Saturday, January 30, 2010

31.01.10 - Change The World. Yeah Right!

Earlier this month we considered Jesus’ words, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again.” (Mt 5:13) I suggested that Jesus used salt as an image of influence. Salt is very influential stuff.

To be honest, I am a little cynical when it comes to talk of changing the world. Young people talk about being ready to go out and change the world and some of us think that is just the idealism of youth and it won’t happen. And yet, what did Jesus really intend? When He called us the salt of the earth, what did He expect us to do? How influential could we be? Is Jesus expecting us to change the world?

In the Bible there is a book called The Acts of the Apostles. It tells the story of the first followers of Jesus and the influence they had. In chapter 17, Paul and some of his companions came to Thessalonica. They taught about Jesus and many people were converted. Let’s READ vv.5-9.

In v.6 the mob says, “These men... have caused trouble all over the world.” In a different translation it says “these men have turned the world upside down.” Now causing trouble doesn’t seem to be the type of influence we should have. But remember these were the words of their enemies. What sort of trouble had they caused? Healing people. Freeing people from demonic possession. Freeing people from false belief systems and false religions by introducing them to Jesus. People didn’t agree with what they were doing but they couldn’t deny the extent of their influence. “The whole world!” they complained.

In another book of the Bible, John, which is an eyewitness account of Jesus’ life, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Look at the response. READ JOHN 12:17-19.

Again, Jesus’ enemies were fearful that the whole world would turn and follow Him – that He would influence the whole world.

Do you think the people of Gore would say about us that we are impacting the whole world? Whether they saw that as a good or bad thing, would they say that we are having that sort of influence? Would they even say that we are impacting all of Gore? Is the salt still salty?

Again, how influential does Jesus intend us to be? Are we to change the world?

His last words to His disciples were, “Go and make disciples of all nations.” Think what that means. Jesus’ intention is that every nation be Christian. In similar vein, Luke records Jesus saying, “repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in [My] name to all nations.” (Lk 19:47)

When Jesus used the images of light, salt and yeast, He was talking about influence – about making a difference. We are to be world-changers.

Few of us are going to be influential on an international level. Or are we? Last year some of us went to the Willow Creek Leadership Summit in Dunedin. I want to show you one of the presentations we watched. I think you might find it quite inspiring. I think you will like this. Jessica Jackley refers to “the power of the small loan”. As you watch, think also about the power of the ordinary individual to make a difference. Think about the power of ordinary people working together. Few individuals working alone can change the world but we are part of a huge worldwide team. What is your part? What is Jesus asking you to do to change the world?

I am not sure yet but I am considering the possibility that we take a lot more time this year thinking about influence. Here’s a question that I would like to you think about after having seen this video and through this week. This is your homework: What does it take to change the world?

Leave a comment here. What does it take to change the world?

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

24.01.10 - Spiritual Warfare - Wounded In Your Battles?

Paul Loveday
Introduction
Some of the experiences I’ve had with spiritual warfare are a little awkward to share about. Others are easier. But in all of them God’s power was present – Jesus was there with me. There were lessons to learn. In some battles I’ve gone through unscathed, whereas in others it has not been the case.

Battle wounds tend to have happened when I’ve either been off guard, or when I entered into the battle already wounded. Going into spiritual battles unready or off-guard, and also wounded is not good.

Let me illustrate that for you.
E.g. On holiday walking around a lake being followed by a boy with evil spirit.
        Walking around a local bazaar in Karachi.

Last week I mentioned that spiritual warfare is unavoidable for Christians. Let’s not get too excited with the thought about encountering battles, but on the other hand, let’s not become complacent, and think they won’t happen.

First of all let’s refresh our memories about what I mentioned last week.

1. Why has a Christian been called into spiritual warfare?
• To carry on the ministry of Jesus
• For individual refining
• To glorify Jesus (To honour Jesus)
• Spiritual warfare is not an option

2. Where does spiritual warfare take place?
God in His Word speaks of three areas where we as Christians fight our spiritual battles.
• The flesh
• The World
• Satan and demons

We now pick up on some practical points about spiritual warfare.

