Being Salty Helps My Light!
Matthew 5:13-14
I recently ministered at a church for their Youth Sunday Service and was completely blessed by the only part of my message that I can remember. I have shared it with a few people and in all instances they were blessed so I want to share it with you!
John 3:16 tells us how much God loves us. God loved us so much that he sent his only son to die for us so that those who accept him might have eternal life. As you continue to read through the New testament you see that God didn't just express his love for us just to express it, but he did so to give us an opportunity to get in his family and Romans 10:9 tells us how to do that (confess and believe). It Still DOES NOT stop there because we read in 2 Cor. 5:17 that we are new creatures if we are in Christ so now our experience with the word is an entirely new one … the word becomes applicable and ALIVE in our own lives. Matthew 5 shares more about what can happen to a person who continues to get in God and let God get in them.
Point 1: Discover your saltiness
“Ye are the salt of the earth but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”
Salt is used as a seasoning … it enhances the flavor of food and makes it taste better. God has revealed to me that salt is equivalent to our personalities. The same way salt adds a better taste to food is the same way our personalities add a “better taste” to God and his word. There are people that we come in contact with that believe that God is some heavenly being that has no connection to those who profess their belief in and love for him … there are people who believe that God is a joke and still others who believe that God would not come near them with a 10 foot poll. These people don’t want to hear a King James Version styled message but a message shared that shows them the reality of who God really is in a way that they understand. They need to know that Moses was a punk who ultimately became a powerful leader. Paul was a hater of God and his people but one experience with God resulted in him being a beast when it came to God and his word. Peter was always talking out the side of his neck and doing all kinds of idiotic things but he was an awesome ambassador for Christ. I have realized that being “salty” doesn’t have to be a bad thing. We all have a certain “saltiness” about us that confirms the fact that God has made us all unique. Discovering your own saltiness can make a difference in how you interact with those who don’t know God.
Point 2: Your Light can LIGHT others
“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.”
God gave me 3 points about light … Light guides, illuminates and ignites. Jesus calls us “the light of the world.” If you have ever been on a tour or at a museum there is someone known as a guide who leads and explains what you are looking at … they are there to answer any questions you have for them. A guide knows more about where you are than you do therefore they can tell you why it has the name that is has and the history and significance behind it.
God has given us the ability to guide others to him. People are on paths where they don’t understand what is happening in, and around them therefore as a guide you can help them understand ESPECIALLY if you were once where they are. It is very rare that you will go anywhere and the guide doesn’t know what he/she is talking about. God has left his word with us so that we will not embarrass him or ourselves by being poor guides therefore it our responsibility to study and learn what the word says to us.
Illumination is another characteristic of light. There are 2 ways you can look at illumination. The first way is that illumination in its purest form helps you to see what you did not see before … sort of like turning on a light switch. There are people in this world who are walking in darkness and don’t even realize it. They are bound, cursed, depressed, and stressed and don’t realize that they are in darkness… the reason that we know these people is because we are the ones who are supposed to turn on the light for them so they can realize where they are. Be patient with them because if you have ever been in the dark for a long period of time you know that the eyes have to adjust to the light!
The second part of illumination is that it makes things visible that were not necessarily visible before. This may sound like the same thing I just said but keep reading and you will see that there is a difference. There are people that we know who know God… they know the word… they know the religious phrases… they know everything there is to know about “appearing” saved but when you look at their lives they reflect the opposite of what they profess to believe. These people are the ones who need to be reminded of their responsibility and obligations as believers. Just carrying the title of a believer is not enough, there has to be a consistent reality of God in your personal life through your lifestyle. This therefore puts believers in the position of holding each other accountable for our actions and words. Man/woman may see some of the things some of the time but we must always remember that God sees everything that we do all of the time.
The final point about light is that we have to LIGHT others. Light when used as a verb means to ignite. Most times when we hear the work ignite it is in connection with fire. In order for a fire to start all you need is a spark. A spark creates a flame and if you get enough flames together it creates a blaze. A blaze can create some damage if it spreads far and wide enough. We don’t become saved just to carry a label that says, “I’m a Christian”… we don’t just become saved just so we can receive blessings from God… another part of this equation involves us going out and building the kingdom of God by winning more souls to Christ. Our lives should be so off the chain for God that others desire to know what they have to do to have lives like ours. When was the last time somebody inquired about why you are so blessed, have so much favor, and are able to speak to situations and they line up with the word of God?!
