JSM | Identity .8 | Salt & Light (8/4/2024)
JSM | Identity .8
|Salt & Light
By Rev. Nicholas Sybrowsky
Heb. (נּט רּקהץ מּןביםךשד דּטנרם'דלט)
Gk. (Βψ Ρεω. Νιξηολασ Σψβροωσκψ)
🕊️ Invocation: A Call to Draw Near
Hi friends, I’m preparing to share this message again—one that continues to shape me each time I revisit it. Though it’s written to guide me as I preach, I recognize that others may read or hear these words for themselves. My prayer is that what began as a sermon becomes a shared encounter.
Every time I sit with this message, my memory is refreshed, my heart rekindled, and my delivery refined. It’s less about performance—and more about presence and service.
I welcome your feedback and reflection. Your insights may become part of its future form, as the Word continues to shape us together.
🖇️ For context, this message is posted below and available for viewing and listening:
Invocation:
Opening Word & Reading for Worship:
"One day Sir Walter Scott threw a rock at a stray dog intending to shoo him away. He threw the rock straighter and stronger than he intended and broke the dog’s leg.
Instead of the dog running away, he came limping up to Sir Walter and licked the hand that threw the rock, and Sir Walter Scott said he could never get over that as long as he lived.
That dog preached the Sermon on the Mount as few people have ever practiced it.
What the world needs is Christ reincarnated in the Christian.
—Florida Baptist Witness." ~Walter B Knight (1)
God’s Kingdom has come to the least likely People. You & I are the least likely people. We are all called as disciples of Jesus to be the salt & light in the world! In the Spirit, let us sit at the feet of Jesus the Christ.
Introduction:
🌿 Invented or English Hybrid Terms:
Archparent: A natural fusion, evocative of both roles. Used symbolically in writing or visuals.
Primogen: From Latin “primus” (first) and “genus” (birth/kind). Sounds mythical, almost scriptural.
Rootspeaker or Lineagekeeper: Terms that imply stewardship and generational wisdom.
🔥 Liturgical or Theological Angles:
Genesis Bearer: If the context is spiritual, this taps into creation themes.
Covenant Keeper: Evokes spiritual leadership across generations,
- The Parable,
- Argument,
- Q & A,
- Object Lessons and the
- Epigram, which is a terse [(abrupt or short)], pungent [(forceful or sharp)] statement that sticks to the mind of a hearer like a barbed arrow or fishhook.
Main Text:
(Matthew 5:13-16 NIV) " "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."
~Jesus of Nazareth the Christ
(Mark 9:49-50 NIV) "(49) Everyone will be salted with fire. (50) "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.""
~Jesus Christ
(Luke 14:34-35 NIV) "(34) "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? (35) It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. "Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.""
~Jesus the Messiah
- Object Lesson: Salt and Light.
- Q & A: “How can it be made salty again?”.
- Argument: “A town built on a hill cannot be hidden...." Not a full fledge argument on Matthew’s account, but there is a sense of argumentative theme.
- Parabolic: Paradoxical Metaphors of Salt and Light applied to Spiritual Identity characteristics of God’s children. An astonishing finish to the beatitudes.
- Epigrammatic: In that it is short, terse and sticks in the mind of the hearer.
1. Salt as an object :13. Be salt, but not too salty and become refreshing and renewed.
Out with the old salt and in with the new. Salt preserves. Salt enhances flavor. Salt is a mineral that we need for a proper balance in the chemistry of our biological make up. Salt is used on our frozen roads in the winter to melt ice and enhance safety.
Ocean water is heavier than fresh water or lake water increasing density and nutrients in the Marine Life Ecosystem. Greater density enhances buoyancy and promotes better underwater communication; it also distorts sound.
Salt purifies & cleans. Seasoning, savory, purity and preservation are the intent here.
Is your approach and presentation to others attractive, delicious, flavorsome and aromatic? Are you pleasant to be around? Do you present a Negative Personality to your neighbor?
According to Napoleon Hill’s 30 Reasons for failure from Think and Grow Rich,
“There is no hope of success for the person who repels people through a negative personality. Success comes through the application of POWER, and power is attained through the cooperative efforts of other people. A negative personality will not induce [savory] cooperation.” ~Napoleon Hill (2) (emphasis mine)
Be salty, but not too salty!
What the Bible Says about Salt as Purifying Agent (From Forerunner Commentary)
Leviticus 2:13(Lev 2:13 KJV) "And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt."
