Author: branches

Matthew 7:24-27 ²⁴“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. ²⁶Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and great was its fall.”

We have now come to the conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount…and maybe you’re saying to yourself… “I sure hope Jesus didn’t spend as long preaching this as what you have”.

Let me tell you…He spent longer…He spent the next three years…living this sermon out for the disciples to witness first hand.

He personally showed them what it meant to be:

…poor in spirit–to mourn–to hunger and thirst for righteousness–to be pure in heart–to be merciful…He demonstrated to them what it meant to be salt and light

…how to love your neighbor…and every time He was confronted by the scribes and Pharisees what it means to not judge hypocritically but show discernment.

The Sermon on the Mount covers a variety of different topics.

Matthew 5:3-12 – The Beatitudes
Matthew 5:13-16 – Salt and Light
Matthew 5:17-20 – Jesus fulfilled the Law
Matthew 5:21-26 – Anger and Murder
Matthew 5:27-30 – Lust and Adultery
Matthew 5:31-32 – Divorce and Remarriage
Matthew 5:33-37 – Oaths
Matthew 5:38-42 – Eye for an Eye
Matthew 5:43-48 – Love your enemies
Matthew 6:1-4 – Give to the Needy
Matthew 6:5-15 – How to Pray
Matthew 6:16-18 – How to Fast
Matthew 6:19-24 – Treasures in Heaven
Matthew 6:25-34 – Do not worry
Matthew 7:1-6 – Do not judge hypocritically
Matthew 7:7-11 – Ask, Seek, Knock

Matthew 7:12 – The Golden Rule
Matthew 7:13-14 – The Narrow Gate

Matthew 7:15-23 – False Prophets
Matthew 7:24-27 – The Wise Builder

I’m not going to comment on every section…I’ve already done that…but if I were to give a brief summary of what it contains…if I were to summarize the Sermon on the Mount in a single sentence, it would be something like this:

How to live a life that is dedicated to and pleasing to God, a life free from hypocrisy, full of love…grace…wisdom…and discernment.

Now at the end of the sermon… Jesus begins the section in [Matt. 7:24] with, “therefore,” that tells us that this illustration is the conclusion of everything that He has said from Matt. 5 up to this point…He is describing the qualities of those seeking to enter the Kingdom…what the lifestyle of those seeking to live in the Kingdom should be demonstrating.

So, lastly…Jesus says here’s the benefit for those who incorporate into their lives the ideals I have talked about…He gives us a description of what happens when we employ these principles as part of our Christian foundation.

Last week I pointed out what has been identified as ‘the two ways’ … where Jesus begins to make a series of contrasts between the ways that are offered to everyone.  

This is a recurrent theme in the Sermon on the Mount…in [v. 13&14] Jesus tells us that there are two roads…a broad road that leads to destruction or the narrow way leading to life. You are on one road or the other.

In [v. 15-20] Jesus tells us that there are only two kinds of trees…good trees that bear good fruit and bad trees that bear bad fruit. You are either one or the other.

Today’s verse is a continuation of the ‘two ways’ that Jesus has been teaching… Jesus tells us there are two types of foundations people build their lives on… because in reality… everyone is building their life on one of the two kinds of foundations.

What is most disturbing about these verses in addition to the idea that ‘you’re either one or the other—on the narrow road or with wide road—that your either good fruit or bad fruit—that your life is built on one foundation or the other,

is the warning that there are only a very few on the narrow road…only a few are considered to be the good tree with the good fruit…and only a few have their lives built on a firm foundation.

This analogy has everything to do with who does and who doesn’t make it into heaven…there are only a few people that make it to Heaven…how many times in your life have you ever heard that said…probably very few… it is a reality.  

Jesus finishes His sermon in [v. 24-27] by continuing on with that theme by stating there are only two choices regarding what spiritual foundation you are building your life on.

He gives a parable depicting two foundations…one man builds his house on the firm foundation of a rock…the other builds his on the foundation of sand.

One foundation will withstand storms and one that will not…the picture is clear… you are either walking with God…experiencing His transformation in your life… or you are walking away from God. You are one or the other …you either build on a solid and deep foundation or you are building on a weak foundation.

This parable gives every indication that these two houses looked identical…they may have both been attractive…spacious…and comfortable…on the surface you couldn’t really tell which house was built on the sand and which was anchored deep in the rock.

Then Jesus says “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew” …one of the things to notice in this passage is that the storms were the same for BOTH houses…the same trials came to BOTH of them: BOTH of them had rain; BOTH of them had floods, and BOTH of them had winds.

I’m sure all of you have seen pictures of what a storm can do to a coastal community…houses and property that have all been washed away…but…you notice other homes that have only slight damage…what makes the difference between one home left standing and another left fractured and falling into the ocean?

Certainty not the quality of the building materials…most homes on the beach are multi-million-dollar homes…only the best materials were used…the difference was what they were built upon.

Those homes which had their foundation laid in the bedrock stood firm against the storm while those homes whose foundations were laid in the sand broke and fell apart as the sand was swept away and the foundation collapsed.

It doesn’t matter the cost and quality of the building materials used…a house built on sand is only as strong as that sand. It will collapse when put to the test.

Jesus uses this same analogy to bring out his final point in His conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount…it has been suggested that this sermon is actually bringing out two points:

First…this is a parable about how people prepare themselves for the ordeals of life.

Secondly…and it get overshowed by the first point…is… it is a parable about how people will spend eternity.

Here’s what we need to understand about what it means to build your life upon the rock …it doesn’t mean what a lot of people thinks it means.

This parable does relate to the storms of life–the trials and struggles that all of us go through…one of the things we should learn from this is that you are NOT somehow exempt from the trials of life if you build your house on the rock…quite honestly most of you have probably figured that out by now, right?

As a Christian, you will still get sick…you will have problems with your job… your marriage…or kids…you still have “rain…and floods…and wind.”

It’s not like: “OK, now that I’m a Christian, nothing bad is going to happen to me.”

If you don’t know this already, you need to get it today…the message of Christianity is not: “just ask Jesus into your heart” and everything will be smooth and easy from this day forward…that is a false gospel and you are setting yourself and others up for bitter disappointment if that’s your idea of Christianity…it’s not true.

There is “rain…floods…and wind” for everyone in this life…for those who build their life on the rock as well as for those who build their life on the sand…the storms of life are common to us all.

Everybody sounds like a believer when times are good…when God is giving us what we want…we’re all cheering Him on…at that point it’s impossible for us to tell who is genuine in their faith…it is only when the storms hit that you can see the difference in the foundations.

BUT…if you look closely at what Jesus has been talking about since [v. 13] you will quickly realize that He is sharing with the disciples something far more serious.

He is continuing on in His description about the importance of entering through the narrow gate…everything since [v. 13] up to the end of the chapter…including this parable is focused on one important factor…the final judgment.

The beating storm that the house must endure is nothing less than the judgment that Christ himself will render when he evaluates our lives on judgment day. 

Jesus is continuing to reiterate the importance of being on the narrow path… remember last week we looked at Jesus comment: “not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Many people think that “building your house on the rock” means saying that “Jesus is my rock, so I’m gonna stand and not fall.” …saying that Jesus is your “Rock” is a great confession of faith — but that’s not what Jesus means to build your life on the rock.

WHAT IS “THE HOUSE ON THE ROCK”?

He says in [v. 24] that “everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them may be compared to a man who built his house upon the rock.”

The key word is “Compared” …He’s saying this is an illustration and we don’t have to try to interpret the illustration…unlike many of Jesus’ parables…He specifically tells us what this means.

He says the man who built his house on the rock, is an illustration of the person who “hears these words of Mine and acts upon them.” …just saying Jesus is your Lord is not “building your life on the rock.”

The man who built his house on the rock is a picture of the man who “hears these words of Mine and acts upon them.”

Here’s what’s important…there are a lot of people who think “I’ve built my house on the rock…I go to church every Sunday and hear the word of the Lord…but you’ve got to understand: both men in this story did hear Jesus’ words.

— The difference here was NOT that one man listened to Jesus and the other one didn’t.

— The difference was NOT that one of them went to church and the other one didn’t.

No, Jesus says they both heard His words…they both might have gone to church… the difference is not that they didn’t both hear His words…the difference is that one heard and did what He said…and the other heard but did not do what He said.

Building your life on the rock means DOING what Jesus says!

The only difference here is doing or not doing.

The question at hand, then, is whether or not we will “enter the kingdom of heaven” [v. 21], or hear the awful words, “I never knew you, depart from me.”

In order to enter the eternal kingdom and live forever with Jesus, we must be like the man who built his house on the rock…and Jesus states very, very clearly what that means in [v 24] “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

When he speaks of “these words” he is referring to what he has just taught in the Sermon on the Mount.

So…after four months of preaching on this text we’reat the end of the greatest sermon ever preached…the Sermon on the Mount…Jesus is saying…there is one thing you’ve got to get…merely “hearing” what I have just said in this message is not enough…you’ve got to do it…you’ve got to live it.

Let me ask you a question this morning…what are you doing in your life as a result of something God has shown you in His word…are you doing what He says to you through these messages we share on Sunday morning?

When was the last time you purposefully changed something in your life…OR did something different than you were going to do, because of what you read or heard in the word of God?

I have to admit; I enjoy it when people tell me after the service that the message was good…every pastor or Sunday school teacher wants to hear that…the most encouraging thing of all is when someone tells me that they are doing what I preached about…that’s  “building your life on the rock.”

The goal of the church is NOT just to get more people coming —I am glad when more people come—our goal is NOT just to get more new members —I am grateful for new members—our aim is not just to gather people every Sunday who “enjoy” hearing the sermon…but have no intention of applying it to their life.

A church that gathers crowds of people who hear the Word but don’t do it…it’s like a house that is built on the sand…that church will not stand the storms that come against it.

In the same way…if your personal life is just hearing God’s Word and not doing it…then your life is built on the sand.

Jesus realized even then…looking into the future, that there would be far too many people who will be deceived into thinking that they have “built their life on the rock” …thinking they’re faithful Christians…going to Church every week… reading their Bibles every day…all the while…not understanding the eternal consequences of the statement “few who find it.”

You are not building your life on the rock by just going to church and reading your Bible unless you are doing what you are hearing and reading.

“Christianity” is not about just “hearing” His word; it is about doing what His word says.

We are living in perilous times…on a national level our nation is in complete chaos… we have a Congress that is stagnate…our country is already in the midst of a moral and spiritual collapse.

On an individual level…there’s personal tragedy and testing of one kind or another ahead for all of us…for the rest of our lives…we will all be tested.

Just like Jesus says here: the rain is about to fall; the floods are about to come; the winds are about to blow…Jesus is referring to two things here:

ONE…is the everyday trials of life…are you going to stand or fall when those things come?

SECONDLY…Jesus is also talking about what occurs after this life…in order to enter the eternal kingdom and live forever with Jesus, we must be like the man who built his house on the rock.

Jesus states very, very clearly what that means in [v 24].  “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

Jesus says it all depends on one thing, and one thing only: are you building your life on the rock.

Matthew 7:15, 20-23 ¹⁵“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. ^20…by their fruit you will recognize them. ²¹“Not everyone who says to me, ‘LORD, LORD,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²²Many will say to me on that day, ‘LORD, LORD, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and, in your name, perform many miracles?’ ²³Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!

Last week we looked at a very disturbing verse regarding the number of people who find the path leading to heaven…Jesus says “only a few find it” …don’t know about you all but that verse is a little troubling.

This morning we’re looking at another verse…just as troubling…where Jesus is telling people that He never knew them and to get away from Him…not something you want to hear at Christmas time.  

These are not verses that are frequently preached…they’re harsh…cruel…unpleasant but clearly these are the words of Jesus…so what gives?  

Last week we began looking at what has been identified as ‘the two ways’ … where Jesus begins to make a series of contrasts between those who are believers and those who are not:

1. two gates…small and wide (7:13-14)

2. two paths…narrow and broad (7:13-14)

3. two groups…the few and the many (7:13-14)

3. two destinations…a life with God…a life without God (7:13-14)

4. two types of trees…the good and the bad (7:17-20)

5. two types of fruit…the good and the bad (7:17-20)

6. two types of builders…the wise and the foolish (7:24-27)

7. two types of people who profess Jesus…the sincere and the false

8. two types of expressions that define the saved and the lost.  

The ‘two ways’ is a concept used numerous times in Scripture.  

…Moses said to the people, I have set before you this day life and death, good and evil.

…Joshua, who succeeded Moses, said, “Choose you this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served. But as for me…we will serve the Lord.”

…Jeremiah was told by God to tell the people: Behold, I have set before you the way of life and the way of death.

…Elijah called for a decision when he said, “How long will you choose between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow Him. If Baal, then follow him.”

Last week we looked at the two gates leading to two different ways…one gate is small with a narrow path…the other gate is wide with a broad path…here’s what’s interesting about these gates…the word ‘enter’ in the Greek is in the aorist imperative tense.

Here’s what that means…it’s demanding that a definite and specific decision be made…being a command it’s saying you can’t remain neutral…you can’t just admire or ponder the gate…you can’t just stand around outside and consider which gate to go through… you can’t straddle both at the same time…you have to enter one or the other…there has to be an action taken…every person will enter one gate or the other… it’s a certainty…here’s why.

There’s a default action that occurs here…people can’t just go through life living a ‘good’ life…not really doing anything seriously wrong…living by the Ten Commandments…taking care of my family…paying taxes…not committing any of the seven deadly sins…all the while believing they’ll go to heaven…is WRONG.

The premise that God understands our weaknesses…so in reality…He’s for us and therefore He never looks at the sins we’ve committed because He desperately loves and wants us in Heaven for eternity…that idea is WRONG.

If you don’t make the determined decision to go through the narrow gate…you automatically default to the wide gate…and the consequences that go along with it.

Having established there are only two paths available…the way to salvation through the narrow gate that leads to God’s kingdom…OR…the wide gate that leads to destruction…Jesus now distinguishes between the two types of people that will enter the respective gates.  

Starting in [v. 15] Jesus begins to define the obstructions that cause people to be confused about which gate to enter…here’s where the confusion comes in:

The TWO ways Satan uses to distract people from walking through the narrow gate.

The FIRST distraction is false prophets…Jesus says to watch out for false prophets [7:15] …in a culture that is eager for easy religion…that requires no effort and offers no consequences…false prophets are becoming more prominent in today’s age of tolerance and rebellion against God.

