January 19 2014 The Great Influence
/The Great Influence
Matthew 5:13
4 Pillars of Truth
1. Christian influence is a positive force.
Verse 13 – You are the salt of the earth.
- Salt preserves
- Salt makes people thirsty
Matthew 23:4 – (Jesus) They crush people with impossible religious commands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.
2. Christian influence is permanent.
Verse 13 – But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?
John 17:15-16 – My prayer is not that you take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world.
3. Christian influence is precious.
1 Corinthians 1:27-28 – But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things and the things that are not to nullify the things that are.
Genesis 2:7 – And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.
1 Samuel 17:40 – He took a staff in his hand; choose five smooth stones from the stream.
Luke 2:7 – She gave birth to her first-born, a Son, she wrapped in clothes and laid Him in a manger.
4. Christian influence must be planned.
Romans 12:1 – Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, Holy and pleasing to God.
Prayer:
Lord take my life and make it wholly thine,
Fill my poor heart with Thy great Love Divine,
Take all my will, my passion, self and pride,
I now surrender, Lord in me abide.