Life on the edge

Sermon on The Mount

How is Your Righteousness?

Throughout Jesus’ ministry here on earth He dealt with those who were religious but failed to have a personal relationship with Him. Our study today is one of those cases.

 Matthew 5:17-20 – “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

The first thing we see in this passage is that Jesus did not come to abolish the law. In verse 17 Jesus says “Do not think that I have come to abolish or destroy the law or the prophets” To understand this passage we must understand the meaning of “abolish.” The word “abolish or destroy” means to deny their authority or to set people free from the obligation to obey them.

Instead of abolishing the law He came to fulfill the law – This means he came to complete the design of the law; to fulfill what was predicted; to accomplish what was intended in them. Additionally, the word “fulfill” can mean “to teach.” The law of Moses contained many sacrifices and rites which were designed to shadow forth the Messiah. These were fulfilled when he came and offered himself a sacrifice to God. Romans 3:31 states “Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

A review of the Old Testament reveals that there were two sets of law:

1. The moral law was that law established in the Ten Commandments and other vital laws that taught believers how they should act and honor God in their lives. In essence, Jesus did not destroy the moral law but He came to fulfill this law as He, through His death gave the power to overcome the very reason the law had been established and that was to overcome sin. He came to fulfill the moral law which means to establish, illustrate, and explain its highest meaning, both by my life and doctrine.
2. The second set of laws established in the Old Testament was the ceremonial law. The ceremonial law looked to the day of the coming Messiah. The ceremonial law set forth a series of acts that the Jew was to participate in to have their sins forgiven. But in the New Testament Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross took the place of the ceremonial so that we no longer have to bring bulls, goals or birds into church to be offered as a substitutionary sacrifice for our sin. In Eph. 2:14-16 Paul defines this when he said For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

 The problem with the ceremonial law was that it powerless to do anything about the sin in our life. That is why the veil between the Holy Place and the Holies of Holies was torn into two pieces because upon His death there was no need for the sacrifices of the Old Testament.

 The Jews believed that the words of Jesus were contrary to the religion and faith of his followers, who assert, that the Law of Moses was being abolished. The rule which Christ came to establish exactly agreed with the scriptures of the Old Testament, here called the law and the prophets. The prophets were commentators upon the law, and both together made up that rule of faith and practice which Christ found upon the throne in the Jewish church, and here he keeps it on the throne.

Our Righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees. The Pharisees of the day believed that they had a corner on the law and that they had some unique ability to establish the law but they themselves could not keep the very law they instituted.

All of the law will be fulfilled.

The righteousness of the Pharisees exposed – Jesus in this passage points out that the righteousness of the believer must exceed the righteousness of the Pharisses. To understand the issues the Pharisees had one must turn to Matthew 23. It is here that Jesus exposes who the Pharisee really was.

1. The Pharisees did not practice what he preached. They expected everyone else to obey the law but they themselves were filled with excuses. (Matt. 23:2-3). Once again this speaks to the idea of being authentic and real. In other words we will not ask anyone to do anything that we ourselves are not willing to do. The Pharisees were critical and judgmental but they refuse to obey their own preaching.
2. The Pharisees burdened the people with rules and regulations that they themselves could keep. (Matt. 23:4). Rather than preaching liberty and life they actually add chains and bonds to their converts. In other words, they are always adding to what it takes to be a believer thereby complicating the process and making conversion works based rather than grace based. (Matt. 23:13-15) The Pharisees were critical and judgmental of others who attempted to keep the law according to God’s purposes and His plans. You could never be good enough. It was easier to set a law than to deal with the issues of the heart.
3. The Pharisees were more concerned about their outward appearance but inwardly they were cold and dead. All of their deeds were to be done to be seen by others. They make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. They love they place of honor at the feasts and the best seats in the synagogues. They love being greeted in the marketplace and they love the idea that they are known as a rabbi. They kept the outside clean but inwardly they were filled with dead men’s bones and all sorts of evil. (Matt. 23:5-7 & Matt 23:25- 28). They would dress the part and act the part but they were not close to God at all. It was an act. They were hypocrites. Hypocrites were those who were play actors. They wore masks to hide their true character and true intent.
4. The Pharisees aimed to gain the praise of men rather than the applause of God. They tithed regularly but they neglected justice, mercy and faithfulness. (Matt. 23:23-24). The Pharisees priorities were out of order. They worshipped the temple more than the God of the Temple. When you accomplish things for God do you do gain a reaction from people or do you do them for God. There is a difference.