3. When can a Christian expect battles to take place?
• After conversion (e.g. after Jesus’ baptism – Matt 4, Mk 1, Lk 4
Sin nature has a new opponent
Satan lost what he had stolen from God
      o Humankind is the only part of creation that bears God’s image. God is the rightful owner. Jesus redeemed what had been taken away. “For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

I believe this is one of the reasons we have to be prepared to be prayerful for those whom we believe God is drawing to Himself – to bring them to faith in Jesus Christ.

• When serving God
Jesus led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit – after His baptism.
Satan tempted Him there
Satan left and would return at an opportune time. (Lk 4)

• When physically tired
Satan does not do battle as a gentleman. His attacks don’t come we feel ready for them. Being tired and worn out / down can leave us vulnerable to attack. Also in times of refreshment, such as holidays, when one can be off-guard. (E.g. Elijah lost perspective, became depressed after a major spiritual battle – 1 Kgs 19)

• When disappointments take place
Unexpected unpleasant circumstances (e.g. widow’s outburst when her son died – 1 Kings 17:17 – 18). This is more about God allowing what lies within us to be exposed / identified. Warfare bringing the need for personal edification / growth that honours God.
      o Watch for one’s reactivity. When squeezed by pressures look at the type of juice that comes out (James 3:1 -12). James speaks of the need to tame the tongue, of the mouth praising and cursing, that a spring cannot give both salty and fresh water, a fruit tree two types of fruit.
      o Watch for careless words, some of those throwaway comments that cut deeply. The effect can help turn people away from Jesus.

• If personal boundaries are removed
The effect can be similar to the removal of self-control.
      o Non-implementation of personal boundaries in regards to relationships, values and beliefs.
      o Can easily occur when in a different location away from supportive Christian fellowship / accountability structures. (This is fairly common when young people leave home or when parental / family oversight is removed).

• After some personal ministry achievements (successes)
      o part of refining process – God cleansing out the junk that will hinder future ministry (e.g. Elijah in 1 Kings 19)
      o Satan out to discredit (1 Peter 5:8) (To spoil credentials / good name)
      o World has its own mechanism – e.g. competitiveness
      o Reactions in other believers – their own sinful nature (e.g. resentment, jealousy)

• When ignorant
      o The example of Peter rebuking Jesus for speaking of His rejection and death (Matthew 16:22ff; Mark 8:32). Peter had some revelation – Jesus the Christ the Son of the living God – but lacked understanding. He was still ignorant on some things, many things.

• Attack after ground reclaimed
      o Healing – doubts can come. As the case in many situations this proverb has relevance, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7 KJV). Guard against doubts. Stand firm on what God has given. Doubt undermines faith.

But we have not been left defenceless. We cannot stand in our strength and power, we must be dependent upon God.

But in saying this, Jesus states very clearly we have some responsibility in order to stand. We must be alert / be watchful.

WATCHFUL / VIGILANT
• At the end of the age
Mark 13:32 – 37 three times Jesus says’ “Watch”
Mark 13:32-37
The Day and Hour Unknown
32"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. 34It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

35"Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!' "

• At crucial ministry times
In the time of His own battle, in the Garden of Gethsemane Mark 14:32 – 42 three times Jesus says, “Watch”
Mark 14:32-42 - Gethsemane
32They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." 33He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34"My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," he said to them. "Stay here and keep watch."

35Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36"Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."

37Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Simon," he said to Peter, "are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? 38Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

39Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.

41Returning the third time, he said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"

• The Apostle Peter’s warning to believers
When Peter tells his readers about their enemy being like a roaring lion 1 Peter 5:8
1 Peter 5:8-9
8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

• Against pride
The warning Jesus gave His disciples when speaking to Peter Luke 22:31 the ‘you’ is in the plural.
Luke 22:31 (New International Version)
31"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.

So, assuming we are going to be alert about the possibility of battles taking place, let’s look at the weapons of our warfare. Then we’ll be better able to stand.

Recognise if you’re going around the mountain again? E.g. A friend in Lower Hutt who had spent quite a lot of time ‘inside’. He could see that some of his behaviour was linked to habits / attitudes that would put him back inside prison. He could see that it was more about choosing to do battle differently. The battle first starts in our minds, recognising and choosing what form of response there will be. Seeking the Holy Spirit’s discernment.

Watch for symptoms of disunity and confusion
Being in agreement in prayer – in the blessings of God (Matt 18:19 20 – in the context of restoring relationships)

The evil one will actively try to bring division into our relationships
- Marriages
- Families
- Work places
- Friendships
- Christian ministry

2 Corinthians 10:3 – 6
"Indeed we live as human beings, but we do not wage war according to human standards; for the weapons of our warfare are not merely human, but they have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ. We are ready to punish every disobedience when your obedience is complete.”

4. What are the weapons of our warfare?
• Divine power
The gift of the Holy Spirit – the baptism which Jesus promised His followers – so that they could be His witnesses (Acts 1:8; Ephesians 5:18)
The gifts of the Holy Spirit

• Word of testimony
Jesus used Scripture to defeat Satan in the wilderness temptations (Matt 4:1 – 11, Luke 4:1 – 13)

• Faith in God
Hebrews 11; Matthew 21:22fig tree – mountain – believing prayer (; Mark 11:24 (faith in God – throw mountain in sea); Philippians 4:13 (“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

• In the name of Jesus
Luke 10:17 (the return of the 72 – demons submitted because of the authority Jesus had given them); Ephesians 1:18 – 23 (the power at work in us is that power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead); Philippians 2:9 – 11 (at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow); Acts 16:18 (a spirit cast out of the girl in Philippi); Revelation 12:7 – 12 (the devil, or Satan, hurled down and defeated by the blood of the Lamb and the word of believers’ testimony)

• The whole armour of God
All the armour comes through knowing the Word of God.

• Recognise the tactics of the Evil one
- brings doubt
- Sows unbelief
These are often expressed through our mouths – Proverbs 18:21.

• Fasting
Luke 5:35. Jesus speaking about the time when the “bridegroom will be taken away” and then those who follow Him will fast.

Some manuscripts include fasting in the comment made by Jesus when He talksa with His disciples following the healing of the by with an evil spirit (Mark 9:28).

The bottom line is obedience to what God says – in His Word and as directed by Holy Spirit. (Note: the Holy Spirit will never ask anything of us that contradicts God’s written Word.)

Some indicators about whether one is responding rightly in battle or fighting / walking away from active duty:
• Is what I’m doing lining up with God’s character – honouring Him?
• Is what I’m doing strengthening the fruit of the Holy Spirit in my life – shaping my character to look more like that of Jesus?
• Am I building others up or knocking them down – pointing them to Jesus?
• Am I relying on God, or am I relying on my own abilities, unpowered by God’s Spirit?

5. Dealing with wounds and maintaining the victory
• Come to Jesus Matthew 11:28-30
• Deal with sin God’s way, turning away from all known sin
• Seek Christian fellowship / friendship
• Worship God
Some other helpful tips
• Affirm what you believe
• Pray
• Serve God
• Cultivate good things
• Be an encourager
• Have total commitment to God
• Read the Word of God

Our Response
• What is your attitude to spiritual warfare?
• Alert and active?
• Passive or non-combative.
• Ready to take a fresh or new stand in the strength Jesus gives?


17.01.10 - Spiritual Warfare - Why Do We Face Battles?

Paul Loveday

Introduction
Recently I made my way through a daily readings book that was titled, ‘I wish I’d known’. It was a collection of helpful tips the writer had picked up on his journey of faith over the past 35 years.

Today and next week I will pass on something like that. There will be just two very much linked topics – about spiritual warfare.

This morning I will give some practical teaching about warfare, and next week a pastoral approach about the effects of being in battle – from being ready or not.

Somewhere in this you will hear my heart’s cry – the agony of facing battles, both mine and that of others, but mainly mine!

When I was a boy I used to really enjoy reading war comics. Then as TV became more available to me I liked watching war movies.

