Laying a Firm Foundation - Obedience

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This is a sermon based on Matthew 7:21-23 that is part of Christ's Sermon on the Mount.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

Today we are finally finishing up a long series of messages that we have been doing in Matthew regarding the Sermon on the Mount. We have been examining the various topics discussed in His sermon as they relate to the story He gave at the end of the sermon regarding the wise man and the foolish man. Everyone who pays attention to the lessons and puts them into practice will be like a man who carefully and wisely lays a solid foundation before building his “dream house.” The obvious parable here is that the house represents one’s life. The storms represent the adversities and trials that everyone faces in life. The foundation represents the habitual practice of obeying the principles of Christ’s teachings. (see v. 24)

I think we can all agree that the presumed condition here is that everyone has a personal relationship with Christ by having been born again by the Spirit through faith.

A couple of weeks ago I spoke on verses 15-20 regarding false prophets / teachers and the need for discernment in order to distinguish between those who are true prophets of God and those who are not. Today’s theme seems to be somewhat similar except the focus is on false disciples rather than false teachers. There are a lot of people who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ and claim to have faith in Him for salvation. They may possess a spiritual vocabulary and they may engage in certain kinds of activities that we might expect a disciple of Christ to perform.

However, in today’s text, Jesus clearly declares that no one maintains a relationship with Him merely by saying certain words, or performing certain activities. The relationship must be validated or authenticated with a life of obedience.

We have all undoubtedly read and heard many biblical texts that emphasize the fact that we are not saved by mere performance of biblical commands or rules. However, Jesus is emphasizing here the balancing truth – that is, we do not authenticate or validate our salvation through merely saying the right kinds of words/phrases or by performing incredible exploits for God. The only thing that counts is authentic love that results in explicit obedience to His Word and His will.

As we examine the words of Jesus in this portion of His sermon, I want to notice the conditions that do not qualify for admission into the kingdom of heaven as well as the condition that does qualify for admission into the kingdom of heaven.

I.          Admission into the kingdom of heaven is not based on...

A. A mere verbal acknowledgement of God.

“Not every who says, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Adam Clarke ties this in with the previous verses by his comment.

(Clarke, A Commentary and Critical Notes.) The sense of this verse seems to be this: No person, by merely acknowledging my authority, believing in the Divinity of my nature, professing faith in the perfection of my righteousness, and infinite merit of my atonement, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven—shall have any part with God in glory; but he who doeth the will of my Father—he who gets the bad tree rooted up, the good tree planted, [vv. 17-18] and continues to bring forth fruit to the glory and praise of God.

(Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible.) He shows, by a plain remonstrance, that an outward profession of religion, however remarkable, will not bring us to heaven …

It would appear that the point Jesus is making here is this: verbal acknowledgment of the existence of God, and the verbal acknowledgment of Jesus Christ as Lord (i.e. the Divine Son of God), are not enough to guarantee entrance into heaven. Mental agreement with some spiritual facts merely qualifies one to have the same level of faith that demons possess according to James 2:19.

There are a host of people in our day, just as it was in Jesus’ day, who have learned to use a spiritual vocabulary and “talk the talk” of a person of faith. But deep down inside their hearts, they have no passion or desire to obediently live out the commands of the One they claim to love and follow. (The converse is also true – perform commands/rules w/o any love relationship that gives life and vitality.)

B. The mere performance of spiritual endeavors such as

1. Prophesying (Preaching)

As we have noted several times already in this series of messages, the word “prophesy” includes two meanings. (1) predict the future; and (2) proclaim the Word of God. The use here in this verse is probably the latter meaning, although either meaning or both could be intended.

(Matthew Henry) A man may be a preacher, may have gifts for the ministry, and an external call to it, and perhaps some success in it, and yet be a wicked man; may help others to heaven, and yet come short himself.

Various commentators made reference to examples in Scripture where people prophesied for God or in the name of God, but they were not necessarily servants of God. For example, Balaam and King Saul.

No matter how eloquently a person may preach the message of Christ, that, in itself, does not guarantee his or her acceptance into the kingdom of heaven. Many of you have perhaps heard stories of various preachers or evangelists who have enjoyed remarkable success in their ministry, particularly in preaching and seeing many conversions, but they were later exposed for various kinds of misconduct that had come to light.

The Apostle Paul said this, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9:27 (KJV)

It is possible for someone to preach the gospel and enjoy a certain level of success and expertise at it and still miss the kingdom of heaven.

2. Exorcisms and Miracles

I’m combining the next two examples of spiritual activities together because they both represent the performance of something supernatural. The supernatural demonstration might be in the form of driving out demons or in the form of some other miraculous display of power.

(Barclay) [In the ancient world] miracles were common events. All illness was thought to be the work of demons…. If a man succeeded in convincing… himself into a belief that a demon was in him or had him in his power, that man would undoubtedly be ill. And if someone could convince him that the hold of the demon was broken, then quite certainly that man would be cured.

The leaders of the Church never denied heathen miracles…. There was many a charlatan who rendered a lip service to Jesus Christ, and who used his name to produce wonderful effects on demon-possessed people. (Acts 19:13 KJV) Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

Jesus clearly seems to imply that it is possible for someone to perform genuine miracles in His name without being in the right relationship with God himself. So His point is that one’s ability or history of performing miracles in the name of Jesus does not prove anything about the spiritual status of the one doing the miracle.

