Posted by: Diane | August 26, 2008

From the Pastor…

Mountain View Baptist Church is a Biblically based ministry that concentrates on feeding souls with the Word of God. In God’s Word, we are told we can know we have eternal life (1 John 5:13). If you are seeking this assurance, this is the ministry for you.

We specialize in a regular diet of fellowship with other believers and encouragement from God’s Word that edifies your soul. 1 John also asks us in chapter 2 verse 28 whether we will be confident or shameful when we approach God on our day of judgment. Each individual must come to terms with his or her own stance before a perfect, just, and demanding God. The way we have this confidence is given to us in scripture. The Bible tells us we are brought to eternal life through Christ Jesus alone, by His power, by His love, and by His grace (John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15:22; Ephesians 2:8). If you have not met the Son, you have not met the Father, therefore you are not acceptable (Matthew 11:27). Read More…

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Posted by: Diane | December 2, 2009

Public and Private Worship–Matthew 6:1-8

The most hurtful and hateful thing anyone can do is to put on a face of false piety and pretend that everything is just fine when in fact it is not.

[This sermon is one of a series entitled "Sermon on the Mount, Concentrating on the Beatitudes," which is being preached on Sunday mornings by Pastor Tim Senter.]

Thinking about the current situation, I am glad that this section of scripture comes on the heels of a Thanksgiving message. Last Sunday’s message was interesting in that we found our nation focused upon God and His salvation in the war for independence. Many could say that the 15 proclamations for days of fasting, prayer, repentance, and thanks were simply politically oriented to gain the favor of the people. This is a very cynical view that gives no one hope, and in no way communicates the truth. This type of cynicism gives no comfort and only engenders more of the same. Cynicism is a sad commentary upon itself. One should instead ask what the results were. God delivered our nation from oppression – He gave us freedom.

These cynics would try to say that because the Great Awakening did not take place during the war for independence, then how could God bless the war efforts? The first Great awakening began in the late 1720’s in the New England colonies and spread throughout most of them, extending into the 1750’s. The second extended from the 1790’s into the 19th century. However, this entire discussion misses the point. The leadership of the nation was penitent. The leadership is the focus, and the direction that the nation takes due to its leadership is the concern. This submissive and obedient leadership is what God honors. Conversely, disobedience and ungodliness is something in need of judgment. If things had to be perfect for God to give grace, no one would be saved. God gives grace, then; through faith we are saved. God gave grace to our nation in providing our wonderful founders. It is better to look at these blessings in light of the centurion servant’s salvation. Just as the centurion had faith that saved the servant in Matthew 8:10-13, our forefathers’ faith bore our nation to victory. The cynic can find fault with anything. The facts bear themselves out. We fought, seeking God’s protection. Our leaders regularly implored the nation to repentance, and then to thanks for God’s blessings. Through their steadfast faith, we were awarded victory. It is that simple. We did not have to be perfect, and our leaders did not have to be perfect. However, all believers had to be sincere just as the centurion was. All the leaders had to submit wholly to God’s power for deliverance just as the centurion did. All our leaders had to give up their personal desires and recognize their unworthy position before God, as the centurion did.

We should note here that the centurion was a pagan, yet he came to faith. No, it is not because our national leaders were perfect that God delivered us from the hand of England (“Pharaoh” according to the Journal of the Continental Congress Saturday, March 20, 1779). It is because they were not perfect, but had the intestinal fortitude to admit it, and bow to the only being capable of delivering them. It was, then, due to their imperfection and ability to humble themselves to God, seek the Son, and accept the Holy Spirit – these things made our nation possible.

Today we look at the reason, moreover, why God answered these early petitions.  Our text is Matthew 6, verses one through eight. Another aspect of our message today is that it is another overview. There are five messages in this section the way I count them, and this will serve as an overview for those five messages. Read More…

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Posted by: Diane | November 26, 2009

Thanksgiving Proclamations

"Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks..."

Second Corinthians 9:11-12 tells us that God gives riches that we may praise Him. We are also given riches to distribute through our generosity. Christians are supposed to be kind, meek, loving, caring, and forgiving. We are given much to spread these Christian attributes both materially and spiritually. We are enriched so that we may apply our riches to His glory, and the good of man. We are given much so we can care for many. Those who have plenty may exercise all bountifulness. This is primarily for the saints, for other believers in Christ, but we are to share this abundance with all mankind. We are given abundance to administrate, to minister, to give in service to others who are without. We, given much, are required in turn to distribute that blessing by giving as much as we can out of our abundance.

What I would like to consider today is the thankfulness of our nation. We have given much and there is too much for us to recount here. There are few nations in the world – if any – that give as much as the United States. Our people gave over $314 billion in 2007. We give more than money for the sake of freedom and our nation as well as our people every day.

