Salt

Last Sunday I preached on how Believers are the Salt of the Earth. As a change of pace, here are the sermon notes for you to look at on your leisure, but you don’t have to download anything.    Since most of my readers are believers, I can safely say: May God help you behave like salt to those around you.   (BTW, much of the research I did on Salt came from HowStuffWorks.com, Wikipedia.org, and SaltInstitute.org.)

1. Salt (vs. 13)

   1. Salt is a Preservative

      1. Many
         microorganisms cannot live in an overly salty environment: water
         is drawn out of their cells by osmosis. For this reason salt is
         used to preserve some foods, such as smoked bacon or fish.

      2. Salt’s
         preservative ability was a foundation of civilization. It
         eliminated dependency on the seasonal availability of food,
         allowed travel over long distances, and was a vital food additive.
         However, because salt was difficult to obtain, it became a highly
         valued trade item throughout history. Until the 1900s, salt was
         one of the prime movers of national economies and wars.

      3. It
         has also been used to disinfect wounds. In medieval times salt
         would even be rubbed into household surfaces as a cleansing agent.

      4. Salt
         basically preserves food and disinfects wounds, etc., because it
         kills some of the bacteria and germs that cause food to spoil, or
         wounds to become infected, etc.

      5. That
         is how we are to function in this earth. We are to kill the lies
         that creep in and seek to spoil and destroy our families and
         friends. Kill lies with TRUTH!

         1. The “Spirit of Truth”
            dwells in us. (John 14:17)

         2. Jesus says in John 17 that
            sanctification comes by Truth.

         3. 2
            Cor. 10:5 – Casting down imaginations, and every high thing
            that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing
            into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

      6. Salt
         is like Truth

         1. It
            stings when added to a wound.

            • But
              if done carefully, is beneficial.

         2. It
            helps to preserve things that are vulnerable to spoiling.

            • Truth
              will preserve your family, your spiritual walk, your business
              life, etc. (Don’t forget that Christ is THE
              Truth. John 14:6)

            • Train up a child in the way
              he should go…(Prov. 22:6)

         3. One difference is that you can
            never have too much Truth.

   2. Salt is Valuable & Useful

      1. Refined
         salt, that is most widely used presently, is mainly sodium
         chloride. Only about 7% of refined salt is used as a food
         additive. The majority is sold for industrial use, from
         manufacturing pulp and paper to setting dyes in textiles and
         fabric, to producing soaps and detergents, and has great
         commercial value.

      2. Operates
         as an electrolyte, and is very important to the proper function of
         our bodies.

      3. Very
         valuable and useful. Especially in the ancient world. In one
         ancient city, supposedly, salt was worth it’s weight in gold!
         (Also valuable in Jesus time.)

      4. We
         are valuable and useful to the Lord!

         1. He
            purchased us with the life of his Son, Jesus Christ. (Value)

         2. He
            places different Christians in different places. (Usefulness)

            • Eph
              4:11-12 – And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and
              some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For
              the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for
              the edifying of the body of Christ:

   3. Salt is a Seasoning

      1. But it needs something to
         season. (tastes bad plain)

         1. Illust. Child taste a bunch at
            once.

      2. Salt
         is most useful when it is IN
         something! (Not much good alone.)

      3. We
         are the “taste” of Christ to the world.

      4. We should not be secluded

         1. Seclusion:
            The act of separating from society or
            connection; the state of being separate or apart; separation; a
            shutting out; as to live in seclusion.
            (Webster)

         2. Monastery Mindset (Monks did
            much good, but most went out of balance.)

         3. Some people think that to talk
            with a non-Believer is to be in danger.

      5. We
         are to be separate and set apart, but in our behavior, not in our
         connection with people.

         1. Biblical concept: “Be in the
            world, but not of the world.”

         2. We are to be always ready to
            give an answer (1 Peter 3:15) but we cannot do that if we have no
            contact with non-Believers.

         3. Jesus ate with sinners. He
            came to call sinners, not righteous, to repentance. (Mark 2:17)

         4. Seclusion
            and protection
            are different.

      6. To function (season) as we are
         supposed to, we need to be out there, impacting and influencing
         people and ideas. (Voting is a part of that.)

   4. How can salt stop being
      salty?

      1. Dilution (Compromise)

         1. Eventually we lose the taste
            if diluted enough.

         2. How do we “dilute”
            ourselves?

      2. Over exposer to the air (No
         protection?)

      3. Message
         is: BE SALT! Don’t stop behaving as salt!

         1. Don’t sacrifice the Truth.

            • Combat lies in a loving way.
              (In your life, those around you.)

         2. Be available and useful to the
            Lord. (Wherever)

            • Don’t forget your value

         3. Influence the world around
            you.

            • Don’t fall into sin, but
              don’t seclude yourself so much that you are not “seasoning”
              the people you know with a “taste” of Christ.