Doers and Don'ters

Full Transcript

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tm1xhWlIv3c

[00:03] good evening and welcome to calvary.
[00:05] good evening and welcome to calvary chapel jericho roads.
[00:07] chapel jericho roads evening women's bible city as we travel.
[00:10] evening women's bible city as we travel through the earthly life of our lord.
[00:13] through the earthly life of our lord jesus will you.
[00:15] jesus will you pray with me father.
[00:20] i so thank you for.
[00:22] i so thank you for the things that you.
[00:24] the things that you want to teach us.
[00:26] want to teach us god that you give us the want to.
[00:28] god that you give us the want to that you give us the power.
[00:31] that you give us the power lord that you make us different.
[00:34] lord that you make us different than we were before we knew you.
[00:36] than we were before we knew you and you're continuing to change us and.
[00:39] and you're continuing to change us and just want to stop and say thank you and.
[00:42] just want to stop and say thank you and would you do the work that you want to.
[00:44] would you do the work that you want to do in each one of us.
[00:45] do in each one of us as we study these passages tonight.
[00:49] as we study these passages tonight in jesus name we ask.
[00:51] in jesus name we ask amen.
[00:53] amen last week we looked at three statements.
[00:56] last week we looked at three statements about jesus calling those who choose to.
[01:00] about jesus calling those who choose to follow him to make choices that would.
[01:02] follow him to make choices that would reveal.
[01:03] reveal us to be very different.
[01:05] us to be very different than from those outside of his kingdom.
[01:08] than from those outside of his kingdom because he calls us to stay in.
[01:09] because he calls us to stay in relationships that are painful to choose.
[01:12] relationships that are painful to choose honesty above what might seem easier.
[01:16] honesty above what might seem easier and to not only not retaliate.
[01:19] and to not only not retaliate but to give beyond what is expected we.
[01:22] but to give beyond what is expected we see in colossians 1.
[01:25] see in colossians 1 12-13.
[01:26] 12-13 we're to be giving thanks to the father.
[01:28] we're to be giving thanks to the father who has qualified us to be partakers of.
[01:31] who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the.
[01:33] the inheritance of the saints in the light.
[01:34] light he has delivered us from the power of.
[01:36] he has delivered us from the power of darkness.
[01:37] darkness and conveyed us.
[01:39] and conveyed us transferred us.
[01:41] transferred us into the kingdom of the son of his love.
[01:43] into the kingdom of the son of his love and and notice the word qualified he.
[01:46] and and notice the word qualified he doesn't say you have qualified yourself.
[01:49] doesn't say you have qualified yourself because of what you've done he says i've.
[01:51] because of what you've done he says i've qualified you.
[01:53] qualified you the cross has qualified us.
[01:56] the cross has qualified us so the kingdom of his son is where we.
[01:58] so the kingdom of his son is where we live.
[01:59] live all of its blessings are available to us.
[02:02] all of its blessings are available to us but they come from obeying.
[02:04] but they come from obeying the ways
[02:06] the ways that our king has put forth choosing the
[02:09] that our king has put forth choosing the ways of our king
[02:11] ways of our king and his ways are very
[02:13] and his ways are very different
[02:15] different so tonight we're going to look at
[02:18] so tonight we're going to look at the attitude we need to
[02:20] the attitude we need to have if we're going to live like this to
[02:22] have if we're going to live like this to make choices
[02:25] make choices that jesus calls us to to make
[02:28] that jesus calls us to to make in the fall of 2010 my life was changed
[02:32] in the fall of 2010 my life was changed because of the last verses of matthew 5.
[02:38] i understood the kingdom kingdom living
[02:40] i understood the kingdom kingdom living as i i never have before and
[02:43] as i i never have before and to this day the holy spirit is still
[02:45] to this day the holy spirit is still reminding me and working these things
[02:48] reminding me and working these things into my life so we're going to spend
[02:50] into my life so we're going to spend most of our time tonight
[02:52] most of our time tonight in the last verses of matthew 5.
[02:56] in the last verses of matthew 5. but i'm saving them for the last
[02:58] but i'm saving them for the last uh because we're first we're going to
[03:00] uh because we're first we're going to look at those first eight verses in
[03:02] look at those first eight verses in matthew 6 which will move on into the
[03:05] matthew 6 which will move on into the lord's prayer and we'll look at that.
[03:07] lord's prayer and we'll look at that next time we meet.
[03:09] next time we meet the jews viewed three things as signs of spirituality.
[03:15] giving.
[03:16] giving whether it be money time or attitudes.
[03:20] whether it be money time or attitudes praying.
[03:22] praying and fasting.
[03:23] and fasting and we'll look at fasting another time when we get to it but for tonight.
[03:27] another time when we get to it but for tonight.
[03:28] tonight jesus has us looking at giving.
[03:31] jesus has us looking at giving and praying.
[03:33] and praying since the jews saw them as signs of spirituality.
[03:35] since the jews saw them as signs of spirituality see giving and praying.
[03:38] spirituality see giving and praying would have to be done so people would notice.
[03:40] would have to be done so people would notice.
[03:41] notice otherwise how would they know if someone was spiritual or not if they couldn't see it.
[03:43] otherwise how would they know if someone was spiritual or not if they couldn't see it.
[03:45] was spiritual or not if they couldn't see it they couldn't hear it.
[03:48] see it they couldn't hear it and jesus was warning all three are similar.
[03:50] and jesus was warning all three are similar.
[03:52] all three are similar in each we are told how we are not to be pointing to the believer.
[03:55] in each we are told how we are not to be pointing to the believer.
[03:58] pointing to the believer excuse me the behavior of the hypocrites.
[04:01] excuse me the behavior of the hypocrites and in each we are told how we are to be.
[04:03] and in each we are told how we are to be so let's look at our first set of verses.
[04:06] So let's look at our first set of verses in Matthew 6:1-4.
[04:09] In Matthew 6:1-4, take heed.
[04:10] Take heed, beware, watch out that you do not do your charitable deeds before men to be seen by them.
[04:17] Charitable deeds before men to be seen by them.
[04:19] By them, otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
[04:20] Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
[04:23] Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets that they may have glory from men.
[04:26] Charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets that they may have glory from men.
[04:28] Before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets that they may have glory from men.
[04:30] Synagogues and in the streets that they may have glory from men.
[04:32] May have glory from men.
[04:35] Assuredly I say to you, they have their reward.
[04:36] Reward.
[04:39] But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing that your charitable deed may be in secret.
[04:40] Let your left hand know what your right hand is doing that your charitable deed may be in secret.
[04:43] Hand is doing that your charitable deed may be in secret.
[04:45] May be in secret.
[04:48] And your Father who sees in secret will himself reward you openly.
[04:50] Himself reward you openly.
[04:52] Openly.
[04:55] Now I think we get this, we would agree with this.
[04:56] With this, we know we shouldn't be uh doing things to get the praise of men.
[04:59] To get the praise of men, we know that.
[05:02] But the desire is still part of us in it, isn't it?
[05:04] But the desire is still part of us in it, isn't it?
[05:05] Isn't it?
[05:07] I mean we just like it praise from others.
[05:08] Others feels good you know I had that question.
[05:10] Feels good you know I had that question in the homework you know why.
[05:12] In the homework you know why why do we like praise from others and.
[05:14] Why do we like praise from others and and I wrote down for me let me count the ways.
[05:16] And I wrote down for me let me count the ways you know so many ways and reasons.
[05:19] Ways you know so many ways and reasons why we love the praise of man.
[05:22] Why we love the praise of man and yeah we know it's not satisfying is it.
[05:25] And yeah we know it's not satisfying is it.
[05:27] I remember during the Jesus movement.
[05:29] I remember during the Jesus movement time.
[05:30] Time we.
[05:32] We saw the praise of man as a bad thing so.
[05:35] Saw the praise of man as a bad thing so whenever we did something well.
[05:37] Whenever we did something well and someone would recognize that and.
[05:39] And someone would recognize that and compliment us we would respond with.
[05:42] Compliment us we would respond with something like.
[05:43] Something like it's not me brother it's not me sister.
[05:46] It's not me brother it's not me sister it's the Lord.
[05:48] It's the Lord and and we would say it in a way of.
[05:50] And and we would say it in a way of almost rebuking the person for saying.
[05:53] Almost rebuking the person for saying something nice to us.
[05:55] Something nice to us and it was like you know you'd look at me.
[05:57] And it was like you know you'd look at me and say you just stole my reward from heaven.
[05:59] Me and say you just stole my reward from heaven you know I did that and I was going to get a reward from heaven.
[06:01] Heaven you know I did that and I was going to get a reward from heaven and you just said something nice to me.
[06:02] Going to get a reward from heaven and you just said something nice to me now.
[06:04] You just said something nice to me now I'm going to get nothing when I get there.
[06:05] I'm going to get nothing when I get there you know it's that kind of attitude.
[06:07] There you know it's that kind of attitude you know and and pastor truck.
[06:10] attitude you know and and pastor truck didn't teach us that.
[06:12] I don't know how we didn't teach us that.
[06:14] I don't know how we came up with that.
[06:17] I love it when one of you comes up and tells me something positive about a message.
[06:20] And in fact it was really interesting.
[06:22] There's a lady in first service that almost always comes up after service.
[06:26] And but she tells me something she likes about the message.
