Take your Bibles if you would. Turn to Matthew chapter five. Matthew Matthew chapter five. We are in more of a more than a race today. We are in a battle.

We're in a war. There is an enemy to ourselves, to our cause, and to our God. His name is Satan. He is at war with our Lord and creator and with our savior. Robbed God of what was duly his in the Garden Of Eden but God already had a plan God already had in motion a way to redeem his fallen people back.

His creation, you and me. That plan is in a person. The person of Jesus Christ who gave himself for us. And through faith in him, we have changed allegiances. And we have changed families.

And now we belong to the family of God. We also are in his service today. In his service in this world, in his service, in this war. Which is ongoing. We have a purpose in this world.

As we are here today. As we go throughout our lives and rub shoulders with others tomorrow. We have a purpose as children of God. We are the salt and the light of the world. Look if you would in Matthew chapter five and verse 13.

Ye are the salt of the earth. But if the salt have lost its savior, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and be trodden under the foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

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. Let your light so shine before men. That they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven. Let's go to the Lord in prayer once more.

Dear heavenly father, thank you Lord for your work today and the encouragement and the challenge that we find therein. To be salt and light in this world, in this day, you have placed us in. Lord, give us wisdom, give us courage, give us strength, humility to submit to our father and our Lord that we might that we might recognize the battle that we are in and the wonderful opportunity we have been given. To represent Jesus Christ our savior in this world today. In Jesus name, we pray, amen.

This message is the beginning of a series I'm going to be preaching on Sunday morning. It'll be focused mainly in the book of Daniel beginning next week. The series entitled Being a Light in in in let me say, being a light in an increasingly post Christian culture. This country used to be a Christian society. That doesn't mean everybody was a Christian.

It definitely did not mean that. But generally speaking, the values of Christianity and even the God and the word of God upon which we base that was honored in our country and was the basis for much of our our laws and our culture. But that has been changing. The amount, percentage of people that go to church year by year decreases every year in our country. The number percentage of those who even call themselves Christian is at an all time low in our country.

We as a country and a society have been day by day, year by year gradually turning our backs more and more upon the God who has blessed us. And we as Christians are living more and more in a culture that is increasingly anti Christian and not pro Christian or pro God. This is the kind of culture that Jesus apostles lived in in their day. Particularly outside of Jerusalem, the culture of Rome was not a Christian culture. It was very much not the case.

And God told them they needed to be what? Salt and light. To affect their culture, their world for Jesus Christ. That they were called to do so and that they could do so and that they must do so. We must do the same.

We must be salt and light in a world that desperately needs the light of the gospel, who desperately needs to see Jesus Christ in us and the love and holiness of almighty God. We are called to represent Christ in the time and place that God has selected for us. Again, Esther, I think I've got it here. Four fourteen. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall their enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place.

But thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed and who know it whether thou art come to the kingdom or such a time as this. That's what Mordecai said to Esther and I believe that's what God says to us today. We are where we are, who we are, in the time we are, to represent Jesus Christ here in this day, in this time. We did not choose to be born in this place and time but we have but we have and now it is our turn to make a difference for Christ and bring glory to his name in the day that we have been called to. As I think of Memorial Day, I think of those who have gone before us, who chose to take a stand, commit themselves to a cause greater than themselves.

The cause of Christ or the cause of freedom. Few days following, Memorial Day is another day, memorial in history called D Day. That is June 6. On D Day, we remember those who stormed the beaches of Normandy, France to take Europe back from the Nazis. A regime that was anti God, a a regime that was oppressive, a regime that slaughtered millions of Jews and others in their wake.

It was an ambitious and daring and extremely dangerous plan. But it had to be done. It was a plan that resulted in the deaths of thousands of Americans. But it also resulted in victory and eventually the end of Hitler's regime. We today thank those who served and died and that conflict and many others so that we could be here today still freely worshiping our Lord and savior in this place.

On that day, being the light of the world for some meant picking up a gun and risking life and limb. To confront the enemy. For most of us today, that is not the case. But there is still a very real enemy. And we are still called to be light.

Our enemy, the enemy that we all have in common is Christians. Is not flesh and blood. The principalities and powers. Satan and his minions. And we have been called to battle.

And we have been equipped for battle. And we must not shirk to take on the responsibilities that we have been given in our day. They are not the only ones who rose to the occasion that was placed before them. If you would look up on the screen or turn to Revelation chapter 12. In verses ten eleven, we read this and I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, now is come salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ.

For the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night and they overcame him. By the blood of the lamb, by the word of their testimony, and they love not their lives unto the death. How did the saints overcome the enemy, overcome the accuser, overcome Satan, they overcame him by the blood of the lamb, by the blood of Jesus Christ, shed on Calvary's Cross for your sin and mine. There is no overcoming Satan but through Jesus Christ and faith in his sacrifice. It's the only way for us to be redeemed.

And for us to defeat our enemy. They overcame him. The saints by the blood of the lamb. By the word of their testimony, by the testimony that they gave, in word and in deed, and they love not their lives unto the what? Death.

How did we overcome the Nazis in World War two? We overcame them because people were willing to take the risk to lay down their lives. For the cause that was just and that was right. Even more so, there is even a greater cause. The cause of Jesus Christ.

In the war in which we find ourselves. A spiritual battle. And one day, we can be assured. That victory is coming. We can be assured because when Christ died on that cross and rose again, won that victory already.

But we will see that come to fruition one day. When Christ returns with his saints. And the celebration that we read about in heaven takes place. The scriptures in history are full of examples of men and women who put their lives on the line to be salt and light in their day. To trust in their God and to stand for the truth no matter what the cost.

And now, it is our turn. In this passage, heaven celebrates the defeat of Satan by remembering those who trusted in God, claimed the blood of Christ, gave their lives, and so had a part in the defeat of the enemy. God could have taken all the credit for himself, for indeed, all credit is due. Unto our Lord and maker and our savior. But instead, he chose to include those vessels like Job, who stayed the course, true to their God and their faith, and proved the devil wrong.

Let's begin with Job. We remember Job and his defeat of Satan. As he declared in Job one and verse 21. There here Job says in the midst of terrible suffering, in the midst of terrible loss, that Satan brought upon him to destroy his faith. This is what Job said.

Naked came I out of my mother's womb. Naked shall I return thither. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord and again in Job thirteen fifteen, he says this, though he slay me, yet will I trust in him. Those are words of faith.

Those are words that represent the power of God that enabled Job to stand against the enemy stand in faith Satan was convinced he could steal away that faith, Job's faith, and steal away the glory of God for himself but Satan was wrong. God sustained his servant and his faith and Job defeated the devil. Job and himself by himself was no match for Satan But like David standing before Goliath, Satan is no match for God. We remember Job. We remember Joseph who despite the abuse he received at the hands of his brothers.

Stayed faithful to his God. He stood up to Potiphar's wife as she enticed him. He said unto Potiphar's wife, there is none greater in this house than I. Neither hath he that is Potiphar kept back anything from me but thee because thou art his wife. How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?

Again, Satan, thinking to destroy the faith of Joseph, failed, again, and again, and again. As God sustained Joseph by his grace and strength. Now, of course, Joseph's words and Joseph stand for Christ landed him where? It landed him in prison. That's right.

Where he lived for many years to follow. But he never lost his faith. And one day God raised him out of that prison. And and Pharaoh put him in a position whereby he could save a nation and more importantly, a family. A family very important to God.

His family, Jacob's family and recognizing that, this is what Joseph had to say to his brothers. Now, therefore, be not grieved nor angry with yourselves that you sold me thither. For God did send me before you to preserve life, to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. There was a battle taking place in those days between the forces of God and the forces of Satan. Satan always thinks he has the upper hand but Satan will always in the end be defeated.

Particularly by those God's children who choose like Joseph to put their faith in God and take a stand and be salt in light in their place and in their day. We remember Job and Joseph. We also remember Moses. We remember Moses in the time God chose for him to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. Did Moses choose himself to be that person or did God choose him?

God chose him. Moses chose to be a shepherd on the backside of the desert. That's what Moses chose. God chose to call him to be a leader, to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt and to the what? And to the promised land.

