CHRISTIANITY: THE LIFE OF INFLUENCE – Part 1

MONDAY, 1ST MAY, 2023.

Topic: CHRISTIANITY: THE LIFE OF INFLUENCE – Part 1

MEMORIZE: “'When you offer them before the LORD, the priests shall throw salt on them, and they will offer them up as a burnt offering to the LORD.” Ezekiel 43:24.

SCRIPTURE READING: Matthew 5:13

"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.”

EXPOSITION:

Ye are the salt of the earth. This would encourage and support them under their sufferings, that, though they should be treated with contempt, yet they should really be blessings to the world, and the more so for their suffering thus. The prophets, who went before them, were the salt of the land of Canaan; but the apostles were the salt of the whole earth, for they must go into all the world to preach the gospel. It was a discouragement to them that they were so few and so weak. What could they do in so large a province as the whole earth?  Nothing, if they were to work by force of arms and dint of sword; but, being to work silent as salt, one handful of that salt would diffuse its savour far and wide; would go a great way, and work insensibly and irresistibly as leaven, Mt 13:33 “Another parable He spoke to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened."”. 

THE DOCTRINE OF THE GOSPEL IS AS SALT. 

i. It is penetrating, quick, and powerful (Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”); 

ii. It reaches the heart Acts 2:37 “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"”. 

iii. It is cleansing, it is relishing, and preserves from rotting. 

iv. We read of the savour of the knowledge of Christ (2 Cor. 2:14 “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.”); for all other learning is insipid without that. 

v. An everlasting covenant is called a covenant of salt (Numbers 18:19 “All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer to the LORD, I have given to you and your sons and daughters with you as an ordinance forever; it  is a covenant of salt forever before the LORD with you and your descendants with you."); and the gospel is an everlasting gospel. 

vi. Salt was required in all the sacrifices (Leviticus 2:13 “'And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your grain offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt.”), in Ezekiel's mystical temple, Ezekiel 43:24 “'When you offer them before the LORD, the priests shall throw salt on them, and they will offer them up as a burnt offering to the LORD.”  

Now Christ's disciples having themselves learned the doctrine of the gospel, and being employed to teach it to others, were as salt. Note, Christians, and especially ministers, are the salt of the earth. 

PRAYER POINT: Lord, let your resurrection draw me closer to you in unbroken relationship with you in Jesus name.

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR –  1 Chronicles 26-29.