Hello! I must apologize for taking so long to post these messages (and for the missing message and/or notes). Life gets in the way sometimes, technology fails us, but God is always faithful and good! So here are a few of Terry’s recent messages in his series on True Christianity from the Sermon on the Mount in the book of Matthew.
True Christianity, pt. 10
Intro: In this section of Scripture, Jesus is going deep on issues to help us be the salt & light – to live an upright life – to manifest true Christianity to those around us. We can’t do this on our own; Christ can do it through us. As Christians, we have to forfeit our rights and take offense without demanding retribution. Taking matters to court makes us just like the world. Don’t lose your witness/testimony over “stuff.” God uses those situations to work in the hearts of unbelievers (Proverbs 25:21-22). Be willing to lose things for the sake of His kingdom.
- Christian Love: Matthew 5:43-48
- This is a supernatural work – no way we could love our enemies in our own power.
- We need to grow more like Christ every day
- if you’re not coming closer to God, seeking Him daily, you’re falling away – there is no static place
- we need to be moving toward holiness & godliness
- God won’t force it on us; we must yield
- The Christian life is hard, but it is peaceful, blessed
- Ephesians 4
- be obedient to His prompting
- if we put the things of God on hold, our lives are shallow, empty
- we come alive when we begin to be used by the Lord
- Matthew 5:43
- Old Testament – Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 23:3-6, Psalm 139:21-22
- Matthew 5:44
- LOVE your enemies
- don’t just put up with them
- what does this look like?
- love manifests in action
- God so love that He GAVE
- love manifests in action
- LOVE your enemies
- Matthew 5:45
- God loves even His opponents
- He blesses those who hate Him
- “Father, forgive them…” (Luke 23:34)
- Acts 7:54-60
- This is true Christianity. God wants to use you and me to reach the lost, but we have to yield to Him to do that.
- Corrie ten Boom & her sister, Betsie, are great examples.
- In every aspect of the Christian life, we NEED God.
- God loves even His opponents
True Christianity, pt. 11
Intro: It’s easy to love the lovable, but Christ calls us to love our enemies. Romans 5:6-11 says that we used to be God’s enemies, but even while we were His enemies, He died for us. God exhibits His love by action. We must conform to God’s standard, but there’s a wrestling that comes with that conforming (Genesis 32). God will continue to work with us as we yield to Him.
Jesus dealt primarily with doctrine & teachings of the false religious teachers in chapter 5. Now in chapter 6, Jesus will deal with what the false religious teachers were doing.
- Matthew 6:1-4
- v. 1 – Take Heed!
- pay close attention
- don’t do what the false teachers do
- don’t perform for men
- give with the right motive
- God wants us not to be stingy, but to give rightly (with the right motives in the heart)
- don’t give just for accolades
- don’t give just because you think you have to (that’s trying to work for salvation)
- God wants us not to be stingy, but to give rightly (with the right motives in the heart)
- v. 2 – How Not to Give
- the Pharisees, etc., made sure everyone saw them giving
- hypocrites (actors)
- did it to receive the praise of men
- the Pharisees, etc., made sure everyone saw them giving
- v. 3 – How to Give
- don’t do it on a stage
- give (money, time, care, love, etc.) as a part of everyday life
- be willing/open to being a blessing at any moment
- pour yourself out to meet the needs of others around you
- v. 4 – Deeds in Secret
- our charitable giving (if done with the right motives) will be rewarded by God, rather than by men
- our needs will be met now
- our reward will be in heaven
- our motive in everything should be to please God because He is worthy
- comes from a heart that has been redeemed
- He will give us discernment when we are giving, if we yield those decisions to Him
- our charitable giving (if done with the right motives) will be rewarded by God, rather than by men
- v. 1 – Take Heed!
True Christianity, pt. 12
The Proper Way to Pray
- v. 5 – Don’t Be as the Hypocrites
- prayer is a private thing between the individual and Almighty God
- the false religious people were praying only to draw the focus and attention to themselves
- wanted a big audience
- seeking the approval/accolades of man
- the false religious people were praying only to draw the focus and attention to themselves
- How did Jesus pray?
- He would often slip away in the evening and pray to His Father
- He is our example
- hypocrites
- actors playing a part
- Matthew 23 – the “reward” for the hypocrite
- the core of the hypocrite is pride
- pride has no place in the kingdom of God
- God won’t hear your petition if your heart/motive isn’t right.
