The Kingdom Manifesto - 9

Kingdom Manifesto – 9

God Desires Faithfulness

Matthew 5:33-37

Introduction

Judges 11 carries this crazy story about a guy named Jephthah. He became the military leader of Israel, and the Ammonites attacked. Jephthah made a vow to God and said, “If you give me victory, when I get home, whatever comes out first from my house, I will sacrifice and offer it to you.”

In those days, houses were also where the animals slept, to keep them safe from attack or theft. He fully intended to have an animal come bounding out of his house...and the vow was that no matter how great or precious that animal was, he would offer it to God as a sacrifice.

He goes to war and God gives him a great victory. So, he comes home, and the first thing to come bounding out of his house to him is his one and only daughter. Worst case of “Open mouth/Insert foot” in world history. Jephthah keeps his vows to God.

The point of the story is this - take your promises very seriously. When we make promises - particularly to God - we should follow through on them. So, don’t make promises hastily. Jesus takes up this very issue in the Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 5:33-37 - “You have also heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the Lord.’ But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne. And do not say, ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is his footstool. And do not say, ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. Do not even say, ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black. Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.

Again, the point is simple - tell the truth; be people of your word. Why does this warrant attention in this sermon? I mean, being honest and making good on your promises is really a solid part of religious foundation. This is one of the 10 commandments. Why does Jesus have to spend time talking about this issue...these are devoutly religious people he is talking to.

The OT has much to say about vows.

Numbers 30:2 - A man who makes a vow to the Lord or makes a pledge under oath must never break it. He must do exactly what he said he would do.

Deuteronomy 23:21 - “When you make a vow to the Lord your God, be prompt in fulfilling whatever you promised him. For the Lord your God demands that you promptly fulfill all your vows, or you will be guilty of sin. However, it is not a sin to refrain from making a vow. But once you have voluntarily made a vow, be careful to fulfill your promise to the Lord your God.

God takes vows very seriously. In fact, if you read all of Numbers 30, you will see how detailed God gets with laws governing vows.

In Jesus’ day, the religious leaders had taken these commands and turned them into an elaborate maze of regulations. They said vows were only truly binding (meaning, you only had to follow through on a promise) if you invoked God’s name in the vow. The rest of the time, you could just lie.

You could make a vow, swearing by Jerusalem, by the king, even by your own head (like swearing on your mother’s grave), but not God. This is the religious equivalent of a spiritual pinky swear.

Their rules and regulations were so goofy, it ended up something like this...

VIDEO CLIP

Absolutely ridiculous. So, Jesus steps in and says, “Guys, guys...that’s enough!”

Breakdown of passage

-Do not make vows.

Don’t even bother with them. Don’t be so dishonest that you need to swear that what you are saying is true. That you would have to invoke God’s name before you would follow through on a promise.

-Everything is God’s.

He pointed out the foolishness of their regulations by saying that if you swear by anything, you are bringing God into it. It all belongs to him, even you.

-Yes and No.

Nothing more is necessary.

-Anything more is from Satan.

What? Because Satan is a liar. Jesus said Satan is a liar and the father of lies. That when he lies, he speaks his native language. So, if you need a vow to clarify your honesty, you’re a liar.

His point - be trustworthy people. Why is that important?

Matthew 12:33-37 - “A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”

Your heart determines what you say. Therefore, your words reveal your heart. Your words are who you are. So, if your words are not honest, true and trustworthy, neither are you.

The NT speaks often of our words. Here is a quick list of the kind of words that should come out of our mouths:

1. TRUSTWORTHY

This is what Jesus has already dealt with in Matthew 5. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Follow through on your promises.

A few years ago, God began to convict me of this is regards to my parenting. It was easy as a dad to tell my kids we were going to do something, but then the plans change, or it just wasn’t going to happen. And I fell into a bit of a pattern where it seemed like I was going back on a lot of promises, for any number of reasons. God brought this to my attention, using my oldest daughter to tell me that this was happening pretty often.

