A Lifestyle Of Prayer (Matthew 6:5-15)

A LIFESTYLE OF PRAYER

Matthew 6:5-15

 

Peter Greig writes in How to Pray: A Simple Guide for Normal People:

I was stranded in Chicago. An Icelandic volcano eruption grounded all airplanes, and I couldn't get home to England. I asked God how he wanted me to use the interruption. Several American friends had already been kind enough to invite me to stay, but as I prayed, I found myself thinking about a particular friend who lived 150 miles west in Madison, Wisconsin. "Hey, I'm in Chicago," I e-mailed. "Can I come crash on your couch?"

I didn't know that Joe had just received terrible news, nor that his worried wife had asked, "Who do you wish you had on your couch right now?" Those had been her exact words. Nor that he had replied, "I wish Pete were on my couch, but I know that's crazy because he's in England, and he's never even been to our home."

The prophet Malachi says that "those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard" (Mal. 3:16). Sometimes God listens to our casual conversations and receives them as prayers. Within hours of Joe's throwaway line, I found myself on his couch."[1] That is precisely what a prayer should be like for all God's people: a normal conversation between two close friends. Nothing magical or mystical about it.

 Tyler Staton, in his book "Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools describes prayer as an invitation to learn to listen to God before speaking, to ask like a child in your old age, to scream your question in any angry tirade, to undress yourself in vulnerable confession, and to be loved—completely and totally loved, despite everything. And yet most people, even most Bible-believing Christians, find little life in prayer. Prayer is boring, obligatory, confusing, or most often all of the above."[2]

How can we overcome a misguided understanding of prayer and cultivate a vibrant, rewarding prayer life? How could we enter into a conversational relationship with God, where we talk to Him, let Him talk to us, and allow Him to guide our lives to His purposes? We will turn to our Lord Jesus, who taught His disciples to pray and modeled prayer by praying regularly at set times throughout the day and at times all night. The only way to learn to pray is by praying. We will explore the modeled prayer, often called the Lord's Prayer, in Matthew 6:5-15.

The 24/7 prayer team, founded by Peter Craig, divided the Lord's Prayer into two sections. The first section lets us into God's World, and the second lets God into ours. I thought it would be an easy way to get a broader understanding of this model prayer. Part I.

I. Entering into God's World through Prayer.

Matthew 6:9-10: This, then, is how you should pray: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Jesus begins the prayer not with "My Father" but with "Our Father." Can you imagine the impact of this phrase?

During the time of the last prophet, Malachi, the Israelites had forgotten that they belonged to God's covenantal family and became unfaithful to one another. The last prophet called them back to God, saying, "Do we not all have one Father? Did not one God create us? Mal 2:10. Jesus picked up where Malachi left off and called people to return to God their Father. Every time we pray, "Our Father in Heaven," we are connected to God's Worldwide Family.

 

Hallowed be your name. The word hallowed means "to make holy," or "to set apart, sanctify, consecrate, dedicate." The closest commonly used English word is probably "honor." Our Father reminds us of God's intimacy; "hallowed" reminds us of His separateness, His majesty, and His incomprehensible greatness.[3] We call God our Father, but we also worship, honor, respect, and obey Him as He is the all-powerful and sovereign God of the universe.

Your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In the earthly realm, the most powerful people are kings, presidents, etc., but God is greater than them. Deut 10:17: "For the LORD your God is God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome." King David declared, "The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength; indeed, the world is established, firm and secure." Ps 93:1

Daniel prophesied about God's everlasting Kingdom. Dan 2:44: "In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever." The implications of "Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven," are that the rule and reign of God's Kingdom begin in our lives and throughout the earth. It also calls us to adopt a servant's attitude: We are ready to do our master's will.

Once we take the posture of the Lord's servant, as Staton notes, we clearly ask that God's Kingdom come where it is absent—friends outside a relationship with Jesus, needs in our city and world, challenging circumstances, and physical or mental illnesses. Ask for Jesus to come—anywhere and everywhere you know God's Kingdom of love and peace is absent."[4] Part II.

II. Inviting God into our World through Prayer

            God is not only concerned with heavenly matters but also deeply involved in the mundane matters of His Children here and now. The second part of the prayer invites God into our world, where He will address our daily needs, relationships, and fears. We pray to our Father, "Give us today our daily bread." We will learn how God will provide another time, but for now it is sufficient to know we can boldly ask our heavenly Father to provide for all our needs.

