RLCF Sermons

(Matthew 18:11-17)

In our relationships, we all have some level of knowledge (I Corinthians 8:1). From there, however, we face the choice of either continuing to pursue knowledge -- which will only make us proud -- or pursuing love, which will build others up. Love is the greatest of them all, and is how the church is built.

It is when we build the Church, however -- as opposed to a congregation or a club -- that we open ourselves to the risk of being hurt, because we are drawing close to each other. When we love, we make ourselves vulnerable, but that is the only way we can experience true unity. Thankfully, God's Word clearly shows us how we can be reconciled in relationships where there has been friction or even sin.

In order to eventually experience true reconciliation, however, we must first ensure that we have the right attitude of love in our heart. Two aspects of this attitude of love are:

1) To cover up another's disgrace. Joseph is the first person called "righteous" in the New Testament, and this is because he chose not to publicly humiliate Mary for what was outwardly perceived as sin. That is why the Father could use Joseph as to raise His Son, Jesus. God needs men and women with this spirit to build the Body of Christ today.

2) To build others up after they've fallen, by uniting with Jesus in the ministry of intercession. When Joshua the high priest was covered in filthy garments (Zechariah 3:1-5), Satan immediately came alongside to accuse him. But, the Lord rebuked Satan, and removed Joshua's filthy garments. Zechariah could have joined hands with Satan in accusing Joshua for what was factually correct ("knowledge"), but instead he joined wholeheartedly with Jesus by adding a turban on top of Joshua's head ("love"). Likewise, God is looking for those who will build others up, not tear them down.

When Cain was jealous of Abel, his face showed it -- he couldn't even look God in the eye (Genesis 4:5-7). God warned him that if he didn't deal with that resentment, an enemy was crouching at the door seeking to devour him. That enemy was sin. Cain didn't heed God's warning and was devoured by that sin. Likewise, when we face any situation of conflict, whether in the home or in the church, let's remember that the person with whom we are facing that conflict is not our enemy. We have only ONE enemy -- sin! And, we are our brother's keeper.

Let us beware of partnering with the Devil in the spirit of accusation, which often begins with a little curiosity to know others' faults and condemn them. Instead, let us partner with Jesus in the ministry of intercession, which covers others.

4 Every-Day Resolutions

The reason New Year's resolutions are set up for failure is that it's such a long period of time. Instead if you faithfully live out "today" resolutions every day, you will find that you make great progress by the end of the year. God is the God of TODAY (Psalm 118:24; II Corinthians 6:1-2; Hebrews 4:7). Even when He created the world, He did so one "today" at a time.

But, what shall we resolve to change? For most people, it is changing what they do. Yet, the New Covenant is not in "DO-ing" but in "BE-ing". No matter how much progress is made in the field of Artificial Intelligence, it is still "artificial", because those robots don't have the human nature. Similarly, many Christians only have artificial righteousness, because they don't have the Divine Nature. When Jesus first explained the New Covenant (Matthew 5:3-9), He taught that when the attitude of our heart is right -- poor in spirit, mourning, meek, hungering and thirsting, merciful, pure, etc. -- then God gives us His Divine Nature so that we ARE like Him.

Here are 4 "every-day" attitude resolutions that we can have right now, today!...

1. BE thankful. Notice the 3 stages of gratitude in Colossians 3: having a thankful attitude (v15); then singing in your heart with thankfulness (v16); and finally giving thanks outwardly (v17). Of the 10 lepers who were healed, it was only the man of the despised class (Samaritans) who came back to give thanks. When we think nothing of ourselves, gratitude will come easily. It's when we think we are or deserve something, that grumbling and complaining comes out instead.

2. BE merciful. We are called to be perfect in showing mercy (Luke 6:36; Matthew 5:48). Showing mercy to others is not something we need to "work towards." We can start right now.

3. BE faithful. Faithfulness is not in gritting our teeth or guilting ourselves into doing some tasks consistently. Rather it is in BEING faith-full, and diligence and dependability overflowing out of that. Jesus also said that our faithfulness is tested in the little things (Luke 16:10-12). Here are 2 "little" areas in which we can be faithful to our spouses, our children, and those with whom God has placed us in the local church: (i) "I will pray for you" (ii) "I will be here for you -- at home, at the church meetings, etc.

4. BE ready. In our hearts, we must be standing right by the door at all times, expecting Jesus to come (Luke 12:35-40). Then we won't be caught off-guard when He returns.

Ask God, and He will give you grace to BE this way TODAY!

Sermon Series: To Save That Which Is Lost (Part 1 of 5)

Matthew 18:11-17

“It is mainly the deeds of a love so noble that lead many to put a brand upon us. See how they love one another, they say, for they themselves are animated by mutual hatred; how they are ready even to die for one another, they say, for they themselves will sooner put to death” (Tertullian, 'The Apology').

Imagine a church full of gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, and knowledge; full of faith, where mighty works of power are manifest; which gives all its possessions to feed the poor; in which some have even been killed as martyrs. Yet, Jesus would write a big ZERO over all of it if it didn't have love.