What about you today? Are you exhibiting Pharisaical attitudes? If so ask for God’s forgiveness and He will restore you to right thinking.

When Should I Overlook an Offense?

Please note that these are a summary of Ken Sande’s words found in the Peacemaking Church.

Because we are family, the Bible teaches us that we should see conflict neither as an inconvenience nor as an occasion to force our will on others, but rather as an opportunity to demonstrate the love and power of God in our lives. This is confirmed by 1 Cor. 10:31 – “do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble…” Thus conflict resolution done right is an opportunity to glorify God, serve others and to grow to be like Christ.

God has called us to be peacemakers as he has called us to be ambassadors. God delights to breathe his grace through peacemakers and to use people to dissipate anger, improve understanding, promote justice and encourage repentance and reconciliation.

When we are dealing with issues in our lives and facing conflict we must have an understanding of when to overlook an offense. The reason for this is that it would be impossible for us to deal with every known offense.

Know when to overlook an offense.

To live life in community and to glorify God, serve others and grow to be like Christ sometimes we need to overlook and offense. When seeking forgiveness we need to understand that forgiveness requires more than just judging one’s sin as there are times that an offense must be overlooked.

1.  
   1. Proverbs 19:11 – Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
   2. Proverbs 12:16 – The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.

God exercises kindness, long-suffering and patience toward us and therefore we should exercise kindness, long-suffering and patience toward others.

Romans 2:4 – Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 

Two diagnostic questions that can help us determine if we should overlook an offense.

• Is the offense a persistent sin, a habitual sin, or the result of bondage to a particular sin? While God encourages us to be long-suffering he never calls us to overlook habitual, hurtful sin that causes damage to ones self or to others.

• Is the offense hindering my relationship? If there has been a change in the way you view the other person or feel about the other person has changed then the offense should not be overlooked.

 Use the two day test:

• If I find myself frequently reflecting upon my brother’s or sister’s sin for more than two days.
• If it is there when I rise and when I go to sleep
• If I think about it while I am showering and when I am driving
• If I am reticent to greet this fellow believer at church.

Sermon on the Mount

How salty are you?

Matthew 5:13-16

As believers in Christ we have been created to be the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world.”

Matthew 5:13-16 – You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

As we look at this passage this morning the first thing we must consider is that the Beatitudes which we have been discussing for the last several weeks give us direction on how we are to live as passionate followers of Christ. The Beatitudes give us an overview of the Christian life but this week we begin to look at some specifics of what it means to live as a Passionate Follower of Christ.

What did Jesus mean by these verses? In this passage Jesus uses the symbolism of salt and light to describe the life of a Christian.

Salt speaks of inward character that influences others.  Character is that inward quality that no one else knows about but you and God who sees the heart. Just like salt when it is applied to our food, it is invisible but we know it is there. So it is with our character it is invisible but we know it is there and we know when it is not there.

Salt has many uses:

• As a preservative – Before refrigeration salt was used to keep food fresh. Even today some foods are cured in salt. While living in Virginia we were given some fresh pork. In the packages of pork was some fresh ham. The first time we cooked the ham it was horrible because we forgot to clean off the excess salt which had been used to cure it or preserve it.
• As a cleanser – Salt has also been used as a cleanser. In the case of medical treatment it is used to clean out a wound and promotes the healing process.
• To seasoning food – The interesting thing is we know when food has been seasoned and when know when it has not been seasoned.

Light speaks of the outward testimony of that point to God’s glory. This testimony is best seen through the good works that one does, not to be seen of men but to bring glory to God. The light is able to penetrate the darkness and give direction and hope. It does not matter how big the light. It is interesting to note that it only takes a small amount of light to dispel the darkness.