Many historians today claim our forefathers were Deists at best, and secularists more generally. Yet, in their own handwriting, they speak frequently of God, of Jesus and of the providential power of God and His governance of mankind on a minute level. The Deist does not believe God is intimately involved with His creation. They believe He created, but deny His specific involvement. A Deist equally denies the authority of the scriptures. Our founding fathers leaned upon, quoted from, referenced and paraphrased the scriptures repeatedly throughout the Revolutionary War in full dependency upon God for deliverance. They repeatedly called for the people of the United States of America to “confess and deplore our many sins” and “beseeching him to forgive our iniquities, to remove our present calamities, to avert those desolating judgments, with which we are threatened.” This group of congressional leaders regularly sought God in prayer, and called for this nationally, to forgive their sins.

Our nation sought freedom from tyranny based upon Psalm 35. We understand this from the writings of John Adams to Abigail, his wife, in a letter dated September 16, 1774. This from a supposed Unitarian with Deist training, who spoke in his diary of witnessing of Christ to a Frenchman named Wuibert on May 22, 1779 as recorded in Adams’ own hand. He also noted, just before this, that he desired our ship’s men to have  devout prayers with their chaplains, even as the French who offered prayers morning and evening for their crews. Our nation prayed, fasted, and beseeched the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob regularly, then gave thanks to God in line with Psalm 51:17 and Leviticus 7:12, respectively.

When we look at the congressional record on thanksgiving and appreciation to God, our nation’s history is rich. We find in this first prayer and supplication to God likened to Psalm 51 – a broken and contrite heart is the heart of man that knows its depravity. As real leaders should, our national leadership called for periods of prayer, fasting, humility and supplication to God for their national sins. This was followed by prayers of thanksgiving and joy at the answers to previous prayer and dependence upon God’s deliverance in the calamity in which they lived.

Behind these penitent displays of national worship to God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, we find abundant prayers of thanks. These thank-full prayers were much like those given in Leviticus 7:12 – a fellowship offering with offerings (broken and contrite hearts) of thanksgiving contained within. The entire section of Leviticus 7:11-15 deals with these fellowship and thank offerings. This penitence and thanks of our nation in history is where we will concentrate our time. True leaders, our founding fathers, recognized their being in fellowship with the Lord when they saw successes in battle, and great abundance of provision. National leaders regularly gave God these thanks when they saw prayers of humility, and submission answered. Real leaders know where they get their authority from; and it is not from a good political speech, not from saying whatever we can to engender friendship, but from God.

Therefore, our national Thanksgiving Day did not just come from the adoration of a few to God when they were provided for in 1623 as Pilgrims in this land. This national thanksgiving came from a history of recognition in America – of giving thanks to the great provider and creator God for all He does and has done. It is true; the most glaring truth we have ever heard is that of the Pilgrims who in 1623 were very prosperous. This prosperity came on the heels of a great drought. Governor Bradford called the entire colony to prayer and fasting and seeking God’s direct intervention. Indians witnessed the scene of the colony gathering, praying, and fasting. Shortly afterwards, clouds appeared and as Bradford himself records, “It came without either wind or thunder or any violence, and by degrees in abundance, as that ye earth was thoroughly wet and soaked therewith….” Corn likes a slow, misty rain intermingled with sun, and that is exactly what they received in perfect timing. Bradford continues to say,

“ye Indians astonished to behold; and afterwards the Lord sent them such seasonable showers, with interchange of fair warm weather as, through His blessing, caused a fruitful and liberal harvest…”

Bradford, rightfully, gives all credit to God for the increase. This is our national heritage and it did not stop with the Pilgrims.

I thought that today, we would spend some time reviewing the 15 occurrences of our Nation’s prayer, fasting, and thanksgiving in the war for independence. If this took place again on a national scale, I have no doubt we would prevail in our current conflict, and put liberalism, relativism, secularism, and atheism on their heels. What you find then below are the exact quotes from the Continental Congressional minutes as taken by the recorder on the days indicated. Read More…

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Posted by: Diane | November 21, 2009

Veteran’s Day Outreach

The children from our King’s Kids club took a trip over to Westward Retirement Center to visit the residents.  Here are some pictures from that special Veteran’s Day outreach:

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Posted by: Diane | November 19, 2009

Missions Emphasis Sunday

Here are some photos from last Sunday’s Missionary Emphasis.  The ladies obtained recipes from some of the missionaries we support, and did their best to re-create some international flavor for everyone:

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Posted by: Diane | November 17, 2009

Being a Distributor, Not a Manufacturer–John 6:11

Last week we broke from the Sermon on the Mount to talk of our national heritage. We talked specifically about those who have served our country as patriots. George Washington in his farewell address said,

“Of all the dispositions and habits, which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men and Citizens. The mere Politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them.”