This reminds me of Paul’s statement in the love chapter, “…and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:2 (NKJV)

Miracle-working faith and power is not the litmus test. Genuine love for God and my fellow man that produces obedience to His commands is what counts.

II.        Admission into the kingdom of heaven is based on...

A. Obedience to the will of God.

Who are the ones that will make it into the kingdom of heaven? It is the people who do (practice) the will of God the Father in heaven. It is the people who do NOT practice iniquity (v.23). That is, those who do not practice lawlessness (NKJV, NIV, NASB). To practice lawlessness means to violate the commands of God and live according to my own will and my own desires rather than God’s will.

Obedience is the evidence of our love for God.

John 14:23 (NKJV)
²³ Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word…

Luke 6:46 (KJV)
⁴⁶ And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

What is the will of God anyway?

B. The will of God includes…

I’m convinced that the will of God includes the careful application of the principles in God’s Word into everyday life. This obviously requires reading and studying His Word, as well as the ongoing process of spiritual maturity that includes experience. This means that His will is not always clear, but it takes effort and commitment to discover what principles apply to each situation or decision in life.

Yet, we are not left completely on our own. The Bible does give us several references that speak directly about things that are or are not God’s will. A careful inquiry into God's Word will reveal numerous references that explicitly state what God's will is. Of course, all of His Word reveals His will implicitly.

Conclusion:

The whole point of Jesus’ message is that we can’t make it into the kingdom of heaven by mere professing certain truths, but it requires an authentic relationship of love that is backed up by obedience.

This brings us to the conclusion of His sermon where we started back in January. “Therefore” – (v.24) ties the story about the wise man and the foolish man in with the comments about obedience being a pre-requisite for entrance into the kingdom of heaven. It is as though Jesus is saying, “Obedience is not only the requirement for admission into the kingdom of heaven, but it is also the ingredient for a life of stability that will weather the most severe storms life can through at you.”

For our closing hymn today I have chosen a song that speaks about complete dedication to the Lord in the way we live out our faith in obedience. Please join prayfully in singing: "All for Jesus."

Laying a Firm Foundation - Choices

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This is a sermon that is part of a series of messages concerning the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew chapters 5-7. This message covers Matthew 7:13-14 regarding the choice between the narrow way and the broad way.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

For our study in God’s Word today we are going back to a couple of verses that we skipped last week.

We are looking at this passage and asking the questions, “How does this relate to the important task of building a solid foundation for living my life?” “What important principle is Jesus teaching here that I need to know in order to save myself from disaster in the future?”

The single word that best describes the principle found in this text that is so valuable for life is: “choices.” Choices, made multiple times every day, all have consequences. We have been granted the freedom by Bible to make choices for ourselves. The choices we make determine the path we will walk in life and ultimately lead to a destiny.

Many times throughout our lives we come to major crossroads where we must choose one path over the other, and that path chosen will inevitably lead to other crossroads and still more crossroads – each with their own direction and destiny. Take a look at your life today and understand that you are where you are today because of all the choices and decisions you’ve made in the past. Jesus speaks in our text today about two paths with distinct qualities, distinct travelers and distinct destinations.

The poet, Robert Frost, wrote a poem about two roads. I have no idea whether this biblical text was on his mind when he penned the words or not, but I think there is a fitting comparison between his poem and the words of Christ. Listen to the lines of his poem.

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim

Because it was grassy and wanted wear,

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I marked the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

I saved this message on this Scripture text for today as we have given recognition to those graduating from high school this week. I don’t think there are many subjects taught in Scripture that are more relevant for those who are entering adulthood than this topic of choosing the path in life that will ultimately lead to the destination of eternal life and blessedness and joy. So for the next several moments I would like to speak to you about the choice that Jesus puts before every man, woman and child – which path will you take?

As we examine Jesus’ message, I want you to consider three things that He emphasizes about these two roads.

I.    The destination of each road

II.   The descriptions of each road

III. The travelers on each road

I.    The Destination of Each Road

I want to start our discussion first by talking about the destination of each road Jesus describes. I am beginning with this point, because of its importance. Destination is a very important part of any road, any trip and any life. Before anyone can ever give us advice on what road to take or what choices to make they need to know where we want to go; they need to know where we hope to end up.

We must decide where we are going before we decide which road to take. If you want to go to Pittsburgh, you must take “The Pittsburgh Road.” You can’t get to Pittsburgh by taking the “New York Road.”

In talking about making the choice between two possible paths to travel, Jesus clearly spells out the distinctly and drastic difference between the destinies of these two paths. One path ends up with life; the other ends with destruction. You and I only need to read through the Gospels to understand what Jesus had in mind when He spoke of life vs. destruction. Jesus frequently talked about heaven and hell; life and death; blessing and torment; etc. I believe that He is making reference to the same concept here – every human being will some day end up in one of two destinations; either heaven or hell.

And so, dear friend, whether you are young or old, every one of us must make a decision; a choice – where do I want to be 100 years from now, or a 1,000 years from now?

I don’t know about you, but I believe that this decision truly requires that we stop and take the time to give very serious thought and consideration to the full implications of these destinations. There must be a time of weighing my options, or counting the cost. There must be a moment when one truly compares the end result to the “cost of the trip.”

