Bill Johnson - Finding Our Design and Purpose
You’re the light of the world; you’re the salt of the earth. We’re here to bless the community, add flavor, and provide context for people to belong and find meaning. Yeah, thanks, please be seated. It’s so good to see you. I’ve been looking forward to attending church again. I’m one of the occasional visitors, sorry for those of you who only come sometimes. Open the Bible, Bill, open the Bible, hurry! I’ve been looking forward to being with you. I’m not able to be here every week in this particular season, but I’m thankful for every chance that I get, and I’ve been looking forward to it. Benny’s had a rather challenging week, but we did have a couple of days that were unusually wonderful, and so we’re very thankful—very thankful. I appreciate your prayers; keep praying. The report of the Lord is a good one, so we’re gonna go with that. Thank you so much, and to all of our online family, we receive so much feedback from you—we’re just so grateful.
So, it wouldn’t be a proper Sunday if I didn’t read something to you: «If your lawyer is wearing a suit that doesn’t fit and talking on a flip phone, you’re going to jail.» Some girls don’t like to walk in the rain because it puts their face back to factory settings. I’ve done this now three services in a row and I get groans and mounds each time. I don’t get it; apparently, that’s offensive. I thought the humor was above the offense, but apparently it’s not. I have quite a few of you giving me a glaring stare, so just forgive me—it was out of complete ignorance. I’m a slow learner; three services and I’m still doing it. I think I’ll probably do it again at the fourth service just for kicks!
Here is an actual label I took a picture of, a label on the back of a bacon package. I don’t believe everything I read on the internet, but I do believe everything I read on a bacon package. Just me. Cooking instructions: «Pan-fry slowly on low to medium heat until bacon renders and is cooked to your desired crispiness.» If you really don’t know how to cook bacon, please contact your elected officials and complain about our education system. Americans should know how to cook bacon! Seriously. Day 12 without chocolate, and I just lost the hearing in my left eye. I got gas today for $1.39; unfortunately, it was from Taco Bell. I’ve got to end a little better than that, huh? I’m on my second guardian angel; my first one quit and is now in therapy.
All right, last one: I checked Kelley Blue Book today for my car’s value, and they asked if the tank was full or empty. All right, all right, all right, Matthew chapter five. Open your Bibles to Matthew chapter five and put a piece of paper in Isaiah 58; that’ll be another passage we probably read. Matthew chapter five. This week, I was—I don’t remember where I was—but I love it when my heart leaps over something. Sometimes I’ll hear a scripture being read and my heart just leaps; I can tell that one is really for me; I need to connect with that. I take some time with a thought; maybe in a message, I write it down. But this week, I just randomly had this phrase go through my mind: «salt, light, and leaven.» My heart leapt at that, and I thought, «You know what? That’s what I want to do; I want to talk about that today.» I understand it’s review; like most of everything I do these days is review. But I feel like the Lord wants to highlight some things to us that will help us with identity and purpose.
One of the things that happens in a household is that parents who understand their assignment in raising children help to raise awareness of the child’s identity, their purpose, their destiny, and their connection to unlimited resources. There’s unlimited resource that is an automatic connection to anyone who marries into their purpose because the purpose was designed by God, and He doesn’t refuse to fund what He assigns. And so there’s this sense of unlimited resources that needs to consciously be part of all our growth and development.
So, salt, light, and leaven. Let me start with the last one simply because it’s the most awkward. Salt and light are two metaphors that Jesus uses to describe who we are and our impact on the world around us. The third one, the leaven, He didn’t say it was us; He said in Matthew 13, in the parable of the seed and the sower, that the kingdom of heaven is like leaven. The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which is fascinating because there are three leavens that I could find identified in scripture: there’s Herod, the Pharisees, and the kingdom. Herod represents the political system—humanism—with man at the center of everything. The Pharisees represent the religious system—with God at the center, but He’s impersonal and powerless. Then there’s the kingdom, which is the realm of God’s domain or His dominion. When somebody gets healed, comes to Christ, or is delivered; when the Lord brings a man and woman together in marriage in a holy relationship, all these things have the kingdom all over them. Anytime you find someone who’s downtrodden, there’s this verse in Isaiah 60 that we’ll probably look at later that says, «Arise, shine, for your light has come; the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.» For behold, darkness will cover the earth, and deep darkness—the word for deep darkness is mental depression—will settle on the minds of people. And when freedom comes, that’s the presence of the kingdom.
