Salt and Light

Matthew 5:13-14

¹³ “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 underfoot.

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built 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 others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

I can’t even really remember how many times I have taught on this passage out of the Bible over the years, but what amazed me was the most basic point but possibly the most important out of the passage.

There is nothing that exciting really about salt and light except that they are both predominantly and incredible practical. Most of the time I don’t even notice the light and the only time it becomes important is when I want to see and it is getting dark. I very rarely can remember tasting salt and don’t notice that it is in almost all of our meals, but you sure notice if it is missing and it should be there.

So what is the big point?

As a Christian, I should be incredibly practical; I should be involved, connected, engaging my world, making a difference and influencing, but most of the time I may be barely noticed. But I am there because I am salt and light and if I wasn’t there then people would really notice.

You are salt and light, nothing fancy, but the difference you make can and should never be underestimated. If you were not there then people may never see the message of Christ in action, their world would be a lot darker and a lot blander – so I am so grateful that you, like me are called to be salt and light – go on, get out there and shine!

Influence

Influence

It's what's on the inside that counts

Influence is about being a compelling force:

2 Corinthians 4:7

But we have this treasure (the divine light of the Gospel) in jars of clay (frail human vessels of earth) to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

The label doesn't dictate the quality of the product - remember Jesus chose water jugs to present the best wine at the wedding.

God is looking for real people to make a real difference.

Are we busy persuading or influencing?

It's more than the truth you know, it's the truth you do & the life you live.

Passion can wane and zeal can be mocked at but authority has weight and demands an audience. We need to have the inner influence of Christ in our lives. Our message may be rejected but seeds of life are planted and a harvest is demanded.

Engage Somebody

There are over 200 references in the Bible DIRECTLY relating to witnessing and sharing the Gospel – I’m guessing that means this must be pretty important to God.

Mark 16:15

15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.

For most of us our journey to become a Christian was, although unique to who we are, similar in that it usually came down to a somebody we met or who impacted OUR WORLD.

For some it was a MOMENT, for others it was a long JOURNEY, but for nearly all of us there was a SOMEBODY?

Somebody Engaged you & you became a Christ Follower... now you are to be the Somebody for someone else. Make the choice to Engage. You don't need a degree, you don't need to wait for some mystical moment, you just GO into YOUR world and be available, then when God sets up the opportunity step up and see what happens. Sometimes our greatest witness is not what we say but rather than we are there to listen.

Bill Hybels –

Life’s great moments evolve from simple acts of cooperation with God’s mysterious promptings – nudges that always lean toward finding what has been lost & freeing what has been enslaved.

Christmas is JESUS

Christmas is Jesus - I love this song by Bryan Duncan because it reminds me that in the midst of the hustle and bustle of life, in amongst the crowded shops, the car park dramas, the food, the presents, that Christmas is Jesus, Christmas is about the purpose of God to draw men back to Himself by sending His one and only Son. Christmas was not the event, but the start of the journey that led all the way to the cross. Where the baby in the manager became the Saviour on the cross, who gave himself to take my sin, so I can take His righteousness and have right relationship with God the father.

This Christmas, don’t just share gifts, share the story – His story, it never gets old and it still changes lives – Ric J

“Christmas is Jesus a child for all man, gone from the manger and tomb he lay in.

Christmas is Jesus God’s love coming true; a star from the heavens is fallen for you.”

Song by Bryan Duncan

DRIVE

DRIVE - we all need it: it helps us going from intention to satisfaction but is so different from being driven. DRIVE will get you up in the morning and keep you going when others drop away, and if you do it well you'll absolutely love the journey along the way.

I had so much fun doing this series at it impacted my life as I reflected on what we learnt along the way. Here are some of the basic thoughts.

There is a fine line between you having DRIVE and you BEING DRIVEN. The problem about being DRIVEN is you never know when you could be taken for a ride!

Are there areas of Discipline in your life you need to look at: balance, boundaries, consistency?

Have you taken time out to Reflect on where you are at: evaluate, encourage, inspire?

How are you going with your Integrity? (1 Cor 9:24-27- will not be disqualified for the prize) For me often it is all about the things I don't see as I drive through life.

Have you checked your Vision? Where are you headed, are the choices you are making helping you move forward or dragging you back?

Don't give up / you are equal to the challenge no matter what it is. You are in the drivers seat, you have the drive, and you are not on your own. That is how you have the Endurance to go the distance, do the drive, and do it well.

Team Ministry

We are ALL individuals but we are ALL called as one body.

So that means, we need to learn to do team really well, because no matter who you are, no matter what you do, we will always be connected to others; so to be effective learn the power of team ministry.

Great passage on this 1 Corinthians 12:12-27

some keys out of this passage to think about and meditate on:

• the body is one unit (never forget that when we all come together we need to be one)
• the body is made up of many parts (so don't complain about people who are different to you)
• all these parts play a role (even the people that you are not sure about ... God is)
• God has arranged the parts of the body (just as HE wants them to be)
• there should be no division in the body (God really does want us to be in unity and get along)
• if one part suffers we all suffer (so it is actually in our best interest to help those who need our help)
• you are part of this body (just in case you were wondering....)

This is such an amazing passage of Scripture as it helps put us as individuals back into context. We are not unimportant, but we are not the most important, together we are all important and together we make a massive difference in changing and impacting this world for good and for God.

WHOLENESS

We live in a fallen world; we are surrounded by great beauty but also by great brokenness. The great paradox is that from our viewpoint we see that which is broken, and yes, maybe it can be repaired and fixed – but it will never be WHOLE. But God’s Word says differently.

John 3:16, 17 God sent Jesus to SAVE us. That word saved in the Greek means so much more than just rescued. But it is a complete work, healing, wholeness, provision and protection. That is why Jesus said on the cross, "it is finished". We are the ones who struggle to see ourselves whole and therefore we are always striving and working towards being whole. The crazy thing is - you already are 'in Christ'. So really the battle should be to bring your thinking in line with the Word or God and start seeing yourself the way God sees you.

Wholeness starts by knowing who HE is in you.

1 Thess 5:23, 1 Cor 6:11, 2 Peter 1:3

Wholeness is learning who you are in HIM.

2 Peter 1:2,3, Phil 3:9,10, John 8:31, 32, Psalm 1:3

To learn who you are in HIM you have to learn to abide in HIM

John 15:3,5, James 1:22, Rom 10:17, Heb 4:12, 2 Tim 3:16,17

I am whole because of what He says about me, nothing else - That is faith in action right there.