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BACKGROUND
Sermon on the mount.
SERMON ON THE MOUNT.
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Online links to scriptures (New International Version [NIV] unless otherwise stated) are shown in blue
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| Salt and Light
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 by men. |
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| 14 “You are the light of the world. A city 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. |
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| 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16) |
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| EXPOSITION |
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 Salt: Salt was required in the sacrifices of the Old Testament. We are therefore to sacrifice ourselves in spreading the 'flavour' of the salt of The Word to the world. We are to live as salt, adding flavour to the community. If we, as Christians do not reflect godly behaviour in our lives, we are rejected by God and to be rejected by the church. Tough words these!
Light: Similarly, we are to be beacons of light to the world, by our actions reflecting the pure light of Jesus in the darkness, which is the world of sin.
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| TESTIMONY |
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 There is a seeming contradiction between separation from the world and being salt and light in it.
I guess this is something I have struggled with over the years. Wanting to become more like Jesus seems to be easier to attain to if you largely withdraw from the temptations of the world. Many of us have developed a siege mentality in our churches, effectively locking ourselves away in the security of church surroundings and walls in order to avoid the world.
I have been down this path too but have come to realise, particularly in more recent times that we need to be out in the world in order for our light to shine and our salt to add flavour.
This is tough, but it is the 'kingdom way'.
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 Kingdom living must be reflected through our behaviour in our homes, our schools, our workplaces, indeed in all the areas of activity of our life.
For seven years I was involved in full time ministry. This was mostly great. I was a Christian taking a message primarily to other Christians. I thought this was the highest and permanent calling for me for the rest of my life.
Then the Lord took me back into business with Seekers. "Lord, is this You? was my cry?"
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 Over the past 2 years I have come to understand more of how the Lord desires us to be salt and light in the community.
In the business we have both believers and non-believers on our staff. My life, both good and bad, witnesses to them. I just trust that the good outweighs the bad, that my light isn't switched off too often! Then we have the customers to whom we are offering a social service, providing good used clothing at affordable prices. Finally, we there are the people in Africa whom we are endeavoring to help through aid projects.
Of course, the internet ministry, if not the travel, has continued alongside this.
This is the real world, where real people live, and where we can most effectively be salt and light.
Inevitably this means we will also expose our weaknesses, those areas where we have not yet been fully refined in the fire. I know only too well!
If we are to be effective in building the kingdom now, being salt and light cannot be limited to hours on Sunday but must be reflected in our actions all week.
May the Lord help us all as we seek to live for Him.
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| The Fulfillment of the Law
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. |
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| 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. |
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| 19 Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. |
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| 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:17-20) |
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| EXPOSITION: |
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 The Pharisees made a show of outwardly keeping the Law. However their hearts weren't right before God. Jesus didn't come to throw out the Law but to have us live out the law with our whole being, both internal by motivation and external by actions.
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| TESTIMONY: |
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 This is a theme that is frequently misinterpreted today - both ways. Some say we can ignore the Old Testament completely, which is patently wrong, as Jesus said here. Others go back to the pedantic nature of Old Testament Law and ignore the New Testament principle of grace. This can be a real temptation amongst those who have a real heart for Israel and its traditions. Some, in fact, have converted to Judaism, for it remains based upon the Law.
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 I am a person who gives my best to what I am committed to. Upon becoming a follower of Jesus in my early 40's, through bankruptcy, I tried my best to live in a way that would be pleasing to Him. I am pretty determined and disciplined and was able to make many changes in my life - at least in outward appearances, reminiscent of the Law. I was pleased with my life and progress. As I saw it, if this process continued, I would achieve my goal of coming much more like Him at some future time. I returned to financial prosperity, ministry grew and all was good.
Then, the unthinkable happened! I went bankrupt for a second time, trying to secure our financial future for full time ministry without being a burden on others. We had been double tithing, contributing to our churches building programme, helping others out and paying for 1000's of discipleship courses to be distributed within New Zealand and overseas. How could things go so wrong?!
My second bankruptcy has brought me deeper into Jesus. I now realise how unlike Him I am. I understand that while I may have looked good on the outside (Law), on the inside I am far from Him. I also have learned that while I should not deliberately do wrong, internal change cannot come from within myself through my own efforts, but only by submitting myself to my Lord and allowing Him to change me (Grace).
In order for me to change from being like the Pharisees and become like Him, I have to let go of me! Allow Him to take control of my life.
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 I have discovered that just like the fallacy of 'easy Christianity' (say a prayer and live how you like), there is no such thing as easy grace either. Surely that is a heresy, David!
No, it is not! God's gracious grace is given to us not as bandaid to cover the cuts and bruises of our bad behaviour, but as an internal medicine to change us from within into the likeness of Jesus. We need to open our 'mouth of submission' to swallow what can be a 'not so tasty' medicine.
I understand that this may be difficult to understand for we are so imbued with the idea that grace comes from a Father Christmas Jesus, at no cost to anyone.
But grace cost Jesus His life, a painful death on a lonely cross, forsaken by His Father and His followers. So, if we are to become like Him, grace will cost us our life too. Then, as promised, through righteousness we can enter the kingdom of heaven - now.
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| <i>NEXT WEEK:</i> SERMON ON THE MOUNT continues... |
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 ..... with a look at 'murder' and 'adultery'.
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| A NOTE FROM DAVID |
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 'Balance' is a vital ingredient in living the Christian life. 'Salt and light', 'law and grace'.
As Christians, we all too often place excessive emphasis on one area of our walk to the exclusion of others. This makes for an unbalanced walk.
We need to read all the Bible, to do all the things that Jesus requires of us, rather than just those that agree with our theology or suit our needs at the time.
May we truly become well rounded like Him.
JESUS: BACKGROUND
Historical Overview
THE SYNAGOGUE
The first synagogues may have been built by Jews held captive far from the temple during the Babylonian Exile in the sixth century B.C., but synagogues were important religious and social institutions in the time of Jesus. The original Greek word synagogue means merely "a place of meeting." In the Jewish world synagogues were second only to the temple in Jerusalem itself as religious institutions. They also served as schools of religious instruction and communal halls for civic functions under the direction of a council of elders.
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So until next week.......
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD!
His servant and yours
Learn more about us at...
www.wwj.org.nz/about.php
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A DAVID'S DOODLING
434. Knowledge is subject to change, while truth stands firm.
David Tait
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Check
out the WWJ website for….
More David's Doodlings: www.wwj.org.nz/dd.php
If Only I'd Thought of it: http://www.wwj.org.nz/thought.php
Laughing at Ourselves: http://www.wwj.org.nz/laugh.php
A look at some of lifes curious questions: http://www.wwj.org.nz/why.php
Everything you ever wanted to know about....: http://www.wwj.org.nz/exex.php
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