[06:28] And she looked at me she goes I'm not going to stop saying nice things to you.
[06:32] And I said no I don't want you to.
[06:34] You know because it's best though if you tell me something about a message that God did.
[06:40] That God spoke to you.
[06:42] But when you tell me Kathy you're a wonderful teacher.
[06:46] I fight that it's like am I really you know.
[06:48] And it's it's never enough is it when somebody compliments you.
[06:53] You know you think I need somebody else to say that.
[06:57] You know not just one person I need I need somebody else.
[06:59] And it's not fulfilling.
[07:02] And Jesus is trying to spare us of that.
[07:04] And he's trying to spare others of us.
[07:08] Because when someone starts praising us.
[07:10] because when someone starts praising us and we start buying into it the battle
[07:13] and we start buying into it the battle begins
[07:14] begins and so jesus began the section with the
[07:17] and so jesus began the section with the words take heed which are in the present
[07:19] words take heed which are in the present tense which means you got to be
[07:21] tense which means you got to be constantly watching out
[07:27] if you watch facebook reels you know a
[07:29] if you watch facebook reels you know a lot of the times it'll say
[07:31] lot of the times it'll say watch for it wait you know and and
[07:34] watch for it wait you know and and that's what we've got to do with praise
[07:36] that's what we've got to do with praise you know just watch for it watch how
[07:38] you know just watch for it watch how your flesh is going to react be careful
[07:41] your flesh is going to react be careful beware
[07:43] beware because our flesh is is watching
[07:46] because our flesh is is watching for just the opposite of what god wants
[07:49] for just the opposite of what god wants for us it watches for ways to be praised
[07:51] for us it watches for ways to be praised doesn't it and and we have no problem
[07:53] doesn't it and and we have no problem our flesh has no problem continually
[07:56] our flesh has no problem continually present tense watching for ways to be
[07:59] present tense watching for ways to be praised
[08:00] praised and jesus said watch out for those
[08:05] he knows and we know praise often puffs
[08:08] he knows and we know praise often puffs up and that often leads to pride and
[08:11] up and that often leads to pride and pride goes before a fall.
[08:13] pride goes before a fall it gets our perspective of ourselves all.
[08:15] it gets our perspective of ourselves all out of whack.
[08:17] out of whack and jesus wants to save us from.
[08:19] and jesus wants to save us from prideful thinking.
[08:21] prideful thinking now here's a key.
[08:23] now here's a key again and again jesus in this the sermon.
[08:26] again and again jesus in this the sermon on the mount takes us to the heart of.
[08:27] on the mount takes us to the heart of the matter and challenges us about our.
[08:30] the matter and challenges us about our goal.
[08:31] goal and it's this.
[08:33] and it's this why do we do what we do.
[08:35] why do we do what we do you see praise can't be the goal.
[08:38] you see praise can't be the goal when we have the wrong motive for the.
[08:40] when we have the wrong motive for the good things we do see when we start to.
[08:43] good things we do see when we start to do something good ask yourself why am i.
[08:45] do something good ask yourself why am i doing that.
[08:46] doing that it's a good check isn't it.
[08:48] it's a good check isn't it when we do them for some personal.
[08:50] when we do them for some personal benefit.
[08:52] benefit praise or someone's approval of us.
[08:54] praise or someone's approval of us god is not impressed.
[08:57] god is not impressed our text tells us we have a reward from.
[09:01] our text tells us we have a reward from man not.
[09:02] man not god.
[09:10] first corinthians 3.
[09:13] 12 to 14 reminds us if anyone builds on.
[09:16] 12 to 14 reminds us if anyone builds on this foundation with gold silver.
[09:18] this foundation with gold silver precious stones wood hay straw.
[09:21] precious stones wood hay straw each one's work will become clear the.
[09:24] each one's work will become clear the motive behind the good work that we do.
[09:27] motive behind the good work that we do will be revealed one day.
[09:29] will be revealed one day for the day we'll declare it because it.
[09:31] for the day we'll declare it because it will be revealed by fire.
[09:33] will be revealed by fire and the fire will test each one's work.
[09:35] and the fire will test each one's work of what sort it is.
[09:37] of what sort it is if anyone's work which he has built on.
[09:39] if anyone's work which he has built on it endures.
[09:40] it endures he will receive a reward.
[09:44] he will receive a reward would hay and stubble deeds say.
[09:47] would hay and stubble deeds say look at me.
[09:49] look at me and they caused god to.
[09:51] and they caused god to look away if we could remember that you.
[09:53] look away if we could remember that you know when we do deeds that.
[09:55] know when we do deeds that we think cause people to look at us and.
[09:57] we think cause people to look at us and our our god is turning his face.
[10:00] our our god is turning his face he doesn't want to see him.
[10:03] first corinthians 13 remember if if we.
[10:05] first corinthians 13 remember if if we have not love when we do good deeds it's.
[10:07] have not love when we do good deeds it's it's a clanging.
[10:09] it's a clanging symbol sound in heaven can you imagine.
[10:11] symbol sound in heaven can you imagine every time you and i do something with.
[10:14] every time you and i do something with the wrong motive selfish motive in the wrong motive selfish motive in heaven going clang.
[10:19] heaven going clang clang clang.
[10:20] or when you get to heaven if you know our deeds go i always picture them going down a conveyor belt and being burned by fire and the silver and gold.
[10:28] you know that all the wood hands double someone an angel just going clang clang.
[10:33] clang clank we don't want that.
[10:36] we want we want to get the glory give the glory to god that he get it.
[10:44] people do see our deeds when we do them openly and sometimes you have to do a deed openly.
[10:54] god sees open deeds and secret deeds and he watches our heart in both.
[10:59] sometimes as well as a promise to hear a well done from the lord in the next life.
[11:03] he will allow us to get praise from man nothing wrong with that that's good and all if we in the 70s when we got those kind of compliments would have just said thank you.
[11:14] thank you now it would have been such more simple.
[11:19] now it would have been such more simple don't make people sorry that they say something nice to you.
[11:23] just remember who you are and remember that anything that you do well is always enabled by the lord and prompted by the lord.
[11:32] consider matthew 5 16.
[11:35] let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven.
[11:41] now in our homework we were asked if this contradicted jesus caution in our verses today to do what we do secretly.
[11:47] well no it can't.
[11:51] these are words of god he doesn't contradict himself.
[11:55] he cannot contradict himself.
[11:57] and these words are from the same sermon.
[11:59] jesus probably set them five minutes bef between each other.
[12:06] sometimes we do what we do and only god knows.
[12:09] and there's something really precious about that.
[12:11] it says you and me lord you know.
[12:15] the motive for doing good works to be.
[12:18] the motive for doing good works to be seen.
[12:19] seen and we have a motive sometimes to do.
[12:21] and we have a motive sometimes to do good works to be seen is that god get the glory.
[12:23] good works to be seen is that god get the glory.
[12:25] the glory interesting luke 11 33 says no one when he has a little lamp puts it in a secret place or under a basket but on a lampstand that those who come in may see the light.
[12:29] interesting luke 11 33 says no one when he has a little lamp puts it in a secret place or under a basket but on a lampstand that those who come in may see the light.
[12:31] he has a little lamp puts it in a secret place or under a basket but on a lampstand that those who come in may see the light.
[12:33] place or under a basket but on a lampstand that those who come in may see the light.
[12:34] lampstand that those who come in may see the light.
[12:38] that those who come in may see the light now.
[12:40] now the lamp stand.
[12:41] the lamp stand is more obvious than a little light in the corner isn't it.
[12:43] is more obvious than a little light in the corner isn't it.
[12:45] the corner isn't it but but what does god say.
[12:47] but but what does god say people are seeing not the lamp stand the light with that lamp stand and we are supposed to do what we do so that that light can be seen and god is glorified.
[12:49] people are seeing not the lamp stand the light.
[12:50] light with that lamp stand and we are supposed.
[12:52] with that lamp stand and we are supposed to do what we do so that that light can be seen and god is glorified.
[12:55] to do what we do so that that light can be seen and god is glorified.
[12:58] can be seen and god is glorified.
[13:01] glorified proverbs 27 21 and new living says fire tests a purity of silver and gold but a person is tested by being praised.
[13:05] proverbs 27 21 and new living says fire tests a purity of silver and gold but a person is tested by being praised.
[13:08] tests a purity of silver and gold but a person is tested by being praised.
[13:12] but a person is tested by being praised.
[13:15] i love that.
[13:15] all right let's look at verses.
[13:19] five through eight now and when you pray.
[13:24] you shall not be like the hypocrites for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets that they may be seen by men.
[13:34] surely i say to you they have their reward.
[13:36] but you when you pray go into your room and when you have shut the door pray to your father who is in the secret place.
[13:45] and your father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
[13:47] and when you pray do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do for they think that they will be heard for their many words.
[13:54] therefore do not be like them for your father knows the things you have need of before you ask him.
[14:03] the heart of these verses is similar to the ones we've just been looking at.
[14:10] as we are to be aware of praying with the wrong motive to be seen of men.
[14:16] most of the time the goal just shifts a little bit from doing good deeds.
[14:20] doing good deeds our goal is that people would think.
[14:21] our goal is that people would think we're wonderful.
[14:23] we're wonderful very often when we.
[14:25] very often when we pray and let people know.
[14:27] pray and let people know see us pray then we want them to think.
