What are you passionate about? What gets you excited, on fire and your heart pumping? Could be anything. Could be your kids. I know some people that are really [pumped about their kids. Could be your hobby –some people can go on for hours about stamp collecting or fly tying. Could be your work, your sport, anything.
You can tell what someone is passionate about something. They talk about it, they language, their body, their tone, their eyes, everything about them lights up and they really get excited.
I want to make a bold statement here. All of the things that you can get excited about, passionate about –as good and as worthy as they may be, pale in comparison to being passionate about God. If there is one thing that is really worth getting passionate about, it is God. All other things, all other people pass and fade, spoil, disappoint or just get to be old but God…!
One of the things that I think we, as a church in the 21st century, have lost is our passion for God. We have lost our delight in the creator of the universe and the giver of life. We have become excited about hockey, enamored about soccer, emboldened about breaking embargos, emphatic about leaking oil, and a host of other things but we have lost our enhancement with God.
For many, our relationship with God has, become one of duty rather than delight. The pleasure of knowing God, growing in God, talking about God, singing, thirsting, desiring and passion has been replaced performance. We come to church, we sing a song, we give something in the offering, we smile at the pastor and then go home –our religious experience has become a ritual with little or no heart.
And this is nothing new. Over the centuries there has been this ebb and flow of ritual rather than relationship, duty instead of delight, works instead of wonder, performance rather than passion. Even back to the time of Jesus the people of God, called by God to be his chosen race –Israel, had become a people of ritual, duty, performance and works. They had lost the relationship, the delight, the passion, the wonder of God.
Imagine, men, that on the day of your anniversary you arrange to have a dozen roses sent home to your wife. You walk in the door that evening and your wife runs towards you with a big smile and tears running down her cheeks. “O thank you so much for the wonderful roses,” she says and holds out her arms to give you a big embrace. As she goes to put her arms around you, you stop her and say, “It was nothing, just my duty and performing as your husband.” (analogy from Pleasures Evermore, by Sam Storms). How would the rest of your anniversary go?
This morning, you may feel somewhat apart from God, perhaps your spiritual journey has stalled or does not seem to be moving. Maybe you have, like I suspect most Christians, fallen into a pattern of performance rather than passion, ritual rather than relationship, duty instead of delight, or work instead of wonder. This morning I want to encourage you, strongly encourage you to set your eyes again upon Jesus, upon the giver of life and light. To turn your attention on the one who is worthy, the one most worthy of your passion, your attention, you heart.
Let me read a passage for you. It begins with what Sam Storms calls and apostolic “OH!” Romans 11:33-36.
Paul has been giving a powerful lesson in theology in the first 11 chapters of Romans. The deepest and most profound book of the New testament and perhaps one of the greatest pieces of Christian theology ever written, Paul has led us through this wonderful journey of grace. And then He suddenly bursts into song! Look back to chapter 1 where Paul speaks of the fall of mankind and our enslavement to sin, to chapter three and the there is no one righteous and all fall short of the glory of God, then his moving to faith in Christ as our salvation, , our life in the Spirit in chapter 8 where he makes statement of our being more than conquerors in Christ Jesus (read 37-39). Then moving through God’s working in the nations of Israel and then its like he builds up to this point and “OH!”
OH this great and wonderful God, OH, the depths of his wisdom and love. OH! To Him be glory forever! Church, where is our OH!? This God, our God who created the universe with a breathe, this God, our God who holds creation I the palm of his hand, this God our god who breathed life into this ball of dust and clay and called us friend. This god, our God who went the extreme act of love in giving his life for us that we could and would be in relationship with Him. This god, our God who gave his body –broken for us. This god our god who gave his blood –shed for us. This God, our god, who gives us his Spirit to empower, protect, heal, secure and seal us as his won. This God, our god who gives joy and peace and love. This god, our god who holds out his arms to us and says come. This God, our God who takes delight in us. This God, our God who even when we rebelled, rejected, turned from ,mocked and scorned still expressed his love. This God our god, who is worthy of our praise, our adoration, our devotion, our passion, our delight. This God, our God who is worthy of our OH!”
This God is worthy of our devotion, not duty. This God, our God, who desires relationship not ritual. This god, our God, who calls for passion and not performance.
When we come to something like communion, does it capture our heart anew about he wonderful thing God has done. Does your pulse race when you take up that piece of bread and realize the immensity of what Jesus did for you? When you take up that cup, does your hand tremble at the thought of Jesus incredible love for you? When you hear the words –this is my body, this is my blood, does it ignite a passion in you and rekindle a flame of wonder in this incredible God who did an incredible thing at an incredible price.
