RLCF Sermons

The Father's name glorified in me

Spending time with our Heavenly Father

Obeying the new commandment

Matthew 20:17-24

The disciples, beginning with James and John, saw the approaching glorification of Jesus as an opportunity for them to be exalted to positions of authority. What we can understand from Jesus' response to them is that there are two types of people in the world -- takers and givers.

The kingdom of the world is characterized by takers -- whether in their marriages, their home life, the work place, the church, etc. The kingdom of heaven, on the other hand, is characterized by givers, beginning with Jesus who came to serve, not to be served.

When you progress in the kingdom of the world, you can expect to be served more and more. If you progress in the kingdom of heaven, on the other hand, you will serve others more. Takers always expect others to meet their needs, and so they will eventually get offended over something or the other -- in their marriages, homes, church, etc. -- and leave. Givers, on the other hand, when they see a need, stick it out and seek God for the grace to meet those needs through them.

God wants to make all grace abound to us, not so that we can be takers who accumulate more for ourselves, but so that we can be givers who do good to others as a result (II Corinthians 9:6-8). Because Paul was a giver, not a taker, he refused to be financially dependent on the church in Ephesus, and provided for his own needs (Acts 20:25-35).

Jesus also said that following Him on this way of serving involves a cup of suffering (Matthew 20:22-28). This is why we emphasize the way of the cross over all the other good earthly causes with which we could get taken up. Every other emphasis results in a hope that will disappoint (Romans 5:5).

The true hope that we have been given is one that we can be completely assured of, because God both said it and then took an oath on it (Hebrews 6:13-20). This hope thus becomes an anchor for our soul.

We must ensure, however, that the anchor isn't just sitting unused in the boat, or hanging limply over the side. Our anchor must go all the way into the ground at the bottom of the ocean for the boat to be steadfast.

We are told that the anchor reaches "within the veil", into the Most Holy Place where God dwells. Drawing on the design of the Tabernacle, if we get stuck along the way with just the forgiveness of our sins and baptism in water (Outer Court), our hope will disappoint. If we go further, but get stuck with just the experience of being baptized in the Holy Spirit, or doing some service for God (Holy Place), our hope will still disappoint.

Let us therefore follow Jesus our Forerunner all the way into the presence of God (Most Holy Place), and be anchored there as worshipers of God. When God is all we seek, we will find that He fills us according to our needs, and causes rivers of living water to flow out from our innermost being (John 7:38).

When Jesus listed the commandments to the rich young ruler (Matthew 19:18-19), he omitted the one commandment that had to do with the inner life — the Tenth Commandment on coveting. All the other commandments deal with outward righteousness, but this commandment deals with the inner life. If that man had been honest, he would have admitted that his inner life was rotten despite all his outward good works. What Jesus was trying to tell him was that the only thing that would give his good works value was if they stemmed from eternal life. To receive that eternal life on the inside, he had to throw away everything that he considered valuable, and follow Jesus.

All the things that God allows us to have on this earth — money, sports, career/job, ministry, marriage, reputation, righteous deeds, etc. — are all “0”s. The “1” thing that can give them value is Jesus. Without Him being the central part of them all, no matter how many “0”s you have, they all add up to nothing at all.

Some years later, another rich young man (Saul of Tarsus) faced the same dilemma. He, however, was honest to acknowledge that even though he had kept all the outward commandments blamelessly and zealously (Philippians 3:4-6), he couldn’t keep the inner commandment at all. Seeing the evil that was present INSIDE him, caused him to evaluate his outwardly blameless life as “wretched” (Romans 7:7-8,21,24). So, putting no confidence in his good works, and treating his “good life” outside of Christ as rubbish (Philippians 3:3,7-11), Paul obtained eternal life in Jesus, and became the greatest apostle of God’s kingdom.

Whose example will you follow today? The rich young ruler who was too afraid of having his world come crashing down, and so remained a hypocrite? Or will you follow Paul, who, seeing things from eternity’s perspective, threw away everything else in order to gain Christ?

Everyone in the world is in pursuit of a "good life". But, whether it is a self-centered worldly-minded way of living on one extreme (Jude 1:15), or a self-righteous works-minded way of living on the other (Isaiah 64:6), both are equally detestable in God's eyes. Just because the former may seem more evil outwardly, that can deceive us into thinking that we are somehow better because our works are outwardly "good."

These 2 extremes are evident in all areas of life, e.g.:

- Money: On one extreme, money can be your master, controlling your thoughts and actions, and becoming the source of your security; this love of money is the root of all forms of evil (I Timothy 6:10). On the other extreme, you can think that godliness is in being materially poor, or that by being generous or philanthropic you can earn your way into eternal life. Both of these extremes are detestable to God.

- Sports: On one extreme, sports can be your idol, captivating your time and thoughts. On the other extreme, you can think that complete abstinence from playing or watching sports makes you more pleasing to God. Both of these extremes are detestable to God.

- Career/Job: On one extreme, your career or job can become your identity, leading you away from the kingdom of heaven. On the other extreme, you can neglect your earthly studies in school or work at your job, spending your time instead on religious activities like prayer meetings and Bible studies; yet, God, observing your unfaithfulness with your earthly responsibilities, will not be able to entrust heavenly riches to you (Luke 16:11). Both of these extremes are detestable to God.

- Ministry: On one extreme, your lust for ministry can become your passion, yet you can justify it because it's "God's work." On the other extreme, you can neglect the gifts God has given you and lose sight of His purpose for placing you in His Body. Both of these extremes are detestable to God.

- Marriage: On one extreme, your evaluation of your marriage can come from a "Hollywood" standard of how "in love” you feel with each other. On the other extreme you can be proud of the "godly marriage" or "godly home" that YOU built. Both of these extremes are detestable to God.

