"Now Hear This" #10

THE ONLY RIGHT FOUNDATION

Throughout this foundational sermon, Jesus exalts the Father as always ready and able to help the entire human family. Living in a fallen world ruled by the prince of darkness, we all are compelled to make decisions that can have eternal consequences as well as disastrous outcomes in the here and now. Our habits, assumptions, beliefs we embrace, the people we learn to admire and emulate, even belief about our origin and ultimate fate can lead us down a very dark path.

That is why Jesus repeatedly warned His hearers about following the teaching and example of those He called "hypocrites". Hear His poignant warning .. Matthew 7:21-23

• "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord', shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in the day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practices lawlessness."

 Jesus says don't be fooled by those teachers and leaders among you who profess to be doing the work of God in this world but what they say and what they do just doesn't match up. Some can create the appearance of doing great wonders in the name of the Lord, but if their actions fail to measure up to what God sent Him to tell the whole world, Jesus will tell them 'I never knew you'.

Regardless of who you listen to, admire and want to follow, be sure that you do exactly what John wrote to Christians near the end of his life as an Apostle of Jesus at 1 John 4:1 ...

• "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have done out into the world."

Every one of us has the ability and permission from Jesus to embrace and follow only His teaching given to us by the Holy Spirit in His word. If what is being said and done just doesn't line up with what Jesus taught us, both personally and through His inspired Apostles, it must be rejected.

So, what is the foundation upon which you have or are building your life?  Hear Jesus again ...

• "THEREFORE, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock; and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 
• "But, everyone who hears these saying of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."

The foundation upon which you are building your life is sure to be tested by the elements the ruler of this world will use to attack it. It's beauty, it's location, it's cost will ultimately mean nothing if you have built it on any foundation other than the teaching of Jesus Christ.

His "THEREFORE" is the absolute summation of all that He had said to them and us in this huge introduction to God as our Father. Check your foundation because you really don't want to neglect that and find out in the day of Jesus' judgement that you built on the sand, it will fall!

"Now Hear This" #9

DO NOT JUDGE

Jesus' teaching collided with many centuries of an inflated Jewish self image and how that played out in their everyday life. You see it throughout the gospels and the letters of the Apostles. Being the "children of Abraham" and how that was defined by their leaders and teachers, set them apart as the favored of Yahweh. And, to an extent that was true because they were His chosen people. However the prophets God sent to their ancient ancestors painted a very different picture. By the time God sent His Son Jesus into their world, the Jews were just as much in need of the forgiveness Jesus brought with Him as the Gentile world.

In His Sermon on the Mount, and throughout His ministry, Jesus taught the people to see others through the eyes of the Father, not the judgmental teaching of the Jewish leaders and teachers. Today, we also need this teaching from God as much as they did then. Hear Jesus .... Mathew 7:1-5

• "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you." 

That my friends, is one powerful statement from the heart of our Father. In the context of Jesus' statement, the word means to render a verdict, to condemn someone else. We're all guilty to some extent, regardless of how much scripture we can quote or how much logic we can appeal to. It's one thing to disagree with someone's beliefs or actions and even discuss your views with them, but to render a verdict of condemnation is way above our human pay grade, so to speak.

Jesus uses hyperbole, an exaggeration for emphasis, to drive His point home.

• "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye. Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look there is a plank in your own eye." 

In my own life and experience, I have 'judged' on faulty or incomplete information and then realized my mistake later. In fact I guess that is where I am right now. Looking back on some situations, I now realize that I could have spoken or acted in a more positive way than at that time.

Now, to be sure, some measure of judgment/consideration must occur at times or we fall prey to the crafty attempts of our common enemy to control how we think and act. Truth is always true and we must be guided by that standard from our Father. However, condemnation is never a right way to communicate the will of God, unless we use His words from His Spirit.

Jesus further says ....

• "HYPOCRITE! First, remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

Jesus seems to be reverting to His previous comments about those "scribes and Pharisees" and their practice of praying and fasting. Obviously, the general population had adopted the habit of ignoring their own hypocritical ways by following the example of their leaders. He doesn't say that there is never a time for a measure of judgment, but that judgment must begin with self evaluation and personal correction.