One must ask the question then, “Where has the connection to religion and morality gone?” We made the point last week that it was exactly these things that veterans fought for, fight for now, and should fight for in the future – freedom of religion throughout our government, not the exemption of religion in our government. If George Washington counted religion and morality as “great pillars of human happiness,” and the “firmest props of the duties of Men and Citizens” should not we too be teaching these very things to our children, to our society, to our nation as a whole? Our nation is nowhere made great with rebellion, but only in submission to the power of God. No one, therefore, is a true patriot, according to George Washington, that is not acting in a fashion that reflects a cherished support and personal respect born from a religious morality. This heritage is what we fought for – our national slogan is not “in humans we trust” but “In God We Trust.”

We looked at four things that would bring our nation back from the edge of failure, where we are now. First, we must humble ourselves and teach the humility of Christ to others. Jesus Himself came not to judge, but to serve. Jesus came and washed His disciples’ feet. He did not expect His to be cared for – He expected rejection. Christ’s humility is perfect and is ultimately shown in Philippians 2 where, even though He was God, He made Himself lower than even the angels to save us. He left His heavenly home and became flesh to save us.

Second – pray. Prayer acknowledges God as God. It indicates subservience to a greater power and being. Placing ourselves as subservient to God is an act of humility. Pray. Pray for your people, your families, and your country. Pray every day and place yourself in humble service to God.

Third – seek His face. The message on Sunday was for veterans. I made the point that as a military man, you do not go before the Commanding Officer on your own terms. You approach him or her respectfully, with solemnity, and on their terms. You request permission to go before them and when you are there, you do not waste their time. Seeking God’s face must be done on His terms. We are required to be pure, to be clean, to be perfect in order to approach God. The only way to approach God then is through His Son such that you can be made pure, clean, and perfect. Many people want to say they “believe in God” but 1 John 2, verses 22 and 24 (sermon on this text here and here) make it clear that this claim is empty alone. You either accept both the Son and the Father or you have nothing. You approach the Father only through the Son. Those are His terms.

Fourth – Turn from your wicked ways. We must turn from sin and this world and turn to God. We must give up our own desires, our own lusts, our own personal squabbles, and attitudes and turn to God for all things in life. My challenge was to veterans to get pure, turn from drinking, turn from the hateful attitude toward a nation that has forsaken them, turn from the womanizing and thinking they deserve anything. Turn from the prideful heart and turn to God in humility, seeking His Son, and seeking His face.

Then, when His people do this He will hear their pleas. God will forgive their sins. God will heal the land. Only with humility, prayer, seeking God’s face, and turning from wickedness is this promise fulfilled.

Part of our humility, prayer, seeking God, and turning from wickedness is giving up ourselves and giving all the praise, faith, ability, and miracle work to God for His miraculous provision. We, when operating in what we call reality, tend to look at what is before us and see the limitations in those things. We tend to see only that which is in the physical world. We often lack any vision of the great things God can do. We want desperately for the liberal to be denied the ability to remove miraculous things from theology. Yet, we look at the material things in the world, limit our thoughts to them alone, and deny those very miracles that we fight strenuously to maintain. We want nothing of man trying to explain scientifically how the 10 plagues may have occurred, yet we are not willing to exercise faith and watch the mountain be moved ourselves. We cannot have it both ways and today we will look at our dualistic and denying hearts in the scriptures from the perspective of the disciples themselves.

We find this contrast in the passage around our target verse today when we read John 6:5-14. We will concentrate on John 6:11. As you turn there, please understand I am not advocating some wanton run amok way of dealing with giving. I am advocating applying an operative faith in how we administer our resources. We will look at this not only from the perspective of what we are given by God, but what we should do with it based upon God’s miraculous multiplication. We should note that in this passage, the miraculous multiplication is not unseen, but right before their very eyes. Read More…

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Posted by: Diane | November 10, 2009

A Nation Going Back to God–2 Chronicles 7:14

We will break from our normal study in the Sermon on the Mount this week, and next week as well. This week we honor all those who have fought for our country. We honor veterans. There are veterans among us in our assembly. Your pastor is one. I believe we are failing economically, societally, politically, parentally, and certainly spiritually because we do not honor those things for which our veterans have fought. For this reason, and because our current military men and women valiantly serving our country abroad will themselves be veterans some day, the Lord laid upon my heart a burden to minister to you from a passage that is rather typical of the Old Testament prophetical passages. The unique thing is that we actually find it in a historical book.

