Matthew 5:13-16 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
In the text Jesus is explaining our purpose and it's an important one. It's the same purpose He gave the apostle Paul in Acts 26:18 ...to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Salt is a preservative and gives flavor. Light expels darkness and reveals. A city on a hill can be seen from far away. Salt that's lost it's saltiness is cast out, a light is not set forth to be hid under a bushel and a city on a hill is not there to be hidden.
At some point we hopefully must face the question, what is our life going to be about? I'm going to presume to speak on behalf of our Savior just a moment and say, “Jesus doesn't care that much about your past, He's concerned about your present and your future”. No matter how much time you have left it absolutely matters what you do with it. Salt, light and a city on a hill are meant to make a difference, and so are we.
When we think or speak about making a difference we do what we often do concerning spiritual matters, we sensationalize it, turn it into something larger than life by imagining we must accomplish a series of sensational things to make a difference. Another thing we do is compartmentalize, which means we set aside time to do specific things we believe will make a difference. In doing so we fail to understand our whole life is suppose to show people Jesus and therefore make a difference.
A great failing of Christianity has been and continues to be in the area of seeking to motivate God's people to accomplish His work. That's something only God can do yet we seem to have taken it upon ourselves through sermons, stories, books and music to excite people into action. What's wrong with modern preaching, teaching, books and music is just that. It's to try to do in the flesh and with the emotions what can only be done in the heart through the Holy Spirit.
Peter and the other disciples often made the mistake of looking to their emotions, self-will and determination instead of to God. We find an example in Matt 26:31-35 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples. We know what happened. Peter denied Jesus and all but John forsook Him and fled.
Making a difference is not going to come about by attending regular pep rallies or having motivational speakers, books and contemporary music excite us into action, but by allowing God to do a work in us. I want to share with you a sure way to bring that about.
One thing to note before we begin. Making a difference is not a privilege reserved for those who have been saved a long time or have great knowledge and wisdom. It's possible for all God's people to make a difference no matter their level of spiritual growth. It's simply allowing God to do a work in us.
I. The Holy Spirit wants to give us assurance. Jesus speaking to His disciples said in John 14:16-17 ...I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. The disciples already knew the Holy Spirit because they knew Jesus. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one and the same. We are indwelt by God's Spirit when we receive Christ as our Savior. Speaking of Christ, Paul said in Eph 1:13-14 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. God's Spirit seals and indwells all who receive Jesus Christ as Savior. Paul also said in Rom 8:8-9 ...they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Believers in Christ have been given new life through God's indwelling Spirit. With that new life and God's indwelling Spirit it's possible to please Him by being under His authority. If we are going to make a difference we must be sure of what we have in Christ. Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. The Holy Spirit bears witness with us that we are a child of God through enlightenment He gives us in the Word of God. Any of us that truly know we are saved know it because of what the Bible declares. Consider that TV, movies, internet, social media, commentators and news organizations are not very concerned about giving you assurance of God's salvation. The Holy Spirit wants to give us assurance. Without it we would have a shaky foundation from which to try to make a difference.
II. The Holy Spirit wants to renew us everyday. Paul wrote in Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. The washing of regeneration is the salvation of our soul through faith in Christ. The renewing of the Holy Ghost is the salvation that comes to us daily through enlightenment in the Word of God. Applying God's truth in our life saves it and makes us an influence for God's glory. Paul spoke of it in Rom 12:2 ...be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Paul said to the Corinthians in 2 Cor 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? How do I know I have the right faith? How do I prove myself? How do I know that Christ is in me? How do I know I'm not a reprobate? By allowing the Holy Spirit to enlighten me through the Word of God. Where there is no renewing there is only the reasoning of man, the influence of this world or even worse, the influence of the devil. Consider that TV, movies, internet, social media, commentators and news organizations are not helping to renew your mind in the things of God. It's hard to imagine how we could make a difference if God's Spirit is not renewing us through His word.
