Matthew 5:33-48

Matthew 5:33-48

“Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love”

Part 4 in “Sermon On The Mount” series
July 22 2007

As most of you know, Sally and I don’t have children, but, those of you who know us know how much we enjoy being around children. We enjoy the times we can be around children – and truly appreciate those of you who “share your children with us.”

We enjoyed being around the kids at the July 4^th cookout – and loved being around the kids at Vacation Bible School.

After Monday night of Vacation Bible School – when I won the watermelon eating contest and got soaked in the water balloon fight that turned into a hose fight – some of you may have wondered if, indeed, Sally did, in fact, have a big kid in her house – namely — me!

And I loved being with the kids last night at the Red Wolves Faith and Family Night baseball game. Sally hated to miss it – probably because she hated missing an opportunity to be with y’all more than she hated missing the baseball game.

Yea – Sally and I love being around children.

I particularly enjoy watching other’s children grow and develop. It amazes me when I watch parents teach their children how to do certain tasks – like how to walk. The children and the parents are usually very proud of the accomplishment!

The past few months I’ve been watching Marion, Cindy, Amanda and Rachel as they have been teaching Mason how to walk. They have all been extremely proud of his accomplishments!

As I have watched Mason learn to walk, I have thought about how we all need to learn to walk. Maybe we don’t need to learn to walk like Mason is learning – most of us know how to physically walk – but we need to learn how to walk spiritually – how to walk in God’s ways – how to walk as God wants us to walk.

The truth is that – just as parents teach their children to walk – Jesus can teach us how to walk in His ways. Just as a parent holds the hand of a child and smiles proudly as the child learns to walk – Jesus can take us by the hand and teach us how to walk in His ways – and smiles as we do His will. Like children learning to physically walk we aren’t going to walk in Jesus’ ways perfectly – we’ll stumble and fall – but just as a parent will pick up a child and help the child try again – Jesus picks us up and helps us try again to walk in His ways.

Jesus has taught us how to walk in His ways.

We need to look at His words – His teachings – so we can walk as He taught us how to walk.

We need to learn to walk like Jesus taught.

We need to learn to walk like Jesus taught.

This summer we’re looking at one of the places where Jesus taught us how to walk in His ways. We’re looking at what is called The Sermon On The Mount – Matthew chapters 5-7. As we look at these chapters we’ll see how Jesus taught us to walk – so we can learn how to

Walk Like Jesus Taught

Walk Like Jesus Taught

Walk Like Jesus Taught – that’s our theme for the summer.

We’ve already seen how the Sermon On The Mount is an important piece of scripture. It’s the longest segment of scripture with just the teachings of Jesus – and it’s a piece of scripture where Jesus gives the guidelines for how His followers should live. Matthew places it at an important point in Jesus’ ministry. As Matthew records the story of Jesus, Jesus has been born – raised in Nazareth – has been baptized by John – has been tempted by Satan in the wilderness – and has now begun His ministry of teaching and healing. He has begun to attract crowds of people — and has even called some to be disciples.

But – the crowds – and especially the disciples – must have wondered how they were supposed to live – how they were supposed to act – what they were supposed to do. The disciples had given up their old lifestyles to follow Jesus – and they were probably wondering how they were supposed to live now that they were following Jesus.

Well – they were about to find out.

As Jesus climbed that mountainside – He began to teach His disciples how He wanted them to live.

And the disciples began their attempt to walk like Jesus taught.

Walk Like Jesus Taught

Walk Like Jesus Taught

Six weeks ago we looked at the first 12 verses of Matthew 5 – what we call The Beattitudes – and saw how the first step to walking like Jesus taught is walking in God’s blessings by surrendering yourself to God, giving Him control of your life, and serving others with a heart of compassion.

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk in God’s blessings.

That’s the first step.

Four weeks ago we looked at Matthew 5: 13-16 – and saw how we can be the light of Christ in the world as we live like Jesus lived – or – as I put it — walk like Jesus walked.

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk in God’s blessings.

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk Like Jesus

These are the first 2 steeps we must take.

Two weeks ago we looked at Matthew 5:17-32 – and saw how the third step ion walking like Jesus taught is walking in righteousness.

So – the first 3 steps to walking like Jesus taught are:

Walk in God’s blessing

Walk like Jesus

Walk in righteousness

Today – we’re going to take the fourth step as we look at Matthew 5:33-43 – and see that – if we are going to walk like Jesus taught – we are going to have to walk in love.

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love!

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love!

Listen to God’s word:

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk in God’s Blessings

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk Like Jesus

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Righteousness

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love

It could be said there are few passages of Scripture that summarize Christian ethics more succinctly than today’s passage. It could be said, however, that few passages are more misunderstood. There are several recognizable phrases in this passage: “Turn the other cheek”; “Go the second mile”; “Love your enemies.” There may be people who have never set foot inside a church but are familiar with these sayings. But the questions for us are: What do these phrases mean — and how do they apply to our lives today—almost 2000 years after they were spoken? Though Jesus is referring to laws and customs that were specific to His culture, His words do apply to where we live today in the 21st century, because the desire that prompted these words — the desire for revenge – is as much an issue for us today as it was for those living in the first century.

When someone does you wrong, when someone takes advantage of you or bullies you, more times than not your first reaction is to do everything you can to get even.

But Jesus teaches us to love – not to seek revenge.

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love

Let’s tale a closer look at the statements Jesus made. These statements, I’m afraid, are sometimes misinterpreted. Taking a closer look at them might help put these words in their proper perspective.