Do you fall in love again, anew, deeper with Jesus? And by love I mean enchanted, enamored, engrossed, enthralled, enraptured, entranced, enravished, excited, enticed, astonished, amazed, awed, astounded, absorbed, agog, beguiled, bedazzled, startled, staggered, smitten, stunned, stupefied, spellbound, charmed, consumed, thrilled, thunderstruck, obsessed, preoccupied, intrigued, impassioned, overwhelmed, overwrought, gripped, rapt, enthused, electrified, tantalized, mesmerized, monopolized, fascinated, captivated, intoxicated, infatuated and exhilarated? Or simply put, “OH!” (Sam Storms –Pleasures Evermore)
OH, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God. Oh, the depth of the riches of love in Christ Jesus, oh, the grace poured out to us. Oh the wonder of his majesty. Oh!
As I said earlier, you may feel somewhat apart from God, perhaps your spiritual journey has stalled or does not seem to be moving. And let me add that you may be burdened or struggling with a sin in your life. Maybe you have, like I suspect most Christians, fallen into a pattern of performance rather than passion, ritual rather than relationship, duty instead of delight, or work instead of wonder. This morning I want to encourage you, strongly encourage you to set your eyes again upon Jesus, upon the giver of life and light. To turn your attention on the one who is worthy, the one most worthy of your passion, your attention, you heart. This is what god made us for. To quote Sam Storms who sparked this message in my heart, There is an ineradicable, inescapable impulse in your heart to experience God precisely this way. May God kindle afresh in our hearts the flame of fascination with he who is, the marvel and wonder of what he has done and will do. May he restore in His people the mystery and the excitement of the knowledge of all He is for us in Jesus! That we would regain the “OH!” of our relationship with and response to God.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Sermon on the Mount -passion for God part two
What excites you, what do you get passionate about? There are some things that really get our pulse racing and our blood pumping. More than half the world right now is pumped up about the world cup. We think we have some energetic hockey fans, but wow, there are some real excited soccer fans!
Last week we looked at the one who is worthy of our passions, our excitement, our delight. The incredible creative God of the universe who made everything and breathed life into us is worthy of our praise. Listen to the words of the Psalmist in Psalm 96 (1-9), and then in Revelation 4:11.
This God is worthy of our utmost for his highest. And so often we fail, we falter, we fumble in our worship, our excitement, our passion for this incredible giver of life. Our talk becomes consumed and filled with talk of who scored the winning goal in the Stanley cup, our lives revolve around when the next match is going to be and the wonder of wonders, the creator of all, is set aside. But I’m here today, I didn’t set God aside! I gave up seeing the match between Serbia and Ghana! Well, most of it!
Well, maybe it isn’t the Ghana and Serbia game, maybe it is fishing or a game of golf, or perhaps a shopping trip in the city. There are many Christians today who’s faith is more duty than delight, or appearance rather than authentic. Or it is almost like we are doing God a favor by being at church, by giving him our worship, our attention –our time.
Jesus, in the Sermon on the mount, calls us to authentic faith –a deep growing life centered on God, built on God, focused on God and defined by God. And that is an interesting idea –is your life defined by God? Or something else?
There were a group of people in Jesus’ time who defined their lives by their appearance of following God –and I stress the word appearance. They made a big show about their religiosity. They would not only come to church and miss the game between Ghana and Serbia, they would tell you they were giving up watching the game between Ghana and Serbia. They would make a big point of letting everyone know how much they were sacrificing by being at church and giving up seeing the game!
These people were called Pharisees. Jesus, earlier in chapter 5, had made a rather bold statement, verse 20. Although we can see Jesus was actually not saying anything nice about them, I can well imagine the rising noses of these men as they stood their thinking indeed how special they were, how righteous they were. They took great pride in their appearance of being holy and righteous. Yes, unless you are more righteous than us, we who are righteous, you won’t get into the kingdom of heaven.
Then, in a few short moments, Jesus turns to them and almost with his had raised, finger pointed, gives these words, “6:1-3” Three times Jesus uses this word hypocrite, I think while either pointing or looking steadfastly at the Pharisees who were surely standing there. In fact of the 18 or so times this word is used in the NT, Jesus uses it every time against those who had the shell of performance but their hearts had no passion for God. They had no “OH!”
The word hypocrite is quite interesting. It comes to us from Greek drama and means play acting. In Greek drama the actor would wear a mask –often one of two –the happy and the sad, to show their emotion. It was easy to hide behind the mask –just say the words, ones true emotion or facial expression would be hidden.
