUCTION: LET ME QUOTE JOHN PIPER, WHEN HE SAYS, ““PEOPLE DON’T ENJOY SALT. THEY ENJOY WHAT IS SALTED. WE ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH. WE DO NOT EXIST FOR OURSELVES.” WHAT A PROFOUND STATEMENT.
WHAT I HAVE HERE IS MY LITTLE SALT CELLAR. THIS CELLAR IS DIVIDED INTO THREE CONTAINERS, WITH EACH CONTAINER HAVING A DIFFERENT SALT. I HAVE BLACK HAWAIIAN SALT WHICH HAS AN EARTH FLAVOR DUE TO THE ADDITION OF CHARCOAL. I ALSO HAVE HAWAIIAN RED SALT WHICH HAS A NUTTY FLAVOR THAT REMAINS THROUGHOUT THE COOKING PROCESS. AND THEN I HAVE A FRENCH GRAY SALT, WHICH HAS A BRINY TASTE. IT IS A LITTLE CLUMPIER AS IT HAS A HIGHER MOISTURE CONTENT AND IS THE SALT OF CHOICE IN SAY, SALTED CARAMEL.
IN OUR TEXT THIS MORNING, WE ARE CALLED BY JESUS, “THE SALT OF THE EARTH.” NOW, AS THE CHILDRENS BIBLE SONG, “JESUS LOVES THE LITTLE CHILDREN”, “RED AND YELLOW, BLACK AND WHITE, THEY ARE PRECIOUS IN HIS SIGHT. JESUS LOVES THE LITTLE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD.” OUR WORLD IS FILLED WITH MANY NATIONS, PEOPLE, PEOPLE GROUPS, TRIBES, ETC., BUT GOD HAS ONLY ONE SALT. AND THAT SALT IS YOU.
TRANSITION: SO, IN OUR TIME TODAY, I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT WHAT IT TAKES TO BE SALTY IN OUR WORLD TODAY, AND THE WARNING JESUS GIVES US ABOUT LOSING OUR SALTINESS.
I. OUR DEFAULT CONDITION
a. “YOU ARE” – THIS IS A PRESENT TENSE CONDITION.
i. NOT WE WERE AS TOUGH WE HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY NOW.
1. IF GOD DID NOT WANT US TO BE PRESENT TENSE AMBASSADORS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF HIM IN THE WORLD, HE WOULD HAVE TAKEN US TO HEAVEN THE MOMENT WE BECAME WORTHY
2. OUR WORTH BEING DETERMINED BY OUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST IN OUT LIVES
b. WHAT MAKES US SALT IS CONNECTED TO WHAT JESUS HAS JUST TAUGHT ON THE BEATITUDES!
i. THESE CAN BE BROKEN DOWN INTO A FEW CATEGORIES
ii. ARE WE IN THE RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
1. POOR IN SPIRIT – UNDERSTANDING I HAVE NOTHING I CAN BRING TO GOD, AND CAN ONLY DEPEND ON HIM
2. THOSE WHO MOURN – AM I REALLY SORRY FOR MY SIN? DO I MOURN OVER MY LOST CONDITION WITHOUT THE INTERVENTION OF GOD?
3. MEEKNESS – DO I COME TO GOD WITH NOTHING AND DEPEND ON HIM
iii. ARE WE IN THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT WITH GOD
1. HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. AM, I CREATING THE DESIRE IN MY LIFE FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS IN ORDER FOR GOD TO FILL THAT NEED?
2. AM, I PRACTICING BEING MERCIFUL, REALIZING THAT I RECEIVE MERCY AS I GIVE MERCY
3. DO I DESIRE TO HAVE A PURE HEART, NOT JUST A CLEAN HEART. UNDERSTANDING THAT I CAN ONLY KNOW THE PURITY OF MY HEART WHEN I SEEK TO LIVE MY LIFE THE WAY GOD DESIRES ME TO LIVE MY LIFE AND IN DOING SO, SEEING THOSE THINGS THAT I HAVE TO LAY ASIDE.
iv. DO I UNDERSTAND AND EMBRACE THE POSSIBILITY, AND PURPOSE OF PERSECUTION
1. REVEALS THE SINCERITY OF MY WALK WITH THE LORD
2. CONFIRMS A GREAT REWARD IN HEAVEN
3. PUTS ME IN THE COMPANY OF THE PROPHETS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, THE DISCIPLES OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, AND JESUS HIMSELF
IN THE CONTEXT OF LIVING OUT THE BEATITUDES AS A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST IN THE WORLD TODAY MAKES ME SALTY.
II. THE INFLUENCE OF OUR SALTINESS IN THE WORLD
a. UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS NO PROVISION FOR US TO OPT OUT OF BEING SALTY
b. JOHN 17:15–18 MY PRAYER IS NOT THAT YOU TAKE THEM OUT OF THE WORLD BUT THAT YOU PROTECT THEM FROM THE EVIL ONE. 16 THEY ARE NOT OF THE WORLD, EVEN AS I AM NOT OF IT. 17 SANCTIFY THEM BY THE TRUTH; YOUR WORD IS TRUTH. 18 AS YOU SENT ME INTO THE WORLD, I HAVE SENT THEM INTO THE WORLD.
i. IN HIS PRAYER, THE LORD MADE IT CLEAR THAT WE HAVE A PURPOSE IN THE WORLD THAT NEEDS GOD’S PROTECTION NOT REMOVAL.
ii. IT WOULD ALSO SEEM THAT OUR MINISTRY IN THEIS WORLD IS SIMILAR TO THAT OF JESUS.
c. OUR ABILITY TO INFLUENCE OUR WORLD COMES FROM WHO WE ARE THAN FROM WHAT WE DO
i. WHO WE ARE DETERMINES THE NATURE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP IN THIS WORLD AND WITH OTHERS
ii. THE NATURE OF THAT RELATIONSHIP DETERMINES THE IMPACT WE WILL HAVE
iii. PHILIPPIANS 4:9 WHATEVER YOU HAVE LEARNED OR RECEIVED OR HEARD FROM ME OR SEEN IN ME—PUT IT INTO PRACTICE. AND THE GOD OF PEACE WILL BE WITH YOU.
iv. WE ARE TO TAKE WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED FROM CHRIST AND HAVE SEEN IN CHRIST INTO PRACTICE FOR CHRIST!
d. PERHAPS THERE ARE MORE, BUT I FIND 4 PRIMARY USES FOR SALT WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO THIS PASSAGE AND OUR PRESENCE AS SALT IN THE WORLD
e. SALT ACTS AS A PRESERVATIVE
i. SALT KEEPS FOOD FROM PERISHING
1. HISTORICALLY BEFORE REFRIGERATION, SALT WOULD BE USED TO KEEP THINGS FROM SPOILING
2. FIRST SALT DRIES OUT FOOD. WITHOUT WATER THINGS CAN’T GROW, EVEN BACTERIA.
3. SALT ALSO KILLS MICROBES BY BLOWING THEM UP
4. REGARDLESS OF HOW IT DOES WHAT IT DOES, SALT HELPS IN THE PRESERVATION OF FOOD
ii. BY KEEPING FOOD FROM SPOILING, SALT PRESERVES THE FOOD NOT JUST FOR TODAY, BUT FOR THE FUTURE.
iii. 2 CORINTHIANS 2:15 FOR WE ARE TO GOD THE AROMA OF CHRIST AMONG THOSE WHO ARE BEING SAVED AND THOSE WHO ARE PERISHING.
1. THIS IS THE SAME EFFECT WE ARE TO HAVE AND ARE HAVING ON THOSE WHO ARE PERISHING – DO NOT KNOW CHRIST
2. NOTICE THIS IS PRESENT TENSE AS WELL.
3. FEW HAVE A MINISTRY OF PRESERVATION RIGHT HERE AND NOW
iv. LUKE 13:3 I TELL YOU, NO! BUT UNLESS YOU REPENT, YOU TOO WILL ALL PERISH.
1. THE GOAL OF PRESERVATION IS GETTING PEOPLE TO THE PLACE WHERE DO NOT PERISH
2. NOTICE – FUTURE TENSE
v. UNLESS THE PRESERVATION TAKES PLACE, PERISHING WILL HAPPEN
1. JOHN 10:28 I GIVE THEM ETERNAL LIFE, AND THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH; NO ONE CAN SNATCH THEM OUT OF MY HAND.
2. THE RECEPTION OF ETERNAL LIFE HALTS AND REPLACES THE PROCESS OF PERISHING
HOW MANY MIGHT BE LOST FOR AN ETERNITY BECAUSE WE HAVE REFUSED TO ACT AS THE PRESERVATIVE FOR THE SOULS OF MEN AND WOMEN?
III. SALT ACTS AS A PURIFIER
a. ELISHA IN 2 KINGS 2:19-22
i. ELISHA HAS HEARD FROM THE PEOPLE THAT THE WELL IN JERICHO IS BAD AND UNPRODUCTIVE
ii. ELISHA ASKS FOR A BOWL OF SALT WHICH HE THEN THROWS IN TO THE WELL AND DECLARES THAT GOD HAS MADE IT CLEAN AND IT WILL NEVER BE BAD OR UNPRODUCTIVE AGAIN
b. SALT ALSO ACTS AS AN INDICATOR THAT THINGS ARE NOT PURE
i. GOD JUDGED ISRAEL IN THE WILDERNESS AND IN DEUTERONOMY 29:23 HE SAID THAT THE LAND WOULD BE A BURNING WASTE OF SALT AND SULFUR JUST LIKE SODOM AND GOMORRAH
c. KING ABIMELECH AFTER CAPTURING THE CITY OF SHECHEM, DESTROYED THE CITY AND POURED SALT OVER IT AS A SIGN OF ITS DESOLATION
d. SALT IS USED IN SCRIPTURE TO PURIFY OR A SIGN THAT PURITY HAD BEEN VIOLATED
e. WHEN GOD ASK US TO BE THE SALT OF THE EARTH, HE IS DISPLAYING HIS PURITY TO ALL PEOPLE OF THE EARTH
i. THE PURITY/RIGHTEOUSNESS OF JESUS NEVER CONDEMNED THE SINNER, BUT IT DID ATTRACT THE SINNER TO HIM
IN THE COMMENTARY OF CHARLES PRICE ENTITLED, “MATTHEW: CAN ANYTHING GOOD COME OUT OF NAZARETH”, SAYS IT THIS WAY
THE PURITY OF JESUS DID NOT CONDEMN THE SINNER, IT MADE HIM ATTRACTIVE TO THEM. IT IS ONE OF THE REMARKABLE FEATURES OF JESUS’ LIFE THAT ALTHOUGH NO ONE WAS AS PURE AS HE, YET THOSE IN THE GUTTERS OF SOCIETY, THE TAX COLLECTORS, THE PROSTITUTES AND THE OUTCASTS FELT ATTRACTED BY HIS COMPANY. GENUINE PURITY DOES NOT SO MUCH EXPOSE THE IMPURITIES OF THOSE AROUND, AS RAISE THEIR SIGHTS AND STIMULATE THEM TO SEEK SOMETHING BETTER. THIS IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS, THAT COMES FROM GOD, AND SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS
SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS ALWAYS CONDEMNS THE UNRIGHTEOUS AND MAKES THEM UNWELCOME. GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS ATTRACTS THE UNRIGHTEOUS. IT IS TO DISPLAY GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS, WITH ITS SOURCE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT, THAT WE ARE CALLED TO BE SALT!
ii. WE ARE TO SHOW THE TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST, SO THAT PEOPLE ARE DRAWN TO HIM THROUGH US
IV. SALT GIVES FLAVOR
a. THIS IS PROBABLY FOR MOST OF US THE MOST COMMON USE OF SALT
i. IF WE WERE TO FOLLOW THE USDA GUIDELINES 2019 ON THE CONSUMPTION OF SALT (WHICH WE PROBABLY DO NOT), THEN THE AVERAGE AMERICAN CONSUMES 1.6 POUNDS OF SALT A YEAR
ii. THE APPARENT CONSUMPTION OF SALT IN THE UNITED STATES AMOUNTED TO AN ESTIMATED 59 MILLION METRIC TONS IN 2022
b. SALT BRINGS OUT THE DISTINCTIVE FLAVOR IN FOODS WHETHER IT IS ON FRENCH FRIES OR WATERMELON
c. IT CHANGES BLAND FOODS INTO ATTRACTIVE DELICACIES
d. THIS IS THE KIND OF SITUATION THAT SHOULD CHARACTERIZE THE CHRISTIAN AND SET THEM APART IN OUR SPIRITUALLY DYSFUNCTIONAL WORLD!