There were three basic functions of the Old Testament Hebrew prophets. Their first responsibility was to encourage God’s people to have faith, rest in, and trust only in Yahweh for redemption. Yahweh’s mercy and grace would send the Messiah. Man’s strength, man’s musing, and man’s efforts will in no way influence God’s plans or will. All things will be done in His time, and we must submit to His will in these things. This simple testimony is in itself contradictory to other religions that desire to usher in their pinnacle spiritual event through their own efforts.

The second function is connected to the first. Prophets routinely reminded God’s people that through Him, they have safety and God’s favor. However, this condition is predicated on faithfulness, obedience, and adherence to the covenantal promises. God expects Israel to submit to the His doctrines, know them, and apply them in their lives. Further, this submission cannot be a mechanical, material, or superficial. It must be sincere and heart changing. Israel is to relish and take great joy in implementing God’s will in their lives.

The third duty or function of a prophet was to encourage God’s people. Israel, in faith and submission to God, should be able to be optimistic concerning their future. There should be great comfort as they rest in the promises provided from God for their nation. A nation bent upon God’s will, focused upon implementing God’s doctrines, and dedicated to pleasing God in all things – this is a nation that can take courage in their future being blessed by God.

Isaiah is rather typical of the Old Testament prophets. His first messages deal with a call for Israel to repent, to face the current punishment they are enduring because of sin, and informing them that this judgment is given because they had become an unholy and stubborn nation. Oddly enough, Isaiah preaches against worldly wisdom that rejects the Messiah (Is 7:1-25). Consider the fact that Isaiah ministered some time around 587BC, and this becomes profound. Man, as simplistic as society was then, thought he knew better than God, even 600 years before Christ. Isaiah also continually calls for Israel to repent and accept the salvation of the Lord. He teaches of the coming Messiah in many chapters and calls Israel to repent and rest in the coming Messiah.

You might ask what all that prophecy stuff has to do with our message today. Look at 2 Chronicles 7:14 and we will find the answers I believe in the Chronicler’s words. As we consider these scriptures, let me share something with you. Chris and I heard a message from Pastor Rick Cross at the Fundamental Baptist Fellowship conference in Green River when we went there in October. It dealt briefly with this passage. One thing I noted is that this passage deals with a nation, Israel. Because they are the chosen of God, it can also be used to instruct the body of believers. This passage deals with chosen people, the Israelites separated out unto God for Himself. The passage talks of King Solomon taking the throne and offering the first sacrifice under his rule. This is about a specifically selected nation getting right with God. In verse 14 we find four specific things that God calls for His chosen people to do in order that God, “(will then) hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” Read More…

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Posted by: Diane | November 4, 2009

Loving Perfectly–Matthew 5:46-48

kneel_at_the_cross

He changed His Son into living flesh to die, so that you could change from dying flesh into a living spirit, and at no time in the process - before or since it took place - were you worthy.

[This sermon is one of a series entitled "Sermon on the Mount, Concentrating on the Beatitudes," which is being preached on Sunday mornings by Pastor Tim Senter.]

Last week again was a builder for this week. Knowing the imperfection of man’s love can give us a greater appreciation for the perfection of God’s love for us. Last week we considered a variety of man’s attempts at perfection, all of which resulted in destruction, death, and disappointment.

In our opening discussion, we looked at man’s attempt to bring these great scriptural principles down to a level where he resides. In his attempt to develop the perfect form of love, man sees it as a return on an investment. If you invest love, you will receive it. Paying back, so to speak, what it is that you have received. This says nothing of the love of God that gave regardless of return. In fact, God gives His love despite the hateful denials and rebellion that are levied against Him by man, woman, and child.

We talked about man’s greetings and the superficiality that man cannot only engender in others, but accept in function. No longer is an individual held to account for true honesty, but only for the image which they portray, whether factual or farce. However, man accepts the imperfection of others in this fashion – not demanding truth. Truth becomes relative to each individual and an individual’s hate or attitude is acceptable depending upon that relative truth. We found that all of this fails in the face of the perfection of God and His truth. In today’s society, it is frowned upon when people demand excellence. Tolerance is the cry: tolerance for school shootings that kill our children; tolerance for murderers in jail to luxuriate and never pay the penalty for their crimes; tolerance for the woman unable to control her own body, who destroys a life created within her. Tolerance for all that is ungodly in a society that claims God.

