This week Bro. Leo continues us on a study of how Christians should be acting in the midst of all the chaos that is ramping up in our culture. In the past few weeks we have learned that the “salt” represents our Christian character and the absolute truth’s of the Bible, we are preserving the culture from the Judgement of God.  And that the “light” represents our voice/actions. The word “candle” in Matt.5:15 is translated from the Greek word “luchnos” which means a portable lamp or lantern that was filled with oil. It has to be lit and filled with oil. Christians are a vessel filled with the Holy Spirit and if we remain silent we are of no good to our culture. This is how the American Church is operating for the most part and why our culture is acting the way it is currently.

Today we learn what the Bible tells us will happen if we truly are the “salt and light”.

Jesus tells us in Matt.10:32 that He will confess us to God if we confess Him to our culture. In vs.16-18 Jesus warns us that we will be questioned and rebutted by our culture for our testimony,  in vs.22 we will be hated by our culture.  And in vs.19 He tells us that His Holy Spirit will give us the words we need to speak when that happens.  In vs.29-30 He tells us God cares for us and will take care of us.

In Matt.28:18-20 Jesus gives us what is known as “The Great Commission”.  Notice two points in the commission, Jesus is defining the “salt” and “light”, 1) confessing commitment to God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit,  2) promoting and lifting up the teachings of Jesus and the doctrines of the Bible.  Vs.18 gives us the confidence to be the “salt and light”.

Joshua is a Biblical example of being the “salt and light” in the culture in Josh.24:14-15.

Jesus tells us in Rev.3:8 that God has many blessings for those who do not deny Him.

Scriptures used in today’s study:

Mat 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Mat 10:17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
Mat 10:18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
Mat 10:19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
Mat 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Mat 10:26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
Mat 10:27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
Mat 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Mat 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
Mat 10:30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Mat 10:31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching 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.

Joh 7:7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

Jos 24:14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
Jos 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Rev 3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

This week Bro. Leo continues us on a study of how Christians should be acting in the midst of all the chaos that is ramping up in our culture.  In the past few weeks we have learned that the “salt” represents our Christian character and the absolute truth’s of the Bible, we are preserving the culture from the Judgement of God.

Today we learn that the “light” represents our voice/actions.  The word “candle” in Matt.5:15 is translated from the Greek word “luchnos” which means a portable lamp or lantern that was filled with oil.  It has to be lit and filled with oil.  Christians are a vessel filled with the Holy Spirit and if we remain silent we are of no good to our culture.  This is how the American Church is operating for the most part and why our culture is acting the way it is currently.

In John 5:32-35 we learn what Jesus means when He says we are to “Let your light so shine before men” in Matt.5:16.  In John 5:32-35 Jesus tells us John “was a burning and a shining light”  because John “beareth witness of me” and “he bare witness unto the truth.”  So, the way we let our light shine is by bearing witness of what Jesus has done in our lives and standing for the truth’s of the Bible.  In John 5:31 the word “witness” is translated from the Greek word “martureō”  which means to be a witness, to speak the truth concerning what one has seen, heard or knows to be true.  The word “testimony” in John 5:34 is translated from the Greek word “marturia” which means a declaration by a witness that bares record of a fact(s), speaking with authority of one who knows, speaking with the knowledge, power and authority of one who knows.

In order for a Christian to have the ability to witness and testify they have to know what it is they are witnessing and testifying about, they need to have personal knowledge and an undeniable knowledge of what they believe.  In 2Tim.1:11-12 Paul gives that exact kind of testimony.

In John 1:6-8 the word “light” is translated from the Greek word “phōs” which means a light that can not be kindled or extinguished, sun light, light created by God-man can’t start it and man can’t extinguish it.  In vs.23 tells us we are a voice for God.  As a voice we are to take a stand, a voice unheard is of no good to anyone.

John 3:28, 30-31 tells us our witness and testimony should be about God, not ourselves.  In vs.30 the word “decrease” is translated from the Greek word “elattoō” which means a suppression of self, lessening of self and a decrease of self.

Jesus tells us in Matt.10:32-33 that the confessors will be confessed.

Scriptures used in today’s study:

Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Mat 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Luk 12:35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
Luk 12:36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
Luk 12:37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

Joh 5:32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
Joh 5:33 Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.
Joh 5:34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
Joh 5:35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.

2Ti 1:11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
2Ti 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Joh 1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
Joh 1:7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
Joh 1:8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

Joh 1:23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

Joh 3:28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
Joh 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
Joh 3:31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

Mat 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

This week Bro. Leo continues us on a study of how Christians should be acting in the midst of all the chaos that is ramping up in our culture.