Statistics indicate this generation more than any other wants to live however they’d like…without any boundaries or authority…and there are plenty of teachers and preachers who are eager to give people what they want to hear…they’re good at what they do…that’s why they make the money they do.

I think unless you’re really into searching out what these false teachers are saying you probably won’t recognize the error in their message.

The most brazen ones are pretty easy to detect…most Christians can easily recognize they’re liars and see through their schemes…some of the outlandish doctrines they propose are blatantly obvious:

False prophets preach the gospel of prosperity.

False prophets refuse to call out sin…that’s just to offensive.

False prophets don’t believe in hell or the need for repentance.

False prophets don’t believe Jesus is the only way.

False prophets don’t believe in the inerrancy of Scripture.

False prophets endorse the earn-your-way-to-heaven efforts

They masquerade their preaching behind an evangelical vocabulary of talking about divine things while living a life style that is enticed by fleshly desires.

AGAIN…this goes back to [7:1] regarding judging…a verse we talked about in detail…”Judge not, that you be not judged…a verse that is two dimensional.

First…it’s a warning to be careful in how you judge people…calling on us to first remove the plank in our own eye [5] then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye…But…also emphasizing that:

…It’s time for Christians to start being vocal and judgmental against those who would abrogate Christian values.

…It’s time for Christians to start being judgmental against those who refuse to take a biblical position on issues that are in direct defilement of God’s commandments.

…It’s time for Christians to start being vocal and judgmental against those who preach another gospel for personal gain.

Jesus gives us ways to identify these pontificators… “By their fruit you will recognize them” they are oriented toward money…prestige… recognition… popularity…being selfish…being proud…arrogant…and egotistical…revealing they do not belong to Jesus…Jesus says to watch out for them.

The SECOND distraction is false people…we all know people who are members of denominations other than Southern Baptist…I’m not going to hammer other denominations…or nitpick their doctrinal beliefs…but for those groups that are outside of what is labeled as “Christendom” they are leading people down the path to destruction…they are intense in their belief…but are false in their theology.

These groups need to be identified for what they are…cults.  

People in cults are sincere in their beliefs…I’m not belittling their character…we all know people who are members in these cults…they’re passionate about their beliefs and because we know them to be trustworthy…honest…and caring… and basically for the most part they’re living a life that reflects Christian morals… we tend to be understanding of their ideas….not realizing they’re on an open wide path that leads to destruction.

I want to share with you the three largest cults in America today that are leading others down the broad path that leads to destruction…what these three cults have in common…despite their uncommon association with each other…is what makes Mormonism…Jehovah Whiteness…and Islam a cult:

Most people would describe identifying these groups as cults…as being arrogant …narrow-minded…even hate speech…there is no compromising God’s Word.  

…Each one believes the Bible has been corrupted…God’s Word has been changed

     JW – claim 50,000 + errors

     MOR. – D&C 73:4 – new translation of the bible 7/2/1833

     ISLAM – The Qur’an…God’s final revealed authority

…Each one has their own translation of God’s Word

     JW – New World Translation is the only accurate unbiased source available today

     MOR. – Book of Mormon – most correct of any book on earth. The JS translation is a KJV he corrected as necessary. 

     ISLAM – The Qur’an is the greatest wonder among the wonders of the world…Hadith

…Each one has an infallible interpreter

     JW – God appointed Russell to provide spiritual truth

     MOR – J. Smith – Ranked only 2^nd to Jesus in importance

     ISLAM – Muhammad was the Seal of the prophets…the greatest of all the prophets.

…Each one fails to recognize the true Jesus or the Trinity

— Jesus is not the Son of God

     JW – Jesus is an angel…1^st one God created…identified as Michael the archangel called the Son of God

     MOR. – Jesus is God’s other Son along with Satan…who attained the status of god in the pre-existence.

     ISLAM – There is only one God…no Son…no Spirit

— The Holy Spirit

     JW – He is an impersonal force…He is not God

     Mor. – He is a ‘spirit person’ who can be in only one place at a time

     ISLAM – There is only one God…no Son…no Spirit

…Each one has Salvation by works

    JW – Salvation is earned – a combination of faith plus works.

    MOR. – A person’s eternal destination depends on individual efforts here on earth.

    ISLAM –

           Sura 23:102 – Only those whose scales are heavier in the balance will find happiness

           Sura 23:103 – those whose scales are lighter will perish and abide in Hell for ever

           Sura 50:17 – two angels who keep the account, one sitting on the right, one on the left, take it down.

There is nothing in their theology that remotely agrees with what is written in the Bible.

Unfortunately, there are people in these cults who genuinely believe they are on the narrow path…they have been duped into believing they are on the path to the Kingdom… BUT the reality is…they are on the wide path to destruction.

Even more tragic than that are the so-called Christians who sincerely believe they are on the narrow path…BUT look what Jesus says about them:   

“Not everyone who says to me Lord…will enter the kingdom of heaven…”

If that statement doesn’t get your attention, I don’t know what will…it’s a simple but saddening fact: not everyone who calls Jesus “Lord” will enter the kingdom.

Jesus is reiterating what He said in [v. 14] “small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”  

Jesus is referring to people who outwardly call Him Lord…who go to Church… who live a “Christian” lifestyle…who have even done supernatural things…but will ultimately be denied entrance into the kingdom of heaven.

²²Many will say to me on that day did we not prophesy in

 your name, and in your name drive out demons, and in

 your name perform many miracles?’

…despite that…they will not be allowed to enter the kingdom of heaven.

How many who proclaim “Lord, didn’t I go to church?” … “Didn’t I teach Sunday school?” … “Didn’t I help with AWANA?” … “Didn’t I give to the church?” will be turned away…no amount of religious activity will gain people admittance into the kingdom of heaven.

²³Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me…”

What a tragic thing to hear.

IMPORTANT…Jesus is not saying these people have lost their salvation…they were never saved in the first place…that’s the reason these verses aren’t preached in many Churches today…they disrupt people’s life style…they’re too demanding.

People who are unsaved don’t want to hear about being obedient…these churches are in the business of only accommodating people…their whole intent is to NOT challenge people’s lifestyle…or to have them think seriously about if they have a true relationship with Jesus by accepting Him as their Savor…for them… church is just going through the motions of being religious.   

Jesus is advising us that there are those who would derail God’s purpose for our lives… He is telling us in no uncertain terms that entering the kingdom of heaven is more than mimicking a religious lifestyle of doing stuff.

I said at the beginning of this message that this portion of Jesus’ Sermon has been identified as ‘the two ways’ …the last of the ‘two ways’ statements is the two types of expressions that define the saved and the lost.

The statement that defines the lost is: [7:23] then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you.”

The statement that defines the saved is: [25:21] “well done good and faithful servant.”

Every person who has ever lived will one day hear one of those two statements.

The kingdom of heaven is not for those who merely address Jesus as Lord with their words…you can call Jesus Savior…but that doesn’t mean you’re saved…or try to justify why you should be allowed in the Kingdom because of the accomplishments you’ve done in His name.

Matthew 7:14 and 23 teaches that there are only a few people that make it to Heaven…the reason is not because salvation is hard…because it’s not…Salvation is easy…the Bible speaks of the “simplicity that is in Christ.” [2nd Cor. 11:3]

SO…then why do only a few people make it to Heaven…why will some be denied entry into Heaven…why will some be told “I never knew you get away from me”

It’s because they have been deceived by false religion…false prophets…false teachers…and secular philosophy.

As a result…few people will enjoy the eternal peace…joy…and blessings of Heaven because they are on the broad highway to destruction…having rejected Jesus as their Savior.

In the previous two chapters Jesus has laid out the qualities of those who are on the narrow path…it’s not a matter of forcing yourself every day to keep a journal of what you’ve done…it’s NOT living a life where you feel you have to do this or have to do that…it’s living a life indwelt by the Holy Spirit who helps you… not forces you…to stay on the narrow path.

Jesus is giving us advice and a warning about the importance of our spiritual preparation.

The way to Heaven is narrow…if you want to go to Heaven…you must place your trust in the Son of God…then you can rest peacefully with the thought that your eternal future is in good standing with God.

Matthew 7:13-14 ¹³“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

I’m not deceived into believing that most of the people who claim to be Christians are actually saved…that’s a pretty bold assessment…here’s why:

For most, being called a Christian is a cultural identity and so being labeled a Christian is being part of a religion like any other world religion.

Most in Christendom just go through the rituals of what their religious denomination tells them to do…most think that following some church rituals earns them brownie points with God…some use religion as a way to gain praise… recognition….and rewards from men.

The wording “For the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction” implies that salvation is not an easy decision…it doesn’t fit in with our mainstream culture of living because it’s too restrictive.

It requires a decisive change of life that is in obedience to the principles of God… and for most people they don’t want religion telling them how to live.  

Here in Matthew chapter 7, Jesus is demanding a choice…an absolute choice… and a choice that renders finality…a choice that leads to a fixed forever in eternity…in a sermon we commonly refer to as the Sermon on the Mount…it could be better named… which way to heaven… “It’s make up your mind time”

During the past few weeks we have been looking at this sermon…most people driving by probably think we never change that sign…it’s said the same thing for months…the whole sermon has been leading up to this point and to this choice.

Back in chapter 5, verse 1 Jesus started out by uncovering the religion of Judaism …something well-known to the people He was preaching to…we have looked at the various topics Jesus taught about:

Prayer…justice…care for the needy…the religious law…divorce…fasting… adultery…prayer…anxiety…making false vows…judging others…salvation…all for the purpose of sharing with His followers how to live and do BETTER than what society expects.

Showing a standard of love and selflessness that Jesus exhibited when He died on the cross for our sins.

BUT…even though we implement all these qualities into our life style Jesus is saying it could all be for nothing…His whole sermon finds its culmination here in chapter 7, verses 13 & 14.

Jesus is essentially pointing out the insufficiencies of the Jews’ false religion and the pretend religion of today…no matter how much or how often you fast…how much you pray…how well you treat people…how much money you give…or how much you obey Scripture…it’s all superficial…if it doesn’t include accepting Jesus as your Savior…falling under the category of religion if it’s done for show.

Jesus is saying if your intent is to do nothing more than live a life style that reflects these values…hoping that will get you into heaven…your entire life is a charade

…based on a self-made religion in which people are attempting to earn heaven

…mustering up enough self-discipline on the outside to gain public favor …achieving a kind of worldly perfection when it comes to righteousness

…having a religion but falling short of what God requires for salvation

So, He confronts them with a choice. “You want to go to heaven? …there are two doors…one goes to heaven…and one doesn’t…and the choice is clearly an absolute choice…there are only two choices…not many…just two…and the decision is forever.

People respond to that with appalling disgust…this passage causes some to question the goodness of God…after all, if He really wants everyone to be saved …why didn’t He make it easier to be saved? Why doesn’t He simply let everyone into heaven?

With all the religions in the world…and all the supposed insights into spirituality …and with all the ways people have developed new religious systems and spiritual intuitions…—-there’s only one way???

People say, “You Christians are narrow-minded,” my response is “You have no idea how narrow-minded I really am…in fact I’m more narrower than you think.”  

You would think there would be literally millions of ways people could choose from…But…in fact, there are only two…there is a narrow way with a narrow gate, and there is a broad gate with a broad way…and those are the only two possibilities.

Here’s a concept people in general have trouble with…God has the right to do it the way He wants…something today’s generation has difficulty with…claiming God’s unfair.

It’s hard for us as humans…especially for Americans to accept the fact that Heaven is not a democracy…we don’t want to believe that there is a loving God whose will is absolute and whose laws are beyond repeal.

We think heaven ought to be like America where each of us has a say in the shaping of our laws…where the ACLU or the Freedom from Religion Foundation as well as other atheist groups challenge any religious activity they believe is being imposed on someone.

They see religion as an infringement on someone’s freedom of choice…not wanting to believe or accept the reality that there is a power outside of ourselves …not wanting to believe that there is a wide gate and narrow gate…for them…any opposition to being a Christian is just exercising their constitutional rights.

The idea is that heaven is a place that reflects the qualities of what they think God is like…and based on that thinking…people assume there are different ways to heaven because my perception of God is really all that matters…conforming God to what I believe about Him because of what I think…is foolishness.  

To accept an idea that demands you must enter through THIS gate…is a concept that’s biased… it’s not fair…BUT…all the while…the same people proclaiming how unfair God is are the same ones advocating that fairness is everyone receiving exactly what he or she deserves.

The one gate policy isn’t something the Church invented…men didn’t invent it… it’s the word of God… there’s no other way in…all other ways, though marked heaven, don’t end up there.

We need to keep in mind what Jesus has been laying out for the past two chapters of this sermon…the contrast between RELIGION that is false and religion that is true…between WORSHIP that is false and worship that is true…between divine religion and man-made religion…the choice is between the one…the true way or the false ways.

Jesus is telling the Jews that the religion they were practicing was not the religion that was initiated by God…it’s the religion of man…a religion that was not acceptable to God.

The pinnacle indictment of the whole sermon comes in chapter 5:20 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not (οὐ μὴ ) enter the kingdom of heaven.”

There will be no admission into heaven without righteousness…to be righteous means that you are in a right standing with God…it was the loss of righteousness that removed Adam out of his earthly paradise.

It’s not agreeable with God to admit or allow anyone into his heavenly paradise without righteousness.

Looking at the narrow gate… Jesus tells us four things:

FIRST…the gate is narrow

In Two Respects…ONE…it’s more like a turnstile…admitting only one person at a time…you must enter the gate on your own…alone.

TWO…Jesus says that the narrow gate leads to a “hard” road…one that involves hardships and tribulations [John 16:33] …living by faith [Romans 1:17; 2 Cor. 5:7; Hebrews 10:38] …enduring trials with Christlike patience [James 1:2–3, 12; 1 Peter 1:6], and living a lifestyle separate from the world [James 1:27; Rom.12:1].

When faced with the choice between a narrow, bumpy road and a wide, paved highway, most choose the easier road.

Human nature gravitates toward comfort and pleasure…when faced with the reality of denying themselves to follow Jesus, most people turn away [John 6:66]. Jesus never sugar-coated the truth, and the truth is that not many people are willing to pay the price to follow Him.

SECONDLY…It’s a very selective gate

Some people think if I join a church or a religion…we’ll all go to heaven as a crowd…BUT…not everyone who joins a church…or who is baptized…or who is in a family of “Christians” gets in.

It isn’t something you inherit from your parents or your grandparents…it isn’t something you sign up for along with another person…admittance is your determined decision to accept Jesus’ offer of salvation. There will not be many people who go in the straight gate.

