Jesus: Creator, Savior, Lord and King #28 Jesus and The Sermon On The Mount #4 – Jesus and True Faith Matthew 6

 

Jesus: Creator, Savior, Lord and King #28

Jesus and The Sermon On The Mount #4 – Jesus and True Faith
Matthew 6

 Introduction:

A man falls off a cliff and as he falls grabs on to a small tree 30 feet down but still a hundred feet from the bottom. He is clinging to this little tree, barely bigger than a bush and he starts yelling, “Help me!. Someone help. If anybody is up there, help me!” He cries out like that for several minutes with his grip on the tree slowly slipping. Finally, a voice answers his call. “I hear you and I will help you.” “Oh, thank goodness. Who are you?” The voice said, “This is the Lord.” “Oh, thank, you, thank you.” The Lord said, “Are you sure you have faith? I can only resuce you if you have faith.” “I have faith. I’m ready to be rescued” “Very well then. Let go of that tree and you will not fall.”  “Wait, what, what did you say?” Let go of that tree and you will not fall, then I will raise you up to the top of the cliff.” “Could you say that one more time?” “No, have faith, let go of the tree and I will rescue you.”

The man looked at the tree, he looked down a hundred feet to bottom of the cliff, then up to the top of the cliff, then up to the heavens and he called out, “Is there anybody else up there?”

So what is faith? If you watch enterainment today, read modern novels, or listen to some christian leaders, they will talk a lot about “having faith.” The idea being that faith in and of itself is some kind of superpower. Faith simply is. If you have this quality, this ability, this power then you can do almost anything. Faith makes all things possible.

It almost sounds right, almost sounds good. “Just have faith!” the world says but faith without an object is merely a word, an empty word. Faith without an object that is worthy of faith is worthless. As Christians we know that faith must be in God and in His Word. He the creator, savior, lord and King is the object of our faith and that does make our faith powerful. Not because we have it in us but because He is worthy of our faith.

Our passage from the Sermon on the Mount todays speaks of faith, not saving faith but faith as exhibited in Citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. Hereas the scribes and the Pharisees had faith in the Old Testament Covenant and the Law, Jesus is going to present them with a higher object of faith, Heaven itself and the One who is its rightful King. 

Review

In the opening of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus describes those who are “Blessed.” These people who are described in the Beatitudes are those who are in Kingdom of God, citizens of that Kingdom, both the Kingdom that is within us, and the Kingdom that will be established on the earth when returns as the King of the Kings and Lord of Lords.   

The Beatitudes - Matthew 5:3-10 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Next Jesus told those who are in the Kingdom that they have a calling, a commission to fulfil until He returns. Until then they are to be peacemakers by sharing the good news of the Gospel. They are to be preservers, influencers and revealers in the earth by being the salt of the earth and light of a city set on a hill.

Jesus also spoke to the multitude, who weren’t in the kingdom. He tells them in Matthew 5:20 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

All sermons have a key verse, one that the sermon is built around, the central idea, theme or subject that the preacher wants to communicate to his audience. This verse Matthew 5:20 to me is the key verse of the Sermon and it tells us that the law could not open the gate to the Kingdom because the law does not make a person righteous but can only convict them as guilty of sin and unrighteous before a Holy and utterly righteous God.

Just look at what He told them; anger is the equivalent of murder. Lust is the same as adultery by the law. Divorce and remarriage breaks the law. Any oath given with God as your witness is sin. Resisting evil is wrong. Finally under the law, love for family or friend isn’t enough for you must “love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

The Principles Of The Sermon Within these impossible laws though are principles that the Citizens of the Kingdom, those who have seen themselves as guilty and repented, who are now hungering for righteousness and mourning because of sin, can and should strive for these as goals and principle of the daily lives, not in order to enter the kingdom but because as a born again believer, a kingdom representative, I can and will love my enemy, I can and will turn the other cheek, I can deal with lust, anger, oaths and all the rest. The law still shows me that I am a sinner but grace through faith has enabled me to overcome sin through salvation in Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

True Worship in Giving, Praying and Fasting

Then in the first half of chapter 6, Jesus shows that outward show of righteousness performed by the Pharisee aren’t works of righteousness at all but are really acts of hypocrisy, it is a living lie of the worst kind. He condemns in harsh terms that which is only done outwardly for the praise of men. It is worse than worthless, and only that which is done inwardly for the love of God is true worship.