The word is an amalgam of the Greek prefix hypo-, meaning "under", and the verb "krinein", meaning "to sift or decide". Thus the original meaning implied a deficiency in the ability to sift or decide. This deficiency, as it pertains to one's own beliefs and feelings, informs the word's contemporary meaning.
Whereas hypokrisis applied to any sort of public performance (including the art of rhetoric), hypokrites was a technical term for a stage actor and was not considered an appropriate role for a public figure. In Athens in the 4th Century BC, successful actor before taking up politics, as a hypokrites whose skill at impersonating characters on stage made him an untrustworthy politician. This negative view of the hypokrites, perhaps combined with the Roman disdain for actors, later shaded into the originally neutral hypokrisis. It is this later sense of hypokrisis as "play-acting", i.e. the assumption of a counterfeit persona, that gives the modern word hypocrisy its negative connotation. By the time of Jesus this word hypocrisy came to mean false piety. (From Wikipedia)
When Jesus uses the word hypocrite he was talking about someone that was held in disdain, ridicule, seen as untrustworthy. Imagine, here Jesus talks about those held in highest regard (at least in their own minds) and says they are impersonators, counterfeits, play acting –they wear a mask of righteousness but inside there is nothing. Hypocrites where ones who put on a show, what you saw was not what was really going on underneath. They had a false piety, they showed up to be seen, but their heart was not in it. They were empty of a true heart for the Father. Later on Jesus would get very specific about what he meant by hypocrites –those who were whitewashed tombs! (Matthew 23:27)
These men were passionate –passionate about letting people know how passionate they were! They were much more interested in appearance rather than substance. Jesus points out three areas that they were well known for and took pride in with regards to their righteousness. Giving money, prayer and fasting. Each of these three areas that were supposed to be areas of devotion and worship they made into more of a spectacle. For giving they would announce they were going to the temple to give –they would be meticulous in making sure they tithed to the penny and everyone knew it. In regards to prayer they would literally stand on the street corners and pray great loud prayers for everyone to hear. And when they fasted they would look gaunt, sallow, and down.
They would go to church and say, “see, I am here, look what I am giving up for God –how religious I am.” Yes they sought to live the law, yes they were followers of the law, yes they did abide by the commandments –they were righteous in their actions, but not in their hearts!
The guys, these Pharisees got their hearts pumping about looking spiritual –they were passionate about looking passionate. It was on the surface –just a façade. Jesus comes along and says, hey, stop –wait a second –be very careful here! Don’t just have your good works, don’t do your righteous acts just to be seen! If you do you will have no reward from your father in heaven. Why? Because he does not receive the glory –you do!
Look back to verse 16 of chapter 5. This is really a key verse in understanding the contrast of what Jesus is talking about here. When we live as salt and light, e live such lives that what? Our good deeds shine before men and they praise who? Our Father in heaven. These men were not living that others would see their good works and give glory to the father they were living such lives that men would see their “good works” and give glory to them!
Rather than God receiving the highest praise –they got it themselves. They lost sight of the passion for the Father and took pride in the performance of their acts. Their delight in the Father had been replaced in a duty of ritual and the relationship was absent. They were hollow tombs, empty shells, masks, hypocrites.
Jesus says don’t confuse the mask with the heart. God is interested in the heart, in your spirit, not in the performance. He says, look to the Father –look to what the father see, look to what the father wants –not man, not the self, not the world –the Father.
Listen to the number of times Jesus talks about the Father-
4-your father who sees what is done in secret will reward you
6-go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father who is unseen, then your father who sees what you do in secret will reward you
8-do not be like the babbling pagans for your father knows what you need before you ask
9-when you pray, pray like this, Our Father…
14 -15 (read)
18-when you fast (my paraphrase here) look normal and your Father who is unseen will reward you
24-You cannot serve God (the Father) and money
In this short section of scripture, Jesus mentions the Father 12 times.
It is this inner passion, this inner seeking of the connection and relationship with the Father that marks an authentic follower of Jesus. And through this relationship, through this God the Father seeks to make our lives –our whole lives, real inside and out, to make us into something more than we are –to make us into His children, his image.
It is almost as if Jesus is saying, don’t settle for this false image, this play-acting. Don’t settle for the approval of man and the temporary, fleeting applause. Don’t settle for less than God the Father has promised –LIFE! Relationship and connection with Him that comes through the intimate connection. It is the passion that brings glory to God and shines before men that they will see and give praise to the Father in heaven.
