Strategies for Harvest: Salt & Light of the World
Preached by Apostle Aje Pelser, Harvester Reformational Church, Cape Town

Joh 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
Joh 9:3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.
Joh 9:4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.
Joh 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
Joh 9:6 When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay.
Joh 9:7 And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.

Mat 5:13 “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 by men.
Mat 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Mat 5:15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Characteristic of Salt:
Mat_5:13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavour, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
Mar_9:49 “For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.
Mar_9:50 Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavour, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.”
Luk_14:34 “Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavour, how shall it be seasoned?
Col_4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Notes on Salt
Dr Roy M. Gray – Life of Christ Notes
Journey 18

Salt, light. In the first, the two words to investigate are “lost … flavour” and “salted”.
The latter was used of sprinkling sacrifices, or those offering sacrifices with salt;
thus, to keep fresh and sound. The first (lost flavour) means to taint, and thus make
useless. The ability to preserve in a sound condition, to counteract corruption, is
what Jesus has in mind in using this figure. Citizens of the Kingdom will exercise a
restraining power in the earth. Alas, when the salt has lost this pure influence, how
can it be regained? The Christian vocation lost, how can it be regained? It is an
irreparable loss!
There may also be the idea of salt’s ability to season foods, making them wholesome and palatable. The holy, happy life of the Christian community gives a tang to life that even the world shares in by contact with such Christians. More notes on the chemical composition of salt:
“So, for salt to lost is pungent saltiness, or change its physical composition, it would have to be diluted in water because it is non-reactive in its crystalline form. Or electricity would have to be introduce to force the sodium chloride into its ionic components thereby changing its chemical composition. So, for the Christian, for the salt of the earth, to lose his degree of saltiness, the Gospel would have to diluted in his life. This person is the complacent Christian, the person who does not protect the Truth of the gospel in his life from the rainfall of other ideas and ideologies–Buddhism, Islam, American culture. This person mixes the Truth with a myriad of other ideologies.” Article by Deneen White
In the case of salt the activity is rather passive, in that of light it is active: “let your light shine”.

The world is in complete darkness spiritually apart from this light.
What a tremendous responsibility rests upon those who are “the light of the world”, a
description used by Jesus of Himself. In Him is no darkness at all. And as He is so
are we in this present world. Jesus says more about light in a later part of the
sermon (6.22,23). Here the light is the practical Christian life, your “good works” which
contributes a great deal to win over the world to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Good works include sharing the good news with the lost and depressed of this world. You are giving them hope and the Holy Spirit follows that up with signs and wonders, miracles and healings. That is how our family got saved. God healed my great granddad’s lungs, and he became a street preacher for Jesus – continuing the good works.

Focal points of light to reveal more of Jesus:
1. Light has an identity. Every element has a light emission spectrum.
When light passes through an element, it reveals the inner configuration of the element.
When the light of the Word shines through you.
When Jesus shines through us we can discern the gifts and precious things God has invested in us.

2. Light needs to be on a lampstand. Don’t hide it. “Basket.” G3426 modios “Of Latin origin; a modius, that is, certain measure for things dry (the quantity or the utensil): – bushel.”
We all have a measure of faith. We must use it, not hide behind it. God gives us baskets to use, bushels to harvest. Don’t hide behind keeping busy for the Lord in activities that don’t allow your light to shine.

3. Light can be directed – point your light to show Christ within the hope of glory.
Put the spotlight on Jesus. Redirect people’s attention to Jesus. Acts 3 Peter and John asks the man to look at them to realize they can only give him what Jeus gave them.
The entrance of the word brings light:
Psa 119:130 “The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.”

Connect the concept of a city to light – we light up the world together. We are a city on a hill. Beacon in the darkness for travelers to aim at. God sends his angels to gather the harvest. More on that in the next sermon.