I have been humbled by these words of one who learned from Jesus, James 3:1-2

• "My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 

I look back on many years of standing in pulpits all over the country and am humbled by James' statement regarding my teaching. Is he really discouraging us from preaching and teaching the word of God? Absolutely not. He is cautioning those of us who become teachers or preachers of that word to realize we will be judged by Jesus with a much stricter standard than others. So we must be very honest with ourselves about our attitude, words and conduct. Learning to LISTEN is more important than being quick to speak and pass judgment. And, that is true for all of us not just teachers.

So here's my bottom line, RESIGN FROM THE JUDGE'S BENCH. I finally did this several years ago and did so verbally to my Father. What that has done for me is make me much more aware of when I am thinking and then doing the very thing Jesus said for me to not do. I am very thankful to leave the ultimate judging in the Hands that are alone qualified to do so. HALLELUJAH!

"Now Hear This" #8

DO NOT WORRY

Worriers will always find something to keep them uptight and their blood pressure elevated. The trigger can be something serious or something innocuous but that anxiety will always be there even if it isn't immediately evident. Jesus came to teach all of us to relax in the will of our Father and always have the intent to do His will.

As Jesus went about teaching the good news, He met two sisters and their brother. One of the sisters, Martha, invited Him to their home in Bethany, a few miles from Jerusalem. Luke 10:39-42

• "And she had a sister named Mary, who also sat at Jesus feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, 'Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore, tell her to help me'. And Jesus answered and said to her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.'"   

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus brings up the subject of worry and anxiety over the trials and uncertainties that are a part of daily human life. You may see yourself or someone in your family or a friend at your workplace, or even in your church. Hear Jesus' teaching on this wide range of things and listen intently to His heavenly advice. Matthew 6:19-34

• "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth ...... but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven......For where you treasure is, there will your heart be also." 
• "The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness."
• "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon/money."  

When I was a young aspiring preacher, I had the great privilege to work with a church in Tennessee while I went to David Lipscomb after serving in the US Navy. I was hired to be the worship leader and youth minister while attending college in Nashville After we had been there several months one of the oldest elders in that church invited me to visit with him at his place of business. We talked about what plans I had for the youth program and some other things but after awhile I knew he was ready for me to be on my way. But, before he let me go, he told me about his business and brought his bank book to show me how much money he had. Although I was still pretty new to ministry, I was experienced in many of the ways of the world. I was a bit uneasy wondering why he wanted me to know how rich he was. So, I asked him what he was going to do with all that money. I knew his children were successful in their own careers and certainly didn't need it. He never spoke to me again.

Jesus was right,  you can't serve God and money. Is it wrong to have a bank account, or life insurance or a retirement plan? I don't think Jesus would condemn anyone who is prudent enough to plan for their future, but how much do you really need? If all one sees in life is how to make more and more and more money and own more and more things, what's the point? Earthly treasure is always a risky proposition. Where is your heart? That is the ultimate issue Jesus wants to know from all of us.

• "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on."
• "Why do you worry about clothing?"
• "Therefore do not worry saying, 'What shall we eat? or What shall we drink?"
• "After all these things the Gentiles seek."
• "But, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore, do no worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

Jesus uses the birds who are fed by the hand of God and they neither sow nor reap, as proof our Father is always there for us. He uses the lilies of the field and their beauty that surpasses even that of King Solomon in all his glory as proof that our Father will always have our backs.

SO HERE IS THE REAL BOTTOM LINE

There is no sin in working to make money to take care of yourself and/or your family, to provide food and clothing and a home etc. There is no sin in having money in savings or wearing whatever clothing you choose or purchasing the foods you like to eat. The real issue is always, where is your heart. Don't allow the evil one to fill your heart with darkness, seek the light of God, His righteousness because that is where His kingdom is.

Learn to live in your "forever" future and refuse to bow the Satanic temptation to be a competitor for the biggest, the best or the most in this present world. DO NOT WORRY your Father always has your back. 

"Now Hear This" #7

During my half century of full time ministry I have asked this question of a multitude of good folks who seriously follow the teaching of Jesus --

"When you pray, what is the mental vision you have of who you are talking to?"

