Our Mission To love all people at all times and lead them into a new life in Christ.
Our Vision To be a church that will be multicultural and generational, having a lasting impact on the people to whom we minister.
To see the gospel extend beyond the walls of our church through various outreaches.
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The first thing recorded in all four Gospels is the story of John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness. All the Gospels have different starting points in the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The first common thing is John the Baptist and his declaration about the coming Messiah. In all four Gospels the statement of John is recorded thus; “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Matt. 3:11(NKJV)
Though the wording is slightly different the message is the same. Jesus is the baptizer in the Holy Spirit. To John, Spirit baptism was far higher in value than water baptism. In Acts 1:4 Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as the “Promise of the Father.” Throughout His ministry Jesus told His disciples about the ministry and work of the Holy Spirit. He told them of His importance and urged them to be ready to accept the Spirit’s work in them.
Jesus made it clear to the disciples that the Holy Spirit would be sent to replace Him in the earth. He (The Holy Spirit) would revolutionize their lives by infusing them with power to be witnesses. His presence would be evident by the display of fruits and works. In Acts 2:4 the first evidence was speaking in other tongues “as the Spirit gave them utterance.” The New Testament gives ample instruction about the use of tongues about which most believers know little or have been taught wrongly. You must come to this subject with an open mind and not with information based on denominational bias.
Today we will search the Scriptures to see if these things be so. Go with me on the venture and allow the Spirit Himself to speak to you. Jesus said the Spirit would teach us all things and guide us into truth.
“Then God said, “Let there be light, and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3) The very first words uttered forth came from a thought and then spoken. The whole universe came into existence because of a thought and a spoken word. Genesis 1:26-28 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image.”-so God created man in His own image-God blessed them. We are spiritual beings created in the image of God. We are here because of a thought and a spoken word that took place at the beginning of time.
Proverbs 23:7 “For as a he (man or woman) thinks in his heart so is he.” Whatever you continually harbor in your mind (thought) will eventually come out in your speech (words). Your words are like seeds which will produce fruit. Proverbs 18:21 “ Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. “
God had life on his mind (thoughts) when He spoke and created human beings. We as his creation should be continually mindful of what we are thinking and how our spoken words (from those thoughts) are framing our personal lives. We are to fill our hearts and minds with life giving biblical truths from the Bible.
I remember many years ago the Spirit of the Lord had spoken, “Do not allow your mind to become the playground for the devil.” Wow! We read in Romans 8:6 “to set our minds on the flesh is death but to set our mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” We are instructed in 1 Corinthians 10:4-5 to take every thought captive.
What are you thinking-just listen to how you are talking!
CONFESSIONS OF FAVOR……..
Ps. 34:10 “…they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.”
All things are yours. You are His sons. You are His kings. You’re His priests today. Satan is under your feet. Failure is under your feet. Poverty is under your feet.
Phil.. 4:13 God has brought you to a place of prosperity in Jesus Christ. You can do all things through Jesus Christ .
Ps. 23:1 You are living in the land of no want. The Lord is your shepherd.
Ps. 84:11 “The Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”
John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but to steal and to kill and to destroy. I am come that they might have life , and that they might have it more abundantly.”
“We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.” I John 5:19(NKJV)
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Rom. 12:2(NKJV)
He who thinks like the world lives like the world. To think like the world is to think like the wicked one. Thus, it follows that one will live like the world. Scripture says, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” There are only two sources of inspiration, God and Satan. All of man’s thoughts originate from one source or the other.
Paul says we must renew our mind to think like God, not the world. The world conditions man to thing in its patterns thus expecting us to conform to its ideas and live by its rules. We renew our mind by the Word of God. We hold to what God has said as the standard for our lives. We are called to reject the world’s way of thinking in favor of Godly wisdom and understanding.