[14:29] see us pray then we want them to think we're not only wonderful but.
[14:32] we're not only wonderful but spiritual also.
[14:34] spiritual also but god doesn't think so.
[14:36] but god doesn't think so here's an example of a prayer that jesus.
[14:39] here's an example of a prayer that jesus said he didn't like.
[14:42] god i thank you that i am not like other.
[14:44] god i thank you that i am not like other men extortioners unjust adulterers or.
[14:48] men extortioners unjust adulterers or even as this tax collector i fast twice.
[14:52] even as this tax collector i fast twice a week i give tithes of all that i.
[14:54] a week i give tithes of all that i possess.
[14:56] possess jesus said that man's going to be.
[14:58] jesus said that man's going to be humbled.
[14:59] humbled and he said but i like this prayer.
[15:02] and he said but i like this prayer god be merciful.
[15:04] god be merciful to me a sinner.
[15:05] to me a sinner he said that man.
[15:07] he said that man is going to be exalted by god.
[15:10] is going to be exalted by god i think he talks about vain.
[15:12] i think he talks about vain repetition.
[15:14] repetition notice jesus wasn't warning about saying.
[15:17] notice jesus wasn't warning about saying the same prayer more than once.
[15:20] the same prayer more than once paul prayed three times that that thorn.
[15:22] paul prayed three times that that thorn and his flesh be removed.
[15:24] and his flesh be removed jesus prayed three times in the garden.
[15:26] jesus prayed three times in the garden of gethsemane.
[15:28] of gethsemane what did he pray?
[15:30] what did he pray father if possible let this cup pass.
[15:33] father if possible let this cup pass from me.
[15:34] from me now you might think father hurt him the first time.
[15:36] now you might think father hurt him the first time why did he have to say it.
[15:39] first time why did he have to say it three times.
[15:40] three times because it hurt and we're we're processing when we're praying look at.
[15:42] because it hurt and we're we're processing when we're praying look at the words of matthew 26.
[15:45] processing when we're praying look at the words of matthew 26.
[15:47] the words of matthew 26 44.
[15:49] 44. so he left them peter james and john.
[15:51] so he left them peter james and john went away again and prayed the third time.
[15:54] went away again and prayed the third time saying.
[15:55] time saying the same words.
[15:59] the same words he was still so much in pain.
[16:00] he was still so much in pain.
[16:02] so much in pain and sorrow of what was going to happen.
[16:03] and sorrow of what was going to happen and he prayed three times and we know.
[16:06] and he prayed three times and we know that after he prayed he got up and said.
[16:08] that after he prayed he got up and said it's enough let's go.
[16:10] it's enough let's go that god fortified him but it took three times.
[16:12] that god fortified him but it took three times.
[16:15] times and sometimes we maybe think because we can't say a
[16:16] and sometimes we maybe think because we can't say a
[16:20] Maybe think because we can't say a prayer more than once, we say it once.
[16:22] Prayer more than once, we say it once when we walk away and God hasn't touched.
[16:24] When we walk away and God hasn't touched our hearts.
[16:25] Our hearts, it's like, like Paul did, pray until God moves and touches.
[16:28] It's like, like Paul did, pray until God moves and touches.
[16:32] Key word here is vain, empty, meaningless.
[16:36] Key word here is vain, empty, meaningless, and they're meaningless simply because.
[16:39] And they're meaningless simply because they're meaningless to us.
[16:42] They're meaningless to us, they aren't heartfelt.
[16:43] They aren't heartfelt, they aren't expecting God to hear or answer.
[16:45] They aren't expecting God to hear or answer.
[16:47] Answer, see, that's what makes a prayer vain when.
[16:49] See, that's what makes a prayer vain when we pray and we really don't expect God to hear us or answer us.
[16:51] We pray and we really don't expect God to hear us or answer us.
[16:55] And then he talks about many words like.
[16:58] And then he talks about many words like, the more they say, the more God will hear.
[17:01] The more they say, the more God will hear, like as long as I keep talking, I've got his attention.
[17:03] Like as long as I keep talking, I've got his attention, but better yet, as long as I keep talking, I've got the attention of others.
[17:05] His attention, but better yet, as long as I keep talking, I've got the attention of others.
[17:07] I keep talking, I've got the attention of others.
[17:08] Others, pray knowing God is your audience.
[17:12] Pray knowing God is your audience, that will prevent a whole lot of vain prayers.
[17:15] That will prevent a whole lot of vain prayers.
[17:17] Prayers, Psalm 38:9 says, Lord, all my desire is before you and my sign.
[17:20] Psalm 38:9 says, Lord, all my desire is before you and my sign.
[17:22] before you and my sign is not hidden from you.
[17:23] is not hidden from you god likes those kinds of prayers.
[17:29] now i want to spend the rest of our time in these last verses of matthew 5 because as i said they've so impacted me.
[17:38] jesus said you have heard that it was said you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
[17:43] but i say to you love your enemies bless those who curse you do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.
[17:53] that you may be sons of your father in heaven for he makes his son rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
[18:03] for if you love those who love you what reward have you.
[18:08] do not even the tax collectors do the same.
[18:11] and if you greet your brethren only what you do more than others.
[18:16] do not even the tax collectors do so.
[18:19] therefore you shall be perfect just as your father in heaven is perfect.
[18:26] just as your father in heaven is perfect the common thinking was and and still is
[18:29] the common thinking was and and still is especially among
[18:31] especially among unbelievers
[18:33] unbelievers you shall love your neighbor
[18:35] you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy that's good
[18:38] and hate your enemy that's good now this word translated as hate can be
[18:40] now this word translated as hate can be understood as having active good active
[18:44] understood as having active good active bad will
[18:45] bad will and that's how we would normally
[18:47] and that's how we would normally interpret it but
[18:49] interpret it but in the greek here it also is just
[18:52] in the greek here it also is just caring less about someone is hating them
[18:57] caring less about someone is hating them loving less
[18:59] loving less it doesn't matter a whole lot see as far
[19:01] it doesn't matter a whole lot see as far as what jesus intended here did he
[19:03] as what jesus intended here did he unders intend to talk about people that
[19:06] unders intend to talk about people that you know we are not to hate or not to
[19:09] you know we are not to hate or not to love less well he says we're not
[19:10] love less well he says we're not supposed to do either one we're supposed
[19:12] supposed to do either one we're supposed to love them so
[19:14] to love them so we don't need to debate what he was
[19:15] we don't need to debate what he was saying here
[19:17] saying here this word translated love here is agape
[19:20] this word translated love here is agape love
[19:20] love this is important it's god inspired love
[19:24] this is important it's god inspired love it's not a responsive love like phileo
[19:27] it's not a responsive love like phileo see phileo love is.
[19:29] see phileo love is i love you because you love me.
[19:34] agape love is i love you because god.
[19:36] agape love is i love you because god loves you.
[19:37] loves you it's as simple as that.
[19:39] it's as simple as that and since god's love doesn't stop and.
[19:42] and since god's love doesn't stop and isn't conditioned.
[19:44] isn't conditioned on any performance.
[19:46] on any performance our love towards everyone is to be like.
[19:48] our love towards everyone is to be like that.
[19:49] that unconditional.
[19:51] unconditional that's agape love.
[19:53] that's agape love god so agape loved.
[19:56] god so agape loved the world.
[19:57] the world that he sent his son.
[20:00] that he sent his son agape love doesn't show a preference.
[20:03] agape love doesn't show a preference as i said he he sends the the reign on.
[20:05] as i said he he sends the the reign on the just.
[20:07] the just and the unjust.
[20:09] and the unjust fellaio love shows preference.
[20:11] fellaio love shows preference but that's okay it's a god-given love we.
[20:13] but that's okay it's a god-given love we have people that we connect with more.
[20:15] have people that we connect with more than others we have family and and just.
[20:18] than others we have family and and just good friends that we love more than.
[20:20] good friends that we love more than others god gave us that.
[20:23] others god gave us that but he expects us to agape love equally.
[20:26] but he expects us to agape love equally everyone.
