The Distinctive Nature of Light--Part Four--The Distinctiveness of Jesus; Part Three 01/17/2021
The Distinctive Nature of Light • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction:
1. The world has a different standard of success than God.
A. The world says the more money the better.
1. Money fixes all problems.
2. Money brings happiness.
3. Money brings security.
B. The world says show no mercy to get what you want.
1. Step on whoever you have to, to get to the top.
2. If someone hurts you hurt them more.
3. Hurt someone before they hurt you.
C. The world says that forgiveness is overrated?
1. Forgiveness has limits as to how many time one is to be forgiven.
2. The world chooses who to forgive and who not to.
3. The world brings up past transgressions even though we say we have forgiven a person.
Body:
1. The world says the more money the better.
A. Money fixes all problems.
1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. 4 Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. 5 You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.
1. James 5:1-6 points out the folly of trusting in riches.
A. Weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you!
B. Your riches are corrupted.
1. Garments are moth-eaten
2. Your gold and silver are corroded
3. You have heaped up treasure in the last day
4. Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out, and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.
5. You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter.
6. You have condemned, you have murdered the just.
2. Jesus understood the follies of trusting in money and instructed His followers to lay up treasures in heaven.
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
3. When Jesus was offered all the treasure of the world He choose to worship God.
8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”
1. This made Jesus distinctive.
B. Money brings happiness.
13 Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” 15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” 16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ 21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
1. This is a lie that the world wants you to believe.
36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
2. Jesus desires to teach us where real joy comes from in the sermon on the mount.
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
A. Real happiness is found in the Lord.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
1. And it is maintained by prayer, supplication and thanksgiving to God.
5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
2. This brings peace when joy is properly handled.
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
3. It also guards our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
3. Jesus found His joy and happiness in serving God.
42 But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
A. This made Jesus distinctive.
C. Money brings security.
1. This is a lie that is easy to believe because it can make us think we are safe.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
A. Remember the rich fool he believe the lie.
17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ 21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
2. We need to remember not to trust in our riches.
17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.
A. Our riches need to be used in service to God.
18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
1. Our riches will not get us to heaven.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
2. Paul said that godliness with contentment is great gain.
6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
3. Jesus taught his followers to beware of covetousness.
15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
4. This how Jesus lived.
58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
A. This made Jesus distinctive.
Conclusion:
1. The world has a different standard of success than God.
A. Lets remember to use God’s standard of success when judging success.
B. If we will do this we will become distinctive like Christ and shine as a light.
C. Lets remember that money does not solve all problems nor does bring happiness and it most definitely does not bring security.