The only real way we can do this is to accept and understand that we have the mind of Christ. “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.” I Cor. 2:16(NKJV) A worldly mind thinks worldly thoughts but a renewed mind thinks like Christ (The Anointed One). One problem is that people don’t know they can think like Christ and another problem is some do not believe it. We don’t need to ask ourselves, “What would Jesus do?” We need to start believing and operate with the mind of Christ rather than the mind of the world.
Your view of live determines your destiny. Your thoughts determine your future. Your mind is either spiritual or carnal. Your choices are determined by your thoughts. What is your decision?
LEAD BY EXAMPLE
God has given all of us skills and talents, but He is more interested in the character of the man or woman who uses these abilities. Others will watch how we treat our spouses and children and our fellow employees, how we respond to annoying people and difficult situations, and how we talk about corporate executives when they make poor decisions.
When a Christian goes out of his or her way to care for someone who is hurting, overlooks petty offenses and takes steps to resolve big ones, finds something else to do when the rest of the team goes to a strip club, and exudes a positive attitude while being ruthlessly honest about difficulties–people notice!
All of us have a hundred choices to make each day. We may not recognize many of them because we’re so steeped in habitual attitudes and behaviors, but we have constant opportunities to demonstrate love or selfishness, faith or doubt, hope or complaints, purity or sinful passion. If we choose to be Christ’s examples to those around us, we’re in for a great ride of seeing Him touch people through us. (Zig Ziglar)
“Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love,in spirit in faith, in purity.” I Tim. 4:12
“By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.” Heb. 11:3(NKJV)
Last week I talked about faith and what it is and how we are to use it. This week I want to share with you some information I researched on the internet. Internet information is only as reliable as the people behind the website you visit. Just because you read it on the internet doesn’t mean it is right.
Are science and the Bible at odds with one another? There has never been a proven scientific fact that is out of harmony with God’s word. The Bible, in many cases, gave first evidence of what was later confirmed by science even though there was skepticism about the information until proven. Science has never proven the Bible to be wrong. The issue is what do you believe? You must exercise faith no matter which way you go.
How can you understand by faith? That is what the above verse tells us. Our whole life is one of faith. Faith means we put our trust in something or someone. We learned to have faith in our parents when we were small. We have faith in teachers to believe what they teach. Nothing we do is void of faith. It takes faith to leave your house. It takes faith to drive your car. Faith is as common as the air we breath.
When there is a conflict between science and the Bible where is your faith? Do we side with science because we think, “They must be right, they are scientists.” Does that make them right? On the other hand, “God must be right, He’s God.” Scientists that believe in God have stronger physical proof for their arguments than those who do not believe in God. Without God “theories”(opinions not confirmed as true) always end up at a dead end. Make sure you hear God’s side before you believe something.
“The first one to plead his cause seems right, until his neighbor comesand examines him.” Prov. 18:17(NKJV)
MIRACULOUS HEBREW WORDS
These words will bring relief from the the word depression or oppression that might attack a Christian You must focus on praise and worship to glorify God.
YADAH-This means to willfully throw your hands up to praise with power. 2 Chronicles 20:19-20
TOWDAH-It means to extend the hands in worship and to thank the Lord for things not yet received as well as for things already at hand. Pslams 50:23
HALAL-The word, Hallelujah, comes from this. It means to shine, boasT, to rave, and to celebrate or clamor foolishly. “To be a fool for Christ.” Ps. 113 and 114
SHABACH-This means to address with a loud tone, to command, to triumph, to glory, to shout. Ps. 117:19 Ps. 63:1-3
BARAK-This means to kneel and bless God as an act of adoration while anticipating something from Him. Ps. 72:12,13
ZAMAR-This means to make a loud rhythm sound with percussion, or wind, or rhythm instruments. Ps. 57:8, 9 Ps 150
TEHILLOAH-This means to sing unto the Lord. Ps. 22:3 God dwells in the praises of His people.
So the answer to your attacks from the enemy is “intense, whole-hearted, ever-loving, hand-clapping, foot-stomping, moan and groan, soul restoring, shake and quake, worship of the LIVING GOD!”