[20:28] everyone jesus is calling us to do this if we
[20:30] jesus is calling us to do this if we want to enjoy
[20:32] want to enjoy kingdom living now this would have
[20:35] kingdom living now this would have rattled the thinking of the religious
[20:37] rattled the thinking of the religious jew
[20:38] jew last week we saw them asking when they
[20:41] last week we saw them asking when they were thinking about divorce and they
[20:43] were thinking about divorce and they said jess what is uncleanness you know
[20:45] said jess what is uncleanness you know can i make it mean anything i want
[20:50] i can see him now asking
[20:52] i can see him now asking just who's my neighbor you know who is
[20:55] just who's my neighbor you know who is this one that i'm supposed to be loving
[20:58] this one that i'm supposed to be loving in luke 10 we were told the story of a
[21:00] in luke 10 we were told the story of a lawyer which is probably a pharisee they
[21:02] lawyer which is probably a pharisee they were the experts in the law at the time
[21:06] were the experts in the law at the time came to jesus and he wanted to know how
[21:08] came to jesus and he wanted to know how to inherit eternal life
[21:10] to inherit eternal life and jesus asked him well what's the law
[21:12] and jesus asked him well what's the law say you're a lawyer
[21:14] say you're a lawyer a lawyer answered stating two laws that
[21:16] a lawyer answered stating two laws that covered all the laws
[21:18] covered all the laws loving the lord and loving others
[21:24] he answered
[21:26] he answered and jesus said you have answered rightly
[21:30] and jesus said you have answered rightly and he says to the lawyer do this
[21:33] and he says to the lawyer do this and live
[21:34] and live now no one has ever been able to do that
[21:38] now no one has ever been able to do that but apparently this lawyer
[21:40] but apparently this lawyer thought he'd been pretty close you know
[21:44] thought he'd been pretty close you know if he could just clarify something he
[21:47] if he could just clarify something he might slip through
[21:49] might slip through so his question was well
[21:51] so his question was well who's my neighbor
[21:52] who's my neighbor because if you say my neighbor it's just
[21:54] because if you say my neighbor it's just those people that are nice to me i got
[21:56] those people that are nice to me i got it
[21:57] it i got it
[22:00] see that makes you you smile a bit
[22:02] see that makes you you smile a bit because this guy actually thought he was
[22:05] because this guy actually thought he was close to making god's standard
[22:08] close to making god's standard if god would just see his neighbor as he
[22:10] if god would just see his neighbor as he does but god doesn't
[22:13] does but god doesn't jesus followed with the story of the
[22:15] jesus followed with the story of the good samaritan
[22:17] good samaritan where an enemy of the jews
[22:19] where an enemy of the jews helped a jew that other jews had walked
[22:21] helped a jew that other jews had walked right past
[22:22] right past the ones that
[22:24] the ones that they should have said this is our
[22:25] they should have said this is our neighbor
[22:27] neighbor and the jewish mind a neighbor was a
[22:29] and the jewish mind a neighbor was a relative or a friend
[22:32] relative or a friend someone they were close to
[22:34] someone they were close to everyone else just fell on the other
[22:35] everyone else just fell on the other side of that i don't have to be nice to
[22:37] side of that i don't have to be nice to anyone that i'm not close to
[22:40] anyone that i'm not close to that doesn't treat me well
[22:42] that doesn't treat me well so they were free to hate or love less
[22:45] so they were free to hate or love less not care about
[22:47] not care about anyone that wasn't a neighbor
[22:50] anyone that wasn't a neighbor jesus tells us four things we are to do
[22:53] jesus tells us four things we are to do for those who would call
[22:55] for those who would call who would be called our enemies which
[22:58] who would be called our enemies which include those who curse us hate us
[23:00] include those who curse us hate us spitefully use us
[23:02] spitefully use us and persecute us
[23:05] and persecute us and notice none of these instructions
[23:08] and notice none of these instructions tell us to just withhold doing bad
[23:10] tell us to just withhold doing bad things to them
[23:12] things to them they speak of doing good
[23:14] they speak of doing good that's kingdom living so kingdom living
[23:16] that's kingdom living so kingdom living commandments regarding our enemies
[23:18] commandments regarding our enemies number one
[23:20] number one love them as i said the the word for
[23:22] love them as i said the the word for love is agape hair
[23:24] love is agape hair unconditionally
[23:26] unconditionally love them
[23:27] love them nothing to do with feeling everything to
[23:29] nothing to do with feeling everything to do with action
[23:32] do with action with other kinds of love see love stops
[23:34] with other kinds of love see love stops when the feeling stops agape love
[23:37] when the feeling stops agape love neither begins nor ends with feeling
[23:40] neither begins nor ends with feeling agape love is a verb it shows
[23:42] agape love is a verb it shows love
[23:44] love agape love focuses not on what we feel
[23:48] agape love focuses not on what we feel but what we do
[23:52] and then we are to bless them
[23:55] and then we are to bless them bless those who curse you
[23:58] bless those who curse you speak well
[24:00] speak well of those who speak evil of you
[24:04] of those who speak evil of you do you see how jesus calling is so much
[24:06] do you see how jesus calling is so much more than just bite your tongue
[24:08] more than just bite your tongue and not do evil
[24:10] and not do evil against them
[24:11] against them speak well how many times have you been
[24:14] speak well how many times have you been in a conversation with someone and
[24:17] in a conversation with someone and someone that you know has hurt you come
[24:19] someone that you know has hurt you come up and you think i did a really good job
[24:22] up and you think i did a really good job i didn't say anything bad about them
[24:25] i didn't say anything bad about them and god says no i wanted you to say
[24:27] and god says no i wanted you to say something good about them
[24:29] something good about them and sometimes you can't think of
[24:30] and sometimes you can't think of anything so you have to say lord what do
[24:32] anything so you have to say lord what do you want me to say what can i say right
[24:34] you want me to say what can i say right now tell me something i can say that's
[24:36] now tell me something i can say that's good about that person and he'll tell
[24:38] good about that person and he'll tell you because he wants you to do it
[24:41] you because he wants you to do it and then do good to them
[24:44] and then do good to them it takes us one step further into
[24:46] it takes us one step further into kingdom living
[24:47] kingdom living see we're not only to speak good to them
[24:50] see we're not only to speak good to them speak good about them
[24:52] speak good about them but we're to do something nice to them
[24:57] but we're to do something nice to them it's not natural see this is kingdom
[24:59] it's not natural see this is kingdom living no one in our natural
[25:01] living no one in our natural heart says oh i want to do something
[25:04] heart says oh i want to do something nice for that person that is trying to
[25:06] nice for that person that is trying to hurt me
[25:07] hurt me so we have to say god
[25:09] so we have to say god what's something they need because i
[25:11] what's something they need because i don't know
[25:12] don't know what would bless them
[25:14] what would bless them and he will show you
[25:16] and he will show you and then pray for them not pray about
[25:21] and then pray for them not pray about them
[25:22] them pray for them
[25:24] pray for them pray for those who spitefully use you
[25:28] pray for those who spitefully use you insult you falsely accuse you
[25:32] insult you falsely accuse you and persecute you and this one will get
[25:34] and persecute you and this one will get you it got me
[25:36] you it got me one definition of persecute is to follow
[25:38] one definition of persecute is to follow after to do harm
[25:41] after to do harm see we are doing that when we think
[25:43] see we are doing that when we think thoughts of harm
[25:45] thoughts of harm want thoughts of harm we are persecutors
[25:49] want thoughts of harm we are persecutors how do you like that title those are
[25:51] how do you like that title those are from for those horrible unbelieving
[25:53] from for those horrible unbelieving people right
[25:54] people right i don't want that title on me
[25:57] i don't want that title on me we're to pray god's best for them
[26:00] we're to pray god's best for them we're to follow after them in prayer to
[26:03] we're to follow after them in prayer to do them good god
[26:05] do them good god i want you to do something good in their
[26:06] i want you to do something good in their lives
[26:08] lives oh how we love god's mercy for ourselves
[26:10] oh how we love god's mercy for ourselves but first we want them
[26:12] but first we want them to pay for what they've done
[26:14] to pay for what they've done then then you can do something good
[26:15] then then you can do something good lords just so they know how bad they
[26:17] lords just so they know how bad they hurt me
[26:19] hurt me then i'll pray something good
[26:21] then i'll pray something good i can't find it i've i've looked you
[26:23] i can't find it i've i've looked you know i'm the bible scholar you know show
[26:25] know i'm the bible scholar you know show me where they have to pay first lord
[26:27] me where they have to pay first lord it's not there
[26:29] it's not there i don't get to decide when they've paid
[26:31] i don't get to decide when they've paid enough because you know what it's god's
[26:33] enough because you know what it's god's job isn't it
[26:37] why
[26:38] why why in heaven's name why
[26:42] why in heaven's name why why should we do these fourth thing
[26:45] why should we do these fourth thing for people that are out to get us
[26:50] well jesus tells us why in the next
[26:52] well jesus tells us why in the next three verses because we are to
[26:55] three verses because we are to represent god to people verse 45 says
[26:59] represent god to people verse 45 says that you may be sons of your father in
[27:01] that you may be sons of your father in heaven the people will see that about
[27:03] heaven the people will see that about you
[27:04] you for me he makes his sun rise on the evil
[27:07] for me he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the
[27:10] and on the good and sends rain on the just
[27:11] just and the unjust
[27:13] and the unjust you see our natural responses to
[27:16] you see our natural responses to mistreatment
