RED:AKingdomofInfluence. DannyW.Davis July28,2013(AM) WewillbelookingatMatthew5:1316thismorning. IfyoudonothaveaBiblepleasetakeouttheinsertinthebulletinandtheScriptureswillbeonit.

(ME) Ihaveseveralcontinualprayerrequests.Oneofthemissimply,Lord,letmeapersonofinfluenceto myfamily,mychurchandmycommunity. IwillnotalwaysbeinapositionofpowerbutIamalwaysinapositionofinfluence.Imaynotbethe oneinchargeofaprojectorcommunitycausebutIamalwaysaninfluencerbecauseofmyrelationship withChristandtheHolySpiritworkingthroughme. AswelookatMatthew5:1316thismorningIwantustokeepinmindthatGodcallsHischildrento beagentsofinfluenceinadecayinganddyingworld.AlifelivedforthekingdomofGodcanhave immeasurableinfluenceonitssurroundings. (TRANSITION)InhisbookHasChristianityFailedYou?RaviZachariaspointstooneofthe greatestproofsforthetruthofChristandtherealityofhisresurrection:thechangedlivesofChristians. Hewrites: (WE) "During the course of nearly 40 years, I have traveled to virtually every continent and seen or heard some of the most amazing testimonies of Gods intervention in the most extreme circumstances. Ihave seen hardened criminals touched by the message ofJesusChristandtheirheartsturnedtowardgoodin a way that no amount or rehabilitationcouldhaveaccomplished.Ihaveseenardentfollowersofradical belief systems turned from being violent, brutal terrorists to becoming mild, tenderhearted followers of Jesus Christ. I have seen nations where the gospel, banned and silenced by governments, has neverthelessconqueredtheethosandmindsetofanentireculture." Zacharias gives many examples ofChristspowertotransformlivesbutexampleisvery appropriatefor usthismorning.ZachariaswritesofA.N.Wilsonanotedatheist: The British author A. N. Wilson, who only a few years ago was known for his scathing attacks on

Christianity...celebratedEaster[in2009]atachurchwithagroupofotherchurchmembers,proclaiming that that the story of the Jesus of the Gospels is the only story that makes sense out of life and its challenges. [Wilson said], 'My own return to faith has surprised none more than myself...My belief has come about in large measure because of the lives and examples ofpeopleIhaveknownnotthe famous, not saints, but friends and relations who have lived, and faced death, in light of the resurrectionstory,orinthequietacceptancethattheyhaveafutureaftertheydie.'1 (TRANSITION) Notice what this former atheist states as the human cause of his return to faith in Christ, ...the lives and examples ofpeople Ihaveknown...Oneofthemostpowerfultoolswehavein our Christian walk is influence. We are, because ofourrelationshipwithChrist,saltandlight.Weare called to influence our neighbors and our community through the gospel of Christ. Lets look at what Jesusteachesabouthowwearetobeapositiveinfluencetotheworldaroundus. (GOD) READ:Matthew5:1316 Remember that Jesus is preaching a sermon. Sometimes because of the way many of our Bibles have paragraph titles we think there is some sort of break and possibly even a different thought altogether. Last week we looked at The Beatitudes (MT 5:112) but verse 1316 are not necessarily a separate teachingtheyareconnectedtowhatJesusisteachinginTheBeatitudes. In The Beatitudes we discoveredthatbecauseofChristandourfaithinHimweareblessednomatter what circumstances of life bring. Now Jesus is telling us in verses 1316 that becausewehavehadthe blessingofsalvationpronouncedoveruswearetolivelivesofinfluence. Jesus uses two natural metaphors to give us a picture of how we are agents of influence in our world: salt and light. However, as we think about what it means to be salt and light we are confronted with sometension. 1. Ibelongtoaheavenlykingdomthatispureandpeacefulfulloflifeandlifegiving. 2. Iliveinanearthlykingdomthatisdecayinganddyingdarkanddecadent. The Apostle Paul spoke of this tension in Philippians 1. He knew that death would usher him into the heavenly kingdom but he also understood that remaining in this world gave him the opportunity to
1

RaviZacharias,HasChristianityFailedYou?(Zondervan,2010),pp.105107.FromasermonbyMichaelMcCartney, ExperiencetheSpiritintheResurrection,5/11/2011

influence others to Christ. He considered both sidesofthecoinasaGAIN.TobewithJesuswouldbe awesomebuttostayhereandpreachthegospelisawesometoo. Jesusunderstandsthistension(because Hetoolivedinthisworld butalsoknewthesplendorofheaven) andoffersusasolutiontohealthetensionsothatwecanbeabouttheFathersbusiness. ThefirstsolutionisthatweshouldbeSALT.
1. Salt actsasapreservativepreventingdecayandrot(intheancient worldsaltwasseenasaway

