BE WHO YOU ARE (SALT AND LIGHT OF THE WORLD)

CALL TO WORSHIP
Job 6:6
Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of
an egg?
READINGS
1.Ezekiel 16:4
And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast
thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all.
2.Matthew 5:13-16
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
underfoot.

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.

15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its
stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good
deeds and glorify God in heaven.

Who is the salt of the earth?

Who is the light of the world?
“You are the salt of the earth….” Matthew 5:14 reads, “You are the light of
the world….” The word “You” is a plural expression meaning “all.”

SALT
Salt, from ancient days until now, was and still is primarily used to flavor food.

Christians have God within them and therefore, like salt changes the flavor of food, we
influence our environment.
The true Christian in today’s world makes life more palatable!

• Salt makes sour things less sour!

• The salt of the earth are those people who seek to be like Jesus –
 Who have a burden for the lost
Mrs.MONICAH NDUNGU Page 1|4
  Who care for hurting and
 Who make people believe in God again.

Story by President Woodrow Wilson

 I was sitting in a barber chair when I became aware that a personality had entered
the room.
 A man had come quietly in upon the same errand as myself, to have his hair cut,
and sat in the chair next to me.
 Every word the man uttered, showed a personal interest in the man who was
serving him.
 And before I got through with what was being done for me, I was aware that I had
attended an evangelistic service, because Evangelist D.L. Moody was in that chair.
 I purposely lingered in the room after he had left and noted the singular effect that
his visit had brought upon the barbershop.
 They talked in undertones.
 They didn't know his name, but they knew that something had elevated their
thoughts.
 And I felt that I left that place as I should have left the place of worship.

Not only does salt influence, but salt heals.

Salt was used as an antiseptic for a baby as soon as it was born to address any nicks or
scratches that would fester into infection.

Jesus is saying that the anointing of the Holy Spirit in a believers life is healing and
opposes corruption and the disease of sin.

 The world, without Christ is diseased, decaying, horrific, and corrupt and foul.
 This goes to the core of the Bible doctrine of man, Sin, and original sin…only a
redeemer could save a corrupt and wicked generation!

We see in Scriptures such as II Chronicles 13:5 and Leviticus 2:13 salt is

used to symbolize covenant.

Christians are in covenant with God and we are to be ambassadors for Christ to help
others be reconciled to God and to establish covenant with God through Christ.

Salt preserves. Before the days of refrigeration, salt was often used to
preserve meat.
Our anointing is the only hope for a corrupt and lost people going to hell.

Mrs.MONICAH NDUNGU Page 2|4

When we lose our testimony and influence for good, Jesus said we are like
salt that has lost its savour. We are “…good for nothing…” (Matthew 5:13b)

There are two things that deteriorate the saltiness of salt:

• exposure to the elements and
• too close proximity to the earth.

Our lord wants to keep us in the world, but away from the evil in the world (john17:15-
17).
Too much exposure and too close proximity to the world will not only cause us to lose
our savour, “…but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men” (Matthew 5:13c).

If seasoning has no flavor it has no value.

 If Christians make no effort to affect the world around them, they are of little
value to God.
 If we are too much like the world, we are worthless
 Christians are called by Jesus to be influencers and to add value to the world…to
affect others in a positive and powerful manner just as salt brings out the best
flavor in food!

LIGHT
“The LORD is my light and my salvation….”
Since the Lord who is the Light has come into our hearts, we should let it shine!”

II Corinthians 4:6 says, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness,
hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the
face of Jesus Christ.”

We are not to be swallowed up of this present darkness.

Jesus used the example that we are to be a city on a hill, not hidden beneath the
basket. Our good works that come as a result of being saved and dedicated to Christ
become a drawing point to Christ.

Philippians 2:15 reminds us, “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of
God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye
shine as lights in the world.” We are to be guiding the way to Jesus!

Do not underestimate the power of your influence when you are the light!

Mrs.MONICAH NDUNGU Page 3|4

AS INDIVIDUALS
We should make:
 our joy -contagious
 our love - overwhelming
 our lifestyle- attractive
 our commitment- inspiring
 our witness -winsome
We are the salt of the earth and should influence others and make them want
more of what we have.

AS A COMMUNITY OF SALTY CHRISTIANS

We should influence our lives by making:

• our worship - vibrant and exciting

• our sense of community - authentic
• our prayers - powerful
• our love - genuine
• our hospitality - engaging
• our faith - contagious

WARNING!
 When we are no longer salty – we are useless to god’s purpose and kingdom

 Our task and our calling is to maintain our saltiness and be fully committed to
influence the world for Jesus Christ!

“Are you worth your salt?”

Are you being the salt of the earth?

Are you allowing the Holy Spirit to use you to influence the people around
you?

Mrs.MONICAH NDUNGU Page 4|4