The kingdom of God is more, much more than empty ritual, it is a deep relationship with the eternal God. The kingdom of God is much, so much more than performance for the eyes of others, it is a passion for the creator of life who fills us with His life everlasting. The kingdom of God is more, much more than the fleeting approval of man –it is the heart pumping, energy giving, indwelling of the spirit of God who sees what is done in secret, who knows what we need before we ask, who forgives our sins, and gives us our daily bread, who leads us and protects us and delivers us and rewards us.
This God, our God who is Lord and worthy of our praise, our passion, our life and our devotion. This God our God who delights in our delight of Him, this God, our God who is worthy of our “OH!” and our wonder. Do not settle for the shell, do not be satisfied with the façade, do not settle for the empty approval of men –but strive for, long for, delight in, have passion for the one most worthy, most satisfying, most… Well, the absolute most!
Last week we looked at the one who is worthy of our passions, our excitement, our delight. The incredible creative God of the universe who made everything and breathed life into us is worthy of our praise. Listen to the words of the Psalmist in Psalm 96 (1-9), and then in Revelation 4:11.
This God is worthy of our utmost for his highest. And so often we fail, we falter, we fumble in our worship, our excitement, our passion for this incredible giver of life. Our talk becomes consumed and filled with talk of who scored the winning goal in the Stanley cup, our lives revolve around when the next match is going to be and the wonder of wonders, the creator of all, is set aside. But I’m here today, I didn’t set God aside! I gave up seeing the match between Serbia and Ghana! Well, most of it!
Well, maybe it isn’t the Ghana and Serbia game, maybe it is fishing or a game of golf, or perhaps a shopping trip in the city. There are many Christians today who’s faith is more duty than delight, or appearance rather than authentic. Or it is almost like we are doing God a favor by being at church, by giving him our worship, our attention –our time.
Jesus, in the Sermon on the mount, calls us to authentic faith –a deep growing life centered on God, built on God, focused on God and defined by God. And that is an interesting idea –is your life defined by God? Or something else?
There were a group of people in Jesus’ time who defined their lives by their appearance of following God –and I stress the word appearance. They made a big show about their religiosity. They would not only come to church and miss the game between Ghana and Serbia, they would tell you they were giving up watching the game between Ghana and Serbia. They would make a big point of letting everyone know how much they were sacrificing by being at church and giving up seeing the game!
These people were called Pharisees. Jesus, earlier in chapter 5, had made a rather bold statement, verse 20. Although we can see Jesus was actually not saying anything nice about them, I can well imagine the rising noses of these men as they stood their thinking indeed how special they were, how righteous they were. They took great pride in their appearance of being holy and righteous. Yes, unless you are more righteous than us, we who are righteous, you won’t get into the kingdom of heaven.
Then, in a few short moments, Jesus turns to them and almost with his had raised, finger pointed, gives these words, “6:1-3” Three times Jesus uses this word hypocrite, I think while either pointing or looking steadfastly at the Pharisees who were surely standing there. In fact of the 18 or so times this word is used in the NT, Jesus uses it every time against those who had the shell of performance but their hearts had no passion for God. They had no “OH!”
The word hypocrite is quite interesting. It comes to us from Greek drama and means play acting. In Greek drama the actor would wear a mask –often one of two –the happy and the sad, to show their emotion. It was easy to hide behind the mask –just say the words, ones true emotion or facial expression would be hidden.
The word is an amalgam of the Greek prefix hypo-, meaning "under", and the verb "krinein", meaning "to sift or decide". Thus the original meaning implied a deficiency in the ability to sift or decide. This deficiency, as it pertains to one's own beliefs and feelings, informs the word's contemporary meaning.
Whereas hypokrisis applied to any sort of public performance (including the art of rhetoric), hypokrites was a technical term for a stage actor and was not considered an appropriate role for a public figure. In Athens in the 4th Century BC, successful actor before taking up politics, as a hypokrites whose skill at impersonating characters on stage made him an untrustworthy politician. This negative view of the hypokrites, perhaps combined with the Roman disdain for actors, later shaded into the originally neutral hypokrisis. It is this later sense of hypokrisis as "play-acting", i.e. the assumption of a counterfeit persona, that gives the modern word hypocrisy its negative connotation. By the time of Jesus this word hypocrisy came to mean false piety. (From Wikipedia)
When Jesus uses the word hypocrite he was talking about someone that was held in disdain, ridicule, seen as untrustworthy. Imagine, here Jesus talks about those held in highest regard (at least in their own minds) and says they are impersonators, counterfeits, play acting –they wear a mask of righteousness but inside there is nothing. Hypocrites where ones who put on a show, what you saw was not what was really going on underneath. They had a false piety, they showed up to be seen, but their heart was not in it. They were empty of a true heart for the Father. Later on Jesus would get very specific about what he meant by hypocrites –those who were whitewashed tombs! (Matthew 23:27)
These men were passionate –passionate about letting people know how passionate they were! They were much more interested in appearance rather than substance. Jesus points out three areas that they were well known for and took pride in with regards to their righteousness. Giving money, prayer and fasting. Each of these three areas that were supposed to be areas of devotion and worship they made into more of a spectacle. For giving they would announce they were going to the temple to give –they would be meticulous in making sure they tithed to the penny and everyone knew it. In regards to prayer they would literally stand on the street corners and pray great loud prayers for everyone to hear. And when they fasted they would look gaunt, sallow, and down.