to get rid ofdemonsintheOT itwasusedasawaytosealcovenants)..Iampreservedinthis world by my faith in Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit. In a world where things are rotting away something that is not rotting speaks to others of hopeandblessingofakingdomwhere mothandrustdonotcorrupt. 2. The preserving quality of salt also may point to the idea that it is Gods salted play a part in holding back Gods judgmentonthisearth.Thinkabout theconversationofAbrahamwithGod about Sodom (Gen 18:2032). God told AbrahamHewouldholdbackHis judgmentifjust10 righteous peopleinthecitycouldbefound.In Jeremiah5:1GodtellsJeremiahthatifhe canfind onehonestpersoninJerusalemHewillforgivethecityofitssins. a. Obviously in bothcasesneitherenoughrighteousorhonest peoplecouldbefound.That speaks of how little influence Gods people were having over the surrounding culture. However, it also speaks to the idea that Gods people can act as ambassadors who helptopreserveothersfromGodsjudgment. 3. It could be that God, inHismercyandgrace,sodesiresfortheworld tobesaved andcometo the knowledge of the Son of God that He uses us as FLAVOR so that others can get a glimpse into a kingdom that does not decay or rot or putrefy. We are ambassadors of a kingdomthatisfarmoreBLESSEDthanthekingdomsofthisworld. a. Though we live in a world of decay God still callsitblessedbecauseinthemidstofthe decay are those who have surrendered to the Lordship of Christ and are servingasan influenceforHimandagainstthegatesofhell. Rememberwhattheworldcalls blessedisnotnecessarilywhatGodcallsblessed.Theworldpushesthe idea that one's works and deeds canmakethemgood(andtherefore beblessed).Godskingdomsays you are blessed because of your relationship with the King. And through that relationship we are preserved (sealed by the Holy Spirit) BUT we also bring an element of preservation to the world around us. Through the righteousness we receive by faith in Christ we make it possible for others to tastethegoodnewsofanotherkingdomthatisherenowandwillbefullyrealizedinthefuture.

If we are both preserved and agents ofpreservation(savedbyfaithandambassadorsoftheKing)then whatdoesJesusmeanwhenHespeaksofsaltlosingitssaltiness? Salt was basically made two ways: 1) from evaporated Dead Sea water or 2) from salt marshes. Salt from the sea was, by and large, pure. Salt from the salt marsh came with lots of impurities and when attemptingtowashouttheimpuritiesthesaltwoulddiluteandbecomeuseless. Dead Sea salt was considered valuable and a commodity (Romansoldierswerepaid insalttheLatin words for soldier and salary refer to the giving or receiving of salt). The saltmarshsaltwasoflittle value because of its diluted taste. Also, some merchants of the day would mix salt with gypsum. This would eventually change the flavor of the salt (becomes alkaline).Eitherway,saltmixedwithimpurities didnotdomuchtomakethingstastebetter. Salt cannot lose its flavor unless something else causes it too. Salt is notaspiceorherbbutachemical (sodiumchloride).Theonlywaytomakesaltloseitsflavorisforittobewatereddown. If Christians are preserved by their relationship with Christ what then can make their testimony and effectivenessintheworldloseitsimpact? a. Paul tells the church at Corinth, bad company corrupts good character (1 Cor. 15:33). b. In the CorinthiancontextPaulis tellingthechurch that keepingcompanywiththosewho donotbelievetheresurrectioncancorrupttheirfaithinChrist. c. In our context today we must realize that a steady diet of worldliness without the fellowshipofbelieverscanleadtoacorruptionofourfaithinChrist. d. If our faith is corrupted then we will be ineffective in our ability to act as a preserving agent thus we begin to lose our ability to help others taste of the good news. WE BECOMELESSSALTY. e. We are called to stay faithful to the King of our kingdom and live in relationship with Him. Doing so, even in times where we must repent of sin, we remain an agent of preservationandanambassadorofthegoodnews f. Though there is debate among scholars about the phrase, lose its flavor it should actually be translated became foolish. (If salt became foolishhow canitbecomesalty again...) i. Ancient Rabbis often used salt as a metaphor for wisdom. Thus, some scholars point to the idea that Jesus is telling His disciples not to become fools by surrendering the gospel and their salvation to the corruptive elements of the world.

ii. Weknowthatsaltcannotbefoolishbuthumanscan.

