Sermon on the Mount, Part 4–Be Perfect

Matthew 5:21-48
Note: The remainder of chapter 5 expounds upon Jesus’ declaration that He had come not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it.  Read as a cohesive whole (Matthew 5:17-48) to get the full impact of His message here regarding the law of Moses.
Teaching about Anger
21 “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’

• Exodus 20:13, Deuteronomy 5:17 - "You must not murder."

22 But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.

• Devaluing others is dangerous, and ungodly.
• Philippians 2:3b - "Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves."

23 “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, 24 leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.

• 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 - "And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”"

25 “When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison. 26 And if that happens, you surely won’t be free again until you have paid the last penny.

• Parable of debtor - Matthew 18:21-35

Teaching about Adultery
27 “You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’

• Exodus 20:14, Deuteronomy 5:18 - "You must not commit adultery."

28 But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 So if your eye—even your good eye—causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your hand—even your stronger hand—causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

• Self-mutilation does not change the heart. Matthew 15:19 - "For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander."

Teaching about Divorce
31 “You have heard the law that says, ‘A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a written notice of divorce.’

• Deuteronomy 24:1-4 - “Suppose a man marries a woman but she does not please him. Having discovered something wrong with her, he writes her a letter of divorce, hands it to her, and sends her away from his house. 2 When she leaves his house, she is free to marry another man. 3 But if the second husband also turns against her and divorces her, or if he dies, 4 the first husband may not marry her again, for she has been defiled. That would be detestable to the LORD. You must not bring guilt upon the land the LORD your God is giving you as a special possession."

32 But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery.

• Matthew 19:3-9 - "Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: “Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife for just any reason?” 4 “Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’” 5 And he said, “‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ 6 Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.” 7 “Then why did Moses say in the law that a man could give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away?” they asked. 8 Jesus replied, “Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended. 9 And I tell you this, whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery—unless his wife has been unfaithful.”

Teaching about Vows
33 “You have also heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the LORD.’

• Numbers 30:2 - "A man who makes a vow to the LORD or makes a pledge under oath must never break it. He must do exactly what he said he would do."

34 But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne. 35 And do not say, ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is his footstool. And do not say, ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. 36 Do not even say, ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black. 37 Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.

• James 5:12 - "But most of all, my brothers and sisters, never take an oath, by heaven or earth or anything else. Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and be condemned."

Teaching about Revenge
38 “You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’

• Exodus 21:23-24 - "But if there is further injury, the punishment must match the injury: a life for a life, 24 an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot, 25 a burn for a burn, a wound for a wound, a bruise for a bruise."

39 But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. 40 If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. 41 If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. 42 Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.

• Roman occupation - forced labor
• Luke 6:34-35 - "And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return. 35 Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked."

Teaching about Love for Enemies
43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy.

• Leviticus 19:18 - "“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD."

44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. 46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47 If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.
48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

• Human effort does not make one perfect.
  • Galatians 3:3 - "How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?"

• The law does not make one perfect.
  • Hebrews 7:19 - "For the law never made anything perfect."

• 'Perfection' comes from God alone.
  • Romans 12:2 - "Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."
  • Colossians 4:12 - "Epaphras, a member of your own fellowship and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident that you are following the whole will of God."
  • Hebrews 10:9 -"Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect."
  • Hebrews 10:14 - "For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy."
  • James 1:2-4 - "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing."
  • James 1:21-25 - "So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. 22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it."

Sermon on the Mount, Part 3–The Law

Matthew 5:17-20

17 “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. 19 So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. 20 “But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!

17 “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.

• Luke 24:27
• What does it mean to 'fulfill the law', to accomplish their purpose?
  • Luke 24:44-45; Romans 3:27-31

• What was the purpose of the Law?
  • Romans 10:4; Galatians 3:19; Romans 7:6; Romans 3:19-20

18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. 

• Luke 16:16-17
• The law has not lost its force, as it still serves the purposes as we previously discussed, namely to show us how sinful we are, and our need for a Savior.

19 So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

• Jesus addresses the difference between obeying letter of the law and the heart behind our obedience in the next passages, Matthew 5:31-48.
• The Futility of Trying to Keep the Law
  • Galatians 4:21; Galatians 5:3-4; James 2:10; Romans 4:15

• Which Law? The Law of Christ
  • Does freedom from the law give us a license to sin? Romans 6:15
  • Matthew 22:37-40; Galatians 5:14; Romans 13:8-10; 1 Corinthians 9:21b; Galatians 6:2

• Old Testament prophecies of the New Covenant & Fulfillment - Tablets of Flesh
  • Ezekiel 26:25-27; Jeremiah 31:33-34; Hebrews 8:6-13; 2 Corinthians 3:3,6,11; Romans 2:12-15

20 “But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!

