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 | 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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Posted by: Diane | October 9, 2009

Cowboy Bible Conference Photo Gallery

Our church family has been joined by some honest to goodness cowpokes for our first annual Cowboy Bible Conference.  Our special speaker is Ron Ehman, director of Northwest Baptist Missions.  We have enjoyed some good preaching, hymns sung cowboy style, and music by Stan Bean, accompanying himself on guitar.  Shown in the first photo, from left to right are:  CJ Vandermeulen, Bill Trollinger, Stan Bean, and Pate Caddell.

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Posted by: Diane | October 7, 2009

Denying the Evil in Us (Matthew 5:38,39)

[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.]

Open closet door

"Many have tried to keep others, and God, out of their closet but the closet door is never latched securely enough. What man does not realize is that God does not need to open the door, He just walks through it."

When we did our overview of this section we did a specific review of the Beatitudes and noted the change that should take place in our hearts. We noted the direct connection to the heart overtaken by living the Beatitudes. The meek, the merciful, and the peacemaker never take initiative to defend themselves when wrongfully accused because our Savior did not do so, and He was innocent in all things. We looked at some things concerning the true heart of man and his condition, specifically, that he sees himself as redeemable, having redeeming qualities.

Man sees himself as justified or righteous and therefore feels the need to justify or in some way demand his “rightful” respect, acknowledgment, or retribution. To put it simply, man thinks pretty highly of himself regardless of the truth. Man is involved and enthralled with himself so deeply that he cannot see past his own personal desires and wants. Many think that those who serve others cannot be this way. The problem is that that man’s service to others in the world is still self-oriented. The service is either focused upon an end purpose (to secure their place in heaven) or an immediate gratification (because they like to serve or in some other way gain immediate compensation through the service). Unfortunately for man, he cannot work and merit his place in heaven. If he would only realize that this work was done for him.

We begin by reading our passages in scripture that we will give specific attention to today. Matthew 5:38-39 please. We approach this remembering all that has come before in this instruction. If we do not gather the context and content of the message from before now, and we attempt to extract this as a literal activity, we hurt many and eliminate our testimony with the world. We also alienate our Savior and distort His teaching such that we make it ineffectual for the believer. If we take this scripture out of context, we make the Old Testament barbaric and our Savior merely a teacher that is attempting to abolish the Law of Moses. That makes Jesus a liar.

We reviewed the Laws of Moses when we looked at them for the message last week (click here). Can I encourage you to review that teaching from last week if needs be. We found that ultimately these laws were guidelines to the authorities that were intended to carry out the law.

We must never forget that the lives that Jesus is discussing are those of Christians, believers, saints, and individuals living out the Beatitudes. Believers are the subject of these discussions and of this exposition. If you are a real, true, and heart changed believer in Jesus as the Messiah and His redemption of your soul through the work on the cross, this exposition tells you how you are to live. This sermon given by our great God and Savior, the Christ, Jesus of Nazareth does not provide instruction for a national policy. This exposition does not give the unbeliever anything that they can use either. This sermon is provided for and explains the true active life of a believer only. We must understand that the examples given in verses 21 and following (including those we focus upon today) are descriptions of these believers, their lives, and the lives they should live. This is how a Christian is to live life. These are the attitudes and aptitudes we are to adopt in our life to implement the spirit of the law in our lives. This is not a literal teaching that can develop into some esoteric or manipulated written policy. These examples describe the heart felt, spirit led, and God centered existence of the believer. They bring into action the heart changes described in the Beatitudes. Read More…

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Posted by: Diane | October 1, 2009

True Submission–Overview (Matthew 5:38-48)

openhands

"These ten verses deal with giving up your own claims in the realization that over the long run, they are nothing when compared to eternity."

[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 we finished with the subject of oaths. We found that the focus of the Lord’s discussion really referred back to the marriage vows. We found that the Lord lived these vows with respect to His bride, the church. He gave Himself to it for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, and until His death they were separated, and at His resurrection the two were joined and inseparable. We also know that because He has risen, the church and the Lord are now connected for all eternity. This makes the relationship of the Lord as the Husbandman and the Church as the wife an eternal relationship that is indissoluble by man or his devices. What a blessing.