No matter how we translate this verse the point is the same. Believers inChristARESALT(notmight be)andarecalledtoinfluencetheworldaroundthemforthekingdom.Wecanliveinthisworldandnot beaffectedbyitbutitrequiresstayingclosetoChrist. Jesusgoesontouseanothermetaphorlight. A key thought in both the pictures of salt and light is distinction. Salt is needed because the world is rotting and decaying and if our Christianity isalsorottingand decaying,itwon'tbeany good. Light is needed because the world is in darkness, and if our Christianity imitates the darkness, we have nothing to show the world. To be effective we must seek and display the Christiandistinctive.WecanneveraffecttheworldforJesusbybecomingliketheworld.2 The very moment you profess faith in Christ you become salt andlighttoarottinganddecayingworld. THAT MAKES YOU UNIQUE DISTINCTIVE! Just like taking on the impurities of the world causes us to lose saltiness so attempting to hide the light from the world causes us to beineffectivefor Christskingdom. If we are living under the reality that I am BLESSED because I am in relationship with Christ then we can be effective for Christ. Whether you are rich or poor loved or hatedinchargeormeekyouare CHIEFLY A CHILD OF GOD(ifyouhavebeenbornagain)!Assuch,youhavebeenempoweredby theHolySpirittoresistsinandlivealifeofrighteousnessalifeyouneednotbeashamedof. LookatPaulwrotetoTitus: Titus 2: 11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say No to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live selfcontrolled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hopethe appearing ofthegloryofourgreatGodandSavior,JesusChrist,14whogavehimselffor us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own,eagertodowhatisgood. Matthew 5:16 provides the glue that holds together what I have been saying. We are salt and light for one reason TO GLORIFY GOD. But what should be the RESULT of our glorifying God? Others, whodonotknowChrist,willPRAISEGodtheFather.
2

http://v3.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide_Mat/Mat_5.cfm?a=934013

Jesus is not saying we do good deeds so thatotherswillNOTICEUSorPRAISEUSbutsothatthey willseeGod. In a world of corruption and decay and darkness the distinctive nature of Gods children shining light and standing in the gap should cause others to ask, By what power do they do these deeds? The power lies in our BLESSED RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST. Though we are thankful that others notice what we are doing to make the world a better place we recognizeandpointtotherealitythat without theTriuneGodresidinginuswe would bepowerlesstodoanythinggoodwewouldsuccumb tothedecayanddarkness.BUTWITHCHRISTINUSWECANDOTHEWILLOFGOD! (YOU) The question you should be asking is not, Am I salt and light? If you are a believer then you are automatically salt and light. The question you should be asking is, Am I salty and shiny? In other words,ismylifepointingpeopletowardthegoodnewsofChristandHiskingdom? Letmeoffersomepracticalwaystolivealifeofinfluence:3 1. Be Authentic:peoplearenotasconcernedaboutyoubeingperfectasyouthink.Whatpeople really want to see is how your relationship with God impacts you during times of failure and success. Do they see you growing closer to Christ even in the midst of challenging circumstancesordotheyseeyoutryingtofindothermeansofsolvingaproblem. 2. Be Friendly: it is OK to smile and talk to strangers (if you are responsible adult)! Proverbs 18:24 tells us if we want to have friendswemustbefriendly.Thistiesinwithbeingauthentic.If youarenotgenuinelybeingfriendlythenyouarejustaflatterer. 3. Be Humble: the world is full of arrogance and celebrity. Living alifeofhumilitymeansthatwe ask people to follow us as we follow Christ. Humility accepts the responsibility of being observedandseekstolivealifeofgodlyinfluence. 4. Be Understanding: the word understand actually comes from the Old English phrase stand under. It was a phrase usedtodescribeauthorityandgovernmenttobeunderstandingmeant you were willing to live under authority and be accountable. Are you living a life that is accountable not just to Jesus but to other believers and godly leaders? People intheworld need to see how we treat each other in the Christian community and how authority works to helpaccomplishgodlygoals.

Adaptedfromthisarticle: http://globalchristiancenter.com/personalgrowth/howtoinfluenceotherstolivegodlylives.html

(US) As a churchourgoalshouldbeto becomeaplaceofinfluenceinourcommunity.Aplacewherepeople andofficialslooktoforanswersintimesofdistressandcelebration. As a church we want to have certain Core Values that guide us in our mission to be a church if influence. Here are the Core Values we at Odessa First Assembly will look to so that we may have influenceinourcommunity: VISION we have a big vision from God built on the Scriptures, on prayer and tempered with grace, as such,allwedowillbefilteredthroughthisGodgivenvision. ATTITUDE we want our attitude to be thatofChristwhohumbledHimselfandserved,assuch,wewilluse ourgiftstoservethechurchandothers LEADERSHIP we seek to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit who sends us out engage our world with the GospelandbringsustogethertoworshipChrist UNDERSTANDING we will "stand under" the authority of God and His WordandworkincooperationwithGod's appointedchurchleadershipastheyfollowafterChrist EXCELLENCE we will do all things with excellence so that we may hear the Lord say, "Well done!" (Mt. 25:21). CONCLUSION(ALTARTIME) I would like for us as a church to respond to the preaching this morning by praying that God would make us a person of influence and that our church would be aplaceofinfluenceinOdessa.Wouldyou joinmeinthatprayerthismorning?