They would go to church and say, “see, I am here, look what I am giving up for God –how religious I am.” Yes they sought to live the law, yes they were followers of the law, yes they did abide by the commandments –they were righteous in their actions, but not in their hearts!
The guys, these Pharisees got their hearts pumping about looking spiritual –they were passionate about looking passionate. It was on the surface –just a façade. Jesus comes along and says, hey, stop –wait a second –be very careful here! Don’t just have your good works, don’t do your righteous acts just to be seen! If you do you will have no reward from your father in heaven. Why? Because he does not receive the glory –you do!
Look back to verse 16 of chapter 5. This is really a key verse in understanding the contrast of what Jesus is talking about here. When we live as salt and light, e live such lives that what? Our good deeds shine before men and they praise who? Our Father in heaven. These men were not living that others would see their good works and give glory to the father they were living such lives that men would see their “good works” and give glory to them!
Rather than God receiving the highest praise –they got it themselves. They lost sight of the passion for the Father and took pride in the performance of their acts. Their delight in the Father had been replaced in a duty of ritual and the relationship was absent. They were hollow tombs, empty shells, masks, hypocrites.
Jesus says don’t confuse the mask with the heart. God is interested in the heart, in your spirit, not in the performance. He says, look to the Father –look to what the father see, look to what the father wants –not man, not the self, not the world –the Father.
Listen to the number of times Jesus talks about the Father-
4-your father who sees what is done in secret will reward you
6-go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father who is unseen, then your father who sees what you do in secret will reward you
8-do not be like the babbling pagans for your father knows what you need before you ask
9-when you pray, pray like this, Our Father…
14 -15 (read)
18-when you fast (my paraphrase here) look normal and your Father who is unseen will reward you
24-You cannot serve God (the Father) and money
In this short section of scripture, Jesus mentions the Father 12 times.
It is this inner passion, this inner seeking of the connection and relationship with the Father that marks an authentic follower of Jesus. And through this relationship, through this God the Father seeks to make our lives –our whole lives, real inside and out, to make us into something more than we are –to make us into His children, his image.
It is almost as if Jesus is saying, don’t settle for this false image, this play-acting. Don’t settle for the approval of man and the temporary, fleeting applause. Don’t settle for less than God the Father has promised –LIFE! Relationship and connection with Him that comes through the intimate connection. It is the passion that brings glory to God and shines before men that they will see and give praise to the Father in heaven.
The kingdom of God is more, much more than empty ritual, it is a deep relationship with the eternal God. The kingdom of God is much, so much more than performance for the eyes of others, it is a passion for the creator of life who fills us with His life everlasting. The kingdom of God is more, much more than the fleeting approval of man –it is the heart pumping, energy giving, indwelling of the spirit of God who sees what is done in secret, who knows what we need before we ask, who forgives our sins, and gives us our daily bread, who leads us and protects us and delivers us and rewards us.
This God, our God who is Lord and worthy of our praise, our passion, our life and our devotion. This God our God who delights in our delight of Him, this God, our God who is worthy of our “OH!” and our wonder. Do not settle for the shell, do not be satisfied with the façade, do not settle for the empty approval of men –but strive for, long for, delight in, have passion for the one most worthy, most satisfying, most… Well, the absolute most!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Authentic Discipleship 1 -Matthew 5 continued
Rules –we all have them, we all live by them. As much sometimes as we may not like them or find them inconvenient for us to follow, rules are necessary. Imagine the airspace around an airport without rules. Imagine driving down the highway without rules. I once mentioned that in another context and some guy yelled out “Amen!” Speed limits? Phah! But imagine everyone driving where they want when they want at what speed they want –sounds like some countries I have been in –but imagine driving to Winnipeg on some nice quiet evening –no one in front of you open road you just step on it –no rules! Then suddenly someone is approaching you at their highest speed –but they are on your lane –in your lane! No rules, remember? Rules, we need to know tem and know we need them.
