January 20, 2013
Evening Service

The Sermon on the Mount is not filled with parables that leave us searching for their true meaning.  It is full of very clear and practical teaching that is easily understood, but often very difficult to apply.  Jesus is calling us to a closer walk in this sermon giving us the map we need to attain it.   Do this, He says, and I will reward you.

 

Jas 1:22 But become doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

 

This is our challenge.  We must seek to put these teachings into practice in our lives.  As we become disciples (followers) of Christ, we yield more of ourselves over to Him and thus become more like Him.

 

This morning we were shown the attitude we need to have in our giving, praying and fasting.  Each of those areas of our lives needs to be done with a sincere heart seeking to bring glory to God.

 

Mat 6:19-21 Do not lay up treasures on earth for yourselves, where moth and rust corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.  (20)  But lay up treasures in Heaven for yourselves, where neither moth nor rust corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.  (21)  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

·         Jesus certainly dials up a very relevant teaching for our materialistic society.  He is saying, do not put your trust in the things we possess because there is no guarantee that they will last.

·         Many Americans place their worth and the hope of their future upon what they have and what they can attain.  It becomes their god.

·         Look at the natural disasters we have seen recently with tornados, hurricanes and tsunamis.  People lose everything they own and have worked for their whole life.  It is indeed a tragedy.  It is also a tragedy when someone gains this entire world’s wealth and turns his back on God.

·         Jesus instructs us here to place our treasures into Heaven where they cannot be lost.

·         Wherever you keep your treasure, there is your heart also. 

 

1Ti 6:6-12 But godliness with contentment is great gain.  (7)  For we brought nothing into the world, and it is clear that we can carry nothing out.  (8)  But having food and clothing, we will be content.  (9)  But they who will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which plunge men into destruction and perdition.  (10)  For the love of money is a root of all evils, of which some having lusted after, they were seduced from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.  (11)  But you, O man of God, flee these things and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness.  (12)  Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold on eternal life, to which you are also called and have professed a good profession before many witnesses.

·         Paul calls us to flee these things and follow after righteousness, fighting the good fight of faith.

·         God cannot share ownership of your heart. 

 

Mat 6:22-23 The light of the body is the eye. Therefore if your eye is sound, your whole body shall be full of light.  (23)  But if your eye is evil, your whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

·         The analogy here is that if our eye is good then we are filled with light.  We have a single vision that we have chosen to follow Christ and His teachings.  We are able to forsake earthly treasures, believing God’s word, and place our treasures and heart where the only true security is found (in God’s hand).

·         If our eye is evil, we suffer from double vision.  We want what God offers, but we also desire to have and enjoy what this world offers.

 

Mat 6:24 No one can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

·         There it is short and simple.  You cannot have your cake and eat it too.  It is impossible to ride the fence in our following God.  You are either all in or all out.

·         Our heart must belong to God.  Many of our struggles and conflicts in our lives come upon us because we continue to try to play both sides.

·         We live in a society of materialism.  We do have to have an income to buy things that we need.  The question we must ask is “How much is enough?” 

·         I have two cars, but I want three.  I have two TVs but I want a bigger one.  I have a closet full of clothes, but I want more.  This becomes a struggle we fight, bringing worry and discontentment into every part of our lives.  This is not what Jesus wants for us.  He calls us to a transformed life.

 

Mat 6:25-32 Therefore I say to you, Do not be anxious for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  (26)  Behold the birds of the air; for they sow not, nor do they reap, nor gather into barns. Yet your heavenly Father feeds them; are you not much better than they are?  (27)  Which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his stature?  (28)  And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They do not toil, nor do they spin,  (29)  but I say to you that even Solomon in his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  (30)  Therefore if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much rather clothe you, little-faiths?  (31)  Therefore do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, With what shall we be clothed?  (32)  For the nations seek after all these things. For your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things.

·         The anxiety and worry we place upon ourselves to attain things actually denies the love, power and wisdom of God.  He is in control.

·         He feeds the birds, are you more valuable than they?

·         Can your worry change anything about a situation?

·         He clothes the lilies in the fields, are you more valuable than they?

·         God knows what we need of.  He wants us to place our trust in Him alone, not in our money possessions or abilities.

·         We have many promises, like the ones we saw this morning, that we can stand on.  If we give, pray and fast with the right attitudes, He will reward us.  He promises never to leave or forsake us.  We simply have to put our faith into action.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

 

Mat 6:33-34 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.  (34)  Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow; for tomorrow shall be anxious for its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own troubles.

·         This is in essence a covenant between Jesus and his followers.  Seek to put Him first in everything, and He will take care of the rest. 

·         Sounds simple enough, but it is something that is hard to do.  We must trust God so completely that we don’t worry about anything.  He is in control.

Pro 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding.  (6)  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

·         Walking by faith often means doing things that we do not understand.  God asks us to give unto Him even when the numbers don’t add up right.  We are to follow Him even when we don’t know where He is leading us.  We are to believe even when we don’t understand what He is doing.

·         He asks us to live one day at a time, not worrying about tomorrow because He is already there.

 

Php 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

·         Paul instructs us not to worry, but to pray.  Every time you catch yourself being anxious or worrying, pray and trust Him for He cares for you.

 

1Pe 5:6-7 Therefore be humbled under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time,  (7)  casting all your anxiety onto Him, for He cares for you.

 

Father thank you for the promises you have made to take care of us.  Help us to trust You more and always seek your kingdom first.