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love

First of all, Jesus said…

(v. 39) “Do not resist an evil person.”

Does this mean that we should become completely passive and let others walk all over us? Does it mean that we should do nothing to protect our lives or the lives of our children? Does it mean that we should never stand up for our rights? Of course not. When Jesus drove the money-changers out of the temple he wasn’t being passive. When Paul demanded his rights as a Roman citizen after being without trial in Acts 16, he wasn’t being passive. And when Jesus and Paul encouraged believers to confront those who sin in order to help them to find forgiveness, they weren’t encouraging us to be passive either.

The word translated “resist” here in verse 39 is antistanai – which is better translated — retaliate. Jesus is talking about revenge, not self-preservation. Jesus isn’t telling us to be weak and passive; he’s telling us not to be vindictive. He’s telling us to not be vindictive, but to be loving.

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love

Another statement that can be misinterpreted is…

(v. 42) Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Does this mean that a Christian banker should never refuse a loan application, no matter how bad a person’s credit report looks? Does this mean you have to loan money to someone again and again, even if you know they won’t make an effort to pay it back? Or that every time you’re approached by a panhandler on the street that you have to give them your money? I don’t think so. This commandment doesn’t relieve us of our obligation to manage our resources responsibly. It’s our responsibility to practice generosity, but it’s also our responsibility to practice discernment. We are to walk in love – but use our resources in a way that God’s love can be shown to the most number of people.

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love

Well – what about where Jesus said…

(v. 48) Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly father is perfect.

This sounds impossible, doesn’t it? But – I don’t think it really is. I find it hard to believe that Jesus would ever command us to do something that we aren’t capable of doing. Jesus didn’t command us to be all powerful, or to be all knowing—these things are beyond our grasp. But he did tell us to be perfect, as our heavenly father is perfect. Let’s look again at the Greek here. Maybe this will help us. The Greek word for perfect is teleios. It means to reach an intended end or completion. In other places in the Bible, it is translated mature. In other words, a person is teleios if he or she fulfills the purpose for which they were created. In the context of this passage, Jesus is saying you can be perfect…you can fulfill your purpose in life…you can demonstrate your maturity, by loving your enemies. We are never more like God than when we love those who don’t love us. Paul said in Romans 5:8:

But God demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

And in 1 John we read:

We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19)

It isn’t an impossible sinless perfection Jesus is referring to. What Jesus is referring to here is being perfect in love—loving your enemies. He’s talking about walking in – and living in – love.

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love

Well – practically specking – how can we do this?

Here are four things we can do to show walk live Jesus taught – to walk in love. First of all…

1. Don’t respond to insults.

Jesus said…

(v. 39) If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Jesus is talking about more than physical violence, because he specifies the “right cheek”. Think about it. Most people are right handed. How would a person using their dominant right hand hit you on the right cheek? Most likely with the back of their hand. According to Rabbinic Law, hitting a man with the back of your hand was twice as insulting as hitting a man with the palm of your hand. Jesus said that when that happens, don’t return the insult, don’t retaliate. Jesus’ point is not that we should let people physically abuse us, His point is that we should refrain from trying to get even when someone insults us. For most of us – in fact I’m going to go out on a limb and say that for almost all of us – our response to being insulted is to want to “jab” the person who insulted us – either physically or with a well placed put – down. With the exception of a couple playground disagreements in elementary school, I have never been hit on the face by another person. But I have been insulted more times than I care to remember. And more times than I care to admit, I have gone out of my way to return the insult. But Jesus says to walk in love – to be loving – and to not respond to insults.

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love

Did you ever watch the TV show Seinfeld? If so, your probably remember the George. In one episode George was insulted by a co-worker during an office meeting. He brooded about this and vowed to get even. A few days later, he thought up the ideal comeback for the insult, and started making plans to ambush his co-worker in another meeting and spring the insult on him. But then the co-worker resigned his job and started working for a company in Ohio. Not satisfied, George developed an elaborate plan and flew to Ohio, orchestrated a meeting with the company’s brass, and set the stage to get even with his former co-worker. Needless to say, his plan didn’t work. When George seized the opportunity to deliver his insult, his former co-worker came back with an even snappier insult, and once again, everyone laughed at George.

It’s funny when we see George on Seinfeld do it, but how many times have you fumed and fretted over an insult—playing and replaying it in your mind — thinking about what you should have said … the snappy comeback you wish you had thought of on the spot. But it never does any good, does it? It never makes you feel better. It never resolves the problem. It never takes away the hurt. In fact, the longer you hold on to the idea of retaliation, the more the insult hurts.

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love

Don’t respond to insults.

Do you remember a couple of years ago when Tiger Woods won the Master’s Tournament – and Fuzzy Zoeller responded with some mean, racist remarks—remarks he intended to be funny, but were actually mean-spirited? Well, Fuzzy received a great deal of well-deserved criticism for his comments, but Tiger Woods’ response was, “We all make mistakes and it’s time to move on.” Surely, Tiger could have returned the insult—the media would have loved it—but he refused to retaliate. Instead, he said, “Let’s move on.”

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love

When you’re insulted, you can waste your energy thinking of ways to get even, or you can choose the alternative to revenge—you can be loving instead. You can be like your heavenly father. You can love your enemies.

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love

First – try not to respond to insults.

2. Do more than is required of you to make things right.

Jesus said…

(v. 40) If someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.