“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” Rom. 1:17(NKJV)
How much easier would it be to believe in God if He just came and walked with us everyday like He did Adam and Eve? If we could just see Him in person and experience His awesome Glory, we would believe. Would we for sure? Remember, Adam and Eve saw Him regularly and still disobeyed His “one” command.
When Jesus appeared to the disciples after His resurrection Thomas was not with them. When they told him, he did not believe. Thomas said, “Unless I see…I will not believe.”(John 20:25). When he saw Jesus, he believed but Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”(John 20:29) That is the group we are in. We do not believe because we have bodily seen the Lord but because “faith” has given us the revelation of His reality and His interaction with us on a consistent basis.
We must understand that since Adam, everyone has had to relate to God by faith. There is no way to scientifically prove there is a God. You can weigh the evidence, but you must make your own decision about the outcome. You believe because you choose to believe. That is the basis of faith. God imparts faith to you and you in return choose to have faith in Him or refuse to have faith in Him. The more we choose to believe in Him the better we know Him and His presence becomes more real in our lives. “For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”Rom.10:11(NKJV)
There are no answers to some of our questions but they become a lot more reasonable when we choose to believe in God. Even the Scripture itself says to us in Hebrews 11:3, “By FAITH we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
We all are on this journey called life. Some may think that if I could have been born into a different family, had different parents, if I would not have been adopted, and the list could go on, then maybe my life would have turned out differently. We are here by God’s design and the family we were born into was His idea.
I am sure most of us would do some things differently if we could go back. One thing is for sure; we cannot go back and undo the past. But glory to our God we have today, this moment, this time.
I have come to know that our relationship with God is the most important thing in life. Out of that relationship we can live a life that is productive while we are on this earth.
Our relationship with each other is built on communication. Communication is interaction. We talk to each other and even to ourselves. When we are interacting with others, we learn about the other person, about ourselves, and thru that we develop relationships.
This is true of our relationship with God. God is a speaking God, and I believe that He is always communicating with us and sometimes in ways that we may not be aware of. When we are interacting with God, we learn about Him, His way of doing things.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge God and He will direct your paths.
Trust means- faith, belief, hope.
Acknowledge means-to know, to show awareness of.
To trust is to have faith that God cares about you and everything that concerns you.
To acknowledge God is to care about what He thinks and to ask for His direction as we are on this journey called life.
3 COMMON TRAITS OF YOUTH WHO DON’T LEAVE THE CHURCH by Jon Nielson from THE GOSPEL COALITION (condensed)
Many churches tell the stories of “good Christian” children, raised in their homes and in our churches who have walked away from the faith during the college years. They were involved in youth programs, missions trips, and served in several ministries during their teenage years. Now they don’t want anything to do with it anymore. What is it that sets apart the kids who stay in the church?
1. They are converted. The Bible doesn’t seem to mess around with platitudes like: “Yeah, it’s a shame he did that, but he’s got a good heart.” 2 Cor. 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Stop being pleased when kids come to youth group and fun retreats. We need to focus on conversion. When that happens–when the “old goes” and the “new comes”–we will be ready to teach, disciple, and equip a generation who are hungry to know and speak God’s Word.
2. They have been equipped, not entertained. Eph. 4:11-12 says, “(Christ) gave…the teachers to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” Teachers are not just for entertainment, encouragement, examples, or even friendship primarily. After conversion it is our duty to help fan into flame a faith that serves, leads, teaches, and grows. If students leave high school without Bible-reading habits, Bible-study skills, and strong examples of discipleship and prayer, we have lost them.? We have entertained, not equipped.
3. Their parents preached the gospel to them. The church and youth pastor can’t do it all. It is impossible for the church to have an equipping ministry that sends out vibrant churchmen and churchwomen if it is not reinforced tenfold in the students’ homes. It needs to be a home where the gospel is not peripheral but absolutely central. These homes of the kids who are still serving and leading had parents who made them go to church. The kids were punished and held accountable when they were rebellious.The parents read the Bible with them at night. The parents were tough but operated from a framework of grace.