Then we find the ultimate end for that relative feeling that is unique to each individual in society and we do not like it, but we will not face it. Death, murder, mayhem, chaos, human domination, and coercion are just a few results of man’s perfect tolerance and relativism. Man teaches this relative truth, and then when it actually strikes him in the face he is surprised that it appears so hateful and violent instead of lovely. The problem is in the core belief that man is inherently good. Mankind has no concept of the true human spirit, which is wicked at its core. Man thinks that relatively speaking, we will evolve to be better. Nevertheless, man has proven himself repeatedly to evolve into something more violent and hateful as his power grows, or as his affluence increases. Only with the indwelling Holy Spirit does man have any chance of defeating the evil that lurks in every single human being. To further exemplify this, we just read in the paper that a woman who has three children already, bore her fourth in her home alone, then promptly stepped outside and strangled the newborn in the yard. Mankind is surprised at this viciousness, but condones abortion. Ironically, if she had gone to an abortion clinic and permitted a medical professional (I use the term here pejoratively) to murder the child, she would be a free woman. The human society makes no sense because it cannot operate outside itself, only on individual wants and desires. All of these wants and desires stem from a fallen heart that seeks wickedness in all things, whether intentionally or not. Man wants death and destruction for all except his own person. Each individual wants strict control of as much as they can envision. No, mankind fails in every attempt to develop a perfect society because it fails to recognize there is only one perfection; God the creator of all.

Today we consider God and Christ’s perfect love in Matthew 5:46-48. This last exposition in this section, which began in verse 17, brings a fine point to the entire instruction. The last verse especially encourages the believer to step into the realm of God and change to become more like Him in all that is endeavored. We should never confuse this with becoming God. This change is perfectly described in the Beatitudes and the Beatitudes should perfectly describe the changed Christian. Christians are special.

Christians are very special people. In this reality, we should adopt a more specific terminology for man as opposed to Christian. Christians, after all, can be just as base as any other man, woman, or child in the world. We should refer to the unsaved as “natural man” to distinguish their natural tendency to sin and propensity to gravitate toward selfishness, hate, chaos, self-destruction, and sin in general. This is in direct opposition to the Christian who focuses upon the things of Christ, daily displaying in a greater way the things in the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5, and the Beatitudes in our current study. This is the distinction we must make between the natural man and the Christian. One is bent upon fulfilling self-will; the other is bent upon fulfilling God’s will.

Where last week we looked at a few egregious examples, today we should briefly, as part of an introduction, give some more typical, if not general examples. We talked about the paradox presented here and the understanding that Christ says we cannot achieve perfection, but we must. We talked of man’s attempts at this. Man can be morally reserved in his activity, his actions, his life, and his relationships – yet not be Christian. Man can live a life of morality, live his life, and exhibit what many might call biblical morality. Man can make decisions about his life and live it in a fashion such that even when death comes, he handles it with dignity and with great reservation. However, natural man only faces these things in a negative sense. The thoughts are: ”I may not maintain my positive image.” “No one will believe me because I will loose credibility.” “I will lose my status in the community.” “I might lose the success in business that I currently enjoy.” “I would never think of breaking the law.” To be accused of lying or of cheating is an affront to the natural man who is moral. Their morality and life exhibit their pride in self-imposed control, intellectuality, honor, and rectitude. Can people be moral and be of the world? Yes, absolutely. Therefore, the Christian is something different. Again, we could use the term “weird” as we did a few Sundays ago.

The difference between the natural man and the Christian is the overall response due to internal change. Where the moral man can make a decision to abide by the 10 commandments and obey them as carefully as possible, the natural man in him simultaneously resents their restriction and looks at the edge of obedience. Natural man purposefully takes himself to the edge and teeters there. Because of this bent to always ’push the limits’ of lawlessness, he often falls off this razor’s edge. The Christian takes joy in obeying them and rejoices that they are there to provide structure in life, for worship, and in society. The Christian looks to actively implement these commandments in their lives in such a fashion that they endeavor to go above and beyond the letter of the law to the heart of the law. The Christian knows that there is more to life than “love thy neighbor” and rejoices to fulfill this love in anyway possible, not just where required.

Death – the separation of the living from the dead – probably provides the most stark example. Death to the natural man is a normal function of life and may be faced with a rather stoic and generic attitude that presents a wonderful composure. However, there is always a level of lament that says, “Did I do everything I could with my life?” They may even voice that they hold no regrets, yet inside they debate the finiteness of the event and wonder if there is not something more. On the contrary, the Christian looks at this event as a point of freedom. Freedom from this world of sin, hate, strife, and being on guard continually for those who are “offended” at the mention of the Savior. The Christian rejoices in the scripture that says, “to live is Christ, and to die is gain” and realizes what Paul felt when he said, “having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better.”

