gracious jesus 9: salt and light

by Preeti Shinde

GRACIOUS JESUS3. KINGDOM LIFESTYLE PART 1

Salt and Light Fulfilling the Law

Anger and Hurt

Lust and Immorality

Integrity

The Extra Mile

Love your Enemies

SALT AND LIGHTPRESENTATION OVERVIEW

Ref: Matt 5: 13-16 Mark 9.49-50; 4.21; Luke 14.34-35; 8.16ObjectivesSaltLightDiscussionReference

SALT AND LIGHTOBJECTIVES To: Describe the responsibility of a true disciple Know the consequences of losing our

property/quality

Understand that our true calling is to reveal God to the otherwise dying world

SALT Theme Verse :Mt.5:13 “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 by men”.

YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH

Salt: Preserves Seasons Seals covenant Purifies and

cleanses Creates thirst

SALT PRESERVESPrevents decay by delaying putrefaction whereas yeast promotes it.

Exo. 30:35 “… and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer. It is to be salted and pure and sacred”.

SALT SEASONS<picture>Salt has the ability to

give flavor to that which is otherwise bland

Col.4:5-6 “…Let your conservation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

COVENANT OF SALTA permanent agreement between God and His people.

2 Ch. 13:5 “… Don’t you know that the LORD, God of Israel, has given the kingship of Israel to David and his descendants forever by a covenant of salt?”

SALT PURIFIES AND CLEANSESElisha’s purifying of the waters of Jericho by using salt symbolises the power of God through purifying property of salt.

2 Ki.2:21 “… he went out to the spring and threw the salt into it, saying, "This is what the LORD says : 'I have healed this water;…”

…IF THE SALT LOOSES ITS SAVOUR

Unsavoury salt lacks the very essence of its existence.

IF THE SALT LOSES ITS SALTINESS…to be thrown out and trampled underfoot When we abandon our purpose, we are good for nothing.

Lk.14:34-35 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again ? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

LIGHT Theme Verses :Mt.5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLDV 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.”Roman cities were typically on hills. The lights/ torches on walls gave warning signals: 2 torches – enemy sighted Torch on North and West wall – do not delay Torch on East, West and North – we are not being attacked

– last warning Torch on 4 walls – gates closed, under seige Torch extinguished – city fallen

YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

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. In the context of warning lights (v 14), how can we put our light under the bushel?

LIGHT Exposes darkness Expels darkness Establishes direction

Ph.2:15 “… become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,”

LIGHT EXPOSES DARKNESSThe sin and evil of the world is revealed in the light

Jn.3:20 “Everyone who does evil hates light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed”

LIGHT EXPELS DARKNESSWhen we reflect the light of Christ we dispel the spiritual darkness around us.

2 Co.4:6 “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

LIGHT ESTABLISHES DIRECTIONAmidst the dangers of the world we can walk safely in His light

Jn. 11:10 “It is when a person walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light.”

LIGHT OF THE WORLDWe can give out light only because we have received light

Eph.5:8 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light”

LIGHT OF THE WORLDThe SourceJn.8:12 …Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

The Recipient1 Th.5:5 ... You are all children of the light and children of the day…

LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE

Our light is not meant to be hidden but to reveal who we are in Him

Eph.5:9-10 “(for the fruit of light consists of all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.”

LIGHT… MAY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS

The good works are meant to be illuminated by the light so that the focus is on Him

2 Co.9:13 “Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the Gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.”

SALT AND LIGHTGLORIFY YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN

The ultimate purpose is to bring glory to Him

1Pet.2:12 “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us”

RECAPYou are the salt of the earth. Salt: Preserves Seasons Seals covenant Purifies and cleanses Creates thirst You are the light of the world. Light: Exposes darkness Expels darkness Establishes direction

SALT AND LIGHTDISCUSSION1. In what respect are the analogies of salt and light

similar? In what way are they different?2. How can we prevent ourselves from being

contaminated by the things of the world which make us lose our very essence?

3. Are we making people in our lives thirsty to know more about Christ? How can we do it more effectively?

4. Is it possible to simultaneously receive praise and still point people to Christ? How can we make sure that whatever we do is for God’s glory?

5. Is there a clear distinction between our lives and that of the people around us? How can we influence our part of the world for good?

SALT AND LIGHTREFERENCES

1. The Search – Dr. Ron Charles2. The Dake Annotated Reference Bible3. http://biblehub.com/topical/s/salt.htm4. http://biblehub.com/topical/l/light.htm