Focus: Let It Out

Foundation Scripture: Psalms 117:1-2 (TPT)

Prayer Points:
1. Rise of Gratefulness in the Body of Christ
2. Rise in Awareness of God's Goodness and Faithfulness
3. Powerful Sunday Service

Introduction
In the Book of Revelation, Chapters 1-3, Jesus reveals himself to John the disciple and gives him a message for seven churches, Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. Jesus tells what the churches are doing well and what he has against them. He brought out the fact that one church has lost their first love, another was compromising their doctrine, another was immoral by tolerating the spirit of Jezebel, yet another was spiritually dead, and one was lukewarm. I believe Jesus pointed out all these things because he wanted the churches to grow more into his likeness. He wanted them to change. Change to what? Genesis 1:26 “God said let us make man in Our image…” Verse 27 says God did just that. We can’t physically see God, but we know that He is the essence of love. Love is the root of His character. Everything He does stems from His unconditional love for us. 1 John 4:8 says, “God is love.” If God is love and we’re created in His image, then we are love.

Foundation Scripture
13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:13-16 NKJV

Point 1: What's significant about salt?

Today, we know salt to very common, and it can be purchased in any grocery store, sometimes, depending on the quality, very cheaply. In biblical times, salt was VERY expensive and highly treasured. It could only be found in a few places, like the coast or the pits of the Dead Sea. It was hardly wasted and used sparingly because it was an expensive process and labor-intensive process to harvest.

Point 2: Salt is a preservative.

In warm temperatures and before the days of refrigeration, salt was used to keep meat from spoiling, rotting or decaying. It was used as a preservative, an agent to keep food from perishing or going bad so quickly. The bible also speaks of salt covenants, a perpetual or never-ending covenant because of the use of salt as a preservative.

Point 3: Salt has healing properties.

One of Elisha’s first miracles was to heal the waters in Jericho because the water was bad. It caused infertility and the land to be unproductive for growing crops. Before modern medicine, salt was poured into the wounds to stop the spread of infection and germs. It’s a fact salt has healing properties. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. Good quality salt can help to balance a body’s pH, cure a sore throat, improve asthma, and the list goes on. Research it.

Point 4: Don’t lose your ability to flavor the world.

Today we have pure salt. In Jesus’s day, salt was often mixed with a lot of impurities because of how it was gathered. If the salt was exposed to moisture for a long time, the salt would dissolve and only dirt would be left behind. When this happens, the salt became worthless. It could no longer be used to preserve or flavor food or heal the body.

Point 5: Love is Light

Point 6: Being salt and light requires self-examination.

It’s time for the body of Christ to engage in soul searching and self-examination. For too long we have tried to chastise the world by using the same sentiment of some of our parents who were of the mindset, “Do as I say and not as I do.” That jargon isn’t working anymore. The world doesn’t want to be corrected by those who profess or say one thing and live by a different set of rules.

Point 7: Being salt and light requires love.

Point 8: Salt and light make enhancements.

Did you know that sparingly scattering salt on the ground can improve the quality of the soil? When the soil is healthy, it produces bigger harvests and healthier crops. It only takes a match to bring light to the darkest room.

Point 9: The Holy Spirit helps us to act like salt and light.

The Holy Spirit is our Helper. He is the Spirit of God living on the inside of us.

WEEKLY CHALLENGE
Read Galatians 5:22-23.
Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-8.
Allow the Holy Spirit to show you if you’re effective in doing your job as the salt of the earth and the light of the world.