Rookie Mistakes Series: #2 Hidden Christianity (Part A)

Jesus did not say I am a way in the light is that I am the way, canceling out all others.

We are supposed to carry that on pleasant message to some, yet goals were being saved as well received.

To give a taste of salvation by just living our lives not hiding what we believe cannot give that tasted. We are invisible. We have no influence for the kingdom. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through a series called rookie mistakes. Please stay with us after today's message here.

More information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching today. Pastor Rick begins a brand-new message called hidden Christianity in Matthew chapter 5 Matthews gospel chapter 5 will read verses 13 through 16, though the text is verse 14. Please stand for the reading of God's word. You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned it is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden, nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and give it gives light to all who are in the house that your lights so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. How course, I understand there are those who are you struggling with all sorts of things in your life may have some pressing concerns come to church and maybe you want to hear something that deals specifically with whatever it is that you're struggling with would be encouraged whether the pastor deals from his text with whatever you're struggling with is not mean God is not dealing with it. God knows what's going on in all of our lives and there's just so much work still to do. Even when we have were facing pressing issues. Scary things is still work to be done well consideration as part of getting the work done for the king in the midst of whatever is going on in our lives. When Jesus said, let your light shine.

He did not say if you have a good day. It is just a permanent condition of the Christian to let the light shine well rookie mistakes want to talk about that a little bit this morning's message is entitled hidden Christianity in our text is verse 14. You are the light of the world city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Rookie mistakes neglected principles of our Lord that that's how this theory started I was looking for something to do in between are finishing Peter's letters and the beginning of John's letters and looking at my notes that a file I have collected over the decades, great principles of the Christian faith.

And then I began to realize that many of these principles that are basic to us.

We learned them early on in our Christian walk. We can't write to them and we on chapter 5 of Matthew early in and out. The New Testament we get right to these principles, but I realized so many of them in neglected they shouldn't be there mistakes that should be avoided. The rookie mistake I should've known better. I should've done this. What happened to me as a largely avoidable if they are continue to long, they form a pattern in the no longer rookie mistakes then now you got a bigger problem, how a habitual mistake letting the light shine series. This section also directed towards believers do we want to be useful as Christians draw God absolutely want to count for something.

Now in our first session we spoke about the need to withhold the gospel. At times not to cast pearls before swine.

Not to give that which is holy to the dogs, but in this chapter of this session were dealing with our personal walk with Christ, not so much the preaching of the gospel to others but our being unashamed to declare that we are believers and there's a contrast meaningful.

It's one thing to not preach the gospel because of the Holy Spirit says holdback this person got ready. You'll do more damage if you do it now.

Your Casper before swine.

You will be trampled if you do it old back that is not the same thing as denying who you are in Christ.

I am not to withhold the fact that I believe that I am a sinner and Jesus is my Savior, the son of God. Second Timothy chapter 1 verse eight therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner would share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God in plain sight without effort. We are to be believers are preaching on not sharing the faith or not others should know where we stand at some point where around them long enough they should begin to get clues that were not like everybody else, and what we believe about God and about life hidden.

Christianity is just what Satan wants, so it is. It's a basic mistake at the rookie mistake.

It's a mistake amateurs make in Christ to conceal what they believe about Christ when not to go around blabbing out the gospel. Otherwise, we would been given signed by the sandwich board to just march around and all over but the end is coming, the end is near or something like that. Of course, example of perhaps casting pearls before swine. We are to be a little bit more strategic than make relationships, make good relationships because of righteous living. I cannot think of a time when we are to conceal the light that is in us, even in times of persecution.

In fact, also persecuted or persecuted because the persecutors realize their believers this world has no light of God's kingdom except through us.

We who believe we bring the light looking at our text again. You are the light of the world cities that are set on a hill cannot be hidden.

Visibility is an important part of serving the Lord. The verse above that verse 13 you are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned it is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. Salt and light. They have this in common. Both exert silent influence both of them influence their surroundings what they touch with a common contact with Jesus said you are the salt of the earth that is the dressing of course the corruption that we face in this life. Salt deals in this illustration with morality living right again facing corruption. Light light deals with the spiritual understanding spiritual truth knowledge. Now we are to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. What about in our workplace. What about where we find ourselves in our neighborhood in our schools wherever we we may be I don't know about you but there been times when I was in the world working, being the salt of the earth light of the world. This is tough, people pushing my buttons things up.

Temptations are coming my way to lure me away from my witness and ended there. Just a bunch of different type of temptations one to lose your self-control and be angry and blow your top salt is the opposite of corruption. It is supposed to help prevent corruption to slow it down.

Therefore I have to fight that I'm not corrupted by the world and that is going to gobble up a lot of my attention light is that gift of guidance, where would the world be without Christians to show what will the way of salvation, we are to illuminate the way. Not a way Jesus did not say I am a way the truth and the life. He said I am the way, canceling out all others. We are supposed to carry that on pleasant message to some yet to those who are being saved as well.

Received your to give a taste of salvation by just living our lives not hiding what we believe cannot give that tasted. We are invisible. If we have no influence for the kingdom. You are the light of the world. Jesus said that about himself and then he extended it to us. He said I am the light of the world. And then he says again to us.

That is the same with you. You are my disciples.

You are to be like me as best you can in Christ in the spirit. One could say that the city illustrates our impact on the great outdoors things that happen outside in the world, and the lamp.

The lamp is our influence on the inside it's it's kind of like Paul told Timothy.

You only need to be ready to preach the gospel, Timothy two times in season and out, which covers all the time.

There's no other season. Here we the Christian we are to shine for the Lord.

Whether we are outside or inside whether we are in the in public behind close doors, husbands and wives remember that member that even in the home.

The light is to shine city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Illuminated church is not easy to ignore a Christian who was in love with the Lord is not easy to ignore anywhere in the church you know you meet another Christian and loves the Lord, you know it was in the first few seconds of contact. You know you're dealing with somebody that is in love with Christ and then outside the church to that person is demonstrating that there has been contact with God, and it is shining through Proverbs 4 verse 18 but the path of the just is like the shining sun that shines even brighter unto the perfect day.

We know we know were supposed to shine again is basic to Christianity.

Matthew's gospel chapter 8 and this is what makes them rookie mistakes we read certain verses in the Bible and we do not forget them and this is one of the one that I'm going to read that only what we read just a moment ago about the salt of the earth.

In light of the world, but here it comes. For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man will be a shame when he comes in the glory of his father with the holy angels.

How many times do you have to read that to get the message. See the plain things of the main things in the main things of the plain things. That's a basic rule of coming to the Scripture mention I live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. That means that the word of God is understandable if you're going to be able to live by the new going to have to understand, here comes here comes another verse again when the Gospels this time of first I read just one little Mark eight verse 38 and now I'm reading Matthew 10 verse 33 Jesus said, but whoever denies me before men, him I will also deny before my father is in heaven is meant to scare us, because what is the consequence of Christians dimming the lights of not being visible of hiding what is the consequence lost souls very reason Christ came into the world to defeat the work of the devil to seek and to save that which is lost which could not do if you were to hide who he was and that now there was a time in his life when he was not in public ministry, but it was never a time in his life where he did not give himself to his father's business.

We know the story about 12 years old. He was did you not know that I was about my father's business.

My light has been shining since the day I was born in fact goes all the way back 62.

The announcement that you marry would be with the child of the Holy Spirit.

We read these things we say God the two big I set out trying to do them alive hits me with so many things.

Things that I love are threatened people that I love not jumping on board with the word of God that I'm preaching my own life. I had to continuously battle things and trying to pull me away from you and he responds with you. Stick with me. Keep going because in my words.

There's truth in there is life, and it is eternal and it is worth it and I will not abandon you.

Though there will be many times I think in life is to serve the Lord, you will feel like he is about to do it even made you cry out what good is it if you don't believe me but you don't help me.

You know Joe when he said, though he slay me, I will trust in him. We put that another way that fits my life more accurately, though he assassinate me, though he put me in a situation where I cannot win that it will take me down. What if it comes to the hat. I will trust in him fixed position. It doesn't change Satan can't do anything with that I missing it comes to that.

But I'm saying the mindset of the Christian is that Christ is with me no matter what happens, and no matter what happens I'm going to be with him that lets the light shine. But it's not always on the dramatic circumstances that we find ourselves press.

Sometimes everything is going quite smoothly. Head is above water. We doing well.

The light is still supposed to shine other any Christians listening that in the workplace around the people you find yourself.

They don't know that you are a believer you teens you have no excuse in this matter at all. You just you want to be one of the adults were okay, here's what it's like being one of the adults you are accountable also to live what you believe this is best you can.

So this these Christians us outstanding in the daylight. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Day or night illuminated in the midst of darkness are. I remember as a teenager being in the Mediterranean Sea coming into port not only in Europe but I'm using my experience I would use yours if you told me you missed your chance when you come into port in Endo's inferences view of France. He has to assess it France France anyway. France you pull into port in there on the hill were all these houses you could miss some, the city was set on a hill, night or day, you could night isn't the only port you go to another port. The same thing. Some of the house and the date that would be paid in all these pastel all these bright colors, which could miss them so you read that verse. The city set on a hill cannot be hidden. If you've ever seen such a city. You know this is true it's accurate applies and makes me say will wear my my Christian life and my hidden city of Shangri-La.