But as the years have rolled by I have lost interest in war stories. I think I’ve become more of a pacifist - but not so as to look disdainfully upon those who have fought in world wars. I have come too close to the effects of war, upon families affected by it, by having lived in a nation which suffers terrorism, and virtually surrounded by nations that are deeply engaged in war. In my role as a minister I’ve also had to sit with families that have lived with the effects of war-scarred returning soldiers. War is serious stuff, and I believe should be avoided if at all possible.

But battles in the Christian life are less avoidable – in fact are not avoidable at all. Do we prepare one another adequately for these? Probably not. Why is that?

Spiritual warfare is a hot topic for some Christians and in some churches.

This morning we shall look at this unavoidable part of the Christian life.

There are some lessons to be learnt. Here are some things I’ve come to understand.

1. Why has a Christian been called into spiritual warfare?
• To carry on the ministry of Jesus

Isaiah 61:1 – 4 (Stated by Jesus in synagogue at Nazareth – Luke 4:18 – 19, 21)
“The Spirit of the of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners…”

John 14:12 – 14
“Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do, and in fact will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.” (do greater number of works – more disciples, time not confined to just three and a half years)

1 John 3:8b
"The Son of God was revealed for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.” (context – those who are caught in the power of sin are children of the devil)

Hebrews 9:14
“How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit, offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” (acts that lead to death – dead works)

- For bringing healing / restoration – right relationship, to serve God.
- Bear witness to Christ – bring others to Jesus Christ for their healing too, to be in right relationship God and set free.

• For individual refining
1 Peter 1:6 – 7
“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

Romans 5:3 – 4
“And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”

Jas 1:2 – 4 suffering produces endurance. James says to let endurance have the full effect that we become mature and complete – lacking in nothing.

• To glorify Jesus (To honour Jesus)
John 16:14 (Jesus speaking about the work of the H.S.)
“He (Holy Spirit) will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making known to you.”

John 14:13
“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

• Spiritual warfare is not an option
Joshua 24:15 – 16
“But if serving the Lord seems desirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods!”

James 4:7
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

We can choose to let Satan have his way, or we can learn to resist, fight and be victorious through Jesus Christ.

“Hurt people hurt people, but healed people heal people.”

2. Where does spiritual warfare take place?
Let’s read some verses from the Old Testament book Joshua.

This is a story about a man called Achan.

Achan was a man who found himself neglecting to pay heed to a battle that we will each face. Where was his battle? Was it really against the inhabitants of Jericho. In the natural it appeared that way. But let’s look at what took place, where he was defeated, and then of course the effect that it had on not just him but also the people of God.

Give the context here – crossed the Jordan River, now going to possess the land God had promised, Jericho the first city to defeat, specific instructions.

Joshua 6:15-19
15 On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times. 16 The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the people, "Shout! For the LORD has given you the city! 17 The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the LORD. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent. 18 But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. 19 All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the LORD and must go into his treasury."…

24 Then they burned the whole city and everything in it, but they put the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron into the treasury of the LORD's house. 25 But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho—and she lives among the Israelites to this day.

Joshua 7
Achan's Sin
1 But the Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the LORD's anger burned against Israel….

(God then led Joshua through a process to identify Achan as the offender.)

Joshua 7:19-21
19 Then Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and give him the praise. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me."

20 Achan replied, "It is true! I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: 21 When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath."

This teaching material will cover many of the areas where Achan should have really been fighting his battle.

Ephesians 2:1 – 3
“You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. All of us once lived among them in the passions of the flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath.”

God in His Word speaks of three areas where we as Christians fight our spiritual battles.

• The flesh
The flesh is the sinful nature humankind inherited through the Fall (Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12 – 19)
o There is conflict between the flesh and the Spirit (Romans 7:23; Galatians 5:17). “…but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.”
o Commission of sins of the flesh gives access to Satan (Ephesians 4:22)
o How to overcome the flesh
       Acknowledging our fleshly sin (Own the sin, deal with it)
       Reckoning we are dead to sin through Christ and crucifying the misdeeds of the body (Romans 6:11; 8:13) (Resist the impulses – seek God’s help)
       Setting our minds on the things that the Spirit desires (Romans 8:5; Galatians 5:24 – 25) (Replace the wrong unhelpful thought with things you know reflect God’s character, His ways)

