Relationships
The Red Letters • Sermon • Submitted
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· 29 viewsRelationships based upon the words of Christ are built on the best possible foundation
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Introduction
If you take only one major truth from “The Red Letters”, let it be this:
Jesus’ words clearly communicate that following Him is a matter of the heart and, as such, will affect every area of our lives.
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount made this point in detail: In chapters 5-6 He taught...
Empty religious activities get you nowhere
When you truly surrender your heart and mind to Jesus, your attitude begins to reflect His heart
When you truly surrender your heart and mind to Jesus, your attitude begins to reflect His heart
gentle, caring, pure in pure in heart, hungry for God’s cleansing power, people who count it a privilege to suffer for the name of Jesus
If following Jesus with all your heart, soul, mind and strength has such transforming power in your attitude and influence…what effect should it have on your relationships?
PRAYER
If following Jesus with all your heart, soul, mind and strength has such transforming power in your attitude and influence…what effect should it have on your relationships?
Illustration: Have a 2x4 or plank, etc. handy. Call someone up to help you. when they come up, put the plank up to your eye and then try to help them get the speck out of their eye. Use tweezers. Get something long that you can use as a potential tool to get the speck out. Use binoculars if you have them, etc.
How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?
Jesus used exaggeration to make an extremely serious point. We will never be able to build solid relationships (marriage, kids, church, work, etc) if we ignore our issues while trying to fix theirs.
Jesus was using hyperbole — a humorous exaggeration to make an extremely serious point. In our relationships (marriage, kids, church, work, etc) we will never be able to build solid relationships when we ignore our own issues while trying to fix their issues.
Jesus’ words in illustrate, in living color, eternal principles for solid relationships
Big Idea: Relationships based upon the words of Christ are built on a rock-solid foundation.
Interrogatory: How do mere words have the power to create new life and hope?
Transitional: His words are more than mere words. The life-giving words of Christ are an anchor for our relationships: with God and people
RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE
RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE
Exposition: Jesus’ words are so laser focused — there is no way to get around the truth He reveals. As we know, truth can be painful, but it will always set you free — it will take the blinders off so you can see what God wants you to see about Him, yourself, and others
This applies to relationships with brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as all other relationships
This applies to relationships with brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as all other relationships
A. Relationships with Brothers and Sisters in Christ
Do not be a harsh and sinful judge
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
In Jesus begins to address how a Christian should approach a brother or sister that has misbehaved in some way.
We have a choice as to how we treat someone like that. Jesus’ words give us 3 alternatives — but the first two He forbids, and the third He promotes
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
This does not refer to judgement as in a court of law, but between brothers
Erroneous belief — it is common for people to quote this verse in order to say “don’t judge me!”
If you judge harshly, with an ugly attitude, you will be judged similarly...With the same measure...
With the same measure...
In those times, it was common practice that when grain was sold the delivery and payment both be determined by the same scale — that of the purchaser.
Judging for the wrong motives — sinful, shallow, “holier than thou” — will do nothing to build up relationships among believers or your relationship with the Lord
Judging for the wrong motives — sinful, shallow, “holier than thou” — will do nothing to build up relationships among believers
Do not slide into hypocrisy
Do not slide into hypocrisy
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?
hypocrite (actor) n. — a person who professes beliefs and opinions that he or she does not hold, in order to conceal his or her real feelings or motives.
It is easy to exaggerate the faults of others while minimizing or totally denying our own faults — Jesus calls this hypocrisy…even if we are blind to what we are doing, we are still responsible for it.
It is easy to exaggerate the faults of others while minimizing or totally denying our own faults — Jesus calls this hypocrisy…even if we are blind to what we are doing, we are still responsible for it.
It is easy to exaggerate the faults of others while minimizing or totally denying our own faults — Jesus calls this hypocrisy…even if we are blind to what we are doing, we are still responsible for it.
It is easy to exaggerate the faults of others while minimizing or totally denying our own faults — Jesus calls this hypocrisy…even if we are blind to what we are doing, we are still responsible for it.
This doesn’t mean we never judge. Jesus instructed about what to do when a brother is caught in sin or if a brother sins against you. He taught us to go to that person and work out what’s going on.
It is destructive to us personally and to our relationships with people and with God
But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment.
Get the log out of your own eye…only then you will be able to assist your brother or sister with the speck they have in their eye.
Don’t misunderstand - this doesn’t mean we never judge. Jesus taught in other places what to do when a brother is caught in sin or if a brother sins against you. He taught us to go to that person and work out what’s going on. Paul had plenty to say about holding one another accountable — but we must do so from a position of humility and love.
…the life-giving words of Jesus are an anchor
First…look in the mirror with the light of God’s truth
Then you can go in love and humility to your brother or sister that might be in trouble
Learn the value of humble, loving accountability
…the life-giving words of Jesus are an anchor
B. Relationships with all People
RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
“Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God’s Law and Prophets and this is what you get.
Other philosophies in the world have things mixed up
Other philosophies in the world have things mixed up
Do unto others before they do unto you
Some sound similar but they come at it from a negative perspective
Confucius: “Do not to others what you would not wish done to yourself”
Rabbi Hillel: “What is hateful to you, do not do to anyone else.”