THIRDLY…It may cost you everything you own

Everybody and everything…even the control over your own life…don’t tell that to

people when they walk the aisle…you are now under the leadership of the Holy Spirit as He guides you for the rest of your life with His purpose for you.

FOURTHLY…Jesus is the gate keeper

Jesus said “I am the door” [John 10:7] since the 1800’s there have been over 100

new religions formed…each having their own lessons…their own doctrines…their own practices despite Jesus’s claim as the only door to God.

Here’s what’s amazing…in a survey 80% of Christians named at least one non-Christian faith that can also lead to God even though Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth and the life; no man comes to the Father but by Me” [John 14:6].

There’s only one way to be saved, there’s only one person who is the Savior [Acts 4:12] “There is no salvation in any other name; for there’s no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.”

Any deviation from the person of Jesus as Lord and Savior…or the gospel of grace will lead you to eternal separation from God.

Then Jesus tells us some things about the wide gate.

FIRST…it’s a “wide” gate

Entry through this gate is easy…it may even be seen as attractive…there are few rules…few restrictions…and few requirements…this way requires no spiritual maturity…no moral character…no commitment…and no sacrifice.

SECONDLY…this gate is the entrance to a broad path

It’s not hard to enter this gate nor walk the road it covers…entering life’s journey through the wide gate leads to a broad path…with many sidetracks…that has no absolutes or boundaries so virtually anything goes.

The path is an easy path and with a free choice to do anything we choose to do… our worldview or belief system has no bounds and we can believe anything we want.

THIRDLY…it’s a gate that leads to destruction.

The phrase “leads to destruction” refers to eternal abandonment from God…the Greek word does not mean annihilation…or extinction…or an end to existence… but that which is ruined and is no longer usable for its intended purpose… “destruction” is not the loss of being, but of well-being.  

Those who travel the wide, comfortable road have rejected Jesus Christ as both Savior and Lord.

FOURTH…there are going to be “many” who go in this gate.

Why is that? …do people purposely want to be eternally separated from God and their loved ones? …is that what people really desire? …I don’t think any rational person would answer yes to that question…so why do so many people go through this gate?

This is a question that bears serious consideration…most people, when asked this question, say that the sign over the wide gate really says “To Heaven” …how obvious would it be if the sign read “To Hell” so because it’s a lying sign it’s a sign that gives false directions and people freely enter in.

Satan has paved the wide road with fleshly temptations…worldly attractions, and moral compromises…most people allow their passions and desires to dictate the course of their lives…they would rather create their own religion and design their own gods…that is why many people will go in.

They choose temporary earthly pleasure over the self-sacrifice required in following Jesus [Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23; Matthew 10:37]…this is exactly what Scripture says about Moses…[Hebrews 11:25] … ²⁵He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.

Here’s what this verse is saying…people will spend their entire lives preparing for retirement…going to school…getting jobs…working for advancement…making sacrifices…working on their 401K and retirements portfolios…all for just a few short years of enjoyment after working their entire lives.

Yet these same people will spend little if any time preparing for eternity.  

At the beginning of life every person will stand before these two paths…as Jesus closes out His sermon, He has described the character of those who are the subjects of His kingdom…in the previous two chapters He has laid down the rules by which we must live our lives.

He has defined the only two ways available to choose from…you can walk on the broad way that allows you to keep your “baggage” of sin and worldliness and the end result is destruction…OR…you can choose the narrow gate that leads down a narrow road that demands you give up the “baggage” of sin and worldliness.

Here’s the danger Jesus is trying to emphasize…many people will claim to “trust” Jesus but will never leave the broad road because they want to retain their baggage” of sin and worldliness all the while believing they are on the narrow

 road…their form of Christianity makes no demands on them.

Here’s the question…and it will be the question asked by every person who claims to have walked through the narrow gate…did your profession of faith in Christ cost you anything? You cannot walk down two roads that lead to  two different directions at the same time.

As we continue on in our series on the Sermon on the Mount, we’ll look at one of the best-known sayings of Jesus: [Matt. 7:7]

“Ask, and it will be given you.
Seek, and you will find.
Knock, and it will be opened for you.”

For the past two weeks we have looked at two different verses that have the potential of being mis-interpreted and mis-applied…this verse is no different.

…First verse was [Matt. 7:1] on judging…do not judge, or you too will be judged.” a verse that has been interpreted to mean we shouldn’t judge other people…but that’s not what Jesus is implying…in fact…just the opposite…Jesus is NOT telling us that we shouldn’t judge…but rather…how to judge…this verse is suggesting there are times when we must make judgements.

The danger of being hesitant in not condemning sinful actions leads us to become morally “wishy-washy” by refusing to make a distinction between those who walk in righteousness and those who do evil.

…Secondly…last week we talked about hogs and dogs [v. 6] …this verse ties back [v. 1] and is a continuation of judging…that we are to practice good discernment in how we ‘judge’ people…and…that we are also to show discernment in who we share the precious things of Christ with.

Because some people clearly prove all they want to do is mock the things of Christ and to argue in hardened unbelief the truths of the Bible.

Therefore…we are not to expose the gospel of Jesus Christ to those who prove themselves to be nothing more than hogs or dogs…continually scoffing and ridiculing Christ…who have no other purpose than to dishonor the gospel of Christ and return to their own evil ways.

We’re not to give them the opportunity to trample the ‘pearls’ of the gospel underfoot…it’s like casting pearls before pigs…they don’t appreciate it…and then it allows them to attack us for proclaiming the truth.

Then there’s today’s verse… “Ask, and it will be given you.”  …this verse leads to nothing more than a boat load of disappointments…really…all I have to do is ask and it will be given to me.

I don’t know about you all…but I’ve asked for a lot of things in my life I didn’t get…we’ve all asked for things that we didn’t get…whether it’s for Santa to bring a pony for Christmas…or…asking the boss for a promotion or a raise…or… applying for a scholarship to go to college…we all know what it’s like not to get what we asked for and be disappointed…sounds like life to me.

But…here’s the thing that makes those things a little easier to digest…as long as it has to do with people…I can deal with it…if I’m asking someone for something and don’t get it…OK…they’re only human…people let you down…

BUT…when it comes to God letting you down…well…that’s a different matter… especially after you’ve been led to believe that all you have to do is just ask for anything and expect to receive it. 

When you ask God for something really important, and you ask sincerely, believing that God will come through, and he doesn’t—it’s a bitter pill to swallow.

As Christians we have the answer to that dilemma…this falls into the obscured category we like to refer to as unanswered prayer. Here’s how we explain that:

You ask God for something and you don’t get an answer:

…either God didn’t hear you…a possibility

…God chooses not to give you what you asked for…a possibility

…or the answer is, “Not now,” for all intents and purposes it’s the same as, “No.”

Unanswered prayer is one of those ambiguities of faith that’s hard to explain… why someone’s child is not healed…why someone died after being prayed for

And especially in light of our scripture this morning…it gets even more difficult to explain when you pair it with what Jesus told his disciples: (John 15:7; 16:23-24)

“If you remain in me, and my words remain in you,
you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you.
…Most certainly I tell you, whatever you may ask of the Father in my name,
He will give it to you.
Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full.”

So, we prayerfully ask for all sorts of things…we pray for rain…we pray that it won’t rain…we pray for the safety of our troops…we pray for the health and well-being of our loved ones…we pray for the future of our country…we pray for peace and prosperity for our country…we pray for our church…because scripture tells us

 to. pray without ceasing [1 Thess. 5:17]. There’s nothing wrong with that.

BUT…as is often the case in interpreting Scripture there is a disconnect…and it’s always with us…we have watered down Scripture so much that it’s no wonder people are confused…upset…bewildered…about un-answered prayer for a couple reasons.

First…this verse is misunderstood and misused because on the surface, it sounds carte blanche: you can have whatever your heart desires; all you have to do is ask.

Secondly…it’s a reflection of our materialistic nature…it plays on the fantasy that we have an unlimited resource…we can have anything we want…as if, in having ‘it’ will make us happy.

Here’s the key and most Christians will go through their entire life being confused …upset…bewildered because they have never come to the realization that answered prayer is the result of three components.

You cannot have one without the other…the failure of any one of the three will result in your prayers not being heard…or answered…this goes back to the fact that 99% of all promises in the Bible are conditional.

The idea…by itself…that you can ‘ask whatever you desire and it will be done for you’ …that statement by itself…is not Scriptural.

If all you’re going to do is run with that piece of Scripture and claim it as a promise from God that He’s going to answer your prayer…you are going to be sorely disappointed…that’s the importance in understanding / applying these components.

The First Component: you cannot expect God to answer your prayers…or even listen to them if you are out of God’s will…Can’t say that any plainer.

John 15:7 is critical in understanding this statement about being in God’s will, ask whatever you wish…and it shall be done for you” …sounds remotely similar to today’s verse…BUT…John 15:7 actually helps explain Matt. 7:7 here’s how…key to bible translating.

This verse clearly spells out the condition for answered prayer…if you abide in me, and my words abide in you… this is why you can’t take Matt 7:7 by itself and run with…John 15:7 clarifies Matt. 7:7.

When two or more passages are similar but not exactly alike…the clearer one explains the other…the more explicit clarifies the less explicit…comparing Scripture with Scripture we see that John’s account is the more explicit…it give us the reason God answers our prayers.  

John’s text has two halves…the first half…is the condition for the second half…there’s an “if-then” connection.

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you then ask…and it shall be done for you” … the condition for successful praying is that we abide in Jesus and His words abide in us.

If you’ve never accepted Jesus as your Savior…asking God for anything…except for forgiveness of sin…is like catching water in a strainer.

If you’re a Christian and you’re living a life in disobedience to God…living in deliberate willful sin…asking God for anything…except for forgiveness of sin… is like catching water in a strainer —do you understand those two conditions–

If you are deficient in either one of these…any verse about asking and receiving does not apply to you.

To be effective in prayer you first need to confess and be cleansed of sins….to have faith…to hold on to God’s promises…live a life that is in God’s will…that’s all part of the first component…that’s living a life that is in God’s will.

But gradually you realize that even this doesn’t always work…I’m doing all these things…but still not seeing results.

You’ve confessed your sins but that didn’t bring what your prayed for to happen …you were full of faith yet God didn’t bring what you prayed for to come to pass …you held firmly on to God’s promise yet the promise also failed to bring what you prayed for to happen.  

The problem may not be a matter of dealing with sins or confessing sin…or a lack of faith…or that God’s promises failed you…although those do influence how God deals with our prayers…what may be the issue is the second component to prayer…The Second Component is a matter of asking in accordance with God’s Will.

Man’s highest aim in everything we do should be for one purpose…to bring glory to God [1 Cor. 10:31] …and this includes praying according to His will.

Saying, “God I’m praying for this matter” …OR… “God I’m holding on to Your promises” and no answer comes is maybe because you have missed the entire purpose of what praying is supposed to accomplish.

Need to ask…am I praying according to the will of God? …OK…how can I be sure I am praying according to the will of God?

Here’s what praying in the will of God means…it’s coming to the understanding that your words are the expression of God’s intentions.

True prayer doesn’t express our intention…rather…it’s knowing and expressing God’s intentions about a particular situation through what we say…that’s praying according to the will of God… Confusing??? Here’s how it’s done:

Knowing God’s intentions allows us to participate in God’s Works…does God need our help? No He’s all powerful and in control of everything in His creation.

So why do we need to pray? …because prayer is the means God has ordained for some things to happen…some ‘things’ -deep theological term-happen regardless of our prayers…BUT…some things happen as a result of our prayers.   

BUT…for those somethings that happen as a result of prayers…for our prayers to be effectual they must be in accordance with God’s will…in other words…God will not hear any prayer that is outside or contrary to His will.

Example…the prophet Nathan told David “Your son is going to die” [2 Samuel 12:14] …David fasted…and earnestly prayed for seven days for the child to live …the child died…God did not respond to David’s prayer because it was contrary to His will…which had already been revealed through Nathan.

People think that prayer is persuading God to do our will…or trying to make God change his mind…that’s not what prayer is…prayer means asking God’s will to become our will…it is aligning our will with God’s will.

When we make God’s will to be our will…our will…which is actually God’s will…will be done because it is God’s will…and His will is always done…if we can understand this truth, we can avoid a lot of confusion.

Therefore, we can say that prayer is God speaking to us regarding a certain intention…coming out of God passing through us it then becomes our intention after receiving His intention…we convert it into words and utter them back to God in the form of prayer…then God acts on it.

In the process you are the one cooperating with God…this is real prayer…people being united with God and cooperating with Him on earth…allowing Him to express Himself and accomplish His purpose through us…for His glory.

It is then that we can claim the promise Ask, and it will be given you.

Having established that asking is not just gimme gimme gimme…if we expect to be given what we ask for.

it’s a combination of two of the three conditions 1) living a lifestyle according to God’s will and 2) praying that what occurs will be in God’s will…for God’s glory.

Simply asking for something to be accomplished is not a guarantee it will happen. …this brings us to today’s verse and the third necessary component for prayer.

Wish Bible translators would, where possible…translate the Bible the way it was originally written…it would help us to better understand what Jesus is saying… and cut down on confusion.

Matthew 7:6 does not accurately communicate the third component necessary that Jesus is attempting to convey for answered prayer which is praying with persistence and determination.

First of all…all the verbs… ‘ask’ … ‘seek’ … ‘knock’ are all in the imperative voice…it is a command…Jesus is saying… ‘I’m telling you’ I want you praying… and because it is in the present tense…Jesus is saying it’s something I want you doing every day.

The more correct (abbreviated) translation of Matt. 7:7 is…keep on asking …keep on seeking…keep on knocking…and do it every day.

We should persevere in prayer and not quit or be dejected because we’ve not received an immediate answer…part of praying in God’s will is believing that, whether His answer is “yes,” “no,” or “wait,” we accept His judgment…submit to His will…and continue to pray.

Here’s the problem…many times with our prayers…they’re offered in such a general way that there could never be a discernable answer given…they’re too vague …but if we are praying in the will of God and moved by the Spirit to specifically state our petition, we can expect an answer.

In the Bible we read what happens when these three components are applied: God’s people…in God’s will…praying in God’s will…and praying with persistence and determination.  

Paul in prison [Philippians 1:19] “ For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer”

Paul writing from prison expecting release because of the prayers of the Philippian church.

Peter in prison [Acts 12] “prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God [5] …his chains fell off…and he went out  [9].