I am 56 years old, but I distinctly remember a time and the place in my life when God brought me to that crossroad of decision. Yes, I had already responded many times to the messages of preachers and evangelists that brought conviction on my heart and I went forward to pray. But that is not what I’m talking about. I can’t tell you the date, but I know approximately what age I was and I know the location where it occurred, when I pondered and meditated for possibly an hour and “counted the cost” of going with Christ and making it to eternity in heaven or rejecting His path and finding myself in eternal hell.

Believe you me, that was pretty heavy for a young teenager, but I’ll never forget the feeling that gripped my soul as I settled the issue in my bedroom that night – it will be worth everything I may have to suffer or everything it may cost to live my life for Christ and make it through to heaven.

Can I say something here as kindly as I know how, but as soberly and seriously as I know how? I believe that there are far too many people in our world who have never been to that crossroad I’ve just described. They’ve either never had anyone tell them that there is a heaven and a hell, or they’ve never allowed themselves to get serious enough for a long enough period to really and truly consider the enormous consequences of their choice.

Dear friends, if you want to heed the words of Jesus, you must first of all decide what destiny you really want.

II.   The Descriptions of Each Road

Jesus provides us with few, but adequate details of the two roads available. For the one road, there is a “wide gate” and a “broad way.” For the other, He says it has a “strait gate” and a “narrow way.”

One writer suggested that the Lord “seems to allude here to the distinction between the public and private ways mentioned by the Jewish lawyers. The public roads were allowed to be sixteen cubits broad, the private ways only four.” (Clarke, A Commentary and Critical Notes.)

He apparently uses this distinction that would have been common knowledge to the people to illustrate a spiritual truth regarding their eternal destiny.

A. The wide gate and broad way.

Wide and broad appear to be synonyms having pretty much the same meaning as we use the words today. It means to be spacious. It implies ease of entry and easy to stay on or follow. There’s plenty of “leeway” or “latitude” or “breathing space.” The way can be entered and it can be followed without much effort or thought.

There’s not a lot that can be said here to make it any clearer.

B. The strait gate and narrow way.

“Strait” – The word stenós means “narrow,” “thin,” “poor,” the noun stenochōría denotes a “narrow place,” and the verb stenochōréō means “to confine,” “to compress.” The ideas of a narrow door and a little trodden way occur in philosophy, e.g., in the difficult ascent to true culture. (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament: Abridged in One Volume.)

“Narrow” – English Words used in KJV: trouble 4, afflict 3, narrow, throng, and suffer tribulation (Strong's Dictionary.)

This word seems to carry the idea that this road involves anything but a life of comfort and ease.

The gate is narrow because Jesus is the only door. (Jn. 10:7, 9) The way is narrow because Jesus is the only way. (Jn. 14:6) It is a way that is restricted, because there is only One who claimed to be the embodiment of truth.

It is a way that includes adversity, persecution, rejection, etc. because that is the way of true discipleship. Jesus never offered His disciples and His followers an easy life or an easy way. He talked a lot about self-denial; about opposition from the world and even from family; and about persecution, and adversity. Jesus never tried to entice the crowds and gain followers by making them think it was going to be easy.

Now, let me be very clear. When you read all of the Bible, you learn that the “way of the transgressor is hard.” There are horrible consequences from living a sinful, selfish, indulgent life. I remember clients at New Destiny often saying their “worst day with the Lord was better than their best day with the Devil.”

I often struggle and have to remind myself that it does no good to try to get people to come to the Lord by trying to make it seem easy or enticing or pleasant. I’ve learned that those who come to the Lord or come into the church expecting an easy time and a pleasant way, are always the first ones to vanish when the going gets tough and there are  problems, reverses, disappointments, etc. If you’re going to follow Jesus, you’re going to have to do it because you want to know Him and make it to heaven, not just because it seems to be the relief you’re looking for today.

III. The Travelers on Each Road

Many vs. Few – This is a comparative. Compared to the travelers on the narrow road, the broad road has many travelers. Compared to the travelers on the broad road, the narrow road has few travelers.

Granted, the Bible declares that the number of people in heaven giving praise to the Lamb is a vast number, but in comparison to the number of people who have been lost it is few. There are millions of believers in world today who have made a life-time commitment to follow Christ in spite of great adversity, but they are few in comparison to the number of those on the broad road.

Young people, and older ones as well, don’t allow yourselves to be deceived by the number of people who accept or reject anything. I remember our Bible College president saying these words to us many, many times: “Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it, and right is right even if no one is doing it.”

Conclusion:

There is a verse in Proverbs that reads like this, (Proverbs 14:12, KJV)  ^"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."

I’m convinced that the reason why the way seems right, is mainly because there are so many others going that way and because it looks so pleasant and seems so reasonable. But remember, our minds and ability to reason has been affected by the curse of sin. The only way we can know the right way and follow the right path is if we seek God’s divine revelation of truth and embrace it and follow it.

There are only two roads, and there only two destinies. Which one will you take?

In addition to this big choice between eternal life and eternal destruction, there are hundreds of lesser choices that are very important as well. You and I desperately need the guidance of the Holy Spirit in order to avoid the pitfalls and wrong turns on the path of life.

Let us close or service today by prayerfully singing the chorus, “Gentle Shepherd.”