In those days a man typically wore an inner garment, a tunic, which was similar to a shirt, and an outer garment, a cloak, which was similar to a coat. A man would probably own more than one tunic, but only one cloak. Also, a man’s cloak was used as a blanket when he slept. Therefore, in a legal dispute, a creditor could sue a man for his tunic, but not his cloak. This was an Old Testament law.

If you take your neighbor’s coat as a pledge, return it to him by sunset, because his cloak is the only covering he has for his body. What else will he sleep in? (Exodus 22:26-27)

The only way your cloak could be taken would be if you promised it as a surety for a loan – and the loan was not paid back.

So—what Jesus is saying is something like: “If you have a debt that you haven’t paid, and get sued as a result, do more than is legally required of you to make the debt right.” Ideally, a suit would never be necessary. A man would pledge his tunic as a security on a debt, and then pay the debt when it came due, and the lien on his tunic would be released. But Jesus says, “If you mess up that process and someone has to sue to get what they have coming to them, then you go out of your way to make it right—do more than is required of you.” In order to do this, you have to be willing to admit that you are wrong, and you have to be willing to make restitution.

This was the spirit Zacchaeus showed when he became a devoted follower of Christ. He said to Jesus…

“If I have cheated anybody out of anything I will pay back four times the amount.” (Luke 19:8)

We need to follow Zacchaeus’ example. When we offend someone…when we find ourselves to be in the wrong…we need to do more than is required to make things right. This disarms your enemies. I read of a man in the software business who borrowed $90,000 from three individuals in 1986 to fund his new company. They expected to get their money back within a year, but the business didn’t take off like they thought it would, and they lost their money. In 1992 the investors sued this man, and won a judgment against him. He didn’t have the money to pay them back, so their lawsuit was futile—until 1994 when he sold his company. According to the terms of the judgment, he had to pay each investor about $40,000. But this man had made a lot of money when he sold his company, so each investor received a check for more than $80,000.

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love

Do more than is required of you to make things right.

Think of those who may have something against you. It may not be about money; it may be about something you said, or something you did. Maybe you took credit for something at work that you didn’t deserve to take credit for. Maybe you imposed on someone’s time and took advantage of their kindness. Maybe you spread gossip about someone and tried to ruin their reputation. If you have wronged anyone, Jesus is challenging you to make full restitution, and then some. Do more than is required of you. This is a humbling experience. It’s much easier to love someone who has wronged you than it is to humble yourself before someone you have wronged—especially if you know that they don’t like you! It’s not easy, but it’s holy. In doing so, you perfect yourself. You become like your heavenly father.

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love

Try not to respond to insults.

Do more than is required of you to make things right.

3. Be kind to those who mistreat you.

Jesus said,

(v. 41) If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

Everyone is familiar with the phrase “Go the second mile.” When Jesus spoke these words he was referring to a common custom in Roman occupied lands. Roman law gave a soldier a right to force a civilian to carry his pack for one mile. Needless to say, this caused great inconvenience to civilians – and – anger. Imagine being late for a business meeting, and suddenly being stopped on the street and forced to drop everything in order to carry a soldier’s pack for one mile. This would be an inconvenience – and probably cause to hate the Roman soldier. You might even want to argue about how far “your mile” actually is, and be tempted to drop the pack before you actually reach a mile. But Jesus told His followers, “When that happens, instead of just walking one mile, walk two.”

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love

There’s no greater way to show God’s love than to be kind to someone who hasn’t treated you with kindness. If you have a job, I can guarantee that at sometime you will have an opportunity to put this principle into practice. Your boss may try to bully you, or sabotage your success, or take the credit for work you’ve done, and you may be tempted to try to get by doing the bare minimum. I have seen many employees who are so resentful of their employers that have gone to great lengths to calculate the very least they have to do in order to prevent getting fired—and that is all they do. At times it may seem to you that your is a bully, the company you work for oppressive and insensitive, and it may seem that they exist only to oppress you. Well, that’s probably not the case, but it may seem that way. Jesus says you should go the extra mile. Jesus says to go out of your way to treat them with kindness. Jesus says that tf they demand an extra hour, try giving them two. But there’s a trick to it. You need to do it cheerfully and enthusiastically.

Will your boss notice? Maybe. Then again — maybe not. When you treat someone who mistreats you with kindness, it may not change them, but it will change you. It will make you perfect. It will make you like your heavenly father. It will make you loving.

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love

Try not to respond to insults.

Do more than is required of you to make things right.

Be kind to those who mistreat you.

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love

A fourth way we show love to our enemies is…

4. Don’t show favorites.

Jesus said,

(v. 42) Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

It’s interesting that Jesus included this verse along with the verses that talk about how we should treat our enemies. I believe He did it because this is the context in which we need to hear it. Most of us are more than willing to give something to our friends, or to loan something to someone we like. But that’s not enough. Jesus is saying, “Don’t be generous only with your friends, but help everyone you can.” Mark McCormick, the author of What They Don’t Teach You In Harvard Business School, once said,

“All things being equal, people buy from friends. All things being unequal, people still buy from friends. Therefore, make friends!”

That’s the way it works in the business world most of the time, but Jesus is challenging his followers to go beyond that attitude—to be generous with the people we like as well as the people we don’t like. This principle applies to much more than our money; it applies to how we treat people in every area of life. You may find, some time, that you have the opportunity to help someone who isn’t part of the group you usually are friends with. Help them anyway. You may have the chance to help someone who has been unfriendly to you in the past. Help them anyway. Don’t withhold your generosity from those who need it. Help them when you can. Remember: Jesus isn’t commanding us to be irresponsible with our resources, but He is commanding us not to be stingy. He is commanding us to not hold back when it is within our power to help.

