March 14, 2021
Morning Service

Along our journey with Jesus, He is teaching us how to become “fishers of men;” faithful and fruitful followers.  It all starts with attitude as He laid out for us the foundation that we are now building on through the Beatitudes.  We are to see the world as He does, feel the same compassion for those around us, and seek to walk closer and closer to Him daily.  We are to make the world a better place by being “Salt and Light” to those around us pointing others to Jesus by living a righteous life that empowers our words.  Last week we saw that our relationship with Jesus can’t be only in action only, He wants our heart; the one thing that motivates us to do what we do.  Clean the inside and the outside will take care of itself; clean the heart and your actions will follow.  To help us on this journey, Jesus now begins to magnify the true meaning behind the Law of Moses by explaining to us that He is not doing away with it, but fulfilling it.  Obedience from the heart fulfills the law in our lives.  It becomes not what we do but who we are becoming; a disciple of Jesus.  With this teaching Jesus is building within us a world view that we have to apply to every aspect of our lives.  It must be the foundation that we build upon and act from.  It becomes the filter that we must pass everything through.  It applies to our home life, our work place, our political views, and especially our own private life (who we are when no one is watching).  He is leading us on a path to become like Him.  My challenge to you is to start afresh and rebuild your foundation upon Jesus; be a little more like Jesus and little less like me!  Allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you and have the courage to make the changes needed to become all that our Lord is calling you to be; a doer of His Word and not a hearer only.  Today we will hear Jesus to magnify two of the Ten Commandments that continue to be issues in our society today as well as 2000 years ago.  Parents these are two areas that you need to be teaching your children about because if you don’t the world will.

 Mat 5:21-26 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.'  (22)  But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.  (23)  Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, (24) leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.  (25)  Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.  (26)  Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

            First I would like to make statement of where we stand as a church on this subject of murder; in accordance supporting “prolife or prochoice” that is a major political topic.  It is not a political topic; it is a spiritual, moral topic.  The scriptures support the fact that life begins at conception in the womb and only God has the authority over life and death decisions.  Abortion is murder and we as Jesus followers need to lovingly make our stand and let the scriptures form our opinion on this subject not the mainstream media.

Jesus begins with the 6^th commandment “You shall not murder” and does not do away with it but magnifies it by saying; “But I say to you.”  The attitude that causes murder to occur usually begins with unjust types of anger.  It is not wrong to become angry as Paul quotes OT scripture in saying this:

 

Eph. 4:26 "BE ANGRY, AND DO NOT SIN": do not let the sun go down on your wrath,

            Jesus Himself was angry with the merchants taking advantage of true worshippers in the temple when He turned over their tables in “righteous anger.”  Here Jesus spells out for us three forms of “unrighteous anger” that leads us to judgement.  First it is being angry without just cause at a person.  Anger is justified when God’s honor is at stake or when someone else is being wronged (you are angry as a peacemaker).  The attitude of “I don’t get mad; I get even” is not acceptable in our walk with Jesus.  We are to display mercy and forgive those who have wronged us.  Secondly, is the sin of anger causing you to insult a brother.  “Raca” is an Aramaic term that means “empty one” which was a term of contempt and insult.  When we are insulted is a natural and quick reaction to strike back.  It is very obvious to shine your light in to others, you can’t be talking harshly about them no matter the circumstances.  Our political scenario today has amplified beyond differences of opinion and is now focused upon hatred towards one’s opponent.  Tread lightly in how you go and allow the Spirit to control your heart and then He will control your tongue.  Finally, to call someone a “Fool” is an unrighteous anger that points to condemnation and judgement.  It is openly proclaiming them to be unworthy of an opinion or even living; wishing they would be silenced.  We are not the Judge and have no right to speak in this manner displaying unrighteous anger.

            Anger can be a very big issue with many of us.  Sit down in front of your spiritual mirror and look honestly at your heart and see if there is unrighteous anger there that needs to be dealt with.  That type of anger and hate hinders your relationship with Jesus.  He says reconciliation, on your end, must be done in order to be able to offer your gift to God with a clear conscience.  Anger must be dealt with and cannot be taken lightly.  Jesus now turns to another subject that the world has “conformed” to its own definition.

 

Mat 5:27-30 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.'  (28)  But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  (29)  If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.  (30)  And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

            Again on the subject of sexuality, I will make a statement on where we as the church stand according to God’s Word.  Marriage is to be between one man and one woman. Sexual relations are reserved only for that institution. The Word is clear that same sex marriages and that life style come from a “debased mind filled with all unrighteousness.” (Rom. 1:24-32) The world has painted a very vivid picture that “if it feels good do it” and it could not be further from God’s truth.  Our enemy is seeking to destroy the true family structure that God created with a father, mother, and children.  Schools are teaching these alternative lifestyles and parents need to be diligent.  They are making our children to even question their God given gender!  Teach truth early and often to avoid this confusion Satan is spreading.

            Jesus now addresses the Commandment that states “you shall not commit adultery” and magnifies it by saying “but I say.”  Adultery is defined as sexual intercourse outside the covenant of marriage.  Certainly our society has thrown this commandment to the side with the “sexual revolution.”  Jesus does not dismiss this command as being outdated or too hard to follow, but magnifies it from not only the physical action but also the very thought of it as sin.  Mere abstinence from the act itself is not enough, but Jesus us calling us to be inwardly pure.  Just as murder begins in the heart with anger, adultery begins with lust within our minds and we must be in control of not only our body, but our thoughts as well.  He gives us an extreme example that if it is our eye that cause us to lust, cut it out to avoid sin.  This is not a literal command, but it can be interpreted to keep ourselves out of situations that cause us temptations.  To obey this command, we must demonstrate strict self-discipline.  If we can’t control what we watch on TV or the internet, turn it off or cancel your service getting rid of the temptation.  What happens in the dark is seen in heaven, you are only fooling yourself if you think no one knows.  With the access of pornography so prevalent, we all must be diligent to keep our private lives pure.  If you struggle with this, find a trusted friend to help hold you accountable to be able to overcome this; we are better together.

            Jesus is magnifying the law to not include what we do, but includes our motivations and attitudes; the why we do things.  This transformation comes from a “renewing of the mind” (Rom. 12:2) as we reset how we look at things and think about them; our foundation.  The bonus is that we do not do this alone.  God has given us His Holy Spirit to live within us, to guide us and empower us to be overcomers in these areas of sin in our lives. (John 14:26) We are not alone, but Jesus walks with us along this journey; be courageous to be little more like Jesus and a little less like me.

 

Heavenly Father, thank You for calling us on this journey.  Please grant us the vision to see what You desire us to be and also grant us the desire and courage to magnify You by living that way.