Can we hypothetically say that if both Peter and Paul had not been prayed for that God’s deliverance would have been hindered…based on Paul’s comments it would certainly seem that Paul thought that way.

Paul identifies that his needs were met by the provision of the Spirit of Christ [19].

Real quick…what does that mean…the provision of the Spirit of Christ …it’s important that you know what the provisions are…the provisions of the Spirit are a promise from God that He is aware of every need…circumstance…and situation in your life… and it’s His intention to be the provider to meet those needs.

In Paul’s case…even though God was aware of his situation…the provision…of meeting Paul’s needs was brought about by the prayers of the Philippians…this shows what a serious matter prayer is.

Knowing then that God accomplishes His purpose in the world through our prayers should emphasize the vital necessity for Christians to pray.

It’s not that God can’t work without our prayers but that He has established prayer as part of His plan for accomplishing His will in this world.

Where we go wrong is assuming that we know God’s will because a certain thing makes sense to us…we assume that there is only one right “answer” it’s so logical that we assume with certainty THAT it is God’s will.

And this is where it gets tough…we live within the limits of time and limits of knowledge…we have only limited information about a situation and the implications of how it will affect any future actions regarding that situation.

God’s understanding is unlimited…how an event will play out in the course of a life…or history is only something He knows and He may have purposes far beyond what we could even imagine.

So, God is not going to do something simply because we determine that it must be His will…or because it seems to be the best course of action for God to take.

It is God who initiates His intention to us…it’s not initiated by us…but by God based on this intention and burden which we sense within us…every prayer is the result of a particular burden within us…where does that burden come from?

It comes from God’s intervention into us through His Spirit.

Look again at what Paul writes “for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance…(HOW) through your prayers (prayers of the Philippians who were

Asking…seeking…and knocking…with persistence and determination) …and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus to meet those needs.

“Ask, and it will be given you…Seek, and you will find…Knock, and it will be opened for you.”  is more involved than just asking.

Answered prayer is the combination of being in God’s will, praying in God’s will, and praying with persistence and determination.

SO…when it comes to prayer…do you really know God and does He know you? Do you have a relationship with Him that warrants God hearing your prayers? 

Are you praying for the same thing God wants?

A person who prays this way must be one who regularly draws near to God, allows God to live in them.

Matthew 7:6“Do not give to dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. Least they trample them under their feet and turn and tear you to pieces.

This morning we are going to talk about hogs and dogs…a verse that in the minds of many seems a little out of place when you look at where it falls in the context of the Sermon on the Mount.

There’s much in the Sermon on the Mount that is appealing…but then when you come to this verse many find its words to be a little shocking and ugly.

This verse is a continuation of last week’s message where we talked about the often mis-quoted and mis-applied verse regarding ‘judging’ … “Do not judge so that you will not be judged” …hopefully we set the record straight regarding what this verse actually means.

In Matthew 7:1 Jesus is NOT telling us that we shouldn’t judge…but rather… how to judge… this verse is suggesting there are times when we must make judgements…Jesus is teaching us that we have a responsibility to show discernment and good judgment when it comes to assessing the behavior of others.

BUT…at the same time Jesus wants us to be aware of the danger of being overly critical of people…judging people superficially…hypocritically…or using a self-righteous attitude…so he offers us some advice on an approach to help prevent us from abusive judgement:

³ “Why do you look at the splinter in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?⁴ How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the splinter out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

As in [v 1] Jesus is warning us against evaluating people and condemning them based on our standards of judgment…all the while…ignoring our own faults while hypocritically presuming to help others eradicate theirs…judgment that is wrong.

BUT…also noting that there is no such thing as a small sin…some are splinters…and some are logs…but they are all sin regardless of the size.

So, to keep us in balance, Jesus gives this command to His disciples: “Do not give to dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. Least they trample them under their feet and turn and tear you to pieces. [7:6]

Here we have dogs, pigs, pearls and someone being ripped to shreds. What’s going on here?

Calling people hogs and dogs really seems so out of place after reading [vs. 3 & 4] where He’s calling us to evaluate ourselves before judging others.

BUT…on closer examination these words are very much in keeping with Jesus’ teaching elsewhere in the Scripture.

As Jesus often does, He uses confusing ideas when relating a truth…here He is using unclean animals…dogs and hogs…later in His ministry Jesus explained why he spoke using confusing ideas…”Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven…” [Matt. 13:11].

Did you notice what was given to the disciples? …it had been given to them “to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.” …such knowledge is not a product of human study…you don’t gain knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven by simply going to school or reading the Bible…it is a gift of God’s grace.

Let’s look at this little verse in greater detail…because it’s easy to become shocked by the seemingly negative tone of this verse while failing to see the positive.

Jesus uses two metaphors to describe what has been entrusted to us…the first is “what is sacred”

In the Greek it reads “what is holy” and coupled with the definite article it makes it mean “the holy (thing)” …what is this “holy” thing? …I suspect…that a Jewish listener hearing these words would have thought immediately of the holy offering given as a sacrifice to God on the altar…in the Old Testament these offerings were to be handled very carefully and reverently.

…the altar on which the sacrifice was offered was called “most holy” (Exodus 29:37; 40:10)

…the utensils used to offer them on the altar were called “most holy” (Exodus 30:28-29)

…and certainly, the offerings themselves were called “most holy” (Lev. 2:3. 10; 6:17, 25; 7:1; 14:13; 27:8).

…Sacrificed meat offerings were to be eaten only by the priests [Lev. 6:29] in a holy place [Lev. 7:6; 10:12. 17. 24:9]

Nothing was allowed to last past the third day lest it be treated in a common way.  The meat offered to God upon the altar in the temple would have been thought of as “the holy” thing…and to take “what is holy” and throw it to the dogs as if it were a common thing would be an act of unspeakable inappropriateness… exhibiting a completely sinful lack of discernment.

Only things that were utterly unfit for people would be thrown to dogs [Exodus 22:31] – and certainly not the holy thing offered on the altar would ever be considered as unholy.

So, when Jesus speaks of “what is holy” in this verse He is clearly speaking of something greater than simply how meat on the altar is to be honored…this “holy thing” is serving as a metaphor for something as sacred and honored as the sacrifice itself…So…what exactly is this “holy thing” meant to illustrate to us?

I think Jesus’ intention is broader than the sacrificed meat…in the original language the very same phrase used here…”the holy” …is used to describe Jesus …Peter rebuked the Jewish people in the temple by telling them that they had delivered up Jesus to be crucified; saying, “… You have denied the Holy One…” (Acts 3:14).

So, I would suggest that when Jesus speaks here of “the holy thing” He’s making a general reference to anything that has to do with Him…as our Savior…as a sacrifice for sin…His teachings…Scriptures…and…even the desire to lovingly remove a speck from a brother’s eye…it’s ALL to be treated as a sacred and honored thing.

It’s all to be titled …”HOLINESS TO THE LORD” (Zech. 14:20).

But…I think another answer to the question…what exactly is this “holy thing” can be seen in the context of [verses 1-5].

Symbolizing the sincere effort to rebuke sin in a fellow believer…doing the very holy work of helping a brother with the ‘speck’ in his eye…once the ‘board’ is removed from our own eye.  

Jesus then uses the second metaphor to describe what has been entrusted to us…He speaks of this trust as “pearls”…pearls in the Bible are symbolic of godly wisdom…something precious.   

Jesus told a parable about a pearl: “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it” (Matthew 13:45-46).

This parable is meant to illustrate that those who truly belong to His kingdom are willing to lose…to give up…all worldly possessions to obtain it…which will lead them to eternal blessings.

SO…based on the pearl of great price and the importance of acquiring it…by looking elsewhere in the scriptures the pearl could be understood to mean the sacred truths of the gospel.

That Jesus is our “most holy offering” before God…and the “pearl” that has been entrusted to us is understood as being symbolic of the precious “mysteries” of the kingdom…a privilege that has been granted to us to know.

Don’t ever let yourself treat the mysteries of the kingdom lightly…don’t ever despise the things that have been entrusted to you by Christ…don’t talk of the deep things of God and declare the great things God has done for you to those who will only mock and criticize them.

This is where the hogs and dogs come in…having told us about the great value in the things we have been given…He then uses two metaphors to describe the character of those who…scorn…mock …and criticize the things of Christ, calling them hogs and dogs.

This is one of only two places in the Bible in which dogs and pigs are mentioned together…the other mention of these two together is found in a less than favorable verse…describing those who hear the Word…escape the sinful desires of this world through the knowledge of Christ…only to then wander away from the faith and return to their former sins…not a pleasant ending.

Peter says that it would have been better for such people to never have known the way of righteousness…than to have known it and to turn away from it… [2 Peter 2:22] …Jesus refers to them as “dogs”.

There are two Greek words translated “dogs” in the New Testament…one (κυνάριον – 2952) refers to a little house dog…a pet – such as the “little dogs” that are permitted to eat the children’s bread crumbs that fall from the table [Matthew 15:26] …they’re harmless.

But that’s not the word Jesus uses in this verse…the kind of dog He speaks of here (κύων – 2965) would not be the kind of dog you would let anywhere near the table of little children…this is the scavenging kind of dog that ran around in packs and growled when you approached it.

Revelation makes a comparison between this kind of dog and people…it is used as a metaphor for an utterly despicable person…”But outside are dogs and sorcerers, the sexually immoral, murderers, and idolaters…” [Rev. 22:15] …this kind of dog was used to describe those who were opposed to God and who made themselves the enemies of God’s people.

Paul used this same word to describe those who were opposed to his ministry …He told the Philippian believers: “Beware of dogs…of evil workers” [Phil. 3:2].

The metaphor that is used is that of pigs…there are two kinds of dogs in the Bible …some cute and others that are dangerous…but there is only one kind of pig in the Bible…it was forbidden to be around pigs because they were unclean…and as such…could not be eaten as food [Lev. 11:7; Deut. 14:8]…to eat “swine’s flesh” was considered an act of idolatry [Isa. 65:4; 66:22].

In the Book of Maccabees a Syrian King Antiochus Epiphanes wanting to do the most despicable thing possible sprinkled the blood of a sacrificed pig in the Holy of Holies in an act of blasphemy toward God.

The reason pigs are outlawed is…the characteristic of pigs is that they are un-discriminating…pigs will eat anything…good or bad…probably why Jesus used them as a metaphor… it gives us a picture of someone who doesn’t have the spiritual ability to recognize the value of something given to them…unable to discriminate between good and what is bad.

Two reasons why Jesus says NOT to share ‘holy things’ and ‘pearls’ with hogs and dogs:

…FIRST “they trample them underfoot . . .” that’s a picture of taking the precious things of Christ that are worthy of great honor and defiling them in a careless and thoughtless manner.

As Christians we’re to be discriminating in how we share the precious things of Christ…not allowing them to be trampled underfoot by someone who hates them or who can’t appreciate the value of them.

…SECONDLY…after trampling the precious things of God underfoot, they then “turn and tear you in pieces”…spiritual dogs and hogs don’t just defile the precious things of God, they will also try to destroy the one who presents it.

Jesus is saying we should handle the sacred things of God with the utmost sense of their eternal value…because it is sacred trust that has been given to you by Jesus Himself…and…therefore refuse to share them with those who would trample them

underfoot and disrespect them.  

This sounds harsh…almost as if we’re to be selective who we share the Gospel with…sounds to be in direct opposition to the ‘Great Commission’  

Here’s what the entire six verses are saying…we are to practice good discernment both in how we ‘judge’ people…and in who we share the precious things of Christ with…because some people clearly prove all they want is to mock the things of Christ and to argue in hardened unbelief the truths of the Bible…leave them alone.

Well that sounds discriminatory…let me share with you why you are to avoid those who would trample the truths from Scripture:

Paul writing to Titus: (Titus 3:9-11).

⁹ avoid foolish disputes and contentions for they are unprofitable and worthless. ¹⁰ As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, ¹¹ knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

Proverbs 9:7-9:

 He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, and he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself. Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you…and he will be wiser.

The Pharisees were offended at Jesus’ teaching…Jesus said, “Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch” (Matthew 15:14).

Jesus’ solution was not to try to correct them…but leave them alone in their offense.

These examples illustrate what Jesus is telling us in this verse…there is a healthy balance between the two extremes…we should maintain a balance by remembering that we are not to expose the gospel of Jesus Christ to those who have no other purpose than to trample it and return to their own evil ways.

Sharing the gospel with someone who continually scoffs and ridicules Christ is like casting pearls before swine…they don’t appreciate it…I will discuss the Bible with anyone…but I will not argue about the things in the Bible.

When someone shows themselves to be a “dog” or a “hog”, we’re not to dishonor the things of Christ by giving them the opportunity to trample them underfoot…and…allow them to attack us for proclaiming the truth.

BUT…at the same time…there’s a fine line here…we are also not to be rude or unloving toward those who reject the gospel.

Are we to share the gospel? YES…but…when it becomes apparent that the gospel is not welcome…we are to move on…we are not responsible for people’s response to the good news.

Jesus’ instruction on how to handle rejection was to simply go elsewhere.

Pigs don’t appreciate pearls…and dogs are opposed to God and make themselves the enemies of God’s people.

This verse is not so much about sharing the Scriptures with people as it is a warning of who NOT to share Scriptures with…some people don’t appreciate what Christ has done for them…our job is not to force conversions or cram the gospel down people’s throat…there’s no sense in preaching the value of pearls to swine.

BUT…There are people who do need to hear the gospel…who are ready to hear it…our job is to do that…TWO WAYS:

1. Is to verbally share with those the pearls of truth from the Scripture.

2) We may not always be able to ‘speak’ to someone about the gospel…but we can always ‘show’ Christ to them by how we live our lives. 

Either way…it is then in the power of the sovereign God who will bring conviction to hardened unbelievers through what we say or in the life we live.

Matthew 7:1 “do not judge, or you too will be judged.”  

The Sermon on the Mount is by far Jesus’ longest explanation of what it looks like to live as His follower and to serve as a member of God’s Kingdom…in many ways…Jesus’ teachings on the Sermon on the Mount represent the major ideals of the Christian life.

In the time we have spent looking at the sermon we have talked about some of these ideas Jesus taught about such as: prayer…being salt and light…caring for the needy…the religious law…anger…murder…divorce…oaths…fasting…worrying in addition to the Beatitudes [Matt. 5:3-12] and the Lord’s Prayer [Matt.6:9-13].