This Divine love keeps no record of wrongs and does not rejoice over others’ sin (I Corinthians 13:1-6). God cursed Ham because he rejoiced over his father's failure, but blessed Shem and Japheth because they covered it up.

Love covers a multitude of sins, and is hospitable without complaint, serving according to the measure of the gift that God has given (I Peter 4:8-10).

Matthew 18:5-14

What is it about children that God loves? They represent the opposite of what the world esteems – status, ability, accomplishment. Therefore, the world does not have any value for them. But let us realize that to receive a little child is to receive Jesus, and to despise a little child is to despise Jesus!

Jesus gave a very stern warning about not causing little children to stumble (Matthew 18:7-11). Children are going to come across stumbling blocks in the world, so it is important that the church and every home represented in it must be the one place of safety for them.

We must be able to say to the children in our homes and in the church: “Imitate me as I imitate the Father.” So, whatever they see us do and say, they ought to be able to know that that is what the Father is like (John 14:9). We are not there yet completely, but we must constantly be pressing forward toward this goal.

The hand/foot. So, for example, are the habits that you indulge in, things in which you can invite a child to partake with you? Can a child look at your attitude toward money and know that that’s what Jesus is like?

The eye: Do you have a radical attitude toward lust (I Peter 4:14-16). So, for example, is the type of music you listen to or movies you watch, something in which you can invite a child to participate with you. Are the jokes you tell the kind at which you can invite a child to laugh with you? God doesn’t say that we are to be holy because He said we should; that was the Old Covenant. Under the New Covenant, He calls us to be holy because He IS holy. That means that we can see His holiness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, like little children, simply become imitators of Him as we partake of His Divine Nature.

The tongue: Children absorb much of what they hear, even subconsciously. Let us ensure that we are not a stumbling block to them by allowing in our speech any bitterness, wrath/clamor (how we speak to each other at home), slander (how we speak about others at home), complaining, (Ephesians 4:31; Philippians 2:14-15), etc.

The heart: Let us be imitators of God in having a perfectly merciful, forgiving attitude toward others (Luke 6:36; Eph. 4:32-5:2).

(Part 2 of 2 in the series: "Becoming Like an Infant")

Matthew 18:1-4

The disciples thought they were ready for “PhD Christianity”. Jesus, however, rebuked them that they weren’t even ready for “Kindergarten Christianity”, unless they made a U-turn and became like little children. The beautiful paradox is that the one who is like a little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven!

Another characteristic of infants is that they are utterly dependent on their father/mother for everything -- e.g., their inability to remove a blanket from their own face which could suffocate them; the inability to reach over and pick up the pacifier that is lying right next to them, which would satisfy their needs; etc. The spiritual equivalent was the first temptation that Jesus faced in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-4) -- to satisfy His own needs on His own power -- but He refused to yield to that temptation. And throughout His life, He never pleased Himself (Romans 15:3)

This new way of life that Jesus opened up for us (Hebrews 10:20) is the life of being "good for nothing", but dependent on the Father for everything. In order to set us this example, He had to be tempted like us in all things (Hebrews 4:15). The result is that we can come boldly to the throne of grace. There, we can freely OBTAIN mercy; and most Christians stop there. God wants to give us more, however -- and that is, grace. But, grace is something we must FIND (Hebrews 4:16), and that involves losing our own self-life (Matthew 16:25).

Here is the new and living way that Jesus opened up for us:

1. From the beginning, as God, He did everything (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1; Colossians 1:16).

2. He then emptied Himself of this power (Philippians 2:5-8).

3. While on earth, He then said that He could do nothing, but simply constantly received life from the Father (John 5:19-20).

4. While on earth, He faced the constant pull toward the death that comes from not being dependent on the Father, so He cried out to be saved from it, and was heard (Hebrews 5:7).

5. The result was that He was able to do everything -- i.e., perfectly obey the Father (Hebrews 4:15)!

6. He promises to give this same life to all who come to Him (John 5:21).

7. If we choose the same way of going down, we too can do ALL things (Philippians 4:13,11-12).

And, when we see Him, we shall be fully like Him (I John 3:2).

Matthew 18:1-4

The disciples thought they were ready for "PhD Christianity". Jesus, however, rebuked them that they weren't even ready for "Kindergarten Christianity", unless they made a U-turn and became like little children. The beautiful paradox is that the one who is like a little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven!

One characteristic of infants is that they are not at all affected by the worldly importance of people (Matthew 21:6-16). If we seek the honor of men we will never be able to believe (John 5:44). More seriously, God warns us that whatever is of worldly importance is an abomination to God (Luke 16:15). If we have truly entered the New Covenant, we will treat honor-seeking in the same way as we treat those things that God called an abomination in the Old Covenant, and have the same repulsive attitude toward it.

The only person who matters to infants is their Father/Mother. When we truly become like an infant spiritually, we start to know God this way -- at the expense of knowing everyone else. This is what Jesus said is eternal life (John 17:3).

When we are truly converted and become a new creation, then we will seek to know only Christ and not know or be affected by anyone in a worldly way (II Corinthians 5:16-17). Knowing Christ this way, at the expense of knowing anything/anyone else, was the passion that preserved Paul all the way to the end of his life (Philippians 3:10).

