Kingdom Access

Week 11: Sermon on the Mount

Good morning, Church. Grab your Bibles and make your way to the Book of Matthew. We will spend the majority of our time in there this morning.

This is the 11th week walking through the greatest sermon ever preached and Jesus is going to talk to His disciples about the importance of prayer.

For those that don’t know— I spent 3 days in Alpharetta, Georgia at the North American Mission Board for SEND Network for Church planter training.

Whats that mean? It means that for 3 days— I was around 182 other pastors who are either going and planting a new church or they are replanting a church.

We fall under the latter. I was able to met men from all around the country who are planting.

I got to meet Dan from Oklahoma who is planting in Columbus Michigan. I got to meet a man named Ezra who is planting in Ottowa, Canada.

I got to spend time with JonSeth who is planting a church in the panhandle called Grove Church in Crestview.

We all spent three days— praising, worshipping, and praying together and for the Kingdom of God to move in a mighty way.

And you might be sitting there thinking— we don’t need more churches, people just need to go to church.

Okay, maybe.

But I find it alarming that the only continent on the planet that is not growing in Christianity is North America.

There are 281 Million People in North America who do not know Jesus as Lord and Savior.

How is that possible?

Because God’s people aren’t living like the gospel is a matter of life and death.

We aren’t praying with expectation for God to move in power. aren’t taking the gospel anywhere.

Most of us don’t take the gospel out of these four walls. We’ll leave it sitting on the chair and say, I’ll see you next week. and not think about it again.

And we think that makes us Christian.

But here’s the problem with that.- a Christian is to be a follower of Christ. A Disciple.

If we aren’t doing what the Lord has commanded, then we aren’t following Christ; we are following ourselves.

And the only place we led ourselves is to hell.

Well, thats a scary thought. It should be.

I feel some type of way about this. We as a church are not acting as a church.

We aren’t making disciples. We aren’t spreading the gospel. We aren’t doing our part to fulfill the great comission.

And thats on me. As the pastor of this church, I have been personally convicted about a few things over the last several days, months and years.

If I’m being honest— I’ve been concerned about rocking the boat and changing things up. Cosmetically, we have changed. And things are looking great.

There were a bunch of people who were working their tails off getting the sanctuary today. Thank you to everyone who made this morning possible.

But the way we operate as a church, the way ministry is happening, the way things work— nothing has really changed in that regard.

and I believe—and you’re entitled to a different opinion. It’ll be wrong but you’re entitled to it—I believe we are getting complacent because we think everything is okay now.

We think, new carpet and chairs are going to revitalize the church.

We think there are enough new people in the church so we can rest now— we don’t want to get too many new people then that would threaten the way things are getting done.

We think because the bottom line of the budget is in the black and not the red everything is good.

And all those things are a lie from the pit of hell.

Because here’s the thing— I was telling Brother Larry Smith yesterday— We count numbers God never counted and thinks it means we are doing well.

God counted how many we saved in scripture. Penecost-3000.

He counted people who experiecned miracles- 5000 people experienced the miraclous feeding.

He then counted the ones that were sent- 70, 2, 12.

No where in scripture does God count the numbers of people being preached to.

We need to start celebrating what God celebrates.

Praise God we have seen people proclaim Jesus as Lord and Savior and be Baptized.

Every person in this room who knows Jesus as Lord and Savior has experienced the miraculous in their life because they went from death to life.

But we havent sent anyone.

That’s going to change.

The Lord has put on my heart that we are going to Send people out to plant a church within 2 years.

Who? I don’t know.

Where? I don’t know.

Why would we do that?

To spread the gospel.

To multiply.

Think about this— Paul planted churches all of the place and they all died. How do I know that?

Well, he wrote letters to the church in phillippi, colossae, Thesslonica, Galatia, Corinth, and they aren’t there any more.

But those churches sent others out to make others churches.

One day this church will die— praise God for the people who planted Cedar Bay but this is a reality for all churches until Jesus returns—at some point every church will die. Just like those churches, but the legacy of those churches continues because the gospel continues to spread.

and it spreads through sending people to spread the gospel.

Romans 10:15 “And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!””

The goal is not to grow Cedar Bay into an empire. The goal is to send people from Cedar Bay to spread the gospel.

And by the way— I learned really quickly after church planters and replanters introduce themselves— they want to know where you’re church is and the name of it.

Dan planted Found Church—His First church he planted 20 years ago was Explore. He thought it went together.

I believe Ezra is planting Cornerstone Church.

And JonSeth is planting Grove Church because its in that neighborhood or area with that name.

