Text: Matthew 5:13-16

INTRODUCTION:

If light refuses to shine, it ceases to carry out the original purpose for which it is meant. No wonder Jesus Christ said “if salt looses its saltness or savour, it is good for nothing but to be trampled under the foot of men. As well if light cannot shine again, it becomes irrelevant.” May your light not become irrelevant and useless in Jesus name. Matt. 6:23. 

A.BENEFITS OF SHINING 

i. Your life affects others regularly as you keep shining. Salt affects anything it comes  in contact with, so also the life of every child of God ought to affect the people around him or her. 

ii. You become a terror to the kingdom of darkness. Darkness is always threatened in the presence of light. David, Daniel and Paul are examples of people that troubled hell. 

iii. Boldness becomes a lifestyle. Light is not afraid of darkness. Fear is associated with darkness. 

Col. 4:5-6, Isa. 60:3,  Phil. 2:15, Eph. 5:8-14,  Prov. 28:1,  Acts 4:13, Acts 19:8, 2 Tim. 1:7. 

B. DANGERS OF NOT SHINING

I. BACKSLIDING: Peter could not openly profess Jesus as His Lord because he was afar. Demas forsook the Lord because of the things of the world. 

II. SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL DEATH: Saul was an anointed king, but because of disobedience to God, his light became darkness. He became a man who consulted witches coven that he condemned at the beginning of his reign. Samson is also another example. He died spiritually when God left him before his physical death. Matt. 26:58, 69-74, 2 Tim. 4:10, 1 Sam. 28:3, 6-7, Judges 16:20-30.