This is not a formula. Kids from wonderful gospel-centered homes leave the church; people from messed-up family backgrounds find eternal life in Jesus and have wonderful marriages and families. In general, children who are led in their faith during their growing-up years by parents who love Jesus vibrantly, serve their church actively, and saturate their home with the gospel completely, grow up to love Jesus and the church.
Pastors, pray with all your might for true conversion; that is God’s work. Equip the saints for the work of the ministry; that ‘s the pastor’s work. Parents, preach the gospel and live the gospel for your children.
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or WHATEVER you do, do ALL to the GLORY OF GOD.” I Cor. 10:31(NKJV)
Commitment. Ministry. Dedication. Hard work. I saw all of this Friday and Saturday here at New Life. Many people helped to make sure that Kid’s Camp was a number one event for over thirty kids and teens. The kids camped, and the teens helped make sure things were carried out as the adults in charge gave “all” of themselves to minister to the needs of all the kids. They sacrificed energy, time, strength, and sleep and made Kid’s Camp a wonderful experience.
When I walked into the auditorium Saturday morning and saw the excitement being generated by both children and adults, I thought, “It’s all worth it, these kids are worth whatever investment we have made.” This camp was anointed and something none involved will ever forget.
Behind the scenes people worked all week to get things ready for the weekend. Remodeling and construction of visual aids were done by committed members who gave of themselves as unto the Lord. I am proud of you all for being “lights that shine” into darkness. I speak blessing upon you for giving unto the Lord.
From the first hammer stroke, through all the preparation, the commitment of camp time workers, and the cleanup crew you are to be thanked for making Kid’s Camp 2013 a roaring success. As your pastor, I would not trade you for any other congregation. We are in this together. We are doing what we do for the glory of the Lord. Let us experience many more years and Kid’s Camps along our journey home. Let us desire to hear our Master say, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.”
“But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth.” Acts 1:8
The Church was established in power. Power (Greek word, “dunamis”) meaning ability, might strength, and miraculous power. I have heard people say that this power has been given to us to overcome sin. But the Bible tells us in Romans 6:11 that the sin problem has been dealt with on the cross –we are dead to sin- and we have been made alive unto God.
The purpose of this power is to be a witness in our world that Jesus is alive. That He came not only to seek and save the lost but to heal the sick, cast out demons raise the dead. Jesus tells us in John 14:12 that He is going to the Father, and if we have faith in Him, we will do what He has been doing and even greater things. This power was so vital to the Church in Acts that Jesus told his disciples not to leave Jerusalem without it. They were going to be filled with the very ability of God – the power that produces the miraculous.
The book of Acts was just the foundation of what God wants to do in the earth thru His people. We are the continuation of that beginning. What God started with His Church in the Book of Acts will be completed by believers who make up His Church today. Yes, that is you and me. We are filled with the Holy Spirit to demonstrate the miraculous power of God in the earth today.
Matthew 10:8 “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received.”
Message Bible, “ Don’t begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don’t try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously.”
DESIGNER LABEL
When we were growing up, we got our sense of identity by receiving messages from our parents and later from our friends, teachers, and employers. But the most powerful message about who we are comes from God, who crafted us with skill and love. No matter what anyone else says about us, we aren’t accidents of nature, and we aren’t mistakes. Almighty God has made us, and He has imprinted His image on us. To be sure, sin tried to tarnish that image, but through Jesus we possess what God originally intended.