[27:18] mistreatment is
[27:19] is i'll show you who i am
[27:22] i'll show you who i am and the spiritual response is the same
[27:25] and the spiritual response is the same i'll show you who i am
[27:27] i'll show you who i am i'm a daughter of the king
[27:31] and i want you to recognize that
[27:34] and i want you to recognize that i want you to see what a child of god
[27:36] i want you to see what a child of god acts like
[27:38] acts like god treats everyone the same he agape
[27:42] god treats everyone the same he agape loved the whole world
[27:44] loved the whole world so much that he sent his son
[27:47] so much that he sent his son that whoever
[27:50] that whoever believes will not perish
[27:54] believes will not perish but have eternal life
[27:55] but have eternal life he shows his agape love and his mercy
[27:58] he shows his agape love and his mercy towards both the just and the unjust he
[28:00] towards both the just and the unjust he cares about the just and the unjust he
[28:04] cares about the just and the unjust he desires good
[28:07] desires good so should we but to clarify here
[28:10] so should we but to clarify here believers get to have a a different
[28:12] believers get to have a a different relationship with the lord he agape
[28:14] relationship with the lord he agape loves you he agape loves me
[28:16] loves you he agape loves me but sometimes i think well
[28:18] but sometimes i think well he agape loves the whole world i thought
[28:20] he agape loves the whole world i thought you know
[28:21] you know in my little prideful moods it's uh so
[28:24] in my little prideful moods it's uh so what's so special about that you know
[28:27] what's so special about that you know the bible says ifaleo loves you he likes
[28:31] the bible says ifaleo loves you he likes you
[28:32] you when you do something good he responds
[28:34] when you do something good he responds and enjoys it when you do something bad
[28:37] and enjoys it when you do something bad it hurts his heart
[28:41] what a wonderful thing we have
[28:46] and we have those kind of people in our
[28:48] and we have those kind of people in our lives too
[28:50] lives too but here
[28:52] but here god's talking about i want you to agape
[28:55] god's talking about i want you to agape love
[28:56] love everyone
[29:00] and then
[29:01] and then what changed me
[29:04] what changed me right here we are to be about doing more
[29:08] right here we are to be about doing more verses 46 and 47
[29:11] verses 46 and 47 for if you love those who love you
[29:13] for if you love those who love you what reward have you
[29:15] what reward have you do not even the tax collectors and they
[29:17] do not even the tax collectors and they were the worst people you could be
[29:19] were the worst people you could be except for the samaritans to the jews
[29:22] except for the samaritans to the jews if you greet your own
[29:24] if you greet your own your brethren only what do you do
[29:27] your brethren only what do you do more
[29:30] than others
[29:32] than others do not even the tax collectors do so
[29:35] do not even the tax collectors do so right there that was one of those hit
[29:36] right there that was one of those hit the floor moments for me just this
[29:38] the floor moments for me just this little four-letter word
[29:40] little four-letter word what do you do more
[29:43] what do you do more it's a challenge
[29:44] it's a challenge it's a challenge to all of us what are
[29:47] it's a challenge to all of us what are we doing more it was a memorial stone
[29:49] we doing more it was a memorial stone for me that was something that i have a
[29:51] for me that was something that i have a magnet on my refrigerator and something
[29:53] magnet on my refrigerator and something he works in my life for the last 11
[29:56] he works in my life for the last 11 years i hear the holy spirit
[29:59] years i hear the holy spirit very often
[30:00] very often more cathy when i think i'm biting my
[30:02] more cathy when i think i'm biting my tongue and that's enough when i think i
[30:04] tongue and that's enough when i think i do something nice
[30:05] do something nice and that's enough and and i'll hear the
[30:07] and that's enough and and i'll hear the holy spirit just more
[30:10] holy spirit just more and most of the time my little flesh
[30:12] and most of the time my little flesh doesn't know well what could that
[30:13] doesn't know well what could that possibly be
[30:14] possibly be you know ask me
[30:16] you know ask me what's more right now
[30:18] what's more right now and it's interesting when i counsel
[30:20] and it's interesting when i counsel people and i just say what's more right
[30:21] people and i just say what's more right now when they're familiar with this it's
[30:23] now when they're familiar with this it's like we know
[30:25] like we know we know what more would be
[30:28] anyone can love those who love them
[30:32] anyone can love those who love them anyone can be nice to their brethren
[30:35] anyone can be nice to their brethren jesus said even the tax collectors
[30:38] jesus said even the tax collectors those the jews would consider the real
[30:40] those the jews would consider the real scum of the earth even they do that
[30:43] scum of the earth even they do that anyone can withhold bad
[30:46] anyone can withhold bad nowhere in scripture does god view
[30:48] nowhere in scripture does god view withholding bad as a really
[30:51] withholding bad as a really supernaturally empowered thing
[30:53] supernaturally empowered thing see jesus is calling us to do more he's
[30:56] see jesus is calling us to do more he's calling us to do things
[30:57] calling us to do things the world cannot do
[31:00] the world cannot do because it's motivated by agape love and
[31:02] because it's motivated by agape love and the world cannot function in agape love
[31:06] the world cannot function in agape love he's talking about kingdom living the
[31:08] he's talking about kingdom living the blessed life is about doing
[31:10] blessed life is about doing more
[31:13] we live in a world with lots of
[31:15] we live in a world with lots of temptations and too often you and i
[31:18] temptations and too often you and i settle for avoiding
[31:20] settle for avoiding sin
[31:22] sin and jesus is saying here kingdom living
[31:24] and jesus is saying here kingdom living is more than avoiding sin
[31:26] is more than avoiding sin it's about doing good for others it's
[31:29] it's about doing good for others it's about showing god to others
[31:32] about showing god to others and we don't do that by just not being
[31:35] and we don't do that by just not being bad by just biting our tongue or by not
[31:38] bad by just biting our tongue or by not lashing out
[31:40] lashing out see that's settling
[31:42] see that's settling that's not kingdom living
[31:44] that's not kingdom living and when we simply refrain from
[31:46] and when we simply refrain from retaliating
[31:47] retaliating and we bite our tongue or what we do is
[31:50] and we bite our tongue or what we do is we we pat ourselves on back don't we you
[31:52] we we pat ourselves on back don't we you ever had those conversations and
[31:55] ever had those conversations and you you didn't say the wrong thing or a
[31:58] you you didn't say the wrong thing or a bad thing and just go i did it
[32:02] bad thing and just go i did it and you think you're so great
[32:04] and you think you're so great and jesus would say the tax collectors
[32:06] and jesus would say the tax collectors can do that
[32:08] can do that big deal
[32:10] see those are our words when we
[32:13] see those are our words when we congratulate ourselves like that not
[32:15] congratulate ourselves like that not god's
[32:16] god's kingdom livers bless
[32:18] kingdom livers bless give and sacrifice for the glory of god
[32:21] give and sacrifice for the glory of god and the betterment of someone else
[32:24] and the betterment of someone else and when we do we know very well that
[32:27] and when we do we know very well that god did it
[32:28] god did it we find in the sermon on the mount a
[32:30] we find in the sermon on the mount a perspective of life taught by jesus
[32:32] perspective of life taught by jesus which if lived out
[32:34] which if lived out will result result in joy the joy
[32:37] will result result in joy the joy fulfilled life
[32:39] fulfilled life and that's really what we want isn't it
[32:42] and that's really what we want isn't it but it's arrived at by what the world
[32:45] but it's arrived at by what the world would call losing
[32:47] would call losing jesus calls it losing too
[32:49] jesus calls it losing too but he says losing
[32:51] but he says losing to gain
[32:52] to gain there are so many
[32:55] there are so many ideas out there of
[32:58] ideas out there of people that would call themselves
[32:59] people that would call themselves christians
[33:02] christians what proves that someone is a christian
[33:04] what proves that someone is a christian i'm not talking about what it takes to
[33:07] i'm not talking about what it takes to become a christian
[33:08] become a christian my challenge to us is what does a
[33:10] my challenge to us is what does a christian look like
[33:13] christian look like how would you answer that question or
[33:15] how would you answer that question or let me put it another way what does a
[33:17] let me put it another way what does a person who is living
[33:19] person who is living as a christian
[33:20] as a christian should or can live
[33:22] should or can live look like or act like
[33:25] look like or act like or maybe what does a kingdom liver act
[33:28] or maybe what does a kingdom liver act like
[33:30] like how can you spot someone like that
[33:32] how can you spot someone like that what would you look for
[33:34] what would you look for what is a christian supposed to be about
[33:37] what is a christian supposed to be about what is your life what is my life
[33:39] what is your life what is my life supposed to look like
[33:41] supposed to look like maybe our first challenge is
[33:43] maybe our first challenge is my use of the word supposed to because
[33:46] my use of the word supposed to because when i think i'm supposed to i think
[33:48] when i think i'm supposed to i think should
[33:49] should have to
[33:50] have to not fun words
[33:52] not fun words and too often that's how we look at
[33:54] and too often that's how we look at working out our
[33:56] working out our christianity
[33:58] christianity we like god's part he does a good job we
[34:00] we like god's part he does a good job we like like how he does his but
[34:02] like like how he does his but sometimes we think
[34:04] sometimes we think our heart our part is hard
[34:07] our heart our part is hard your commands are grievous
[34:09] your commands are grievous this life is tough and see
[34:11] this life is tough and see it's how we perceive our part that is so
[34:15] it's how we perceive our part that is so important
[34:16] important i've told this story before but i think
[34:18] i've told this story before but i think it's been a while i i heard a story