Matthew 5:3-12 – The Beatitudes
Matthew 5:13-16 – Salt and Light
Matthew 5:17-20 – Jesus’ fulfillment of the Law
Matthew 5:21-26 – Anger and Murder
Matthew 5:27-30 – Lust and Adultery
Matthew 5:31-32 – Divorce and Remarriage
Matthew 5:33-37 – Oaths
Matthew 5:38-42 – Eye for an Eye
Matthew 5:43-48 – Love your enemies
Matthew 6:1-4 – Give to the Needy
Matthew 6:5-15 – How to Pray

Matthew 6:16-18 – Fasting
Matthew 6:19-24 – Treasures in Heaven
Matthew 6:25-34 – worry

In the end, Jesus made it clear that His followers should live a life that is noticeably different than how other people live…because His followers are held to a much higher standard of conduct than the rest of the world…a standard of love and selflessness that Jesus Himself embodied when He died on the cross for our sins.

It’s interesting that many of Jesus’ teachings are commands for His followers to live by…and they include stricter requirements than even what society imposes on itself…if society would take the lessons from Jesus’ life and apply it to society as a whole…it would benefit the entire world.

When applied they also benefit us spiritually as well as physically…because in reality…we all live under ‘law’. There are many types of laws:

…Criminal Law pertains to crimes and punishment.

…Civil Law deals with the private relations between members of a community.

…Common Law where decisions are made by judges in courts.

…Scientific laws of mathematics, physics and chemistry.

…lastly there are ‘moral laws’ which might be defined as a set of rules of behavior that an individual or group follow from their personal conscience…usually to the benefit of the community.

Sadly however, it is the last type of law…the moral laws…that are not part of the legislated laws…and therefore are not legally enforceable.

Because moral laws are not legislated laws…when society or any group of people decide to develop their own standards of conduct and morality, they begin to judge …and demand that everyone comply to their self-made beliefs and standards.

We are witnessing unprecedented moral erosion in America under the blanket of progressivism…in our “progressive,” politically-correct society it’s becoming taboo to say you are a Christian or that you believe in moral absolutes or that you believe the Bible is the Word of God.

After all, everything changes…societal values shift across distance and time… morals…values…and beliefs of society have changed throughout centuries …at times even the idea of what is right and wrong is up for discussion.

The results of science and education some suggest has caused changes that are really ‘improvements’ in the area of social values…which continue to change as a result of cultural and social improvements.

Here’s the problem…removing God as the nation’s moral conscience and replacing those morals with those independent from any Christian influence will have an effect on our Christian freedoms…believing otherwise is being deficient in the knowledge of history.

When God’s moral laws are distorted to be more acceptable to the general populace it’s an indicator that we are quickly becoming a nation without God.

Then to add to this dilemma…the church passively sits by and watches Christian morals being substituted with humanist ideas.  

America’s landscape proves that…our nation was founded on religion…BUT … religious beliefs and practice have been declining at a rapid pace for people of all ages…most notable among ages 23 to 38.

In a survey conducted just this year…40% of people surveyed between ages 23 to 38 say they have no religious affiliation.

Between 2002 and 2016 the percent of people who considered themselves to be nonreligious went from 10% to 18%. https://pushpay.com/blog/church-attendance/

In the past 24 years, there’s been a 15 percent drop in regular church attendance. 

What these statistics mean is these numbers are only going to get worse…in the range of people over the age of 40 the percent of people attending church is between 43 to 52% …while in the age range of people between the age of 23 and 37 only 28%.

When adults don’t see a need to attend church this is passed down to their children …so basically new young members are few and far between…when parents see no need to be in church…the children see no need to be in Church.

When there is no Godly moral conviction in a society this means that the continued existence of the country is at stake.

We see growing evidence of this in America…the church at one time was a sacred place… no one, not even the most hardened criminal would think of stealing from a church…much less walking into a church and murdering people in God’s house.

Church doors historically have been left open for people to come in and pray… they’re now locked…our doors are locked during the day…we live in different times.

When God is removed as the nation’s moral conscience…believing that government can take on the function of establishing moral laws because they’re more politically acceptable, is a nation in serious trouble.

Is government important…YES…governments are established by God for His purposes…But…willingly giving up our Christian morals and values because it’s politically correct…believing it will safeguard our freedoms…has been proven to be a fallacy.

Historical evidence of what happens when the church passively sits and watches morals being eroded can be seen from Babylon to Rome and from Lenin’s Russia to Hitler’s Nazi Germany.

The Bible clearly teaches that God judges nations in time…Romans 1, Paul gives the history of a nation that forgets God:

1) it turns to false religions,

2) it becomes bogged down in immorality and violence,

3) then God judges it.

When as individuals…as a people…as a nation…we repeatedly scorn God’s ways and continually follow paths that are destructive and immoral…we will eventually pay a price…we will pay as a nation…leading to conflict and social disruption and widespread evil…and we will pay as individuals.

The entire thrust of the Sermon on the Mount is to make it clear that His followers should live a life that is noticeably different than how other people live…BUT…

Living a life that is based on Christians’ principles will result in you being labeled as not being in a “politically correct religion.”

There are some denominations where being politically correct in their doctrine is more important than being Biblically sound…even once traditional and Bible-believing denominations are embracing the attitudes and practices of our culture… if you look at the political scene today…mainline Christianity and traditional Christians are facing increasing intolerance in this country.

That is why as Southern Baptists we are not a part of the World Council of Churches…which a far-left political organization more than a religious one.

Public disdain of the Church and for Christians is because the church lacks tolerance and inclusivism with other systems of beliefs including sects and cults.

No amount of PR work is going to rescue the church from being thought of by some as…backwards…bigoted…and outdated…despite the good that Churches and church related groups do in this country.

You can’t nice your way into cultural acceptance…and continue to hold traditional biblical views on gender and sexuality…they cancel each other out.

When Christians profess their beliefs regarding such controversial issues as the humanist support, we are quickly labeled as biased…and judgmental.

Christianity is being shunned for popular cults…new age religions…and non-traditional beliefs and practices…those who hold to traditional Christianity are dwindling…people are running to anything that promises limitless freedom and tolerance. 

American Humanist Society…whose motto is–Good without a God…is an organization that submits people can find common ground on the issues of moral values without having to appeal to or even have knowledge of a divine set of rules…in other words…don’t need God for this.

In essence…they believe morals should be derived without the influence of the Church…their humanist values become a religion in themselves…let’s look at the morals which are derived from a humanist viewpoint:

—A fetus is not a human life…the decision to have an abortion is a personal choice of a women regrading her own body…government should stay out. killing the unborn (Jer 1.5)

—the Second Amendment gives no individual the right to own a gun…the government will take care of you.

—Should be separation of church and state…religious expression has no place in government. abandoned God and embraced other gods? (Exod. 20.3 / Judges 2)

—Prohibiting same-sex citizen from marrying denies them their civil rights abandoned the biblical concept of absolute truth, of right and wrong (particularly in the case of sexual morality) and replaced it with ‘equality’? (Isa 59.14). sodomy (Lev 18.22)

—Support higher taxes and a larger government…higher taxes enable the government to do good and create jobs.   http://www.primohistory.com/Conservative%20vs%20Liberals.pdf

All these talking points are specifically addressed in the Bible…when a nation…or any group of people develop laws based on morals that are independent from any Christian influence…that country is in for serious internal conflict.

I’ve said all that so I can finally get to today’s verse… [Matthew 7:1] “do not judge, or you too will be judged.” …Jesus says this verse in response to what it means to live faithfully as a committed follower of His…one who pursues holiness out of reverence for God.

Unfortunately, this verse has been used countless times during contentious conversations or used in defense by people when confronted about their behavior …for one purpose…to shut you up.

Their argument is: “Aren’t we all sinners? What gives us the right to make moral judgments about someone else? Isn’t that God’s job?”

I’m convinced the Bible’s commands to not judge others does not mean we are not to show discernment…I’ll put this verse alongside [Romans 8:28] –God causes all things to work together for your good—those two verses are the most profoundly misunderstood and frequently misapplied verse in the entire Bible…a verse used and abused by both Christians and non-Christians alike.

Jesus didn’t mean that we should not identify sin for what it is…and call it out for what it is…Jesus taught that…a) There are times when we must judge…b) There are times when it is appropriate to point out the faults in others.

Here’s what’s amazing…non-Christians…who either don’t believe the Bible is God’s revealed Word…or don’t care…like to use this against Christians when discussing some of the topics that I’ve mentioned…abortion…same sex marriage …living together outside of marriage

They mishandle this verse using it as a “shield for sin,” a barrier to keep others at bay…in doing so they accomplish two things:

1. It allows them to justify living as they please without any regard for moral boundaries or accountability.
2. It causes Christians to clam up because they feel they have been too judgmental …so I’ll just be quiet.

Jesus didn’t make a blanket statement against judging…He simply pointed out RULES for judging…Jesus defined what ‘kind’ of judging He is condemning…He gives us clues as to the right type of judgment vs the wrong type:

—Superficial judgment Passing judgment on someone based solely on appearances or heresay before investigating the facts.

—Hypocritical judgment When we point out the sin of others while we ourselves commit the same sin, we condemn ourselves [Rom. 2:1] …we show ourselves to be hypocrites.

 —Harsh, unforgiving judgment We are “always to be gentle toward everyone” [Titus 3:2] …Jesus warned, “In the same way you judge others, you will be judged [Matt. 7:2].

—Self-righteous judgment We are called to humility… “God opposes the proud” [Jas 4:6].

—Untrue judgment The Bible clearly forbids bearing false witness [Prov. 19:5] … “Slander no one” [Titus 3:2] or …lying about someone.

—Judging without mercy and love Making judgments without showing mercy will result in no mercy will be shown when we are judged [James 2:13 / Lk 6:36-37 / Matt. 7:2].

What’s wrong with America…it’s not the Congress…what’s wrong with America is the church is passively sitting by watching the Church becoming ‘worldly Christianized’ and not ‘judging’ what is going on in America.

In this verse…Jesus is implying that there are times when we ‘must’ make judgements…it’s time for Christians to get judgmental and stop being impartial and accepting the label of being in a “politically correct religion.”

It’s time for Christians to get serious…all the things that are happening in America will only get worse because the Church won’t take a stand against evil.

It’s time for Christians to start judging…being vocal and judgmental against those who would abrogate Christian values.

It’s time for Christians to start being judgmental against those who refuse to take a biblical position on issues that are in direct defilement of God’s commandments.

God’s truth has not changed…the holy Scriptures have not changed…the gospel of Jesus Christ has not changed…the church’s mission has not changed.

It’s time for Christians take a biblical stand on issues in this country…we cannot be passive on life’s issues…as salt and light we cannot be silent…we are called to be the people of the truth even when the truth is not popular and even when the truth is denied by the culture around us.

Matthew 6:13 “do not lead us into temptation…”  

Over the past 3 months we have been studying the Sermon on the Mount and for the past few weeks we have been in the study of one portion of that sermon…the Model Prayer…The Lord’s Prayer…I hope this ‘study’ has opened up additional meaning to these Scriptures…passages that maybe have been passed over for years…have now come alive with insight.

And this morning we have another such verse…we are at the conclusion of our study of the Lord’s prayer…and here in the closing verse [v. 13] Jesus makes a very confusing statement: “do not lead us into temptation” that seems to contradict other verses in the Bible that deal with temptation.

The reason is that the word ‘temptation’ is now almost universally used in a negative sense meaning to solicit someone to do evil…the difficulty with this passage is we’re asking God not to tempt us…this assumes that God does lead us into temptation on certain occasions…but…James contradicts this idea by saying God doesn’t tempt us.

¹³ Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one [James 1:13-14].

A verse that seems to go against the very words of Jesus about God leading us into temptation…but a study of the word used here in the Greek [πειρασμός (pi-ras-mos’] translated as ‘tempted’has multiple meanings…the word we translate as tempt can be translated as tests, trials, or temptations depending on the context

The confusion arises because since the seventeenth century we have tended to use the word ‘tempt’ in a negative sense…but the word is capable of a positive meaning as well.

In the Book of James, he uses the verb form of the word we translate as temptation four times…calling it by three different names…trials…testing…and temptations depending on the context…they can be in the positive sense—tests or trials—or in the negative sense—temptations…importance in accurately interpreting the Bible.

James starts off his letter by showing that how we react to testing…tempting…and trials can be an indicator as to who is saved and who isn’t based on our response to trials…testing …and temptations.

Because in the Greek the same word is used both ways…negatively…and positively…James presents testing…tempting…and trials in three different ways:

Illustration #1: Consider it all joy, my brethren, when (3986 being tested), you encounter various trials knowing that the testing (1383 proving what is genuine) of your faith [1:2-4].

Illustration #2: Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial (3986 when being tested) [1:12].)

These two verses indicate that trials/testing are to bring out the best in us… ‘Consider it all joy’… ‘Blessed is a man who perseveres’ that trials and tests come from God…so in that sense…God does test everyone…BUT

Illustration #3: James uses the word tempted in [vs. 13-14] … ¹³Let no one say when he is tempted (3985 solicited to sin), “I am being tempted (3985 solicited to sin) by God”; for God is unable to be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt (3985 solicit to sin) anyone. ¹⁴But each one is tempted (3985 solicited to sin) when they are swayed by their own desires.

This verse is referring to trials in a negative sense…to tempt us and bring out the worst in us.

SO what’s the purpose in God testing or having us endure trials…in this case context determines whether the intended purpose is for good (tests, trials) or evil (temptations)…God will send ‘trials’ but they are never intended to lead us into evil…God will allow Satan to send ‘temptations’ always with the intent to lead us into evil.

God tests us that we may see…and that He may see…whether our faith and our profession of faith is genuine or not…God tested Abraham…the Angel of the Lord said to Abraham, after the trial of his faith, “Now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son from me.”

Again…this is important…God tests us that we may see…and that He may see… whether our faith and our profession of faith is genuine or not.

If a believer is being led in the power of the Spirit…they are “trials” not “temptations” …so what turns a trial into a temptation?…when a believer doubts God’s goodness and listens to his old nature…giving in to disobeying God…that trial leads to temptation…which can lead to sin.

God allows trials into your life not to make you sin but to make you more like Jesus…who did nothing without first praying to God for direction…that’s why the Discovery Bible translates this verse “Lead us not into (negative) ‘testing’.” 

The wording … “lead us not into temptation” has the connotation that God tempts us to do evil…BUT…if we were to paraphrase this verse it’s meaning would be more like… “don’t allow us to come under the sway of temptation that will over power us and cause us to sin.”