God called him and God strengthened him and God enabled him to stand before highest, mightiest, most powerful dictator of the world in his day. And stand he did and speak for God and he led his people out of Egypt and across the Red Sea and I particularly like these words in Exodus 14. As the Israelites were pinned up against the Red Sea and the armies of Egypt were coming. These are the words of Moses to the children of Israel. Fear you not.

Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord which he will show to you today. For the Egyptians, whom you have seen today, you shall see no more. Forever. The Lord shall fight for you and you shall hold your peace. They were scared.

They were complaining. They were threatening to revolt against Moses and Moses said, hold your peace and watch. God isn't finished yet. And God used Moses. He lifted up his rod.

Aren't those reds, those waters of the Red Sea that they might walk across, that Pharaoh's army might be destroyed. And God won another victory that day. We remember David, a humble shepherd boy, whom God sent Samuel to anoint to be the next king of Israel. To lead them in victory over the Philistines, to reign in Jerusalem, to be the ancestor of Jesus Christ. I particularly like the words of David, we find in first Samuel 17 as he stands before Goliath.

That day in the valley. With a sling and with five stones in his pocket. Before a nine foot giant with a spear that weighed more than David did. Mocking him and this is what David had to say in response. Thou comest to me with a sword and with a spear and with a shield.

But I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts. The God of the armies of Israel whom thou hast defied. This day, will the Lord deliver thee into my hand? And I will smite thee and take thine head from thee and I will give the carcasses, the host, the Philistines, under the fowls of the air, and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a god in Israel and all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear for the battle is the Lord's and he will give you. Into our hands.

And indeed, God did. Goliath was slaughtered. The Lord won the day and God was glorified because a young man, a young man, called to this time and place but his trust in God and decided to be salt and light. And he stood before Goliath. And Satan was defeated I remember Daniel Daniel, who purposed in his heart in Daniel one eight, not to defile himself with the king's meat and I remember his friends who refused to bow in Daniel chapter three before Nebuchadnezzar's image.

And this passage is one of my favorite in scripture. This is what Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had to say to Nebuchadnezzar. Who called them in before his throne and demanded that they bow down or else be cast into the fiery furnace. This is what they had to say in their day and time. Oh Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and he will deliver us out of thine hand, oh king. But if not, be it known unto thee, oh king, that he will not, that we will not serve thy gods nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. They had a choice. They could trust in Nebuchadnezzar or they could trust in God. Which did they choose?

They chose God. They love not their lives unto the death. They won by the word of their testimony. And by the blood of the one who joined them in the fiery furnace to deliver them from it. The son of God.

They were salt and light in their day and they defeated Satan by God's grace. As we can also. And we remember Esther. I started the service with reading from Esther and the words of Mordecai. The day that God chose her to place her in the palace in Shushan to be the next queen of Persia.

So that she could be the hand of deliverance for her people Israel. In the face of possible death, this is what Esther had to say in response to Mordecai's plea. She said, go gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan and fast you for me and neither eat nor drink three days, day or night and I also and my maidens will fast likewise and so will I go in unto the king which is not according to the law and if I perish, I perish. She overcame by the word of her testimony, by the grace of her God, and she loved not her life until the death. Praise God as she went before the king that he raised the scepter and her life was not forfeit.

But she took the chance and she took the risk and she trusted in her God and she stood for a cause greater than herself. Her God and her people. She followed the Lord. And today, the Jews still celebrate Purim, the day that Esther turned the tide and saved the Jews. From death.

In Persia. Now, we learned about David's time and Daniel's, Joseph's, and Moses, and Esther's, Job's, but this isn't about their time, is it? It's about our time. It's about your time. Memorials serve no purpose if they do not by reminding us of God's mighty works, stir us to trust him more and step forward in the day in which we live.

To be salt and light today. You know, it's wonderful to to reminisce about the victories of others and to cheer and to celebrate the mighty works of God as seen in the victories of these people. But God is concerned about the victories today and we ought to be concerned about the war that is waging today and the victories that can be won in God's grace and power today. And it is our turn to step up to the plate. To be those to whom heaven refers in Revelation 12 as those who overcame by the blood of the lamb, by the word of their testimony, and who love not their lives.