May this be our testimony too until Christ's return! Amen.

If you are hurting as a result of experiencing loss, you will ultimately only find peace through the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. God wants to show you, as you walk through that loss, that His promises are absolutely trustworthy.

Types of loss:

1. Spiritual Oppression:

The father of the demon-possessed boy had been through much torment on account of his son (Matthew 17:14-21). But, God was testing him to see if he would persevere through all his setbacks until he actually reached Jesus. God works the same way with us, often allowing us to face frustrations along our journey to Him, so that our hope will be only in Him.

Why did Jesus die? It was for far more than just the forgiveness of our sins. It was to render Satan powerless and free us from the fear of death (Hebrews 2:14-15). So, when the legions of hell come against you, remember, “The Lamb will overcome” (Revelation 17:14)!

2. Emotional Grief (Matthew 17:22-23)

Imagine what the disciples must have felt when Jesus told them that He would be leaving them. If you're struggling with a sense of abandonment in some area, remember the promise of Jesus that He won’t forsake you (Hebrews 13:5b-6) or leave you as an orphan. And in the midst of that trial, you can be as alive as He is (John 14:18-19)!

3. Financial Strain (Matthew 17:24-27)

Peter was tempted to despair when he didn't have the money to pay his taxes. But, Jesus had promised that those had forsaken all for His sake would receive "a hundred times" more (Mark 10:28-31). God is waiting for you to relinquish claim to all earthly things so that He can provide you with everything you need.

Think about all the material things in your life -- money, job, home, etc. Are you SEEKING for them? Or, are you RECEIVING them from God because you are seeking His kingdom first (Matthew 6:32-33)?

Tell God: “Lord, I am living on this earth only to build Your kingdom. So, You must ensure that I have the earthly means -- job, food, clothing, house, physical health, children’s education, etc. -- to fulfill that purpose.”

From Psalm 27: In spite of the size of the army against me, I am confident; THEY stumble (v1-3). When I desire only to dwell in God's presence, He will conceal me in His tabernacle (v4-6). When I cried out to God for help, His answer was, “Seek My face” (v7-8). And my answer is, "Your face will I seek. Please teach me Your way" (v9-12). I would have despaired unless I had believe that I would see the goodness of the Lord while I am still alive on this earth, despite all its trials (v13-14).

Amen!

Matthew 17:9-13

When Jesus said that Elijah “already came” and “is coming” (Matthew 17:11), that was dual fulfillment of prophecy. In the same way that John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus' first coming (Matthew 17:13; 11:14), the Church exists on earth today to prepare the way for Jesus' second coming.

The Church's calling, then, as the "Elijah" of today is:

1. Discerning the True Jesus

There were other religious leaders in Jesus’ time who taught many good things (Acts 5:36-37). So, it was critical that John the Baptist know exactly who was the true Messiah, in order to point the disciples to Him. He received this by personal revelation from God (John 1:29-34). God has placed the Church on earth, likewise, to identify the true Jesus from all the false Christs that exist in the world today (II Corinthians 11:2-4). One of the primary marks that the true Jesus has been revealed to us is a passion to decrease so that Christ may increase (John 3:27-30).

2. The Ministry of Restoration

God promised that the Church would be involved in reconciling people to God (II Corinthians 5:14-21) and restoring God-ordained relationships (Malachi 4:5).

3. Confronting the Spirit of Babylon

The Church will also call people out of a life of “limping on two divided opinions” (I Kings 18:21), to choosing God over Mammon.

If Jesus has only been transfigured to you, you will be taken up with either physical manifestations (visions of Jesus/angels, etc.), or with intellectual or emotional religious fervor (Matthew 17:2-3).

This is what happened to Peter. He had received revelation of Jesus the Messiah directly from the Father (Matthew 16:17). Yet, deep down, he was not really seeking God's interests (Matthew 16:23). As a result, six days later, he got carried away in the moment on the mountaintop and lost sight of the preeminence of Jesus (Matthew 17:4). So, the Father had to send a terrifying cloud over the disciples to remove the competing allegiances, and allow only Jesus to remain.

When we receive revelation from the Father, what we see of Jesus is His INNER life. This life is given to Jesus by the Father (John 5:19-26), and then given to us by Jesus (I John 5:11-12). It is this eternal abundant life that Jesus came to earth to give us (John 10:10).

Revelation, Authority, Discipleship (Matthew 16:13-28)

Revelation from God's Word is more important than just reading it. God gives revelation to those who have become like babies spiritually (Matthew 11:25-26). To become like babies is to consider ourselves as capable of producing NOTHING, because our adequacy is from God alone. Only then will the veil be lifted from over our hearts (II Corinthians 3:4-18) so that God's Word comes alive to us.

We must come to God to receive revelation from Him directly (rather than trying to get it secondhand from men) on:

1. Christ: so that Jesus becomes the ONLY one to us (Matthew 16:13-17).

2. The Church: so that we value Her, and exercise the authority that Jesus has given us (Matthew 16:18-20)

3. The way of the Cross: that it is the only way to follow the true Jesus (Matthew 16:21-28)