Tasty & Bright
There are two things that we value that seem so insignificant but are part of our survival. We either complain because of too much of these two things or we want more of these. One is hardly seen. Yet too little of it you can taste the difference and too much of it can ruin your food. The other is visible it is needed during the night or when it is dark. Yet too much of it in the morning will make you say, “Turn it off ” too little of it can make you feel unsafe. What is it? It is salt and light. One works as it comes into contact with the food and the other when it is switched on. As follower of Jesus, He said we are the salt and the light. Faith Service Worship Vision There may be times when you find it difficult to reconcile God’s truth to your own opinion or worldview, God’s truth is eternal, it does not change, our understanding of the truth does change as we allow God to work in our hearts and minds. These sessions are not about opinion, they are about learning truth, the truth contained in the Bible, together we are going to focus on how we apply God’s truth, black & white in a grey world. To set godly priorities, grow in Christian character and live according to God’s standards so that we are a living witness to others.
The basis of our belief: Session 9
Ashingdon Elim Bible Study 8 June 2010
“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. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 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. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:13-16
Salt
Why is Salt a miracle? It’s composed of 2 poisons: chloride and sodium. If you eat either by itself, you’ll die. But put them together and you have common, ordinary salt, and that which used to bring death somehow comes together to bring life, and that’s a miracle! In ancient times salt was seen as a necessity of life. Because of its seasoning and preservative qualities was one of the most highly prized minerals. In many societies it was so highly valued that it was used for money. The English word salary is derived from the Latin word Salarium which refers to the payments made to a Roman soldier with salt. Salt was gathered in Palestine from along the seashore or inland lakes. Herod’s temple had a chamber of salt for ceremonial use of salt. Whenever a city was defeated the custom was to throw salt through out the city. This mean that the city had been separated from its past. Elisha used salt to purify the water of Jericho (2 Kings 2:20). The normal procedures when a child was born was to be rubbed with salt, On the day you were born your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to make you clean, nor were you rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths.” (Ezekiel 16:4) In Bible times and till today salt is used for seasoning our food. Who likes to eat food without salt? Even though salt is so small and yet hardly noticeable it makes a big difference in taste. Salt was used to flavour the offerings and sacrifices, Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings. (Leviticus 2:13). You are to offer them before the LORD, and the priests are to sprinkle salt on them and sacrifice them as a burnt offering to the LORD. (Ezekiel 43:24) 1
Salt was also used as a preservative, for our lives to be a living sacrifice for God they must be preserved and seasoned with the righteousness of Christ.
heart, it will flow out to others. This love is as broad as the universe can make us the salt of the earth
Salt was seen as a covenant relationship “It is a covenant of salt forever before the Lord with you and your descendants with you.” (Numbers 18:19) So salt also represented a relationship.
When Jesus referred to his disciples as salt, they were without question highly complimented. They did not realise how important they were prior to this statement. Christ did not call them salt to give them an ego trip or a big head, He was giving them a solemn warning – they could lose their saltiness That is they could sacrifice their influence.
What Happens if Salt loses is saltiness?
You are the Salt of the Earth What did Jesus mean by this statement? It is the silent witness of the Christian believer. It is the influence that you have over other people’s lives to season, and preserve for eternal life.
Salt- Pure sodium as we know can not lose it saltiness, but in Jesus day they got their salt from the Dead sea which was not pure it was mixed with other minerals Christ is saying let your influence season people’s life that affected the flavour, in time it could become for the kingdom. Salt changes things; a little salt can tasteless. When this happened it was thrown out and flavor a big pot of rice. It only takes one salt to flavour trampled on. Christians who are not fulfilling their a whole house, a whole street, a whole community. purpose as the salt of the earth are not fulfilling their purpose. Salt is the seasoning, the influence, someone once said, “The salt is no good if it never leaves the Christians should add zest and good flavour wherever salt shaker, it is only an decoration to the kitchen they go. Your workplace should be better because table.” you’re present. You may be the only Christian in your We stop the salt function when we fail to mingle with house, you should be having a positive effect. people that are lost; we deny the function of the salt Did Lot’s wife she become a pillar of salt because when we fail to be kind, merciful, peacemaker. she wanted to be part of the world? We are not pillars of salt we are the “Salt of the earth” To deny the salt function is to deny the principles of the kingdom of God. We are not to draw away Salt as an Antiseptic from society, we are not of the world but we live in the world. If we as Salt don’t rub against those who We do not gargle salt water to stay healthy! We do it have no flavour, others of the world will, and they for relief and to kill germs may bring the wrong flavour - a bitter taste to God, a poison that leads to eternal separation from God.
Light
If you rub Salt into a wound Salt irritates. Christianity rubs many the wrong way, because it’s irritating to their wounds of sin. We shouldn’t purposefully try to be irritating, but don’t be surprised if it happens!
Who is the true source of light? Light has been a symbol of divine presence. Jesus said that He was the light of the world. “Then Jesus spoke to them again saying I am the light of the world.” He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
Jesus said, “You are the salt” It is emphatic He didn’t say you are the earth. He didn’t say you might, you ought to be, he said “you are the salt.” We are either the salt or the world.