So they naturally ask the name of our church. I tell them we are Cedar Bay Baptist Church.

So you’re in Cedar Bay neighborhood?

No

You’re in an area called Cedar Bay?

No.

I don’t know. It was named in the 50s.

Brother Larry and Brother Elmer— told me the first church meetings took place on cedar bay road.

The more you know.

And praise God for the men and women who planted—watered the church through the years.

because God gave the growth.

and I believe we are planting and watering —and God will give the growth.

But its not about planting and watering in these walls. Its about planting and watering in this community.

As we move into 2026, which sounds really weird to say, we going to put an emphasis and focus on our community and how we can help/ engage/ and meet them where they are at to point them to the gospel.

That’s why next week— next Saturday—we are meeting at the church then we are going to walk the neighborhood and pray.

We aren’t taking any handout. We aren’t taking any information to hand out about the church. We are going to walk and pray.

We notice kid toys in the yard— we pray for the kids. We see two vehicles— we pray for the family.

Whatever it is—we pray.

Because prayer is essential.

Amen?

But here’s the problem— We’ve regulated pray to times of transitions in the service.

and the mid-week prayer service isn’t really a prayer service.

But that’s going to change.

We’re going to pray— and we are going to pray for the majority of the time.

We talked about the Jesus’ model prayer a few weeks ago.

and how it models us to look upward to the Lord and then it goes to us.

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done,     on earth as it is in heaven.— That’s all about God and who He is.

Then it transitions into looking downward and needs.

11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts,     as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation,     but deliver us from evil.

So we see this pattern— He is Worthy, We are needy

but it can be broken down even further.

Upward (Reverence)— Downward (Response)—Inward (Requests)—Outward (Readiness)

And with thinking about the model prayer—lets read Matthew 7:7-11

Matthew 7:7–11 ESV

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Ask, Seek, Knock.

Every good and perfect gift we have comes from God.

and If I, who am evil, know how to give my little image bearer good gifts, how much more does our Father give good things to those who ask Him.

Judah has everything he needs— food, clothing, shelter, and we give him presents—not because he does stuff for us or meets some expectation we had but because he is our son.

If I know how to give good gifts, how much more does God give us.

You have not because… why?

You have not because you ask not.

I heard this story recently of a son who had a very wealthy family and when the son graduated high school and was expecting a big gift from his dad.

When he got home—the dad gave him his gift and the son opened it and it was a bible with his name embroidered on it.

The son was furious at the gift and threw it down and walked out.

The kid went off to college, became a successful business man and had nothing to do with his family since that incidence.

He gets the call one day that his father died and he is the exercutor of his will.

He goes to his parents home and goes into his dad’s office. On his book shelf was that gift from years ago.

He took the Bible out of Box, and it had a book mark in it, he opened the bible to the book marked page and one verse was highlight.

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

and taped on the back cover of the Bible was a key and a note. The note said to go to the Parkview Point Porsche Dealership and pick out whatever you want, its paid in full.

If you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him?

So, I can pray for Bugadis, Blondes, and a Big home?

You can but is that your will in heaven or God’s will on earth?

Remember the model prayer.

His will has to be our will.

God answers prayers.

He answered prayers all throughout the Old Testement.

God heard Moses’ prayers.

Joshua prayed for the sun to stop so He could defeat the enemies of God’s people

He heard hannah’s prayer for a child and God gave her Moses.

Think of the Psalms and how many prayers in the the book of Psalams

If you complain about God its a sin—if you complain to God its a psalm.

Or lets look at this prayer together.

If you have a Bible— turn to 2 Chronicles 20.

I believe 2 Chronicles is one of the most underrated books of the Bible.

I like 2 Chronicles because it shows exactly what happens when God’s people take Him seriously — and what happens when they don’t.

You get to see kings rise and fall, not because they were talented or impressive, but because of whether or not they actually walked with the Lord.

Jehoshaphat is one of those kings in the Old Testament who actually gets it mostly right.

He’s the king of Judah — not Israel — which already puts him on the side of the smaller, outnumbered, but spiritually-anchored kingdom. And unlike so many kings who burned the candle at both ends and forgot God, Jehoshaphat leans in to the Lord.

He strengthens Judah, tears down the idols, sends teachers of the Law across the land so people actually know Scripture, and he leads with a heart bent toward God. He’s not perfect — he makes some dumb alliances, especially with Ahab — but when trouble comes, Jehoshaphat knows exactly what to do.

2 Chronicles 20:1–12 “After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, Engedi). Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord. And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, and said, “O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying, ‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.’ And now behold, the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy— behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit. O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.””