• Note: "better than" - implies that the teachers of the law will not enter, for they are depending upon their own righteousness

• Definitions
  • Righteousness - "the state or quality of being righteous"
  • Righteous - "acting in accord with divine or moral law; free from guilt or sin; morally right or justifiable"
  • Justify - "to prove to be just, right, or reasonable; to acquit or absolve"
  • Just - "conforming to a standard of correctness; faithful to the original design; honest, fair, upright"

• Jeremiah 23:5-6; Romans 4:3; Romans 3:23-24

Conclusion

• Romans 8:3-4; Galatians 3:10-13; Colossians 2:13-15; John 19:30

Sermon on the Mount, Part 2–Salt and Light

Matthew 5:13-16

"You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.

"You are the light of the world - like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp then places it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father."

Salt - Purposes & Characteristics

• Discussion question - What are some of the common uses of salt?

• Contextual purposes:
  • Flavoring (Mark 9:50) - "Salt is good for seasoning…"
  • Preservation - preventing meat from spoiling
  • Forming or sealing covenants (Leviticus 2:13) - "Season all your grain offerings with salt to remind you of God’s eternal covenant. Never forget to add salt to your grain offerings."

• Other purposes (from http://shine.yahoo.com/green/46-smart-uses-for-salt-2270681.html ):
  • Cleaning
  • Agriculture - killing weeds
  • Healing
  • Vital to life

How could salt lose its flavor?

• Contamination or dilution - looks like salt, but flavorless, useless, no longer serving purpose

What does it mean to be salt of the earth?

• Mark 9:50 - "Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other."

• Colossians 4:5-6 (NIV) - "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."

Light - Purposes & Characteristics

• "We all know what light is, but it is not easy to tell what it is…"

• "The natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible." (Oxford Dictionary)

Jesus - Light of the World

• John 1:1-5 - "In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it."

• John 8:12 - "Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”"

• John 12:44-46 - "If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark."

"YOU are the light of the world…"

• City on a hilltop - imagery

• Modern day parable - lighthouse?

• Isaiah 42:6-7 - "I, the LORD, have called you to demonstrate my righteousness. I will take you by the hand and guard you, and I will give you to my people, Israel, as a symbol of my covenant with them. And you will be a light to guide the nations. You will open the eyes of the blind. You will free the captives from prison, releasing those who sit in dark dungeons."

• Isaiah 49:6 - He says, “You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me. I will make you a light to the Gentiles, and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."

What does it mean to be the light of the world?

• Philippians 2:15 - "Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people."
• "Let your good deeds shine out for all to see."

• Story - Benjamin Franklin & Philadelphia street lighting

Illustrations of believers as being salt and light speak not primarily to the words we 'preach,' but by the lives we live. Our faith in action testifies that we truly believe, and of our Christian character.

Don't lose your saltiness, or hide your light!

Sermon on the Mount, Part 1–Blessings

Luke 4:14-21Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power. Reports about him spread quickly through the whole region. He taught regularly in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
that the blind will see,
that the oppressed will be set free,
and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”

He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!”

• Anointed - 'mashach' - "to anoint, to rub with oil, especially in order to consecrate someone or something as holy (ie. Priests, kings, tabernacle, altar, etc.); 'mashiyach' - Messiah, 'anointed one'
• "time of the Lord's favor" - day of God's salvation, also refers to Year of Jubilee when debts were cancelled, slaves were freed, and land was returned to its rightful owners

The Sermon on the Mount - Matthew 5-7 - Introduction & Blessings
1 One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them.

• Like Moses delivering God's law from the mountain, so Jesus delivers his most famous teaching from a mountain of his own, a hill in Galilee, beginning with a blessing. This is a literal fulfillment of bringing "Good News to the poor."
• 'blesses'/'blessed' - makários (from mak-, "become long, large") – "pertains to a state or condition of joy and happiness. It implies that the blessed person is in favorable, pleasant, and fulfilling circumstances. It can range from emotional joy to a more sedate, virtuous attitude. There is also often an implication that the person is in a right covenant relationship with God." Also - "supremely blessed; by extension fortunate, well off, blessed, happy."
• This definition would normally be reserved for the prosperous, the famous, the educated, the elite, the religious, the powerful; Jesus instead turns the whole idea upside down by expounding upon who is truly blessed of God. To the world, this would seem to be foolishness, but, as it is written:

"The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. As the Scriptures say, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.” So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish.  Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe.  It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom.  So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense.  But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.  This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.  Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you.  Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.   God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.  As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God. God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”" (1 Corinthians 20:18-31)

The Beatitudes
3 “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

• Not only poor in material things, but especially those who understand that they are spiritually impoverished. Just as the poor man cannot rise above his own situation on his own merits, so the spiritually poor person cannot depend upon himself for deliverance.
• Luke 7:36-50 - Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.”

4 God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

• "For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death." (2 Corinthians 7:10)

5 God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.

• "“God opposes the proud but favors the humble.” So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor." (1 Peter 5:5b-6)

6 God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice (righteousness), for they will be satisfied.

• "But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are." (Romans 3:21-22)

7 God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

• "So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free. There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you." (James 2:12-13)

8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.

• "Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant." (Hebrews 9:13-15)
• "In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts." (2 Timothy 2:20-22)

9 God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.

• "But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness." (James 3:17-18)

10 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
11 “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. 12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.