In Matthew 6:1-4 True Worship Is Giving Quietly and Secretly

1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.  

In Matthew 6:5-15- True Worship Is Praying Sincerely From A Secret Place

6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

 Jesus' Model Prayer

Prayer was so important to Kingdom Citizens that Jesus takes time to  instruct them how to pray. He presents a Model for prayer, a list of elements that believers should make sure are in their prayers. This is not given for the sake of mindless repetition. Jesus forbids that as pagan, but as a reminder of what our prayers to the Father should contain. Matthew 6:9-15

Our prayers should have an entrance to the throne of Grace. Our Father which art in heaven,  Praise is the precursor to prayer., Hallowed be thy name.

 Surrender to God’s work and will is the power of prayer 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

(Total Dependence on God is The attitude of prayer 11 Give us this day our daily bread.

Mercy from God to you, and from you to others is The reality of prayer is. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

Humility is The perspective of prayer 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

Exultation Is The result of prayer For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.  

And last The so be it, the final commitment of prayer is the  Amen.

The final aspect of true worship in in Matthew 6:16-18 True Worship Is Fasting Secretly without Show

17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

Fasting sets aside the physical in our life so that the spiritual in our life can be better experienced and understood. Fasting lets us focus on God. Fasting means take a break, cutting off the physical things like food, entertainment, smart phones, or anything else that distracts or demands my attention here and now so that I can focus on the spiritual here and now as well as heaven in the yonder and far.

If we are to rise up out of the mire that we slog through in this world day after day, then true worship in prayer, giving and fasting, is the stairway that lets us rise above.

Now we get to chapter 6:19 (aren’t you glad Jesus put verse number in the Bible? Sure make it easy for us preachers.) Now Jesus moves from true worship to true faith.

True Faith Looks To Heaven – Matthew 6:19-23

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

We Have True Faith When We Trust God About Things In Heaven

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, Jesus tells the crowd that day. This word treasure in the Greek is (are you ready of this. This was one of the highlight of my word study this past week. And in the word treasure I found a ….. treasure.) this is the word θησαυρους / thēsaurous. Its another Greek word like baptize that was just too good to translate. Your moder thesaurous is a treasure chest of words and in Jesus day when they heard this word they would think of a treasure chest of valuables, it has the connotation of putting your treasure in a physical chest. “Laying it up.”

Jesus tells them don’t store your treasure here on earth because it will be lost, moths will eat your fine clothes, corrosion will dissolve your precious metals and thieves will break through and steal whatever is left. Do you know what the Greeks called a burglar?  a “mud-digger” because they would dig right through a mud or adobe wall and steal whatever they wanted. Adobe didn’t work then and steel walled safes and alarms aren’t stopping them today.

Jesus told the multitude then and us today that there is a place where you never need worry about losing your treasure. Moths, rust and thieves can’t get in there. Lay up your treasure in heaven.

Story of man who asked St. Peter if he could take gold bars into heaven. “You want to take pavement?!?”

It’s true that you can’t take it with you but you can send it ahead. We send it ahead by what we do for the Kingdom of God here.

Will There Be Any Stars

I am thinking today of that beautiful land
I shall reach when the sun goeth down;
When through wonderful grace by my Savior I stand,
Will there be any stars in my crown?

 In the strength of the Lord let me labor and pray,
Let me watch as a winner of souls;
That bright stars may be mine in the glorious day,
When His praise like the sea-billow rolls. 