This is why Pope Francis has officially approved a change to this verse in the Bible…I don’t normally agree with most things the Catholic Church does…but in this case…I think the Pope made a good decision.

The Pope has changed the wording from…”lead us not into temptation” to “do not let us fall into temptation,” …because the original translation does imply that God induces temptation…and clearly the Bible refutes that notion…God does not lead us into temptation.

The change brings it closer to the original intent of the prayer…IMPORTANT… God is not the one who pushes us into temptation…nor does the devil make me do it…it is Satan who leads us into temptation…BUT…we are the ones who give in to it…ultimately it comes down to us…we make the decision…we’re not forced.

In life there are countless ways to be tempted…there are countless ways in which God tests us…testing or trials come in various ways…becoming a Christian often requires us to move out of our comfort zone of assumptions that we have become so accustomed to living in regarding how God works in our life.  

If you’re a Christian, you will be tested…it’s a reality…BUT…God’s testing is not without purpose…testing builds our faith…the testing of our faith leads to a deeper, more mature faith…testing ultimately leads to being “complete” in our relationship with God… “that you may be perfect and complete” [James 1:4].

The problem we have about God’s testing us is that it runs counter to the promise of living the abundant life that the preachers on Day Star and The Word network want you to believe about God’s plans for you.

That God’s desire in life for you is nothing but the best for you…lavish homes… expensive cars…worldwide cruises…and more money than you know what to do with…because that’s the abundant life…and the Bible clearly says…Jesus wants you to have the abundant life.

A suffering-allowing God is hard for us to imagine…that’s not part of the abundant life preaching that’s being preached in America today by these gurus of spirituality.

I wonder how that abundant life theology worked out for Kayla Mueller…the girl who was captured by Isis leader al-Baghdadi…who raped her…tortured her… physically abused her…and eventually killed her…orAmerican pastor Andrew Brunson, who was accused of associating with plotters of a 2016 coup attempt. (Allie Caren/The Washington Post)  the American pastor that’s been held in Turkey for the past two years.

These abundant life preachers don’t want to tell you about them…or have you believe that sometimes in life things go bad…destroys their entire ministry of lies.

There are two parts to explain why God allows/sends testing in our lives…and I’m speaking specifically to Christians…

first of all…God’s ultimate goal for your life on earth is not comfort, but character development…life’s a test…you are always being tested…words like trials…temptations…refining…and testing occur more than 200 times in the Bible…as a Christian your character is both developed and revealed by tests.

Secondly…God is not overly concerned with the physical circumstances of our lives…despite the abundant life teaching today…physical blessings may or may not be part of a God-centered life…neither is wealth nor poverty…they are not an indication of our standing with God.

Solomon had all the material blessings available to a man yet found it all to be meaningless (Eccl. 5:10-15). Paul, on the other hand, was content in whatever physical circumstances he found himself in.(Phil.4:11-12) and he had nothing.

On an individual level…there are times in life when it seems you’re not meant to win…that everything seems to be against you…causing you to be tempted to believe that God is against you…Paul may have felt that way:

⁸We do not want you to be uninformed…about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, that we despaired of life itself—do you sense the total dejection– ⁹Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God… (2 Corinthians 1:8–9)

“That we might not rely on ourselves but on God” …this is an important statement. The time in which Paul is referring to, he was in great danger…he was certain of death…he could put no reliance on himself…he was sure he was going to die.

All he could do was to cast himself on the protection of God…the effect of near certain death led him do two things:

…1) put an increased confidence in God…that only God could save him.

…2) to not trust in his own plans…or be confident in his own strength…that he was entirely in the hands of God.

In his own strength he was unable to save himself…his own abilities were useless in delivering him from possible death.

Do we suffer those extremes…not normally…but…when tempted to trust in our own abilities…to become self-reliant is the temptation of Satan.

To say, “I can do all things through me who strengthens me” is a worship disorder of the worst kind…it’s not God’s intention to let us do things our way, according to our agenda…the Christian walk is by faith…God is aware of everything that is occurring in our life.                    

7 Characteristics of Trials as laid out in 1 Peter 1:6

In this you rejoice, now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, in all this you greatly rejoice…(but for) for a little while you may have to suffer grief in all kinds of trials so that the tested genuineness of your faith…tested by fire…Though you have not seen him, you love him…the outcome of your faith (being) the salvation of your souls. — I want us to unpack this verse line by line regarding testing.

Trials are temporary (“now for a little while”). We need to view earthly trials as “light afflictions, which is but for a moment”…need to heed Peter’s advice:

[1 Peter 4:12] – his reaction to suffering… “do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you [v. 13] “but rejoice.”

Trials are necessary for our growth (“if necessary”). God in His infinite wisdom knows exactly what kinds of trials must be designed to stimulate the growth necessary for our own spiritual health…in Paul’s case it was a  “thorn in the flesh” …and though he did not enjoy it…God assured him it was the necessary treatment to stunt the growth of his cancerous pride…lest he become useless to God.

Trials are mentally distressing (“you have been grieved”). There is no pretending here…. Peter knew his readers were “grieved.” …this word does not refer to the suffering itself…but to emotional pain of suffering which many times is worse than bodily suffering.

Trials are diverse (“various trials”). Trials come in all shapes and sizes… sometimes they afflict our bodies…other times our minds…trials may come from Satan…as permitted by God…trials may come from the world…trials may even come from our own disobedience. “For whom the LORD loves He chastens, and disciplines every son whom He receives”

BUT…all trials occur under the umbrella of God’s sovereignty…Job said: “Shall we indeed accept good from God, and not accept adversity?” (2:10).

Trials refine us (“though it is tested by fire”). God’s purpose in suffering is to display the genuineness of our faith…God does not ordain trials to set us up for failure but to prove the reality of our faith…such as in Abraham’s testing.  

Trials are faith-building (“whom having not seen you love”). Christians can rejoice in the midst of trials because even though we do not see God we believe in Him…this faith produces joy even in the face of pain.

Trials are beneficial (“receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls”). Suffering proves the genuineness of faith…trials not only prepare us for eternity but they make us ache for it. “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us…even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body” (Rom 8:18-23).

FAITH MUST BE TESTED—FAITH CAN ONLY BE PROVEN THRU CONFLICT.

BUT…this verse goes deeper than that…here’s another level of meaning to this verse.

Another concept of trials– If you are going to be used by God, He will take you through a number of experiences that are not meant for you personally at all…this is where we lose the sense of God designing all circumstances in our life…God will allow circumstances to happen in your life that are not designed for you at all but you’re going to go through them.

They are designed to make you useful in His hands…to enable you to understand and be of help in the lives of others.

[2 Cor. 1:4] – “Who comforts us in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Again, the temptation is to say ‘woe is me’ why am I experiencing this dilemma… ‘what have I done to deserve this’…when in reality God is blessing you by allowing you to be part of His plan in someone else’s life…but instead we sit down at the door of God’s purpose for our life and enter into a life of self-pity.

What a shame to throw that opportunity away by stubbornly refusing to submit to God’s plan for your life…and the accompanying blessing.   

Then Jesus closes out the prayer by saying: ‘deliver us from evil’ …first, the more accurate translation according to the Greek…is deliver us from “the evil one,” because he is behind every temptation.

There is another prayer that Jesus prays concerning this very thing…where He expands on the idea of the ‘evil one’…comparing John 17:15 to the Lord’s prayer there is a similar phrase: “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.”

How does God deliver us from the evil one and from temptation? Three ways:

Number one: [Hebrews 3:13] “Exhort one another every day…that none of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” How are we delivered? We are delivered by the church. “Exhort one another every day, lest you be deceived.”

Number two: [Ephesians 4:22] “Put off your former manner of life which is corrupt through deceitful desires.”  desires lie to you…we conquer the old self with its deceitful desires by filling our minds with the truth…the Christ-exalting truth of Scripture.

And the last one…number three” [1 Peter 1:14] “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance.” More accurately translated ‘willful blindness’ …where did your passions come from? …you were stupid…didn’t realize coming to church this morning included having the preacher call you stupid.

Here’s why at one time we were all stupid…and why everyone who doesn’t see Jesus as Savior is stupid…or as some translate it ‘ignorant’ …because you didn’t have the spiritual eyes to see that God is the ultimate source of all power and authority…and His Son as the only means of eternal life.  

As Christians we often remain ignorant about how God works in our life… because when things go against us too often there’s the temptation to blame God.

Hopefully this sermon series has revealed that the only way to kill ignorance as Christians is with one thing: knowledge and truth…Jesus says His word is truth [John 17].

This text brings us to the end of the series on the Lord’s Prayer…passages that contained much more truth than maybe we thought they did…passages that teach us not only about prayer but about Christian living.

These passages make it clear that praying and living a Christian life are two sides of the same coin…Jesus is giving fundamental teaching about prayer…but…He is also giving us fundamental teaching on how God works in the life of a Christian …why God allows testing…trials…and temptations in our lives.

I’ve said all that so I can say this again…why does God test us…allow trials and temptations in our lives?

 God’s ultimate goal for your life is not comfort, but character development

Matthew 6:11 “Give us this day our daily bread”

Matthew 6:12 “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Over the past few weeks we have been studying the Model Prayer…we call the Lord’s Prayer…the prayer Jesus gave us…it was never intended to be used as a repetitious mundane guide for prayer…to be recited as a “script” …but as a model to follow.

So clearly Jesus is presenting a pattern for our prayers…not just the words to use…these are the words from God Himself about the prayer that He desires.

It begins with some lofty ideals – the first seven commands given by Jesus are in the imperative…indicating a command…BUT…The Lord’s Prayer is not so much a command as it is an invitation to share in the prayer-life of Jesus himself.

Looking at the first three requests…they are addressed to God and draw us to him for His own sake: hallowed be Your name /Your kingdom come/Your will be done.

After praying for those things that relate directly to the glory of God and His kingdom…we then ask God for the things that are necessary for our everyday physical lives …the last four concern earthly matters dealing with the practical realities of life… give us…forgive us…lead us…and deliver us.

This parallels the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:33, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you.”

We often learn the hard way that what we think is the endless supply in our pocketbooks…often dries up…because of a bad economy…corporate downsizing …the stock market nose-dives…the channels we rely on for our everyday provisions may dry up…but the key is remembering who the source of all things is.

In Verse 11 is the first time in the Lord’s Prayer that we directly give a command to God. (The earlier petitions use a third person singular command (he, she, it) which is vague about who fulfills the requests.)

But in this instance… ‘give us’ …is 2^nd person singular…second person means it is you being told how or what you should do…meaning we are telling God to “give” us daily bread…pretty bold statement…how does God “give” daily bread?

Τὸν       ἄρτον       ἡμῶν      τὸν      ἐπιούσιον        δὸς     ἡμῖν     σήμερον·

The         bread           of us           —               daily           give      us      today

Let me share with you an issue with this verse…the word “daily” (ἐπιούσιος)

–epiousios–occurs nowhere else in the New Testament…only occurs in the Lord’s Prayer so the meaning is really unclear…as a result… translators differ on the meaning…is the verse signifying “daily bread” or “bread for tomorrow.”

In such cases when a word is susceptible of two equally legitimate renderings… translators have no choice except to place one in the text…and the other in a footnote. —Bruce M. Metzger, “Persistent Problems Confronting Bible Translators”

Here’s what this is saying…it is referring to God’s provision that is needed for each day…give us this day…reminds us to focus on today and today’s needs…this is more in line with Jesus’s teaching regarding taking each day as it comes…so… the daily bread here could be in reference to the manna that fell from heaven during the 40 years the Jews wandered in the wilderness.

Each morning the manna was on the dew…the Jews would go out and pick it up to eat…but none could collect more than a day’s worth…because by the next morning it was spoiled…hence…the manna reminded the Jews of their daily dependence on God’s providence.

BUT…the petition in the Lord’s Prayer to give us our daily bread has several other layers of meaning…the most obvious is to express our need for food…there’s really no point in asking for anything else if we don’t have food to keep us alive, so we ask for food before we ask for anything else.

We are guilty of living in the future…we worry about the things that will happen next week…next month…next year…or even further into the future…that’s why car loans are for 72 months and house mortgages are for 30 years.

By requesting for bread, we are asking for the most basic of necessities…so in asking for bread it is representing all of our basic physical needs be met.

The need for food…shelter…clothing…health care…but we also hunger for peace …for equality…for justice for all…it’s all a petition for human dignity…to ask for our daily bread is to ask that all our ‘hungers’ be satisfied.

Because all our worrying cannot change a thing “Therefore don’t be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.” [Matt. 6:34] …the Lord praying give us this day our daily bread—is a reminder of our daily dependence …a day at a time.

But this portion of the Lord’s Prayer is also a reminder…it calls us to be involved with others.

The Lord’s Prayer can never be prayed selfishly…we don’t pray… “give me” or “I want” or “meet my”—we pray— “Our Father” … “give us,” … “bring us” … “forgive us.”  …we need to remember others…this prayer is a reminder of those who are also in need of daily food and our obligation to help them.

This is what separates Christianity from the world…understand Christianity’s vertical and horizontal framework…God coming down to man vertically, and Christians moving horizontally to reflect God’s love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).

Without the opportunity to share this truth the second desire of Christianity…which is meeting people’s needs…is difficult to achieve…knowing God is realizing that one of God’s moral perfections is the quality of generosity.

A conviction most people have difficulty with…but for Christians…God’s generosity means giving to others in the way God gives to us…giving without expecting something in return…as opposed to what the TV preachers would have you believe…you give to me…God gives to you.

The compassion to meet people’s needs is a concern Christians readily accept and support…a conviction most people have difficulty with but for the Christian… giving to others in the way God gives to us…with no ulterior motive…just giving so others have what they need.

I believe this begins first in the church…the notion that a man’s family, and I would include those in my church as well…should be his paramount concern is expressed in 1 Timothy 5:8.

In fact, Spurgeon issued a challenge regarding the people who are under our leadership:

“Look to the interests of all who are in Christ Jesus and let them all be as dear to you as your own Children…and especially, He would have us love His chosen…At the Branches church we do that.

This is the whole premise in giving to the Church…again…this has become so messed up regarding giving…it means giving to others in the way God gives to us.  

2 Corinthians 9:8 ⁸And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

The term ‘good work’ means charity to others…which is further explained in [10] Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.

God supplies your needs… ‘give us our daily bread’…meeting our needs…so abundantly…that we have left overs for others.