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)
“Jesus, looking out over the multitudes of His day, saw the corruption, the disintegration of life at every point, its breakup, its spoliation; and because of His love of the multitudes, He knew the thing that they needed most was the salt in order that the corruption should be arrested.” G.C. Campbell Morgan Salt witnessing is about showing true friendship. Showing the friendship of Jesus. Love is the main ingredient in true friendship. When love fills the
Light is described as a form of energy that is always moving. “When light energy ceases to move, because it has been absorbed by matter, it is no longer light” Today many people live in fear. Some fear the past, some fear the future, some people are living in fear of what is happening in the world right now. 2
house was in lighting the lamp without matches. No one wanted their light to go out because it took a lot of hard work to get the wick lit again. When people went out of the house it was often unsafe to leave the light on the stand, so the lamp would be taken from its stand and be placed under an earthen vessel where it could burn without risk. When they returned home the lamp would be returned to the stand.
Do you have an opportunity to shine the light of Christ so people will not be afraid? “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7) So we are called to have friendships and to witness to our friends. Jesus is the true light - we are only reflectors of the light, the question is what does it mean that Jesus is the light?
Why do we often feel the need to hide our light?
“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which gives light to every man coming into the world.” (John 1:6-9)
We should shine naturally. Just a bird sings naturally we Christians should shine before others
“In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:4)
As the repairs began the man stood by the tracks and soon a train came. The man showed his lamp for the train to stop, but the train continued and smashed straight into a train coming from the opposite direction.
You are the Light A railway signal was being repaired and a man was given a job to stand by the railroad tracks and wave a light to indicate if a train should stop or continue on its journey.
It is evident that we are just reflectors of Jesus Light. Not only that but to be a light of Jesus is to live His life here on earth. In other words our testimony.
The man was taken to court, they wanted to know why the train did not pay attention to this man who was to warn the train of the danger ahead.
Functions of Light Expose darkness: Darkness is expelled as soon as you switch on the lights. People are not aware of the darkness they live in if they don’t see the light.
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 asked did you have your lamp with you?
“The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great light.” (Matthew 4:16) The question is does my life help people see more clearly?
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”
Light serves is a guide: Airport runways guide planes to land by using lights on their runway. If we try to drive in the dark or land in the dark without lights it is dangerous. We are the guides to people who are in darkness.
We are to dispel darkness. “Arise; shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be see upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” (Isa. 60:1-3)
Light is to be seen: A Christian should not be a secret Christian. We need to be a light at all times. Our light shines so that people will be attracted to Jesus Christ.
Light under a Bushel Palestinian homes were generally dark, most only had one small window, electricity and light bulbs did not exist. Their light consisted of a lamp which was a bowl filled with oil that had a wick. When they needed light the lamp was placed on a lamp stand.
Jesus said, we are the light of the world. Every Christian is a light to help others find salvation. Jesus didn’t say, “you are the light of Palestine” He said, “You are the light of the world.” We are to preach the gospel to the whole world.
The most difficult thing of having this light in the 3
As we position ourselves each day to Christ, the light will shine automatically. People will see the glory of God.
“ Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth to every nation, tribe, tongue and people.” (Revelation 14:6)
Light is always costly
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)
As a candle burns it grows shorter as an oil lamp burns oil and a wick is being used. We must consider ourselves as expendable. We must be willing to sacrifice a bit of ourselves each day we live
We should shine openly We should never to be ashamed of our relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus says we are to shine before others so they will see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. Never is our shining meant to draw attention to ourselves
We are the light; it is visible to the human eye. The people need to see the message.
Filling the Earth with God’s Glory
The Glory of God The whole earth will be illuminated with God’s glory, and when that happens we know that we are near to the coming of the Lord. We believe in the message of the three Angel’s of Revelation 14 but there is a fourth angel. “After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority; and the earth was illuminated with his glory.” (Revelation 18:1)
Differences between salt & light We need to understand the differences between these two. Salt works and expands itself silently but you see it operating. Things are delicious without ever seeing the salt. You don’t have to give a Bible study to be salt, your influence, your peace, your meekness your mercy, it only takes one to get it going. God is saying just give me one salt and I will affect the lives of many just one.
We are the salt, the silent work of influence and the light the visible manifestation of God in people’s lives.
Light has a different type of effect. Light is visible it is seen it works openly. This is when you openly share your faith with others, when you share about God. How can people experience the salt and see the light in your life?
For Personal Reflection
People need to see how Jesus is a seasoning to your life. They also need to see the light of Jesus in your life, you need to share the true source of light. Remember we are just reflectors of the light. “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Cor. 4:6)
To be salt, we do not have to be spectacular To be salt, we do not have to be sensational To be salt, we do not have to be successful (by the world’s standard’s)
To be salt, we just have to effect our little corner of the world.
We need to be mirrors! We are like mirrors that reflect light. To reflect light on a mirror we need to position the mirror to the light. We do this by studying God’s word, by praying and by thinking.
How can you be more salty? How can you shine more? 4