Kingdom Outposts: The Visible Manifestation of an Invisible Kingdom
Matthew: The King and His Kingdom • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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The Lord, My God, My Salvation
WELCOME
Good morning family. hear the Word of the Lord from Isaiah 12...
Behold, God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid;
for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song,
and He has become my salvation.
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day:
“Give thanks to the LORD,
call upon His name,
make known His deeds among the peoples,
proclaim that His name is exalted.
Two things about salvation—it’s more than an experience, it’s a person. GOD IS OUR SALVATION.
When you know the Lord, you can’t help but share Him with others—MAKE KNOWN HIS DEEDS AMONG THE PEOPLES.
We gather for worship and we scatter for mission.
In just a moment we’ll hear a reading from the text for today’s sermon in Matthew 5:13. Turn there now.
While you’re turning, 5 quick announcements:
1) A word about PBC. We are Servants.
Thank you for service at Trunk or Treat
Gave out 83 New Testaments on Sunday night, in addition to a few dozen copies of other Christian literature like Gentle & Lowly and Your Verdict on the Empty Tomb.
One opportunity for you to serve in the next few weeks is with our Operation Christmas Child ministry
2) Operation Christmas Child
EXPLAIN OCC
PBC is the collection center for the Peninsula (which is why you see all the cartons we’ve already collected so far
Volunteers need for Collection Week on November 15-22 to help receive, process, and pack shoeboxes into cartons and load them into a trailer at the end of the day
Packing Party on November 12 at 7 PM
Please join us if you’re able. If you’re not, consider donating to help cover the $9 shipping cost per box.
If you’d like more information about this ministry, head to the blue flag after the service
3) No Tabletalk tonight
Attending SBCV Homecoming at Liberty in Hampton featuring Holy Mohly, Dr. Albert Mohler
4) Discover Class
Beginning November 14 at 9:15 am
Get more information or sign up at the blue flag
5) Afghan Workshop
November 20 from 9-12, register online or at blue flag
Now look in your Bibles at Matthew 5:13 as Ramona Rogers comes to read for us.
Scripture Reading (Matthew 5:13-16)
Prayer of Praise (God is Transcendent), Ramona Rogers
Steadfast Love
Christ is Mine Forevermore
Prayer of Confession (Hypocrisy), Jeremy Collins
Jesus, Draw Me Ever Nearer
NEW CITY CATECHISM #45
PASTORAL PRAYER (Mike Klaassen)
SERMON
Visible boundaries are essential in any kingdom.
Take for example, the commonwealth of Virginia.
Last week citizens of this earthly kingdom had a responsibility to vote for their leaders.
But how do we decide who gets to participate? Visible boundaries.
Roughly speaking, if you live South of the Potomac River, West of the Atlantic Ocean, and Northeast of Whitetop Mountain you live in Virginia.
But simply residing in a state isn’t enough to make you eligible to vote in an election.
In this area alone we have many military personnel who live here temporarily and maintain legal residency in another state.
So you must register as a voting resident, and get your name put into a system.
And once again, that system of registered voters has visible boundaries.
There’s about 6 million registered voters in this kingdom. Someone has access to a visible database of names. Some people’s names are on it, and some people’s names aren’t.
Visible boundaries are essential in any kingdom.
What about the kingdom of heaven?
Jesus shows up in the Gospel of Matthew, inviting people to repent and believe and become citizens of the kingdom of heaven.
But the kingdom of heaven has no earthly boundaries.
We can’t say “as long as you live in this area you’re a citizen of the kingdom of heaven”
For now the kingdom of heaven is an invisible kingdom.
And we can’t access a database of names to determine who is a kingdom citizen and who isn’t.
So how does the world know who is a citizen of the kingdom of heaven?
As we continue in Matthew’s gospel, we’ll learn that Jesus calls His disciples to gather in small groups called churches.
A church is supposed to function like a kingdom outpost, or like an embassy, that shows the world outside what a kingdom citizen is supposed to look like.
Jesus calls His disciples to be the visible manifestation of an invisible kingdom.
Turn to Matthew 5:13
Jesus is preaching a sermon to His disciples about Kingdom Righteousness, how to live righteously as citizens of the Kingdom of heaven.
He begins by describing the character of the Christian...
We recognize our spiritual bankruptcy in a world deceived by self-righteousness and self-esteem
In a world that is proud of its sin, we weep and mourn over ours
We are meek in our interactions with others in a world that prizes arrogance and unchecked anger
The world around us hungers for pleasure, while we hunger for righteousness
We are merciful towards others while the world cancels and shames those who don’t get in line
In a distracted world, our hearts are purely (although imperfectly) focused on following Jesus
In a world overrun with conflict, we strive to make peace
And because of all this we are persecuted by the world in which we live.
Some of us are physically assaulted
All of us are verbally insulted and misunderstood
With treatment like that, why should we care about the world?!?
Because Jesus calls His disciples to be the visible manifestation of an invisible kingdom.
Before we talk about how we’re going to do that, let me tell you a story...
Back in 2019, we took our last mission trip to Mexico before Covid-19 interrupted our plans.
Almost half of our time was spent in a town called Acambay
First night a basketball game was planted (US vs. Mexico)
We assumed it was going to be a pickup game
Showed up to fans in the bleachers, a concessions stand, referees in pinstripes, a legit team (coach and all!) warming up in orange jerseys, a scoreboard and scoreboard operator, and plans for four quarters of basketball
If you know anything about me, you know that athleticism and coordination are not my personal strengths.
I don’t think I’ve never felt more out of place in my life then on that basketball court that night.
I am not a basketball player, and the pressure to try to BE a basketball player was paralyzing
In case you were wondering, I did not rise to the challenge. I failed to score a single point to help my team, and I’m fairly certain I turned the ball over multiple times.
A few minutes into the game the Mexican crowd was chanting “USA” to mock us, and within a few minutes the other team realized who they were dealing with so they “loaned us” three players from their team who carried us the rest of the way.
When Jesus talks about the influence that Christians are supposed to have on the world, I wonder if any of you feel as paralyzed as that basketball game made me feel.
The challenge seems impossible. People are watching you, the opposition seems unbeatable, and the high standard Jesus sets seems absolutely unreachable.
Unlike me on the basketball court that night, Jesus is not asking you to be something you’re not. He’s asking you to live out who you already are.
Look at verse 13 . . . what are the first two words? “YOU ARE.”
Same for verse 14 . . . “YOU ARE”
Not: “you must be,” “you should be,” or “I want you to be” but “YOU ARE.”
Jesus doesn’t begin by giving us a checklist, but by showing us a mirror. “Look here, this is who you are. Now because of that, this is how you’re supposed to live.”
No one is this naturally. But this is who you are supernaturally. If you have been born again, this is the new you!
If we’re going to be the visible manifestation of an invisible kingdom, we need to remember who we are.
Three truths we must remember...
1) We Are DIFFERENT.
1) We Are DIFFERENT.
Matthew 5:13-16—“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Jesus uses two metaphors, salt and light, to illustrate Christian influence
Before we zoom in on those two metaphors, let’s look at the whole. Take together what’s the lesson these two metaphors teach us?
John Stott—“The basic truth which lies behind these metaphors and is common to them both is that the church and the world are distinct communities.” [1]
“You who are salt” and “the earth.” “You who are light” and “the world.”
The “you are” in both vv. 13-14 is emphatic— “you, and only you are the salt of the earth and the light of the world”
CHRISTIANS ARE DIFFERENT FROM THE WORLD!
Christians trying to look like the world is as silly as unsalty salt or dark lights
Christian, how does your life look different from the world around you?
Entertainment? Finances? Politics? Parenting? Sex? Marriage? Time? Work? Hobbies?
Application for us as a church: we should be okay looking different from the world
It’s okay if our service is a bit uncomfortable for the unbeliever
Not our goal, but it’s a natural byproduct of ordering our services according to God’s Word instead of according to what’s popular in the culture
We pray . . . a lot
We have moments of silence
We sing together (and the musicians aren’t so loud that we can’t hear one another)
We sit and listen to 45 minutes of preaching
If we’re going to be the visible manifestation of an invisible kingdom, we need to remember we are different.
But there’s a danger here we must avoid.
Some, in their zeal for Christians to look different withdraw from the world.
Esther sermon series—two temptations in exile are assimilation and isolation
Explain assimilation and isolation
The error of monasticism
Jesus intends the effects of salt and light to be noticed by the world. We can’t withdraw!
John 17:14-16—“I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”
Who is in your sphere of influence?
Where you live/eat/work/play/serve
If we’re going to be the visible manifestation of an invisible kingdom, we need to remember who we are.
We are different.
But also...
2) We Are SALT.
2) We Are SALT.
5:13a—“You are the salt of the earth...”
What does that mean?
One scholar examined 11 different uses of salt in the ancient world. It was used as currency, as seasoning, as a fertilizer, as a disinfectant, and more!
But Jesus has something more specific in mind.
Most scholars agree that the primary use of salt in Jesus’ day was as a preservative, and that’s almost certainly what Jesus is thinking of here.
No refrigeration in those days, so salt was rubbed into meat to slow decay
The world is decaying...
Ever since the fall, the world has been prone to corruption
D. Martin Lloyd-Jones—The world is… “like meat which has a tendency to putrefy and to become polluted. It is like something which can only be kept wholesome by means of a preservative or antiseptic. As the result of sin and the fall, life in the world in general tends to get into a putrid state. That, according to the Bible, is the only sane and right view to take of humanity. Far from there being a tendency in life and the world to go upwards, it is the exact opposite. The world, left to itself, is something that tends to fester.” [2]
Rather than being shocked at how bad the world is, we should be shocked at how good it is!!!
By calling you salt, Christian, Jesus is saying something very important about our role in society
We function as a preservative that slows the moral decay in the culture around us
For example, contrast the American Revolution with the French Revolution roughly a decade later. Although both revolutions were violent and led to much loss of life, the French Revolution was especially cruel and unforgiving and it led to a bloodthirsty anarchy. Why were things so different here in America? Many historians believe that the colonial conscience was still shaped by the Great Awakening that had occurred a few decades early under the preaching of men like George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards. Certainly not all the colonists were Christians. But because of the influence of Christianity in America, the moral decay was occuring much slower than the decay in France. We are salt.
Or consider the violent and destructive riots we witnessed as a nation last summer. Isn’t it interesting that the most extreme rioting occurred at the very same time when most Christian churches were unable to gather due to restrictions related to Covid-19? We are salt.
The way people act when they find out I’m a pastor
Jesus doesn’t say we’re the sugar of the earth. Yes be pleasant, but just know that the gospel is offensive. It’s salty.
How are we supposed to have this impact on the world around us?
5:13b—“but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.”
Strictly speaking, salt cannot lose its saltiness. Sodium chloride is very stable chemical compound and is resistant to breakdown. But salt in Palestine was often mixed with other chemicals and became diluted. [3]
Jesus isn’t saying that salt can stop being salty. But that salt mixed with non-salt becomes useless.
And therein is a lesson for us...
I don’t think Jesus is saying, “YOU BETTER MAKE SURE YOU STAY SALTY, INDIVIDUAL CHRISTIAN!” I think He’s warning the Christian community to make sure that we don’t dilute our witness by mixing non-salt up with the salt.
The church loses its purity when we welcome unbelievers into our membership.
Front door—Discover Class, membership interviews, testimonies, congregational approval
Back door—Church discipline to remove those whose lives deny the gospel they claim to believe
NOT talking about who’s allowed to attend our gatherings. But who do we welcome into our membership.
Just look at many so-called churches in our world today and you’ll see exactly what Jesus is talking about. They’re useless for the kingdom, because they’re so diluted because they’re filled with unbelievers!
John Stott—“When society goes bad, we Christians tend to throw up our hands in pious horror and reproach the non-Christian world; but should we not rather reproach ourselves? No-on blames unsalted meat for going bad! It cannot do anything else. The real question is: where is the salt?” [4]
Notice: there is a command related to light (v. 16, “let your light shine”) but not one related to salt.
We are not commanded to stop the world from decaying. But if we’re faithful to maintain the purity of our churches, we will have this effect on the world around us.