[34:20] it's been a while i i heard a story about a woman who
[34:22] about a woman who had three little ones five-year-old son
[34:24] had three little ones five-year-old son six-year-old son and and a baby and
[34:27] six-year-old son and and a baby and overwhelming time of life and she had
[34:30] overwhelming time of life and she had done all the laundry and
[34:32] done all the laundry and finished up and she's just too tired to
[34:34] finished up and she's just too tired to fold it all you know so she just puts it
[34:36] fold it all you know so she just puts it on the dining room table spreads it all
[34:37] on the dining room table spreads it all out and hopes maybe your husband will
[34:39] out and hopes maybe your husband will come home and look at the table and say
[34:42] come home and look at the table and say oh the laundry is unfolded i'll do that
[34:44] oh the laundry is unfolded i'll do that for you but of course that never
[34:46] for you but of course that never happened
[34:47] happened so next morning she gets up and she
[34:49] so next morning she gets up and she needs some stuff at target
[34:51] needs some stuff at target has to get the kids ready to go so she
[34:53] has to get the kids ready to go so she gets her little boys and starts going
[34:55] gets her little boys and starts going through the dresser drawers well of
[34:56] through the dresser drawers well of course they're empty and so she goes
[34:58] course they're empty and so she goes over the dining room table kind of
[35:00] over the dining room table kind of exasperated and starts to digging
[35:02] exasperated and starts to digging through everything gets a boy's dress
[35:04] through everything gets a boy's dress gets a baby dress
[35:07] gets a baby dress gets in the car then she needs to get
[35:09] gets in the car then she needs to get out of the car puts a baby in a sling
[35:11] out of the car puts a baby in a sling and she takes her five and six year old
[35:12] and she takes her five and six year old boys and their inside hands
[35:15] boys and their inside hands and walks into target well of course
[35:18] and walks into target well of course their outside hands were just
[35:21] their outside hands were just having so much fun touching everything
[35:24] having so much fun touching everything and every aisle and knocking them down
[35:27] and every aisle and knocking them down and she's just
[35:28] and she's just oh this is so hard
[35:30] oh this is so hard and all of a sudden this older lady
[35:32] and all of a sudden this older lady comes up to her and says
[35:34] comes up to her and says this is the best time of your life
[35:40] this is the best time of your life you are just going to blink
[35:42] you are just going to blink and it's going to be gone and she said i
[35:44] and it's going to be gone and she said i took my little two boys and i closed my
[35:46] took my little two boys and i closed my eyes you know and i opened them and they
[35:48] eyes you know and i opened them and they were still there
[35:50] were still there and so
[35:50] and so the the challenge to us is is how can
[35:54] the the challenge to us is is how can we have two women that one's going
[35:56] we have two women that one's going through it and one has been through it
[35:59] through it and one has been through it have two different perspectives
[36:01] have two different perspectives and see we know when we get through this
[36:04] and see we know when we get through this life we're going to sing that song great
[36:06] life we're going to sing that song great and marvelous are your work so lord just
[36:08] and marvelous are your work so lord just and sure your ways
[36:11] and sure your ways but if we don't
[36:12] but if we don't perceive his works that way now we're
[36:14] perceive his works that way now we're going to be like that lady that just
[36:16] going to be like that lady that just gets so exasperated
[36:18] gets so exasperated and we need to be that by
[36:20] and we need to be that by that lady that
[36:23] that lady that some things we haven't been through but
[36:24] some things we haven't been through but we know that when we go through them
[36:28] we know that when we go through them god's gonna show us good stuff
[36:30] god's gonna show us good stuff it's gonna be worth it
[36:32] it's gonna be worth it and so when we look at this more
[36:35] and so when we look at this more challenge
[36:36] challenge it's it's how do we perceive this
[36:39] it's it's how do we perceive this challenge do we perceive it as something
[36:41] challenge do we perceive it as something coming from a harsh god that doesn't
[36:43] coming from a harsh god that doesn't want us to have any fun
[36:45] want us to have any fun or do we perceive it as a god that says
[36:47] or do we perceive it as a god that says this is kingdom living this is joy this
[36:50] this is kingdom living this is joy this is peace
[36:51] is peace this is a good thing
[36:55] this is a good thing we were made to
[36:56] we were made to worship him
[36:59] worship him not only to proclaim what he is like but
[37:01] not only to proclaim what he is like but to show what he is like when you and i
[37:04] to show what he is like when you and i show what he is like we are worshiping
[37:06] show what he is like we are worshiping him
[37:07] him do we do that
[37:09] do we do that how would you describe most christians
[37:12] how would you describe most christians while you were growing up
[37:14] while you were growing up i thought about that and i realized
[37:15] i thought about that and i realized something
[37:16] something i would have described most christians
[37:19] i would have described most christians as people who don't
[37:22] as people who don't christian kids are the kids that aren't
[37:23] christian kids are the kids that aren't allowed to do any of the fun things
[37:25] allowed to do any of the fun things right
[37:26] right christians are good people
[37:29] christians are good people most of us would have agreed with that
[37:31] most of us would have agreed with that but most of us would have said
[37:32] but most of us would have said christians are good people because they
[37:34] christians are good people because they don't do bad things
[37:36] don't do bad things not because we do good things
[37:40] christians aren't really doers
[37:43] christians aren't really doers too often we're just a bunch of donors
[37:47] too often we're just a bunch of donors you see anybody can be a daunter
[37:50] you see anybody can be a daunter yes we've all discovered how much we
[37:52] yes we've all discovered how much we need the power of the holy spirit to
[37:54] need the power of the holy spirit to stop
[37:55] stop some sort of habit
[37:57] some sort of habit but unbelievers do that all the time
[38:00] but unbelievers do that all the time you and i know
[38:01] you and i know a lot of unbelievers who don't cuss
[38:04] a lot of unbelievers who don't cuss who don't drink
[38:06] who don't drink who don't really live committing the bad
[38:08] who don't really live committing the bad sins of the world
[38:11] sins of the world and we would call them and they
[38:12] and we would call them and they certainly call themselves what
[38:15] certainly call themselves what good people
[38:17] good people many of them think they're going to
[38:19] many of them think they're going to heaven
[38:20] heaven just because they don't do bad things
[38:25] just because they don't do bad things very often when we see a product
[38:27] very often when we see a product advertised on tv
[38:30] advertised on tv products presented prices revealed
[38:33] products presented prices revealed before shipping and handling
[38:35] before shipping and handling and then the announcer says what but
[38:37] and then the announcer says what but wait there's
[38:40] wait there's more
[38:41] more and then proceeds to tell the audience
[38:42] and then proceeds to tell the audience of some additional items that will be
[38:44] of some additional items that will be shipped with the advertised product
[38:47] shipped with the advertised product well christianity is like that in in a
[38:50] well christianity is like that in in a way
[38:50] way yes it's about the ability the power
[38:52] yes it's about the ability the power over sin
[38:54] over sin to not do bad things but here in the
[38:56] to not do bad things but here in the sermon on the mount
[38:58] sermon on the mount jesus is telling us but wait
[39:01] jesus is telling us but wait there's more
[39:03] there's more it's the more that we do it's the good
[39:05] it's the more that we do it's the good that we do that reveals our christianity
[39:09] that we do that reveals our christianity you and i can't do these verses without
[39:12] you and i can't do these verses without the power of the holy spirit
[39:15] the power of the holy spirit try it
[39:17] try it do it for a little while can't we and
[39:18] do it for a little while can't we and then we give up
[39:20] then we give up we can't do it in our own strength our
[39:22] we can't do it in our own strength our own determinations our
[39:24] own determinations our good intentions
[39:27] good intentions throughout the bible we have a lot of
[39:30] throughout the bible we have a lot of exhortations of put off behaviors
[39:33] exhortations of put off behaviors we're to put off lying
[39:35] we're to put off lying anger
[39:36] anger stealing
[39:37] stealing bitterness
[39:39] bitterness evil speaking in other words don't lie
[39:41] evil speaking in other words don't lie don't get don't show anger don't steal
[39:43] don't get don't show anger don't steal don't be bitter
[39:45] don't be bitter don't speak evil
[39:48] don't speak evil but again see that's all too often where
[39:50] but again see that's all too often where you and i concentrate our efforts aren't
[39:51] you and i concentrate our efforts aren't we wow i didn't lie in that situation i
[39:54] we wow i didn't lie in that situation i was so pressed to lie
[39:57] was so pressed to lie wow good job
[39:58] wow good job i didn't blow up good job
[40:02] but whenever we're told to put off
[40:05] but whenever we're told to put off behaviors we are given behaviors to put
[40:07] behaviors we are given behaviors to put on
[40:08] on behaviors like tell the truth
[40:11] behaviors like tell the truth give
[40:12] give say words that build up
[40:14] say words that build up be kind forgive
[40:17] be kind forgive and most important love
[40:21] too often you and i think we are doing
[40:23] too often you and i think we are doing well if we don't lie and we don't steal
[40:26] well if we don't lie and we don't steal and we don't return a curse with a curse
[40:30] but jesus would say to us that's nice
[40:33] but jesus would say to us that's nice but an unbeliever can do that
[40:36] but an unbeliever can do that i want you to return a curse
[40:39] i want you to return a curse with a blessing
[40:41] with a blessing i want you to not keep your mouth shut i
[40:43] i want you to not keep your mouth shut i want you to open your mouth shut open