When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Do you see someone who was created by God, who is a person of infinite worth? If we see ourselves that way , we instantly realize two things: We desperately need the grace of God to forgive us when we fail to live up to our identity, and we need to conform our lives to fit our status as the King’s kids. We should stop monkeying around and begin to act like the children of the King so we will be reflections of all He desires us to be! When you look in the mirror, what do you see? THE PROMISES FOR LEADERS Ziglar
Ps. 139:14 …”I will praise You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” I Pet. 4:10(NKJV)
Jesus told a story about a master that gave his servants portions of goods. To one he gave 5 talents, to another 2, and to another one. He told them to do business until he returned. Two of the servants were obedient but one did not use his talent wisely. The two were blessed but the third lost even what he was given.
Let us consider the above verse of Scripture as a reference to God’s grace that was given to us in Christ Jesus. What does it mean to be a good steward? A steward is a household supervisor and keeper of some possession. We are called stewards of God’s grace. If this is true we must give an account of our use of the Grace God has given us.
What is grace for? It is far more than keeping one from going to hell. It is given to aid us in everyday affairs. Our life will only be as successful as the grace we use to live it.
Grace makes it possible to be in right standing with God. However, grace also gives us the things necessary for life. If we do not use grace in our lives as it was intended, we will find ourselves living against our nature. Why live a life of “futile events” when you can live a godly life filled with the grace of God.
Grace is not a license to sin. On the contrary, it is a license to be righteous. You cannot be righteous by your works that only comes through grace. Anybody can sin by using the flesh but only those saved by grace can be called righteous. By the way, it makes a difference the way you live. Try it and see the results.
We live in the real world, and we all get hurt by people from time to time. Sometimes, it’s a small cut, but sometimes people leave us with gaping wounds. Anger is a normal response to injustice and hurt, but if anger isn’t resolved, it soon turns into resentment and bitterness–which sour our attitudes and poison every relationship.
Bitterness is one of the chief causes of emotional stress and stress-related illnesses. We relive painful events over and over, and we rehearse ways we will get revenge. Our relationship with God becomes shallow and empty. Our lives are consumed with the hurt inflicted on us, but quite often, the person who hurt us isn’t even aware of our daily emotional pain, and he or she might not even care.
The only remedy to break this pattern of bitterness is to forgive the one who hurt us. No, it won’t be easy. The choice to forgive, though, opens the floodgates of God’s presence and power. We just have to give up our bitterness first.
LIFE PROMISES FOR LEADERS Zig Ziglar
Luke 17:4 (NLT)“If your brother sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, “I repent,” you shall forgive him.”
“As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.” I Peter 2:3(NKJV)
We spend a lot of time touting the Bible as God’s word and declaring the extreme truth that it presents. We declare it to be infallible and proclaim that we believe it from Genesis to Revelation. We get offended when some unbeliever calls question on its reliability and accuracy. Yet, when it comes right down to brass tacks, we act and talk let we don’t believe half of what it says.
How well equipped am I to meet and face the challenges to my faith in God? Do I know enough of the right stuff to be effective with my life? Can I live a godly life on the basis of my knowledge of God? Am I mature enough to ask myself these kinds of questions? Paul told us to examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith.
The point I am making is this. Do we really believe God enough to rest total confidence on what He says? We know He “can” but do we know He “will”? Better yet, do we know He already has?
In the above scripture it says He “has given” to us all things pertaining to life. It doesn’t say He will give us these things. Too many times we wait for “God to give us” what He has already given us. This is true in the simple things. We do not need to ask God to give us what His word tells us we already have. Notice when you read the Scriptures how much is written in the past tense. This means something has already happened.
When Jesus died, we “were saved.” By His stripes you “were healed.” We “were given” all things. Quit begging God for what He has already given you. Praying is not begging and pleading with God for something He has withheld from you. Praying is communicating with God about knowledge of what you already have. It is decreeing and declaring the promises of God. It is believing that you have received. It is praising God for what He has done that will bring to past what you desire.
Face your questions believing you already have the answer. Face your problems believing they are already solved. Face life believing you already have what you need to succeed. He said He “gave” it to you “already”!
ONE BODY 1 Corinthians 12:12
“For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.”