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love

A pastor once told me that their policy was to give as much help as they could afford to people who came to their church needing food or money. Then, they signed them up to be part of a home cell group, and encouraged them to become fully committed followers of Jesus. The pastor said, “There are some in our church who would prefer it if we would just give poor people money and send them on their way, but that wouldn’t be the loving response. We try to help them become involved with our fellowship. It’s a lot more work, but it’s what God wants us to do.” Jesus is telling us to be generous even to those who may not fully appreciate our generosity. In doing so, we become perfect; we become like our heavenly father.

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love

Try not to respond to insults.

Do more than is required of you to make things right.

Be kind to those who mistreat you.

Don’t show favorites.

Jesus summarized this teaching by saying,

(v. 43-44) “You have that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”

The phrase “sons of your father” is an idiom; it means “that you may be like your father in heaven”. We are never more like our father than when we love those who don’t love us…when we refuse to retaliate, even if the other person is wrong…when we seek to make restitution for our own wrongs…when we respond to mistreatment with kindness…when we extend our generosity to all who need it…that’s how we show his love. That’s how we become perfect, like our heavenly father is perfect.

That’s how we:

Walk Like Jesus Taught

That’s how we walk in love.

So – walking like Jesus taught means walking in God’s blessings.

Walking like Jesus taught means walking – or living — like Jesus.

Walking like Jesus taught means walking in righteousness.

Walking like Jesus taught means walking in love.

4 steps for us to take to walk like Jesus taught – and we are just finishing a third of the Sermon On The Mount. Chapters 6 and 7 contain other steps for us to take.

But – for this week – let’s try to:

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Love Amen.

Matthew 5:17-32

Matthew 5:17-32Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Righteousness

July 8, 2007

Part 3 in Sermon On The Mount series

     Although Sally and I don’t have children, those of you who know us know how much we enjoy being around children.  We enjoy the times we can be around children – and truly appreciate those of you who “share your children with us.”

      We enjoyed being around the kids Wednesday evening at the July 4^th cookout – and somehow both of us managed to stay dry during the water balloon fight! I also enjoyed taking Colton and his friend to the baseball game and fireworks display after the cookout. I think Sally tolerated it – but I enjoyed it! Any time you combine July 4^th, baseball, fireworks and kids you can be sure that I want to be in on that! We’re looking forward to the fun of VBS this week also. Yea – Sally and I love being around children.          

   I particularly enjoy watching other’s children grow and develop.  It amazes me when I watch parents teach their children how to do certain tasks – like how to walk.  The children and the parents are usually very proud of the accomplishment! The past few months I’ve been watching Marion, Cindy, Amanda and Rachel as they have been teaching Mason how to walk.  They have all been extremely proud of his accomplishments!              As I have watched Mason learn to walk, I have thought about how we all need to learn to walk. Maybe we don’t need to learn to walk like Mason is learning – most of us know how to physically walk – but we need to learn how to walk spiritually – how to walk in God’s ways – how to walk as God wants us to walk.  The truth is that – just as parents teach their children to walk – Jesus can teach us how to walk in His ways.  Just as a parent holds the hand of a child and smiles proudly as the child learns to walk – Jesus can take us by the hand and teach us how to walk in His ways – and smiles as we do His will.  Like children learning to physically walk we aren’t going to walk in Jesus’ ways perfectly – we’ll stumble and fall – but just as a parent will pick up a child and help the child try again –  Jesus picks us up and helps us try again to walk in His ways. Jesus has taught us how to walk in His ways. We need to look at His words – His teachings – so we can walk as He taught us how to walk. We need to learn to walk like Jesus taught. We need to learn to walk like Jesus taught.

     This summer we’re looking at one of the places where Jesus taught us how to walk in His ways.  We’re looking at what is called The Sermon On The Mount – Matthew chapters 5-7.  As we look at these chapters we’ll see how Jesus taught us to walk – so we can learn how to Walk Like Jesus TaughtWalk Like Jesus TaughtWalk Like Jesus Taught – that’s our theme for the summer. We’ve already seen how the Sermon On The Mount is an important piece of scripture.  It’s the longest segment of scripture with just the teachings of Jesus – and it’s a piece of scripture where Jesus gives the guidelines for how His followers should live. Matthew places it at an important point in Jesus’ ministry.  As Matthew records the story of Jesus, Jesus has been born – raised in Nazareth – has been baptized by John – has been tempted by Satan in the wilderness – and has now begun His ministry of teaching and healing.  He has begun to attract crowds of people — and has even called some to be disciples.  But – the crowds – and especially the disciples – must have wondered how they were supposed to live – how they were supposed to act – what they were supposed to do.  The disciples had given up their old lifestyles to follow Jesus – and they were probably wondering how they were supposed to live now that they were following Jesus. Well – they were about to find out. As Jesus climbed that mountainside – He began to teach His disciples how He wanted them to live.And the disciples began their attempt to walk like Jesus taught.

     Walk Like Jesus Taught

     Walk Like Jesus Taught

     Four weeks ago we looked at the first 12 verses of Matthew 5 – what we call The Beattitudes – and saw how the first step to walking like Jesus taught is walking in  God’s blessings by surrendering yourself to God, giving Him control of your life, and serving others with a heart of compassion.

     Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk in God’s blessings.

     That’s the first step. 

     Two weeks ago we looked at Matthew 5: 13-16 – and saw how we can be the light of Christ in the world as we live like Jesus lived – or – as I put it — walk like Jesus walked.  

     Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk in God’s blessings.

     Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk Like Jesus

     These are the first 2 steeps we must take. Today we’re going to look at the third step. We find it in Matthew 5:17-32. As we look at Matthew 5:17-32 we’re going to see that – if we are going to walk like Jesus taught – we are going to have to walk in righteousness.

     Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Righteousness

     Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Righteousness

     Listen to God’s word:

     Read Passage

     Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk in God’s blessings.

     Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk Like Jesus

     Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Righteousness      

        Thursday morning I was here working on my sermon,  I went home at lunch time and Sally asked me what I was preaching on this week.      

      “Sin”   was my one word reply.     

         She had expected more of a response than just the word “sin” – so she asked:            “And what are you going to say about sin?”      

      “I’m against it.”  as my 3 word reply that time.  

     Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Righteousness 

     Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Righteousness 

     You know – it is unfortunate – but too many times we are not as “against” sin as Jesus would want us to be. We do not deal with sin as seriously or as ruthlessly as Jesus might want us to. Just looking at the moral condition of many of our Church leaders and the responses of the congregations when a leader falls into sin shows that we don’t deal with sin as Jesus would have us to, and are not as “against” sin as Jesus calls us to be. Many times we as Christians seem to be more influenced by our culture than by the Bible. Our culture feeds on lust – sex – materialism – violence — and the like – and too many times we go along with that and even join in. Here are some facts that I find – not interesting – but disturbing: 

·        Over 75% of all internet users on line after 10 o’clock are viewing pornography. The largest group viewing are boys between the age of 13 and 18.

·        ½ of all married people will commit adultery during their life time. ·        The level of adultery among Christians is half the national average.

·        1 in 4 Christians has committed adultery.

 ·        1 in 10 pastors have committed adultery

     Yea – we are not as “against” sin as Jesus calls us to be.Too many times our culture influences our beliefs about what is right and wrong more than Jesus does.It’s time we learn to walk like Jesus taught. It’s time we learned to walk in righteousness.

 Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Righteousness 

Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Righteousness

  “Do not think I have come to think I have come to abolish the Law and the Prophets” Jesus says. Jesus didn’t come to do away with the laws against lust, pornography, adultery, violence.

“I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them”Jesus says.