So, when we say the kingdom of heaven is like leaven, what we’re saying is every time the kingdom of God becomes demonstrated, it’s like leaven that gets worked into the dough of culture and society. I remember growing up as a huge sports fan of the San Francisco Giants. We moved to South Sacramento when I was six years old, so I’ve been going to Giants games ever since then. If you’re for another team, God bless you; we need missionaries in the darkness of the earth too! That just came to me—that’s beautiful!
Now, I’ve always been a sports fan, but I remember growing up; I remember the early years with Felipe Alou, and I forget now the manager—two believers; the only known believers on the team. Today, it’s common to have half the team; in fact, I have one friend who says 70 percent of the NFL have made a confession of Christ. What used to be so rare is now becoming more common. The same goes for miracles. You wouldn’t hear of extraordinary miracles except in Africa or Brazil, somewhere with a missionary, but now it’s becoming normal to hear what’s happening. That leaven is being worked into the dough, and it’s shifting and influencing the values, perspectives, and ambitions of an entire culture. Once leaven is worked into dough, you can’t get it out; it’s an irreversible thing.
We lived in Weaverville for 17 years; I considered it the greatest privilege in the world to live in that community and raise my family there—pastoring the most amazing church and an authentic group of believers. Benny would make bread, and when we lived in a house right behind the church with only wood heat, if you were out of town for a couple of days in winter, you’d come home and you could see your breath inside the house. When Benny would make bread, we learned to put it right by the wood stove, and the heat from the stove would activate the leaven.
So there are three leavens: the political system, the religious system, and the kingdom. The fire of difficulty will always cause whatever leaven you’ve got planted in your heart to rise. In those moments, you see what has influenced you, shaping your perception of reality, your value system, etc. He doesn’t expose it to shame us; He exposes it so we can leave it behind, so we can confess and turn, saying, «Oh God, I am thinking way too much about what people think of me. Forgive me; I turn my attention toward You. You are the one that matters to me. How You view me, how You think—it matters.» So, we make confessions based on agreeing with God.
But the other two are here in Matthew chapter five, and I want to talk to you about them for the next half hour or so. Okay, verse 13—are you there? Matthew five—did I tell you? All right, some of you got bored and closed your Bibles. That’s right; my phone turned off. Is it looking for your face? That was excellent! My phone is looking for my face—there’s a phrase we never would have thought of even three or four years ago!
All right, Matthew 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. 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.»
Now, go back to verse 13—this is where we start. «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.» In my early years as a disciple just following Jesus when I’d come across these verses, I would remember that in Bible days, salt was used to preserve meat. So when I read, «You’re the salt of the earth,» I felt the Lord was saying that we are what helps preserve culture and values in society—that would be a secondary truth, an implied truth. It’s not the direct truth Jesus brought up. In other words, He addresses one thing, but the implication is the second level—preservation of values.
Jesus said, «If the salt has lost flavor,» and salt is for flavor. On most of our kitchen tables, we have salt and pepper; pepper changes the flavor of a meal, while salt enhances it. The important thing to think about when we talk about being salt is our assignment to add flavor—listen carefully—to what already exists in our community. Not all invention, creativity, beauty, and medical innovations come from believers by design; many come from unbelievers. Why? Because it rains on the just and the unjust. If it all came through us, we’d become proud, arrogant, and want to be in charge, which wouldn’t be healthy for us.
A huge part of being effective as salt in a culture is that we actually see God’s value in the unbeliever before they’ve placed their faith in Him. He gives them ideas; He works through them. I believe we owe every believer three levels of honor—at least three that I’m aware of—and every human being two levels of honor. Number one: every person is created in the image of God; every person represents an aspect of God’s nature that no one else represents. Number two: every person has been gifted by God to function in life. One may have five talents, some of money, one may have three, one may have one. There are varying levels of grace that God assigned to individuals, but every person has been given something. It’s prophetic people—it’s people that have a tenderness toward celebrating and valuing others.
If they can see the gifting and grace in someone and be able to affirm it, acknowledge it, and celebrate what God has put in them—that’s significant. You know, to be able to say, «Man, I love how you put colors together! I love how you perceive this yard; how you made it look beautiful! I love how you connect people. Every time I’m at a dinner at your house, you always seem to put the right people next to each other.» Those are just little things, but they’re important; you take intentional action to find the treasure in somebody else.