[40:45] want you to open your mouth shut open your mouth
[40:47] your mouth and say something nice to that person
[40:49] and say something nice to that person who's being cruel to you
[40:52] who's being cruel to you you and i know very well that that takes
[40:54] you and i know very well that that takes god
[40:56] god see are you running around in a sense
[40:59] see are you running around in a sense spiritually naked you've put off a bunch
[41:02] spiritually naked you've put off a bunch of bad stuff
[41:04] of bad stuff and you just said don't her
[41:07] and you just said don't her and really who wants to be a delter
[41:11] and so often uh people
[41:13] and so often uh people in the world look at
[41:15] in the world look at us as doctors it's like why would i want
[41:17] us as doctors it's like why would i want that
[41:18] that life consider this verse in ephesians 5
[41:21] life consider this verse in ephesians 5 18
[41:24] 18 and do not be drunk with wine which is
[41:26] and do not be drunk with wine which is dissipation which is a waste
[41:29] dissipation which is a waste the put off
[41:33] that which we are typically satisfied in
[41:36] that which we are typically satisfied in just doing that first part of the verse
[41:38] just doing that first part of the verse don't get drunk
[41:40] don't get drunk yay me
[41:44] but god says but be filled with the holy
[41:46] but god says but be filled with the holy spirit
[41:47] spirit again we've got another example of both
[41:49] again we've got another example of both putting off and putting on
[41:51] putting off and putting on yes we're not to be drunk with wine
[41:54] yes we're not to be drunk with wine but how many of us stop there satisfied
[41:56] but how many of us stop there satisfied with that and we don't seek a life that
[41:59] with that and we don't seek a life that is filled by controlled by the holy
[42:02] is filled by controlled by the holy spirit
[42:04] spirit you see
[42:05] you see if we're not drunk with wine
[42:08] if we're not drunk with wine we're not controlled by the wine
[42:10] we're not controlled by the wine we're in better control of our minds and
[42:13] we're in better control of our minds and our wills
[42:15] our wills but that's as far as what we get
[42:19] but that's as far as what we get we're stuck with our minds and our wills
[42:21] we're stuck with our minds and our wills our own thinking
[42:23] our own thinking our own power
[42:26] god wants more than that for his
[42:28] god wants more than that for his children
[42:29] children see but when others see you
[42:32] see but when others see you do they see the holy spirit working in
[42:34] do they see the holy spirit working in and through you or do they just see a
[42:36] and through you or do they just see a sober person
[42:39] sober person nowhere in scripture does god view
[42:41] nowhere in scripture does god view withholding bad as really supernatural
[42:44] withholding bad as really supernatural thing
[42:45] thing jesus is calling us to mourn he's
[42:47] jesus is calling us to mourn he's calling us to do things the world cannot
[42:49] calling us to do things the world cannot do
[42:50] do he's talking about kingdom living the
[42:52] he's talking about kingdom living the the blessed life the transformed life
[42:56] the blessed life the transformed life we live with all of these temptations
[42:58] we live with all of these temptations and too often we settle
[43:01] and too often we settle for avoidance of sin
[43:05] it's about doing good it's about showing
[43:08] it's about doing good it's about showing god to others
[43:11] god to others and we do that by blessing
[43:13] and we do that by blessing by giving by sacrificing for the
[43:16] by giving by sacrificing for the betterment of someone else
[43:18] betterment of someone else what's the ultimate expression of the
[43:20] what's the ultimate expression of the moral life
[43:22] moral life fruit of the spirit
[43:24] fruit of the spirit do people see these things in us
[43:27] do people see these things in us love
[43:28] love joy
[43:29] joy peace
[43:31] peace long-suffering
[43:32] long-suffering kindness
[43:34] kindness goodness
[43:35] goodness faithfulness gentleness
[43:38] faithfulness gentleness self-control all that you and i would
[43:41] self-control all that you and i would ask lord i'm about to react here
[43:45] ask lord i'm about to react here which one of the fruit of the spirit do
[43:47] which one of the fruit of the spirit do they need to see today
[43:51] when we live in the more life
[43:53] when we live in the more life when we choose to do more we show people
[43:56] when we choose to do more we show people what jesus
[43:58] what jesus is like
[44:01] jesus lived the more life we're to do
[44:03] jesus lived the more life we're to do the same
[44:04] the same you probably would not disagree with
[44:07] you probably would not disagree with philip the
[44:08] philip the exhortation in philippians to be other
[44:11] exhortation in philippians to be other minded
[44:12] minded to prefer others
[44:14] to prefer others you might not even disagree with the
[44:16] you might not even disagree with the fact that
[44:17] fact that other mindedness produces joy paul said
[44:20] other mindedness produces joy paul said it did
[44:24] but the other mindedness is really
[44:25] but the other mindedness is really walking in the second commandment to
[44:27] walking in the second commandment to love others isn't it
[44:29] love others isn't it but you and i too often have this
[44:31] but you and i too often have this qualification
[44:33] qualification if we look to our flesh this
[44:36] if we look to our flesh this qualification will keep us from doing
[44:38] qualification will keep us from doing the moral life and it's this
[44:41] the moral life and it's this what about me
[44:44] what about me what about
[44:45] what about my rights what about my needs if i'm
[44:48] my rights what about my needs if i'm other minded if i do more for them who's
[44:51] other minded if i do more for them who's going to take care of me
[44:55] going to take care of me that's you've heard it saying isn't it
[44:58] see this is god's stuff
[45:02] see this is god's stuff if we listen to this sermon
[45:04] if we listen to this sermon especially these last verses here with
[45:06] especially these last verses here with our natural minds
[45:09] our natural minds our flesh says no no don't do it don't
[45:10] our flesh says no no don't do it don't do it
[45:12] do it don't go there
[45:14] don't go there the legalism in us might try but
[45:17] the legalism in us might try but we just hear it more as rules and try to
[45:19] we just hear it more as rules and try to define them
[45:21] define them we'd end up missing the points and be no
[45:23] we'd end up missing the points and be no more god-minded or other-minded than we
[45:25] more god-minded or other-minded than we were before
[45:27] were before but something happens when we listen to
[45:29] but something happens when we listen to our spirits doesn't it
[45:32] our spirits doesn't it as hard as impossible this is in our own
[45:36] as hard as impossible this is in our own strength
[45:37] strength there's something in us that bears
[45:40] there's something in us that bears witness to this that says
[45:41] witness to this that says i want this in my life
[45:44] i want this in my life and it's only the holy spirit that can
[45:46] and it's only the holy spirit that can provoke that
[45:47] provoke that but you know that the flesh is just no
[45:51] but you know that the flesh is just no but our spirit's like yes
[45:54] but our spirit's like yes i want to do more
[45:56] i want to do more and you see what you're saying when you
[45:57] and you see what you're saying when you say i want to do more it's i want to die
[46:00] say i want to do more it's i want to die to myself
[46:01] to myself who wants to do that except someone
[46:04] who wants to do that except someone that's saved
[46:08] and when we do we'll discover a piece of
[46:10] and when we do we'll discover a piece of kingdom living the blessed life
[46:12] kingdom living the blessed life the life that satisfies the soul honors
[46:16] the life that satisfies the soul honors god
[46:17] god living in the kingdom room is doing
[46:19] living in the kingdom room is doing things that we can only do because of
[46:22] things that we can only do because of god
[46:23] god and the amazing thing is
[46:25] and the amazing thing is we want to do
[46:27] we want to do and i just see by your faces you're
[46:29] and i just see by your faces you're experiencing that tonight you know you
[46:31] experiencing that tonight you know you just
[46:32] just the holy spirit is giving you a want to
[46:34] the holy spirit is giving you a want to that is so contrary to your rights
[46:37] that is so contrary to your rights and your flesh
[46:40] and your flesh so the last verse of matthew 5 isn't
[46:42] so the last verse of matthew 5 isn't intimidating at all
[46:45] intimidating at all therefore you shall be perfect just as
[46:47] therefore you shall be perfect just as your father in heaven is perfect
[46:50] your father in heaven is perfect perfection for us as it's defined here
[46:52] perfection for us as it's defined here speaks of what christian maturity looks
[46:54] speaks of what christian maturity looks like
[46:56] like what it looks like when we're getting
[46:58] what it looks like when we're getting there when we're starting to arrive when
[47:00] there when we're starting to arrive when we're walking in the things that god
[47:02] we're walking in the things that god would choose for us
[47:04] would choose for us it's not
[47:05] it's not a command to
[47:07] a command to be perfect as you and i view perfection
[47:10] be perfect as you and i view perfection that's not going to happen until heaven
[47:13] that's not going to happen until heaven but it's a seeking it's a wanting it's a
[47:15] but it's a seeking it's a wanting it's a following after god's perfection
[47:19] following after god's perfection there were then and there still are a
[47:21] there were then and there still are a lot
[47:22] lot of opinions of what a spiritual
[47:24] of opinions of what a spiritual christian looks like
[47:26] christian looks like this
[47:27] this sermon straightens it all out
[47:30] sermon straightens it all out this perfection this maturity god is
[47:32] this perfection this maturity god is looking for
[47:33] looking for is having the goal in our lives to be
[47:35] is having the goal in our lives to be more and more like jesus
[47:39] more and more like jesus and considering that worth any sacrifice
[47:42] and considering that worth any sacrifice that god calls us to make
[47:44] that god calls us to make see jesus gave all
[47:47] see jesus gave all certainly you and i can give more you
[47:50] certainly you and i can give more you pray with me
[47:53] pray with me father
[47:58] may this not be a time where
[48:02] may this not be a time where we have been touched by your holy spirit
[48:04] we have been touched by your holy spirit and we commit and we want and we see the
