Recently, as Tanya
and I went to the Keller Town Hall to take part in early voting, we were amazed
to see hundreds of political signs on the lawn there. As we walked from our car
to the voting place, about a dozen people greeted us and encouraged us to vote
for them or the candidates they represented. Why? They wanted to influence us,
of course! And they wanted to convince us that their candidates would have
greater influence for good than their opponents.
But you probably
know who we were really looking for, don’t you? Why, Russians, of course! We’ve
been led to believe by the media that Russians may be hacking us and
interfering with our elections!
These are sermon notes, not
written in a polished or finished manuscript form. To see the video of this
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Reading: Matt 5:13-16
Influence. How could Jesus’ disciples, who are poor in
spirit, meek, peaceful, and persecuted, have any impact at all in this rough,
tough world? Feeble and relatively few in number, how could their presence be
felt at all? Impossible, you say? Well, Jesus describes just such people as
salt which, as long as it is genuine, affects almost everything it touches. He
calls us light which, if it is properly placed, can overcome this world’s
darkness.
Imagine a small
amount of salt affecting the entire earth! That’s a huge impact!
Imagine the church’s
light, from a high hill, illuminating the world! Wow!
Jesus moves from the
traits of His disciples to their fruits. Outward behavior is the expression of
inward character.
Feeble, in the
minority … yet impact the earth, the entire world!
Both Salt and Light
Do what they do because they are what they are.
Are the products of God’s design and creation.
Accomplish much, even in small amounts.
Are unmistakably evident when they are present.
Are desperately needed when they are absent.
Are givers, identified by the effect they produce.
Both Salt and Light …
Influence others without being influenced by them.
Must be in contact with something else to work.
Are useless when
kept in isolation.
Yet must be distinct from that “something else.”
Are responsible to do what they are created to do.
Can fail in what they are expected to do.
Salt
Idioms: “Worth his
salt.” “Take it with a grain of salt.”
Genuine salt was (and
is) recognized by its taste.
We often say
Christians are tested. Now we add, “Christians
are tasted!”
R Lyons: Some think that its glistening whiteness
coming from the sun and sea represents purity. If we are to be salt, we must be
an example of purity. In the world, efforts to lower standards of honesty,
diligence in work, and morality are going on all the time. The Christian must
be the person who holds aloft the standard for purity of speech, conduct and
thought. Words cannot be effective unless backed up by pure living.
What does salt
do?
Preserves.
Salt preserves
freshness, saves from moral decay.
R Lyons: Salt has always had the vital purpose of
stopping decay. All of Jesus’ disciples were to serve as preservatives,
stopping the moral decay in our sin infected world.
Stott: If the world were left to itself and were true
to itself, the world would decay like rotten fish or meat, while the church can
hinder its decay.
Without salt –
tasteless, bland, even putrid.
Stott: In the centuries before refrigeration had
been invented, salt was used to keep meat wholesome and to prevent decay.
Indeed it still is. H. V. Morton has described the making of ‘biltong’, the
dried meat of South Africa: ‘The meat, having been cut and trimmed to the
required size, is well rubbed with coarse salt … If properly cured, it will
keep indefinitely.’
R Lyons: Those first disciples would have been
intimately familiar with this function of salt. Without refrigeration, the fish
that they caught would quickly spoil and rot unless they were packed in salt.
Once salted, the fish could be safely stored and then used when needed. The
spiritual health and strength of the Christian is to counteract the corruption
that is in the world. Christians, as salt, are to inhibit sin’s power to
destroy lives. This in turn creates opportunity for the gospel to be proclaimed
and received.
Purifies.
Salt cleanses and
purifies. Salt softens and tenderizes.
Flavors.
Salt seasons the
gospel message and makes it tasty.
R Lyons: Others say that salt’s flavoring properties
imply that Christians are to add divine flavor to the world. Salt
brings out the distinctive flavor of food. The increase of God’s people should
likewise increase the flavor of life. By our presence, participation and
penetration of society, in our daily contacts in our neighborhood and
community, we are to bring the flavor of Christ to an unbelieving world.
Stings.
R Lyons: Some believe that Christians are to sting
the world with rebuke and judgment the way salt stings an open wound.
Heals.
Salt awakens and
restores. (Smelling salts)
Baker: Salt is potent as an antiseptic, a substance
that prevents and retards decay. Salt combats deterioration.
A moral disinfectant.
A moral disinfectant.
Creates thirst.
Some believe that
Christians, as salt, are to create a thirst for Christ.
Melts ice.
The Reader’s Digest lists 60+ uses for
salt!
Salt must be able to
contact without becoming contaminated.
Most of the salt
available in Palestine was impure.
Believers “salt the
earth” by ...
Adopting the qualities listed in the
Beatitudes
Examples: showing mercy, making peace
Enduring persecution as did the
prophets of old
Speaking with grace and care
(Colossians 4:6)
Salt
Warning:
Tasteless, impure
salt is worthless and must be thrown out.
Jesus said that we
can lose our saltiness.
It can lose its
taste, its saltiness, when mixed and thus impure.
Then it has no
effect, no influence.
Result: it is thrown out,
becomes part of the road, and is trampled.
It cannot be made
salty again. It’s useless.