     And then – He says:“unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”I’m sure that must have surprised those who originally heard Jesus speak these words.  “What does He man by that?” they must have thought.The Pharisees seemed to be the most righteous people in their society.  What did Jesus mean they must be more righteous than the Pharisees?  How could they be more righteous than the Pharisees?Well, Jesus knew some of the Pharisees better than others did. He not only knew how they appeared to be on the outside – how they acted – but Jesus also knew how they were on the inside – what they thought – what was on their minds – what was in their hearts – and what they did when no one else was looking. And Jesus knew that we have to be more righteous than some of them were.  “unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Righteousness  Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Righteousness   Jesus said: you have heard it was said, ‘do not commit adultery’ but I tell you that anyone who lusts after a woman has already committed adultery in his heart. In saying this, Jesus is overthrowing the traditions of the Pharisees. You see — the Pharisees had relegated obedience to external adherence.  As long as their behaviors followed the law or the traditions they were ok. But Jesus is saying that the issue of obedience is much deeper than mere conforming to the law or a set of rules. It’s much more than just acting in ways that don’t go against the laws. Jesus is saying that obedience goes much deeper than that. Our culture of today and, unfortunately, many times the church often deals with moral issues by getting people to conform to the law – to get their actions right – and that’s all we worry about. Jesus is not satisfied with adherence to the law or traditions. He’s not satisfied with just our actions being right.  He wants our thoughts, our motives, our hearts, and what we do when no one else is looking to be right, also.  That’s why Jesus says: “unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven”Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Righteousness  Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Righteousness  At another place Jesus had this to say about the Pharisees:“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. 27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. (Matthew 23:25)Sin goes much deeper than just how you act. Walking in righteousness goes much deeper than how you act. Jesus is concerned with much more than how you act. Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Righteousness  Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Righteousness  Jesus said:If you have looked lustfully at a woman you have already committed adultery in your heart. The issue here is not act of adultery.            The issue is the heart.
          The issue is that we need to have our hearts radically changed by Jesus so that we want to think and want to do the right thing. Sin is more than acts of disobedience. The act of sin arises out of a heart that is sinful. Too many times our hearts are polluted and contaminated, and sin arises from a corrupt heart. The issue is more than acts or deeds that are sinful.  The issue is sin itself. Thoughts that are sinful are just as bad as deeds that are sinful. . Sin is more than what we do or not do — sin is a power and influence in the heart. It has a life of its own that seeks to rule you like a master. Addicts know what it is like to be mastered by their drug of choice — whether it be alcohol, narcotic, pornography, or whatever. Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Righteousness  Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Righteousness  Sin is subtle. It seeks to come up from behind and hook you before you know what has hit you. Fishermen use bait that either is something the fish wants or is designed to look like something the fish wants. The bait is not the only important aspect to fishing. How the bait is cast is equally important. You need to be able to cast the bait in such a way that the fish thinks it is real – even if it is artificial. The fish strikes at the bait thinking it is the real thing until the hook rips into its flesh. But then it is too late. In life we might “strike” at something that looks “real” and that looks “good” – yea – it might look “real good” – - but in the end it will catch us! We think we can play with it and get a way with it.  But – friends – even a quick look, a quick glance, is dangerously wrong. We are really playing with fire. Sin is like the diesel fuel that you put on a pile of wood you want to burn. Put one small match to it and before you know it you have roaring fire.The act of sin is only the symptom of the sin in our hearts. Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Righteousness  Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Righteousness  We must deal with ruthlessly with sin. We must deal ruthlessly with the sin that is in our hearts. We must be ruthlessly “against sin”. We must be serious about the sin that is in our hearts – because it can so easily become sin in our lives.    Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Righteousness  Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Righteousness  Jesus is serious about sin. His way of dealing with it is violent. Now — He does not mean to literally tear out your eye or remove your hand because – as we have already seen — sin is not in the eye or in the hand. Sin is in the heart. But what Jesus is saying is to be ruthless and radical with sin.  What Jesus is saying is to get rid of everything and anything that leads you down the path of sin. Be Radical. Be ruthless. Don’t play around with sin. Cut off the source of it.  If it is TV, get rid of it. If it is the internet, cut it off.If it is magazines, stop the subscriptions. If it is the newspaper, cancel the subscription.Cut off the source – whatever it is!  Here’s the question you must answer:How badly do you want to get rid of sin in your life? How much do you love Christ and hate sin? How much do you want to walk like Jesus taught?Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Righteousness  Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Righteousness  It has been said that there is a mean streak to authentic self-control. Self-control is not for the timid. When we want to grow in self control, we, not only grow in our relationship with Christ and begin walking in righteousness, we also demand a hatred for sin of ourselves.  The only possible attitude we can have toward a desire that is out of control and even bordering on sin is an attitude of all-out war.  Thomas Dishman – the young man who was welcomed at a  member of Hopewell today — can tell you from his training – and soon from experience – that there is something about war that sharpens the senses. You hear a twig snap or the rustling of leaves and you are in attack mode. Someone coughs and you are ready to pull the trigger. Even after days of little of no sleep, being at war can keep you vigilant – or at least it should.We must wage war against sin. You must suffocate the sin. You must cut off the life-line. Sinful deeds have a life line that must be cut. We must cut off the hands and gouge out the eyes — not literally – that would do no good – but with that kind of violent heart-work. You kill the bad fruit by cutting off the bad root.Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Righteousness  Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Righteousness  Ok – but how do we kill suffocate sin – cut off it’s life line – cut off the bad root that produces the bad fruit? I suggest 3 steps.
Step One: Set Your Mind on the Things of the Spirit
You don’t just look at the temptation and say NO. Of course, that is a part of it.  But you have to do more —  you have to direct your mind — your heart —  your spiritual focus in another direction —  namely to the “things of the Spirit.”So that’s the first step.  Don’t just quit thinking about sinful things – start thinking about spiritual things. Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Righteousness  Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Righteousness  Next: Think about the word of God.   
If we are going to put to death the sinful things that attract us, we have to think about and focus on the things of God – the words of God. Reading – and even memorizing scripture so you’ll have a verse in mind the moment you feel tempted – are vital to defeating sin. Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Righteousness  Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Righteousness              Set your minds on the things of the spirit.             Think about God’s word.Then – receive the help God gives you. God gives us the strength to kill sin – but we have to receive the strength God gives us – and use it!  Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Righteousness  Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Righteousness              Set your mind on the things of the spirit.             Think about God’s word.Receive the help God gives you. Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Righteousness  Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Righteousness  We are not left helpless in our fight against sin – our fight to rid ourselves of the sinful thoughts that lead to sinful actions. When temptation comes, God can strengthen us to respond with a very powerful and resolute NO – and to look to a word from God, especially a word that promises He will be more for us and do more for us than what this sin promises. If you believe His promise you can begin winning the main battle – you can sever the root of sinWalk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Righteousness  Walk Like Jesus Taught: Walk In Righteousness  How badly do you want to get rid of sin in your life? How much do you love Christ and hate sin? How much do you want to walk like Jesus taught?You can immerse your mind and heart in the fountain of truth and life and power – the promises and the presence of God — and when temptations come, God can give you the strength to kill it before it becomes sin. We can never become perfect at this – but – praise God – God can strengthen us to become better. Let’s strive to set our minds on the things of the Spirit – to think about God’s word when we are tempted – and receive the strength God gives us. Let’s strive to walk like Jesus taught.This means walking in God’s blessings. This means walking like Jesus walked .This means walking in righteousness. Amen.  

2 Chronicles 7:11-22, Galations 5:1,13-25, Mark 12:13-17

2 Chronicles 7: 11-22

Galatians 5:1, 13-25

Mark 12:13-17

“Praying For America”

July 1, 2007

(Communion)

Read Scripture

 

My country ‘tis of thee,

sweet land of liberty,

of thee I sing:

 

Land where my fathers died,

Land of the pilgrims’ pride

From every mountainside

Let freedom ring!

 

            So are the words of the hymn we just sang.   

            The sentiment of this hymn is shared by most of us today.  I am sure that all of us here today — especially as we begin this glorious week when we will celebrate the 231^st birthday of our great nation — are proud to be citizens of America — pray for God to bless America – and pray for freedom to ring throughout  our land – indeed throughout the world. I know I am glad to live in this great country of ours — and I am sure all of you are, too!  As Lee Greenwood once sang – I am proud to be an American – and I feel confident that you are, too.

