Yesterday was Valentine day. Husbands I hope you didn’t forget! I have a good friend that’s a marriage counselor if you need one, I have been seeing him for many years now!
A heard about a man that took his wife to a marriage counselor and they told him all their problems. Finally after an hour of listening the counselor got up, walked around the desk, lifted her up out of her chair, and gave her a kiss that took her breath away. He turned to the husband and said, “That’s what I prescribe 3 times a week for the next 30 day.” The husband said well, I am pretty busy but I can I bring her in on Mon. Wed. and Fri.?
I heard that after you retire the real romance begins. A man told me the other day that on the first day of retirement he wanted to make it special so he said to his wife, “Why don’t you get up in the morning and make us a hot breakfast?” To which she replied, “I’ll tell you what, Why don’t you get up in the morning and set your raisin bran on fire.”
Here is how I knew for sure that I was to marry Janet.
ILL>>> coffee When Janet and I first got engaged, every time I visited her in Montgomery, her mother made a fresh pot of coffee for me. It was strong but very smooth, just the way I liked it! I thought “I have got to marry this woman’s daughter”. At first I thought it was a special kind of coffee but when I asked her she said, it is Folgers. Well I never tasted Folgers quite like that, she when she made the next pot, I watched and found out her secret, she put about twice as much coffee grounds in the filter but she also put a big dash of -- salt.
Salt is one of the most important minerals of all time!
Civil War On October 2, 1864, one of the worst battles of the American Civil War was fought. 2800 Confederate soldiers squared off against 4500 Union soldiers. The battle is forever recorded in American history as one of the worst atrocities that has ever occurred on American soil. After a day of intense fighting, shots continued throughout the night muffling the cries of wounded soldiers.
What was the purpose of the battle? Strategic positioning? A great offensive to end the war? The reason the battle was fought was for a mineral. The battle was fought for a mineral so valuable that more wars have been fought over it than gold.
The mineral fought for was salt. One of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War was fought over Saltville, VA---the largest supplier of salt to the Confederate army.
Men died to defend a salt mine. It was so valuable. It has always been valuable !!
Matthew 5:13-16
Jesus said you are so valuable! We cannot live without salt and this world cannot survive; your home; your community; the world could not survive without a Christian influence called salt!
-----In ancient Greece, a large industry involved the exchange of salt for slaves gave rise to the expression, "...not worth his salt." Special salt rations were given to Roman soldiers which were known as "Solarium Argentums" the forerunner of the English word "Salary.
Willis to hospital - only saline solution = salt LOUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When someone’s becomes very sick we rush to the hospital. first --IV saline
ILL>>>Anna - sick in Hospital -- I was in a nearby city -- flew to Hospital - saliene solution salt
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO BE SALT? --
The human body contains about 4oz. of salt. Without enough of it, muscles won’t contract, blood won’t circulate, food won’t digest and the heart won’t beat a beat. Without a doubt, salt is VITAL to life. And Jesus said, "Ye are the salt of the earth..."
Today I want to share with you --- an ancient recipe --- that can turn this world upside down.
Jesus said you are the Salt and the light. -- Pass the salt! & Shine the Light
I. Pass the Salt --- We are the salt to season the world, with the gospel.
Acrostic SALT
S- saves the lost with the gospel v13 Pass the Salt!
ILL>>>>Did you know the city bus has been picking up people here in front of our church? The other day Linda Hill got on the bus and a bum sat down beside her and began to read the newspaper. She was thinking of a way to witness to him when he said, “mam, do you know what cause arthritis?” So trying to witness she said, “Sin causes arthritis, drinking, gambling, carousing.” The bum said, I didn’t know that. I just read in the paper that the preacher here has arthritis.”
>>>> You don thave to be perfect and know all the answers to witness to people!
You are the Salt of the Earth ----What did Jesus mean by this statement?
1. The salt of the gospel STINGS the wounds of CONVICTION.
a. Scripture make wounds on the soul
b. Sermons make wounds on the soul
2. The salt of the gospel STARTS the healing of the soul
The world is dying for lack of SALT! God placed us here to be one of the most valuable and vital ingredients in life - the SALT from God.
ill>>> In Cracker Barrel -- hams hanging from rafters - old to method of rubbing in salt -- it would preserve (saves) the meat.
Out of all the great civilizations of the world not one has been taken down from the outside - they all decay from within.
Only the salt of the earth can stop the rotting, and decay of our country and the world.
Like some one said, “The salt is no good if it never leaves the salt shaker, it is only a decoration to the kitchen table.
Acrostic SALT
S- saves
A- attracts sinners to Christ Pass the Salt!
Ye are the salt of the earth
Christ is saying let your influence season people’s life for the kingdom. Salt makes things taste good!; a little salt can flavor a whole meal. It only takes on salt to flavor a whole community a whole neighborhood a whole workplace.
The salt of the gospel seasons the soul “seasoned?” v13 Pass the Salt!
Are you worth your salt? Have you done your part to spread the gospel? - lift up Christ
(John 12:32 KJV) And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
And, it is not all up to us! Just being there with the lost and sharing the gospel does not make it our responsibility to force people to accept Christ or do the right thing. It is the HS that does the work. --- It is the previenient grace. def= “the grace that goes before us” that brings men to God and changes the mind of man.