 Refrain: Will there be any stars, any stars in my crown,
    When at evening the sun goeth down?
    When I wake with the blest in the mansions of rest,
    Will there be any stars in my crown? 

Jesus tells why this heavenly treasury is so important,

He says, “where your treasure is, there will you heart be also.” True faith is focused not on earth but on Heaven.

This is emphasized by what He say next. Matthew 6:22-23 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

Your eye, your focus that which you behold and it guides you must Jesus said be “single” The word means “without folds” like a piece of cloth unfolded, It is simplex in Latin, rather than duplex folded once.  Our eye, our focus must be on one thing, the things of heaven. When that is true, then our whole body is full of light. That is true faith.

But, If they are not focused on heaven then Jesus says, my eye is evil, and my whole body if filled with great darkness. If we are focused on heaven, thinking of the Lord, our loved ones who wait for us, a place where there is no more sin, no more sorrow, no mor crying then we have single vision. But if we are focused on our earthly treausures, always afraid, worried and anxious about what is going to happen tomorrow, then our focus is on two things, and we do not have true faith.  You can’t drive your car with double vision and you can’t lay up treasures in heaven with your faith divided between heaven and earth.

God or Mammon

That is why Jesus then says in vs. 24 No man 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. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Mammon is an old word that was handed up from several old middle eastern languages, it simply means money but Jesus here personifies like a personal name, like an ancient pagan god.

He tells them, “You can’t serve both.” You can’t bow down at the altar of Mammon praying for things that will pass away with you and also bow down and pray to God for the treasure you are sending ahead. Make your choice now for Jesus says you can’t serve both.

You can’t lay up treasure in heaven if your only treasure is here on earth, you can’t focus on heaven if you are focused on the earth, you can’t serve God and Mammon.

As another Jesus, another Yeshua in the Old Testament once stood before the nation of Israel and said in Joshua 24:15 15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

As Paul said in Colossians 3:1-5 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 5 Mortify therefore your members (kill them, bury them, put them in the grave) which are upon the earth;

 Jesus’ reassurance

This impossible to ignore lined of separation, this line of decision and commitment was just as shocking to the people that day as it should be to us. If you aren’t challenged beyond your own ability by what Jesus just challenged you with, then you aren’t listening or you are not understanding.

This is the hard stuff of Christianity, this is where the children are separated from the adults, and where the disciples are separated from the wanna-bes.

Jesus sure knows what He is saying, what he is asking because now He will reassure them, that God has you in His strong providential arms and He will take care of you.

True Faith Trusts In God’s Care - Matthew 6:25-32

25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

We Have True Faith When We Fully Trust God About Things On Earth

This phrase “Take no thought” doesn’t men “Don’t think” that’s what the cults and the charismatic tell their followers. “Don’t think, I’ll do the thinking for you. Just drink your Kool-Aid and be quite.” No this phase to the KJV translators meant “Don’t be anxious, don’t worry about tomorrow.” No I’m not going to sing “Don’t worry be happy again. Though it is a little song he wrote that you might like to sing note by note.”

Jesus has just challenged those listening to the Sermon to quit worrying about your treasure on earth and even more quit focusing on the things of earth, but lay your treasures and focus your sight on Heaven. So as a reassurance, he tells them don’t worry about what you will eat or drink or how you will clothe your body, instead trust your Father in Heaven for those things you need. Is not life more than just the food you eat, isn’t the body more than just the clothes you put on?

Matthew 6:26-30 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 -- Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith.

God provides for birds even though can’t sow, reap, and store it away. God takes care of them, And don’t you know how much more you mean to God than a sparrow?

God regulates the growth of your body, you can’t control that so let God take care of the things your body needs to live.

Why are you worrying about clothes? The flowers of the field are more beautiful than Solomon in all his splendor,  even though they don’t toil, spin or sew. God takes care of them.

Matthew 6:31-32 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

Trust Him, God will take care of you!

We all say I believe God will take care of me, God will take care of me, through ev'ry day, o’er all the way. He will take care of me, God will take care of me.