We need rules, we know that. But sometimes following the letter of the law rather than the intent can become burdensome. And it can become quite complicated. I don’t know if many of you have seen the commercials for insurance that have been on the most recent one is where a grizzly bear is tearing up a campsite and the couple are up in a tree looking through a rather thick policy manual. Are we covered, is all they want to know, but the fine print, appendices, and schedules complicate something quite basic –are we covered?
Israel lived by rules. They were known as people of the law. From a very early age they heard and learned of the laws of Moses –the Pentateuch. They would memorize and pass on the laws to their children and their children’s children in order to live. One of the great directives that is often given when parents dedicate their children is the ancient living text from Deut. 6 (read)
When asked one time, what must one do in order to get eternal life, Jesus even answered him, “If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.” (Matthew 19:17) Which ones, he asks? Jesus says, do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.” Part of the 10 commandments (note these are almost all covered in the Sermon on the Mount) “All of these I have done! What do I lack?”
This young man had learned the laws, lived the laws –he knew the rules. But somehow he knew it was not enough –what do I lack –what am I to do?
If you asked most people how they could live to please God, what they must do to "get to heaven" they would probably answer, much like that young man, I have lived the 10 commandments. In the ten commandments that God gave to Moses, we find the basic guidelines of how Israel was to live in relation to God and to each other.
But is simply following the 10 commandments enough? We have a hard time even doing just these! Is living by the rules and regulations set down in the Old Testament enough to get you to heaven? The people of Jesus day thought so. In fact, there were some people that were so sure that following the law to the exact detail guaranteed them a place in heaven. They would walk around in a prideful arrogance that looked down on almost everyone else. In Jesus time, these people became the walking example of what many thought was a truly Godly person. To be called a Pharisee, was to be called a person of righteousness, or rightness before God.
The people of the Jesus day, especially the Pharisees, had become so wrapped up in the function, in the doing of the law and religion, that they had no reality. They had lost the spirit, or the essence, of what God intended.
And so we find a similar attitude today. Many people are outwardly following the law, but inwardly they do not have the spirit. That is one of the major observations about the church today by people. That there is no genuine faith.
Genuine faith and faith that works in your life is what people are searching for. In the past several years we have seen the rise of popular Christianity. This is seen on TV, the news and the internet a number of religious people demonstrated a shiny plastic cover that falls off and we are left seeing the empty shell. Is it any wonder that so many people today are turning away from the church. Yet, in spite of this most people believe in God, believe in Christ and believe in the Bible. BUT THEY DO NOT BELIEVE IN CHURCH.
Just as in Jesus time there was a thirst for genuine faith, so there is a thirst today for genuine faith.
Genuine faith, says Jesus, is not just in following the law. He came to show us how to live beyond the law in a higher calling. Jesus came not to abolish the law (5:17) but to fulfill the law by bringing us to the spirit God intended, ie.
GENUINE FAITH, ACTIVE LIVING FAITH WHICH COMES FROM THE HEART AND DEMONSTRATES GOD'S LOVE.
In the first part of this chapter we read the beatitudes, which give us the path of discipleship. The path brings us from a recognition that we are totally destitute (poor in spirit) and need to place ourselves into God's loving hands. The we see that we are to be salt and light in the world, living such lives that are pure, preserving, tasteful and attractive. In verse 16 we read that we are to live such lives that our good deeds will be seen and bring praise to God –we are to be salt and light!
Now Jesus wants to make it very clear by what he means in saying "good deeds." There is almost an unasked question here. HOW? What are the laws, the rules we need to follow in order to be salt and light –remember they were people of the law this was the core of their being, their faith, their identity. The immediate impression one may get is that we are to live according to the law, like the Pharisees. Everyone knows the good and righteous lives the Pharisees live. They tell us of their righteousness and their good deeds. Then in verse 27 Jesus says, that unless we are even more righteous than the Pharisees we will not enter heaven.
Then what hope do we have? Listen says the master teacher, listen to these things. Jesus calls his followers to get to the heart of what God intends –not just the outward action.
Jesus then give six specific issues which guide his followers into genuine discipleship. Jesus uses these to drive home the idea of genuine faith in action. In fact, the rest of the sermon on the mount continues that theme of guiding His followers along a path of authentic discipleship.
Discipleship, that is being a follower of Christ, is not just actions -it is attitude, it is heart. And so Jesus addresses some specific actions, not to discount them, or to change them (I came not to abolish the Law), but to show the fundamental truth that God expects obedience of the heart.