It should be noted that we don’t become salt and light “we are the salt of the earth and that we are the light of the world.” In other words as a believer one of the innate qualities of the redeemed life is that we have been created to be salt and light in this world. The key to Jesus’ words is that he tells us that we ARE salt and we ARE light. Salt and light are not some statuses to be attained. They do not take hard work to achieve. They are not the keys to our salvation. Salt and light are simply what we are as passionate followers of Christ.

Because we are salt and light:

• God gives us identity – The identity we have is that we have been called to make a difference in the world we have been called.
• God gives us a sphere of influence – Because we are salt and light we are to influence our environment – Jesus was implying that by living a Christian that we influence the environment in which we live. Both salt and light are forces that change an alien environment permanently.
• God’s requires us to make an impact on the world around us. What changes when you walk into a room? How do you impact those around us?

Please note that we must give out the right amount of salt. If we do not use enough salt food is bland and tasteless. The same is true with our lives. Too often we make the Christian walk one that is bland, boring and without excitement. But this walk of faith for me is no boring. I enjoy the fact that as a believer I can have fun and I can enjoy life. However, too much salt causes one to be rejected. Have you ever tasted something that was too salty. My initial reaction is to spit that food out of my mouth if it is too salty. In our witness for Christ there are some who come across so strong in their message that they turn people off rather than turn them to Jesus.

The fact is every situation in our live will be different. In some cases we will need just a little salt and in others we will have to use a bit more salt. As believers the Holy Spirit will give us discernment on how salty we need to be.

The primary message here is that salt and light speaks of authenticity and being real. It means that we do not try to hide who we are or pretend that we do not have a relationship with Christ. The greatest need in our society is authenticity and realness. When we are salt we must hear the voice of God and be obedient to what He calls us to do.

If salt loses its ability to do these things then it worthless and was only to be used to pave the road ways to prevent grass from growing or to melt the ice and snow. God has called us as salt to have an impact on the world in which we live. The fact is we will have an impact whether we recognize it or not. Our task is to keep our lives pure that we might “salt” this earth and hold back corruption so that the Gospel can get out. Our good works must accompany our dedicated lives as we let our lights shine.

Peninsula Community Church

Pastor’s Discovery Class

Seven A’s of Confession

February 13, 2011

Matthew 7:3-5 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

Matthew 18:15-17 If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

Please note that the Seven A’s contained in this study are taken from the work of Ken Sande in The Peacemaking Church

The Seven A’s of confession

To live life in community and to glorify God, serve others and grow to be like Christ we must learn to be people who know the steps to confessing our sin and offenses to God and to one another.

1.      Address everyone involved and only those involved. Was this a heart sin or a social sin? A heart sin takes place in the thoughts and does not directly affect others. Therefore, it only needs to be confessed to God. But it does need to be confessed to others!

A social sin is one that involves words or actions that affect other people. When confessing these sins and offenses the confession should be directly to the person(s) who has been offended.

The guide in this, who did the sin committed affect. If the sin or offense affected only one person then go that person. If the offense affected the whole congregation then it must go to the whole congregation.

The caution here is that the circle of confidentially must be kept to a minimum and the circle should only be expanded when needed. Too often it is at this stage that we tend to talk to everyone but the person we have an offense with.

2.      Avoid if, but and maybe. To avoid ruining the confession one must not use words that shift the blame to others or that appear to minimize or excuse the guilt. The word ‘if’ implies that you do not know whether or not you did wrong. The conversation may be something like this:

Obviously you are upset about something. I don’t know that I have done anything wrong, but just to get you off my back I’ll give you a token apology. By the way, since I don’t know whether I have done anything wrong, I certainly don’t know what I should do differently in the future. Therefore, don’t expect me to change. It’s only a matter of time before I will do the same thing again.

It is not surprising that little forgiveness occurs when this type of confession is made. Listen to these phrases:

            “Perhaps, I was wrong.”

            “Maybe I could have tried harder.”

            “Possibly I should have waited to hear your side of the story.”

            “I guess I was wrong when I said these critical things about you.”

            “I shouldn’t have lost my temper, but I was tired.”

Dr. Tony Evans says that “if it contains an excuse, it isn’t a confession.”

3.      Admit specifically – I know I must have done something so whatever it is forgive me. It is easy to hide behind vague generalities but don’t do it, Identity your sinful attitudes (pride, selfishness, envy, greed, bitterness, ingratitude, stubbornness, etc,) and sinful actions. Remember conflict is an opportunity for God to expose who we are and to bring change into our lives. If you don’t know what is driving the offense pray and God will show you what it is.

4.      Acknowledge the hurt – we must acknowledge the ways we have hurt or wounded the other person. This must be done even if we have offended or wounded someone unintentionally. Where there has been pain we must acknowledge the pain that we have caused others.

5.      Accept the consequences – This is a concept that is lost. Too often we ask for forgiveness to avoid the results of our sin but when we have offended another or we have committed a sin that impacts others we must accept the consequences of those actions. That is why even though a criminal may have asked forgiveness for the crime they have committed they will have to serve the time.

How can we handle this? Here are some things that could be said:

“You have every right to fire me because of what I have done, and I wouldn’t blame you if you did.”

“It will take me some time to earn the extra money, but I will see that your property is repaired or replaced as quickly as possible.”

“Beginning this evening, I will call every person I talked to and admit that my statements were not true.”

6.      Altar your behavior – To be sincere in one’s confession there must be a change of behavior. Without a change of behavior there will be a question of whether or not one has truly confessed.  If we continue to do the same thing over and over again and continue to ask forgiveness the power of our request for forgiveness will be nullified.

7.      Ask for forgiveness but allow time. While one may ask forgiveness we must understand that the other person may not be ready to forgive so we must give them time to process their emotions and their willingness to forgive in return. There is a major difference between forgiveness and reconciliation.

In the end all of theses steps are meant to help us glorify God, to serve others and to grow to be like Christ.

The question that we must answer is there an issue that we must deal with or is there a person that we have an offense with that has not been addressed. I am not suggesting that you need to do anything now as I do not want this to be an emotional decision as I do not want this to be a false confession or a forced confession that does not come from the heart.

Sermon on the Mount: Part 5 – Persecution for Righteousness Sake – February 13, 2011

Matthew 5:10-12 – Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:10-12 in the Contemporary English Version says – God blesses those people who are treated badly for doing right. They belong to the kingdom of heaven. God will bless you when people insult you, mistreat you, and tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of me. Be happy and excited! You will have a great reward in heaven. People did these same things to the prophets who lived long ago. 

 To fully understand this passage we need to define the words used by Jesus:

Persecute – διώκω means to make to run or flee, put to flight, drive away by way of harassment, trouble or molestation. It also means to be mistreated or to suffer persecution on account of something. The idea proposed by this definition is that one individual or a group of people attempt to force another to flee. In our society we have seen a persecution arise against the Christian Church by trying remove Christianity from the public square and the public voice.

Revile – ὀνειδίζω – to reproach, upbraid, revile – It can mean both deserved and undeserved reproach. In this case they are taking this action in a face-to-face means as opposed behind one’s back. The meaning here is to voice a complaint against. In other words the persecutor complains and makes up false accusations against the one being persecuted.

Utter all kinds of evil – evils here is πονηρός which means full of labors, annoyances, hardships e.g. pressed and harassed by labors. The word relates to a full time of peril to the Christian faith and steadfastness. In a physical sense this word relates to blindness but in an ethical sense it means evil, wicked or bad. The root word here means to have great trouble or intense desire.  The word can mean human cruelty or that which causes trouble and brings sorrow. It is speech that brings disaster.

“Because of righteous sake… “It is absolutely necessary that we see that this is persecution, reviling and evil that come from righteousness. There are those in the world who have been persecuted beyond measure for their faith in Christ.

All around the world Christians are being persecuted for no other reason than their faith in Christ.

