Posts
Pastor Greg
June
29, 2014
Matthew 5
Family breakdown is the root of
so many of our problems in our society.
Pastor Greg believes we have two
options, either judgement or revival.
Matthew 5:13-16 NIV
[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 your Father in heaven.
Why did Jesus use salt and light.
Because it is corrupt and needs to see the light.
We have grasped the mystery of
the atom and rejected the sermon on the mount.
2 Timothy 3:13 NIV
[13] while evildoers and
impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
If man thinks we are evolving
upward then he is being deceived.
Jesus has not called us to
isolate, but to infiltrate.
John 17:15-16,18 NIV
[15] My prayer is not that you
take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. [16]
They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. [18] As you sent me into the
world, I have sent them into the world.
1 Corinthians 5:9-10 NIV
[9] I wrote to you in my letter
not to associate with sexually immoral people--- [10] not at all meaning the
people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters.
In that case you would have to leave this world.
Pastor Greg thinks we want to
Christianize non believers more then we want them saved. He believes if we can
get them to Jesus then they will change.
"We are paratroopers
lieutenant, we are suppose to be surrounded"
Romans 12:2 NIV
[2] Do not conform to the pattern
of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will
be able to test and approve what God’s will is---his good, pleasing and perfect
will.
“Cursed be all that learning that
is contrary to the cross of Christ!” —James Madison
The very freedom many use to try
to remove faith from our country is here because of faith!
At one time, our government was
based on a civil religion view that was based on Christian principles.
In the place of proper faith we
now have "spirituality"
"Nones" believe in
nothing, they believe in themselves
1. We must stand for truth if it
is popular or not.
This is not a time to back down,
this is a time to step up.
2. We must use a language they
understand.
Sometimes we are answering
questions that no one is asking. We need to speak in a way that people can
grasp.
1 Corinthians 9:22-23 NIV
[22] To the weak I became weak,
to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible
means I might save some. [23] I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I
may share in its blessings.
3. We need to bring them the
message of the gospel.
(2 Corinthians 2:14-15 NIV
[14] But thanks be to God, who
always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to
spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. [15] For we are to God the
pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are
perishing.)
Some love the message and some are
offended.
4. Before I can effectively tell
them, I must first live it!
“Do not be like them.”(Matthew
6:8 NIV
[8] Do not be like them, for your
Father knows what you need before you ask him.
We are to be salt.
(Matthew 5:13)
Salt preserves.
Like salt, Christians shall
preserve the world.
2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 NIV
[7] For the secret power of
lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue
to do so till he is taken out of the way. [8] And then the lawless one will be revealed,
whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by
the splendor of his coming.
Salt stimulates thirst.
We cannot be an influence for
purity in the world if we have compromised our own purity.
We cannot be used by God to stop
the corruption of sin in others if sin has corrupted us.
A little bit of salt goes a long
way.
Matthew 5:13 NIV
[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.
First you are salt and then you
are light. You live it and then you share it.
Jesus first says we are to be
salt, and then He says we are to be light.
Matthew 5:14-15 NIV
[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.
Light exposes the darkness.
John 3:19 NIV
[19] This is the verdict: Light
has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because
their deeds were evil.
Light not only exposes the
problem, it also shows the way out of darkness.
Is there a precedent for a nation
turning back to The Lord.
The story of Jonah and the city
of Ninavah is am example it can happen.
1. We need to infiltrate, not
isolate.
Proverbs 29:2 NIV
[2] When the righteous thrive,
the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.
2. We need to pray.
(2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV
[14] if my people, who are called
by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from
their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin
and will heal their land.)
We as believers need to repent
and humble ourselves before God.
Isaiah 55:6 NIV
[6] Seek the Lord while he may be
found; call on him while he is near.
3. We need to preach the gospel.
Heaven is not for good people it
is for forgiven people.
What world would we be in if
every Christian acted just like you?
