Inspired Word August 12, 2009

INSPIRED WORD

August 12, 2009

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 5: 13 – 16 : You are the salt of the earth but if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

TEACHING

What is the value of salt? It preserves, it makes things salty so that we drink liquids. The other thing that salt does is that it is a catalyst. In Palestine they would take a plate and put salt in it. Then it would be put into the fire with the dung and that would make the fire burn hotter. On the stovetop they would make the bread. But you had to get it hot enough and dung doesn't burn really hot, so the salt was the catalyst and you would continually use it in the fires until it was used up. It would then be a flat plate and they would then take it and put it out in front of the doorstep of their house like paving stones. It would be walked on – like the Scripture said earlier – ‘if it is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled by men'. So when God calls us to be the salt of the earth, He doesn't call us to make people thirsty, He calls us, as the salt of the earth, to set people on fire, to make their love for Him hotter.

PROPHECY / EXHORTATION

The Lord is saying, “Come! Come forth, everyone, no matter where you are at or how you are feeling or what you are doing. Come forth! I will not deny you. Come forth, I want to fill you; come forth, I want to love you!”

SCRIPTURE / SHARING

When I got here tonight, I was given John 21. For those of you who might not remember, it was after the Lord had risen. The disciples were out fishing and they weren't catching any fish. Jesus was standing on the shore, but the disciples did not realize it was Jesus. Jesus told them to throw their net on the right side of the boat and then they will find fish. When they did that, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish in it. The Lord had prepared for them a meal . (Reference John 21: 4 – 9 ) Many of the miracles in our own homes and in our lives always begin with a meal. We even share in a meal during Mass on Sundays. When they finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter three times if he, Simon Peter, loved Him. Simon Peter did acknowledge three times that he did love Jesus. What struck me tonight is what followed. He said, “In all truth I tell you, when you were young you put on your own belt and walked where you wanted; but when you grow old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will put a belt around you and take you where you would rather not go.” (Reference verses 15 – 18 ) What this says to me is that I need to be open to go where the Lord wants. At some point I think He puts a belt around me and pulls me along. But Scripture clearly says that it is someone else who will put a belt around us and take us where we don't want to go. “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Follow Me!' ” (Verse 19) Then Peter had asked Jesus about John, “What about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow Me .” (Verses 21 – 22)

SUMMARY / PRAYER

It seems like there were a lot of different things being said tonight. But one thing that was talked about was nets. All night long, there seemed to be a strong message of relationship and evangelism. This whole concept of net is based on relationship. The net, made up of individual pieces of cord, will come together in one spot and make a strong net. As we submit ourselves to relationship and be rightly related to one another, no matter where we come from, the net will be strong and it will be sufficient for the great end gathering of these last days. Lord, I just pray that You cause each of us to understand exactly where we are to be, when we are to be there, and not be afraid to be pulled to one place or another. I pray that we will be knit together and be tied together in a relationship wherever You want us. I pray that we will submit to You, to Your will and to Your order, for You are an orderly God. Your will is going to be expressed in our relationship with each other. We want to be rightly related to each other and pray that this relationship will be strong, Lord, and that our hearts will be strong toward You and to each other. We pray in Your most Holy Name. Amen.

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