Even those Christians around the deceased display wholly different attitudes than the natural man’s relatives at his funeral. At the funeral of the unbeliever, there is great grief, great pain, great loss, and great lamenting for their departure from this life. This is in part due to the tragedy of the deceased, but it is more evident as time continues that this lament is selfish. They have lost a loved one. They have lost the opportunity to be with them. They have lost the life’s spark that was evident in the presence of the deceased. Funerals wakes, and other gatherings are for those present, not actually for the deceased. It is a very selfish and self-centered thing designed to make all of them feel better about the incident. The Christian on the other hand, although lamenting the loss, rejoices at their brother’s or sister’s release from this world to the presence of the Savior. They may quietly lament their personal loss, for a Christian a special blessing to have as a friend. However, the Christian’s entire focus is on the deceased and their great pleasure they are now enjoying in Abraham’s bosom. The Christian also takes this opportunity not to share sadness and regret, but joy and hope in salvation with everyone at the event. This displays the true heart of man and the contrast to the natural man’s struggles in life and death. The Christian still has the sin nature of man, therefore he laments the loss of fellowship. Conversely, the Christian rejoices at the comfort and great grace given to the deceased. These stark contrasts are the mark of the Christian over the natural man. These are also the differences in love to the Christian as opposed to the natural man.

As natural man defines love, it is an emotion or a feeling. Love is something that develops because of an overall sense welling up inside his or her soul. To the natural man, this is normally a simple lust or desire toward the object. Many have actually described these “feelings” as the guttural desire to procreate, when felt between man and woman. This flies in the face of modern pop psychology that condones homosexuality as some sort of natural aberration of the human sexuality. Is lust a desire to procreate, or is it a desire for physical satisfaction? Either way – it is not love, never was love, and never will be love. Love to the Christian is intellectual, volitional, emotional, and spiritual just as it is with our Father.

In this passage, we learn that “the Christian is easily distinguishable from moral natural man.” Many people think they are on their way to Heaven because they are “moral” and “good” and “honest.” Essentially, “Man says, “I’m essentially good, so I’m in.” God says, “You are perfected in Me (Deut 18:13; 1 Kng 8:61; Matt 5:48).”

The first verse in our exposition concentrates on this love. We learn there are possible rewards in giving love unconditionally. Read More…

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Posted by: Diane | October 27, 2009

Loving the Unlovable–Matthew 5:46-48

Illustration: Truth and Lie

"Man’s morals are morally corrupt, evil, and ungodly.”

[This sermon is one of a series entitled "Sermon on the Mount, Concentrating on the Beatitudes," which is being preached on Sunday mornings by Pastor Tim Senter.]

Much of what we are about to discuss actually stems from our discussion last week where we discovered loving our neighbors takes on a completely different connotation than just looking at the person next door and giving all our possessions to them. We found that there are certain aspects of love we are to have strictly for believers. In loving our neighbor – which is loving believers in Christ – we are to give our all in love. There is nothing we should deny a believer in need. However, this “neighbor” is not what the unbeliever sees as their definition of the word. They see a neighbor as one living next-door, one living in the same community, or even a neighboring town.

Studying this passage, we found that we are to love even those unsaved people selflessly, though differently. We are to give our all for them, but we curtail this to a specific ministry of the gospel. Our first priority is to give those who are lost the gospel of Christ and to give our all in love to do so. The unbeliever will not and cannot understand your difference in love for them. That is because they are not a neighbor; they are an enemy. Next we work to constrain our enemies and know where they are to track them, and to show them what a life of freedom in Christ is really like. Then, we pray our testimony engenders a desire for the lost to want freedom from sin and Satan. That is the operation of loving our enemies. We used as our example the loving care an officer must have when they apprehend and incarcerate a suspect. The conviction and incarceration that limits freedom is supposed to engender a desire for freedom such that the perpetrator will submit to the laws of the land.

Finally, we discovered a reason for this love. The reason is in the Beatitudes where Christians are described through the life example of Christ on earth. The reason is because the Christian is a changed person in Christ Jesus. The reason is God’s love for us and our Heavenly home provided out of this love. The reason is also that there are other believers in this world and they need to be brought into our fellowship to join in fellowship with God.

Today, in Matthew 5:46-48, we look at love from a different direction. We have mentioned the world’s love a number of times; but to look at this biblically, we need to identify the unlovable – those we should have a hard time loving, and those we actually do have a hard time loving. What does the scripture say then? Read Matthew 5:46-48.