My purpose has always been to stimulate some thought about making prayer very personal rather than just reciting some words into the air. Most have confessed that they had not really given that much if any thought. Some told me they just see a blank wall, or a dark curtain or nothing at all. Okay so how about when you all someone on your phone. Don't you have some type of mental visual picture of the person you have called? If you are not acquainted with that person, it's a different type of conversation than with someone you know, and much more personal.

Jesus came to reveal God to the human family as "FATHER" as we have discussed in a previous post. In fact the earliest Christian attempts to create a visual piece of art to portray God are simply two outstretched enormous hands reaching down from the heavens. Since no one has actually seen God at any time, we might speculate what might or might not be appropriate or even necessary for our prayer life. I suspect when Jesus prayed to the Father, His prayers were very personal because He had not only seen the Father but had been with Him from eternity past. So, when He prayed, He was actually talking to someone, not just reciting words into the air.

WHEN YOU PRAY Matthew 6:5-13

• "When you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of streets, that they may be seen of men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But, when you pray enter into your room, and when you have shut the door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly."
• "When you pray do not use vain repetitions as the heathen. For they think they will be heard for their many words."
• "In this manner (way) therefore, pray
• "Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, One earth as it is in heaven, Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive our debts, As we forgive our debtors, And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one, For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen" 

 So, here's a question all of us should seriously consider, "Is my prayer life a real, personal, sincere conversation with my Father or only words I have learned to recite into the air?" I am convinced all of us who follow Jesus and His word, pray. Praise God if you have learned to make it a very personal conversation, although it may seem to be only a one way street with no one in mind of who you are actually talking to.


WE HAVE A QUALIFIED HELPER Romans 8:26-27

• "The Spirit also helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts, knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God."

Praise our Father for that divine helper who both sees and converses with Him on our behalf using just the right communication that we cannot even know or understand.

 In 2006, I was writing a book about hearing the voice of God above the noise of daily life. I was driving from Alabama back to Texas one day and Moses at the burning bush became a visual that really impacted me emotionally. I had been writing about that incident a few days before so it was so fresh in my spirit. I just cried repeatedly during that all day trip. So, that has become the visual image that I focus on when I pray to my Father. I see that bush burning and like Moses I bow before Him in absolute submission and praise. I also verbally thank the Spirit for helping me. God be praised!

"Now Hear This" #6

Jesus introduces a word familiar to His hearers with an explosive new application. The word "HYPOCRITE" was a word the common people were acquainted with, but they had never heard it used in the context of their political and religious leaders, at least not openly in a public way.

In the common language of the day a "hypocrite" was an actor, one who assumed the posture and character of a person on stage wearing a mask that portrayed the character they were pretending to be. Jesus used the word as identifying their religious leaders and politicians. In other words, they were phonies.

Hear some of what He had to say in His Sermon on the Mount -

THEIR PHONY CHARITY

• "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 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. I say to you, they have their reward." Matthew 6:1-2

THEIR PHONY PRAYERS

• "And when you pray, you shall not be like the HYPOCRITES. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of streets that they may be seen by men......But when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut the door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do......Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him." Matthew 6:5-6
  

THEIR PHONY FASTING

• "Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the HYPOCRITES, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to be men fasting, but your Father who is in the secret place, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly." Matthew 6:16-17 

Surely all of us have played the HYPOCRITE, wearing our mask of deception at times. It can become like a game we play in order to solidify our supposed superiority over others. The opposite of hypocrisy is humility. And none of us are born with either. We learn it gradually from our family, our friends, our associates and our leaders. So be really honest with yourself and carefully make a right decision about what you admire in others who can influence you to mimic them;

Please don't continue to fool yourself into actually believing the oft used old adage, "well that's just the way I am". Only the love of Jesus Christ and the indwelling of the Spirit of God can lead us into a better, more honest and comfortable state of mind. Beware of all spiritual and political leaders who you can easily see are HYPOCRITES. They do and say what they do and say because they want to manipulate others who blindly follow them down a dead end street.

In our next session, we will consider Jesus statement "in this manner, therefore pray." 