As we become more intimate with God and his word our lives are supposed to attract others and result in others giving him glory. God uses our personalities for his purpose! What about your uniqueness can be used to draw people, not to you but to the God in you! We need to all seek God about our ‘saltiness” so that our light can have POWER!
© copyright LaTrisha E. Milton July 17, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Give God Permission
Give God Permission
Psalm 138:1-3
Praise … a word we hear at least 5,000 times in a church service … the word that is included in the first phrase out of the worship leader’s mouth, “Give God a hand of praise” or maybe you hear your Pastor or one of he ministers say it, “God is worthy of the Praise.” Whenever it happens… however it happens at some point during a worship service you hear something about Praise but how many of us really understand what praise is and the power it has? By the end of this writing I pray that the words God has given to me will help take your praise to a new level!!
So, what is praise? We have heard people say that praise is thanking God for what he has done, and this is true but could there be more to it than that?? Those who know me know that I always look words up in my handy Webster’s dictionary and here is a definition that changed EVERYTHING for me:
Praise – “the offering of grateful homage in words or song”
Looking at this definition nothing really deep seems to be there but of course God gives revelation. The words, “offering” and “homage” are used in this definition. An “offering” is something that is based completely on you… you can give it or not and if you decide to offer anything you make the decision on how much or how little you want the one to have that you are offering to.
Now “homage” has to do with “anything done to show honor or respect.” Just think about the President of the United States … if he were to come to your area for whatever reason he would get the best of the best service… he would stay at the finest hotel.. drive the most secured vehicle… actually he wouldn’t drive but his driver would be the safest and after leaving your area the President will feel that he is honored and respected there because of how you prepared for him and treated him while he was there. Praise is the same way… you decide based n your honor and respect for God how much you will show him how much you appreciate him.
The last part of the definition says that all of this is done in “words or song.” This simply means that SOMETHING has to come out of your mouth! Sure God knows what we think… how we feel… He knows EVERYTHING about us but if we never open our mouths to express to him how much we appreciate and love him we will never experience the TRUE benefit of praise.
Our personal praise gives God permission to keep doing great things in our lives.
Did you know that a lot of the blessings, favor and benefits that we experience as believers is connected to our praise or lack of praise to God? Praise is equivalent to Thank You. When someone gives you a gift and you don’t say thank you it leaves the impression that you are not appreciative and they are hesitant to give you anything again for fear of you being unappreciative. It is the same way with God when we give him the praise that he deserves we give him permission to keep doing great things in our lives. Just to make it clearer, permission means “authorization granted to do something.” Now THAT changes everything… at least for me it does!!
God has done things for us, in us, to us… that nobody else DESERVES the credit for.
If that doesn’t help you, how about this… just think for a second over your life… there are certain instances in life where you really can’t credit anybody for the success, deliverance, or victory in MANY situations but God. What about the time you slept with that person and you could have been pregnant but because God said no you didn’t have to go through it. What about that time you were ready to give it all up and you were about to take all those pills (slit your wrist, or hang yourself) and someone or something interrupted what you thought was going to be your final moments? Need I go on? I hope you get my point… God gets the credit for all that stuff and MORE!!!
Praise is showing your honor and respect to God in words or songs by giving him what you want him to have.
Lastly, Praise is totally and completely up to you. Praise should not be something that has to be pulled out of you … it is something that should be gladly given … unless you really don’t appreciate God and all that he has done. Praise, my brothers and sisters is simply giving God what you want him to have. So the nest time you are in worship service or where ever you are and someone talks about praise or giving God the praise… Open your mouth and give God PERMISSION to keep being God in your life by using your own person word and song!
