This morning, I want to share a message with you that came to me in a dream on Friday morning. In this dream I saw myself teaching. I was not in a pulpit like I am this morning and I am not sure I was even teaching from God’s word. In my dream the setting was more like a classroom and I was writing out a word for the audience to see. This is what I wrote out: R E V E L A N T. In my dream I was quickly corrected that my spelling was not correct for this word. For those of you who do not know, I was a very good student in all grades of school and in most all subjects but I have been and continue to be miserable at spelling. I do not know what is the issue in my mind but over the years I have improved but I still rely heavily on spell check.
When I woke up from the dream I quickly searched to internet for the word that I misspelled and R E V E L A N T. To my joy I discovered that this is a common misspelling of the word relevant……So I am not specially challenged with is word in the English language, many people are….. Hooray!
The actual word it appears I was trying to spell Relevant now became my quest to understand and particularly in the biblical context of God’s word.
My father said something last night when he was sharing so memories of his missionary trips with us about how God speaks to us in code: example his mission trip to Sweden and promotion not coming from the north, south, east, or west…….
Psalm 75:6-7
6 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.
7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.
***So God often times speaks to me with just a word or a scripture in a code like form that is the basis for my study and the message. So my next logical step is to find the word Relevant in the bible.
I used the internet to help me search all the English translations of the Bible. Looking for the word “Relevant” I was quite certain it was not in the KJV but I assumed that It may have been used in one of the other more modern English Translations of the Bible.
Guess what? The word does not appear in any of the modern english these translations of the bible.
While the concept of the Bible being applicable, useful, or significant is central to Christian theology, the specific adjective "relevant" is not used in the original Greek or Hebrew manuscripts, nor does it appear in major English translations.
rel·e·vant
/ˈreləv(ə)nt/
adjective
- closely connected or appropriate to what is being done or considered.
When we look at this definition we see a principle that we could apply to the word of God. We can say that God’s word is appropriate for every action that is being done by us or considered by us.
Immediately several scriptures come to mind:
Psalm 119:105
105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
2 Timothy 3:16
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
John 1
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
***It is pretty clear to me that we can make the statement that God’s word itself is relevant to our lives so at this point I am perplexed as to why this word is missing from the text. As I continue meditating on this throughout the day, the evening, the next day and even this morning, the Holy Spirit began to teach me more on this topic.
Point #1 of the Message today: God is not calling his people or his church to compromise to be relevant
Here is a quote from a online Christian blogger about the present state of the church:
Modern Christianity strives for relevance by adapting methods to connect with contemporary culture, often focusing on social issues, technology, and approachable, "seeker-sensitive" services. While this seeks to make the faith accessible, it often leads to tension between staying culturally current and maintaining traditional biblical, theological, and moral doctrines.
Let us contrast that with the words of Christ:
Matthew 5:13-16
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
***Salt is very important. Salt is a necessary mineral to sustain your very life. The thing about salt is it never picks up the favor of what is added to it. I have never had cherry flavored salt, or banana favored salt. The salt is the power, the salt is the authority, the salt brings the change, brings the flavor, brings the preservation, brings the healing. The salt gives the life. The salt melts the ice. The salt is the power it is the force it stands alone and makes a big impact with just a little portion.
Jesus also speaks of the Light. He says that you are the light of the world. You do not add to the light. The light changes the darkness. The light may be covered, blocked or filtered but this does not change the light….it only changes how far the light will reach and how much it will change the people, places and things around it.
Point #1 of the Message today: God is not calling his people or his church to compromise to be relevant
Point #2 of the Message today: God is not calling you to be relevant, he is calling you to be salt and light.
But my friends here is the thing. When we are salt and light for Jesus in the world we are relevant in the most pure and true sense. The pure and true sense of being what the world around us needs. The world is a cold, dark, bland place. Without the salt and light of Jesus it is without life and it will devolve ultimately into death.
Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Genesis 1
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Matthew 6:19-23
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
***Remember no-one has ever sold anyone a bottle of darkness. I have never gone to the Lowes or home depot store and ordered some darkness for one of the rooms of my house. Imagine walking up to the counter and saying. Hello, my living room is too bright in my house. Can you give me a darkness generator I can install to make it a little darker? Why not? The reason is darkness is there when you remove the light. The devil never shows up and says to you…I am the prince of darkness. Follow me and I will make your life, cold, dark, and alone.
Listen to the words of Paul as he describes the false preachers who were trying to infiltrate the church at Corinth. These deceivers were coming in with very smooth speech and they had weaved together a very compelling story of false teachings.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Point #1 of the Message today: God is not calling his people or his church to compromise to be relevant
Point #2 of the Message today: God is not calling you to be relevant, he is calling you to be salt and light.
Jude gives us some practical advice on how to be Salt and Light for Jesus in ministry.
Jude 17-25
17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
1 Corinthians 9:19-23
19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
**Turn with me to John 17 and I want to share a pray that Jesus prayed for his disciples but also a pray that Jesus prayed for you.
You may say, Pastor Jon, Did Jesus pray for me? Yes he did. Look at John 17 verse 20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
John 17
1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
***What hour was Jesus speaking of? This was the hour he was to go to the Cross. This was the hour that he was to willing lay down his life for you and for me.
2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
***Remember in Revelation 13:8
8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Continuing in John 17:6
6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.
8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
****Powerful to see Jesus praying for the disciples but not for the world at this point.
10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
***Point #3 of the message: It is the word of God that makes a believer salt and light.
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
***Point #4 of the message: God equips the believer with his word to stay in the world but not to be of the world.
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.
26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.
Point #1 of the Message today: God is not calling his people or his church to compromise to be relevant
Point #2 of the Message today: God is not calling you to be relevant, he is calling you to be salt and light.
***Point #3 of the message: It is the word of God that makes a believer salt and light.
***Point #4 of the message: God equips the believer with his word to stay in the world but not to be of the world.
**In closing I want to share something interesting I found out about the word Relevant. This word has roots in the Latin: LEVARE which means “light in weight” and frequently appears in the Latin bible as “To Lift” to Hold Up, or to Alleviate. It is often used specifically to lift up the heart or the eyes.
Genesis 18:1-3
King James Version
1 And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,
3 And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:
Psalm 3
King James Version
3 Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.
2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.
3 But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
4 I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.
5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me.
6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.
7 Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.
8 Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.