- Prayer, which God has given us access to Himself through, is intimacy with Him.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:17 – pray without ceasing, talk with God all the time, be in constant communication
- prayer is a private thing between the individual and Almighty God
- v. 6 – Aspects of Proper Prayer
- Get away from distractions
- Pray to the Father in private
- v. 7 – How to Pray
- don’t babble or repeat the same thing over and over again
- unbelievers think they will be heard if they just keep talking
- vain repetition = not coming from the heart
- don’t babble or repeat the same thing over and over again
- v. 8 – The Father Already Knows
- He knows what we need, but He wants us to talk to Him, ask Him, petition Him
- v. 9-13 – The Model Prayer
- Don’t pray these words in vain, unthinkingly, just repeating the words without meaning them.
- This is the model for prayer that Jesus gave to the disciples.
- a simple prayer
- a comprehensive prayer
- v.9 – How to start your prayers:
- Our Father – who you are praying to
- in heaven – where He is
- hallowed be Your name – reverence for the Lord, keep God in His holy place, exalt Him
- v. 10 – What is important to God:
- Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
- put God and His plan first and foremost
- Revelation 4-5: continual worship in heaven
- putting His plan first will help us mentally/emotionally overcome our circumstances
- Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
- v. 11 – Our physical needs:
- Give us this day our daily bread.
- bless us with what we need for each day
- we are abundantly blessed in America, but we don’t have to put our need for provision in God’s hands as much as others do
- bless us with what we need for each day
- Give us this day our daily bread.
- v. 12 – Our spiritual needs:
- Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
- God’s forgiveness is contingent upon us forgiving those who have sinned against us.
- Sin is an indebtedness to God.
- Repentance, faithfulness, and obedience need to follow forgiveness.
- Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
- v. 13 – Keep us from transgressing:
- And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
- an important part of the Christian life
- God doesn’t tempt us (James 1)
- God does allow temptation
- we all have to deal with temptation, but we can ask God to keep us away from temptation
- we need protection from the devil
- 1 Peter 5:8 – the devil prowls
- sin brings ruin, destruction, and death.
- it’s not something to be trifled with
- we are commanded to live a holy life, and we can’t do that if we are mired in sin
- 1 Corinthians 10:13
- an important part of the Christian life
- For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
- exaltation sandwich – begin prayer with praising God and end prayer with the same
- He is sovereign over everything
- All glory is His!
- And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
- v. 14 – Addendum
- We have to forgive others before God will forgive us.
- He wants to set the captives free, and unforgiveness is a hang up to the believer
- freedom for our souls is conditional
- yield to the Holy Spirit
- God wants us to be in agreement with Him
- He wants to set the captives free, and unforgiveness is a hang up to the believer
- We have to forgive others before God will forgive us.
True Christianity, pt. 13
*Unfortunately, this message did not get recorded, and I was out of town, so there are no notes available. Sorry!
True Christianity, pt. 14
Intro: Jesus is comparing what the Word of God says to what the religious leaders were teaching. We can never meet God’s standard on our own – we need the indwelling Holy Spirit to work in and through us. Luke 19:10 No one is born saved – we are called to salvation & choose to believe, follow, yield. John 14 tells us He went to prepare a place for us (Revelation 21:1-5 describes the place) in eternity. We are in training now for dwelling with Him for eternity – the Sermon on the Mount is part of that training.
The last three messages tell us we need to do things in “secret”: 1) our giving should be glorifying to God, not ourselves; 2) our prayer life should not be about impressing other people; 3) our times of fasting are important to teach us to deny ourselves in order to get in tune with God & allow God to work in us.
- Matthew 6:24
- James 1:6-8
- He’s given us all things to be used and enjoyed, but remember that it can’t be what you worship/depend on
- Matthew 6:25 – Wean Yourself Off the World
- what do eating, drinking, & clothing have in common?
- they are physical and temporary
- we need to focus on our eternal life
- our bodies do have their needs, but the physical needs should not worry us as much as the spiritual needs
- what do eating, drinking, & clothing have in common?
- Matthew 6:26 – Look at the Birds
- God takes care of them
- you are even more important to the Father than they are, so He will take care of you, too
- Psalm 115:12 – God knows what you need & He will bless you, if you put Him first
- John 3:30 – should be our desire
- Birds don’t just hang out in the nest and wait for the seeds to come – they are diligent
- be busy about what God is calling you to do
- don’t be idle
- Matthew 6:27 – Worry Doesn’t Help
- What does worry accomplish?
- nothing
- worry only negatively affects the body
- when you’re anxious, cry out to the Lord
- anxiety means you’re not trusting God
- What does worry accomplish?
- Matthew 6:28-29 – The Lilies
- Why worry about clothing?
- the lilies are beautiful without worrying about how/where they grow
- Why worry about clothing?
- Matthew 6:30 – Faith
- worry is the opposite of faith
- faith is trusting in the Lord despite how everything looks around you
- Matthew 6:31 – Commandment
- Do Not Worry!
