Losing Your Soul Matt. 16:26

Losing Your Faith Luke 22:32

Losing Your Courage 2 Cor. 4:1

Losing Your Influence Matt. 5:13-16

Matthew 5:13–16 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. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Lose Your Influence: Lose or diminish influence for good Influence: Power to affect others positively or negatively. Bad Good Influence Little / Small Great / Powerful Lose Your Influence: Lose or diminish influence for good

Losing Your Influence The Comparisons of Influence Matt. 5:13-16

Matthew 5:13–16 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. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Sermon on the Mount Citizens of the Kingdom (5:2-16) Outline Sermon on the Mount Citizens of the Kingdom (5:2-16) Characteristics [Beatitudes] (5:2-12) Their influence on the world (5:13-16) Righteousness of the Kingdom (5:17 - 7:12) Harmonizes with the Old Testament (5:17-19) Exceeds the righteousness of the Scribes & Pharisee (5:20-48) Relationship to God (6) Relationship to man (7:1-12) Exhortation to Enter the Kingdom (7:13-27) Enter the narrow gate that leads to life (7:13-14) Don’t let false prophets turn you aside (7:15-20) Only the obedient enter the kingdom (7:21-27)

The Comparisons of Influence Salt (Matt. 5:13) In context of relationships (Mark 9:49-50) Who is greatest (vv. 33-37) Don’t reject one who works in Christ’s name (vv. 38-41) Offending others (vv. 42-48) Be salt and have peace (vv. 49-50)

The Comparisons of Influence Salt (Matt. 5:13) In context of relationships (Mark 9:49-50) In context of discipleship (Luke 14:34-35) Christ above all else (vv. 26-27) Count the cost (vv. 28-33) Continue to be active / influential (vv. 34-35)

The Comparisons of Influence Salt (Matt. 5:13) In context of relationships (Mark 9:49-50) In context of discipleship (Luke 14:34-35) Salt used to (Preserve [stay the rot] & add flavor) If salt loses is effectiveness - worthless May refer to being polluted: Barclay - outdoor ovens used salt beds under tiles - in time became polluted – had to be thrown out. May refer to something impossible

The fact that Jesus is using as a figure something that is impossible in nature is shown by the question: “With what shall it again be turned into salt?” “There is no salt of salt,” Jansen. Once the saltiness is gone out of salt, nothing can again restore the saltness to that salt. Both ideas are beyond nature—salt losing its saltiness and having it restored. Lenski, R. C. H. (p. 200).

The Comparisons of Influence Salt (Matt. 5:13) Light (Matt. 5:14-16) Light dispels darkness – enables us to see Parallel with “good works” (v. 16) Barclay: didn’t say light of the church, but light of the WORLD! See good works – glorify God Opposite of Rom. 2:23-24 Lost men are moved to glorify God (not because we have LS every Sunday) but because they see Christ in you! Same illustration used in different context: Mark 4:21 – parables – emphasis on what hear Luke 8:16 – parables – emphasis on how hear

The Comparisons of Influence Salt (Matt. 5:13) Light (Matt. 5:14-16) Leaven (Matt. 13:33) Leaven has an impact on the entire lump of dough Used of influence for good (Matt. 13:33; Luke 13:20-21) Used of influence for bad (1 Cor. 5:6) How leaven works: Has an impact on the entire lump Works quietly and silently Works against the majority Changes its environment to be like it

The Comparisons of Influence Salt (Matt. 5:13) Light (Matt. 5:14-16) Leaven (Matt. 13:33) Letter (2 Cor. 2:2-3) Letters are written to influence – someone is reading your letter and being moved by it Your life is a letter or book with your name on it Letters should be written to be clearly understood What is the message of your letter?

The Comparisons of Influence Losing Your Influence The Comparisons of Influence The Power of Influence Matt. 5:13-16

The Power of Influence Eve on Adam (Gen. 3:1-6) Jewish brethren on Peter (Gal. 2:11-12) Peter on Barnabas (Gal. 2:13) Wives on Solomon (1 Kings 11:3-4; Neh. 13:26) Parents on children (Ezek. 16:44; 2 Tim. 1:5) Wives on husbands (1 Pet. 3:1-2) Friend on associates (Prov. 22:24-25) Member on church (1 Cor. 5:6; 2 Cor. 2:2-3) After we are gone (Heb. 11:4; Rev. 14:13)

The Power of Influence Summary Lead someone into sin Point someone to know the Scriptures / Lord Cause someone to quit doing right Turn others to be just like you Corrupt the whole church

The Comparisons of Influence Losing Your Influence The Comparisons of Influence The Power of Influence The Loss of Influence Matt. 5:13-16

The Loss of Influence Should guard & protect against loss Prov. 22:1 1 Tim. 4:12 Titus 2:7, 15

The Loss of Influence Should guard & protect against loss Things we do to lose our influence: Failing to have qualities of citizen of kingdom (cf. context of Matt. 5:13 – i.e. vv. 1-12) Continuing in sin (1 Cor. 5; 2 Thess. 3; Prov. 6:27-ff) Hypocrisy (Rom.2:24) Poor judgment / lack of wisdom (Col. 1:9; Eph. 5:15) Minimize our association / involvement (Heb. 10:24) By not being a good influence If by doing ______ one is a good influence, then by not doing _______ - he loses his influence! Example: by good family life – good influence (1 Tim. 3) – thus when family life bad – lose your influence

The Comparisons of Influence Losing Your Influence The Comparisons of Influence The Power of Influence The Loss of Influence Matt. 5:13-16