I don’t know what to do— but are eyes are on you.

That is the central petition to the Lord.

That should be our central petition to the Lord.

When we don’t know what to do—which is pretty much always— we keep our eyes on the Lord.

And God here’s Jehosphats prayer.

16 Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”

When we seek God in power, He meets us in power.

Think about this— in verse 6, we have a God in heaven

and in verse 7

Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?

Recalling past victoires encourages us to continue.

Just like Joshua did when the Israelites walked through dry ground in the Jordan river. He had a person from each tribe grab a rock and set up a memory for what God just did.

You need to have some memorial stones in your life.

Times you recognized that God was working in your life.

Then in verse 9

‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment,[c] or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.’

He is quoting King Solomons prayer back to the Lord.

So we see that Jehosophat exalted the name of the Lord. He sought the face of the Lord and not just the hand of the Lord.

We pray to honor God and exalt God for who He is.

When all we are doing when highlighting a prayer list is highlighting resources and relationships.

Thats every request—its either a resource or a relationship.

We miss the face of God because we are so focused on the hand of God but when we focus on the face of God, we will see the hand of God.

Then he recalled all the things the Lord did in the past. and He even used God’s own word to pray to the Lord.

But don’t miss this either.

2 Chronicles 20:20–23 “And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.” And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another.”

When God sent the people into battle, notice their weapon.

God’s Radical means of victory wasn’t to send his people into battle with weapons but with songs and to praise His name.

Praise and prayer are of vital importance.

Satan hates the songs of Praise to God.

I love this quote by Martin Luther when it comes to this:

“I have no use for cranks who despise music, because it is a gift of God. Music drives away the Devil and makes people joyful; they forget thereby all wrath, unchastity, arrogance, and the like. Next after theology, I give to music the highest place and the greatest honor.”

We worship the Lord with song.

and that is how the people of Judah won the battle that day but that was not the ultimate victory.

Because Jehosophat wasn’t perfect and at the end he swayed from following the Lord.

He looked to allies that could not help. He partnered with evil king Ahaziah of Israel.

It looks smart on paper, but spiritually it’s a disaster. God sends a prophet to call it out, and the whole project falls apart. The ships literally break before they ever sail. It’s God’s way of saying, “Stop partnering with people who don’t walk with Me.”

and it shows us a need for a better King.

Jesus. and He tells us to for the Father’s will to be done.

Whats God will for us?

Ultimately, its our sanctification. For us to look more and more like Christ in our daily lives.

Whats God’s will for the church?

To seek and save the lost.

The kingdom of God advances on the rail of relationship.

The Great Commission cannot be fulfilled by one singular church.

The tool to expand the kingdom of God is the church and it starts with prayer.

God has given us a window— people are more willing to come to a church service than years past if they were to be invited.

God has given us a window but before we do the work—we must be.

Thats why Jesus told last chapter in v.33— to Seek first the kingdom of God.

We seek God above all else.

Think about this— Turn to Acts 1.

I grew up believing the book of Acts was about the first century church being born, growing and expanding.

but lets read Acts 1:1–3 “In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.”

He presented himself alive to them. Who is he?

and for 40 days what did he talk about?

The kingdom of God.

So for 40 days, all Jesus did was talk about the Kingdom of God.

If thats all Jesus talked about for the 40 days after the resurrection and before the ascension.

We should seek first the things all Jesus talked about before He ascended.

Now turn to Acts 28:30–31

The book of Acts ends with the Apostle Paul in a Prison in Rome. He believes He is about to die. He believes he is giving his last words to the people.

We know that this isn’t going to be his last words but when he gave them he thought he was about to be executed for his faith in Christ. But he was in the prison for 2 years

and in the Book of Acts 28:30–31 “He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.”

He is procliaiming the kingdom of God.

so the book of Acts begins with the kingdom of God and it ends with the Kingdom of God.

The tool to expand the kingdom of God is the church and we see its birth, growth, addition and multiplication.

To expand the kingdom of God.

The church exists for the mission.

We are living in the greatest time in Christianity. More people are coming to Jesus than ever before.

Every continent in the world is expanding the gospel except us.

While Christianity is growing, we are losing ground.

I posted this earlier in the week on our members page but I think its an important question.

One of the key note speakers asked us this question: If our church left the community would people even know?

I have to be honest. I struggled with this question because I’m not sure if our community notice.

I hear people all around talk about Cedar Bay— as if it was in the past— I’ve heard people outside of the church say things like its a little sad they updated that old sanctuary is where so many people met Jesus.

I’d have a few follow-up questions for people in that mindset— are you still involved in the church?

