Phil Beach Jr. emphasizes the transformative power of Jesus as the source of light and salt in our lives, urging believers to maintain an honest heart to reflect Christ's purity and truth. He explains that a backslidden heart is one that hides from God's truth, while a perfect heart is one that admits its flaws and seeks grace. The sermon highlights the importance of being connected to Jesus to shine His light in a dark world, and the necessity of the Holy Spirit to empower us in this mission. Beach encourages the congregation to embrace their identity as the light of the world, reflecting Christ's moral excellence and love to others.

So often, Lord, convicted when I see your gentleness. And then so often, Lord, I am ungentle or non-gentle. Lord, I just pray that you will abound today as our shepherd. Father, please, we need the Holy Spirit right now. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to take your word and make it a living word. Make it a living word into our hearts. And we just pray, Lord, that you'll do that. Minister life to us. Minister grace to us, Lord. Convict us and lead us closer and closer into the heart of Jesus Christ, where we can find perfect peace, perfect rest, perfect forgiveness, and a perfect representation of what God is all about, what he's like. It's the heart of Jesus that shows us what God is like. And we thank you, Lord, in Jesus' name. Amen and amen. Matthew chapter 5. Shortly, we're waiting for the Lord and the release. We're going to begin. And I want to encourage you to. If you if you can't be here to encourage you to get this, the tapes, we're going to look into the seven churches that Jesus speaks to in the book of Revelation. And my, my, my, this is going to be some really encouraging and convicting and powerful words that Jesus will speak to us. But we have a little bit more. We want to look into Matthew chapter 5 verses 13 through 16. Matthew 5, 13 through 16. Ye are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste. Its strength, its quality. How can its saltness be restored? It is not good for anything any longer but to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel or a peck measure. But on a lamp stand and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glory your father who is in heaven. Now, father. Help us to just concentrate this morning on Jesus Christ, who is the source. Of our saltiness and the source of our light. Help us, Lord, to realize that Jesus, in fact, is the salt of the world. And Jesus is, in fact, the light of the world. And only as we are enabled by the power of the Holy Spirit to remain in a posture of utter dependence upon him can we ever hope to be this salt and this light that we're called to be. And so, Lord, we pray today you'll help us to see Jesus in light of these scriptures. Amen. We looked a little bit last week that the salt that loses its saltiness is a picture of a backslidden heart, a backslidden heart is really Mike. What a little bit about what you were mentioning, a backslidden heart is not so much a heart that has gone off into over open, horrible sins. A backslidden heart is simply a heart that refuses to be honest, that refuses to be true to the word of God. That's what a backslidden heart is. And how we need the grace of God in our life to keep our hearts honest, because our natural tendency is to do what Adam did. Remember what Adam did? He covered his sin. And then when God spoke to him, Adam, where are you? That was the call. Listen, that was the call of conviction. The call of conviction, God always calls us and convicts us when there's sin. What did he do? He hid. He hid himself. See, that's a backslidden heart. Now, listen, Adam hadn't gone out and committed horrible sins, did he? No, he simply failed to have an honest heart. An honest heart would have been what? Oh, God, I'm here, but I'm all dirty. I'm all dirty, God. I disobeyed you, Lord. It's an honest heart that listen, believe it or not, when the scripture says, well, the Bible says that David had a perfect heart. What does it mean? It didn't mean that David was morally perfect. How many know the life of David? He was not morally perfect. He was a murderer. He was an adulterer. He was a liar. He was a thief. He was a covetous man. But you know what David had? A perfect heart. Wait a minute. How can David have a perfect heart? Because the word perfect in the Old and New Testament means an honest heart, not a right heart, meaning a heart that has not sinned, but a heart that is willing to admit the truth. When Nathan came to David, which is a picture of Christ, Nathan in the Old Testament is the prophet. That's a picture of Jesus, who is God's prophet. When Nathan came to David and told him a little parable, remember the parable? He tricked him, told him a story about this man. He said, David, what would you do? This man has all these beautiful sheep and he knew of this poor little man who had just one little ewe lamb and he stole that ewe lamb from him. What would you do? David said, as far as the Lord God lives, that man should be killed. And Nathan the prophet looked at David and said, you're