            I love history – and I can get overly sentimental about things like this – but it gives me chill bumps to be standing in the pulpit of this Church – so rich in history. This Church – which stood in this place – or across the street – before there was a United States of America.  This Church – which has made such a contribution to our community, state, and country. 

            Yes – I am proud to be an American – and proud to be a part of the life of this Church. 

            But – as proud as I am to be an American – as proud as I am to be a part of this Church that is so rich in history – as proud as I am of my country and as carried away as I can get about July 4^th – I also have to remind myself – and I want to remind you in case you’re getting too wrapped up in patriotic ferver — that today  is not just July 1 —      

            No —  today is not only July 1 — it is Sunday, July 1.

            Sunday — the day we gather together to worship and give praise to God.

            Sunday — and on this particular Sunday we have gathered around the Lord’s Table to partake of the sacrament of Communion.

            So — how do we combine our love for God – and commitment to God – with our love for our country?

            How do we combine the two?

God, bless America.

Irving Berlin wrote.

God, bless America.

 A great sentiment – one I hold – and I am sure one all of you hold.

God, bless America – our country – it’s people – us!  

            Yea – God bless us!

            But – we have some questions we have to answer today:

            How do we combine our love for God – and commitment to God – with our love for our country?

            What does our relationship and loyalty to God ask of us?

            What does our relationship and loyalty to our country ask of us?

            How can we ask God to bless America?

            Most importantly — what will Americans have to do for God to bless America?

            I believe the real question is – what will we have to do for God to bless America?

            What will you and I have to do for God to bless this great country of ours?

           

God, bless America.

The Scripture passages we looked at a few minutes ago give us no direct answers to these questions — but they give us some guidelines to follow – some ideas — of what we must do –what must be done – for God to bless America.

 

God, bless America.

            “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?

Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

            When asked a “trick” question — a question intended to force Him to make a statement that would either make the Roman government or the Jews mad — what does Jesus do?

            Jesus does a very wise thing.

            He asks for a denarius — the money used to pay the tax. 

            On it was a picture of Tiberius — the emperor — and an inscription bearing Tiberius’ name.  Clearly — the coin — with the picture and inscription of Tiberius — belonged to Tiberius.  So Jesus replies:

“ Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s,”

but — then He adds —

            “give to  God the things that are God’s.”

           

God, bless America.

            But – we might wonder — what do we owe God – and what do we owe Caesar – or the country?

            Sometimes we get a bit confused on this.

            At times we might be so supportive of America – of our country – that we feel everything we do as a country is perfect in every way – and that God will indeed bless us just because of who we are – just because we are Americans — regardless of what we do.

 

God, bless America.

            What will it take for God to bless America?

            What must happen for God to bless America?

            The passage from 2 Chronicles can help us understand the true relationship between God and country – and what must happen for God to bless America.

            Here is King Solomon — King of Israel — a great king in his own right and son of King David – completing the magnificent Temple in Jerusalem.  This was the Temple that King David had wanted to build — but it had been left up to Solomon to build this magnificent Temple for the Hebrew people to assemble in and worship God. 

            God speaks to Solomon after the Temple is completed — and tells Solomon that He approves of what Solomon has done — and will bless Solomon and his country – if they will follow in God’s ways.

             But – here’s the catch — if they fail to follow in the way of the Lord — He will not bless them — but will curse them.

 

God, bless America.

            God promises to bless Solomon and the people of Israel – but not just because of who they are.  God promises to bless them if they remember who He is – and if they will follow Him.

 

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

 

            However, God also promises a curse upon Solomon and the people of Israel if they fail to follow His way. 

 

But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name.

 

            God, bless America.

The promises that God gave to Solomon centuries ago still hold true today. 

            God, bless America.

            These are indeed great words — and the thought behind them extremely commendable — but — we have to ask ourselves –

            What must happen for God to bless America?

            What must Americans do for God to bless America?

            What must we do for God to bless America?

            What must you do – what must I do – for God to bless America?

            Well, for God to bless America – Americans are going to have to follow God.

            For God to bless America, we are going to have to follow God.

            You want God to bless America?

            Then you are going to have to follow God!

 

            Listen again to what God says to Solomon:

 

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

 

            God, bless America.

            If we want God to bless America – then we as Americans are going to have to humble ourselves – pray – and seek God’s face.

            If you and I want God to bless America, you and I are going to have to humble ourselves – pray – and seek God’s face.

            If we seek for God to bless America — if we truly want America to receive God’s blessings — then we need to – as Jesus says — give to God the things that are God’s.  That means that you and I are going to have to give our lives to God. This means you and I are going to have to follow God’s teachings and God’s ways.

 

            God, bless America.

The great words of the Declaration of Independence give us a description of the freedoms we enjoy as Americans:   

 

We hold these truths to be self-evident,
that all men are created equal,
that they are endowed by their Creator
with certain unalienable rights
that among these are life and liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness.

Great words.

But – the Apostle Paul reminds us in Galatians 5:13:

You, my brothers, were called to be free.

But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.  

Freedom is a gift from God – but instead of meaning that we are free to live in any way we please – freedom means that we are free to live in the ways God has called us to live. It means being free to live in God’s ways – or as Paul says by “the fruits of the Spirit” —

the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control

As Americans, we have and we celebrate great freedoms.  But – for God to bless America – we have to celebrate God’s freedoms – and live by the fruits of the Spirit – living in

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control

            God, bless America.