e. OFTEN THOUGH THIS IS NOT THE CASE, RATHER THE OPPOSITE IS
f. AGAIN, PRICE WRITES IN HIS COMMENTARY, THIS TIME QUOTING WILLIAM BARCLAY: WILLIAM BARCLAY QUOTES THE ROMAN EMPEROR JULIAN (WHO SUCCEEDED CONSTANTINE AFTER HE MADE CHRISTIANITY THE RELIGION OF THE EMPIRE FOLLOWING HIS OWN CONVERSION TO CHRIST), WHO WANTED TO WITHDRAW THE RECOGNITION GIVEN TO CHRISTIANITY ON THESE GROUNDS, ‘HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THESE CHRISTIANS CLOSELY? HOLLOW-EYED, PALE CHEEKED, FLAT BREASTED ALL; THEY BROOD THEIR LIVES AWAY, UNSPURRED BY AMBITION: THE SUN SHINES FOR THEM, BUT THEY DO NOT SEE IT: THE EARTH OFFERS THEM ITS FULNESS, BUT THEY DESIRE IT NOT; ALL THEIR DESIRE IS TO RENOUNCE AND TO SUFFER THAT THEY MAY COME TO DIE’
g. JESUS DECLARES US TO BE THE SALT OF THE EARTH WHEN IN REALITY WE WOULD RATHER
i. WITHDRAW FROM THE WORLD RATHER THAN SEE THE WORLD AS OUR MISSION
ii. BECOME DEFENSIVE INSTEAD OF VIBRANT
iii. SIT IN THE WINGS RATHER THAN TAKE CENTER STAGE
iv. BE RE-ACTIVE AND NOT PRO-ACTIVE
h. WHEN THE LIVING CHRIST IS SEEN IN THE FOLLOWER OF CHRIST AS IT SHOULD BE IS SPEAKS OF LIFE, HEALTH, AND VITALITY
i. PSALM 34:8 TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD; BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO TAKES REFUGE IN HIM.
SO, TAKE A MOMENT AND ASK YOURSELF, HOW MUCH FLAVOR ARE YOU REALLY BRINGING INTO THE WORLD TODAY?
V. SALT CREATES THIRST
a. YOU WILL REMEMBER THAT IN THE BEATITUDES WE TALKED ABOUT CREATING THE ENVIRONMENT WHERE I THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
b. WELL, SALT BY ITS CONSUMPTION CREATES AN ENVIRONMENT OF THIRST.
c. THIRST IS CREATED BY THE PRESENCE OF THE GOSPEL IN WHAT WE SAY
d. GREAT THIRST COMES FROM QUALITY OF LIFE WE HAVE FOUND IN CHRIST AND IS SEEN BY OTHERS
e. THE THIRST FOR CHRIST IS IMPACTED IN OTHERS BY THE PRESENCE OF OR LACK OF SPIRITUAL REALITY OF THOSE OF US WHO CLAIM TO KNOW AND LOVE CHRIST.
AFTER ALL OF THIS THEN WE ARE PRESENTED WITH THE WARNING ABOUT LOSING OUR SALTINESS
VI. THE LOSS OF WHAT WE ARE TO BE – SALTY
a. TO LOSE OUT SALT CHANGES US AND ALTHOUGH WE CAN REPENT THERE WILL ALWAYS BE CONSEQUENCES
b. FOR SALT TO LOSE ITS SALTINESS IS SOMETHING WE DO NOT EXPERIENCE TODAY, BUT THAT AS NOT THE CASE IN THE TIME OF JESUS
i. SALT IS A STABLE COMPOUND TODAY
c. SALT FROM THE ANCIENT WORLD CAME FROM SALT MARSHES, RATHER THAN BEING EVAPORATED FROM SALT WATER.
d. THIS METHOD OF HARVESTING SALT LEFT THE SALT WITH IMPURITIES
i. THE SALT HARVESTED THIS WAY WAS MORE SOLUBLE THAN THE IMPURITIES
ii. THE SALT WOULD LEACH OUT AND LEAVE JUST THE IMPURITIES – THE SALT LOST ITS SALTINESS
e. IN MODERN ISRAEL, IT IS STILL SAID THAT THIS SALTLESS SALT WAS SCATTERED ON THE SOIL OF FLAT ROOFS
i. IT HELPED TO HARDEN THE ROOF
ii. IT HELPED TO PREVENT LEAKS.
f. THESE ROOFS STILL SERVE AS PLAYGROUNDS FOR KIDS AND PLACES OF PUBLIC GATHERING
i. SO, THE SALTLESS SALT IS STILL BEING TRODDEN UNDERFOOT
SO, IF OUR SALT AS A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST IS NOT PURE – FILLED WITH ALL THE THINGS WE WANT TO KEEP AND STILL SERVE CHRIST, WE RUN THE OF BECOMING IRRELEVANT AND USELESS FOR THE KINGDOM
JESUS WANTS IS TO BRING TO OUR WORLD
A MESSAGE OF HOW TO AVOID PERISHING
A MESSAGE OF HOW TO LIVE PURE AND RIGHT BEFORE GOD
A FLAVOR THAT INVITES US TO “TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD”
A DESIRE TO CREATE A THIRST FOR SPIRITUAL THINGS IN THOSE WE COME IN CONTACT WITH