Laying a Firm Foundation - Discernment

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This sermon is part of a series of messages based on the Sermon on the Mount. This message is based on the text found in Matthew 7:15-20.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction

Those of you who are really alert may have already realized that I have skipped over a couple of verses since last Sunday’s message. I did that on purpose, because I felt that the topic addressed in verses 13 and 14 were more appropriate to use next Sunday when we plan to honor our high school graduates and try to emphasize a message that would be appropriate for that occasion. So today we are moving on to the next section or paragraph which includes a warning against false prophets.

In reviewing this topic and trying to tie it in with the overall theme we have been using – building a solid foundation for life – I came to the conclusion that the core message Jesus is giving to us here relates to the need for discernment if one is to be successful in laying a firm foundation. In the warning that we read here it seems to me that Jesus is pointing out to us that every person needs to develop the ability to distinguish between truth and error or friend and foe. In this particular example, He talks about those from whom we receive guidance and knowledge and how important it is for each of us to have the ability to discern between those who would lead us astray and those who would guide us into the way of truth.

There are three primary thoughts I find expressed in these few verses. The first thought is a warning against false prophets. The second thought contains a description of the false prophets. And, the third thought emphasizes the method for identifying false prophets.

I.   The Warning Against False Prophets

Prophet – 1. One who predicts future events. 2. One who proclaims the messages of God.

Prophets in the OT were often associated with the king, the court and the official theocracy. There are indications that some prophets were part of the whole religious/political system of the monarchy. On the other hand, there were prophets that were independently called by God to expose and denounce what had become the status quo in the apostate religious practices of Israel. Many prophets were in danger of their very lives whenever they contradicted the wishes and plans of a wicked king and the “professional” prophets that were giving messages in harmony with the desires of the idolatrous leaders.

(Theo. Dict. of NT) The prophet is normally a biblical proclaimer of a divinely inspired message. Apart from Balaam (2Pe 2:16), only one Gentile, the Cretan poet in Titus 1:12, is called a prophetes. The biblical prophet can predict the future (cf. Ac 11:28), can know the past (Jn 4:19), and can look into the heart (Lk 7:39), but is essentially a proclaimer of the word, not a magician or soothsayer.

In the NT, the office of prophet is not as prevalent as in the OT.  Again, the ministry of “prophecy” includes both aspects of foretelling some future events and proclaiming the Word of God. However, it would seem that proclamation of the Word was more prevalent than predicting the future.

In the OT a prophet was identified as a false prophet by two primary signs: his prophecy did not come to pass or was not fulfilled; and his message(s) led the people into idolatry. A prophet may be described as a false prophet either because his message or his life was inconsistent with the actual truth of God.

I have come to believe that a preachers / teachers can be false prophets by what they don’t say as much as they can by what they do say. There are some preachers and teachers who always say things that are true, but there are certain topics and truths in the Word of God that they never get around to proclaiming at all.

For example, there are many preachers and teachers who always emphasize the love of God, but they never have proclaimed the holy wrath of God or the judgment of God. In fact, they would openly admit that they don’t see where that message has any place in the ministry of a Christian. However, dear friends, God requires His servants and His prophets to declare the whole counsel of God. To leave out any aspect of truth about God distorts the biblical record about who He truly is.

To leave out any aspect of truth about divine redemption that has been provided through the atoning death of Jesus Christ is to distort the biblical truth. That’s why I believe it is so important for pastors / teachers to be oriented toward preaching through the Bible in various ways that effectively covers all the truth of God’s Word, not just our pet themes that we like and that our people like to hear.

In our text today the disciples of Jesus Christ are admonished to be alert for false prophets. The warning itself implies a need for discernment and the ability to make “judgments” and distinctions. Jesus is simply alerting us to the fact that not everyone who claims to speak for God is worthy of our attention and our compliance.

II.   The Description of False Prophets

Sheep’s clothing – outwardly appealing, inviting, innocent.

Probably exhibit smooth, enticing words, actions.

One writer said that shepherds often wore vests or outer cloaks made from the hide of a sheep.

This could be Jesus’ way of saying that these false prophets appear outwardly like genuine shepherds, but in fact they are the worst enemy of the flock.

Ravenous wolves – inwardly they are hungry, devouring, destructive wolves.

Wolves care only for themselves. Wolves by nature are predators.

What they say may be true, but they use the truth to cut, slash, hurt and destroy.

They use a machete when a scalpel is needed.

Bitter (rotten) fruit – What they produce is the exact opposite of what they profess.

I won’t take any more time here. I think we get the point of what Jesus is describing.

III.   Identifying False Prophets

By the fruit they produce.

What are the results of their ministry?

Paul talks about the fruit of the spirit in Galatians 5.

Does the fruit that is produced by the prophet resemble the love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness,  faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” that is defined as the fruit of the spirit?

By the spirit they exhibit.

1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

The spirit of a false prophet goes contrary to the spirit of Christ.

Christ – the perfect blend of love and holiness; compassion and righteousness.

By the message they teach.

1 John 4:2-3 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: ³And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

The core element of truth/heresy has to do with the question, “Who is Jesus?”

All false religions, heresies, etc. have doctrines about Jesus that are not consistent with all of the teachings in Scripture.

Emphasize His humanity to the exclusion of His deity or vice versa.

Conclusion:

Every Christian needs the help of God’s Spirit to discern between:

Light and darkness; truth and error; right and wrong; good and evil.

This is only possible through a vibrant, living relationship with Jesus Christ and a love for His truth.

