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. A 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 it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:13-15
In Matthew 5:13 the author makes a very bold, declaratory statement that says you are the salt of the earth. It didn't recommend that you be the salt; it didn't suggest that you are the salt. Rather, it is very clear that at judgment you will be judged against the standard of salt. Remember that. This Scripture goes on to say that if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it the earth be seasoned? There is no other group, no organization, no matter how well intentioned they are, who can flavor the earth but you, the saints of God. In this passage, we go from earth, to world, to city, to house. How did we lose our flavor? We lost it in the house.
In Matthew 7:29, we learn that Jesus taught them as one having authority, meaning knowledge, relationship. He had so much knowledge of what He was talking about because He was in relationship with His daddy, so that when He spoke it caused a line of distinction. The text says the people were astonished at Jesus' teaching or doctrine. The people looked at Jesus and saw He was different from anybody else they had ever heard teach the bible. I have a question for you: when was the last time people singled you out for being real spiritual? I'm not referring to being a fanatic or crazy person, but a situation where they came to you because the way you talked was different from everybody else, and you had such an authority in your voice that they sought you out for counsel and wisdom. The reason why those on the outside don't want to come with you to church is because they have not seen a difference in your life.
When Jesus speaks, He astonishes you, or knocks you out of you, to understand that it is a bigger program, ministry, and call than just what's going to happen to you. To astonish also means to be amazed. Jesus was blowing their mind because of His sayings and doctrine, and doctrine means manner or character. People may not know what you are into, but they will detect what's in you. Character is not something you can conjure up on a moment, but it exudes out of you by the spirit. So, Jesus' teaching and character amazed the people as He taught them things that could be applied to their lives. Many of you went to churches where the message didn't mean anything because what the preacher said was not relevant to you. When Jesus spoke, He came with strength, force and authority, which also means efficiency, or the ability to accomplish a task with minimum output of time an effort.
In essence what Jesus taught was now efficiently working for them with a minimum amount of effort, and it amazed them. Why? Because it was relevant. If you are not relevant, you will be ignored. The church is ignored today because we are not relevant. We have chosen to compromise and be accepted in the system instead of the Kingdom, and the destruction of nations are in our hands because we refuse to be salt. Even in the church we got an opinion instead of simply saying what God said. Recently, God spoke to me to leave a place, and I took Him at His word, but not immediately, and I suffered for it. God then spoke to me and said, Whenever I open up a window for you, do not stay and delay. You better get moving and get through that window because I will start to close it. For the Body of Christ, God says there is a window open, and we need to move in those dimensions corporately and in our personal lives.