[48:09] and we commit and we want and we see the truths
[48:11] truths and then something happens and we
[48:14] and then something happens and we just walk away from this
[48:16] just walk away from this we go back to our own kind of thinking
[48:19] we go back to our own kind of thinking the lord i pray for myself and all of us
[48:21] the lord i pray for myself and all of us lord
[48:23] lord that you will work in us a hunger
[48:27] that you will work in us a hunger for the more that you have for us
[48:30] for the more that you have for us in jesus name
[48:32] in jesus name amen
[48:36] [Music]
[48:45] [Music] would you stand with me as we worship
[48:46] would you stand with me as we worship lord
[48:49] lord [Music]
[49:01] [Music] i see the king of glory
[49:10] coming down the clouds with fire
[49:15] coming down the clouds with fire [Music]
[49:19] [Music] she's
[49:24] [Music]
[49:30] i see his love and mercy
[49:36] washing over all our sins
[49:40] washing over all our sins the people see
[49:43] the people see [Music]
[49:55] hosanna in the highest
[49:59] [Music]
[50:19] [Music] i see a generation
[50:30] rising up to take their place
[50:34] rising up to take their place we're selflessly
[50:37] selfless
[50:52] we're
[51:07] in the highest
[51:12] hosanna
[51:18] hosanna in the high
[51:23] hosanna in the high heal my heart
[51:25] heal my heart heal my heart and make it clean
[51:31] open up my eyes to the things unseen
[51:37] open up my eyes to the things unseen show me how to love like you
[51:41] show me how to love like you have loved me
[51:50] my heart for what breaks yours
[51:56] everything i am for your kingdom's cause
[52:02] everything i am for your kingdom's cause as i walk from earth into
[52:06] as i walk from earth into eternity
[52:13] hosanna
[52:16] jose
[52:25] [Music]
[52:57] hosanna in the highest
[53:14] [Music]
[53:29] [Music] praise him
[53:32] praise him all you sinners
[53:38] sing o sing you
[53:44] o praise him all you
[53:49] o praise him all you children of god
[53:52] children of god [Music]
[53:54] [Music] we lift our his glory
[54:00] shown
[54:02] shown throughout our stories
[54:06] throughout our stories we praise him as the
[54:11] we praise him as the children of god
[54:14] children of god our great redeemer
[54:16] our great redeemer our great redeemer
[54:20] our great redeemer glorious savior
[54:22] glorious savior your name is higher than the rising
[54:27] your name is higher than the rising sun
[54:29] sun light of the morning
[54:32] light of the morning you shine forever
[54:35] you shine forever your name is higher than the rising
[54:39] your name is higher than the rising sun
[54:41] sun your name is higher than the
[54:44] your name is higher than the rising sun
[54:46] rising sun [Music]
[54:57] [Music] praise his name forever
[54:59] praise his name forever praise his name forever
[55:06] it loud and clean
[55:10] it loud and clean now
[55:11] now oh praise him all you
[55:16] jennifer god
[55:21] our great redeemer
[55:24] our great redeemer glory is savior
[55:27] glory is savior your name is higher than the
[55:30] your name is higher than the rising sun
[55:33] rising sun light of the morning
[55:36] light of the morning you shine forever
[55:39] you shine forever your name is higher than the rising sun
[55:45] your name is higher than the rising sun your name is higher than the rising
[55:49] your name is higher than the rising sun
[55:51] sun [Music]
[55:58] sing hallelujah name above all
[56:03] sing hallelujah name above all hallelujah name above all simply to
[56:06] hallelujah name above all simply to speak your name is praise
[56:09] speak your name is praise hallelujah now and always forever we
[56:12] hallelujah now and always forever we lift your name in praise hallelujah
[56:16] lift your name in praise hallelujah i got you reign simply to speak your
[56:19] i got you reign simply to speak your name is
[56:29] great grace
[56:31] glorious savior
[56:34] glorious savior your name is higher than the
[56:37] your name is higher than the rising sun
[56:40] rising sun light of the
[56:42] light of the morning you shine forever
[56:46] morning you shine forever your name is higher than the
[56:49] your name is higher than the rising sun
[56:52] rising sun our great redeemer
[56:55] our great redeemer glory is savior
[56:58] glory is savior your name is higher than the rising sun
[57:05] your name is higher than the rising sun light of the morning
[57:08] light of the morning you shine
[57:09] you shine forever your name is higher than the
[57:13] forever your name is higher than the rising sun
[57:16] rising sun your name is higher than the rising
[57:21] your name is higher than the rising sun oh
[57:22] sun oh your name
[57:24] your name is the rising
[57:27] is the rising sun
[57:32] cindy will you put up the first slide of
[57:34] cindy will you put up the first slide of that last song for a second
[57:40] with the background
[57:44] now
[57:46] now hopefully when we witness and show
[57:49] hopefully when we witness and show people about the lord
[57:51] people about the lord they would hear
[57:52] they would hear all the words of that song which end in
[57:55] all the words of that song which end in glorious praise
[57:57] glorious praise but as daunters very often
[58:00] but as daunters very often that's what they see first
[58:02] that's what they see first and the background's depressing
[58:06] and the background's depressing praise him all you sinners you know and
[58:09] praise him all you sinners you know and that's the way we come across sometimes
[58:11] that's the way we come across sometimes as daunters we don't want to do that
[58:13] as daunters we don't want to do that because sometimes they just walk away
[58:15] because sometimes they just walk away and they don't get all the good stuff
[58:16] and they don't get all the good stuff that comes after that
[58:18] that comes after that but that wasn't my main point of my
[58:20] but that wasn't my main point of my closing
[58:21] closing but
[58:23] but if you and lord willing you well lord
[58:26] if you and lord willing you well lord willing you he is willing
[58:29] willing you he is willing that you commit to lord i want to walk
[58:31] that you commit to lord i want to walk in this more life it's going to give you
[58:33] in this more life it's going to give you chances
[58:35] chances and i remember the very first time 11
[58:38] and i remember the very first time 11 years ago when i was like yes
[58:40] years ago when i was like yes all excited i can't wait you know give
[58:42] all excited i can't wait you know give me the opportunities lord and
[58:45] me the opportunities lord and pulled into the garage and
[58:47] pulled into the garage and we were going to have some people
[58:49] we were going to have some people visiting staying with us and dale had
[58:52] visiting staying with us and dale had promised me that he would clean out the
[58:53] promised me that he would clean out the garage
[58:55] garage and he had not
[58:56] and he had not and my thoughts were the garage isn't
[58:59] and my thoughts were the garage isn't clean he didn't do what i asked him to
[59:02] clean he didn't do what i asked him to do
[59:03] do and then my first thought was well
[59:06] and then my first thought was well it's gonna
[59:08] it's gonna bite my tongue and i won't say a word
[59:11] bite my tongue and i won't say a word and you know the attitude we can have
[59:13] and you know the attitude we can have when we bite our tongue and i thought no
[59:15] when we bite our tongue and i thought no no that's not that's not godly i'm going
[59:17] no that's not that's not godly i'm going to come in and go
[59:18] to come in and go sure was a tight squeeze in the garage
[59:20] sure was a tight squeeze in the garage tonight
[59:21] tonight you know how many times should we do
[59:23] you know how many times should we do that then the holy spirit was like kathy
[59:26] that then the holy spirit was like kathy more
[59:28] more and see at that time i remember i didn't
[59:30] and see at that time i remember i didn't know what more was you know what could i
[59:32] know what more was you know what could i say but then i just said to the lord
[59:35] say but then i just said to the lord what's more
[59:37] what's more and he showed me what that was
[59:41] and it was only for him that i did it
[59:43] and it was only for him that i did it and dale benefited but i did it for the
[59:47] and dale benefited but i did it for the lord
[59:48] lord and i have so many people come to me
[59:50] and i have so many people come to me because i've done this at retreats a few
[59:52] because i've done this at retreats a few times and they'll come to me if they see
[59:53] times and they'll come to me if they see me later and they'll say
[59:55] me later and they'll say it didn't work
[59:58] it didn't work now that's you've heard it said thinking
[01:00:01] now that's you've heard it said thinking isn't it you know i did it to get a
[01:00:03] isn't it you know i did it to get a response i didn't get the response i
[01:00:05] response i didn't get the response i want so
[01:00:06] want so be forewarned you know we've got to
[01:00:09] be forewarned you know we've got to remember we're doing this because
[01:00:11] remember we're doing this because god has called us to the more life and
[01:00:13] god has called us to the more life and this is all about him
[01:00:15] this is all about him but watch
[01:00:17] but watch what he does when we choose more
[01:00:20] what he does when we choose more god bless you

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tm1xhWlIv3c

Summary

TL;DR — This sermon emphasizes that true Christian living, or "kingdom living," goes beyond merely avoiding sin; it involves actively doing good and demonstrating God's love through actions like blessing enemies and praying for persecutors. The core message is to "do more" than the world does, motivated by God's agape love, not for human praise, but to glorify God.

Key points

• True discipleship requires choices that differentiate believers from the world, such as choosing honesty over ease and giving generously.

• The sermon contrasts worldly motivations for good deeds (praise from others) with kingdom motivations (glorifying God), referencing Matthew 6:1-4.

• Jesus warns against performing acts of charity or prayer to be seen by others, as this forfeits heavenly reward.

• The teaching highlights the importance of internal motivation, urging listeners to examine why they do good deeds and to focus on God's approval.

• The concept of "doing more" is central, meaning actively blessing those who curse, doing good to those who hate, and praying for those who persecute, reflecting God's unconditional love.

• Christian perfection is defined not as flawlessness, but as a continuous seeking and striving to become more like Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Takeaway — Kingdom living is characterized by actively doing good and loving others unconditionally, motivated by God's love and empowered by the Holy Spirit, rather than simply refraining from bad actions.