WHAT DOES SALT STAND FOR?Speaker: Dr. Paul Dhinakaran Gist: Try to live more and more a holier life and keep burning brightly before the people. "Then you could trample the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet" In Mark 9:49, Jesus has said, "For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt." What does salt stand for? It stands for the life of Jesus. That is why the servant of God is tested by fire, dies within him to bring life to the people. Malachi, the last prophet of the Old Testament had prophesied as follows. "For behold the day is coming. Burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes all who do wickedly will stubble and the day which is coming shall burn them up says the Lord of hosts. That will leave them neither root nor branch. But to you who fear My name, the sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves."
This was prophesied 400 years before the advent of Jesus Christ. The day on which the Lord Jesus Christ would bring the Holy Spirit, the fire is pointed here. This also tells us how Jesus Christ had to be burnt for our sake. It also tells us how the Holy Spirit destroys the very roots of the devil.
"That day that comes shall burn them down," says the Scripture. Accordingly for the Holy Spirit to come upon us we have to burn down the earthly desire in us. It is terrible! Yes before the Holy Spirit is poured out in this world, the servants of the Lord should be completely burnt in their spirit and in their flesh! Then the fire of revival will encompass the world.
Before the Holy Spirit does great things through us, in preparation He does great things in our spirits. In I Peter 4:17, we read, "For the time has come for judgement to begin at the house of God."
When the people narrated to Jesus how some Jews were killed by Pilate in the Temple, Jesus responded saying, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered such things? I tell you: no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."
What does the Lord expect from each and every servant of God?
Just as Jesus Christ became a curse on the cross of Calvary each and every servant of God should be salted by fire. This is what Jesus tells in Revelation 22:11.
"He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still."
The Lord expects from us the experience of being salted by fire. "He who is holy, let him be tested by fire and become more holy." When the Lord's servant passes through the path of fire, he does not find time to grumble or murmur.
My dear fellow servants of God, you must be transformed as the salt of the earth by being tested by fire, in order to bring life to the people of the world, to people holding high offices and strengthen yourself to stand steadfast against the activities of the power of darkness that bring death to the people.
Try to live more and more a holier life and keep burning brightly before the people. "Then you could trample the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet" Malachi 4:3.
But if you do not lose your life, that is if you do not transform yourself into the salt but merely live for the attractions of this earth you will surely perish. "No one having put his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God (Luke 9:62).
Prayer
Our heavenly Father,
The Alpha and the Omega, as one who has been given this precious gift of life today I praise and thank You for Your mercies which are new every morning. Help me to be the salt of the earth and not lose the flavor in any circumstance of my life. Let my speech today be graceful and seasoned with salt. Bless this day and make me live a fruitful life for You. In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen |