Orchard Ridge Church

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. – Luke 6:38 We are currently in a series on Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount.” (Matthew 5-7). It’s considered by most to be His greatest teaching. It was directed to His disciples and followers (both then and now). He’s sharing with them what His Kingdom is like and how citizens or subjects in this Kingdom must think, speak and act. As I read Matthew 5:33-48, it speaks about oaths, justice, revenge, loving enemies and “being perfect.” The commandments that Moses had received from God and then passed along to the Hebrews had been twisted and distorted down through the centuries to a point that Jesus had to untwist and make clear the *Author’s true intent of these laws. (*Jesus was the Author).

There is one word, to me anyway, as I read these verses, that comes to my mind in all capital letters. Jesus is calling us to be GENEROUS! Usually generosity is immediately linked with financial giving. But the generosity I see us being called to goes far beyond finances to include many areas of life – and how we treat others!

I’m excited about this one.

Teachers and preachers tend to address issues that NEED addressing. Jesus, who was both Teacher and Preacher, was no different. As He spoke to His followers (disciples) in what has become known as the “Sermon on the Mount,” He speaks into six commands that every Jew in that day would’ve been familiar with. These commands had come from the Torah (which means instruction, teaching or guidance). It was called the Law of Moses. Unfortunately, it had been taught wrong.

The commands, which were given as a means of God’s protection, provision and blessing, if obeyed, had been twisted to advantage only the privileged few (Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, etc.). This group made up less than 5% of all Jews in Jesus’ day. This is what happens in a world turned upside down by sin. Those who are meant to be helped, often aren’t.

But Jesus came to turn things right side up! And His teaching in Matthew 5-7 is His way of saying – “This is what these commands REALLY mean!” “You have heard it said… But I say to you…”

For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. – Matthew 5:20

I warned you before we began this series on the Sermon on the Mount (a.k.a. the Mountain of a Sermon), that we’d all end up feeling the sting that comes from the awareness that we are far from the goal of being “just like Jesus.”

In Matthew 5:17-20 Jesus raises the bar for His followers letting them know that there is a holiness that exceeds the ‘righteousness’ of the Pharisees. Jesus goes deeper than the words of the law to the heart of the law. Pharisees always see the outside of a person. But God always sees the heart!Chapter 5 wraps up with six “You have heard it said” statements. Then Jesus follows these statements up with, “But I say to you.” I’ve been guilty more than once of being more concerned about what “I have heard it said” than about what Jesus says. How about you?

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – John 8:12

Last week, as we launched our Sermon on the Mount series, we looked at the “Beatitudes” found in Matthew 5:3-12. In these verses, Jesus showed us the character of citizens in His Kingdom. In this week’s passage, Jesus uses the elements of salt and light to reveal the impact that citizens of His Kingdom have on the dark and decaying world in which we live!

Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. – Luke 8:1

The title of the greatest sermon ever preached by the greatest preacher who ever lived isn’t so great. “The Sermon on the Mount” isn’t the title Jesus gave it. It’s not in the Bible. It might be more correctly called a “Mountain of a Sermon!” In the three chapters (5-7) nestled inside Matthew’s gospel we find almost all of the words of this sermon written in red. (Meaning the text ALL Jesus’ words). So what’s the big deal? Why is it important? When Nations or Kingdoms are built, there are typically documents that codify the values, rights of the citizens and beliefs of the people within that nation. The Code of Hammurabi (Babylon 1755 BC), The Magna Carta (England 1215), The Declaration of Independence (US 1776), The Constitution (US 1787), The Bill of Rights (US 1791), The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (France 1789), The Communist Manifesto (Marx & Engels 1847) are just a few examples! The “Sermon on the Mount” is Jesus’ unveiling of how His Kingdom is different than the Kingdoms of THIS world. Keep in mind, that Jesus was executed because there could be no king other than the Roman Emperor – and He was being called the King of the Jews. Jesus responded to Pontius Pilate when asked if He was a King: “My Kingdom is not of this world.” Not yet anyway… Over the next 8 weeks we are going to dive into what it means to be Kingdom minded vs. earthly minded. Our text will be Matthew 5-7. The Kingdom won’t be complete until the King returns with His church to sit on His throne and rule for eternity in a New Heaven and on a New Earth! That day is coming! But new citizens are being added daily. Because the Kingdom is both “NOW” and “NOT YET.”

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After all this had happened, Paul decided to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been there,” he said, “I must visit Rome also.” – Acts 19:21 “And it came to pass” is a phrase that appears somewhere between 450-483 times in the Bible (depending on your translation). But whatever the count is, it is a lot! What does that mean? “And it came to pass” can mean many things. You’ve heard it said, “This too shall pass.” Whatever you are going through, you go through! It will pass. Last week in Acts 27 we learned about the Apostle Paul and his travel companions, Luke and Aristarchus, going through a nasty Mediterranean sea storm. It led to a shipwreck on the Island of Malta. BUT the storm passed! And they survived. And if you’re reading this, so have you! You’ve survived life storms. There’s another way to read into the phrase “and it came to pass.” Those of us in the Christian faith know what it means to receive a word, vision or promise from the LORD. Paul had both a desire to visit and preach the Gospel to those in the city of Rome, and also a calling from Jesus to do so. It took Paul years to see this dream fulfilled, but God proved faithful to bring it to pass. In Acts 28:14 it says: “and so we came to Rome.” What hopes and dreams have you received from the LORD? Pray this prayer found in Psalm 114:49: “Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.” God doesn’t need to be reminded of what He promised us, but we sure do! Remember this: the One who calls us is faithful, and He will bring it to pass!

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But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. – Acts 27:22

There is great danger in only looking at part of a message. We need to get the whole message before drawing conclusions. The Bible is often taken out of context, twisted, contorted to say things that are “half true” or just untrue entirely. For example, Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). But the entire verse reads “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Do you see what is wrapped around Jesus’ guarantee of “trouble?” It’s the guarantee of His peace, His encouragement and His Authority as The Overcomer of trouble!

The Apostle Paul was a “troublemaker” to some (his Jewish adversaries.) But the real trouble wasn’t coming from Paul. It was Satan who was warring against the Gospel that Paul was preaching! If there was one thing Paul knew – in addition to the Scriptures – it was trouble! In his second letter to the Church in Corinth Paul details the trouble he had experienced in ministry (2 Corinthians 11:23-29). Up to that point, he had been shipwrecked three times. Later in life, in Acts 27 he experiences the greatest Sea Storm and shipwreck of his life!

Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.” – Acts 26:29 Here’s a question for your consideration: In the realm of faith in Christ, do you play the long game or short game? Let me explain. Do you need immediate results from God? Or does He primarily serve as your “go to” in a pinch? Alternatively, are you playing the long game; are you trusting in God for this lifetime and even into eternity? Sometimes God shows up with immediacy. Those moments are wonderful and can build our faith – but don’t get used to it. Typically, matters taken to God in prayer are harvested after seasons of waiting and preparation. In Acts 26, King Herod Agrippa II was listening to the Apostle Paul tell his personal life story - how he came to know Jesus. It’s called a testimony. If you’re a Christian, you have one. After sharing his testimony, Paul essentially invites the King to believe in Jesus too. Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” (Acts 26:28). I love Paul’s response to this question: “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.” I pray the same prayer for all of us – that we would play the long game with our trust in Christ. Even when the immediate climate of circumstances looks bleak. The King and Kingdom will always WIN in the long term!