© Copyright June 19, 2009 LaTrisha E. Milton
Psalm 138:1-3
Praise … a word we hear at least 5,000 times in a church service … the word that is included in the first phrase out of the worship leader’s mouth, “Give God a hand of praise” or maybe you hear your Pastor or one of he ministers say it, “God is worthy of the Praise.” Whenever it happens… however it happens at some point during a worship service you hear something about Praise but how many of us really understand what praise is and the power it has? By the end of this writing I pray that the words God has given to me will help take your praise to a new level!!
So, what is praise? We have heard people say that praise is thanking God for what he has done, and this is true but could there be more to it than that?? Those who know me know that I always look words up in my handy Webster’s dictionary and here is a definition that changed EVERYTHING for me:
Praise – “the offering of grateful homage in words or song”
Looking at this definition nothing really deep seems to be there but of course God gives revelation. The words, “offering” and “homage” are used in this definition. An “offering” is something that is based completely on you… you can give it or not and if you decide to offer anything you make the decision on how much or how little you want the one to have that you are offering to.
Now “homage” has to do with “anything done to show honor or respect.” Just think about the President of the United States … if he were to come to your area for whatever reason he would get the best of the best service… he would stay at the finest hotel.. drive the most secured vehicle… actually he wouldn’t drive but his driver would be the safest and after leaving your area the President will feel that he is honored and respected there because of how you prepared for him and treated him while he was there. Praise is the same way… you decide based n your honor and respect for God how much you will show him how much you appreciate him.
The last part of the definition says that all of this is done in “words or song.” This simply means that SOMETHING has to come out of your mouth! Sure God knows what we think… how we feel… He knows EVERYTHING about us but if we never open our mouths to express to him how much we appreciate and love him we will never experience the TRUE benefit of praise.
Our personal praise gives God permission to keep doing great things in our lives.
Did you know that a lot of the blessings, favor and benefits that we experience as believers is connected to our praise or lack of praise to God? Praise is equivalent to Thank You. When someone gives you a gift and you don’t say thank you it leaves the impression that you are not appreciative and they are hesitant to give you anything again for fear of you being unappreciative. It is the same way with God when we give him the praise that he deserves we give him permission to keep doing great things in our lives. Just to make it clearer, permission means “authorization granted to do something.” Now THAT changes everything… at least for me it does!!
God has done things for us, in us, to us… that nobody else DESERVES the credit for.
If that doesn’t help you, how about this… just think for a second over your life… there are certain instances in life where you really can’t credit anybody for the success, deliverance, or victory in MANY situations but God. What about the time you slept with that person and you could have been pregnant but because God said no you didn’t have to go through it. What about that time you were ready to give it all up and you were about to take all those pills (slit your wrist, or hang yourself) and someone or something interrupted what you thought was going to be your final moments? Need I go on? I hope you get my point… God gets the credit for all that stuff and MORE!!!
Praise is showing your honor and respect to God in words or songs by giving him what you want him to have.
Lastly, Praise is totally and completely up to you. Praise should not be something that has to be pulled out of you … it is something that should be gladly given … unless you really don’t appreciate God and all that he has done. Praise, my brothers and sisters is simply giving God what you want him to have. So the nest time you are in worship service or where ever you are and someone talks about praise or giving God the praise… Open your mouth and give God PERMISSION to keep being God in your life by using your own person word and song!
© Copyright June 19, 2009 LaTrisha E. Milton
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Friends .. How many of us have them?
Friends... How many of us have them?
“Friends, how many of us have them? Friends, ones you can depend on?” These are the lyrics to a popular song from back in the day by Whodini entitled “Friends”. I have been studying the life of David for the past couple of months and each time I have read about the interactions between David and Jonathan those lyrics pop into my mind and I can’t help but wonder… Friends, how many of REALLY do have them? Friends, ones we really can depend on. This made me reflect on the people that I give the title of Friends to as I taught on the relationship between Jonathan and David.
Let’s do a background recap … David and Jonathan’s friendship began after David killed the Philistine Goliath. David was bring his brothers something to eat while they were at battle when he overheard Goliath “talking smack” (as one of my youth put it) to the Israelite army and to David’s surprise they were running away from Goliath. David was bothered by this and so he volunteered to DEFEAT Goliath. After all this was over Saul was so impressed with David that he decided to keep David in his service and not allow him to go home. It is at this point that Jonathan and David’s friendship begins. There are a few points I would like to bring out as it relates to the people we call friends based on what I have studied so far. Jonathan is the PERFECT example of a friend. Through he and David’s friendship many characteristics of a TRUE friend are on display. Let’s look at a few.
POINT 1: A TRUE friend loves you as himself.
“Jonathan thought as much of David as he did of himself…” 1 Samuel 18:1 (Contemporary English Version)
One of the qualifiers for a true friend is that they will think as much of you as they do of themselves. When someone has this type of feeling towards you if means that if anything happens to you it happens to them as well… GOOD or BAD. There was something about David that created a desire within Jonathan to want to be the one in David’s life that he could count on no matter what. I am sure that after witnessing something as awesome as David defeating Goliath, Jonathan knew that this was somebody he had to know on a personal level. Whatever David had working in his favor (GOD) Jonathan wanted too. This leads to a question… an evaluation… Do the people we label as friends… the ones we commit ourselves to, have GOD working in their favor? If not what is it that keeps you in the friendship?
POINT 2: When you live a transparent life TRUE friends have your back… No matter who it is!
“The next morning, Jonathan reminded Saul about the many good things David had done for him. Then he said, ‘Why do you want to kill David? He hasn’t done anything to you. He has served in your army and has always done what’s best for you. He even risked his life to kill Goliath. The Lord helped Israel win a great victory that day, and it made you happy.’” 1 Samuel 19:4-5 (Contemporary English Version)
Not long after Jonathan and David promise to be loyal friends Saul, who was Jonathan’s father becomes jealously angry when he misinterprets the praises of the women in the towns of Israel. Saul then begins to attempt to take David’s life. In the 19th chapter of 1 Samuel Saul tells Jonathan along with a few other officials to go and find David and kill him but Jonathan talks to his Dad and pleads David’s case. Jonathan could have easily gone along with his Father’s plan but instead he stood up for his friend because he did nothing wrong to deserve such punishment. Instead he helped David hide from his father until he found out why he was trying to kill him.
Many of us have people in our lives that we label as friend but when we are in danger and they know about it do they let us know? Do they plead our case or do they simply join in the conspiracy? Jonathan showed great courage because his FATHER, the one who is supposed to be setting an example is actually wrong in his actions, and Jonathan was brave enough to confront his Father RESPECTFULLY about why he was trying to kill David.
POINT 3: When friends are loyal to their commitment to you they are really learning to be loyal to God.
“But if he wants to harm you, I promise to tell you and help you escape. And I ask the Lord to punish me severely if I don’t keep my promise. I will pray that the Lord will bless you, just as he used to bless my father.” 1 Samuel 20:13
(Contemporary English Version)
Jonathan continues to keep his promise to David. By the time you get to the 20th chapter of 1 Samuel Saul has tried to kill David several times only to be unsuccessful. David asks Jonathan what he has done to Saul that he is out to kill him. Jonathan assures David that he will not let Saul kill him. He was so serious about helping David that he said if he doesn’t he asked that the Lord punishes him severely. If this is not evidence of a loyal friend I don’t know what is!
Jonathan recognized that God was helping David. He may not have known the specifics of why God was helping him but by this time he knew that God had something to do with David’s situation. TRUE friends honor God by honoring their commitment to you. David was helping Jonathan learn to honor God by keeping his promise. True friends make us better… True friends bring us closer to God… True friends give us hope that God helps those who trust and honor him. I am learning through Jonathan and David’s friendship that TRUE friend do things for each other that others would never do. True friends exemplify the characteristics of Jesus.
“Friends, how many of us have them? Friends, ones you can depend on?”
© Copyright June 16,2009 LaTrisha E. Milton
“Friends, how many of us have them? Friends, ones you can depend on?” These are the lyrics to a popular song from back in the day by Whodini entitled “Friends”. I have been studying the life of David for the past couple of months and each time I have read about the interactions between David and Jonathan those lyrics pop into my mind and I can’t help but wonder… Friends, how many of REALLY do have them? Friends, ones we really can depend on. This made me reflect on the people that I give the title of Friends to as I taught on the relationship between Jonathan and David.
