The disciples saltiness

This is a service preached on July 24, 2022, at the Full Gospel Church of God, Rustenburg Congregation. 17 Zendeling street. Find the location here.

This message is a direct copy and summary of that sermon.

We have talked about discipleship for the past three weeks.

Some are not the salt but the pepper. Let's read the Word: Matthew 5: 13-16 NASB "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

A good recipe for anything can work, but you must follow the recipe to the letter. So are the disciples who are salted and seasoned agents of light. Salt on biltong not only gives taste but also preserves the biltong. The soup I made for you after the service can look beautiful in the pots, but if there is no saltiness, you would walk away and say, mmm, the soup was nice, but the soup needed salt.

As disciples of Christ, we must get the salt mixture right and use it wisely. The Dead Sea is dead due to all the salt. So if you are too much salt, everything around you can die. You want to give just enough salt to bring life. You need to provide a good measure of salt and a good balance. (some eat more and others less salt) . Having a balance in saltiness doesn't give you a cart Blanche to judge people. Jesus didn't walk around and judge everybody in His earthly ministry.

Too much salt over your biltong, and the dogs will not even want to eat it. They will try but not enjoy it. In other words, salt can be either a blessing or a curse. Too much salt in your body can be fatal. Blood, sweat, and tears have salt. The Saline Solution for your Contacts lenses has the same salt quality as tears to clean your lenses. You can also use saline water to open your sinus channels. Snowy roads can be driveable again after applying a good measure of salt. Lot's wife became a pillar of salt because she looked back. People who always look back will be the same. They will be too much salt like Lots wife!!

'We have a lot of pillars of salt in our congregations. People who won't be moved, not even one inch. They're stuck at the point where they look back to the good old days and are never again able to move forward, embracing a changing world and a changing church. What we have now will never be good for them. They're stuck in a realm of 'salvation' that gives birth to a mentality that God can only move in and through the established church. We're not supposed to allow that. We shouldn't put God in a box. We have contained, limited, and ignored God for far too long. The Word says we are the salt of the earth. In other words, the world needs us. In some of Jesus' first sermons, he addresses salt and light. Still, he also encourages his disciples' faith in the next chapter. The Bible says it is not too much salt that is useless, but if it mixes with too much ground, it becomes useless.

1. Disciples' salt is not old; old salt loses its effectiveness.

The salt that lost its purpose Lost its value. There are many people here today who feel they have lost their purpose. They think what they are doing here is of no importance. A person's view of themselves determines the value, and we become easily distracted by the blast from the past. You take away value and not God. God values you, and so should you.

Salt was precious in Jesus' day. Roman soldiers were sometimes paid with salt, which is where the saying probably comes from: "He is worth his salt." You have lost your salt value if you do not make a difference in the pot or baking of life. You then mean nothing to the workplace .... your meaning for the workplace is not only known for your degree or knowledge you take there, but an essential aspect you can take is the salt .. one day, you will be remembered for the salt you brought, and not the knowledge. You are easily replaceable at the workplace even if you have saved or brought in millions, but if you cover them, they will replace you in 2 weeks. But if you are salty about the workplace, they will have difficulty replacing you.

2. Disciples' salt is alive; your salt gives hope to people around you.

Salt gives taste and brings smiles to people's faces at the table. Jacob's soup pot brought a smile to Esau's face like the smile you'll have when smelling the delicious food your wife will give you after service today. We differ in many ways, but in this one aspect, we are all the same; eating remains delicious. Salt gives taste to something missing the golden ingredient. Have you ever made a nice-looking pot of stew and all that was short salt? You can't fully enjoy it if there is not enough salt in it. Salt brings out the value and taste of the food. If you are salty, you must also preserve it. And what does it mean other than to keep something?

(the following is an Afrikaans acronym for HOU. Om iets te preserver beteken om dit te hou)

H - help (each other)

O – Ondersteun or support (each other)

U - Uitvoer - you - execute (the mission)

The doctrines of the disciples/apostles brought hope and life to the communities in Jerusalem and to the ends of the world. Their salt must have given value to preaching. Their preaching must have matched their lifestyle. In the past, the doctrines of congregations were more about the outer robe than the inner crown. 1 Peter 3: 3-4 also addresses inward beauty. If the disciples of Jesus' salt bring false doctrines into the mix, you become saltless.

Mark 7: 7-9 - 'But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.' Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men." He was also saying to them, "You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition.' (NASB)

II Kings 2: 20-22 -' 'He said, "Bring me a new jar, and put salt in it." So they brought it to him. He went out to the spring of water and threw salt in it and said, "Thus says the Lord , 'I have purified these waters; there shall not be from there death or unfruitfulness any longer.' (NASB)

3. Disciples' salt was everlasting

Salt was also used as a preservative to preserve meat and postpone or stop the rotting process. Disciples are like salt because they give flavor to a tasteless world. When does our salt value stop? It Never stops. As our light never stops shining, our salt may never become saltless. The sun cannot stop shining, and so the child of God cannot stop shining either. Jesus says no one lights a lamp and puts it under a measuring cup, but you put it on a stand. Jesus also mentions that salt can lose its value or influence. Some Christians have lost their ability to taste.

Conclusion

Suppose you and I, as disciples of Jesus, will only be salty. If only we could give taste to the world as we're supposed to. The world has now become as distasteful as never before. The world has become unbearable and sick with a lot of infections. Salt will help !!! You can help!!

What are you doing to help?

Let me close with Colossians 4: 6 - 'Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.'

Are you an influence, or are you just being affected?

(is jy ‘n invloed of word jy net beinvloed?)