September 20, 2015
Evening Service

Have you seen the books that are titled “Any subject for dummies?”  They try to take whatever subject that is mentioned and break it down to the base level of easy or simple understanding.  We could make a case that this Sermon on the Mount could be called “Christianity for dummies.”  Jesus is teaching at the very basic level of what it truly means to be a Christian or Christ Follower.  The truths are taught so simply that you would have to work to mess them up.  They are very easily understood, yet sometimes very difficult to apply into our lives. 

This morning Jesus taught us the attitude He desires for us to have in our charitable deeds and our prayer life.  He told us how to act by giving us examples of how “not” to act.  Using the Pharisees as examples, He explained quite simply that both of these acts are to be done with great humility and really in secret to the knowledge of others.  The Pharisees loved to do great deeds and pray in public where others could see and admire them.  That is not the attitude we are to have in our walk with the Lord.  He used the idea of not letting “your left hand know what your right hand is doing” to explain our charitable deeds.  Our prayers are to be done in a “closet” so only you and God are present.  Jesus stated that the Pharisees got their reward of glorifying themselves, but He said in verse 6 that “your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”

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.

·         To truly serve God in a pleasing manner we must “diligently seek Him” and we have His promise that He will reward us for that effort.  To seek Him is simply reading His Word and applying that Word to our lives (diligence).

·         How are those areas of your life?  Let’s now look at a few more and see where we stand.

Forgiveness:

Mat 6:14-15 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; (15) but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

·         Forgiveness is not an option for a Christian.  We must forgive to be forgiven.

·         Let’s look at the parable Jesus teaches later in this book about forgiveness.

 

Mat 18:21-35  Then Peter came to Him and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Until seven times?  (22)  Jesus said to him, I do not say to you, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven.  (23)  Therefore the kingdom of Heaven has been compared to a certain king who desired to make an accounting with his servants.  (24)  And when he had begun to count, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. (To us roughly + $10 million)  (25)  But as he had nothing to pay, his lord commanded that he, and his wife and children, and all that he had, be sold, and payment be made.  (26)  Then the servant fell down and worshiped him, saying, “Lord, have patience with me and I will pay you all.”  (27)  Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. (Grace not justice)  (28)  But the same servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. And he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me what you owe.  (29)  And his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, Have patience with me and I will pay you all.  (30)  And he would not, but went and cast him into prison until he should pay the debt. (Justice)  (31)  So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry. And they came and told their lord all that was done.  (32)  Then his lord, after he had called him, said to him, O wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.  (33)  Should you not also have pitied your fellow servant, even as I had pity on you?  (34)  And his lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors until he should pay all that was due to him.  (35)  So likewise shall My heavenly Father do also to you, unless each one of you from your hearts forgive his brother their trespasses.

·         The whole point of this parable is NOT about money, it is about sin.  How can we be unforgiving to our brother or sister on small things when God has been so merciful to us with the big things?  Has anyone sinned against us as much as we have sinned against God?

·         The teaching is simply understood; we must forgive.  It is not, however, always simply applied.

 

Fasting:

Mat 6:16-18  And when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, of a sad face. For they disfigure their faces so that they may appear to men to fast. Truly I say to you, They have their reward.  (17)  But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,  (18)  so that you do not appear to men to fast, but to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly.

·         Fasting is to abstain from satisfying one’s physical appetite for food or drink.  This teaching mirrors that of giving and prayer in that it is to be done in secret not as a display to others of your righteousness.  Here again Jesus teaches us by comparing the “Wrong way” to the “Right way.”

·         Fasting is not commanded in the New Testament, but is greatly encouraged at times of mourning or spiritual conflict.  This again is a marvelous way for each of us to “seek” God on a deeper level.  It is to be used as a spiritual exercise to help us deny ourselves and focus at a deeper level upon God.

·         The disciples could not cast out a demon from a young man and they asked Jesus why they were unable to.

 

Mat 17:20-21 And Jesus said to them, Because of your unbelief. For truly I say to you, If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, Move from here to there. And it shall move. And nothing shall be impossible to you.  (21)  However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.

·         When we hit a place in our walk with God than seems to be a valley or a time of stagnant growth, it is then that we need to use fasting to help us focus upon God. 

·         We must realize that we are not gaining special status with God, but fasting helps us tune out the things of this world and focus us strictly upon Him. 

·         Fasting in secret again is promised by God to be rewarded openly.

 

God knows our heart and if He owns it our desire will be to line up our actions with His Word.  Forgiveness is not always easy, but it is commanded.  Fasting is not commanded, but is always worth the effort.

 

Lord may we be able to forgive others as we have been forgiven and focus solely upon You in times of fasting and prayer.