• Pastor AK Paul – Beaten almost to death and left for dead but God spared his life. He converted from Hinduism and was attacked by the village leaders for doing so. He was disowned by his family and was banned from their village.
• Pastor Francisco in Guatemala had acid poured into his eye so that he would remember where he came from. This was because he had converted to Christianity and left the drug cartel that he had been with. It was a miracle because the intent was to kill him by a slow death.
• Iran – More than 70 Christians have been arrested
• Afghanistan – Man to be sentenced to 20 years in prison if he does not denounce Christ
• Somalia – 17 year old girl who converted to Christianity from Islam was shot to death in
• Laos – Pastor Wanna and 10 other Christians were arrested for meeting in his home for worship

Watch this video with me: http://video.christianpost.com/20091024/international-day-of-prayer-for-the-persecuted-church-video/  Follow this link to watch the video.

Would you take a moment and pray for those who are being persecuted around the world.

While there is a real persecution that is taking place around the world I must make a statement that is critical to understanding God’s purpose in this passage. Notice that blessing does not come from being foolish, careless, or sinful. He said blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake. God’s blessing comes from doing the right thing and still being persecuted. This principle is addressed by Peter when he stated

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 1 Peter 4:12-16

The fact is there will be times where we are persecuted for doing the right thing and at times for nothing more than taking a stand for christ. So, when we are persecuted for righteousness sake we must:

             Pray for those that despitefully use you

Luke 6:28 Bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

             Show God’s love regardless of what happens

             Trust God in everything

             Remember that our goal is heaven and not earth

Sermon on the Mount

Mercy and Purity of Heart

Matthew 5:7-8

Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy.

1. How do we define the term “Mercy?”

 Mercy–not getting what you do deserve / withheld punishment

Grace–getting what you don’t deserve / unmerited favor

2. Give an example of how we can show mercy to others?

3. Why is it important to walk in another’s shoes before we judge them? How does walking in another’s shoes effect the way we treat others?

4. How has God shown us mercy? How do the verses below show us the mercy of God?

1 Peter 2:24 – He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

Ephesians 2:4-7 – But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ–by grace you have been saved– and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

5. What does James tell us about mercy triumphing over judgment? What does this means for us? James 2:13 – For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

6. Is there ever a time that mercy should not be shown? What are some of these circumstances?

 Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.

 7. How does one’s motivation for serving God speak of their purity of heart? How does one apply Matthew 15:18 in this case?

Matthew 15:18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.

8. Why is character important? How would you define character? How is one’s true character exhibited?

Mother Theresa said that each one of us should keep a pure heart for that is the only way to see God in others. What causes one not to see people as God sees them?  

9. If we obeyed Philippians 4:8 on a regular basis how would the way we deal with people change?  

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 

Sermon on the Mount – What Does It Take to Be A Peacemaker?

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

 As we look at this subject this morning we must understand some important truths about conflict:

1. Conflict is everywhere – No matter where you go you will encounter conflict and problems.
2. Everyone and every church will have conflict. If you are living and breathing you will have conflict and you will have problems. There is not one person who is immune from experiencing conflict. You will have conflict with other individuals, with other groups, with your boss, your spouse, your neighbor, and believe it or not you will have times of conflict with yourself. If you are a part of any organization and the church is no exception you will have conflict.
3. Conflict in itself is neither good nor bad it is how you respond to conflict that makes it good or bad. The fact is when we deal with conflict in a correct way the conflict we experience has a way of stretching us but at the same time it grows us and allows us to gain more wisdom and understanding about how to handle problems in our lives.

So, if conflict is inevitable and we all face conflict and problems in our lives, we must determine in our hearts to handle conflict in a positive manner. In fact, it has been said that to know what rules one’s hearts is to know what rules their conflict.

Our text this morning calls us into a lifestyle of peacemaking. The promise associated with the act of becoming a peacemaker is that we will be called Sons of God. God does not tell us how to become a son of God. He simply says that sons of God are in fact peacemakers. The two ideas of being sons of God and peacemakers are synonymous and inseparable.

Peacemakers will be called Sons of Gods because they exhibit Christ like characteristics and Christ like responses to the difficulties they face. In other words, when they walk and live as peacemakers they will be identified as His children.

