Salt of the Earth? 2/4/24

Matthew 5:11-16      nkjv11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

❓ Can you think of a time when you were made fun of for being a Christian ❓ When have you ever felt fearful of speaking up or testifying for Jesus ❓ 

💥     Jesus was speaking to people that probably felt anything but blessed.

• From verses 3-11)     He was speaking to people that felt.

Poor in Spirit - People who mourned (felt sad) - People that wanted to live in peace with people that didn’t want to get along with anyone.  People that felt like they were spiritually spinning their wheels  -  People that were mocked and made fun of for being good and kind.  People who were mislabeled and called weak and afraid.   People that were picked on and bullied. >  Good hearted people that were spoken evil of and called bad names by others.

⭐💥Like I said, people who felt this way felt anything but blessed.     This is one of the points Jesus makes.  Instead of feeling blessed, they felt cursed.

⭐  Why?  Because the aim of darkness is to make you feel wrong about being right and feel bad about doing what is right!!

💥     Satan unleashes his darkness to get the believer to: 

• Give up being the salt and making a difference in the lives of others.
• Never shine their light in the right places ( helping people stop living in darkness)
• Stop doing the works that glorify and bring attention to God ( people feel there is no God)

⭐  The aim of persecution is to:

• Get us to change what we believe.
• Who we are:   Children of light to children of darkness
• How we live - Children of the light --Living for darkness instead of light.
• 
  

⭐   IT WORKS!   HAPPENS TO MANY:     

> Some never come to the light and live for darkness and evil all their life ( live by the wayside)     

> Some listen to the world and open their minds to be trained and taught the things of the world. ( allow the evil of the world to chip away their faith and hope)

> Some start well and live for God, only to see their faith choked as they compromise their life to the riches and pleasures of this life, until they completely turn away from the faith.

According to Jesus:

>     Persecution isn’t about what we do wrong….. but about what we are doing right!

>     Persecution isn’t about what we do that is pleasing to the world…..but what we do that pleases God.

>     It’s not about becoming politically correct to make sin feel more acceptable and comfortable in society…. but about being correct and right with God. 

>     It’s not about what we do to live for the world…… but what we do to live for God and help as many as we can through the LOVE OF GOD find their way out of darkness.

>     It’s not about giving up our faith because there is no place for us to fit in and live with darkness

A.   It’s about knowing how important we are to God, regardless of what the world tells us.

B.   It’s about embracing the truth about how God sees us and how who He says we are.

C   It’s about knowing that God still uses us to bring about profound changes in the lives of others…saves people from hell….causes many to stop living in darkness to living in the light.

What does this teach?

I.     Do not let darkness steal your joy!v12)  12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 

• Joy will be fed by who and what you listen to.  v11) 11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 
• 
  
  • If we are discouraged, it’s because we have been listening to our flesh or the wrong people.

>  James 1:2-3: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance>  John 15:11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

• There is nothing like keeping your joy instead of walking around in gloom!

II.      Know who God says you are! v13)  You are the salt of the earth  v14) You are the light of the world.

• Salt to kill weeds and evil!   Salt to flavor and bring alive the dead.
• The light to show others how to find their way out of darkness (evil) 

III.     Get up and out and be used.v15) 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16  Just shine the light and sprinkle the salt.   

• You don’t have to preach on street corners. ( unless God says do it)   
• Follow what God tells you to do.    (Just be kind when God tells you to be kind)
• 
  
  • This is the light of God
  • This is when we do the right things at the right time

IV.     Have light.  God!v14)  “You are the light of the world.

• Do not be timid, embarrassed or ashamed to belong to God! 
• Fill your heart, mind, soul and life with God.  (While others die,,,, YOU WILL LIVE)

V.     Let God  place you where He wants you.   Where the light is needed the most.

• The light that brings the most glory to God is the light that is in the most darkness.
• The light that shines where it’s needed the most.
• Phil. 2:15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

VI.     Do what God tells you to do, your good works.

• It’s the God light that produces the works that brings the glory to Him.

If you are fearful, down and discouraged, feeling bullied, talked about and unwanted……. 

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.  13 “You are the salt of the earth;