Somewhere out there no one can find or am I visible, and unlike Rachel remember what Rachel did. She hit her gods are fake gods. She sat on that is not the Christian Way, God is not looking for blind obedience, but intelligent obedience. Thus the light and intelligence obedience. It influence influences its surroundings. Obedience is based on increased light. You don't know what you talking about, how can you be illuminated for the gospel light not wildfire on the other hand there are those Christians at the just out of control is nothing attractive about those light rather blinding Ecclesiastes says do not to be. Ecclesiastes 7 be overly righteous nor be overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself. Do not be overly righteous balance.

It keep it together.

Don't pretend to be the V righteous hero of the day. Just be correctly related to your God is showing you a man what is good what the Lord desires of you, to love mercy. How many Christians love mercy. Hopefully all but of those who love receiving mercy.

How many don't mind giving it when it is time to give it to forgive the other. And remember, forgiveness.

Forgiveness means you're going to lose a little bit of something, perhaps, but sometimes you can forgive and gain all lot.

As you realize this is right. This is what God wants me to do and I'm doing it therein lies a greater blessing, so continuing with this metaphor of cities. They are good cities there are bad city city is built by transforming the wild, for you are a believer from from heaven's perspective, you were wild out of control when you came to Christ tames now coming under the gospel. Good news in the Lordship of Jesus Christ. People like cities, they develop as time goes on, they can fall into disrepair and become dirty city dark city of dangerous city or they can maintain what they have what has been developed in them become quite an attractive place, there's a charm to well-run cities, there is always something happening many opportunities there when Christ says you like a city on the hill.

What kind the city. We know what kind of city one that is against corruption, one that makes a positive impression does more glowing than growling.

What kind of city am I as a Christian, are we as a church. Are we safe for the things of God.

Doctrine is on doctrine safe are we clean are we dealing with sin, when it rears its head, or we look the other way and let it have its way with us. Are we well cared for as individual Christians. Are we in the word we keep about devotional time do we follow hard after God as the psalmist wrote the Christian is unkind. Christian is uncapped, mean-spirited. If you are that way as a believer you should know better. You know that is not right that is a rookie mistake unkind Christians go to, you can go to some churches are you and go around some people to profess Christ in the just not very friendly. It won't even greet you. I mean you and friendly. Not but you know which in a pocket give you $10, though I'm not opposed to that is not on biblical but for some of them you surprise you going to church and they don't even say hello to you as a passenger in the hallway is the city well Or is it not the Bible tells us truths about God and ourselves with sin and salvation never leaves us without solutions and because of some of its truths become some of its truths are unpleasant to the natural mind, of course, some turn away and they begin to heed fables and they go after other things outside these walls and walls of all the churches that are preaching the gospel in upholding the gospel is not enough to preach must be accompanied by an earnest attempt to follow it to do it is very easy to preach the word. It's another thing to do it and we all know that is true, which is one reason why some make this amateur mistake in the workplace don't want tell anybody their Christian because they they've not living the life and the right there in front of other people by telling the Christian they want to say to me you're a Christian way to deal with that is if you in two ways. In the early stages. Make sure you live the Christian life. And when people ask you things about yourself, you tell them the truth when they say would you go to the weekend. Don't leave out the part that you went to church because of who I don't want to tell him once I know I go to church in the be watching me all that will go to help you out. You know you because you can you be mindful and careful put attention into walking the straight and narrow. If they don't know your Christian you beast trying to get all get away with things that you shouldn't be getting away with. But what if you have already been working someplace for years and you been hiding your faith you've been a dim lit city stop go to put the clip the wicks make the lamps burn brighter make the announcement clear reevaluate everything I have my experiences true Christians in the workplace. You don't have to look for them. The light is shining and we should be that way each and every one of us and so again outside these walls, no shortage of people who are determined to reject Jesus Christ to hate him. Even want to remove his influence and destroy his children. I just I just saw a headline the other day I stop listening to the news, but every week or so at the find. It was still here and not in only they have that answer and and so was the first thing I got click on was one of the first things I see Chick-fil-A in London is closing after six months because of sexual homosexual protesting their presence because they have announced as a corporation. They are very interested in Jesus Christ become a light to the world who we're glad you joined us today to learn how to avoid some rookie mistakes in the fifth. Pastor Rick will have more to share. Next time I cross reference radio ministry of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville, Virginia like to listen to more teachings from Pastor Rick.

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