Salt enhances the flavor that’s already there. You go to certain cities in our country—Austin, Texas, is a great example—they have a unique music culture there. Who decided that? There are some cities where it seems like every furniture manufacturer in the country comes from that area. Who decided that this area is for furniture? I mean, I don’t know! Somehow, somebody gets a breakthrough and attracts others, revealing can I say anointing or grace assigned to a particular area. It’s wisdom for us to perceive and see what God has designated over a city or region, then sow into it, honor it, value it, celebrate it, and acknowledge it.
You are the salt of the earth. Salt that has lost its flavor—that word flavor there is actually, the original language, foolish. So what is salt with flavor? It’s easy; you just look to the other side of the corner. This is a «we got one» that says foolish; the other side is the opposite. Now, you’re not going to take the risk? Okay, all right! I realize you don’t trust me—that’s the bottom line! All right, so salt without flavor is foolish, and salt with flavor is wisdom! It’s not foolish—that’s the safest answer right there!
So think with me about this. Wisdom is the mind of Christ. Wisdom—the Jesus in 1 Corinthians chapter one—is the person of wisdom; He is wisdom personified. As we’ve called Him, He is perfect theology; He illustrates perfectly the mind of the Father. So when you and I maintain saltiness, it’s because we’ve maintained a connection to God’s purposes and plans in the earth. It’s not just «I can give you good counsel on where to invest your money.» If you’re tempted to come to me for that, don’t. But just as an example—it’s not simply that; it’s the fact that there is a sharp edge to my life that prophetically perceives shifts in seasons and knows how to position for them.
When that kind of saltiness exists in our life and we live with that intentionality, the people around us start to savor the flavor we actually bring to the community. Most of us like to be the salt of the earth, and we think of it this way: it’s like a salt shaker; we unscrew the top and pour the entire contents in the corner of the dinner plate! You don’t enhance the flavor of the meal when you’re together; this is together—we’re in the shaker; we’re about to take the lid off in another 20 minutes, and you’re gonna get sprinkled! There are some of you in certain neighborhoods that don’t even realize it, but the way you do life—your value system—it’s not just preaching on a soapbox; it’s the way you live.
So prophesy identity and purpose into your community; it is salt. It defines you; you are defining the reasoning of God, the purpose of God behind all our existence. It’s that edginess that helps to keep you in that place of radical influence. Personally, I’ve been praying for people to really increase in wisdom. I think I’m going to quit praying for that; I think I’m just going to pray, «God, make people miserable without it,» so that they pray on their own! Honestly, just the realization, «Oh, I need greater wisdom for this"—that kind of dependency that approaches Him with poor in spirit—not approaching Him without God at all but approaching Him poor in spirit, saying, «God, I need you to give me that touch of divine wisdom because I want to represent you well.»
So we go to the next verse, and it says, «You are the light of the world; a city 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.» This may appear rather simplistic, and I get it, but it stirs me; it causes me to swirl in a positive way. In May of 1979, on a Thursday afternoon, I was walking in the back of the church in Weaverville because I found that if you walk while you pray, you don’t fall asleep. If you do, you wake up suddenly! So I’d walk and pray with my Bible, and I happened to be reading in Isaiah during that season. I was on chapter 60 and began to read, «Arise, shine, for your light has come; the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.»
When I read those words, something leapt in my heart! I don’t want to exaggerate it, but I don’t want to underplay it either. Something came alive in me that told me I was in a divine moment, and I spent quite a bit of time just reviewing the first 18 verses of that chapter as the Lord shifted my perspective on how He saw the day we live in. I can say with absolute honesty that every day of my life has been different since that Thursday afternoon in May of 1979 because of what He opened up—that He showed me. He didn’t just show me things; He changed my perception, my way of seeing in that chapter.
So, what does He say? He says, «You’re the light of the world.» By the way, Jesus early in life is identified as the light of the world, and then He went, «Tag, you’re it!» So now you’re the light of the world! Obviously, the light isn’t you; it’s not me; it’s Christ in us. So, let’s make that clear.
Here’s this verse: «A city set on a hill"—when is a city on a hill visible with light? It’s at night! Another easy question that you don’t trust me to answer! It’s all right! All right, not foolish; this is the answer we’re going with! So when do you see a city that’s all lit up? It’s at night! You most likely see it when you’re in need of shelter, food, or connection—belonging. You see a city, and this is one of the times in scripture where it’s not about preaching the gospel. In this case, the city is stationary, and people come to the city—just like we would go to a stream to sip water or to a fruit tree to pick fruit. In the same way, we see a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden; it is an attractant for those whose most basic drive in life is to belong.