Jesus’ version is positive and proactive: “Do unto others...
Illustration (continued): If you have a log in your eye…call 911 and get some help before you try to help your brother get speck out of their eye. Jesus clearly instructs us to stop what we are doing, get in front of the mirror of His Word and let the Holy Spirit shine a light on the inner most parts of who we are and what makes us tick. You WILL see your true heart and when you surrender to God’s correction you can be better equipped love others the way Jesus does.
Application:
Be honest with yourself today
You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Ps 139:23-24
When was the last time you stopped and asked the Lord to reveal your true heart and what truly motivates your attitude, words, and actions?
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
“Seek” (same as 6:33) — seek His Kingdom
When was the last time you stopped and asked the Lord to reveal your true heart and what truly motivates your attitude, words, and actions?
Transitional: Christ is our foundation — our relationships with others won’t be anchored well until our relationship with God is solid
“Knock” — If you want to go through the door — knock so that you may gain entrance
Transitional: Christ is our foundation — our relationships with others won’t be anchored well until our relationship with God is solid
RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
Exposition: In this message, Jesus spoke some golden nuggets of truth for those desiring to know God in a deeper, more authentic way, according to His design
In this message, Jesus spoke some golden nuggets of truth for those desiring to know God in a deeper, more authentic way, according to His design
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
These verses reveal so much about how to pursue a deeper relationship with the Lord
In this message, Jesus spoke some golden nuggets of truth for those desiring to know God in a deeper, more authentic way, according to His design
A. Persistently Ask
A. Persistently Ask
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Ask, Seek, Knock — all require action
keep on asking…keep on seeking…keep on knocking
Intentional action on the part of the seeker — venturing out into unfamiliar territory
Intentional action on the part of the seeker — venturing out into unfamiliar territory
“Ask” naturally points to prayer
“Ask” naturally points to prayer
“Knock” — If you want to go through the door — knock so that you may gain entrance
The challenge is to find one’s way forward in life with a clear focus on the kingdom of God and a deep trust that, as one looks to him, God will open the way ahead - (New International Greek Testament Commentary)
The New International Greek Testament Commentary: The Gospel of Matthew 3. Ask: Your Father Gives Good Things (7:7–11)
The challenge is to find one’s way forward in life with a clear focus on the kingdom of God and a deep trust that, as one looks to him, God will open the way ahead.
The challenge is to find one’s way forward in life with a clear focus on the kingdom of God and a deep trust that, as one looks to him, God will open the way ahead - (New International Greek Testament Commentary)
B. Persistently seek
“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Matthew 7:
“Mommy, I’m hungry! When can we eat? What are we having for dinner?”
“Knock” — If you want to go through the door — knock so that you may gain entrance
“Mommy, I’m hungry! When can we eat? What are we having for dinner?”
“Daddy, mommy said to ask you to get some food for me! Please daddy!”
If your child asks for a PB & J, you wouldn’t hand them a couple slices of bread with leaves and mud between the slices
Even evil parents give good gifts — How much more will our Heavenly Father
Abba - Daddy
In all of the prayer literature of ancient Judah---which is considerable — God is never addressed as “Abba”. The term was and everyday, common word, not fit to use in addressing God
Yet Jesus always addressed the Father this way — and He authorized his disciples to repeat the word after Him “Our father, which art in Heaven...”
Application
Application
Application
Be honest with yourself in this moment:
Are you living in an intimate, child/father relationship with the Lord?
In this kind of relationship, you know that your Father only does what is best for you
In this kind of relationship, you know that your Father only does what is best for you
You feel protected and secure — free to ask, seek, and knock — He will respond!
You feel protected and secure — free to ask, seek, and knock — He will respond!
Challenge
Challenge
Jesus concluded the message by making sure there was no doubt as to the importance of His words.
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
As Jesus concluded this message from the mountain side…He made sure there could be no doubt as to the importance of His words.
Matthew 7:
“Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them is like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the flood came, and the winds beat against that house, but it did not collapse because it had been founded on rock. Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the flood came, and the winds beat against that house, and it collapsed; it was utterly destroyed!”
Relationships based upon the words of Christ are built on a rock-solid foundation.
Maybe you you are saying “I hear you pastor! I can’t argue with what you say!”
Hearing and agreeing take you a little ways, but there must be more
Which category do you fall into today?
The wise man - he built his house upon the rock
The foolish man - He built his house on the sand
Are you trying to serve God with a handicap…a log in your eye?
What kind of relationships do you have with your fellow believers?
Then you will clearly see how to serve your brother
What kind of relationships do you have with everyone else in your life?
Matthew 6:
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
What kind of relationships do you have with your fellow believers?
mT 6:
What kind of relationship do you have with the Lord?
You WILL discover His blessings and empowerment as you...
Search your own heart and respond to what you see
Repent — fresh commitment to God and to loving others with His love
Ask — Pray! Talk to your Father! Just be yourself
Pray! Talk to your Father! Just be yourself
Seek — His path…the road to His plan
Read & study His Word: then read & study some more, then meditate on His truth
Knock
He will open the door
He has a good plan if you will just go through the door and trust Him to lead you