This is why we pray weekly for local churches around us and around the world. Nothing is more effective in slowing the moral decay around us than a faithful and pure local church.
If we’re going to be the visible manifestation of an invisible kingdom, we need to remember who we are.
We are salt.
But finally...
3) We Are LIGHT.
3) We Are LIGHT.
5:14—“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”
The world is not only decaying, it’s in darkness...
The world is constantly reassuring itself that they truly see, but the truth is they’re blind
2 Corinthians 4:4—“In their case the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
If you know your Bible, you might remember that the phrase “light of the world” elsewhere refers to Jesus Himself...
John 8:12—“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
So which is it? Are Christians the light of the world, or is Jesus the light of the world? Yes.
Jesus is the light of the world, but if you’re a Christian you’re now in Christ...
Ephesians 5:8—“...at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord....”
Jesus is the sun, we are the moon that reflects His light
Be encouraged! If you belong to Jesus, God will no sooner stop shining through you than He will shine through the light of His own Son!!!
That said, there is still a command to us to let our light shine...
5:15-16a—“Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others...”
The purpose of light is to shine, not to be covered up!
This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine, this little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
Hide it under a bushel? NO! I’m going to let it shine
Christian, are you letting your light shine?
“I don’t know!”
HOW DO WE SHINE BRIGHTLY?
Think about what light does...
Light Exposes the Darkness
Ephesians 5:11-13—“Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible.”
Ryan Bomberger at CareNet Peninsula
Use your influence and gifts [art, money, speaking, career, etc.] to expose the evils of abortion, racism, injustice, sex trafficking, the porn industry, etc.
Not enough to expose darkness...
Light Shows the Way Out of Darkness
Imagine you’re in darkness and someone shines a bright flashlight in your face… LIGHT!!! That’s not really helpful, is it? Helpful, useful light is pointing to something else, not itself.
5:16b—“...so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
How do they know to give glory to the Father by seeing your works?
Because you tell them!!!
My failure when the surgeon asked why we adopted Zeke
EXPLAIN THE GOSPEL!!!
Who in your life needs to hear the Good News?
Light is hard to cover up! It finds a way to shine
If you’re a follower of Jesus, you’re not going to be able to keep it quiet. Not for long.
Perhaps God is using even this sermon to gently remove the cover you’ve been putting over your light
Or perhaps God is showing you that you don’t really have any light at all. REPENT & BELIEVE!
If we’re going to be the visible manifestation of an invisible kingdom, we need to remember who we are. We are different. We are salt. We are light.
LORD’S SUPPER
Christian, we are citizens of an invisible kingdom. And there aren’t any geographical boundaries that separate Christians from the world. But there IS a visible boundary.
Jesus has given us communion, a visible symbol of His love for us. And we take the bread and cup to visibly tell each other and the world around us that we are citizens of this kingdom and we intend to live as salt and light in the world around us.
1 Cor 11:23-28—“For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.”
Jesus and you moment as you pray silently, preparing your heart for Communion
Confess sin to God and (if necessary) to others
PRAISE HIM FOR HIS GRACE!!!
Jesus and others moment as you come to a table, one of our pastors prays over you, and you eat the bread in a small group of friends/family
Sit and pray as long as you need. Then when you’re ready, just walk towards the front and gather around a table in groups of 3-5 or so
Jesus and everybody moment as we take the cup together as a church family
After you eat the bread, you’ll walk down the side aisles back to your seat while we wait for everyone to finish then we'll eat the bread together
More important than how we celebrate communion is who:
Christian: This is Jesus' gift to encourage you! Receive it with joy!
Not a Christian: Don’t receive the symbol, receive the reality. If you're ready to receive Him today you can come to one of the tables and talk to one of our pastors. Let us know of your desire to give your life to Jesus and we’ll happily drop everything to talk and pray with you. If you're not ready to do that today just remain in your seat.
Bow your head and prepare your heart while Cliff plays
When you’re ready, come to any of the tables
After everyone has had the bread...
In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
Let’s sing together
He Will Hold Me Fast
Benediction (1 Corinthians 15:58), Mike Klaassen