• "Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." (2 Timothy 3:13)

• "Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them." (Romans 12:14)

So begins the message of Jesus Christ to the world, to all who would follow Him and become His disciples, to the listeners within earshot on the mount, to the listeners throughout the vast corridors of history, to those seated here today, to a community waiting to hear and to see this message not only proclaimed but lived out, and to a generation yet to come.
Yes, persecution will come, but "blessed are you" when it does:
"Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:35-39)

Resolutions

What are your New Year's Resolutions?

Life is a journey. It is always good to periodically stop and reflect upon where we've come from, where we are today, and where we've yet to go.

Look Back

"I remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works and think about what you have done." (Psalm 143:5)

Evaluate - Where have you succeeded? Where have you fallen short?

"I know, Lord, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course. So correct me, Lord, but please be gentle. Do not correct me in anger, for I would die." (Jeremiah 10:23)

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life." (Psalm 139:23-24)

Look Forward

"Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil." (James 4:13-16)

ABCD's of Life Planning

• Ask God for wisdom
  "If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do." (James 1:5-8)

• Believe that the Lord orders your steps
  "The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand." (Psalm 37:23-24)

• Commit your plans to the Lord
  "We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer. People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives. Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed." (Proverbs 16:1-3)

• Do not worry about tomorrow
  "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today." (Matthew 6:24-34)

New Year, New Hope, New Life

New Years Day (and every day) is often a time to revisit our callings, our purpose, how we've grown, where we've missed the mark, where we've fallen short, and to endeavor to try again. It is a time of newness, but also of renewal and revival.

Revive (from http://vocabulary-vocabulary.com/dictionary/revive.php)

Definition: 1. to bring back to life; 2. to give new life or energy to something; 3. to restore and renew

Synonyms: restore, renew, rejuvenate, revitalize, refresh, resurrect, reactivate

On New Year's Eve 1739, John Wesley, George Whitefield, and some of their friends held a "love feast" which became a watch night of prayer to see the New Year in. At about 3 a.m., Wesley wrote, "the power of God came mightily upon us, insomuch that many cried for exceeding joy, and many fell to the ground." Revival always begins with a restoration of the sense of the closeness of the Holy One. (from http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/r/revival.htm)

From Charles Finney's Revival Lectures:

[A revival] presupposes that the Church is sunk down in a backslidden state, and a revival consists in the return of the Church from her backslidings, and in the conversion of sinners.

1. A revival always includes conviction of sin on the part of the Church. Backslidden professors [of the faith] cannot wake up and begin right away in the service of God, without deep searchings of heart. The fountains of sin need to be broken up. In a true revival, Christians are always brought under such conviction; they see their sins in such a light that often they find it impossible to maintain a hope of their acceptance with God. It does not always go that extent, but there are always, in a genuine revival, deep convictions of sin, and often cases of abandoning all hope.
2. Backslidden Christians will be brought to repentance. A revival is nothing else than a new beginning of obedience to God. Just as in the case of a converted sinner, the first step is a deep repentance, a breaking down of heart, a getting down into the dust before God, with deep humility, and a forsaking of sin.
3. Christians will have their faith renewed. While they are in a backslidden state they are blind to the state of sinners. Their hearts as hard as marble. The truths of the Bible appear as a dream. They admit it to be all true; their conscience and their judgment assent to it; but their faith does not see it standing out in bold relief, in all the burning realities of eternity. But when they enter into a revival, they no longer see “men as trees, walking,” but they see things in that strong light which will renew the love of God in their hearts. . . .
4. A revival breaks the power of the world and of sin over Christians. It brings them to such vantage-ground that they get a fresh impulse towards heaven; they have a new foretaste of heaven, and new desires after union with God; thus the charm of the world is broken, and the power of sin overcome.
5. When the churches are thus awakened and reformed, the reformation and salvation of sinners will follow. . . The worst of human beings are softened and reclaimed, and made to appear as lovely specimens of the beauty of holiness.

I don't know where the Lord will be taking us as a church body in 2012, but I know that His plans for us are "plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11)

My Pastoral Resolutions

• I resolve to be a man of constant joy, prayer, and thanksgiving (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

• I resolve to love my wife as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25), and to manage my own family and household well (1 Timothy 3:4).

• I resolve to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2).

• I resolve to do my best to present myself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15-16).

• I resolve to preach the word of God, to be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not, to patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage the people with good teaching (2 Timothy 4:2).

• I resolve to guard myself and God’s people. I will feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed me as pastor (Acts 20:28).

• I resolve to care for the flock that God has entrusted to me; to watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what I will get out of it, but because I am eager to serve God; to not lord it over the people assigned to my care, but lead you by my own good example (1 Peter 5:2-3).

• I resolve to use the spiritual gifts that God has entrusted to me with to serve you (1 Peter 4:10), to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility value others above myself, not looking to my own interests but to the interest of others (Philippians 2:3-4), and to be the servant of all (Mark 9:35).

• I resolve to rejoice with those who rejoice, to mourn with those who mourn (Romans 12:15), and to share in your burdens (Galatians 6:2).

• I resolve to strive to forget the past and to look forward to what lies ahead, to press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us (Philippians 3:13-14).