• The World
1 John 2:15
“Do not love the world or anything that belongs to the world. If you love the world you do not love the Father”

o The devil is the ruler of this world (1 John 5:19). “We know that we belong to God even though the whole world is under the rule of the Evil one.”
o The world tempts us to
       Gain its treasures, seek its approval (Luke 9:23 – 25)
       Be ashamed of Jesus (Luke 9:26; 2 Timothy 1:8)
       Reject God’s truth (1 Corinthians 1:18 – 21)
       Conform to its standards (Romans 12:2; John 15:18 – 19; John 17:6, 9, 14 – 16). Also, 2 Timothy 4:10. “…for Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.” Greed, which is idolatry, replaces God with…

o The world is overcome by
       Our faith (1 John 5:4). “Who can defeat the world? Only the person who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”
       Our union with Christ (1 John 5:5; 1 John 4:4; John 16:33) (Seeking God, His will & doing it)
       Our understanding the Word of God (Romans 12:2)

John the Apostle uses the word ‘world’ in the sense of that which is in rebellion to God.

• Satan and demons
Daniel 10 is an OT account of one of God’s people in prayer who brought about a spiritual battle in heavenly realm. Daniel had spent three weeks fasting and praying. (Angel reached him with God’s reply, spoke of a battle he had been in, prayer heard, but reply delayed because of the battle). (Ephesians talks of heavenly places where spiritual battles take place. God’s people are seated there now with Christ in His heavenly power – Eph. 1:20; 2:6). It is also in this realm that we wage our non-physical warfare (Eph. 6:12)

o Satan is a fallen angel (Luke 10:18; Isaiah 14:12 – 17; Ezekiel 38:13 – 19)
o Satan appears as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14 – 15)
o Satan is the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10b)
o Be alert (1 Peter 5:8 – 9)

The story of Achan highlights that there are two levels of activity taking place. The historical, and the spiritual. There was spiritual reality for Achan, but there are some principles God would have us pick up too.

The picture of new life in Jesus Christ, as one of His followers. Baptism and then living in possession of all we have in Christ – our destiny.

Next week I will continue with some practical examples as to when a Christian can expect battles to take place, and what the effects can be when we are not ready for these battles.

Saturday, January 2, 2010

03.01.10 - Always Salty

When Jesus said “You are the salt of the earth” He paid you a huge compliment. Are you pretty chuffed that you are the salt of the earth?

We say that a kind, reliable, honest person–especially a person of humble origins – is the salt of the earth but is that what Jesus meant? Actually, what did Jesus mean?

Let me give you a few facts about salt.

The word “salary” is derived from the word “salt”? Roman soldiers were paid a salarium. No one is quite sure whether they were paid in salt or they were paid an allowance so that they could buy salt or they were paid for their part in protecting salt supplies but whichever, it helps us realise perhaps something of the value of salt in the ancient world.

We can go to the supermarket and buy salt relatively cheaply but wars have been fought over salt. I read that more wars have been fought over salt than over gold.

Slaves were bought using salt. If a slave didn’t prove valuable he was said to be not worth his salt.

Salt is essential to our health but, at the same time, too much salt is linked with hardening of the arteries, high blood pressure and cardiovascular illness. The recommended daily intake is between half a gram and about 2.3 grams. That is a tiny amount but we will die without it.

Salt kills germs. It has been called “the first antibiotic.” Apparently, many of Napoleon’s soldiers died on their retreat from Moscow because their wounds would not heal as a result of lack of salt.

You’ve heard sermons on this topic before. You can probably predict that I am going to say that salt preserves, so Christians are to preserve a decaying world; salt adds flavour, so we are to add flavour to people’s lives; salt produces thirst so we should make people thirsty for the God they see in us.

Actually, I am not sure I am going to say any of those things! I am not sure that that is what Jesus was saying. Drawing parallels leads to some silly thoughts. What does it actually mean to add flavour to people’s lives. Surely any interesting person can do that. And if we think of the Biblical images of salt they include Lot’s wife being turned into a pillar of salt and salt being associated with barren, infertile land. Are we to think that Jesus was calling us to be disobedient (like Lot’s wife) and to make the world infertile? Are we to conclude that too many Christians (like too much salt) would make the world sick?