Here we sit now at a crossroads in many ways. We have on one hand our Savior provided for us as a perfect sacrifice on the cross at Calvary so we can have redemption in Him and be a resident in the holy place of God. Simultaneously, He tells us repeatedly that we are not worthy of that residence. Many people think that this paradox is the problem with Christianity. In fact they would say, “We are brow beaten by the Savior on how imperfect spiritually, how incompetent morally, and how incapable physically we mere humans are to secure salvation, or even to live a godly life.” The truth is, this paradox does exist, but not in so horrid a fashion as described by the world. Lloyd Jones identifies this paradox with this statement:

“Have we not felt that as we have been working our way through this Sermon? Is there anything known to us that is more discouraging than the Sermon on the Mount? Take this passage from verse 17 to the end of this fifth chapter – these detailed illustrations given by our Lord as to how we are to live. Is there anything more discouraging? We feel that the Ten Commandments, the ordinary moral standards of decency, are difficult enough; but look at these statements about not even looking with lust, about going the second mile, and throwing in the cloak together with the coat…”[1]

The question is, can you actually do this? Can we as sinful souls accomplish these things in life and operate in a fashion that our Lord demands of us? Is it possible for the natural man to accomplish these great feats of self-sacrifice and the perfection in Heavenly ethics that our Savior espouses? We see these things and think, we must be able to because our Lord tells us to. We think, therefore, that we can. Isn’t that implied in the expression that we must? In other words, is this supreme level of life activity levied upon us because we actually can achieve it? Should we have the expectation that we can attain the perfection of Christ? We could say Jesus would not speak it unless we could actually do it. He is man, yes; but He is also God and knew Heaven intimately in a fashion about which we can only dream. This then is encouragement – that we can attain this level of perfection. And then back to discouragement – we will never be able to achieve the perfection of Jesus. Actually, some folks have attempted to say, we must bring these teachings down to more commonsensical understandings because no man can achieve them otherwise. From that comes the thought that this is all we have to do then. We become keepers of the so-called golden rules. Unfortunately that becomes a, “Well, at least I didn’t do that” tit for tat comparison. This is where the Pharisees and scribes failed. Read More…

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Posted by: Diane | October 19, 2009

Love Your Enemies–Matthew 5:43-45

[This sermon is one of a series entitled "Sermon on the Mount, Concentrating on the Beatitudes," which is being preached on Sunday mornings by Pastor Tim Senter.]

Jail

"Just as the law enforcement officer or detention officer deals with the apprehended criminal, we are to deal with those who are already caught and do not know it."

Verses 40 through 42 (sermon on this text here) provided us with some interesting and enlightening concepts that we must implement in our lives. Primarily, we are to give up ourselves for others whether they are an individual we have wronged, a government that has legal authority to rule us, or an individual in need – even if we are forced to legally forgive their debt to us. Ladies and gentlemen, these concepts had better ring home.

In today’s society, we find ourselves under threat of lawsuit continually. Most people in the heartland of America are afraid of the wayward lawsuit falling upon them from some irresponsible source, supported by some unscrupulous law firm, and reinforced by some political decision to further tax the people’s coffers. In today’s America, we truly did trade a single tyrant 2000 miles away, for 2000 tyrants a mile away.[1] Unfortunately, for our nation, we live in a constant state of abject fear concerning what will be forced upon us in our way of living. Our earnings are confiscated and used to destroy lives on a regular basis. With each progressively liberal administration, regardless of the party, we suffer all the more. Christians know the shape that the world is taking and it strikes their heart, their soul, and their very patriotism. It makes us question where our loyalties lie. What are we to do? These scriptures we studied give us some answers to these perplexing and distressing issues.

Though we are not literally enslaved yet, we know that as the governments placed over us gain power, we will be. It is the way of man to draw power and subordinate others unto himself. The Israelites, and specifically believers in the Messiah, already suffered that plight. This is good food for us in our history as we slide into slavery and state servitude. The message is, regardless of what the world thinks, you must maintain an eternal focus. You must consider your testimony. You are better off than any unregenerate person of the world because you look forward to an eternity with God. Therefore, give as Christ gave. Give your all. Give even your possessions if necessary for the needy. You do not have to be trampled upon, but when it is required legally, or when you recognize a specific need – give.

With that said, this is not a political message, and the Savior’s sermon did not have a political focus. These principles must be applied to all aspects of our life to make us more Christlike. We are to be different, seen as different, and understood as different. Recently at the Fundamental Baptist Fellowship International meeting in Green River, Wyoming, the point was made that young people run from Christianity because they do not want to be weird. The question is, “Weird to whom?” The world is weird to the Christian, and it is unacceptably weird to God. It is so weird to God that He has stated in His Word that anyone who loves, lives for, and covets the things of the world does not love God and is at odds with Him (Jas 4:4). The difference is as stark as night and day. Jesus says that those who follow Him are the light of the world and have life in them (Jn 8:12). However, those who follow the world live in darkness. In John 15:19 we find that because we are different from the world, the difference is so good that the Lord accepts us, but the world rejects us. That, folks is a good kind of weird. Just as Christ was not of the world, we too are of another world (Jn 17:16). This other-worldliness comes through our faith in Christ to deliver us from this sin-filled environment to a perfect heaven (Rom 4:13). We are a “peculiar people” (Tit 2:14; 1 Pet 2:9).