More in part 2 -
In the text Jesus is explaining our purpose and it's an important one. It's the same purpose He gave the apostle Paul in Acts 26:18 ...to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Salt is a preservative and gives flavor. Light expels darkness and reveals. A city on a hill can be seen from far away. Salt that's lost it's saltiness is cast out, a light is not set forth to be hid under a bushel and a city on a hill is not there to be hidden.
At some point we hopefully must face the question, what is our life going to be about? I'm going to presume to speak on behalf of our Savior just a moment and say, “Jesus doesn't care that much about your past, He's concerned about your present and your future”. No matter how much time you have left it absolutely matters what you do with it. Salt, light and a city on a hill are meant to make a difference, and so are we.
When we think or speak about making a difference we do what we often do concerning spiritual matters, we sensationalize it, turn it into something larger than life by imagining we must accomplish a series of sensational things to make a difference. Another thing we do is compartmentalize, which means we set aside time to do specific things we believe will make a difference. In doing so we fail to understand our whole life is suppose to show people Jesus and therefore make a difference.
A great failing of Christianity has been and continues to be in the area of seeking to motivate God's people to accomplish His work. That's something only God can do yet we seem to have taken it upon ourselves through sermons, stories, books and music to excite people into action. What's wrong with modern preaching, teaching, books and music is just that. It's to try to do in the flesh and with the emotions what can only be done in the heart through the Holy Spirit.
Peter and the other disciples often made the mistake of looking to their emotions, self-will and determination instead of to God. We find an example in Matt 26:31-35 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples. We know what happened. Peter denied Jesus and all but John forsook Him and fled.
Making a difference is not going to come about by attending regular pep rallies or having motivational speakers, books and contemporary music excite us into action, but by allowing God to do a work in us. I want to share with you a sure way to bring that about.
One thing to note before we begin. Making a difference is not a privilege reserved for those who have been saved a long time or have great knowledge and wisdom. It's possible for all God's people to make a difference no matter their level of spiritual growth. It's simply allowing God to do a work in us.
I. The Holy Spirit wants to give us assurance. Jesus speaking to His disciples said in John 14:16-17 ...I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. The disciples already knew the Holy Spirit because they knew Jesus. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one and the same. We are indwelt by God's Spirit when we receive Christ as our Savior. Speaking of Christ, Paul said in Eph 1:13-14 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. God's Spirit seals and indwells all who receive Jesus Christ as Savior. Paul also said in Rom 8:8-9 ...they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Believers in Christ have been given new life through God's indwelling Spirit. With that new life and God's indwelling Spirit it's possible to please Him by being under His authority. If we are going to make a difference we must be sure of what we have in Christ. Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. The Holy Spirit bears witness with us that we are a child of God through enlightenment He gives us in the Word of God. Any of us that truly know we are saved know it because of what the Bible declares. Consider that TV, movies, internet, social media, commentators and news organizations are not very concerned about giving you assurance of God's salvation. The Holy Spirit wants to give us assurance. Without it we would have a shaky foundation from which to try to make a difference.
II. The Holy Spirit wants to renew us everyday. Paul wrote in Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. The washing of regeneration is the salvation of our soul through faith in Christ. The renewing of the Holy Ghost is the salvation that comes to us daily through enlightenment in the Word of God. Applying God's truth in our life saves it and makes us an influence for God's glory. Paul spoke of it in Rom 12:2 ...be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Paul said to the Corinthians in 2 Cor 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? How do I know I have the right faith? How do I prove myself? How do I know that Christ is in me? How do I know I'm not a reprobate? By allowing the Holy Spirit to enlighten me through the Word of God. Where there is no renewing there is only the reasoning of man, the influence of this world or even worse, the influence of the devil. Consider that TV, movies, internet, social media, commentators and news organizations are not helping to renew your mind in the things of God. It's hard to imagine how we could make a difference if God's Spirit is not renewing us through His word.
More in part 2 -