- Reputation: On one extreme, you can allow the opinions of people to hold you in bondage. On the other extreme, you can have a "couldn't-care-less" attitude about it, preventing you from being able to receive counsel from godly people who care about you. Both of these extremes are detestable to God.

- Righteousness: On on extreme, you can turn God's grace into license to keep on sinning (Jude 1:4). On the other extreme, you can strive in your own strength to overcome sin, and think that that is godliness. Both of these extremes are detestable to God.

The rich young ruler came to Jesus asking what other good works he needed to do to EARN his way into eternal life (Matthew 19:16); Jesus' answer made it clear that it was instead a life that he had to ENTER into (v17)! The rich man's life was like a tower of good works that he had built, and he expected Jesus to tell him what other building blocks he needed to add so that he could finally reach heaven (like the Tower of Babel). What Jesus told him essentially was that the one thing he was lacking was the foundation, implying that the whole tower would need to be torn down and rebuilt. This was something the rich young man was unwilling to do, and so he missed out on eternity.

Jesus isn't calling you to try to live a GOOD life, but to receive His ETERNAL life. The difference between the two is the difference between heaven and hell. It doesn't matter what age you are -- even if you have mere seconds to live, like the thief on the cross -- risk it all today to make Jesus your EVERYTHING. It will be the best decision of your life!

If we overcome, Jesus promises to give us a new name (Revelation 2:17). But, that new name will not be about us or our overcoming. Rather, it will be: the name of God, the name of the Bride of Christ (the Church), and Jesus' new name (Revelation 3:12). The name and image that will be stamped on us will have nothing to do with us individually, and everything to do with Jesus!

The spirit of heaven is to make Jesus preeminent. So, the Bride of Christ seeks no other identity or name except to be called, “Jesus' delight” and "married to Jesus” (Isaiah 62:2-5).

Let us walk this way of faith so that as people interact with us, they encounter less and less of ourselves, and more and more of Jesus. Then we will truly be ready for heaven.

“I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it NOW. Let me not defer or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again” – Stephen Grellet (1773-1855).

Under the Old Covenant, no one could behold the glory of God. Under the New Covenant, because the Spirit of the Lord is WITHIN us, we have liberty to behold His glory (II Corinthians 3:17-18)! This is why we must continually seek to be filled afresh with the Holy Spirit.

To truly see Jesus is to be blind to all other sights; and to truly hear Jesus is to be deaf to all other voices (Matthew 17:5,8). "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim." How "dim" are the things of earth to someone who is actually in heaven in the physical presence of God? So dim that they would be like complete darkness! Spiritually, under the New Covenant, we too can increasingly enter into this undistracted life, while here on earth!

Jesus is not preparing many holy individuals who will then reign with Him; but He is preparing ONE holy Bride (Ephesians 5:27).

When God allows us to overcome in some area, let us not try to attach any glory to ourselves because of it. The best we had to offer Jesus was “our vile body” (Philippians 3:21). When we recognize that, it will preserve us in humility, so that Jesus can transform it to be conformed to the body of HIS glory.

Matthew 18:11-22

If your “brother” — i.e., your husband/wife, children, or a brother/sister in the local church — sins against you, seek reconciliation with them privately and gently first (Galatians 6:1; Matthew 18:15). Remember that you are trying to win your brother/sister, not the argument!

To "win your brother," is to have the attitude that Jesus had. When He looked down from heaven and saw Saul "breathing threats and murder" against Him and His family, Jesus didn't think how He could destroy Saul, but rather, "I must win Saul!" He did win him, and Paul became one of the boldest witnesses for Jesus.

When attempts to privately and gently win a brother are unsuccessful, the elders and the church have authority to deal with it (Matthew 18:16-20). This usually comes at the expense of our own earthly reputation, but that is where we demonstrate our value of and sense of protection for God's family.

Let us love like Jesus did -- "to the end" (John 13:1). This means that we will be tested with disappointment and sacrifice along the way. But, when we live this way in forgiveness and reconciliation, then Christ WILL be present in our midst (Matthew 18:20). This is the true Church that Jesus is building.

To love the Head, Jesus, is to love His Body as well. May we recognize our need of EVERY member of the body in which God has placed us!

"I need you, you need me

We're all a part of God's body

Stand with me, agree with me

We're all a part of God's body

It is his will that every need be supplied

You are important to me, I need you to survive

I pray for you, you pray for me

I love you, I need you to survive

I won't harm you with words from my mouth

I love you, I need you to survive."

Matthew 18:11-22

When we are integrated into the Body of Christ, we learn how to have the foundation -- i.e., forgiving love -- as well as the superstructure built on top of it -- i.e., helping the one in sin. Whether you have only a building and no foundation, or only a foundation and no building, in either case, the storms will wreak havoc in your life.

If your "brother" -- i.e., your husband/wife, children, or a brother/sister in the local church -- sins against you:

1. Judge yourself first (Galatians 6:3-5). Before you flare up at the other's fault, take time to count ten -- ten of your own.

2. Pray with a burden (Galatians 6:2). You can only truly be of help to someone if you have spent time interceding on their behalf in prayer.

3. Forgive (Mark 11:25-26; Matthew 18:21-22). When you pray, forgive, because if you do not forgive others, God will not forgive you. If you only have to forgive 7 times in a day, you may be able to do that with extreme human patience. But, if you want to forgive 490 times a day, as Jesus commanded -- that's every 2 minutes -- you will need God to give you His Divine Nature which IS forgiving.

4. Dialog privately and gently (Galatians 6:1; Matthew 18:15). Be gentle, like a stream, when you approach the one in sin. Remember that you are trying to win him/her, not the argument!