Living Faith Christian Church: Messages, Studies, & Stories

Western civilization has been greatly influenced by the altruistic thinking of Immanuel Kant. If you never read anything he has written, it is important for you to know, that you have likely still been influenced by him, particularly on the connection between faith and reward. He said, “An action, to have moral worth, must be done from duty.” That stands in stark contrast to the teaching of Jesus. The Lord has promised to reward us, and therefore, approves wholeheartedly of us being motivated to obey him for reward. Matthew 6 touches on 3 religious practices that were the most common in Christ’s day, and Jesus assures everyone that they will be reward for them if they practice them in the way he instructs.

The United States has some really odd laws. For example, in Arkansas, honking your horn near a sandwich shop after 9 p.m. is against the law. In Topeka, Kansas, it is illegal to sing the alphabet out on the street at night. These, and others, all reflect the desire to control specific outward behaviors. Religious leaders in Jesus’ day had that desire too, and it resulted in laws like…spitting on the ground was forbidden on the Sabbath because it might disturb the dirt, which was equated with plowing. Jesus is different than religion like that. He insisted that law keeping is a matter of the heart. Matthew 5:21-48 describes his law, but more so, contains 5 descriptions of the heart that Jesus commands us to cultivate as Christians so that we are more virtuous like God.

God is Not Great! Thus, declared the former atheist Christopher Hitchens in the title of his 2007 book, which was a case against the greatness of God. The adjective, former is appropriate, not because he became a theist, but because he died on December 15, 2011. Certainly, he is no longer an atheist. Surely, God is now proving to him that his thesis was wrong. Matthew 5:17-20 is meant to have that effect on us, during our Earthly life before we die. Though many may not see it in those four verses, they communicate that Jesus is a great King who deserves our life. This passage has 3 aspects of what he has done that warrant us giving our lives to him.

In 1999, there was a science fiction film released called the Matrix. The main character is a software programmer known in the computer hacking world as Neo. He investigated a mystery called the Matrix, and his search led him to a man named Morpheus. Morpheus offered Neo a choice: swallow a red pill to see the truth or swallow a blue to forget everything and return to normal life. Neo chose the red pill, and it revealed to him what was really going on. The Kingdom of Heaven is a bit like that. We walk around every day seeing what see but there’s an unseen world beyond what our eyes can see. In Matthew 5:1-16, Christ reveals 3 “red pill” actions for us to take in order to participate in the unseen Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.

Way back in the 1700’s in England, a pastor named Henry was riding a horse on a road to preach at church when he came into another rider’s company. After conversing on several different subjects, the stranger, looking in Henry’s face, said, “Sir, I think you are on the wrong side of fifty?” “On the wrong side of fifty!” Henry replied. “No, sir, I am on the right side of fifty.” “Surely,” the stranger said, “you must have turned fifty already?” “Yes, sir,” added Henry, “but I am on the right side of fifty, for every year I live I am nearer to glory.” Revelation 21:9-27 has 4 glorious descriptions of Christian destiny beyond death so that we can all have that same attitude.

Two buddies went on vacation in upstate NY and decided to stop to see Niagara Falls. As they gazed over the edge where the rapids went over the cliff and saw the massive cloud of mist and heard the incredibly loud sounds that are constantly there, one of them said, “This must be the most untapped power in the entire world.” The other replied, “I think the most untapped power in the world is the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit, who is a person, not just a power, has so much more power to be used in our lives than we are currently using. Acts 1:1-8 explains how God has granted you the dynamic spiritual energy for 3 tasks in your Christian life.

When he was getting his haircut, a pastor talked to the barber about being saved by Jesus. The barber responded, “I do my best and that’s enough for me.” After the haircut was over, the pastor got up, and when the next man was seated in the chair, asked, “May I cut this customer’s hair?” “No, you mustn’t,” replied the barber. “But I would do my best,” answered the pastor. “So you might,” the barber replied, “but your best would not be good enough for this gentleman.” The pastor responded, “No, and neither is your best good enough for God.” Good Friday is a reminder to us that we don’t get right with God because we do our best for him. That’s not good enough because we are sinners. John 19 has 2 statements regarding the salvation that Jesus provides.

When he was getting his haircut, a pastor talked to the barber about being saved by Jesus. The barber responded, “I do my best and that’s enough for me.” After the haircut was over, the pastor got up, and when the next man was seated in the chair, asked, “May I cut this customer’s hair?” “No, you mustn’t,” replied the barber. “But I would do my best,” answered the pastor. “So you might,” the barber replied, “but your best would not be good enough for this gentleman.” The pastor responded, “No, and neither is your best good enough for God.” Good Friday is a reminder to us that we don’t get right with God because we do our best for him. That’s not good enough because we are sinners. John 19 has 2 statements regarding the salvation that Jesus provides.

In the early 1900’s, the Standard Oil Company was preparing to establish itself in Indonesia. Company executives sought a manager for their Indonesian operations. They were informed that the man best qualified for the place was a certain missionary. Their offer of a salary to him was enormous, but he declined. After more offers were turned down, finally they said, “Just name your salary.” “Oh,” he replied, “the salary is big enough, but the job isn’t!” That man had a firm grip on something that nags at all our souls as Christians. We know that we are called to be involved in something greater than our regular work – the mission of Jesus. Matthew 28:16-20 explains the 3 ways we can do that.

Most tombstones at cemeteries share some things in common like the name of the person, their birthdate and death date, and some words of tribute like “Loving husband and devoted father,” or “Much loved wife to John and mother to James and Daniel,” or “Beloved daughter, forever young, forever beautiful,” or “Our son, always in our hearts.” What do you want etched in stone on your tomb? What message do you want to send out from your grave? There is a tombstone outside of Sydney, New York, with no name on it, and no dates. It just has a one-word inscription, merely three syllables: “FORGIVEN.” That’s worthy of consideration for all Christians as Luke 23:33-49 describes 3 wonderful truths about the forgiveness of Jesus.