            Ample biblical and historical records show how God has met people's physical needs. God provided for over 6000 people in the desert for 40 years with food, water, and clothing, to teach them daily reliance on Him. ( Deut 8:3-5). George Müller was an English evangelist. During his lifetime, he cared for over 10,000 orphan children by relying on God.

"For example, on one occasion, they gave thanks for breakfast while all the children sat at the table, even though there was nothing to eat in the house. As they finished praying, the baker knocked on the door with sufficient fresh bread to feed everyone, and the milkman gave them plenty of fresh milk because his cart had broken down in front of the orphanage."[5]

Matthew 6:12, "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." In Greek, sins are designated by two words: one translated here as debts and the other in v. 14 as transgressions. Here, sin does not refer to the original sin of Adam, which results in eternal death and only Jesus could forgive. Rather, these are minor offenses, faults, and willful overstepping of boundaries. If we want God to forgive our offenses, we must forgive those who offended us from our heart. For more on forgiveness, I refer you to Tim Keller's book, "Forgive." 

Matthew 6:13: "And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil one." God doesn't tempt people (James 1:13). He may subject His children to trials and testing. Even if He does, He will not test us beyond what we can bear; He will also provide a way of escape (1 Cor 10:13). So, our prayer is less about testing and more about protection from the evil one, Satan, since we are no match for Him. Jesus concludes the prayer by reminding us that ultimately the Kingdom, the power, and the Glory belong to God alone now and forever. Amen!

III. Cultivating A Lifestyle of Prayer.

            When it comes to prayer, who should pray, and how often should we pray? It is like asking which of you wants to live and how often you should breathe. Just as oxygen allows us to live, our spiritual lives depend on prayer. For that reason, Scripture advises us to pray continually. 1 Thess 5:17. We need to be disciplined and intentional in our prayers.

In the Bible, we find several prayers and models of disciplined men and women of prayer. Daniel prayed three times a day (Daniel 6:10). Like many Jewish people of that time, Jesus and the disciples observed the rhythms of morning, noon, and evening prayers. On the way to a 3:00 P.M. prayer meeting, Peter and John healed a lame beggar and were arrested (Acts 3). I can give you many examples, but you get the point. For Jesus and the early disciples, prayer was not just a one-time event but a lifestyle. Here, I suggest we practice the Lectio 365 Plan.

 

 

 

 

 

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[1] Pete Greig, How to Pray: A Simple Guide for Normal People (2019 NavPress), pp. 151-152

[2] Tyler Staton, Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools, page

[3] Tyler Staton, Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools, page 61

[4] Tyler Staton, Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools, page 114

[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_M%C3%BCller 

Be Anxious For Nothing (Philippians 4:4-7)

                                                         BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING

(A Biblical and Therapeutic Framework)

Philippians 4:4-7

Author Tries to Find a "Cure" for His Anxiety

In an article in The Atlantic magazine, Scott Stossel shares openly about his lifelong attempts to deal with the anguish of anxiety. From an early age, he's been what he calls "a twitchy bundle of phobias, fears, and neuroses." Stossel writes: "Even when not actively afflicted by acute episodes [of anxiety], I am buffeted by worry." Stossel adds, "Here's what I've tried [to deal with my anxiety]:

Individual psychotherapy (three decades of it), family therapy, group therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, rational emotive behavior therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, hypnosis, meditation, role-playing, interoceptive exposure therapy, in vivo exposure therapy, self-help workbooks, massage therapy, prayer, acupuncture, yoga, Stoic philosophy, and audiotapes I ordered from a late-night TV infomercial.

And medication. Lots of medication. Thorazine. Imipramine. Desipramine. Chlorpheniramine. Nardil. BuSpar. Prozac. Zoloft. Paxil. Wellbutrin. Effexor. Celexa. Lexapro. Cymbalta. Luvox. Trazodone. Levoxyl. Inderal. Tranxene. Serax. Centrax. St. John's wort. Zolpidem. Valium. Librium. Ativan. Xanax. Klonopin. Also: beer, wine, gin, bourbon, vodka, and scotch.[1] Here's what's worked: nothing.

This story could show us either 1. The deep pain and powerlessness of dealing with crippling anxiety or other mental health issues, or 2. Our need for God's grace and power to help us in our weakness. Many have tried to find a cure for anxiety; has anything helped them? I am not minimizing the pain of anxiety. We have all, at one time or another, experienced it, and some may be going through it right now. I want to present a pathway to overcoming anxiety.