"Now Hear This" #5

Jesus obviously knew early on that He, His message and His people would be rejected by the Jewish leaders. However, He had to be encouraged by the immediate reception he received from the rank and file people. Largely because of the miracles He performed prior to preaching the Sermon on the Mount, everywhere He went vast crowds quickly gathered because Jesus was doing exactly what the Old Testament prophets had predicted the Messiah would do and teach.

Following this Sermon, Jesus became the primary target of the religious leaders primarily because of this statement early on in His teaching -- 

• "I say to you that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:20 

The scribes and Pharisees were viewed as the ultimate of righteousness. They were the lawyers and teachers who interpreted the Law given to Moses on Mt Sinai many centuries before. That word righteousness however means doing what God says is right. Jesus had just told them He had not come to destroy the Law or the Prophets but to bring it to it's completion, not it's destruction. What then follows are six specific reinterpretations of the Law of Moses which went way beyond what the leaders and teachers of the people had been saying for many centuries.

So in order to avoid becoming tedious I want us to look at each of those six in a summary format.

Jesus introduced each with this commanding statement:

• "You have heard it was said .......... but I say to you...." and I don't see this statement as directed at the commandments God gave to Moses at Exodus 20, but as the interpretation of them that became commonly taught to the people.

1. MURDER is a result of anger against another 5:21-26
The Law had forbidden murder but the traditional teaching had failed to address the real issue, uncontrolled anger. We all face situations in daily life that cause anger at someone or some kind of situation. And if that anger is not brought under control it will cause tragic consequences. Jesus said if one resorts to calling another a "fool" that attitude puts that person in danger of "hell fire". In fact, He said you shouldn't even approach your altar of prayer to God in that state of mind, but go and make peace with your adversary then come and offer your sacrifice of prayer.

2. ADULTERY is simply two married people engaging in a sexual relationship with someone other than their marriage partner. But Jesus redefined it in a new way. His assessment seems to address men in particular however the same can be applied to either sex although men are probably more prone to it than women. Jesus says that the real issue is "lust" that continues to look and feed that sinful desire to the point that one can commit adultery in the heart. So his remedy to prevent that eventual outcome is nothing short of unthinkable. If your heart cannot control your eye or your hand, cut it off in order to prevent the eternal outcome which He calls "cast into hell". Did He really mean what He said?

3. DIVORCE is the break-up of a marriage. Marriage is a divine institution of God founded upon a pledge to love each other for life. Obviously somewhere along the way God's intent for marriage became unworkable to some and Moses gave instruction to give the wife in whom he found some type of uncleanness a "certificate of divorce". But Jesus said that "sexual immorality" is the only reason for which a man can divorce his wife before God. The intent of His statement is obviously to reinstate God's original intent when He instituted marriage. One man, one woman for life. Sadly even today that purpose of God for the betterment of the human race has largely been lost. I am truly not smart enough to answer all the questions that can arise around this issue. So I simply leave it up to each person or couple to make up their own mind about what God would have them do. Satan can easily worm his way into any relationship and create chaos.

4. SWEARING obviously has been a common human habit for a very long time. The intent probably is to verify or certify that what one is saying is true and approved of God. In Jesus' day people used God as the one who approved of whatever oath they were speaking. No different for many people today. "I swear to God" is a pretty common phrase some folks use to lend credence to some promise or affirmation. But, it's just a careless habit that is learned early on and Jesus condemns it outright. His counsel is "don't swear at all" using God or anything else to certify what is said. There is no real need for that. Just let your "no be no and your yes be yes". Anything beyond that is sinful.because it was inspired by "the evil one himself".

5. GO THE SECOND MILE rather than merely react in kind when responding to an unjust or insulting occurrence. Jesus brings up what was obviously quite common in his day, namely "any eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth". When someone strikes you, offends you, hit them right back. His obvious intent is pretty clear in the statement, "whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two." Learn to be a giver without expecting to receive some kind of reward. I have known quite a few people who actually do this and all of them without exception, are always faithful to Jesus as Lord.