the man. You're the man. Because this little story illustrates what you did to Uriah. You had everything. God gave you a kingdom. He gave you servants. He gave you a wife. And you looked at this poor little man Uriah and his wife. They had nothing. And you stole this woman Bathsheba from Uriah. And then you covered up your sin. And you lied about it, David. And not only did you lie about it, you murdered Uriah. You ordered him to go out into the heat of the battle. A perfect heart. Yes, because what did David do? What did he do? He surrendered. When the prophet Jesus exposed David's sin, David said, Psalm 51, have mercy upon me, O God. That's where Psalm 51 comes from. It's the confession of David after he was confronted by Nathan. That's a perfect heart, brothers and sisters. A heart that agrees with the prophet. The prophet. The Word of God. A heart that says yes to God's truth. Yes to God's Word. That's a perfect heart. A backslidden heart is a heart that says no. A heart that is caught in pride. Because pride never wants to admit the truth about itself. Pride always is in denial. It wouldn't be pride if it wasn't. That's right. Pride. Water's wet, right? If water wasn't wet, it wouldn't be water. So, we learned last week that a backslidden heart is a heart that loses its flavor. It loses its saltiness. Now, remember salt. We learned that salt, we learned many things about salt. It preserves. It brings taste. It changes. Listen, salt. This is beautiful. Salt slows down the corruption process. Did you know that back in the days of the Bible, they didn't have refrigerators. So, how did they preserve meat? They cured it with salt. The same way they cure bacon. That's why you can, bacon, it's just, you know, bacon just never goes bad because it's cured in salt. So, salt has a, it prolongs corruption. What is the presence of Jesus in this world doing? It's prolonging corruption. It's prolonging destruction. So, but a backslider in heart doesn't have that quality in their life anymore. Why? Because they're not religious? No, they are religious. He's filled with his own ways because his heart is no longer tender and soft before the Lord. The heart is no longer honest. See, it's only an honest heart where the salt of Jesus flows through. It's an honest heart, see? And so, if a believer loses his flavor or his saltiness and doesn't repent, he'll experience the judgment of God. And we're going to see that in the books, in the seven churches that Jesus spoke to. We also see that in 1 Corinthians 11 where Paul warned the Corinthians. They were a church in Corinth and there were a lot of problems. There was backbiting and all kinds of problems. And Paul said, listen, some of you are sick, weak, and prematurely dying because you're not repenting. Now that doesn't mean all sickness or all death or all weakness is because of sin. But what it does mean is that judgment can come. So, this is what we learned last week, but now we want to move on to another metaphor. Jesus said, not only are we the salt, but we're the light of the world. Light of the world. John 8, 12. Jesus said, I am the light of the world. It is imperative for us to understand that the only way that you and I can be light is if we are vitally connected to Jesus Christ. Being the light of the world is never something that we perceive ourselves to be independent from. A vital union with Jesus Christ. A heart union with Jesus Christ. Jesus is the light of the world and then He says here that we are the light of the world because the body or the believer is to be vitally connected to Christ so that the virtues and qualities and features and characteristics that are inherent in the Lord Jesus Christ would be demonstrated and shown through the church. That's why we're here. That's why we're here. You are the light of the world. Our chief purpose of existence on earth is to be a corporate vessel through whom the light Jesus Christ can be revealed to a lost and dying world. But that can only be maintained by an honest heart. That's why the Lord is constantly dealing with us as we hear our testimonies about the darkness, about sin. Because as we are honest and say yes, Lord, then He cleanses us and the light keeps shining. The light keeps shining. Okay, you are the light of the world. The church, the believer, the follower of Christ is to undergo a radical transformation in the way He thinks and the way He views Himself and His purpose and existence. According to this statement, He becomes the very vessel through whom Christ, the light of the world, is to be reflected. 2 Corinthians 3.18 Light is and does several things. Listen, light is and does several things. We're going to make a list now from the Scriptures in order to demonstrate what light is like. Listen, first of all, this is what we're going to experience with our relationship with the Lord. But not only is it what we're going to experience as we come in contact with our Lord, but it's what we ought to be experiencing with one another as we share with one another if we are drawing from the Lord. Okay, so this is twofold. This is what we experience when we are walking with the Lord and what we experience when we are walking one with another in the light of the Lord, okay? 1 Ephesians 5.8-9 For you were sometimes darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as the children of light. For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth. 1. Light is clear and pure. It is clean. It is good. It is right. It is true. As we are enabled by the power of the Holy Spirit to maintain a walk with our Lord Jesus Christ, we are constantly going to be in the proximity of what is clear and pure. It is so important that we get this because everything in this world is what? Foggy and impure. You're not going to touch anything that's pure in this world. You're not even going to touch something pure in your brother if you touch him after the flesh. There's nothing pure. We can't learn what purity is unless we go to the source. That's why there's such a falling away today because especially within the Christian church because Christ is no longer the standard that's being lifted up. He's no longer the one that our eyes are looking upon. The moment we stop looking at Him, then what we're doing is we're establishing a different standard. Yes, our own standard. Remember last week we learned that if you compare yourself with someone else, it's easy to find someone that in your eyes isn't as pure as you so you can look better than them. Right. See, what's your standard? What's your standard? So, light is pure and clear and holy and right and true. Brothers and sisters, we are admonished by this that we must stay in close proximity to our Lord Jesus Christ who alone possesses purity. Who alone possesses purity. In whom alone there isn't one pure motive. Listen, the best one among us is impure in motive because no one's perfectly right. And if we're not perfectly right, then what does that mean? We're perfectly wrong. There's something there that's not right. There's only one in whom there is a perfect heart and a perfect motive. So how do we keep preserved from that? We hang around with people who we think are a lot less perfect than we are. All that does is make us a little demigod in their eyes. Some people love to find people that in their eyes are less spiritual than them and they befriend them and then they always come up smelling better. Always look better. And the people start, you get esteemed. That's why it's very important that you're vulnerable to your brothers and sisters. Do you know how dangerous it is to be looked upon too highly? This is where pastors need to really be careful. Yes, there is a place of pastoral ministry. There is an office of preaching the Word. And there is honor and double honor that should be given to pastors. It says it right in the Word. But there is never to be a time when that honor and respect turns into elevation. Don't elevate your pastor. Don't elevate a brother or a sister because their feet stink. Just get close enough to them. Their underarms stink. Their blood is red. Guess what? The most spiritual man that you know is an adulterer. Did you know that? He's a thief. The most spiritual one that you know. No. You might say, no, I'm an adulterer, but not that man. Oh, yes. And woe to the preacher and the pastor that doesn't make it perfectly clear to the congregation that he's no better. And most of the time, worse off. Because he knows a lot more. Because he spends hours in the Word. He knows better, and yet, his sin is before him. That's right. He can't tell anybody about it because he's the pastor. What a trap to get into, huh? What a trap. Never hide your sin. Never want to be some spiritual man. Just be a broken-hearted sinner that's found grace in the perfect man, Jesus Christ, and just long to be like Him. 1 Timothy 3.6 Go ahead and read it, Mike. 1 Timothy 3.6 That's one of the requirements of an overseer. The word bishop means overseer. Not a novice. Why? Now, what is it? The word novice there literally is a Greek word that means freshly planted. Green. Because a novice is prone to what? Think he's not really as bad as he really is. The novice in heart is deceived by the strength of youth. The zeal of youth. There's nothing wrong with it, but he's deceived by it because he doesn't understand the depths of his corruption. That's what a freshly planted Christian is. And Paul says, don't let one of them assume a position of oversight because the condemnation of the devil is what? Pride. Pride. Pride. Number two. Thank you, Michael. Number two. Light penetrates by nature. Light cuts through darkness and exposes what is in darkness. First Thessalonians 5.5 You are all children of light and the children of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. And so therefore, as we are walking in close proximity to the light of the world, then we are constantly under the shadow of a penetrating light that exposes all darkness. That's why the Scripture says in 1 John 1, if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus is cleansing us from our sin. Why does John connect walking in the light with the blood and sin? Why? Because it's impossible to walk in the bright light of Jesus Christ without seeing your sin. But as you see your sin, you are led by the Holy Spirit to confess your sin. And as you confess your sin, the blood of Jesus Christ is cleansing us from our sin and therefore making us without sin, not inherently without sin, but without sin that is standing in our way with a close relationship with God. Listen, listen closely. One of the signs of a heart that's growing cold is we, listen, we lose a sense of our need to be cleansed from sin. See, listen, if I only walk with Norman or Mike or Brian or Gary and my fellowship is only with them, I'm going to lose sight of my sin because Mike is not going to really show me my sin. Norman's not going to really show me my sin. Gary or Brian is not going to really show me my sin. And so when I drift from the light, I drift from my need. I don't see my need anymore. That's dangerous. Listen, did you know this is why there's such a de-emphasis today now about the blood of Jesus Christ? Do you know that there are whole movements that have taken the blood out of all songs and out of all singing? And some preachers are actually saying that it's really a barbaric thing to talk about the blood of Jesus because people don't understand it. Do you know why that's happening? Sinners are no longer walking in the light. Of a perfect Savior. They no longer see their corruption. And if you don't see your corruption, you don't need a bloody religion. You don't need blood for cleansing. No, you don't need blood. Brothers and sisters, in the name of the Lord, I beg you and warn you from the Word of God, if your heart has lost its ability to understand the value and significance of the blood of Jesus, then I encourage you to focus on point number two. Light penetrates, exposes all darkness. If your heart has grown a little bit foggy as to the significance of the blood, ask Jesus to shine the brilliant, radiant glory of His light into the depths of your being. And when you see what is exposed and your heart breaks under the terror of what you really are in yourself, you will suddenly discover the beauty and love for the blood of Jesus that is applied and cleanses and washes and enables us to approach God right into the very throne. The blood justifies guilty sinners. Number three, light enlightens. Light enlightens. John 12, 35. Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness come upon you. For he that walks in darkness does not know where he's going. Listen, the light of Jesus enlightens our path. The light of Jesus helps us to know where to walk and where not to walk. It enlightens. Number four, light reveals. It opens up the truth. It clears. It makes the heart to see truth and life. John 14, 6. Light guides. Light guides us. You know the lighthouse, the significance of the lighthouse, it is a guide for ships that are in the sea. And if it wasn't for the lighthouse, oftentimes during a storm, during a tumultuous time, we would not be able to see our way. But because of the light, next, light strips away all darkness. Light strips away all darkness. John 3, 19 through 20. Next, light protects. It protects a person from the dangers of darkness, from stumbling, from falling, and from injuring himself. Romans 13, 12. Put on the armor of light. The armor of light. Armor is what protects. So there's a protection quality. And oh, how we need to be protected. Romans 13, 12. And lastly, light acts as a warning. It warns us. Ephesians 5, 11 through 14. Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. Rather, reprove them. For whatever does not manifest doth make manifest is light. Wherefore, he saith, awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. We are now supposed to be the light of the world. We can only reflect the light that is shining through us from Jesus Christ. We can only reflect it. Acts 13, 47. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation to the ends of the earth. Philippians 2, 15. That you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation among whom ye shine as lights in the world. That was Philippians 2, 14. Jesus is the light of the world. We need to walk in that light today. Let's just bow our hearts for a moment. Ask the Lord to just help us hear His Word. Father, we're amazed at Your Word, Lord. We're amazed at it when we just simply look into it and let it speak to our hearts, Lord. How we just want to know You, Lord. How we want to know You. How we want to walk close to You. You who are the light of the world, help us, Lord. Lord, we pray that You'll take this light that You are and shine it into our lives, Lord. Protecting us, warning us, stripping away darkness, changing us, transforming us, Lord, so that more and more our lives can reflect the beauty of that light, the beauty of that moral perfection that is in Jesus Christ. So, Father, we just commit this into Your hands and ask for Your help, Lord. Ask for Your help, Lord. That's all we're going to look into. It's a lot to think about. And we'll just pray that the light of Jesus shines brighter and brighter in our lives and that this light can shine through each of us into a world that needs so much help.