“Like frankincense and honey, salt and leaven also produce contrasting reactions when used. Salt preserves from corruption, while leaven corrupts and deteriorates what it is inserted into. Unlike frankincense and honey, the Scriptures contain a great deal about these two in their application to the meal offering.”
In 2 Chronicles 13:5 (2Ch 13:5 KJV) "(5) Ought ye not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David forever, [even] to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?"
In Psalm 89:34-37: (Psa 89:34-37 KJV) "(34) My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. (35) Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. (36) His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me. (37) It shall be established for ever as the moon, and [as] a faithful witness in heaven. Selah."
“Here, a covenant of salt suggests an agreement of enduring qualities, even forever. Thus, a covenant of salt is one that is very strong, though it may not always be everlasting. Salt is understood to be the preservative, suggesting endurance.
When God makes use of this metaphor, He is urging us to be faithful despite how circumstances appear on the surface because His Word is absolutely sure. Like Himself, His Word endures forever.
Salt was required in every sacrifice burned on the altar. Besides its preserving factor, it also has a purifying effect on what it comes in contact with.
Ezekiel 16:4 records that newborn babies were rubbed with salt. In addition, Elisha treated a bad water supply in Jericho with salt. Besides purifying, then, it also signifies a new beginning.”~John W. Ritenbaugh (3)
(Mar 9:49-50 NIV) "(49) Everyone will be salted with fire. (50) "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.""
"Jesus knew the importance of perceptions. That's why He gave us such clear instructions about being salt and light. He knows that as you learn to live out these guidelines in tangible ways, people will begin to 'see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.'Do you see what Jesus was getting at in these verses in Mt. 5?He was telling us that the attitudes and actions of each of His followers would either draw people toward relationship with God or push them further away. So Jesus was pleading with His people—then and now—to live in a way that would draw people toward the Father. Think about it; how we conduct our daily lives has implications that reach all the way into eternity." ~Becoming a Contagious Christian (4)
2. Light as an object (Read :14-16). Be light, but not too bright and come out of the darkness.
John 1:4 “In Him was life, and the life was the light of mankind.” (MEV)
“THE LIGHT OF MANKIND. “Light” (Gk “phos” [like phosphorus]) is mentioned 23 times in John’s Gospel, more than any other NT book.
Jesus’ life was the light for everyone, which means that he revealed God, and his plans showed us the way back to God.
God’s truth, nature and power were shown through Christ and are made available to all people through him (Jn 8:12; 12:35-36, 46). Through Jesus we can also become children of light [instead of children of darkness and wrath] (12:36) and walk in the light (1Jn 1:7).
~Donald C. Stamps (5)
EPISTLE OF JOHN
(1Jo 1:4-10 KJV) "(4) And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. (5) This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (6) If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
(7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (8) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (10) If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."
THE MESSAGE TRANSLATION
'“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you?
I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. '~Matthew 5:14-16 (MSG) (6)
Be the light but not too bright.
“Because although they knew God, they did not glorify Him or give thanks to Him as God, but became futile in their imaginations, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools. 23 They changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man, birds, four-footed beasts, and creeping things. 24 Therefore God gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their own bodies among themselves. 25 They turned truth of God into a lie and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen”
~Rom. 1:21-25 (MEV)
Biblically, idolatry doesn’t start with physical objects, but with futile thoughts, foolish hearts, and claims of wisdom. While OT teachings against idolatry tended to concentrate on the worship of physical things, NT writers listed idolatry alongside sins of behavior and the heart (Gal 5:20; Col 3:5; 1Pet 4:3). An idea can be an idol.
~Influence Magazine-Karl Vaters author of De-sizing the Church (7)
3. Next message in series JSM | Uprightness | Torah & Prophets
Conclusion:
Exhortation:
(Gal 5:19-21 ESV) "(19) Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, (20) idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, (21) envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."
(Col 3:5-6 ESV) "(5) Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. (6) On account of these the wrath of God is coming."
(1Pe 4:1-5 ESV) "(1) Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, (2) so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.
(3) For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.
(4) With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; (5) but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead."
(Rom 1:18-20 ESV) "(18) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. (19) For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. (
20) For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse."
Altar Call to Action/Suggested Response:
(Jhn 3:16-21 ESV) "(16) "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (17) For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
(18) Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (19) And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
(20) For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. (21) But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.""
Prayer & song. Listen to Live message
Benediction: The Lord's Prayer
Soli
Deo Gloria | “Glory to God Alone”
Thank you Lord for you are awesome.
ReplyDeleteAmen to that! I appreciate the encouraging comment Anonymous. Praise the LORD Almighty!
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