J Vernon McGee said ...The Scots translate “savour” by the more expressive word tang. I like their word much better. “If the salt has lost its tang.” The problem today is that most church members have not only lost their tang as salt, but as pepper they have lost their pep also. We have very few salt and pepper Christians in our day.
S- saves
A- attracts
L- listens - to the Lord and the lost v13 Pass the Salt!
Luke 14:34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, (flavor) wherewith shall it be seasoned?
35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
1. The Lord is saying -- “DONT LOST YOUR SAVOR - TESTIMONY”
ie YOUR EFFECTIVENESS! ---
You are extremely valuable to God - don’t devalue yourself.
HAS YOUR SALT LOST IT’S FLAVOR???????????????????????????
2. The lost are saying -- We need you! 35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. You are extremely valuable to the lost - don’t devalue yourself
Remember Lot’s wife she became a pillar of salt because she wanted to be part of the world. We are not pillars of salt we are the “Salt of the earth”
S- saves
A- attracts
L- listens
T- trusts God to pass you! mission field? - to shake you -- to spread you Pass the Salt!
ILL>> salt co. slogan - “When it rains it pours” -an additive makes it pour instead of stick when wet. Sodium carbonate is added to the salt. ----- We can trust God because we have an additive too - the HS!
ILL >> In ancient times cook stoves used wood but often it was in limited supply and so for many years a plate of salt was put in the stove next to the fire and would add noticeably to the heat.---- Are you being used by God? He can use you- He wants to use you to deliver the heat of the HS.
Where has God called you? He can enable us!!!!! We are all missionaries!!!
S-saves A-attracts L-love T-trusts God Pass the Salt!
II. Shine the Light -------We are the light to illuminate the world, with the gospel
Acrostic - LIGHT
L- LOOK FOR THE LOST you are the light!! THE ONLY LIGHT SOME SEE Shine the Light!
ILL>> First night on visitation with FAITH evangelism training -- lady at the door - “I don’t know how to get to heaven - tell me how.”
People are ready! They need to be found!--- Some little girl is lost -- Some teen ager, some discouraged worked Sr, Citizen
(Mark 16:15 KJV) And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
ILL>>>>> 1997------- From time to time we hear statistics about how people first came into church membership. These figures trace back to the Institute for American Church Growth, which asked 10,000 people about their pilgrimage. What led them in? Answers were: Special need, 2 percent; Walk-in, 3 percent; Pastor, 6 percent; Visitation, 1 percent; Sunday school, 5 percent; Evangelistic crusade, 5 percent; Program, 3 percent; Friend/relative, 79 percent.
Wouldn’t you want someone looking for you?
Plan to look -- Prepare with tracks ect, -- invite people over - MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO -- LOOK FOR THE LOST -- Shine the Light!
L- LOOK FOR THE LOST
I- ILLUMINATE THE WAY a city of light Shine the Light!
Jn 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. Jn. 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
----- We now have the responsibility of being the light of Jesus --
Only we are the moon to reflect the light of the son.
ILL>>> As a little boy my dad taught me how to overcome my fear of the dark -- Bang this chain on the cattle guard about- 5 miles -- no 500 yards - in the pitch dark. I was scared at first but as I got further from home the lights from the house never moved. -- I began to enjoy the trip- long shadows, -- To return all I had to do was follow the light.--- As a city on a hill !
**The lost are out there in the wilderness looking for the light !
SIN COVERS OUR LIGHT
Our sin keeps us dark! - BUSHEL = EARTHEN VESSELS TO COVER ON HEARTH SO IT WONT START A FIRE
L- LOOK FOR THE LOST
I- ILLUMINATE THE WAY
G- GIVE LIGHT TO ALL Shine the Light!----- DO we share it only with people we like? Convenient?
THE LIGHT THAT SHINES FARTHEST, SHINES BRIGHTEST AT HOME.
(1 Pet 2:12 KJV) 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.
L- LOOK FOR THE LOST
I- ILLUMINATE THE WAY
G- GIVE LIGHT TO ALL
H- HELP THEM TO HEAVEN Shine the Light!
Can they see your good works? Does your life shine the light of God?
How will you shine your light? Do you know how to lead someone to Christ? Are you prepared with tracks or the Bible to lead someone to Christ?
L- LOOK FOR THE LOST
I- ILLUMINATE THE WAY
G- GIVE LIGHT TO ALL
H- HELP THEM TO HEAVEN
T- testify -- of your salvation and the glory of God how? Shine the Light!
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>What happens when a light fails to give its light? It is removed. <<<<<<<<<<<
“He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lapmstands…”Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstands from its place unless you repent?” (Revelation 2:1,5)
The best illustration I know to explain this role of the church is that of a lighthouse.
QUOTE PURPOSE STATEMENT!
Illustration: The story is told of a man whose job was to be on the railroad tracks and warn with his light the upcoming train of the bridge that had been damaged. That night as the train came the man showed his lamp but the train went right into the ditch. The man was taken to court because they wanted to know why the train did not pay attention to this man who was to warn the train of the danger ahead. The man was asked, “Where you on duty on the night that the train had the accident” the judge asked. The man replied, “Yes sir” the judge once again asked did you have your lamp with you? The man replied, “Yes sir,” the judge asked the last question did you wave your lamp to the train? The man replied, “Yes sir” so the man was not held responsible. Later as the man went home he told his friend, “I am glad that the judge did not ask me if my lamp was on”
Invitation>> Let’s pray ---- Is your light shining bright for God? If you want to be salt and light? Raise your hand.
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