One of the most fundamental values woven into the heart of every single person is the need to belong. Listen, even the sexual drive—"two shall become one"—it’s really the drive to belong! So here we have this picture of a city set on a hill. I always thought that when Jesus said we were the light of the world, that light was supposed to expose stuff. Once again, that would be an implied or secondary truth; it’s not the context Jesus used. What was the context? He used it to say that we are, number one, a community. Number two, because we are a community that belongs to one another, there’s something of the nature of Christ illustrated in our relationship that has caused a light to shine, attracting people who are looking to belong, looking for nourishment.
Some of you know Georgian; he escaped communist Russia years ago and came over here to California. He couldn’t speak hardly any English, but he ran into Jesus. People who liked to feed him would bring him home for dinner. Now, one of the main evangelistic tools he has is he feeds thousands of people all the time. It’s because what turned his life around was being fed, and so some people will go to that city—honestly, just for a meal! If I can use that metaphorically, they’re there for a meal, but something happens at the meal that transformed Georgians' life completely!
But the point is, it’s a community of people that belong together. There has to be something there that actually attracts people; it’s not the gathering. This isn’t the city on a hill; it’s not that; it’s how you do life with other believers. Maybe there are three or four of you in your office who meet for lunch and pray together. There’s something in that connection that illustrates the life of Christ—it’s become practical. This is important, but it’s not practical as it is displayed in the public place, in the workplace, in the neighborhoods, etc.—belonging.
Hebrews 13 says the sacrifice of the lips is the fruit of the lips—giving praise to His name. Number one. Number two, good works. Number three, fellowship. Then it has this phrase that says, «For with such sacrifices—plural—God is well pleased.» We know praise to be a sacrifice; we know good works—how we serve and care and give for one another—to be a sacrifice. But did you know fellowship was supposed to be a sacrifice too? Often, fellowship is the act of convenience; it’s what we give as leftovers.
And yet, when fellowship becomes the sacrifice—the step beyond convenience—the light shines! The light shines and attracts people into a place of safety and belonging. One of the most fascinating things I’ve heard in recent years is, «The disciples belonged before they believed.» What a bizarre statement! So I thought, «That’s amazing!» I started thinking about it; in fact, they traveled with Jesus for a while. He would perform some miracle, and they’d look at each other, saying, «Who is He?» I mean, these are the guys! You know, Matthew is sitting at his desk collecting taxes, and Jesus says, «Follow me,» and he goes, «Yeah, of course!"—he just leaves his job! Peter and John, those guys are fishing, and they just leave their dad’s boat, their nets, everything! Jesus says, «Follow me; I’ll make you fishers of men.» Sounds reasonable! Yeah, all right, I’ll just quit my job and follow this guy! There was something on the person of Jesus that they couldn’t identify, but they immediately were willing to lay down everything to follow Him.
Even in the weeks and months that followed, while they were completely overwhelmed by His miracles and every word He spoke, they still weren’t sure who He was. And then there came a time when Jesus asked the question, «Who do people say I am?» Some say, «You’re John the Baptist,» some say, «You’re one of the prophets.» «Who do you say that I am?» Peter says, «You’re the Christ, the Son of the living God.» There came a moment where they knew who He was, and they were so grateful they had stuck with it.
But the point is they belonged. Do you understand that there are people in our community who have zero interest in Jesus? They want the peace that’s in your house. They want nothing to do with religious systems or belonging to organizations—they want no part of it! But they are very interested in how your children are respectful to you. They’ll do anything to get that.
There are these moments when we bring people into our lives; we let them taste and see that the Lord is good, and they then find the very thing they’re looking for—a person who helps make sense of it all! You’re the light of the world!
So this passage out of Isaiah 60—it says, «Arise, shine, for your light has come; the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.» «Bold darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the people; but His light shall appear upon you.» «His glory will arise over you.» Listen to this phrase, «Kings will come to your light, and nations to the brightness of your rising.» Kings will come to your light, nations to the brightness of your rising! What does this verse mean? You are a city set on a hill! What’s the point? You are in a conspicuous place so that those who recognize their need of shelter, resource, or belonging—whatever it might be—they know where to go because they can see a light, a city set on a hill.
We’re already seeing some of that happen now, and I believe it’s going to increase dramatically in the next ten to fifteen years! Kings will come to your light! We already have, as Nicodemus had a private meeting late at night with Jesus! Eric spoke on that once—it so moved me! Jesus had a place to meet with a guy privately, a religious leader, who was willing to meet with Him without anybody watching. Nicodemus later made a bold, public confession of his faith in Christ.