In an effort to provide full disclosure I want you to know that many of my comments this morning are taken from three books. The first is The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict by Ken Sande, Peacemaking Pastors: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Church Conflict by Alfred Poirier and The Peacemaker: Handling Conflict without Fighting Back or Running Away by Ken Sande & Kevin Johnson.

 As we look at this subject of peacemaking I would like to share with you three ways that we can respond to conflict. Two of the ways will do little to resolve conflict and one but rather exasperates the problem.

The first of these ways is to be a peace-breaker. A peace-breaker is one who tries to make the conflict go away at all costs.

Many times the tongue is the greatest tool used by the peace-breaker. The tongue is used to deliberately confront people. Instead of looking for ways to bring peace peace-breakers sabotage any efforts to establish peace. While they do not deliberately try to hurt others, their insensitivity, careless words, and judgmental attitudes deeply wounded many people.

James 3:3-10 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

You might be a peace-breaker if you:

        Use humor or sarcasm to clobber others or you aim your insults and vicious words straight at your opponents.

        Gossip and use cutting words against others. This is where you speak cutting words behind a person’s back. While we may need input from others on how to deal with those who have hurt us. But there is a difference between searching out wisdom and backstabbing someone.

        Use mind games to manipulate or intimidate others. You bully others through manipulation and intimidation.  

If this is not brought under control those in the conflict can end up using their fist. And unfortunately they can end up murdering others not physically but most often emotionally and relationally.

The second of these ways is to be a peace-faker. Peace-fakers prefer ‘peace’ over truth. They will go to any length to avoid any kind of conflict/confrontation/unrest. In doing, so they settle for a counterfeit peace that is based on avoiding the real issues.

You might be a peace-faker if you:

        Deny that conflict exists. This may soothe the situation for a moment but it does not provide a permanent fix.

        Blame others rather accept responsibility for your actions. You try to escape the problem by pointing your finger at others. Whenever someone covers their tracks, falsely claims innocence or lies about one’s contribution to the problem they are shifting blame.

        Flee from the conflict rather than deal with the conflict. Peace-fakers cut off relationships, they leave jobs, they get a transfer or they will leave a ministry because they are not willing to deal with the problems.

 The third way, the Biblical way is the peace-maker. The peacemaker longs for peace, works for peace, and sacrifices for peace. 

 You might be a peace-maker if you:

         Glorify God and honor Him with your actions. 1 Cor. 10:31 – We glorify God be giving God praise and honor by showing who He is, what He is like and what He is doing. In conflict, we can trust God by relying upon the power of God to do His work. As we draw on His grace, follow His example, and put His teachings into practice, we can find freedom from the impulsive, self-centered decisions that make conflict worse, and bring praise to God by displaying the power of the Gospel in our lives.

         Get the log out of your own eye. Matthew 7:5 – How have I contributed to this conflict and what do I need to do to resolve it? The scripture reminds us that before we judge somewhat else’s sin we must recognize our own sin and short comings. Attacking others invites counterattacks. This is why Jesus teaches us to face up to our own contributions to a conflict before we focus on what another has done. When we overlook another’s minor offenses and honestly admit our own faults, our opponents often respond in kind. As tensions decrease, the way may be opened for sincere discussion, negotiation and reconciliation.

         Go and be reconciled: Matthew 18 – How can I demonstrate forgiveness and encourage a reasonable solution to this conflict? We are committed to restoring damaged relationships and negotiating just agreements. When we forgive others as Jesus has forgiven us and seek solutions that other’s interest as well as our own, the debris of conflict is cleared away and the door is opened for genuine peace. It must be noted that Matthew 18 is not an option for a passioante followr of Christ.

Sermon on the Mount Part 3

Today, we will take a look at what it means to give mercy to others and to give them slack when they needed and when they don’t.