A biblical and therapeutic framework is found in Philippians 4:4-7. Be Anxious For Nothing! When we hear these words, our first reaction might be, "Who is this guy?" He might be either insane, immune to the normal pain and struggles of life, or ignorant of the current reality. These words come from a letter from Paul to the believers in the Church of Philippi.

Where was Paul when he wrote this letter, and what gives him credibility over this bold command to be anxious for nothing? The church in Phillipi was the first congregation Paul established in Europe, following the conversion of a rich businesswoman named Lydia and the miraculous conversion of the jailer and his entire household during Paul's imprisonment. (Acts 16:16-40). Ten years after that, Paul was in jail again for advancing the Gospel. This time, he was in a Roman prison. Phil 1:13: From there, he wrote a letter to the Philippian believers.

Besides being in prison, what pain and struggles did Paul endure? You may wonder. Paul doesn't shy away from sharing his troubles; in fact, he described them in graphic detail in another letter to the Church in Corinth while challenging those who doubted his credibility.

II Cor 2:23-31, "Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. ²⁴ Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, ²⁶ I have been constantly on the move.

 

I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. ²⁷ I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. ²⁸ Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. ²⁹ Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. ³¹ The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying."

 

 Here is Paul, who knew what hardship and anxiety felt like. Yet he offers a threefold framework for overcoming anxiety, consisting of a deliberate choice, a blessed assurance, and a lifestyle of prayer and thanksgiving. I. A deliberate choice to rejoice. "Rejoice in the LORD always. I will say it again: Rejoice. Phil 4:4. We feel anxious when we hear sad news or a terrible diagnosis. This can lead to physical, mental, and behavioral challenges. These can include a racing heart, nervousness, fear, difficulty focusing, fatigue, headaches, and insomnia.

Rejoicing in the Lord over and over again doesn't come easily when we go through angst and anxiety in life; it is a deliberate choice we make despite glaring, troubling situations and circumstances. Rejoicing in the LORD doesn't mean ignoring the painful problems in life, Infact we name them before God, yet we choose to rejoice in the Lord through singing and praising Him. Next time you feel afraid and anxious, instead of seeking help from physical substances, give yourself to singing joyful songs of praise and worship, and see how your focus shifts; you might even find deliverance from your troubling situation. Acts 16:25

II. A blessed assurance of God's Presence. Vs 5

Vs. 5: "Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near." When we go through troubles, hardships, and anxiety, it is normal to lose our cool, get upset, and get angry, and we can even hurt ourselves and others. Certain physical health conditions can aggravate us and leave us agitated beyond our control; it is hard to remain gentle during such situations.

What keeps us gentle and even helps us overcome our anxiety? It is the blessed assurance of God's abiding presence. Knowing that God is near means I have nothing to fear. Just imagine this: when God is next to you, walking with you every step of the way, is there anything you can be afraid of? Is there anything you and the Lord cannot handle?

Most of our problems arise not because God is incapable of handling difficult situations in our lives, but because of our overconfidence, thinking we can and want to live without God and on our own terms. If that is our attitude, we suffer anxiety. But when we realize that God is near me, and though the whole world may reject me, my Lord Jesus will never leave or forsake me, as He has promised. My racing heart will find rest, and crippling fear and angst will give way to calmness and stability—for example, when I lead a YWAM center in the main leader's absence. One of God's names is Immanuel, which means God with us.

Let's see how Jesus comforted and promised his grieving and anxious disciples. John 14:1-3, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God^[a]; believe also in me. ² My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." This will be our glorious future.

But how about today? In a world full of troubles and angst, how did Jesus assure us of his abiding presence? John 14:15-18: "If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." No matter what you are going through, reach out to the Holy Spirit that lives inside of us.

III. A Lifestyle of Prayer and Thanksgiving.

            The third element in overcoming anxiety is to cultivate a lifestyle of prayer and thanksgiving. Phil 4:6: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Cultivating a lifestyle of prayer takes discipline and intentionality. When we pray, we come into the presence of Almighty God, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. We approach the throne of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. What qualifies us to enter the presence of such a powerful King?

