Day 9 Influence (Believers are Salt and Light of the world)

PART 2

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”

(Matthew 24:35)

“The grass withers, the flower fades,
      but the Word of our God stands forever.” (Isaiah 40:8)

THE

 27

PILLARS

THAT HOLD THE SPiRiTUAL TEMPLE OF TRUTH: FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Day 9

Influence

(Believers are Salt and Light of the world)

 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 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.  Let your light so shine before men,

that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16)

Believer’s good influence in the world is the 1^St pillar

Good influence of the upright and godly is the 1^st pillar that holds the temple of Truth.

We are the salt of the earth

God created salt with two main functions: to add flavor and to preserve. Even so, you are born again to add flavor into the world and to preserve its sanity.

To add flavor:

“Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.”  (Mark 9:50)

We are the salt of the earth; but if we lose our saltiness, our flavor, we lose our good influence.  How then shall the world be seasoned?  To be frank, the world is tasteless without believers.  It is the believers’ good influence that keeps this world balanced, that allows people to cope. 

It is the good character of so many believers that gives the world an alternative. Therefore, you must never avoid an opportunity to do good in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord!  Always show love to people in the name of Jesus.   Many people could be converted because of your good character, the way you behave, your words, your life and your actions.  Believe me, the world is watching us for guidance.  They might not admit it, but they are.  Human knowledge has limitations and when it reaches its limit, men start to look for something, or someone,  bigger than they are, and that is exactly what we are offering the world—some One bigger than the world, some One who understands us better then we know ourselves. The world looks at us and marvels.  They see men and women from different countries, cultures, races, creeds, languages, classes, and backgrounds dwelling together, worshiping and praising God together, working and living together in harmony, in the midst of a world that teaches exactly the opposite.  This unity is something men tried to achieve with all their might and failed.  But the love of God is able to overcome all prejudice and make us one, and bind us in one body, which is Christ.  Hallelujah! Praise the LORD!  Amen! 

My dear beloved, let us therefore love one another.  Be at peace with one another.  In living this way we will have a good influence in the world and the world will be influenced to turn away from its prejudices and from malice and to turn to the living God.  And our Father in Heaven will be glorified. Amen!

To preserve:

“So the LORD said, ‘If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.’”  (Genesis 18:26)

It is each believer’s responsibility to intercede for the world in prayer that God may grant repentance to all of us.  For this is the will of God, that all of us be saved.  It is our responsibility to keep the world sane!  Let’s face it, the world is insane.  We are failing to preserve the world’s sanity.  It is true. Where righteous men fail to rise, wicked men will prevail!  Look around.  We are getting so used to that which once was called abomination by the Christian community: abortion, homosexuality, false prophets, fat shepherds, pornography, nudity, violence, murder, evil music, even children’s rights!  Can you believe that a child has the right to report his parents if they discipline him?          

The Word of LORD is very clear about disciplining a child.                                 

“Do not withhold correction from a child,
      for if you beat him with a rod, he will not die.
        You shall beat him with a rod,
      and deliver his soul from hell.” (Proverbs 23:13-14)

“And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15)

Should we obey God or man?  You must decide, my dear beloved.  But as for me and my house, we will serve and obey Christ Jesus our Lord.

“But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: ‘We ought to obey God rather than men.’”  (Acts 5:29)

We are not to live by men’s rules, at the cost of disobeying God, but we ought to live by God’s commandments as the constitution of grace that governs our lives.  Let us arise and do good and stand by that which is good and acceptable in the eyes of God, that the world, by beholding us, may be changed for good.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen!

We are the light of the world

We are living in the last days and the darkness has covered the earth, even a deep darkness.  The world is unable to discern right from wrong, for the god of this world has blinded their eyes and closed their ears.  Having eyes, they do not see, and ears, they do not perceive.

My dear beloved, we are the light of the world, and it is through us that God gives light unto the world.  Each one of us MUST brighten up his corner.  This little light of ours, we must let it shine.  Yes, let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify our Father in heaven.  God did not save us to sit in the church and warm up the pews, or to hide inside the house, or even remain inside the church.

 God saved us so that through us, God may save others also, until every soul on this earth has heard the good news!  Whether people repent or not, that is not our responsibility.  That is the job of the Holy Spirit.  Our job is to share the truth with others; just to share the LIGHT.  The best way to share the Gospel is to live it, to be a doer of the Word, that those around you may see the works of God in you and through you, leading them to repentance.

“For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.”  (1 Corinthians 3:9)

Finally, my beloved:

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,  who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.”  (Philippians 3:20-21)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.  Amen!

Meditation:  I am the salt and the light of the world!

Prayer points:  LORD, please help me to be the salt of the earth; please help me to have good influence in the world. Please help me to be the light of the world.  Lord Jesus, please help my light to shine before men, that by Your grace, people may see my good works and glorify Your name, oh my Father in Heaven. Teach me to do good works through the power of the Holy Spirit.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen!

Commitment:  I commit myself by Your grace to let my light shine before men so that men may see good works done in Jesus’ name, so that Your name may be glorified in me and through me, oh my Father in Heaven.  Amen!