 Matthew 5:7-11 – Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

When we were together last time we started to look at the Beatitudes. In our discussion we concluded following:

1. While the word “blessed” is translated “happy” a more adequate translation of the word might be “satisfied.”
2. The Beatitudes turned the political and social ideas of being “happy and successful” upside down.
3. The Beatitudes are not a legalistic checklist of dos and don’ts but rather are symbolic of what the attitudes that should be possessed by those who are passionate followers of Christ.
4. We looked briefly at:
   1. Blessed are the poor spirit
   2. Blessed are those who mourn
   3. Blessed are the meek
   4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness

Today, will look specifically at the merciful and the pure in heart: 

Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy.

1. To receive Mercy means that we do not get what we deserve.  It means to show kindness or concern for someone in serious need or to one who does not have the ability to repay. When we receive God’s mercy the fact is that we do not get what we deserve. We deserve death for our sin but God chose instead to forgive the penalty of sin and sets us free from that penalty. Instead of death we receive eternal because of the sacrifice of God’s Son.

2. The Hebrew meaning of mercy is to walk in another’s shoes. This idea deepens the meaning of the word mercy by challenging us to get into the heart of another individual so that we are able to walk in their shoes so that we see things from their perspective. Our goal must be to look at things from the other person’s perspective because when we do so we will most often see things differently. The result is less judgment and more mercy.

In the world’s view of life the merciful will be taken advantage of and will become doormats but in God’s economy of Kingdom living the opposite is true. One who manifests a worldly outlook will say things like: “I don’t get mad, I get even.” “You will get your reward.” In James 2:13, James reminds us that mercy triumphs over judgment. So it is always better to lean on the side of mercy than it is on the side of judgment.

Mercy works hand-in-hand with forgiveness. One who walks in forgiveness in their heart is the one who can best show mercy to those who do not deserve it.

Paul in Romans 3:22-24 highlighted this point in this way. God treats everyone alike. He accepts people only because they have faith in Jesus Christ. All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. But God treats us much better than we deserve, and because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins.

3. When we show mercy to others we are walking in Christ’s image and in His likeness. This beatitude brings with it a promise that those who show mercy will receive mercy. The caution here is that we do not show mercy just because we get mercy but we show mercy because it is the right thing to do because it honors God.

Let me summarize this beatitude up this way. Instead of giving people what they deserve we must show them mercy.  We give people some slack. When they say things that upset us give them slack. When they hurt us we don’t attack back.

To whom have you shown mercy to lately? One night in 1935, Fiorello H. La Guardia, mayor of New York, showed up at a night court in the poorest ward of the city. He dismissed the judge for the evening and took over the bench. One case involved an elderly woman who was caught stealing bread to feed her grandchildren. La Guardia said, “I’ve got to punish you. Ten dollars or ten days in jail.” As he spoke, he threw $10 into his hat. He then fined everyone in the courtroom 50 cents for living in a city “where a person has to steal bread so that her grandchildren can eat.” The hat was passed around, and the woman left the courtroom with her fine paid and an additional $47.50.

Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.

1. A pure heart speaks of one’s motivation for serving God. In this regard, we are reminded that this is critical because while man looks at the outward appearance but God looks on the heart. Purity here equates to one’s character.

2. Character is how we live when no one else is around. This action is in opposition to the Pharisees who measured everything by one’s outward appearance rather than the heart.

Mother Theresa said that each one of us should keep a pure heart for that is the only way to see God in others.

Jesus in Matthew 15:18 reminds us that what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. The heart controls what one does and therefore when the heart is right our actions and our motives will be right as well.

3. When our hearts are filled with malice and impure thoughts we will never see others as God sees them. The word pure speaks to the idea that ones heart is not to be contaminated with evil affections or motivations that do not bring glory to God.

Paul summed up this idea in Philippians 4:8 when he said finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

The Sermon on The Mount

Kingdom Living For Today

Text: Matthew 5:1-12  Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Today, we begin a series that will take the next several weeks to complete. The goal in this message, today, is to provide some introductory remarks that will set the stage for us as we take this journey together. The focus of this series will be on living out the principles that Jesus taught His disciples. It is for that reason that we might entitle this “The Sermon on the Mount – Kingdom Living for Today”

Let us look at three key ideas that will help us understand to fully comprehend what is being through the Sermon on the Mount.