The President and the Little Boy

During the war between the states, a young soldier in the Union Army lost his older brother and his Father in the Battle of Gettysburg. The Soldier decided to go to Washington, D.C., to see President Lincoln and ask for an exemption from military service so he could return to help his sister and mother with spring planting on the farm. When he arrived in Washington, after receiving a furlough from the military to plead his case, he went to the White House, approached the front gate, and asked to see the president.

The guard on duty told him, "You can't see the president, young man! Don't you know there's a war going on? The president is a very busy man! Now go away, son! Get back out there on the battle lines where you belong!"

So the young Soldier left, disheartened, and sat on a little park bench not far from the White House when a little boy came up to him. The lad said, "Soldier, you look unhappy. What's wrong?" The Soldier looked at the little boy and began to spill his heart to him. He told of his Father and his brother being killed in the war, and of the desperate situation at home. He explained that his mother and sister had no one to help them with the farm.

The little boy listened and said, "I can help you, soldier." He took the Soldier by the hand and led him back to the front gate of the White House. Apparently, the guard didn't notice them, because they weren't stopped. They walked straight to the front door of the White House and walked right in. After they got inside, they walked right past generals and high-ranking officials, and no one said a word. The Soldier couldn't understand this. Why didn't anyone try to stop them? Finally, they reached the Oval Office—where the president was working—and the little boy didn't even knock on the door. He just walked right in and led the Soldier in with him. There, behind the desk, were Abraham Lincoln and his Secretary of State, looking over battle plans that were laid out on his desk.

The president looked at the boy and then at the Soldier and said, "Good afternoon, Tad. Can you introduce me to your friend?" And Tad Lincoln, the son of the president, said, "Daddy, this soldier needs to talk to you." The Soldier pled his case before Mr. Lincoln, and right then and there he received the exemption that he desired.[2]

We are like little children who have access to the Father because Jesus Christ intercedes for us. Because of Christ, we have peace with God. We can come to him anytime, anywhere. "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility…For through him we have access to the Father." (Ephesians 2:13, 18). When we bring our petitions and prayers with thanksgiving, this is what happens to us. The Peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord. There goes our anxiety out the window, and the Peace and Joy will return. Amen!

 

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[1] Scott Stossel, "Surviving Anxiety," The Atlantic (12-22-13) https://www.christianitytoday.com/pastors/preaching/sermon-illustrations/author-tries-to-find-cure-for-his-anxiety/ 8-25-2026

[2] https://youthays.wordpress.com/a-z-illustration/the-president-and-the-little-boy/

Biblical Significance Of Giving

                                                          Biblical Significance of Giving

Matthew 6:1-4

 

It's a common assumption that kids today care more about getting than giving. But in an emotional, viral video, kids show that while they may love Lego sets and Xbox gaming systems, they love their parents even more. In the video, children from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, from low-income backgrounds, are given a gift for themselves and a gift for their parent. They are then told to choose between the two.

Video maker Rob Bliss says 80 percent of the kids he interviewed chose to give their parents a gift rather than keep the toys they were offered. Aaron Freeman, 9, is shown deliberating between keeping Minecraft Lego sets for himself and choosing jewelry for his mother. It only takes a moment before Aaron knows his answer. "Legos don't matter," he says confidently in the video. "Your family matters—not Legos, not toys—your family. So, it's either family or Legos, and I choose family."

"These kids really don't have much," said Bliss. "One of them told me they don't have a Christmas tree because things have been tough financially for his family. Getting the gift he wants for Christmas is unlikely. So, to face the gift he always wanted but never got and still choose a gift for his family is amazing."

One parent said, "We were touched by the selflessness displayed by our kids." These moments reaffirm that even though they are young, they can still drive positive change through acts of kindness and generosity. In the end, because they put family first, the kids were allowed to take both presents home.[1] This illustrates what happens when kids choose between receiving gifts and giving. Winston Churchill noted, "We get to make a living. We give to make a life."

The secular world is recognizing the need to teach our children the difference between selfishly grabbing gifts and giving. What is the basis for this awareness? As Dave Ramsey, the financial guru, rightly noted, "There are several things to be learned about money from Scripture, and the concepts of generosity and giving are in there."[2]

After teaching Kingdom principles that prevent heartache and promote healthy relationships, Jesus turned to an important subject: giving, especially to those in need. Today we will explore the Biblical significance of Giving, including: Why Do We Give? How to give and how not to give? What are the benefits of giving? Matthew 6:1-4

I. Why Do We Give?

            In His teaching, Jesus contrasted the Old Testament Law six times, showing how it was often misunderstood, and He gave them the right perspective and renewed emphasis. He concluded those contrasts with a profound statement: "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matt 5:48). In other words, He challenged them to become more like Christ, since the Father and Jesus are the same. Being Christlike involves following His lifestyle.