Unto the death. To grab the baton from the generation before us and to run the race that is set before who? That is set before us. Hebrews chapter 12 verses one and two. Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses.

Let us lay aside every weight in the sin which doth so easily beset us and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Christ blazed the trail for you. As did these others.

Christ set the example and he is the greatest example of all. He seized the day. He said to his father, thy not my will but what? Thine. Thine be done.

Knowing the excruciating pain and suffering and humiliation that he would endure on that cross hours later. For you and for me. For the joy of our salvation. For the joy of the victory. He endured the cross.

And he asked us. He said to his disciples, if any man would follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his what? His cross. And follow me. Christ made the way.

Christ set the example. His memorial, we celebrate every Sunday. And we're going to celebrate it particularly next Sunday night. At the Lord's table. The memorial of his death on the cross and resurrect from from the tomb and the fellowship that we share with the father all because of him.

But he went back where? He went back to heaven and he sent who in his place? The Holy Spirit. To enable us. To take our turn, to be the salt and light for him, to overcome the enemy, to bring souls to the savior, to bring glory to the name of Jesus.

And it is our turn now. In whatever way you are called to carry the torch of redemption of Jesus Christ, Please do not shrink in fear to do all of God's bidding today. Stand in the gap. God said to Ezekiel, I sought a man to stand in the gap. To fill up the hedge and in Ezekiel's day, God says, I found one.

I found none. Would God find one today? Would God find you willing to stand in the gap, to stand up for Jesus, to do your part and though it may be smaller unnoticed by the world or history. It will not go unnoticed by who? It will not go unnoticed by God.

Hebrews six ten. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love which you have showed toward his name and that you have ministered to the saints and do minister. Paul is not talking to a room of preachers or missionaries. He's speaking to a church of believers. And he says, God will not forget your work, your labor of love, that you have showed toward his name and that you have ministered to the saints and do minister.

It is our turn. It is your turn. To minister to one another, to be a light to a lost and dying world, to bring them the gospel, and to show them what it means to be a Christian. Will you commit yourself today child of God to be that person and answer his call to service, to be salt and light, in the time, and place that God has chosen for you? Or will we be consumed with temporal things?

Will we be consumed with the the acceptance and praise of men? Will we be consumed with the acquiring of material possessions? Or will we will we look to our savior our example, and will we follow in his steps. Paul says in Romans 12, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service. It is but our reasonable service to take the time, life, and talents.

The tools that God has given us. His spirit and his word to bring glory to his name and to be those of whom it will one day be said. They overcame him by the blood of the lamb. By the word of their testimony and they love not their lives unto the death. And as we close this morning, I have just one more question.

It could be today you're here or you're watching or listening and you've never trusted Jesus Christ as Lord and savior. Behold, today is the day of salvation. Before Christ calls you to serve him, he calls you to receive him and as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God even to them that believe on his name and as we pray this prayer and as we have this time of invitation, if you've never trusted Christ as savior, if you would just bow your head where you are, and tell him that you know you're a sinner, that you confess your need, and that you would put your faith in him and ask him to be the Lord and savior of your life. He will save your soul today. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead.

Thou shalt be saved. If you take your hymn books, in a moment, we're going to sing 394 if you have it. Let's go to the Lord in prayer now. Lord, thank you for Jesus Christ, our savior. Thank you Lord for the opportunity to serve you today.

Thank you Lord for a reminder today from your word of those who have gone before us, that great cloud of witnesses and Lord of the day in heaven when heaven will celebrate the final defeat of Satan. By the blood of the lamb. By the word, the testimony of your saints, and that they love not their lives unto the death. Lord, may we be willing just to give of our time and our energy and our effort to take our eyes for sometime each day off of the things of the world. Put them on the word of God, the savior, and the calls that is set before us to be the salt and light.

Forgive us of our failures. Forgive us, Lord. Of the time that has been wasted. And Lord, in the days ahead, may we not waste it. But may we use it for you.

And Lord if there be one here today that's never trusted Christ as savior. May they come as we sing this hymn of invitation. I surrender all. In Jesus name we do pray. Amen.