“The human body is an exquisite organism. Scientist cannot duplicate it or even fully understand it. It is a synthesis of many parts all working together in a comprehensive whole. What affects one part of the body affects the whole. Each member of the body relates to and depends upon other parts of the body. Each contributes to the welfare of the entire body. So are all believers as members of the body of Christ. We should function in Christ’s body as the parts of the human body function in it… There is no Christian brother whom we do not need…Our lives are inextricably woven together within the body of Christ, and our well-being depends upon the well-being of others. Let us allow Christ to knit us together in His church.” NKJV Kingdom Dynamics
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matt. 28:19-20(NKJV)
The last statement Jesus left with His disciples is that quoted above. We are to make disciples of all nations. Mark says to go into the world and preach the Gospel. Not all of us can “go” but all of us are able to “send” someone to preach the Gospel. Working together with other ministries makes it possible to reach to the far ends of the earth.
We have always been a “mission minded” church. God has enabled us the send tens of thousands of dollars to mission outreaches over the past thirty years plus. One of our partners for many years has been The Gideons International. With our help and that of many other givers they have planted millions of Bibles throughout the world.
Today we get to share in the harvest results. There are countless testimonies of lives and souls that have been saved through the work of the Gideons. Of all mission ministries, this ministry crosses all denominational lines and zeros in on the pure Word of God as the answer to all man’s problems. Let us give them our generous support in the offering today.
Tonight we will exhibit the other commands of Jesus as we baptize those who have believed. It will also be a time of promotion for “little disciples” as we teach them in the church school classes. Show your support and come out to the celebration, even if no one in your family is involved this time. It is the church being the church.
LEAD BY EXAMPLE
God has given all of us skills and talents, but He is more interested in the character of the man or woman who uses these abilities. Others will watch how we treat our spouses and children and our fellow employees, how we respond to annoying people and difficult situations, and how we talk about corporate executives when they make poor decisions.
When a Christian goes out of his or her way to care for someone who is hurting, overlooks petty offenses, and takes steps to resolve big ones, finds something else to do when the rest of the team goes to a strip club, and exudes a positive attitude while being ruthlessly honest about difficulties–people notice!
All of us have a hundred choices to make each day. We may not recognize many of them because we’re so steeped in habitual behaviors, but we have constant opportunities to demonstrate love or selfishness, faith or doubt, hope or complaints, purity or sinful passion. If we choose to be Christ’s examples to those around us, we’re in for a great ride of seeing Him touch people through us. Who is the best “leader by example” you know? What kind of impact does that person have on others? What new choices do you need to make?
I Tim. 4:12 “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
from Zig Ziglar “LIFE PROMISES FOR LEADERS”
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” Matt. 5:13(NKJV)
We are not just citizens of the Kingdom to enjoy all the blessings thereof. As citizens we have obligations and responsibilities that we need to live up to. Although we do not earn our right to citizenship in God’s Kingdom by our works, we are admonished to live our lives in accordance with God’s Word. It should be our desire and effort to keep the commandments of the Kingdom.
I am a selfish person if I don’t care about living within Kingdom guidelines. As a citizen I am called upon to exhibit certain behavior leading to the proclamation of the Gospel. One responsibility we have is to be “salt”. What does salt do? Its primary purposes are to give flavor and preserve existence. If we are the salt of the earth, how then should we behave? Think about the answers to a few questions. What is food like with no salt? What is food like with too much salt? Is it “the more the better” when it comes to salt? Until refrigeration was invented the main way to preserve food was to salt it. It required that one know the characteristics of salt and how to use it in every situation.
Do we as Christians know how to be salt? Do we know how to use what we have to season the earth? The Scripture says, “My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge, because they have rejected knowledge.” Lack of salt reduces flavor, but too much salt ruins the food. Too much salt will even make “earth” itself barren and unable to produce life. The Roman army destroyed Jerusalem and salted the ground to make it lifeless for years. With God’s grace let us strive to salt the earth correctly and fruitfully.
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