Let’s look at the words. In Matthew 5, Jesus said to His disciples:
Matt 5:13 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.

Was He saying that we, like salt, are highly valued? Maybe. Was He saying that we are essential? Maybe.

What makes salt so valuable? It is so useful. I mentioned that it is essential for our health and for life. Salt maintains the electrolyte balance inside and outside of cells. The body’s salt-to-water ratio is critical to metabolism. In cases of severe dehydration the treatment is Oral Rehydration Therapy, which simply means giving a mixture of sugar, salt and water. The British Medical Journal called that “the most important medical advance of the (20th) century”. That is a huge claim. It kills bacteria. We don’t value salt for itself. It is awful to eat. You can’t drink salt water. We value it for what it does. It does so much. It gives the Dead Sea amazing buoyancy but it is also the reason it is dead. Salt is powerfully influential. You notice it when it is present and you notice it when it is missing.

When we were newly married we cooked eggs one night and as one of us sprinkled salt on the egg, the top of the saltshaker fell off and we got far more salt when we have bargained on. We scooped off the salt as well as we could but we could not get rid of the taste. That egg was inedible. I remember, when I was quite young making a cup of tea for my mother and thinking it was funny to put salt in instead of sugar. It didn’t fool her for a minute and she didn’t think it was nearly as funny.

Salt is very influential. It lowers the freezing temperature of water, so we spread it on our roads to stop them icing.

I think Jesus was talking about influence. In fact, we see that in the verse itself because salt that has lost its saltiness “is no longer good for anything.” Saltiness is about its usefulness and influence. Its value is not in itself. Its value is in what it does.

That is why you should be chuffed that Jesus calls you the salt of the earth. You are an influential person. You can make a powerful difference. Non-Christians wouldn’t necessarily see this. Most Christians don’t look particularly influential but Jesus says that Christians are the people who make a real difference. The influence might be largely invisible just as salt does its work invisibly but who can measure the influence of a single prayer or of a Christian befriending another person or of sharing the gospel? In the way God measures things, it is those things rather than winning military victories that are truly significant.

Bill Hybels says “The local church is the hope of the world.” That is the same message. You and I, working together, are the hope of the world. It is you and I who can make a difference to this world.

You can’t say, “Well in that case, it doesn’t apply to me. I am not very influential. I am not salt.” Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth.” You are designed to make a difference. You can feel chuffed.

But interestingly, Jesus spends most of the verse talking about salt not doing what it should. Salt that has lost its saltiness. It is great that we are the salt of the earth but there is also the possibility that we are not having the influence that we ought to have – that we are not salty. 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.

That is a severe warning. Unsalty salt is useless. There is nothing for it but to throw it out. We wouldn’t want to be the people Jesus is talking about there – but maybe we are. Are you influential? Or have you been cast aside by God? Is God using you? Or is God not using you?

In John 15 Jesus used a different image; the image of branches in the vine but He said the same thing: I am the true vine, and my father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit... If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. (vv.1, 2, 6)

The branch that bears no fruit – the branch that is not achieving anything –is thrown away as useless.

Maybe we might think of

Rev 3:15-16 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

Again, it is about deeds. Those who are lukewarm, showing little passion and achieving very little are spat out.

In the parable of the talents in Matthew 25, the one who did nothing with what he had been given; the one who achieved nothing, who was described as being a worthless servant, was thrown outside, into the darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

He wasn’t salty; he wasn’t influential; he wasn’t doing what salt is meant to do. Salt is meant to make a difference, but he didn’t. He did nothing. He was discarded.

You know it is impossible for salt to lose its saltiness. Salt is sodium chloride, NaCl. It can never be sodium chloride and not be salty. Salt is by definition salty. So what is Jesus talking about when He says about losing its saltiness?

In Jesus’ time, salt was either rock salt quarried out of the ground or the salt left behind after salt water had evaporated. Either way, it had a lot of impurities in it – lots of bits of crushed rock or sand. It might have looked like salt but it was a mixture of salt and rock particles. What if all the salt was dissolved out of the mixture? You would have only the sand or other impurities left. Your salt would have lost its saltiness. It would simply be sand!