It is a hard pill to swallow, but we must submit to the powers put into place by God, because they serve God, regardless of their ignorant defiance of God. We as children of God must pity them and see them for who they are – lost and without God, destined for eternal torment. All the while, we have confidence in our eternal life. What a blessing.

Today we take another look at how we should react to people while living in the world. Please look at Matthew 5 and verse 43. Again, considering these life principles applicable to kingdom saints, we do not attempt to impose these truths, ethics, or activities upon the unsaved. We simply offer them from our hearts as a testimony to Christ. This is your witness, this is your testimony, and this is the Christian speaking through their life as they live out scripture. Read now with me what is a normalcy for the heaven dwelling believer, temporarily residing upon earth. Equally, we will look at some abnormalities of the world. Read More…

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Posted by: Diane | October 14, 2009

Denying Our Vengeful Heart–Matthew 5:40-42

[This sermon is one of a series entitled "Sermon on the Mount, Concentrating on the Beatitudes," which is being preached on Sunday mornings by Pastor Tim Senter.]

Caesar2

"And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s."

When last we met, we considered a level of humility that, without Christ, we can never personally attain. Again, we must remember this is a policy not for governments, but for the individual believer. These tenets describe how, if we are born again Christians, we are to live our lives. We considered our evil spirit individually, and then we looked at the evil spirit within man as a whole. Finally, we considered what these things make the law into, how the evil spirit within us, and that which is within man in general, distorts the law to take specific advantage of it. We continue these considerations today too, however, we look at the idea from a different angle.

The Lord elaborates on the teachings we have just reviewed today. Jesus moves from a bodily example, to some active life examples applicable to the Jews of the day. Consider, if we are to have no concern for our own honor, integrity or as apostle Paul puts it in 1 Corinthians 4:3, “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.” The issue is not how you stand before another human being. Their attitude and aptitudes will always be jaded and biased toward their own end. The position you must concern yourself with, and that Paul did concern himself with, is how you stand before God. Does God think you are worthy? Does God think you are honorable? Can God say of you what He said of Job, “that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil” (Job 1:8)? Do not compare yourself to Job – I guarantee you, you would still fail. Compare yourself to the perfect God that created everything and keeps it together with His thought. How can you conceive every eventuality of every circumstance, and anticipate every other person’s motive and response in order to make a situation perfectly responsive to and honoring of God? I would contend folks, that most of you really don’t even know what God would want, let alone be able to manipulate a perfect circumstance to honor Him.

We also see this next section as a challenge. Remember, all of these situations deal with purely personal and intentionally volatile situations…not situations of self-defense against mindless aggression, or aggression that stems from artificially or chemically induced insanity. This is not speaking of the mentally disturbed, drunk, or drug abusing individual who attacks you. You have the right to defend yourself against these types of attacks; that is not the issue. The issue is when you should do so. As a Christian, you are expected to recognize trials and tribulations resulting in emotional stresses that people suffer. You are supposed to understand individuals with a deficient mental condition that can cause an outburst that is not intended, as a result of this condition. This is a situation where one looks objectively at a situation and understands there are underlying implications to being struck; there are other reasons for this outburst. When Jesus was beaten, He knew the motives of the men. He also knew the need and outcome of the situation. If we keep our mind focused upon eternal things as our Savior did, we find strength to endure much criticism, anger, hostility, and brutality. Never repay evil with evil, for a kind word turns away wrath.

Today, we will look at Matthew 5:40-42 and consider some scriptures that others have attempted to point to in order to contradict this teaching. We will consider, in these three verses, the implementation of the teaching “vengeance is mine saith the Lord, I will repay.” Man wants to fight against any authority in his life. He does so to the extent of attempting to actually ignore it. As a teen, I did these things as I rode my motorcycle down county dirt roads without a license. As adults, we often do this with the speed limit where we know that police will not normally stop you if you only go five miles per hour over the limit. That is okay, because really that speed limit is for “other unsafe drivers.” We think ourselves more competent than the average Joe normally. Once again, we consider many laws not necessarily written for us individually, but for the masses who do not know any better. What arrogance we can portray in our attitude, thoughts, and aptitudes. We truly are prideful people. Read More…

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