Around that same time, I led a mission trip to New Orleans to help with ongoing cleanup after the hurricane. I took Grace with me on that trip. In talking about New Orleans to her I happened to mention a place called Cafe DuMonde, the home of benets. She asked if I would take her. Of course.

Well, it was July in New Orleans and we dismantled a house. Long, hot, exhausting work. So, in the evenings, it was really inconvenient to take her back into the Quarter for that, as we were staying 30 miles away. Every night she would ask if I was going to take her. I kept putting her off.

God began to whisper...” this is what I’m talking about.” So, one evening I told another adult on the trip that I was taking her to Cafe DuMonde. Grace slept the whole way because she was exhausted, she was cranky and hated the benets. Waste of a trip? Absolutely not. Simply say ‘Yes I will’ or ‘No I won’t.’

I get asked a lot about parenting. I try to avoid giving a lot of parenting advice because my kids are not grown up yet, so the jury is out as to whether I’m screwing them up or not. But over the years, in my own house, and in talking to so many parents, follow through on your words is one of the biggest issues in parenting. Whether it is following through on promises or following through on threats of discipline...kids pick up really quickly on whether or not your words are trustworthy.

2. HONEST

Ephesians 4:25 - So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.

I doubt anyone would characterize themselves as being a liar. But in all reality, how often do we fail to be honest? Embellishment, framing up a story, leaving out some facts, or just flat out lying to make yourself look better?

You are never more like Satan than when you do not tell the truth.

3. PURE

Ephesians 5:3-4 - Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.

What are the stories you tell? What are the jokes you tell? What is your sense of humor?

I’ve had friends who struggled here...who, either with a look or statement, would immediately take a conversation and make it sexual.

So, if your humor arsenal only consists of low-brow humor, What does that say about what you’re filling your heart with?

4. KIND

James 3:9-10 - Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!

Ephesians 4:31-32 - Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Before we even realize it, our words can quickly become unkind. Hurtful. Judgmental. Harsh. Cynical.

The bible lifts up the beauty of encouraging words. If you were to tally your words into the categories of encouraging and critical, how would they match?

5. HELPFUL

Ephesians 4:29 - Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

Let all you say be helpful. You know, you could say much that was true, but it still be unhelpful. I’ve heard sermons that were true, but unhelpful…tone turned me off. Criticism that was true, but not helpful…attitude or motivation ruined it.

Our words are to be used to help, to build, to encourage.

6. REVERENT

Ecclesiastes 5:1-3 - As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. It is evil to make mindless offerings to God. Don’t make rash promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few. Too much activity gives you restless dreams; too many words make you a fool.

You’ve heard the statement “Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open your mouth and leave no doubt.” Sometimes the best, most God-honoring things we can do with our words is to offer none.

Maybe our moms were right when they said, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” Too often we can be flippant, in regard to our words toward and about God, and about others as well.

Perhaps if our words are not going to be trustworthy, honest, pure, kind or helpful, then the reverent thing to do (to show respect to God, and respect to those created in his image) would be to keep our mouths shut.

The ability to communicate is a gift from God. We are the only part of creation that communicates with words. Animals can communicate with grunts or click, to communicate, base/instinctual things like food, sex, location. Humans have been gifted well beyond that. We can communicate hopes, dreams, feelings, thoughts. And to mess with that and use that gift to hurt others or to show disrespect dishonors God.

God makes it clear that our words are to be a certain way. Why? Because that is who he wants us to be.

Trustworthy words/people

Honest words/people

Pure words/people

Kind words/people

Helpful words/people

Reverent words/people

And the only way for that to happen is to allow Jesus to transform us. Allow his Word to inform us and convict us of our words.

Do an inventory of your words.

If you are married, ask your spouse to evaluate your words.

Have a friend, coworker tell you about your words.

Then repent before God and allow his power to transform your heart...then your words will be transformed as well.

God takes our words so seriously that he included them in our salvation. Part of coming to a saving faith involves our words.

Romans 10:9-10 - If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.

Believe/Repent/Confess/Baptize