He begins each with the phrase, "You have heard it said..." We must remember that this culture was largely illiterate and learned mostly through hearing. Jesus is actually talking about scripture. He brings to the peoples mind what they have heard in the synagogue, or church. They may have even heard it argued about by the Pharisees who would sit and discuss these issues in the temple courts or in the city gateway.
You have heard it said –and I agree do not murder. But I tell you anyone who is angry with his brother…
You have heard it said –Do not commit adultery. But I tell you anyone who looks at a woman lustfully…
You have heard it said -Anyone who divorces. But I tell you…
You begin to get the picture? I have not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it –to bring out he core –it is a matter of heart, of genuine commitment. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, blessed are the pure in heart… The heart! Jesus be the centre, be my life, be my strength, be my all!
Jesus does not contradict or put aside any of the laws. He drives home that it is more than outward obedience. It is inward transformation –it is a matter of heart, character, and full submission to Him.
We does that leave us today?
Authentic faith lives not by the letter of the law, but by the spirit. Authentic faith lives to a higher calling than the letter of the law. Authentic discipleship seeks to live as God would have us live so that our good deeds are seen and God is praised.
Authentic discipleship is not living God's life on Sunday and your own on Monday, but living God's life each day, each way in all we do and say.
Let’s reflect for a moment as we come to a close in this service. How are you doing in your heart of discipleship –in your finding blessing through the pureness of your heart? In one of two areas that we find here in Matthew, I would be willing to bet that most of us here today are probably struggling in one or two areas –anger and lust. Oh, we have not killed anyone, but our anger has burned against someone –we have put them down, been resentful, cursed them, though not so nice things, we have not forgiven or been reconciled to them. Jesus says “you are in danger!” be reconciled, settle matters quickly. It is a matter of heart.
Oh you may not have committed adultery, but you have lusted, you have had those long lingering thoughts, you have looked at things that you know you should not, read things that have planted in your brain those incorrect heart issues. I know this speaks largely to men, but women beware you are just as vulnerable to lust and lingering thoughts.
Read carefully the warnings of Jesus in Matthew 5. You have heard it said do not commit murder, do not commit adultery –but I say…
Jesus calls us to get to the heart of the matter. As you make your journey towards God, as you walk this path of discipleship and authentic faith, look to your heart –is it right?
We need rules, we know that. But sometimes following the letter of the law rather than the intent can become burdensome. And it can become quite complicated. I don’t know if many of you have seen the commercials for insurance that have been on the most recent one is where a grizzly bear is tearing up a campsite and the couple are up in a tree looking through a rather thick policy manual. Are we covered, is all they want to know, but the fine print, appendices, and schedules complicate something quite basic –are we covered?
Israel lived by rules. They were known as people of the law. From a very early age they heard and learned of the laws of Moses –the Pentateuch. They would memorize and pass on the laws to their children and their children’s children in order to live. One of the great directives that is often given when parents dedicate their children is the ancient living text from Deut. 6 (read)
When asked one time, what must one do in order to get eternal life, Jesus even answered him, “If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.” (Matthew 19:17) Which ones, he asks? Jesus says, do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.” Part of the 10 commandments (note these are almost all covered in the Sermon on the Mount) “All of these I have done! What do I lack?”
This young man had learned the laws, lived the laws –he knew the rules. But somehow he knew it was not enough –what do I lack –what am I to do?
If you asked most people how they could live to please God, what they must do to "get to heaven" they would probably answer, much like that young man, I have lived the 10 commandments. In the ten commandments that God gave to Moses, we find the basic guidelines of how Israel was to live in relation to God and to each other.
But is simply following the 10 commandments enough? We have a hard time even doing just these! Is living by the rules and regulations set down in the Old Testament enough to get you to heaven? The people of Jesus day thought so. In fact, there were some people that were so sure that following the law to the exact detail guaranteed them a place in heaven. They would walk around in a prideful arrogance that looked down on almost everyone else. In Jesus time, these people became the walking example of what many thought was a truly Godly person. To be called a Pharisee, was to be called a person of righteousness, or rightness before God.
The people of the Jesus day, especially the Pharisees, had become so wrapped up in the function, in the doing of the law and religion, that they had no reality. They had lost the spirit, or the essence, of what God intended.
And so we find a similar attitude today. Many people are outwardly following the law, but inwardly they do not have the spirit. That is one of the major observations about the church today by people. That there is no genuine faith.