Idea #1 – While the sermon was a teaching for the disciples of His day, we will look at how we can live out these principles in our lives today. One of the key words throughout the book of Matthew is the word “kingdom.” In the Sermon on the Mount, we also see this key word as it is used no less than eight times.

An understanding of “Kingdom” is critical to how we live for Christ because it is God’s desire that His Kingdom would be revealed in and through His people. John the Baptist proclaimed this message to those of his day. He proclaimed “repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand” (Matt. 3:2). Jesus also proclaimed “repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 4:17).  And when Jesus began His ministry “he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom” (Matt. 4:23).

To understand the Kingdom, we must define what we mean by the term “Kingdom of God:” As we read the scriptures the Bible speaks of God’s Kingdom in two phases. The first is the kingdom that is yet to come. This is the kingdom that will be established when Christ returns for the 2^nd time to establish His kingdom for an eternity. The second is the kingdom that exists now. This kingdom is a spiritual kingdom where the only access into the kingdom is salvation in the name of Jesus. Jesus taught His disciples to pray “Your Kingdom come your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Jesus also taught that if the disciples of His day were to “seek first the kingdom of God that all the other things would be added to them.” This is evidence that the kingdom was not something that was yet to come but was in existence now.

It is also important to note that to speak of the Kingdom of God is to speak of who or what rules your life. This is the essence of understanding this concept of the kingdom. To fully live out the principles of the Sermon on the Mount we must allow Christ to rule over us.

Remember last week we said that what we focus on we will worship and what we worship we will serve. So that is our desire is that can begin to focus more every day on who Christ is and to invite Him to rule our lives.

Idea #2 – The idea that must be the basis of this study is that in order to enter the Kingdom of God one must have a personal relationship with Christ by way of a confession of faith. Thus entrance into Christ’s kingdom comes only by way of confessing Christ as one’s Lord and Savior. This is the fulfillment of Romans 10:9 where Paul stated that “If we confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts that Jesus is Lord you shall be saved.” Therefore, this confession is a prerequisite for entering into the kingdom.

When the rich young ruler approached Christ with the ultimate question of how one could enter into the kingdom of heaven, Jesus answered by saying “truly, truly I say to you, unless one is “born again” he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

In other words, to enter and truly experience the Kingdom of God one must have confessed their sins to Christ and then have invited Christ to enter their lives. Not just the particular areas that one would choose to allow Christ to enter but Christ must have the freedom to possess all that we are and all aspects of our lives.

It should be noted that this kingdom, in the person of Jesus, welcomes us all just as we are, just where we are, and it makes it possible to translate our ordinary life into an eternal one. Everyone who from the center of their being calls upon Jesus as Master of the Universe and Prince of Life will be heard and will be brought into an eternal relationship with the King of the Kingdom.

Idea #3 – This study is not to be interpreted as a legalistic pattern of do’s and don’ts but it presents a lifestyle that will shape and form us into the image of Christ. It cannot be overstated that this study is in no way intended to be a legalistic pattern of what one should do as much as it is a way of living which allows the person to be free. Therefore, the study is not intended as a list of do’s and don’ts but it is a lifestyle of living that impacts all that we are and all that we do. The reason this is that there is a tendency for us to simply want to check off our spiritual list of activities and feel we have accomplished what God desires. Instead, God would prefer that this teaching would become a part of the fabric of our lives. For example, when the concept of being truthful is a part of one’s life, they usually do not battle with the temptation to lie. Mark Twain stated: “If I never tell a lie, I never have to remember the truth.”

Conclusion – If we grasp the truths of this passage we will:

1. Understand what it means to be a true believer of Christ. This will be an important revelation as we often have a false understanding of what it means to be a believer of Christ.
2. We will understand how we are to function together as a body of believers. The secondary result of this study will be that we will learn more about what it means to live as the body of Christ. How do we treat one another? How do we respond to criticism? How do we react to conflict?
3. We will understand how we can impact the world not with our words but by the way we live. Once we understand how to live as a believer and we understand how to function as the body of Christ we will be able to have a better understanding of how to reach those around us with the message of hope.