We can say it, we can even sing it but True Faith puts it to the test, it steps out on nothing but the promise of God providential care and when it seems that there is nothing that can keep us from falling flat, God’s hand rise up and we walk on the firm foundation of His Word. God will take care you. Didn’t Jesus just tell you so?

Jesus has challenged his hearers then and us as hearers today, Quit focusing on thing things of earth, focus on Heaven. Quit worrying about the things of earth, trust your Father in Heaven. Now here is the last challenge that wraps the first two up in it and takes all one step further.

True Faith  Puts God First – Matthew 6:33-34

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

We Have True Faith When We Make Heaven Our Priority On Earth

Jesus said, “Seek ye first.” He is talking to the Blessed, to the citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, to believers, to the redeemed, to you and I if we have repented of our sin and put our faith in Jesus as our savior. Here is you’re your last and greatest challenge, a life long challenge.

Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. This is your priority in life, your first care and concern. Its not about clothes, food or the problems of tomorrow. No, your priority in all of life is the Kingdom of God and the righteousness of God. How can they exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, by seeking the righteousness of God Himself. How can we lay up treasure in heaven instead of risking it here on earth? By seeking the Kingdom of God.

We seek the Kingdom here in the Word of God, we seek the kingdom here in my heart. We seek for the Kingdom when we make peace through the Gospel. When we live as the salt of the earth, when we shine as the light of a city set on a hill.

True Faith Puts God, His Kingdom and His righteousness first. All other responsibilities and duties fall behind this one great overriding priority. Seek Ye First.

You know you just can’t beat the KJV on commands like this, the ESV says “But seek first” The NIV say, “But first be concerned about.” The Living Bible, “if you give him first place in your life and live as he wants you to.” But the KJV says, “Seek Ye First.” That’s powerful, that attention grabbing, that Jesus talking directly to His own and making a demand that only the King of Glory has the right to demand. “You, I’m commanding you, to put God first.”

How do you do that? We don’t have time to give an hour by hour breakdown of a day’s activities and spell out how you put God and His kingdom first. Nor do need that. All you need is a willingness to hear the Holy Spirit, breaking through those thoughts and activities of each moment and asking, “Is this putting God first?” Did your day begin with thinking about and thanking God for another day of living? Was there a time for prayer instead of texting and talking about nothing? Do you read from God’s word today? Did you think of someone you would want to bring peace to, be an influence for holiness or a light toward heaven.

Have you put God and his kingdom first, first in your finances, first in your time, first in you thoughts, first in our prayers, first in our decisions, first in our family, first in our goals.

Seek Ye First The Kingdom of God and His righteousness. That is as straightforward and plain as it can be stated, or in this case as it can be commanded by King Jesus.

Conclusion

Let make Jesus concluding statement to this section of the Sermon be our as well.

Matthew 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Don’t worry, don’t be anxious, don’t fret about tomorrow. It’s not worrying about you why should you worry about it? You have enough burdens today, don’t add to them the burdens from tomorrow as well. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

 I don't know about tomorrow,
I just live from day to day.
I don't borrow from its sunshine,
For its skies may turn to gray.
I don't worry o'er the future,
For I know what Jesus said,
And today I'll walk beside Him,
For He knows what is ahead.

Refrain:
Many things about tomorrow,
I don't seem to understand;
But I know who holds tomorrow,
And I know who holds my hand.

 2 Every step is getting brighter,
As the golden stairs I climb;
Every burden's getting lighter;
Every cloud is silver lined.
There the sun is always shining,
There no tear will dim the eye,
At the ending of the rainbow,
Where the mountains touch the sky. [Refrain]

 3 I don't know about tomorrow,
It may bring me poverty;
But the one who feeds the sparrow,
Is the one who stands by me.
And the path that be my portion,
May be through the flame or flood,
But His presence goes before me,
And I'm covered with His blood. [Refrain]