Discernment is received by divine grace from God, but it is also an ability that develops through experience.

May the Lord grant each one of us the grace and ability we need to distinguish between those who teach the truth and those who teach and lead people into error.

Let us prayerfully sing our closing song:

Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us

Laying a Firm Foundation - Prayer

(To listen to this message, click on the play button of the audio player shown above.)

This is a sermon that was part of a series of messages on the Sermon on the Mount. This particular message was based on the text found in Matthew 7:7-12.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

How should a person live his / her life to adequately prepare for the common adversities that most people face in life? What principles are vitally important for a person to learn in order to be ready to meet the challenges of everyday life with all of its trouble?

Jesus said at the end of His Sermon on the Mount that if we would listen to and practice the principles found in His sermon then we would be like a man that had a rock solid foundation under his house that would be able to withstand the severe storms.

Today we continue looking at the principles and topics presented by Jesus in His sermon. I have chosen the general term “prayer” to refer to the topic that we will be discussing today. We did not do a sermon on the Lord’s Prayer found in chapter six, because I had already done a verse by verse study of it in our Wednesday evening Bible studies. But, here we are in chapter seven looking at another passage that is related to the same topic, so we’re going to address the subject of prayer in this context.

Prayer is a very intriguing topic. The Bible has a lot to say about prayer, and Jesus said a great deal about it as well. Perhaps you heard about the little boy who was praying and he said, “Dear God, thank you for the baby sister, but what I prayed for was a puppy.” Sometimes we adults feel the same way don’t we? But, let me ask you this question, “Aren’t you glad God doesn’t always give us what we ask for?”

Let us consider the message found in verses 7-12 to see what God would have us learn about the practice of prayer in order to be prepared for the adversities that await us in the future. As we consider the words of our Lord concerning prayer in this passage, I would like to have us think about the attitude of the petitioners, the response of the Grantor, and finally the consequence of the prayers.

I.    The Attitude of the Petitioners

A. The one who prays should use every form of prayer.

Each of these three terms implies a little different emphasis in prayer. Taken as a whole, they share some similarities in meaning, but they also carry some distinctions.

I believe that Jesus is emphasizing that our prayers should involve:

·          asking for that which we wish for or want, but most importantly, for that which we know we need;

·          seeking for that which we have lost or missed; and

·          knocking to gain entrance to every opportunity God has designed for me.

B. The one who prays should be persistent.

(Barclay) In the Greek language, there is a couple of different ways a command could be expressed. In one way (aorist imperative), the command is given once. For example: “Shut the door behind you.”

In the other way (present imperative), the verb implies repeated commands. For example: “Always shut the door behind you.”

Each of these verbs – ask, seek, & knock – are given in a Greek verb tense that indicates a repeated command. Therefore, Jesus is literally saying:

Always ask and keep asking; always seek and keep seeking; always knock and keep knocking.

In other words, don’t give up praying.

The parallel passage in Luke 11:5-8 includes the story of the friend who comes at midnight asking for bread because he has had a friend come to visit and he has no food to set before him.

C. The one who prays should have pure motives.

This point is not specifically mentioned right here in chapter 7. However, if we take into consideration the context of prayer with the Lord’s Prayer back in chapter 6, we understand that the focus and goal of our prayers is for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

This understanding should impact us and the real motives for our prayers. Are we selfishly dictating to God what we expect Him to satisfy our desires, or are we truly seeking His will to be done?

I’m convinced that all of us often pray for things that are so far below what God truly desires for our lives.

The Apostle James stated it like this, “You ask and do not receive because you ask amiss that you might consume it upon your own lusts [desires].” (Jas. 4:3)

II.   The Response of the Grantor

The second main point that I see Jesus making in these words on prayer has to do with the response one can expect to receive from God.

William Barclay said, “Every man who prays is bound to want to know to what kind of God he is praying. He wants to know in what kind of atmosphere his prayers will be heard. Is he praying to a grudging God out of whom every gift has to be squeezed and coerced? Is he praying to a mocking God whose gifts may well be double-edged? Is he praying to a God whose heart is so kind that he is more ready to give than we are to ask?”

Jesus presents this subject in a way that demonstrates an appropriate response. The one asking will receive. The one seeking will find. And the one knocking will have it opened to him. But, more than that, Jesus goes on to describe the infinite benevolence of the God to whom we pray. He does this by describing how fallible, fallen, error-prone earthly fathers would naturally respond to a request from one of his children, and then He basically says your heavenly Father is infinitely more gracious than any of you could ever be. Wow!

Think of it. If you’re a parent, think of how your heart yearns to bestow the very best gifts upon your own children, and then imagine that God is even more benevolent. His heart yearns just as much for us. A loving parent desires to not only provide gifts that the child wants, but most importantly, desires to bestow the gifts that are best for the child.

III. The Consequence of Prayer

Some people do not think that verse 12 is really about the same subject.

Many think that this is a principle (we call it the Golden Rule) that Jesus just sticks into the sermon as a stand-alone rule for living the Christian life. But, notice one little word – “therefore.” There definitely is an intentional link to what He has just been saying. I don’t know for sure if I have got it right, but it seems to me …

Jesus is saying that the ultimate goal God has in mind for us when we pray this way is for us to develop a heart and attitude toward others that is just like God has been and continues to be with us.