Lk 14:34 “Therefore, salt is
good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned? 35
“It is useless either for the soil or for the manure pile; it is thrown out. He
who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Baker: The salt from the marshes and lagoons or
from the rocks in the neighborhood of the Dead Sea easily acquires a stale or
alkaline taste, because of its mixture with gypsum, etc. It is then literally “good
for nothing” but to be thrown away and trampled underfoot (cf. Ezek. 47:11). Jesus,
as he walked on earth, saw many Pharisees and scribes, people who advocated a
formal, legalistic religion in the place of the true religion proclaimed by the
ancient prophets in the name of the Lord. Thus by and large the salt had lost
its flavor in the religious life of Israel.
Baker: The implication is clear. Just as salt
having lost its flavor cannot be restored, so also those who were trained in
the knowledge of the truth but who then resolutely set themselves against the
exhortations of the Holy Spirit and become hardened in their opposition are not
renewed unto repentance (Heb 6:4-6). Therefore, let that which is named salt be
salt indeed! Ever so many people who never read the Bible are constantly
reading us! If in our conduct we are untrue to our calling our words
will avail very little.
When salt is
contaminated it becomes corrosive and poisonous. If we have allowed
disobedience, carelessness and indifference to rule our lives, we have become
contaminated salt and have lost our saltiness. We need to confess our sin and
let the Lord restore us to the purpose for which we were called.
Salt Your Speech!
“Walk in wisdom
toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be
gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each
person. Col 4:5-6
Walk the walk, and
talk the talk. Speak always graciously, tastefully, and appropriately. Add
salt!
Salt and Fire, Salt
and Peace
“For everyone will be salted with fire.
Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty
again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” Mark
9:49-50
Salt and fire –
elements in sacrifice. Lev 2:13
Salt and peace –
Oriental sign of covenant-making.
Light
THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
Jesus said, “I am
the light of the world.” John 9:1-6. See also John 1:4; 8:12 ; 12:46.
Here He says, “YOU
are the light of the world.” Being like Jesus is the key to reflecting His
light in this world.
Ge 1:3 Then God said, “Let
there be light”; and there was light.
2 Co 4:5 For we do not
preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants
for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of
darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the
knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
Jn 1:4 In Him was life,
and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness did not comprehend it.
1 Jn 2:7 Beloved, I am not
writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had
from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard. 8
On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him
and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already
shining. 9 The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother
is in the darkness until now. 10 The one who loves his brother abides in
the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But the one who
hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not
know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
Ro 13:11 Do this, knowing
the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now
salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. 12 The night is almost
gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and
put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not
in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in
strife and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no
provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
Eph 5:11 Do not participate
in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12
for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in
secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the
light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason
it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on
you.”
1 Th 5:1 Now as to the times
and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. 2
For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like
a thief in the night. 3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then
destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with
child, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in
darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; 5 for you are
all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; 6
so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. 7
For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get
drunk at night. 8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having
put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of
salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining
salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that
whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. 11
Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are
doing.
1 Jn 1:5 This is the message
we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there
is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and
yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if
we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one
another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If
we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in
us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us
our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that
we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.
Light
Brings life and
growth.
Destroys darkness.
Relieves fear.
Exposes dirt.
Guides to safety.
Light guides one to
safety. “Let the lower lights be burning.”
Warns of impending danger.
Signals for help.
Light
What we are, whether
good or evil, is visible to the world.
Light shines just
because that is its nature. It can’t help it!
Light, even in tiny
amounts, eliminates darkness and fear.
Light is useless unless
it can be easily seen by all.
Light must be set
above the darkness, on a higher plane.
Light
Do all things
without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be
blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a
crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world. Phil
2:14-15
But you are A CHOSEN
RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so
that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of
darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Pet 2:9
“For so the Lord has
commanded us, ‘I HAVE PLACED YOU AS A LIGHT FOR THE GENTILES,
THAT YOU MAY BRING SALVATION TO THE END OF THE EARTH.’ ”
Acts 13:47
Who is the “you?”
First, it’s Christ.
Isa 42:6; 49:6
Later, it’s Paul and
Barnabas.
Now, it’s you and I,
the church!
Light
A Guarantee:
On a hill: cannot be
hidden.
On a stand: fills
the whole house.
A Warning:
If hidden: cannot be
seen.
Under a basket: useless.
A Command:
Matt 5:16 “Let your light
shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify
your Father who is in heaven.”
The light of a
disciple is his good works, which must ...
[1] be seen by
others and [2] result in glory to the Father.
Men evaluate
Christianity by the light they see in our lives.
What diminishes or extinguishes our light?
Sin, fear,
hypocrisy, pride, or silence.
How to Salt and
Shine
First, adopt the
“be-attitudes” of Matt 5:3-12.
Be deliberate,
intentional, purpose-driven.
Be connected with
the culture, but be distinct.
Find and fill the
place of greatest need.
Get out of that salt
shaker! Throw off that basket!
Preserve, purify,
and season something decaying.
Brighten a darkening
faith, life, or relationship.
Identify and
practice good deeds that are visible.
Seek only the glory
of God that will result.
Possible hymns:
Let the Beauty of
Jesus Be Seen in Me
Shine, Jesus, Shine
More Like Jesus
To Christ Be True
Take My Life, and
Let it Be
Take the Name of Jesus
with You