Let’s do a background recap … David and Jonathan’s friendship began after David killed the Philistine Goliath. David was bring his brothers something to eat while they were at battle when he overheard Goliath “talking smack” (as one of my youth put it) to the Israelite army and to David’s surprise they were running away from Goliath. David was bothered by this and so he volunteered to DEFEAT Goliath. After all this was over Saul was so impressed with David that he decided to keep David in his service and not allow him to go home. It is at this point that Jonathan and David’s friendship begins. There are a few points I would like to bring out as it relates to the people we call friends based on what I have studied so far. Jonathan is the PERFECT example of a friend. Through he and David’s friendship many characteristics of a TRUE friend are on display. Let’s look at a few.
POINT 1: A TRUE friend loves you as himself.
“Jonathan thought as much of David as he did of himself…” 1 Samuel 18:1 (Contemporary English Version)
One of the qualifiers for a true friend is that they will think as much of you as they do of themselves. When someone has this type of feeling towards you if means that if anything happens to you it happens to them as well… GOOD or BAD. There was something about David that created a desire within Jonathan to want to be the one in David’s life that he could count on no matter what. I am sure that after witnessing something as awesome as David defeating Goliath, Jonathan knew that this was somebody he had to know on a personal level. Whatever David had working in his favor (GOD) Jonathan wanted too. This leads to a question… an evaluation… Do the people we label as friends… the ones we commit ourselves to, have GOD working in their favor? If not what is it that keeps you in the friendship?
POINT 2: When you live a transparent life TRUE friends have your back… No matter who it is!
“The next morning, Jonathan reminded Saul about the many good things David had done for him. Then he said, ‘Why do you want to kill David? He hasn’t done anything to you. He has served in your army and has always done what’s best for you. He even risked his life to kill Goliath. The Lord helped Israel win a great victory that day, and it made you happy.’” 1 Samuel 19:4-5 (Contemporary English Version)
Not long after Jonathan and David promise to be loyal friends Saul, who was Jonathan’s father becomes jealously angry when he misinterprets the praises of the women in the towns of Israel. Saul then begins to attempt to take David’s life. In the 19th chapter of 1 Samuel Saul tells Jonathan along with a few other officials to go and find David and kill him but Jonathan talks to his Dad and pleads David’s case. Jonathan could have easily gone along with his Father’s plan but instead he stood up for his friend because he did nothing wrong to deserve such punishment. Instead he helped David hide from his father until he found out why he was trying to kill him.
Many of us have people in our lives that we label as friend but when we are in danger and they know about it do they let us know? Do they plead our case or do they simply join in the conspiracy? Jonathan showed great courage because his FATHER, the one who is supposed to be setting an example is actually wrong in his actions, and Jonathan was brave enough to confront his Father RESPECTFULLY about why he was trying to kill David.
POINT 3: When friends are loyal to their commitment to you they are really learning to be loyal to God.
“But if he wants to harm you, I promise to tell you and help you escape. And I ask the Lord to punish me severely if I don’t keep my promise. I will pray that the Lord will bless you, just as he used to bless my father.” 1 Samuel 20:13
(Contemporary English Version)
Jonathan continues to keep his promise to David. By the time you get to the 20th chapter of 1 Samuel Saul has tried to kill David several times only to be unsuccessful. David asks Jonathan what he has done to Saul that he is out to kill him. Jonathan assures David that he will not let Saul kill him. He was so serious about helping David that he said if he doesn’t he asked that the Lord punishes him severely. If this is not evidence of a loyal friend I don’t know what is!
Jonathan recognized that God was helping David. He may not have known the specifics of why God was helping him but by this time he knew that God had something to do with David’s situation. TRUE friends honor God by honoring their commitment to you. David was helping Jonathan learn to honor God by keeping his promise. True friends make us better… True friends bring us closer to God… True friends give us hope that God helps those who trust and honor him. I am learning through Jonathan and David’s friendship that TRUE friend do things for each other that others would never do. True friends exemplify the characteristics of Jesus.
“Friends, how many of us have them? Friends, ones you can depend on?”
© Copyright June 16,2009 LaTrisha E. Milton
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