Golden Rule – goes farther than simply forbidding harm to our “neighbor”. It is requiring that we do the positive good that we would want others to do for us.

Conclusion:

There is so much more in God’s Word on the topic of prayer. We’ve barely scratched the surface today.

The closing thought that I would like to leave with you relates to the point we discussed earlier regarding the “response of the Grantor.”

God delights to answer prayer. He better than the best father we can ever imagine.

So, KEEP ON PRAYING!

Our closing hymn is a very familiar and loved song:

What a Friend We Have in Jesus.  (#63)

I’m glad that we can take every need and every burden to the Lord in prayer and have the confidence that He will answer.

Honor Thy Mother

(To listen to this message, click on the play button of the audio player shown above.)

This is a sermon preached on Mother's Day 2012. It is based on the Fifth Commandment in Exodus 20:12 and the words of Jesus in Matthew 15:4, and Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians 6:1-3.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

Why do we have Mother’s Day?

Is it really important to have a day that we give an extra effort to honor those who have nurtured us and guided us from birth through childhood and into adulthood? Some would undoubtedly say a resounding, “YES!” Others, of the more skeptical or pessimistic bent, would proclaim, “It’s only another gimmick dreamed up by the greeting card industry and other commercial enterprises to sell more products and make more money.”

Well, I certainly would agree that there are those in our society that have taken advantage of a decent idea, and have reduced it to nothing more than another way to make a dollar. Yet, I for one, believe that it is entirely appropriate for us to set aside a day to give honor to those we affectionately call, “Mom.”

Granted, moms should be honored every day; not just on the second Sunday of May! When God gave Moses the Commandments, and when Jesus reiterated the command, they were not talking about May 13^th (or whatever date the special day may fall on). They were talking about a lifestyle of honor.

During the remainder of our time this morning I want to give some insights regarding the Lord’s command to honor our moms.

I. What does it mean to honor someone?

Well, some of you might remember when I did a series of sermons on the Ten Commandments, I shared some of these thoughts back then when I talked about the 5^th Commandment.

In the O.T. the Hebrew word “honor” literally means, “make heavy; or to make weighty.” The point was that someone that was “weighty” had influence and respect. We often say that some individuals “carry a lot of weight around here.” We simply mean that they have a lot of influence and are highly respected.

So the command to honor our mothers is a command for us to do everything within our power and ability in order to increase the influence and the respect that our mothers have in the neighborhood and the community. This not only applies while we are growing up and still living at home, but it also applies (perhaps even more so) when we are adults living away from our parents.

The NT word for honor has a different emphasis.

(Wuest) In the Ephesians 6 passage (verse 2), the Greek word that is translated “honor” is a word that literally means: “set a price on,” “estimate,” or “value.”  It literally emphasizes the financial worth or value of something and then figuratively refers to dignity or esteem that one deserves.

(Wuest) “To honor someone therefore is to evaluate that person accurately and honestly, and treat him with the deference, respect, reverence, kindness, courtesy, and obedience which his / her station in life or character demands.”

II. How do we teach our children to honor their mothers?

A. By principles and precepts.

That means by explaining to them the kind of things that I have just explained, and then enforcing it.

Part of the problems in our society today stem from the fact that too many parents have allowed their children to view them as their peers and equals rather than their parents. Too many parents have allowed their children to talk to them and treat them as they would some other kid on the block.

I actually have deep respect and fond memories of my parents who would not put up with any disrespect or sass or backtalk from me when I was growing up. (Although I will admit that my memories are much fonder now than they were back in the day…) Today I am grateful for a father who would not tolerate any kind of talk or behavior that disrespected my mother.

B. By modeling appropriate respect in front of our children.

My observation has been that some children treat their mothers as poorly as they do because they are mimicking the treatment she receives from her husband.

Fathers, if you want your children to grow up knowing how to respect and honor their mothers, then you must model that kind of behavior for them. If you want your children to treat their mom like a lady, then you must do it. Like a queen… like a person of value and dignity… then you must do it too.

C. By treating our children with respect.

I have to acknowledge that a big part of the problem in our society today is that so many parents are treating their children so badly the kids have no respect for the parents and cannot find it in their hearts to give kindness, respect or obedience. I am heart-broken over some of the names that parents call their children; some of the abuse that parents give; etc.

I am here to testify that it is possible for parents to exercise control and discipline without demeaning, abusing or insulting the child and causing them to become bitter. My parents did it, and I believe my wife and I succeeded in doing it, and I know a host of other parents who have done it.

Conclusion:

We have a small gift to give out to each of the mothers that are in the service today. After you receive your gift and return to your seats, I would like to offer a special prayer for all our mothers.

At the end of my prayer I want to read a prayer that was written by a woman especially for all those who do not experience great joy on Mother’s Day because of various reasons – abuse from mothers; mothers are deceased; unable to conceive; have a child that is deceased; etc.

Laying a Firm Foundation - Judgment & Mercy

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This sermon is part XII of a series of messages on the Sermon on the Mount. This message is based on Matthew 7:1-6.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

We have been doing a series of messages concerning the Sermon on the Mount. Today we are ready to begin the third and final chapter where Jesus’ sermon is recorded. We are also trying to connect the topics of His sermon with the lesson at the end regarding the wise man and the foolish man.

Today’s topic is judgment and its opposite quality – mercy. Jesus wants us to understand that having mercy and showing mercy is necessary in order for us to build a solid foundation that will help us survive the fiercest storms in life. William Barclay states that when Jesus spoke these words recorded here in verses 1-5 He spoke words that were very familiar to the Jewish people who were listening, for they would have repeatedly heard sayings like this from the Rabbis and teachers in Judea.

As I contemplated these words, I too felt that these might be some of the most familiar words of the Bible. At least, it seems like this phrase “judge not that you be not judged” is quoted almost as often as John 3:16 or some other well-known text. So with the help of the Holy Spirit, I want to explore the meaning of Jesus’ command that introduces the final chapter in this Sermon on the Mount.

As I have read and re-read these verses this week, I think I would characterize this text as the “Golden Rule” in regards to judgment and mercy. Judge others as you would have others to judge you. Be merciful as you would have others to be merciful to you.

Let us analyze these words of Jesus to discover His truth for our spiritual growth and benefit.

I have to admit, that I had a tough time trying to put this passage into some sort of logical outline that could help us remember its message. So, here’s what I’ve come up with.

I.          The Command Against Judging Others

II.         The Reasons for the Command

III.       An Unexpected Application of the Command

I.          The Command Against Judging Others

Jesus says to those listening to His message that they are not to engage in the business of casting judgment on others. The word judge has various uses and applications that stem from its root word. It emphasizes the existence of a divine law and the consequence of retribution and punishment for those who violate the law.

A. Judging others is wrong essentially because it is a task that ultimately belongs to God.

Over and over throughout the Bible, God is portrayed as the righteous Judge who will finally judge everyone without bias or prejudice. Jesus himself stresses the fact that He will judge the wicked and the righteous. (see John 5:18-30) John seems to be emphasizing that Jesus is in fact equal with God because He will be the one that performs the role of judge over the righteous and the wicked.

B. This command does not mean that Christians or disciples of Jesus must condone wicked and ungodly behavior.

There are plenty of other references in the NT that give instructions to the church and believers on how they should handle those in the church that are blatantly disobeying the Word of God. Those who often quote this verse do so because they do not want anyone telling them that they are in violation of God’s law. They want to live their lives as they please without any guilt or condemnation. That may be possible and they might achieve their goal of not having anyone point out their sin. But that doesn’t mean they will avoid the judgment of God in the end.

II.        The Reasons for the Command

A. Judgment given becomes judgment received.

As I stated at the beginning, I believe that Jesus is stressing the Golden Rule in regards to judgment and mercy. (See Matt 7:12) Jesus seems to be telling them that however they treat others will be the way others treat them in return. Those who are hard and harsh toward others will generally receive harsh judgment in return. Those who are kind and merciful toward others will generally receive kindness and mercy in return.

B. We are unqualified to judge.

We are partial, prejudiced and biased, but God isn’t. (John 5:30) We are blinded by our own errors. When we have “beams” in our own eyes, we are completely unqualified to take “splinters” out of anyone else’s eye. In this context Jesus defines hypocrisy as the practice of trying to straighten out the errors of others while ignoring the blatant errors in our own lives. There are a lot of professing Christians that would have far less time to examine the faults of others if they would simply focus on their own faults and failures and seek God’s divine grace and remedy.

III.       An Unexpected Application of the Command

v. 6 – Do not give that which is holy to dogs…  Do not cast pearls to the pigs…

Many writers believe that Jesus may have been speaking about specific holy things such as the emblems of communion. Early church fathers are quoted as applying this quote in guarding the purity of the sacrament of communion.

In any case, the point is obvious that some “judging” and distinguishing must be done in order for His disciples to follow this instruction. I would use another biblical term to describe what Jesus seems to be telling them – they need “discernment.” “When seeking to help another, one must exercise care to do what is most helpful.” (Bible Background Commentary)

The consensus seems to be that some people are simply unable or unfit to receive or understand sacred truth.

(Barclay) “It may be that their minds are shut; it may be that their minds are brutalized and covered over with a film of filth; it may be that they have lived a life which has obscured their ability to see truth; it may be that they are constitutional mockers of all things holy; it may be, as sometimes happens, that we and they have absolutely no common ground on which we can argue.”

Do we then decide that they must be abandoned to their sin and condemned to the judgment of God? No. We can still live a life of Christian holiness and love before them in hopes that their minds will become open.

Conclusion:

If I could summarize the truth of this message today, it would be that we simply need to live like Jesus. We need His tenderness; His mercy; His love.

We also need His righteousness and holiness in our lives. Let’s not worry so much about how others are measuring up; but let’s seek to bring our own lives into alignment and agreement with His teachings and His example.

Let us sing the old hymn: “Oh, to Be Like Thee” 

Laying a Firm Foundation - Confidence [32mb]

(To listen to this message, click on the play button of the audio player shown above.)

This sermon is part XI of a series of messages on the Sermon on the Mount and is based on Matthew 6:25-34.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

Worry - to torment oneself with or suffer from disturbing thoughts; fret; to be or cause to be anxious or uneasy, especially about something uncertain or potentially dangerous (Dictionary.com)

Worry… is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do but doesn't get you anywhere. (Source Unknown.)

Worry pulls tomorrow's cloud over today's sunshine.                (C. Swindoll, Questions Christians Ask,  p. 18.)

Worry is wasting today's time to clutter up tomorrow's opportunities with yesterday's troubles.  (Source Unknown.)

Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow.      Swedish proverb.

During this series of messages we’ve been talking about laying a foundation for our lives that will provide stability even in the midst of the severest storms or circumstances. Today we are examining the next subject that Jesus presented in His Sermon on the Mount – worry, or its opposite concept – confidence and trust.

Let me start off by giving you the three main points that I wish to discuss in this message.

I.    The Lord forbids His disciples to worry.

II.   The Lord exposes worry with rhetorical questions.

III.  The Lord explains how worry is conquered.

I.    The Lord forbids His disciples to worry.

First of all, let’s talk about what Jesus means and does not mean when He gives the command “do not worry.”

Worry – KJV, “take no thought;” Gk. merimnan, worry anxiously; some older translations (pre-KJV) use the word “careful,” meaning to be full of care.

(Barclay) Jesus is not advocating a shiftless, thriftless, reckless, thoughtless, improvident attitude toward life; he is forbidding a care-worn, worried fear, which takes all the joy out of life.

There are three places in our text where Jesus says, “Do not worry…” (v. 25, 31, 34)

All three occurrences include the word, “therefore;” linking the commands to previous points He had made.

v.25 – therefore, if you are a slave to God and not to money or material possessions (v.24), then do not worry about material possessions.

v.31 – therefore, if God takes care of the animals and the plants (v.30), He will also take care of me.

v.34 – therefore, if your heavenly father knows your needs and your heart is seeking God’s kingdom priorities first (v.32,33), then He will take care of everything else.

II.   The Lord exposes worry with rhetorical questions.

If you remember, a rhetorical question is the kind of question that doesn’t need to be answered because the answer is so obvious. These are the kind of questions Jesus asks His disciples about worry.

A. Is not life more valuable than that which sustains it? (v. 25b)

Some writers believe that this question focuses on the truth that since God has granted life, isn’t it logical to conclude that He will also sustain it?

B. Do not humans have higher value than animals or plants? (vv. 26b, 28a, 30)

There is no way that anyone can agree with the point Jesus is making here and still believe all the propaganda that we are currently being fed in our society about the environment.

There are laws being written these days and regulations being enforced in our nation that explicitly promote the idea that the environment has equal or more value than human beings.

If we have more value, and God takes care of them, will He not take care of us?

This passage of scripture is illustrated beautifully with the song: “Consider the Lilies”

C. Can anxious worry add length to one’s stature (life)? (v.27)

Now here’s a point I can relate to! (Since I'm only 5'4")

“Stature” – this Grk word is also translated “age.” The meaning seems to be “length of life.”

Some writer has pointed out... In relation to one’s life a cubit would be a little measure, but in relation to one’s height, a cubit (18 in) would be a huge addition.

Actually, anxious worry has the opposite effect. Physicians and health researchers repeatedly have told us that worry, anxiety etc will cause adverse consequences to our health. Worry doesn't extend life; it shortens it.

III.  The Lord explains how worry is conquered.

A. Seek first; concentrate upon the kingdom of God. (v.33)

What does that mean?

Romans 14:17 …kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. (Context is discussion regarding concern for weaker brother.)

In other words, the kingdom is not made up of tangible, material things, but spiritual realities.

v.31-32 Why be so focused on the material needs. When we are, we act like the Greeks (the unbelievers, those who have no faith).

In contrast to those who have no faith, we should demonstrate our faith by seeking His kingdom first and trusting Him for our needs.

When the Psalmist was prone to fret and worry, he remembered what God had already done for him.

Ps.42:6 “O my God, my soul is cast down within me.” And then he goes on: “Therefore I remember thee, from the land of Jordan, and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.”

When he was up against it, he comforted himself in the memory of what God had done. (Barclay)

B. Live one day at a time. (v.34)

There are enough concerns today to occupy our thought without worrying about the future.

Conclusion:

It is impossible for confidence and trust in God to co-exist with anxious worrying. The real solution then, is to take all steps necessary to increase our faith and trust and confidence in God. When we do, then worry will be driven out of our minds and hearts.

This point is illustrated by this story…

 (I had heard this before, but not as it is applied here.)

GETTING RID OF THE RODENT  Years ago, in the pioneer days of aviation, a pilot was making a flight around the world. After he had been gone for some two hours from his last landing field, he heard a noise in his plane, which he recognized as the gnawing of a rat. He realized that while his plane had been on the ground a rat had gotten in. For all he knew the rat could be gnawing through a vital cable or control of the plane. It was a very serious situation. He was both concerned and anxious. At first he did not know what to do. It was two hours back to the landing field from which he had taken off and more than two hours to the next field ahead. Then he remembered that the rat is a rodent. It is not made for the heights; it is made to live on the ground and under the ground. Therefore the pilot began to climb. He went up a thousand feet, then another thousand and another until he was more than twenty thousand feet up. The gnawing ceased. The rat was dead. He could not survive in the atmosphere of those heights. More than two hours later the pilot brought the plane safely to the next landing field and found the dead rat.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, worry is a rodent. It cannot live in the secret place of the Most High. It cannot breathe in the atmosphere made vital by prayer and familiarity with the Scripture. Worry dies when we ascend to the Lord through prayer and His Word.                          -- Clovis Chappell, Questions Jesus Asked

How does one increase in faith? According to Romans 10:17, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

Let us conclude the service today by singing a hymn of trust and faith… ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus