- [Narrator] Welcome to a Grace Digital production.
"You are the salt of the Earth."
Matthew 5:13.
Salt gives flavor.
The first thing new need to know is that salt gives flavor.
Food that in itself unappetizing becomes tasty
and acceptable when seasoned with salt.
In Job 6:6, this is put in the form
of a rhetorical question.
"Don't people complain about unsalted food?"
It is the presence of salt that makes the difference
causing us to enjoy food that we would otherwise
have refused to eat.
As Christians, our function is to give flavor
to the Earth.
The one who enjoys this flavor is God.
Our presence makes the Earth acceptable to God.
Our presence commends the Earth to God's mercy.
Without us, there would be nothing
to make the Earth acceptable to God.
But because we are here,
God continues to deal with the Earth in grace
and mercy, rather than wrath and judgment.
It is our presence that makes the difference.
This principle is clearly shown in the account
of Abraham's intercession on behalf of Sodom
as recorded in Genesis 18:16-33.
The Lord had told Abraham
that he was on his way to Sodom
to see if that city's wickedness had come
to the point where judgment
could no longer be withheld.
Then Abraham walked with the Lord
on the way towards Sodom
and reasoned with him about the principles of his judgment.
Abraham established one principle
that is the basis for all that follows.
It is never God's will that the judgment due to the wicked
should come upon the righteous.
"Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked?"
Verse 23.
Abraham asked, "Surely you wouldn't do such a thing,
destroying the righteous along with the wicked.
Why, you would be treating the righteous
and the wicked exactly the same.
Surely you wouldn't do that.
Should not the judge of all the Earth do what is right?"
Verse 25 KJV.
The Lord made clear in the ensuring conversation
that he accepted the principle stated by Abraham.
If we have been made righteous by faith in Christ
and if we live lives
that truly express our faith,
then it is never God's will
that we are included in the judgements
that he brings upon the wicked.
Unfortunately, Christians often do not understand this
because they fail to distinguish between two situations
that outwardly may appear similar
but that in reality
are entirely different in nature and cause.
On one hand, there is persecution for the sake of righteous.
On the other hand, there is God's judgment upon the wicked.
The difference between these two situations
is brought out by the following contrasted statements.
Persecution comes from the wicked
upon the righteous.
But judgment comes from God
who is righteous upon the wicked.
Thus persecution for righteousness
and judgment for wickedness
are the opposite of each other in their origins,
purposes and results.
The Bible distinctly warns
that Christians must expect to suffer persecution.
At the Sermon on the Mount,
Jesus said to his disciples,
"God blesses those who are persecuted
for doing right for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
God blesses you when people mock you
and persecute you and lie about you
and say all sorts of evil things against you
because you are my followers."
Matthew 5:10 and 11.
Paul also writing to Timothy saying,
"Yes, any everyone who want to live a godly life
in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution."
Second Timothy 3:12.
Christians must therefore be prepared
to endure persecution for their faith
and way of life an even to count this
as a privilege.
But by the same token,
Christians should never be included in God's judgments
upon the wicked.
This principle is stated many times in the Bible.
In First Corinthians 11:32,
Paul wrote to his fellow believers
and he said, "Yet when we are judged by the Lord,
we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned
along with the world."
This demonstrates that there is a difference
between God's dealings with believers
and his dealings with the world.
As believers, we may expect to experience God's chastening
but if we submit to the chastening,
and set our lives in order,
then we are not subject to the judgments
that come upon non-believers or the world in general.
The very purpose of God's chastening us as believers
is to preserve us
from undergoing his judgments upon unbelievers.
In Psalm 91:7-8,
the Psalmist gave this promise to the believer.
"Though 1,000 fall at your side,
though 10,000 are dying around you,
these evils will not touch you.
Just open your eyes and see how the wicked are punished."
Here again the principle is seen.
Whatever comes as the reward of the wicked
should never fall upon the righteous.
No matter how God strikes the wicked
on every side, the righteous in the midst of it
will not be harmed.
In Exodus 7-12, it is recorded
that God brought 10 judgments
of ever-increasing severity upon the Egyptians
because they refused to listen to his prophets,
Moses and Aaron.
Throughout all this, God's people, Israel,
dwelt in Egypt but not one of the 10 judgments touched them.
In Exodus 11:7, the reason is graphically stated.
"But among the Israelites, it will be so peaceful
that not even a dog will bark.
Then you will know that the Lord
makes a distinction between the Egyptians
and the Israelites."
Judgment did not come upon Israel
because the Lord makes a distinction
between his own people
and the people of Egypt.
Even the dogs of Egypt had to acknowledge this difference
and the difference is valid to this day.
Continuing his conversation with the Lord concerning Sodom,
Abraham attempted to ascertain the least number
of righteous persons needed
to preserve the whole city from judgment.
He began with 50.
Then with a remarkable combination of reverence,
and perseverance, he worked his way down to 10.
The Lord finally assured Abraham
that if he found only 10 righteous persons in Sodom,
he would spare the whole city for the sake of those 10.
What was the population of Sodom?
It would be challenging to arrive
at an exact estimate.
However, there are figures available
for certain other cities of ancient Palestine
that provide a standard of comparison.
In Abraham's day, the walls of Jericho enclosed an area
of about seven or eight acres.
This would give dwelling space
for a minimum of 5,000 persons
or a maximum of 10,000.
But Jericho was not a large city
by the standards of its day.
