Salt and Light of the World
Matthew 5:13-14 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
The salt that we use here in this country is a chemical compound, it is made. As Albert Barnes an American Presbyterian clergyman puts it: “if the saltiness were lost, or it were to lose its savor, there would be nothing remaining. In eastern countries, however, the salt used was impure, mingled with vegetable and earthly substances; so that it might lose the whole of its saltiness, and a considerable quantity of salt without flavor remains. This was good for nothing except that it was used, as if is said, to place in paths, or walks, as we use gravel.”
Note: Jesus Likened His disciples to salt. They were to the world what salt is in everyday life: salt seasons food; it hinders the spread of corruption; it creates thirst; it brings out the flavor. So His followers add piquancy (interest) to human society, serve as a preservative, and make others long for the righteousness described in the preceding verses.
As Christians (the chosen ones) you are to:
I- Season or spice up the world (salt seasons food)
[Jesus at 12 years old]
[When Jesus started His ministry He turns things upside down]
-He healed broken hearted people
-He made the deaf to hear
-He made the blind to see
-He opened the eyes of the people concerning God and the Kingdom of Heaven
-He saved folks from going to hell to burn up for all eternity
a- As salt of the earth you have to do the same:
-Go with the word of God and the love of God to those that are hurting, and bring comfort and joy
-Go where there is a need, get involve and help bring solution that need
-If you believe the word of God, you can go to the sick and bring healing.
-In the book of Mark chapter 16 and verse 15 and 16, the Lord Jesus said to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
II-Salt hinders the spread of corruption
People who are somewhat wicked, who talk trash with their mouth don’t like to see Christian around because it makes them uncomfortable. They will either refrain from their vulgarity or they will feel intimidated and lash out more just because you around.
But if its your co-worker or family member, friends and so on, they will be soon convicted if you stand your ground by the grace and the love of God.
III- Salt Creates Taste: When you eat
A- As salt of the earth, by your way of life, you have to make people feel that they’re missing something not being in Christ.
1- When you in a rut, you don’t complain, but you say: the situation is a mess, but God is good.
2- The situation is getting worse, but all the time God is even better.
3- The situation is bitter, but God is sweet.
4- Se pou lavi-w fe payin yo kriye: Gin BonDie
5- The Test: How good is your God? If you stand, you win them over, but if you fall, you lose with them.
6- In Daniel Chapter 3:28, King Nebuchadnezzar who worshipped the god Bel said: “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God!
Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.”
Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.
IV- Salt Brings out the Flavor:
There are a lot of good people, good kids that got caught up in bad company, and they become bad. As salt of the earth we need to rub off on them to bring out their favor back.
-good Christian teenager, was in la jeunesse, and now he’s in a gang, or she’s sleeping around (not by herself). She needs some salt to go rub off on her to bring out her flavor.
When the salt lose its flavor, it has NO taste, co class, no vision; such is a loser and not a winner.
Conclusion: You as the chosen ones, you are called out to be salt in this tasteless society:
Season, hinder corruptions, create thirst and bring out the flavor