- don’t take any thought for your physical/temporary life
- Trust in God!
- Do Not Worry!
- Matthew 6:32 – The People of the World
- the shallowness of life apart from the Lord
- like running on a treadmill trying to keep your head above water
- God knows we need these things
- not pretending we don’t have needs, knowing He will meet our needs if we focus on Him
- the shallowness of life apart from the Lord
- Matthew 6:33 – Culmination
- Seek Him first
- look to Him, rest in Him, grow in Him, put all of Him first
- all these things (our physical needs) will be given to you
- the righteous way to do things:
- don’t worry about your life
- seek the Lord instead
- He will meet your needs
- the righteous way to do things:
- Seek Him first
- Matthew 6:34 – Another Commandment
- Take no thought for tomorrow
- worrying about what might happen is useless
- physically/mentally/emotionally damaging
- worrying about what might happen is useless
- Rest in His peace
- don’t sweat the details
- Trust in Him
- Luke 12:16-21 – Rich Man
- in a few verses, the rich man focuses solely on himself 8 times
- I’m the beginning of my life & the end of my life.
- very superficial
- worry about yourself, not others
- “You fool!”
- a fool denies God (Psalm 14:1)
- Be rich towards God!
- in a few verses, the rich man focuses solely on himself 8 times
- This is true Christianity.
- Take no thought for tomorrow
True Christianity, pt. 15
Intro: Last week, God was telling us about how the kingdom operates. We need to seek Him first (v. 33). We all have a tendency to worry, but worry saps your joy & puts the focus on your circumstances, instead of on the Lord (v. 34). Romans 5 tells us that the Spirit puts God’s agape love in your heart so you can manifest it back to Him and then extend it to others in His family, to those outside the kingdom, and even to your enemies. Cast your cares upon Him (1 Peter 5:7).
Matthew 6:33 – First is a command – seek Him & it will trigger the second part which is a promise – He will be faithful.
What God Says About His Word
- The more time you spend in His Word, the more you’ll know/understand.
- Put the spirit-life first
- Galatians 5 :16
- Hebrews 11:6
- you have to have faith to come to the Lord
- He will reward those who diligently seek Him
- Matthew 6:33 – seek is an action
- be washed by the water of the Word (Ephesians 5:26)
- John 1 – The Word of God tells us about the Word of God
- v. 1 – The Word (Jesus Christ)
- was in the beginning of everything
- was with God
- was God
- logos – the spoken words of God
- Jesus spoke only His Father’s words (John 12:49)
- v. 2-3 – The Word created all things
- v. 4-5 – The Word is life & light
- life is found in Him
- He keeps the darkness at bay
- v. 12 – Salvation come through the Word
- v. 14 – The Word became flesh
- the content of the Scriptures became a man and walked among us
- Hebrews essentially says that sending His Son was the last thing God would do to bring salvation to mankind.
- if the prophets couldn’t get through to you
- if the Word can’t get through to you
- there is no other way to salvation
- Luke 19:10
- God wants to use us to show others the Way to salvation
- God is both love AND truth
- Matthew 4 & Luke 4 – falling away from the truth starts with ignoring the WHOLE counsel of the Word
- v. 4 (in both) – “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
- We are sanctified (set apart for God) by the Word (1 Timothy 4)
- Romans 12:1-2
- the Old Testament called for dead sacrifices
- the New Testament calls for us to be living sacrifices – offer your life to the service of God each day
- be transformed by being in the Word
- 1 Corinthians 2:13 – God will impart His mind to us as we spend time in His Word
- God guides us though His Word
- Proverbs can teach us what God wants us to do
- turn us from fools to wise
- Everything we need to get through each day can be found in the Word
- As we come to the Lord, go into His Word, the cares of the world melt away.
- Proverbs can teach us what God wants us to do
- Isaiah 55:11
- God’s Word will accomplish whatever it is supposed to.
- His words will never pass away (Matthew 24:35)
- Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in heaven (Psalm 119:89)
- Hebrews 4
- v. 1-11: the believer’s rest
- must put forth effort to press into His rest
- Romans 10:17
- v. 12: the Word of God is…
- living
- active
- sharper than any two-edged sword
- will tell you things you may not want to hear
- can bring salvation or condemnation
- only the Word can penetrate the depths within us & remove what is wrong to replace it with what is righteous
- v. 13: God knows everything about us
- v. 1-11: the believer’s rest
- John 12:48
- The Word is at the end of the road, and we will all stand before Him
- Everything we need comes from the mouth of God.
- v. 1 – The Word (Jesus Christ)
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