We now come to the 5th Request, which deals with forgiving and forgiven… there is a difference in wording between the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew’s Gospel and the Lord’s Prayer in Luke’s Gospel.

There are two parts to this request…the first, includes the forgiveness we RECEIVE from God, and the second, deals with the forgiveness which we are to GIVE to others:  

The text in Matthew reads:

καὶ ἄφες ἡμῖν τὰ ὀφειλήματα ἡμῶν, ὡς καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀφήκαμεν τοῖς ὀφειλέταις ἡμῶν·

 “forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

The text in Luke reads:

 καὶ ἄφες ἡμῖν τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἡμῶν, καὶ γὰρ αὐτοὶ ἀφίομεν παντὶ ὀφείλοντι ἡμῖν

“forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us.”

OK…have some confusion…in one version [Luke11:4] the word sin is used…in Matthew Jesus is quoted as using the word ‘debt’

Sounds like possible confusion…again…a word that is only used twice in the entire N.T. …so…is Jesus using the word ‘debt’ in reference to the forgiveness of sins…or to material or monetary debts…which is how we normally associate the word debt.

The word debt has two connotations…when the word ‘debt’ is used in a financial context, it means to release the debtor…the one owing money…from the obligation to pay the debt.

But when it is used in a moral or spiritual sense, it means “to pardon” or “release”

Here the use of the word debt is referring to our sins…because our sins are like debts that mount up before God.

We are debtors to God [Romans 8:12] because He paid for us a debt, that we were unable to pay ourselves… He paid the price for my sins by sacrificing His Son. That’s what it means when it says we have been redeemed…been bought back

God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” [Romans 5:6-8; cf. 1 Peter 1:18-19] and forgave us of our sins.

Thus, it means that we are asking God to send away or wipe away the debt of our sins.

Both texts include the two aspects of forgiveness…both Matthew and Luke understand that God has forgiven us our debts…or sins…in Jesus we have been restored to fellowship with God…in doing so…we have received the grace to forgive others.

Therefore, we are called to forgive the sins of others as we have received the same forgiveness from God.

To see how important this concept is…we only have to look at two verses down… [14] for if you forgive others…your heavenly Father will also forgive you… [15] but if you do not forgive others…then your Father will not forgive you.

Maybe all of us here would say “I’ve already done that” …but we are never to lose the attitude that we are indebted to God…we need to remind ourselves of how we were saved…as a constant reminder against becoming arrogant.

To think that I can stand before God based on how religious I now am…because I’m now saved…or…because of how much I go to church…or…on how much I read the Bible…or because I live up to a certain moral code…is arrogance.

As Christians…characteristically…it’s easy for us to “look down” on other people who aren’t “living up” to the things we’re living up to….so we become a bit holier than others…hence…the need to confess our sins every day.  

The Model Prayer: Forgiveness (Matthew 6:12 sermon)

To demonstrate how important this principle…or command is…Jesus Himself give a parable to emphasize the need for forgiveness.

The parable of the Two Debtors (Luke 7:41) There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both.

And the parable of the Unforgiving Creditor whose own debt had been forgiven (Matthew 18:23-35) but was demanding that those who owed him pay him back or be thrown into jail.

 Matthew 18:32-35 ³²“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ …’I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. ³³Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ ³⁴In anger (the) master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. ³⁵“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

This is how we stay humble before God…and how it helps us to keep from being judgmental of others…because it is a reminder that you were and are only saved by God’s grace in Jesus.

Here’s another reason for us to confess our sins daily… NOT because we need to be saved daily…a lot of misunderstanding about this…in TWO ways;

FIRST — Some fear that if they don’t confess their sins every day that they will lose their salvation…this is not biblical…SECONDLY…tied to the first… you are saved from your sins….past and present…but not future…the thought is…if  you never confessed another sin for the rest of your lifetime…you would still be saved and go to heaven.  

That’s true…you do not have to confess your sins daily to be saved…trusting in the finished work of Jesus is all that is needed for salvation.

WHY do we need to confess our sins every day? …WHY keep confessing our sins to God daily if we are already saved from them? … “didn’t realize that confessing sin was that important.”  

That’s one of the biggest problems people have is the trivialization of sin.  We just don’t see sin as that big a deal…and it IS…sin is rebellion against God…the sin of Adam & Eve wasn’t that they took a piece of fruit…it is that they purposefully disobeyed God.  

The fact that Jesus dedicates one whole section of the prayer just for the confession of sin, shows just how seriously the Lord takes our sin.

Some go so far as to say that we do NOT need to confess sin because all our sins are already forgiven for all time…this is erroneous teaching.

The way you are forgiven of sins is by asking Jesus to forgive you of them… you’re not automatically forgiven because you’re a Christian… [I John 1:9] that’s why it says “If we confess our sins”.

TWO Things

First…as are most promises in the Bible the word ‘if’ implies a condition… you must do something before God does something.

Second…it’s in the present tense…meaning something that is to be done every day…because when we do…the rest of the verse is what God does…He cleanses us from all unrighteousness.

Two consequences of not confessing, forgiving, and forgetting:

Not confessing our sins daily causes a break in our fellowship with God… [Psalm 66:18] “If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear.”

If you have sin in your life that you have not confessed with God through repentance and confession, it doesn’t make you “lost” but it does put a separation between you and God, that hinders your fellowship with Him.

The consequences of not forgiving and forgetting someone also places a barrier between us and God.

Notice [v. 12] reads in the past tense… ‘have forgiven’ …Jesus is teaching us here how damaging our sin is with respect to being in fellowship with Him…and how because of our unwillingness to forgive and forget other’s sins has the same affect.

C.S. Lewis: “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable (in others), because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”

The fourth request: “Give us this day our daily bread” is asking God to be the source of all our needs. This He has promised to do.

The fifth request: “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors is where the Lord wants us to confess our sin…while also forgiving those who have sinned against us.

The Model Prayer: Praying For God’s Will (Matt. 6:10 Sermon) 

We talked a little about this last week…God’s Will…can anything be more allusive? …who can know or understand God’s Will because I can’t discern at times what is God’s will versus something that just happens.

I don’t believe that everything that happens is according to God’s will…things don’t always happen for a reason. Things just happen.

There’s some areas in life that God’s Will is not being done…it’s God’s will that people would not steal…commit murder…adultery…but they do…it’s God’s will that all people would be saved [1 Tim. 2:4] …it’s not happening.

We pray that the will of God will be done in this world BUT here’s the realization: God’s will is not done by people who do not regard Him with reverence …therefore God’s will is not being done.

In some areas we do know God’s Will…He had it written down…The Ten Commandments are certainly God’s Will for our lives…in addition:

…1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 ¹⁶Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray continually, ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will…¹⁹Do not quench the Spirit

…1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 ³It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;

…1 Peter 2:15 ¹⁵ For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people

If we want to know what “Your will be done” means, we can look to see where we find these words elsewhere in the Bible…. there is ONE place where these exact words are found…Matthew 26…in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus goes to pray before His arrest and crucifixion.

There He prays [v. 42] “if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, YOUR WILL BE DONE.” Those words are significant, because in the original Greek text, as well as in English, they are the exact same words that Jesus taught us to pray here in Matthew 6:10

         γενηθήτω      τὸ      θέλημά    σου.

                                   Be done       the    will           of you

Jesus did not merely “teach” these words; He used them Himself, in a real-life situation…So what can we learn from Jesus’ use of these words in Matthew 26?

In His humanity…the human side of Jesus…He did not “want” to go to the cross…suffering the beating and physical torture…worse yet…bearing the wrath of God because of the sins of the world…in His humanness (He was a real man) He did not “want” to bear it…who would?

But in prayer…He determined that it was God’s will that He go to the cross, so He surrendered Himself to do NOT what He wanted to do, but what the Father wanted Him to do instead.

In His human flesh He did not want to die on the cross…but what did He say? “Yet not as I will, but as You will.” [26:39] …then in [26:42 / 44] He prayed again…. saying the same words, we find in [Matthew 6:10] “Your will be done.”  

To show you how confusing we have made this thing called God’s Will…people have sliced and diced this thing up in so many pieces it’s hard to know what to think:

SECRET WILL OF GOD – Pink – GOD’S PERFECT WILL – Chambers

God’s eternal unchanging purpose…that must come to pass despite our insubordination…or our failures…despite our prayers…it’s gonna happen.

HIS WILL OF PURPSOE – McArthur

This is the will of God that allows things to run their appointed course at

their appointed time until God ends everything exactly according to his plan

REVEALED WILL OF GOD – Pink –

Defines our duty and responsibility (the Bible)

Frequently not followed God’s revealed will measures our accountability

GOD’S PERMISSIVE WILL – Chambers  

The things God allows in our lives to accomplish His divine purpose in our lives. God’s permissive will can be changed.

Can this get any more complicated…how does this affect my life…what does this all mean to me sitting here on Sunday morning…what’s my take away…give me something useful…There are three ways the Bible speaks about the will of God:

Category #1: God’s Sovereign Will

God has the power and authority to do anything He chooses. (Eph. 1:11; Acts 4:28).

Category #2: God’s Moral Will

God has communicated his standard for right and wrong based upon his own holy and righteous character (Exodus 20:1-17).

Category #3: God’s Permissive Will

Because sin entered the world through Adam and Eve, God currently allows certain things to take place in this world that he would not allow in a sinless world (Acts 14:16).

God’s Will Regarding Our Lives

One of the areas that “Your will be done” is asking for God’s direction for our lives…in two ways:

FIRST…two parts to the first part…first and foremost…it’s God’s will for us to know him in a personal way…that includes everyone…secondly…to know and understand what God’s purpose for our individual lives is.  

When we pray for God’s will for our lives, we are setting aside what we want and desire…and we’re asking for what He desires instead.

This is significant, because this is just the opposite of what many so-called “Christian” teachers are encouraging us to do…they teach that you can just pick out whatever ‘vision’ or ‘mission’ you want for your life…your business…your ministry…and ask God to bless that for you…because they claim…God’s intent is to help you to be successful in living out “your dream.”

Joel Osteen recently wrote on his website: “You were created to be successful, to accomplish your goals.” Really??…what ever happen to your will be done.

This is where Joel deviates from genuine Biblical Christianity…him along with others who tell you God wants you to be financially prosperous…you can always tell who the others are…they’re the ones riding around in the nice cars…living in big homes and own jet airplanes…and they’re always talking about how you can “claim your vision” and God will bless you and help you to achieve it.  

The Bible doesn’t teach that God is concerned with our personal agenda…who exists to fill our dreams…there’s a popular version of Christianity that says: I’ll pick out what I want to do, and God will bless my vision….genuine Christianity says: God, You tell me what YOU want me to do, and help me do YOUR will…we exist to do HIS will.

The will of God…or God’s Divine Will is that God has a plan for people…and it’s not [Jeremiah 29:11] “I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you…plans to give you hope and a future” that verse does not apply to you…people who accept that have a misunderstanding of who that promise was made to.

BUT…God does have a plan for you… [Philippians 1:6] “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus…that does pertain to you.

BUT…it’s not a guarantee…it’s conditional…99% of all promises in the New Testament are conditional…when you do something God does something… “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” [Matthew 6:33]…there’s the first thing…seek…then…these things will be added.

Go back to [Philippians 1:6] …the verse just before… “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion” …⁵ because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now…it’s not automatic…you don’t just claim it…it doesn’t say…God bless our will.

God has a general and specific purpose for each of us…there’s a difference… there’s the general will of God as it relates to our eternal life…which is His ultimate plan for us…His will of specific purpose relates to the plan God has preordained for us in our individual lives.

Let me add this…there is a great deal of peace available for us if we pray for the will of God, instead of our own will…when there’s something that we really want…and beg God for it…we can become really anxious about it…and stressed: “God, please give me this; oh, I hope I get it” like a little kid at Christmas…we become anxious about it, because we think we just have to have it.

But if we instead pray: “God, I just want Your will, whatever that is…if You want me to have it…I’ll be happy…if You have another plan…I’ll be happy with that… it alleviates that anxiety…you don’t worry about it one way or the other; you trust that God knows best.

Here’s the problem with most of us…it’s not in hearing from God…it’s in being obedient to what He had already clearly spoken…people seem to want to know what God’s plan is for their lives but they overlook the fact that 98% of His will has already been made available.

God is saying…I’ve already given you a lot to do…I want you to have my attitude…my mindset…I want your life to look like mine…but we’re too interested in the future…instead of focusing on what God wants today.

God is saying…you want to know what I want you to do? Start by being obedient to what I’ve already commanded you…then we’ll go from there.

Instead…we want to know what God’s will for my life is in the future…we want a crystal ball that shows everything that lies ahead in our life…something I wish I’d learned when I was twenty-four instead of waiting until I was 58 to learn that.   

Be obedient in the small things…things that God wants you to do today…then as you complete those…He’ll show you what He further intends for you to do.  

It’s a truth in the Bible…Abraham learned it when he was 75…God said “Go forth from your country” …that’s it…just go…you can’t be obedient in the big things if you’re not obedient in the little things.

God’s Will Regarding Our World

The words, “On earth, as it is in heaven” The Greek text is literally the same:

τὸ          θέλημά     σου,         ὡς    ἐν    οὐρανῷ    καὶ   ἐπὶ      γῆς·

the          will            of you        as      in      heaven       and   upon    earth

We’re praying for God’s will to be done here on earth, just the way He has designed it up in heaven…BUT here’s the reality…TWO THINGS

FIRST…God’s will is not done by people who do not regard Him with reverence SO…God’s will is not being done and it will not be done.

SECONDLY…Everything that God has purposed to do will happen exactly as He planned it…it will all surely happen…nothing can change that…goes back to what McArthur calls God’s will of purpose [Eph. 1:1] … “the Lord works all things according to the counsel of his will.”

BUT…we know from Scripture that there are instances where things did not happen exactly when God said they would happen…those instances in the Bible where people prayed and prayer ‘changed God’s mind’.

Two Things: first…God doesn’t change His mind…no record of God ever changing His mind.

But…secondly…prayer does influence God’s decision when to act…God declares that events will happen…and they will exactly as He has predicted…He didn’t change His mind because everything happened just as He determined beforehand.

BUT prayer influenced God’s decision on when to act…God became flexible and refashioned His plan based on prayer and people’s response.  

God’s Will Regarding Prayer

The idea of…if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us has limitations:

First…God will not promise to grant anything that is contrary to His will.

Second…God does not hear the prayers of unbelievers.

Third…God does not hear the prayers of Christians who are engaged in willful sin.