We are a bit of a mixture too. What makes us salty? What makes us influential? What enables us to make a difference or bear fruit? Isn’t it the presence of Jesus in our lives; the presence of the Holy Spirit? In that John 15 passage about the vine and the branches, Jesus said, “Without me you can do nothing.” It is only the presence of Jesus that enables us to achieve anything for God. It is only the presence of Jesus that makes us salty.

So, can you see what Jesus might have meant when he talked about the salt losing its saltiness? What if Jesus has been leached out of our lives? We are left with only us, like the rock particles, good for nothing but to be thrown out. Some Christians lose their saltiness. We have less and less of Jesus in our lives and we become less and less useful.

So the real question that arises out of this is: how can we avoid losing our saltiness?

When I was at university, I flatted with a very good friend who was a great influence on me. He challenged and inspired me. He took me to a good church. He demonstrated commitment to Jesus. He was our best man at our wedding. A few years later, he told us that God was calling him into the ministry. I didn’t think that God was calling me but, soon after that, He did so we trained together and this friend continued to be an inspiration to me.

But after a few years of ministry, he suddenly quit. Some time after that, I discovered that he wasn’t going to church at all. Then he walked out on his marriage. I don’t know all of the circumstances and I have lost contact with him but something went wrong. It seems he lost his saltiness and God cannot now use him.

But maybe there are people still coming to church but not salty – not doing anything for God. How can we continue to be salty?

If I suggest some things that might leach Jesus out of our lives that might help us see the opposite.

The first thing that will leach Jesus out of our lives is the belief that we don’t really need Him. In other words, it is the pride that says, “I can do it on my own. Hard work is all that is required.” The other side of that coin is, of course, humility. Please don’t think you can be salty without Jesus. Take His word for it when He says we can lose our saltiness; we can be “good for nothing”. In fact, we inevitably will be if we think we can do it without Him. Fear lacking saltiness. Fear being discarded as useless. Know that your saltiness comes only from Jesus and, in humility, ask the Holy Spirit to fill your life. In humility, submit to His leading and His direction and to doing what He wants.

A second thing that will leach Jesus out of our lives, is neglect of time with Him. I know this is an old chestnut but it is true. We must prioritise time with Jesus if we are to know His presence and His power in our lives. That means studying the Bible, meditating, praying, journaling. Being saltier means deepening our devotional life. My guess is that 95% of Christians will say “Amen” to that and do nothing. 5% will say, “I am going to do something about it.” There is no lack of resources for deepening our devotional life. We have the vision or the desire and we have the means but only some of us have the intention. Some of us will spend enough time with Jesus this year.

A third thing that will leach Jesus out of our lives is compromise. Many people are too much in love with the world and compromise with the world’s values. Material possessions are attractive. Popularity is a high value. If compromise is the negative action, what is the corresponding positive action? Commitment; passionate love for Jesus and a single-minded focus. Will you recommit yourself to Jesus and to being obedient to Jesus this year? It is as we obey that we discover Jesus with us. In John 15:10, Jesus said, If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in His love.

Jesus said, “Go and make disciples... and I will be with you always, to the very end of the age.” It is as we do the work of the Kingdom that we discover Jesus with us.

I am sure there is more but those three will get us started.

When Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth”, He was saying that you are potentially an incredibly influential person. Your name might never appear in the history books but you can be a history-maker. Your prayers, your influence on some people can make a huge difference in the world and a difference for eternity. You are the salt.

But He also warned that we might not realise our potential. We are salt but we might lose our saltiness. If we lose our saltiness, we won’t change history. Which do you want to be – salty or... useless?

For you to be salty, Jesus must be the centre of your life. Is that what you want? Is there some resolution you can make at the beginning of this year to give Jesus a more central place in your life? Take time to think about how you are going to make Jesus more central.

If you are not yet a Christian, you too might want to ponder Jesus’ words. Those who are on Jesus’ team have the potential to make a real difference. We all have to choose. We can be not on Jesus’ team and our lives not really count for anything. Or, we can choose to follow Jesus and be the salt of the earth.