Genuine faith and faith that works in your life is what people are searching for. In the past several years we have seen the rise of popular Christianity. This is seen on TV, the news and the internet a number of religious people demonstrated a shiny plastic cover that falls off and we are left seeing the empty shell. Is it any wonder that so many people today are turning away from the church. Yet, in spite of this most people believe in God, believe in Christ and believe in the Bible. BUT THEY DO NOT BELIEVE IN CHURCH.
Just as in Jesus time there was a thirst for genuine faith, so there is a thirst today for genuine faith.
Genuine faith, says Jesus, is not just in following the law. He came to show us how to live beyond the law in a higher calling. Jesus came not to abolish the law (5:17) but to fulfill the law by bringing us to the spirit God intended, ie.
GENUINE FAITH, ACTIVE LIVING FAITH WHICH COMES FROM THE HEART AND DEMONSTRATES GOD'S LOVE.
In the first part of this chapter we read the beatitudes, which give us the path of discipleship. The path brings us from a recognition that we are totally destitute (poor in spirit) and need to place ourselves into God's loving hands. The we see that we are to be salt and light in the world, living such lives that are pure, preserving, tasteful and attractive. In verse 16 we read that we are to live such lives that our good deeds will be seen and bring praise to God –we are to be salt and light!
Now Jesus wants to make it very clear by what he means in saying "good deeds." There is almost an unasked question here. HOW? What are the laws, the rules we need to follow in order to be salt and light –remember they were people of the law this was the core of their being, their faith, their identity. The immediate impression one may get is that we are to live according to the law, like the Pharisees. Everyone knows the good and righteous lives the Pharisees live. They tell us of their righteousness and their good deeds. Then in verse 27 Jesus says, that unless we are even more righteous than the Pharisees we will not enter heaven.
Then what hope do we have? Listen says the master teacher, listen to these things. Jesus calls his followers to get to the heart of what God intends –not just the outward action.
Jesus then give six specific issues which guide his followers into genuine discipleship. Jesus uses these to drive home the idea of genuine faith in action. In fact, the rest of the sermon on the mount continues that theme of guiding His followers along a path of authentic discipleship.
Discipleship, that is being a follower of Christ, is not just actions -it is attitude, it is heart. And so Jesus addresses some specific actions, not to discount them, or to change them (I came not to abolish the Law), but to show the fundamental truth that God expects obedience of the heart.
He begins each with the phrase, "You have heard it said..." We must remember that this culture was largely illiterate and learned mostly through hearing. Jesus is actually talking about scripture. He brings to the peoples mind what they have heard in the synagogue, or church. They may have even heard it argued about by the Pharisees who would sit and discuss these issues in the temple courts or in the city gateway.
You have heard it said –and I agree do not murder. But I tell you anyone who is angry with his brother…
You have heard it said –Do not commit adultery. But I tell you anyone who looks at a woman lustfully…
You have heard it said -Anyone who divorces. But I tell you…
You begin to get the picture? I have not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it –to bring out he core –it is a matter of heart, of genuine commitment. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, blessed are the pure in heart… The heart! Jesus be the centre, be my life, be my strength, be my all!
Jesus does not contradict or put aside any of the laws. He drives home that it is more than outward obedience. It is inward transformation –it is a matter of heart, character, and full submission to Him.
We does that leave us today?
Authentic faith lives not by the letter of the law, but by the spirit. Authentic faith lives to a higher calling than the letter of the law. Authentic discipleship seeks to live as God would have us live so that our good deeds are seen and God is praised.
Authentic discipleship is not living God's life on Sunday and your own on Monday, but living God's life each day, each way in all we do and say.
Let’s reflect for a moment as we come to a close in this service. How are you doing in your heart of discipleship –in your finding blessing through the pureness of your heart? In one of two areas that we find here in Matthew, I would be willing to bet that most of us here today are probably struggling in one or two areas –anger and lust. Oh, we have not killed anyone, but our anger has burned against someone –we have put them down, been resentful, cursed them, though not so nice things, we have not forgiven or been reconciled to them. Jesus says “you are in danger!” be reconciled, settle matters quickly. It is a matter of heart.
Oh you may not have committed adultery, but you have lusted, you have had those long lingering thoughts, you have looked at things that you know you should not, read things that have planted in your brain those incorrect heart issues. I know this speaks largely to men, but women beware you are just as vulnerable to lust and lingering thoughts.
Read carefully the warnings of Jesus in Matthew 5. You have heard it said do not commit murder, do not commit adultery –but I say…
Jesus calls us to get to the heart of the matter. As you make your journey towards God, as you walk this path of discipleship and authentic faith, look to your heart –is it right?
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