“High Beams in The Darkness”
#LetsRoll Week 3
Pastor Kris Freeman
Revolution Church
Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16 (NLT)
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
This is the first section following the Beatitudes in the SERMON ON THE MOUNT.
Last week, Pastor Joe spoke about:
1. Being a part of the TEAM.
2. Using our GIFTS
3. Finding your PLACE.
These things are emphasized in the MISSION of Revolution Church. Life change, love God and love others and serve our community and around the world. Live.Love.Serve.
Jesus was emphasizing our ROLE in the world as disciples and apostles. How do you use what you have been given to accomplish the mission?
50 Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other.” (Mark 9:50 NLT)
The Greek word for salt is halas. It is used four times in the New Testament and means we are to use our gifts from the Lord as a preservative. The Gospel is about making PEACE and RESOLUTION with sin, our enemies and our temptations and trials.
6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. (Galatians 4:6 NLT)
How many of you have ever prepared food in a canning process. Salt was used to preserve something for a very long TIME. The Gospel is the Good News and it is the very thing that is able to preserve us and help us overcome.
We are not just salt, we are also light.
Darkness is an ABSTRACT (a thought or idea, but without actual substance).
So, in essence, darkness is the ABSENCE of light, not an entity unto itself. Just as SIN is the ABSENCE or SEPARATION from the presence of God.
The light, or phos, actually occurs 72 times in 60 verses of the New Testament.
The light shines in the darkness. And the darkness can never extinguish it. (John 1:5 NLT)
12 Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” (John 8:12 NLT)
How do I find my place and let my light shine?
- As an apostle of Christ, you are an AGENT of reconciliation and peace. YOU can be the reason someone else finds Jesus! You can bring hope to the hopeless through Christ! You can give others a second chance! You can be an encourager to the broken!
20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” (2 Corinthians 5:20 NLT)
- As an apostle of Christ, you are a FLASHLIGHT to point to the way.
John himself was not the light, he was simply a witness to tell about the light. The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. (John 1:8-9 NLT)
- Don’t lose flavor, and don’t burn out. You are a preservative and what you have to use can be beneficial for a long time. You are a light, and what you have to show can point the way!
47 For the Lord gave us this command when he said, ‘I have made you a light to the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth.” 48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for his message; and all who were chosen for eternal life became believers. 49 So the Lord’s message spread throughout that region. (Acts 13:47-48)
#LetsRoll
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