Nostaliga does not move the gospel forward.

Here’s my hope and prayer right now— I hope in the weeks, months, and years ahead, here’s what I’m praying happens.

I pray we are engaged in our community so much that people want to be a part of whats going on here at Cedar Bay.

And stains are put on this carpet. That stains are put into these chairs.

Coffee stains, little dirty hands touching the seats, rips in the fabric because it was used so much.

Because those are clear tangible signs of ministry getting done.

We can replace chairs, we can replace carpet.

Souls are precious. Souls are irreplaceable. People are irreplaceable in the kingdom of God.

We can either keep it presitene or we can do the mission of God. We can’t do both.

But here’s the thing— a church building— the meeting place of the church has to recognize the building isn’t an old relic meant to be preserved from a bygone era of its former glory and how God once worked in the surrounding area.

Its the meeting house for the church for mission to occur.

The gospel cannot live stuck on the history channel.

When people think of Cedar Bay- its the old dying church I used to go to.

The church has to lose that perception.

And the only way we can lose that perception is for us to engage the community.

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

We must be out in the community— with a go to them focus.

God did not gives us new life to be comfy.

God did not give this church new life so we just be comfortable until we go off to the great by and by.

We are called to be mission minded.

But it all starts with prayer.

Prayer is our direct connection to our Father.

and praylessness is our declaration of independence from God.

If we are to move the gospel, if we are to be used by God, We have to be individuals and a church who prays without ceasing.

We Ask, we Seek, we knock. and we ask, and we seek, and we knock, and we ask more, and we seek more, and we knock more.

When we think about the modern church— we typically think Music and Message.

But He said His house would be a house of prayer — not a house of noise, not a house of hurry, but a house where God’s people actually slow down long enough to talk to Him and hear from Him. So that’s exactly what we’re going to do.

Right now, I want you to get into a posture of prayer — whatever helps you focus. You can stand, you can sit, you can kneel, you can kneel at the alter, you can bow your head… just get your heart open before the Lord.

This morning, we’re not praying our opinions, our feelings, or our wish lists. We’re praying Scripture. We’re letting the Word of God shape our words to God.

So grab hold of this with me — we’re going to pray Psalm 121 together.

Psalm 121 ESV

A Song of Ascents. I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.

REVERENCE

— Identify and celebrate God’s praiseworthy attributes 

He is our helper, meeting us in our need – vv.1–2

He is our maker who made heaven and earth – v.2

He is our keeper who protects, preserves, secures, andguards us – vv.3, 4–5, 7–8

He is all-knowing and always attentive – vv.3–4

He provides everlasting security – v.8

 – Prayer Prompts

Because You made heaven and earth, I know You can help me with …

Thank You, Lord, that You have been my keeper from …

Because You never sleep, I know that You are watching over me when …

RESPONSE

— Surrender to Him and His ways

I confess that in times of need I often seek … for help instead of relyingupon You.

I confess that at times I doubt that You are able to keep me safe,especially when …

REQUESTS

Lord, I declare that I need Your help in/with …

Because You are my keeper, help me to trust Your protection for …

Lord, would You please help and keep (name) as they (specific situation).

READINESS

— Encouragement and strength for spiritual battle

Lord, today keep me from the evil of … and help me to walk in Your victory.

Father, I thank You. You are the King of kings and the Lord of lords. There is no one above You, no one beside You, and no one who can compare to You. Lord, I pray we seek You above all things — above our fears, above our needs, above our plans, above the noise of this world. You are the Author and the Perfecter, the One who holds all things together by the word of Your power.

And Lord, thank You that in all Your greatness… You are still a good Father. A Father who isn’t distant, who isn’t harsh, who doesn’t run from us when we fail — but a Father who invites us, welcomes us, and wants relationship with us. Thank You for bending Your ear to hear Your children pray.

Father, we confess today that we know where our help comes from. It doesn’t come from our strength, it doesn’t come from our ability, it doesn’t come from the world — our help comes from You, the Maker of heaven and earth. The God who never sleeps. The God who never gets tired. The God who keeps us, guards us, and watches over our coming and our going.

So Lord, as we sing one more song of praise and respond to what you are calling us to do, steady our hearts. Lift our eyes. Keep us close. And let everything we do bring glory to Your name.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Church, lets stand, lets sing one more song, and if you need to pray with anyone, i’ll be at the front, other leaders within the church will be up front. If you want to surrender your life to the Lord ship of Jesus, we would love the opportunity to walk with you through that. If you want to officially join our church, whatever the Lord is calling you to do.

Let’s do it now.