So far in this series we have learned that the as Christians we are to preserver and purify our society/generation by taking a stand for righteousness. “He” in 2Thess.2:7-8 is all the Holy Spirit indwelt Christians and we preserve our society/generation by holding back the judgement of God and the Antichrist.  That the last Israeli society/generation before God allowed their Nation to be taken from them in comparison to our own American society/generation at this time (Isa.59:2, 12-15, Isa.66:5-8). In these Scriptures we see four attributes of the Israelite’s, 1) actions- act of sinning vs.12. The word “sin” is translated from the Hebrew word “hattai” which means a specific act of sin or a general sense of sinfulness. In vs.2 the word “iniquities” is translated from the Hebrew word “awon” which means depraved actions of perversion, to deviate from the natural, to deviate from the righteous. 2) attitudes, in vs.12 the word “transgressions” is translated from the Hebrew word “pesa” which means a willful deviation from God’s moral ordinances, willful deviation from the will of God. In vs.13 the word “revolt” is translated from the Hebrew word “sarah” which means open blatant revolt against God. 3) society/generation approval of sin. In vs.12 the phrase “we know them” means they chose to sin and feel no need to repent and seek God’s forgiveness, they are saying they are right and God is wrong. 4) the righteous gets attacked, their society/generation attacked those who acted righteously vs.15. The word “prey” is translated from the Hebrew word “shâlal” which means viciously attacked and plundered.

This week we study the Biblical description of the folks we see rioting, demonstrating and protesting in the streets of America.

2Tim.3:2-4 describes the folks we see on the news in the streets.  In vs.3 the word “trucebreakers” is translated from the Greek word “aspondos” which means a person with the state of mind that is absolutely irreconcilable,  they seek no terms of compromise, peace or truth.  In vs.4 the word “heady” is translated from the Greek word “propetēs” which means rash and out of control.  In vs.3 the word “incontinent” is translated from the Greek word ” akratēs” which means unable to control ones self.

2Tim.3:5 and Rev.3:15-18 describes the current Church folks and our response to the folks in the streets.  We have allowed ourselves to waterdown the truth’s of the Bible (salt, Matt.5:13) and we are failing to proclaim the truth’s of the Bible (hiding our lights under a basket Matt.5:14-16).

Scriptures used in today’s study:

Mat 5:13 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.
Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Mat 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Mar 9:47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
Mar 9:49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
Mar 9:50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

Col 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
Col 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Mat 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Joh 5:32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
Joh 5:33 Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.
Joh 5:34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
Joh 5:35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.

Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching 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.

Rev 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Rom 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
Rom 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Rom 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Rom 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Php 3:18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
Php 3:19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
Php 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Php 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

This week Bro. Leo continues us on a study of how Christians should be acting in the midst of all the chaos that is ramping up in our culture.

Last week we learned that the as Christians we are to preserver and purify our society/generation by taking a stand for righteousness. “He” in 2Thess.2:7-8 is all the Holy Spirit indwelt Christians and we preserve our society/generation by holding back the judgement of God and the Antichrist.

This week we look at the last Israeli society/generation before God allowed their Nation to be taken from them in comparison to our own American society/generation at this time (Isa.59:2, 12-15,  Isa.66:5-8).   In these Scriptures we see four attributes of the Israelite’s, 1) actions- act of sinning vs.12.  The word “sin” is translated from the Hebrew word  “hattai” which means a specific act of sin or a general sense of sinfulness.  In vs.2 the word “iniquities” is translated from the Hebrew word “awon” which means depraved actions of perversion, to deviate from the natural, to deviate from the righteous.  2) attitudes, in vs.12 the word “transgressions” is translated from the Hebrew word “pesa” which means a willful deviation from God’s moral ordinances, willful deviation from the will of God.  In vs.13 the word “revolt” is translated from the Hebrew word “sarah” which means open blatant revolt against God.  3) society/generation approval of sin.  In vs.12 the phrase “we know them” means they chose to sin and feel no need to repent and seek God’s forgiveness, they are saying they are right and God is wrong.  4) the righteous gets attacked, their society/generation attacked those who acted righteously vs.15.  The word “prey” is translated from the Hebrew word “shâlal” which means viciously attacked and plundered.

This American society/generation can be described with the same attributes as that Israeli society/generation.  In order for us to be the “salt” we must take a stand for righteousness (Josh.24:14-15), which means we need to let folks know that we stand for God’s morals (acknowledge God is right), support our good Law Enforcement Officers, support our Military personal and acknowledge that we live in the greatest country in the world, our country is so great that even the folks who hate this country refuse to leave it!

Scriptures used in today’s study:

Mat 5:13 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.
Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Mat 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

Isa 59:12 For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them;
Isa 59:13 In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
Isa 59:14 And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.
Isa 59:15 Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.

Isa 66:5 Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.
Isa 66:6 A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the LORD that rendereth recompence to his enemies.
Isa 66:7 Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.
Isa 66:8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.

Isa 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Psa 51:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Psa 51:2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Psa 51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Psa 51:4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
Psa 51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

1Jn 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
1Jn 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Rom 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Gen 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
Gen 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
Gen 3:9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
Gen 3:10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

Isa 59:15 Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.

2Ch 7:13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;
2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Psa 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
Psa 33:13 The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.

Jos 24:14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
Jos 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.