This also showed us that there are some absolutes in these relationships and processes. Many people today do not want absolutes. They claim Jesus or Christianity cannot be the only way to heaven. Unbelievers, Unitarians, and those who want to claim to be civil about religion say, “There are other ways. Your religion cannot have the only answer.” They would call us arrogant, ignorant, and intolerant for claiming that Jesus is the only way to Heaven. However, Jesus’ yes was yes, and His no was no. He said yes, you can go to Heaven. However, He also said, no there is only one way – through faith in Him. Jesus told Thomas specifically how to get to Heaven when He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Jesus was an absolutist and will remain so for all eternity. There is only one way to Heaven and there is equally only one way to forgiveness of sins – faith in the redemption provided in Jesus. The problem is that man wants to define civility, man wants to define his own religion; and Jesus wants none of either of these things. Man’s civility is determined by the whim of man. Jesus is civility in action and demands the perfect holiness of God of all men. The man of this world cannot achieve this holiness; therefore, he attempts to redefine it. Man’s religion is also a fluctuating thing and answers to his whims and wants. The religion that Jesus taught, Judaism, actually took part in His murder. It is not, therefore, religion that Jesus teaches, but God and His desires, His wants, His holiness that we are to attain. Religion is man made. God is self-sustaining. We must not strive to be an absolute religion, then, but to be absolutely pure in the light of God’s grace through faith in the redemption of Christ Jesus. It is the redemption of our souls in the forgiveness for our sins on the cross at Calvary that provides us the ability to have eternal life, to be in heaven, and to be holy. Religions have always killed to sustain themselves and maintain purity. However, Jesus Christ gave life, sustains it, and demands purity from those whom He has redeemed from eternal torment. He goes one step further in that Jesus provides us the Holy Spirit to help us maintain this purity. We will never attain absolute holiness here on earth, however we look forward to the hope of this purity in heaven (Titus 2:13-14). This is an absolute “yes” – we will be in Heaven. This is also an absolute “no” – that no other person will be in Heaven that does not accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and depend upon His righteousness alone for the forgiveness of their sins.

Today we open to Matthew 5 and look at verses 38 through 48 in an overview fashion. There will be five other messages that develop from this material, therefore, we must take a look at the treetops before we actually get down to the ground and walk among them. When we look at true submission in this context, it is submission not just to our Savior, not just to the Law, but also to one another. We also see that we are not supposed to submit to something. Read More…

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Posted by: Diane | September 25, 2009

Making Oaths, Part 2 (Matthew 5:35-37)

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[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.]

When we opened this section of scripture last week we considered oaths in general, and specifically the oath of enlistment in the armed forces. This was a good example, and certainly one I can identify with as well. I pray you could identify with it. However, is it the crux of this text? Was Jesus specifically discussing these oaths of men, oaths taken in the way of honor, oaths taken as forms of dedication to other men? I think these are valid questions and the answer, I am sure, will not surprise you. On the other hand, others may think we missed the point in our opening. Truly, the discussion does deal with the issue of oaths in general, but there are some finer points that we will discuss in this study today.

When a person takes an oath that is as one-sided as the oath of enlistment or any oath of that magnitude, their honor, integrity, and personal ethics are the only things at stake. There is a great impact on the individual from what others see as their testimony. This affects their testimony either positively or negatively. If people witness individuals upholding their oaths and vows, they witness this honor and integrity. Conversely, if individuals see a Christian regularly forgo these promises and forsake their word or honor, the unsaved see a liar, a cheat, a deceiver, and a swindler. We learned last week that this is not the only result; we also realize the personal testimony of the individual is for the Lord, not just of their personal character. If one has a failing character; yet claims the Lord, many people hold their claim of Christianity against the individual. We can discuss at a later time whether or not this is warranted. Nevertheless, the fact is that the world will do anything they can to run from responsibility and the moral standard of God. If the evil of the world can point to a Christian and say, “See?  See there – what he did and he calls himself a Christian? I’m better than that.  What do I need God for?” This truly is the battle cry of the eternally lost and pride filled soul destined for eternal torment. This being said, we must guard our testimony at all costs, and with the Lord’s help we can succeed.