Fourth…will your request glorify God?

Fifth…Key when praying…need to ask…is there a promise in the Bible to match what I’m praying for…need to be standing on the promises of God

I need to be rich so help me win the lottery…or hit the million-dollar machine at Argosy’s… is not a promise found in Scripture.

Even failures in life glorify God…it is through them that He first gets our attention and secondly, through those failures He is able to teach us valuable spiritual lessons.

SO…we’re praying according to God’s will by asking God to stop something from happening that is clearly viewed as not being “according to his will” …something that is in violation of God’s moral law—category 2—and…according to [1 John 5:14]  “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”

SO…we’re confident our prayer will be answered because we’re praying for God to stop something that is against His moral will…a person is about to wreck their life if they continue down this path…so I’m praying God will stop them

SO…we’re praying according to God’s desire…against something that we know is against God’s will…and because it is against God’s moral will…we firmly believe that God will stop it from happening…BUT…God doesn’t…what happened?

1 John 5 seems like such a wide-open promise…pray according to the will of God and your prayers will be answered…so why can’t we simply ask—and expect to receive positive answers when we pray about something that is God’s will?

In reality God did hear your prayer…and God acted accordingly…we fail to factor in the possibility of (category #3) …that God’s permissive will might also be at work…God allows certain things to take place in this world that he would not allow in a sinless world…He permits people to fail…despite our sincerest prayers.

God heard your prayer and acted according to His permissive will…but because the result was not what we desired…we feel God didn’t hear us or refused to act in a way we thought He should.   

This means that although we should never pray for something that is against the moral will of God, we should give allowance in our prayers that God may have a purpose He is seeking to accomplish by allowing people to continue in their willfulness and sin.

It may be, as in the story of Joseph, that God will allow something that looks terribly wrong in the moment to further his good longer-term intentions.  

Remembering this might help the next time we wonder what it means to pray according to the will of God.

Is God’s will elusive…yes it is…but what is certain is “Your will be done” is not bending God our way…it’s bending us His way…for His glory…to do His Will.

— God’s will is NOT: “God bless what I have picked out to do today

— God’s will is NOT: “God bless what I’ve picked out to do for my life.”

— God’s will is NOT: “God bless what we’ve decided to do as a church.”

Our prayers are to be: God what is YOUR will for me? Show me YOUR will and help me to do it.

 So…in a nutshell…we are to pray seeking God’s will… “Your will be done” God’s will is simply that we live for Him today…making ourselves available… giving our lives sacrificially to Him…and in turn He gets us to where He wants us to be…using us as it pleases Him.

Matthew 6:9 Hallowed be Your name
Matthew 6:10 Your kingdom come

This is the first of seven commands given by Jesus…some say they are requests but the wording in the Greek indicates it’s more demanding than that…but at the same time…The Lord’s Prayer is not so much a command as an invitation to share in the prayer-life of Jesus himself.

Our English translations fail to convey the imperative tenses found in the words of this prayer…an imperative word in both Greek and English convey the same thing…it is a word spoken as an order or a command, such as, “You do this!” or “Do that now!” …the imperative words in the Lord’s Prayer are:

PRAY this way

HALLOWED be your name

COME kingdom.

will BE DONE

GIVE us this day

FORGIVE our debts

DELIVER us from evil. 

Looking at the first three requests…they are addressed to God and draw us to Him for His own sake: Your name…Your kingdom…Your will…the last four concern us and our needs that the Father fulfills: give us, forgive us, lead us not, deliver us. 

Need to look at two words: ‘hallowed’ and ‘name’ …we have a tendency to read these words “Hallowed be Your name” …the word ‘hallowed’ is an archaic word we seldom use any more…it means… I make holy…treat as holy…set apart as holy.

By saying: “Your name is holy.” …is not simply making an assertion that God’s name is holy…it’s a stern request…acknowledging an existing truth.

The first of seven specific requests that Jesus gave His disciples in the Lord’s Prayer was to pray that the name of God would be regarded as hallowed.

Jesus is not telling the disciples the name of God is holy…that’s understood…but rather to make His name holy, to set it aside as holy.

The reality is that God’s name is always holy…but it is not always hallowed…it is not always set aside for holy purposes…so a prettier English translation of ‘hallowed be your name’ could be: “Let your name be set aside for holy purposes.”

Need to understand the importance of why Jesus starts off by making this demand concerning God’s name…names to the Hebrews weren’t simply a way to call a person…or a way to distinguish one person from another…a person’s name was viewed as equivalent to the person himself…a person’s name reflected a person’s character…worth… reputation…and authority.

In Jewish culture names were meant to show the essence of a person’s identity…to declare that person’s destiny…[Rev. 3:4] is an example…it refers to people as ‘names’ …there were a “a few names in Sardis which have not defiled their garments….” notice the people are not called by their given names…the reference is to the people in Sardis but they are identified by just the word “names.”

When Moses asked God who it was that sent him to rescue them from Egypt… God replied, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you” [Ex. 3:14] God in essence is saying…all you need to do is say my name… “I AM’ …YHWH is linked to the concept of His self-existence.

The reason the Jews…including Jesus expressed reference to God’s name is because of the way the name represents the person to whom it belongs…the phrase “hallowed be Your name” is meant to remind us that God is perfect…pure… holy and worthy of all praise and honor…hence the petition to treat God’s name holy.

Interesting to note that here we have God talking to God…Jesus is telling the Church that the name of God is to be regarded as sacred…He is teaching us that God’s name is to be regarded as sacred, that it should be treated with reverence, and that it should be seen as holy. We must see this if we are to pray according to the pattern Jesus set for us.

Here’s the importance of Jesus’s name…to believe in the name of Jesus is to believe in the person of Christ [John 1:12; 2:23] …it denotes belief in His authority and power.

To believe in Jesus the person is to believe that He exists…that He’s real… BUT you don’t need to be born again to do that…you don’t have to be saved to believe that a guy named Jesus existed…even the demons believe and know Jesus is the Son of God.

That’s why Jesus starts out by stating, “hallowed is Your name.” …I’ve already shared the importance in showing reference to God by calling Him by His name… He is the creator of the universe.

To believe in the name of Jesus is to believe in the person…totally and completely putting your trust in Him as your Savior.  

 “Now while He was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs He was performing and—watch this—believed in His name” [John 2:23] …to believe in the name of Jesus is to believe in who He is…the Son of God.

Both Matthew [1:21] and Luke [1:31] record that Mary and Joseph were to call Him Jesus…it wasn’t just any name…the meaningof the nameJesus is ‘God Is Salvation’…probably wouldn’t have done well to call Him Henry…see the appropriateness in calling Him Jesus…the origin of the nameJesus is Greek…the form of the name in Hebrew is Yeshu’a,

Jesus is expressing a command to the hearer…that is us…to do a certain action… to pray hallowed is God’s name…this is more than a suggestion or a request… Jesus is saying…do this.

Here’s the danger in misusing God’s name—the 3^rd Commandment—or disrespecting God’s name…God’s kingdom does not come to people who have no respect for Him…we pray that the will of God will be done in this world…but God’s will is not done by people who do not regard Him with reverence.

It’s like prayer…God does not hear the prayer of an unbeliever…if you have never asked Jesus to be your Savior…then trying to pray to a God you don’t believe in or trust in… is ineffective…the only prayer God hears from an unbeliever is the prayer of salvation… in response to the genuine seeking of the faith by that person.

Then Jesus petitions the disciples to pray that ‘Your kingdom come’ …the Kingdom Jesus is referring to is His Father’s Kingdom in heaven…Jesus here is actually praying that God’s will…that the coming of His Kingdom to earth…will be done as it relates to the end times.

This opens up an idea that we probably never thought about…or even considered.

Jesus is saying ‘Your Kingdom come’ …God talking to God…a command to the Father that…let that day come…this petition is eschatological in nature…there is a day when God’s kingdom will come…Amen…we all agree on that.

There is another kingdom now on the earth…there is another ‘will’ being done.

This other kingdom must go if God’s kingdom is to come…these two kingdoms are rivals for the same allegiance and the same territory. They cannot exist together.

Your Kingdom come…is Jesus’ physical return to earth to establish His Kingdom from which He will rule the entire earth from the city of Jerusalem for 1000 years.

After His 1000-year millennial reign has ended then God will bring down both Himself and the new city of Jerusalem to earth from heaven where He and Jesus will rule the entire earth under what is called the New Heaven and New Earth.

The words, “Your kingdom come,” should always be a constant reminder to all of us that eventually all of the demons…all the bad people…all the unsaved people will eventually be taken out of this world.

So, when everything is all finally said and done God’s eternal kingdom will eventually be coming down to earth where we will all will live eternally with God…Jesus…the Holy Spirit…and all of God’s good angels exactly as it is described in the book of Revelation.

Here’s the big question concerning this specific request…does God’s will just happen…or at times is it dependent upon actions by others?

Do I really need to pray “Your Kingdom come” for it to actually happen…if we know how it all ends…it’s already all written down…I cheated–started at the back of the book first…so I know how the story ends…then why pray for God’s will to be done…if the will of God always happens, then why are we told to petition for it?

If God is all-knowing…if God knows who we are and what we’re capable of…if God knows the circumstances around us…if God knows what we want and what we need…and if God knows His plan for our lives and how to best accomplish that

Plan…then why pray because it’s just naturally going to happen…right?

If God’s going to do what He’s going to do anyway why does He need my input?

Going Deep…the New Testament makes it crystal clear that everything that happens is NOT God’s will…the mis-understanding is that everything that happens is according to God’s will…NO IT IS NOT.

Here’s the difference between the Calvinist and the Armenians…if you’re a Calvinist you believe everything that happens is because God caused it…even the color of your eyes was decided by God before you were born…God caused that.

I’m not a Calvinist…I don’t believe that…I don’t believe that everything that happens is according to God’s will…airplanes crash…cars crash…bridges collapse…people get shot…things don’t happen for a reason. Things just happen.

It’s God’s will that people would not steal…commit murder…adultery…but they do…it’s God’s will that all people would be saved [1 Tim. 2:4] …not happening.

People steal…committing murder…sin…people die every day without knowing Christ…all this is against God will…but it’s happening…if everything that happens were God’s will, then there would be no sin or disobedience…an eye-opening revelation.

We pray that the will of God will be done in this world…BUT here’s the realization…God’s will is not done by people who do not regard Him with reverence…therefore God’s will is not being done and God is not going to make them do it.

Why isn’t this world a better place? …there is an answer to that WHY question…  not the answer most people like to hear…the world is the way it is because it’s the world that we, in a sense, asked for…God is giving us what we want…a world where we treat Him as though He is absent and unnecessary…and then we complain about the way it is.

Let’s go a little deeper still…what I have just mentioned are people who we might consider unbelievers…they’re stealing…sinning…unsaved…I would hope there’re not Christians.

BUT…what about the prayers of Christians…if God is going to do what He’s going to do anyway why does He need my input? …what’s the purpose of praying ‘Your kingdom come’ if it’s already God’s will…that what is being done in heaven will be done on earth [Matt. 6:10] …that’s the next verse.  

If everything that’s going to happen is God’s will…do our prayers really make a difference if He already knows how things are going to turn out? …why pray about His Kingdom coming…seems to me praying that ‘your Kingdom come’ is superfluous …if God has a plan, why should we pray? …will things be any different if I don’t pray?

God is absolutely sovereign and completely in charge of every detail of His creation…there can be no doubt about this… “I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it.” [Isaiah 46:9].

Sounds pretty definite to me…BUT…at the same time the Bible affirms that “the effective and fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” [James 5:16] here we do see the power of prayer and in asking.

…Elijah prayed that it would not rain; and it did not rain for three years and six months…he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain [vs. 17, 18].

…God told Abraham I’m on my way to destroy Sodom…but was willing to relent to Abraham’s persistent intercessions not to destroy Sodom (Gen. 18:16-33).

…God did not let Hezekiah die because of prayer (II Kings 20:1-11)

…God did not destroy Nineveh because of prayer…made Jonah mad…he wanted them all dead… “I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in love” Jonah knew from the start that if the people of Nineveh repented, God would spare them…he was mad at their repentance because he would rather see them destroyed. Their prayer averted God destroying them.

…God did not destroy Israel after they made the golden calf [Ex. 32:11].

…God did not send the locust-swarm to destroy Israel’s crops because of prayer.

…God did not send fire to come to Israel’s land because of prayer [Amos 7].

…God was intending to destroy Israel but would have relented if there had been just one priest …prophet…or common person in the land to… “stand before me on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one” [Ezekiel 22:30].   

Prayer does influence God…it does not influence His purpose.

Everything that God has purposed to do will happen exactly as He planned it…it will all surely happen…nothing can change that.

What about all those instances I shared where prayer ‘changed God’s mind’? First of all God doesn’t change His mind…prayer didn’t change God’s mind…it just delayed the inevitable…everything that was to happen…happened just as God said it would…all prayer did was delay it.

…Hezekiah eventually died.                        …God did destroy Nineveh.

…God did destroy Israel’s crops.                …God did destroy Israel’s land.

…God did destroy thousands of Jews after they made the golden calf.

…God couldn’t find the one man to intercede on Israel’s behalf, 1000 of Jews died.  

Everything happened exactly as God planned it…Prayer does influence God…it does not influence His purpose…God’s will…will be done.

Going Deeper…the idea is that God is rigid…it’s God’s will so that’s the way it is…NO it’s not…in Romans [9:20] Paul uses the analogy of a potter working with clay…on the surface it implies that the potter unilaterally decides everything … giving it a deterministic interpretation…It is what it is…BUT in actuality it has the exact opposite meaning

The sovereign potter…God…is flexible…Paul’s point is that God…the potter has the right to revise his plans in response to the clay…to refashion his plan…based on people’s response.

That is exactly what God did in each one of the situations…He didn’t change His mind because everything happened just as He determined beforehand…but prayer influenced God…God became flexible and refashioned His plan based on prayer and people’s response.  

Praying  ‘your kingdom come’ is praying according to the will of God…knowing Scripture is knowing God’s Will…God gives you His Word so that you might know His will…when you get the Word of God in you, the Holy Spirit begins to pray in and through you…then when you pray…you’re praying the will of God… your will blends with what He wills.

As Christians…God’s name should always be set aside for holy purposes…Your name is holy.

As Christians…God’s kingdom will come…knowing that should always be a constant reminder that God’s eternal kingdom will eventually be coming down to earth where we will all live eternally with God and Jesus.