The largest city of that period
was Hazor, which covered about 175 acres
and had a population estimated
between 40 and 50,000.
Later in Joshua's period,
we are told that the total population
of Ai was 12,000 persons.
Joshua 8:25.
The Bible record seems to indicate
that Sodom was a more substantial city in its day than Ai.
Taking these other cities into account,
we could say that the population of Sodom
in Abraham's day was probably not less than 10,000.
God assured Abraham that 10 righteous persons
could preserve a city of at least 10,000
by their very presence.
This gives a ratio of one to 1,000.
The same ratio of one among 1,000
is given in Job 33:23
and Ecclesiastes 7:28
and both these passages suggest that the one
is a person of outstanding righteousness
while all the remainder falls below God's standards.
It is easy to extend this ratio indefinitely.
The presence of 10 righteous persons
can preserve a community of 10,000.
The presence of 100 righteous persons
can preserve a population of 100,000.
The presence of 1,000 righteous persons
can preserve a community of one million.
These figures are evocative.
Nevertheless, the Bible establishes the general principle
that righteous believers' presence
is the decisive factor
in God's dealings with the community.
To illustrate this principle,
Jesus used the metaphorical comparison to salt.
In Second Corinthians 5:20,
Paul used a different metaphor
to convey the same truth.
We are Christ's ambassadors.
What are ambassadors?
They are sent forth in an official capacity
by a nation's government
to represent that government in the territory
of another country.
Their authority is not measured
by their own personal abilities
but is in direct proportion
to the authority of the government
that they represent.
In Philippians 3:20,
Paul specified the government
that as Christians we represent.
He said, "But we are citizens of heaven."
Our position on Earth is that of ambassadors
representing heaven's government.
We have no authority to act on our own
but as long as we carefully obey
our government's directions,
the entire might and power of heaven
are behind every word that we speak
and every move that we make.
Before one government declares war on another,
its action of a final warning
is to withdraw its ambassadors.
While we are left on Earth as heaven's ambassadors,
our presence guarantees a continuance
of God's forbearance and mercy towards the Earth
but when heaven's ambassadors are finally withdrawn,
there will then be nothing left
to hold back the full outpouring
of divine wrath and judgment upon the Earth.
Dear Father, in the mighty name of Lord Jesus Christ,
I invite you to stir up inside me the fullness
of your Holy Spirit.
Help me grow in my relationship with the Holy Spirit.
Lord Jesus, you promised that the advocate,
the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send
in my name will teach you all things
and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
John 14:26.
We thank you for all that you have provided us.
Thank you for remaining faithful to us.
Thank you for the redemption you gave us
to return us to fellowship.
We pray for the forgiveness of every sin
that we have committed.
Please help me learn that I don't know everything
and that this is all right
because the Holy Spirit recognizes it.
Fill me with the Holy Spirit
and has understanding of everything
that is happening in my life.
Oh, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ asked the Father
to give me the spirit of truth.
John 14:17 says, "The Spirit of Truth."
The world cannot accept him
because it neither sees him nor knows him
but you know him
for he lives with you and will be in you.
Help me recognize you in the Word of God.
Open my spirit to listen and open my heart
to receive your truths in faith,
even before I gain proper understanding.
Oh, Holy Spirit, Jesus said,
"The one who receives the seed
that falls on good soil hears the word
and understands it.
He produces an abundant crop."
Matthew 13:23-24 says,
"But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone
who hears the word and understands it.
This is the one who produces a crop,
yielding 100, 60 or 30 times what was sown.
Jesus told them another parable.
The kingdom of heaven is like a man
who sowed good seed in his field.
Be the caretaker of my life.
Support the seeds of heaven
that you have already placed inside me
and make it develop so that your love,
your ways and your kingdom will ever grow within me
and produce much good fruits for others.
Holy Spirit, Jesus said in Luke 12:11-12,
"Now, when they bring you to the synagogues
and magistrates and authorities,
do not worry about how or what you should answer
or what you should say
for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour
what you ought to say.
Then one from the crowd said to him,
"Teacher, tell my brother
to divide the inheritance with me."
Help me to trust in you always.
Help me learn that nothing is unlikely with you.
You work everything according to what is good
and right and suitable,
even if it doesn't seem so to me.
Holy Spirit, Jesus said in Matthew 6:33,
"But seek first his kingdom
and his righteousness and all things
will be given to you as well."
Help me to let go of all my worldly fondness.
First, help me see what I am joined to
that is not of you.
And then hold my hand
as I walk away from the elements of the world.
Give me the courage and the strength
to let go so that I have no other gods before me.
I need only you.
Oh, Holy Spirit, you are the comforter.
Help me to let go of the troubles in my life.
Heal my heart
and help me to face my sinfulness
and to feel genuine sorrow
for the damage, both intentional and unintentional
that I have inflicted on others
and so doing have inflicted on Jesus.
Support me as I mourn my need for forgiveness
and give me your spirit of celebrating
over this new increase in me.
Oh, Holy Spirit, Jesus said in John 14:18
that he would not leave us orphans
but would send you to us.
How often I have cried or grieved
because it appeared like you were not with me
in my troubles and difficulties.
Help me to recognize your presence in all circumstances.
Help me to turn you and find you
for you never leave me nor abandon me.
You care even more about me in my problems
than I do.
You are working a plan for my benefit
to make good come from everything
that happens to me.
Help me to discover your presence in every moment
of my life.
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