For that to happen – we as Americans must live in God’s ways.

For that to happen – you and I must live in God’s ways.

 

            As God told Solomon:

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

 

But – as God also told Solomon:

But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name.

 

            God, bless America.

Many times we do not live in God’s ways – and when that happens we suffer – and America suffers. For God to bless America – we as Americans are going to have to repent – and begin following God.  For God to bless America – you and I as Americans are going to have to repent – and begin following God.

            Humble ourselves – as God tells Solomon 

Humble ourselves — and pray.

            Pray for God to forgive us of the times we follow our ways instead of God’s ways.  Pray for God to forgive us for our hard headed, sinful ways – as individuals and as a country — and commit ourselves to living in God’s ways instead of our own – in God’s will instead of our wills.

            This takes repentance.

            This means confessing that we are wrong and that we need God in our lives and in our country.

            God, bless America.

            Repentance is never easy.  Confessing sins is never easy. But – it is necessary. 

            But — repentance does not just mean saying we are sorry – it – also means living in new ways. You know — repentance is not basically a religious word. It comes from a culture where people were essentially nomadic and lived in a world with no maps or street signs. It’s easy to get lost walking through the desert. You become aware that the countryside is strange. You finally say to yourself, I’m going in the wrong direction.

That’s the first act of repentance.

The second act of repentance is to go in an alternate direction.

 

God, bless America.

This is going to take repentance.

Repentance on our part.

This is also going to take our finding new ways to live.

That’s what’s needed for God to bless us – for God to bless you – for God to bless me.

That’s what’s needed for God to bless America.

God, bless America.

America has been called a great nation. This is very true — America is a very great nation. However, America is only truly great if Americans have a truly great faith in God — truly give to God the things due God and to our country the things due our county — and live in God’s ways – sharing God’s love with all people – and working for God’s kingdom of love, justice and peace on earth. This means that I am going to have to have a truly great faith in God — that I am  going to have to truly give to God the things due God and to my country the things due my county — and live in God’s ways – sharing God’s love with all people – and working for God’s kingdom of love, justice and peace on earth. This means that you are going to have to have a truly great faith in God — that you are going to have to truly give to God the things due God and to your country the things due your county — and live in God’s ways – sharing God’s love with all people – and working for God’s kingdom of love, justice and peace on earth

            America is only as great as our faith in God – my faith in God – your faith in God.

           

God, bless America.

America has been called a Christian nation.

            Indeed, our country was founded upon Christian principles — but we must return to those principles — truly give to God the things due to God — and deepen our faith in God. 

America is only a Christian nation as long as we — Americans — are a Christian people.  America is only a Christian nation as long as I am committed to following Christian ways – and as long as you are committed to living in Christian ways. Once we stop following God and Christ, we can no longer be considered a Christian nation.  As a nation, America is only as Christian as we – you and I — it’s people — live out our faith and let our faith determine what we do as individuals — and as a country. 

            God, bless America.

            America has been called a strong nation. 

            Once again, this statement is only true if we — as Americans — have a strong faith in God – a strong commitment to giving to God the things due to God and to our country the things due our country

            Only if I am willing to let my faith in God be strong and my commitment to God be strong – and let my strong commitment to God determine what I do as an individual – can America be considered a strong nation.

Only if you are willing to let your faith in God be strong and your  commitment to God be strong – and let your strong commitment to God determine what you do as an individual – can America be considered a strong nation.

Only if  we are willing to let our faith in God be strong and our  commitment to God be strong – and let our strong commitment to God determine what we do as individuals –  as a community — as a Church — and as a nation — can America be considered a strong nation.

            Only if we commit ourselves to acting on our faith – and working for God’s love and God’s will for a world filled with God’s love, justice, and peace – can America be considered a great nation.

              America’s greatness, America’s virtue as a Christian nation, and America’s strength depends upon the depth of the faith of its people — the depth of its people’s commitment to give to God the things due to God.

            America’s greatness, America’s virtue as a Christian nation, and America’s strength depends upon our ability to confess our sins – humble ourselves – and pray for God to forgive us – and find new ways to live.

            America’s greatness, America’s virtue as a Christian nation, and America’s strength depends upon my ability and your ability to confess our sins – humble ourselves – and pray for God to forgive us – and find new ways to live.

 

            Yes – God, bless America.   

God, bless America with true blessings that come with working for Your will for justice and peace for all people. 

Yes – God, bless America.   

God, bless America with true blessings that come from our being humble before You – confessing our sins — and doing Your will.  

God, bless America.

            This will only happen when we as Americans confess our sins and begin again living in God’s ways.

            God, bless America.

            This will take prayer.

As God told Solomon:

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Friends – for God to bless America – we have to pray.

You have to pray.

I have to pray.

We all have to pray.

We have to pray that we can turn back to God — and do what we can to bring our country back to God. 

God, bless America.

I ask each of you to commit yourself again to giving to God the things that are God’s — your love, your life, your thoughts, your words, your actions. 

            I ask each of you to commit yourself to doing what you can to ensure these liberties we talk so much about are experienced by all.

            I ask each of you to commit yourself again to repenting of your sins – and living in new ways.

This is what it will take for God to bless America.  

 

Indeed –

My country ‘tis of thee,

sweet land of liberty,

of thee I sing:

 

Land where my fathers died,

Land of the pilgrims’ pride

From every mountainside

Let freedom ring!

 

Amen.