6. LOVE YOUR ENEMIES is often more than most of us can remember or agree with much less seek some way to actually do it. The love/hate relationship is common in many marriages, business opportunities, neighborhood relationships, racial encounters and on and on it goes. "Pray for those spitefully use you and persecute you" can be a real game changer for all of us. If we develop a love only for those who love us, we are falling way short of God's vision of our eternal destiny. I have always been really challenged by Jesus' closing statement in this charge to "be perfect even as your heavenly father is perfect". WHOA, that is one huge thought to ponder. Does my Father really expect ME to be as perfect as He is? I'll just leave that right there and let you ponder it for yourself.

Personal relationships are an essential element of every day life for all of us. And how we handle the opportunities and challenges that those encounters produce can have eternal consequences. Jesus will ultimately be our Judge. I encourage all of you to give some real consideration to how you're doing with that challenge. If Jesus has challenged you in a new way with His words, do something about it.

"Now Hear This" #4

Sorry guys I've been a little distracted lately BUT now I'm ready to "saddle up" again. I appreciate your patience and desire to hear Jesus. And NO I haven't been sick nor my family. We're all good!

For a lot of years I was kinda puzzled why the ancient Jews never saw nor spoke of God as Father. In fact, there are only a mere handful of times that you can even find God referred to as Father in the Old Testament. Mostly they seem to have thought of Him like the pagans viewed their gods as one to be feared and somehow avoided. Even after they entered the Promised Land after their Egyptian slavery they seem to have simply embraced their pagan neighbors view of their own gods, as always angry with them.

When Jesus embarked on His personal ministry, one of the primary goals He seems to have before Him was to change how His countrymen viewed God. Their rituals and commitments were mostly intended to appease or avoid, if possible, His anger at them, rather than submitting to His love. They just had never seen Him as their Father. But, Jesus gradually changed all that.

• "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John bore witness of Him and cried out, 'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.' And of His fullnes we have all received, and grace for grace. for the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one had seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him." John 1:14-18 NKJV

Jesus came to make God known to the world as FATHER. His Sermon on the Mount repeatedly uses that word to give God that very special identity. The Greek word translated as "father" carries a threefold connotation that establishes a concrete definition of what a 'father" is:

1. A father is always PRESENT caring, watching, guiding, correcting, encouraging
2. A father is always a PROTECTOR because the world is filled with danger
3. A father is always a PROVIDER because he always wants the best for his offspring

As we continue to hear some of Jesus' words in this life changing teaching, I just felt it helpful to establish early on, the grand importance of how we see God and how we relate to Him in a personal way. And, how Jesus will teach us why that new awareness of God translates into how we in turn relate to others in our daily world.

• "You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt loses it's flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men." Matthew 5:13

 Salt is good for two primary things: preserving certain types of foods and flavoring. Jesus' words seem to be a word of caution and also of encouragement. He obviously wants us to fully understand that one of our primary functions in the kingdom of God is to be the "salt" that influences our own society to see just WHO our God really is by the way we act. Flavorless salt is of no use for anything but to be thrown out on to the pathways where others walk. We must be 'active' every day in every possible way as an influence in our world that will lead to a pleasant taste in other's mouths leading to their eternal preservation in the Father's kingdom.

Paul understood the impact of this figure of speech.

• "Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. Colossians 4:5

 In addition, Jesus said, 

• "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16

Now take a few seconds to go back and read that again, slowly.

Both of these statements are in the present tense, which means now/right now. This is the Father's simple vision of how He sees our involvement in His plan from before He even made the world. Jesus doesn't say, "you can maybe at some point", no He says YOU ARE.

I really like and am motivated by this from Paul's heart at Ephesians 5:8-13

• "You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no felowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things are exposed and made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light." 

So, now as you go forward each day, keep your heart focused on God as your Father and be the SALT  that flavors someone else's world and the LIGHT that illuminates the Father's love and grace to us all. Pay very strict attention to what comes out of your mouth and how your face and tone of voice can speak volumes of good or bad. Please don't hide your the light Jesus has given you. Let is shine shine shine.

God be with you in these very discouraging, dangerous and challenging days we are  all walking through. Show your faith and your love and give others a sense of hope. What you carry around in your heart is fearless and priceless. GIVE IT AWAY!