Summary: Jesus called us "salt" and "light" which are both change agents to the world around them.

Series: Being the Body

CHANGING THE WORLD AROUND ME

Matthew 5:13-16

In June 1990 the world watched in amazement the destruction of the Berlin Wall and the fall of the Iron Curtain. People were finally free from the communist rule of the Soviet Union. This change in political rule did not come from political revolutionists wielding weapons of destruction, but from people just like you and me committed to the claims of Christ wielding the word of God and not afraid to stand upon its truths.

People

Change in prisons...

Change in communities...

I. THE CALL TO CHANGE THE WORLD AROUND ME

Ye are the salt.....Ye are the light

Salt and Light are both change agents

- Salt changes the flavor; changes the decaying process

- Light changes the darkness

(Mat 28:19) Go ye therefore and teach/make disciples of all nations

II. THE PLAN TO CHANGE THE WORLD AROUND ME

A. Position Myself to the Reach the Masses

"Go where they are"

Jesus positioned Himself to reach the masses as he came not as a royal king, but as a common child

Paul missionary journeys focus on the major cities of the regions

B.Focus on Individuals and their Needs

(Luke 4:18 19) The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

(Matt 25:31 40) When the Son of man shall come in his glory, .......... 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Louis Palau: evangelist to South Ameerica

woman told him she could not hear him bc her stomach was growling to loudly

Jesus Christ always ministered to the physical needs to open the door to minister to the Spiritual needs

III. THE POWER TO CHANGE THE WORLD AROUND ME

Jesus: "the Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, bc He hath anointed Me..

Disciples:

Mat 28:20 "...and lo, I am with You, even to the end of this world.

(Acts 1:8) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

IV. THE PROMISE OF CHANGING THE WORLD AROUND ME

(Matt 16:19) And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

(Matt 28:18 20) And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

V. VISION OF CHANGING OUR COMMUNITY

Loaves and Fishes Care Center

- in large shopping area (Possible Walmart facility)

- Ministry mall

- counseling center

- medical clinic

- clothes closet

- Tutoring/education center