However, this testimony takes on another form as well – we testify of the Lord. If our word and honesty are not honorable, we fail our God and ourselves. We exhibit faith in our choice to ignore the oath, not in God to enable us in maintaining the oath. In forsaking any oath or vow, we see ourselves as capable of managing the outcome of that decision – we depend upon self not upon God. We do not depend upon the Lord, whom we swore the oath before, to guide us and deliver us through the trial or challenge. If we make an oath we know we are capable of maintaining, and we do so before the Lord, then we acknowledge that His power exercised through us gives us this capability. We have access to the unlimited strength of God. If we ignore that power and act in our own strength, and then fail to maintain the oath, we have forsaken faith, forsaken our Savior, and forsaken our testimony for our own personal pride, desires, and pleasure. That folks, is breaking an oath which results in eternal consequences. What will the Lord say to you when you meet Him? Will you go before Him contented and confident, or will you be anxious and ashamed at His appearing (1 John 2:28 – sermon on this text here)? Read More…

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Posted by: Diane | September 15, 2009

Making Oaths (Part 1)–Matthew 5:33-37

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[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.]

Adultery is a very evil thing. It is a process which Satan uses to destroy families; it destroys testimonies, and it destroys people’s lives. Adultery denies children their childhood in many cases, especially if it involves the mother. Adultery drives individuals to leave those who are part of their own flesh and blood simply to lust after another. Adultery is such a serious subject that Jesus determined that extensive teaching is required to warn people of its pervasive causes, effects, and actualities.

We first saw that adultery is not just an act, but also a thought that promotes sin. In considering impure things about another woman, or another man you have in your mind already permitted an adulterous act to take place. Jesus tells us we must strive to control these sinful thoughts, and that we were given a helpmeet in the efforts. Our spouse is there for that purpose.

Next, we found that these temptations are so serious that we must discard anything that can in any way promote those lust-filled feelings. Our purity is essential, and we should consider that nothing is as valuable as maintaining our righteousness. If we have to give up things we might consider appendages in order to do so, we must. Everything in life on earth is temporal. As Christians, our focus must be eternal. It is, after all, better to give up things temporally than to burn in eternal torment, is it not?

Last week we again addressed adultery and its effects on all involved. We considered more specifically how divorce is actually a cause of adultery, how divorce begins in adultery intellectually, and how adultery and divorce are the products of our self-centered, sin-filled hearts. We cause these things – not God, anyone, or anything else. Satan certainly has a hand in the temptation, but we know that with each temptation there is an avenue of escape.

As a point of exercise, I believe it is good at this juncture to attempt to put some things together. When we look at the Beatitudes, we see poor in spirit mentioned once, we see mourning mentioned once, meekness, a hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, pure in heart, and the peacemaker all mentioned one time. What do we see throughout these descriptions of the saint who resides in Heaven? Contentedness, happiness, and blessedness. These are the things that mark the true Christian. The true Christian has a contentedness in their poor spirit. The true Christian is content in their mourning out of the poor spirit. The real Christian is blessed to be meek. The authentic Christian is happy to be hungering and thirsting after righteousness. A Christian, therefore, is content in their mercy. The pure heart of the true Christian is blessed. The happiness of an authentic, peacemaking Christian is equally undeniable. Where each of these Beatitudes is mentioned only once, real Christian contentedness is mentioned nine times. Where does that leave you? Read More…

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Posted by: Diane | September 10, 2009

Calvary in the Wilderness

Look what we (Pastor Tim, his wife Chris, son Sean and daughter in law Kelly were on this recent camping trip) found up at Atlantic Lake. This is a picture taken from a rock formation about 100 feet above the lake at the Western end. God speaks of His Son in many ways. Do you see it?

The Cross is in the middle of the lake. It is formed by trees on the shoreline, an island, and the trees on the island.

Atlantic Lake Trip 09 013

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