But the point is there are people all sprinkled around our community who look to you. Here’s this passage again: «Kings will come to your light, nations to the brightness of your rising.» I don’t think it’s complicated; I don’t think it is! I believe so much in the deliverance, healing, and power gifts—I do! They certainly impact people’s lives! I’d be the first to say amen to those!
But the ache in people’s hearts usually isn’t for a miracle; it’s usually to feel valued. The ache in the heart is rarely, even when they’ve experienced tragedy, that they’re looking for an answer for, «Why did this happen?» Even when people ask me that, what I have found is they’re rarely asking for an answer. They’re usually looking for peace!
Let me quote Chris—this verse out of Isaiah 58. This chapter just wrecks me. (Wreck is a positive term, by the way; just excuse the drama!) This chapter, it deeply moves me. It’s a great consecration in faith. All right, here we go—verse six: «Is this not the fast I have chosen—to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?»
I saw a great meme the other day that said, «If you’re fasting and still gossiping, you might as well eat.» Isaiah right here is saying, «Here’s the reason for the fast. It’s to free people! If you’re fasting and people aren’t getting free, you might as well eat!» All right, let’s move on. «Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out? When you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh? Then your light shall break forth like the morning. Your healing… here’s the release of miracles… your healing shall spring forth speedily.»
This is the second time in about 20 chapters of Isaiah where the supernatural is released through the value of community. Amen, amen! It’s Isaiah 35. Miracles are the result of the words of affirmation and encouragement from one believer to another. The result is God’s invitation for the supernatural!
Here it is again: «Then your light will break forth like the morning; your healing will spring forth speedily; your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord shall be your regard.» Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry, and He will say, «Here I am!» Healthy community—the light of the world, the city of the redeemed together—healthy community invites the supernatural because then it’s not just for one individual; it’s for how we do life together.
It’s that secret sauce, that touch of God on the sacrifice we make for one another. Then suddenly, we hear once again about this miracle and that miracle—these things breaking out because it’s His amen to our embracing what’s important to Him. Remember when it was all boiled down to one element? He said, «Love one another,» and in this way, prove that you’re My disciples! There’s something about the sacrificial, affectionate care for another human being that attracts the God of the impossible into the environment to take us in measures and ways we’ve never witnessed before!
I’m thankful for what we’ve seen. I was reviewing some stories this last week as I was with some of our students, and they were asking questions. I remembered, «Oh man, I forgot about that! That was amazing!» I’m thankful for all of those, but there’s something redemptive about the presence and power of God that is to yet heal the city, and you and I get to be a part of it.
So here it is: you’re the light of the world; you’re the salt of the earth. We’re here to bless the community, add flavor, and give it context for people to belong and find meaning. Watch us then!
So, Father, I ask that you give us the gift of hunger—the gift of hunger for wisdom, that ache in our hearts for the more that illustrates the mind of Christ to this amazing city. Let us be a part—every neighborhood would be marked by divine wisdom, the mind of Christ! Every business, every office, every factory would be marked by divine wisdom!
I remember in Weaverville, I remember a guy coming to Christ. He just came to the Lord, and a couple of leaders found out he had this financial crisis hanging over him, and he was going to start his life in Christ with this heavy financial crisis. So these three guys—I think they owned a piece of property—met together and sold it to help this guy start his walk with Christ without the pressure of that financial burden. That’s a city on a hill—not for broadcast purposes; I only knew because I was involved in the journey!
It’s those things that attract the presence and power and dimensions we’ve not yet known. So, Father, we’re hungry. We’re just hungry. We’re hungry for You! We’re hungry for the city to become all that You designed it to be! Yes, we thank You for the city, God! Thank You for planting us here!
I pray for every person in this room that our level of community and belonging would multiply. In Jesus' name, let me ask one more question: Is there anyone here who has never made a personal confession of faith in Christ? You have not made that commitment as a disciple of Jesus to be first forgiven of sin, to come into His family, and to be a disciple who follows and honors Jesus with the entirety of your life.
If there’s anybody in the room who is in that position, you say, «Bill, I don’t want to leave the building until I know I am at peace with God,» then I just want you to put your hand up right where you are quickly because I want to see who you are. I’m going to assume you’re all in. We just—I was just at Twin View for our second service and nobody ever gets saved over there! I mean, they’re just… ah, that didn’t sound right, did it? But someone did today! That’s the good news!
It didn’t quite go as I had planned. Yesterday, we just give Pastor Bill Hamm such a good word.