Scripture strongly encourages giving and practices it voluntarily; in some situations, it is mandatory. The Israelites were required to give 10 percent of their crops and livestock to the temple. These offerings were not meant for God, because God doesn't need our sacrifices. They were set aside for the needs of the Levites and their families (Num 18:21-24).

The Levites also tithed from their tithes (vs. 25). Tithes were also used to celebrate festivals and to support the poor of the land, the foreigners, the orphans, and the widows (Deut 14:22-29). When the Israelites obeyed this law and honored God with their tithes, God blessed the works of their hands. But when they ignored it, God cursed the land and sent famine and starvation among the people (Mala 3:6-12). The Mosaic Law was fulfilled in Christ, as he said, "I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them" (Matt 5:17). Christ fulfilled the entire law.

NT believers are not obligated to tithe; however, we are strongly encouraged to give voluntarily to the Church's needs (I Cor 9:13-14). Though the ministry setting has been changed, the needs haven't. We bring our generous, freewill offerings to the Church for its various ministry needs, such as the pastor's salary, building maintenance, helping the poor and needy among us, and the costs involved in spreading the good news. Second, when we give generously, we become more like Christ. God is the most lavish giver in the world. His beautiful, bountiful creation testifies to His generosity. Above all, He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who ultimately gives us the greatest gift of all, the salvation of our souls (John 3:16).

Third, we give because we belong to God. Scripture tells us that the whole earth belongs to God. The Psalmist notes in Psalm 24:1, "The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it." How about us? As believers, we have no claim on ourselves. As I Cor 6:19-20 says, "Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So, you must honor God with your body."

One way we honor God with our bodies is by willingly and joyfully giving back to God our time, talents, possessions, and money. Some may object to this, saying, " Wait a minute, you mean I have to give away my hard-earned money? Really! When has it become your own money? For that matter, is there anything in this world that truly belongs to you?

Paul challenges this notion of "my money," "my property," etc., while writing to the Corinthian believers. I Cor 4:7: "For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? NIV. "So don't be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow." James 1:16-17, NLT

Everything we have and will ever have comes from our heavenly Father, including our very own bodies. The properties and wealth we think we own are actually given to us by God to enjoy temporarily and to bless others. We are like the stewards of God's property. Therefore, we should honor God with our bodies and with all our possessions. As a Christian Holocaust survivor, Corrie Ten Boom once said, "Hold everything in your hands lightly, otherwise it hurts when God pries your fingers open."  When it comes to giving to God, how much giving is too much giving? What matters is not how much we give, but how we give; our attitude matters.

II. How to give and how not to give?

            Jesus, while addressing the hypocritical giving of the Pharisees, said this: Matt 6:2, "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full." When giving to the needy, don't put on a BIG show! Don't publicize it! That's what people in the world do, and that is the only reward of recognition they get from people.

 

 

            Instead, let our giving be done in secret; let's not brag or boast about how much we give to be recognized and applauded. When we give to the needy, think that you are giving to God our heavenly Father, who secretly observes our giving and rewards us accordingly. How else to give and not to give? When it comes to giving, the sowing-and-reaping principle plays a key role.

II Cor 9:6-8: Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷ Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And 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."

III. What are the benefits of giving?

            Bible-believing Christians and even secular people agree that giving has many benefits. If many problems in the world stem from human Greed, giving is the antidote to cure the disease of Greed, which Scripture equates with idolatry condemned by God. Giving blesses us and others.

As Scripture says, it is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35. Pro 11:24-25. One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed." I learned from my mother to be generous to meet God's people's needs. When we meet God's people's needs first, God will meet our needs. God met the needs of the widow and her son during a famine in 1 Kings 17:7-16. “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.” Prov 19:17. Let us be generous to those in need; we will reap rich rewards from God.

 

 

 

 

 

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[1] Terri Peters, "Touching Video Shows What Happens When Kids Choose Between Gifts And Giving?," Today.com (11-30-16)

[2] https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/dave_ramsey_864757

 

Becoming More Like Christ (Matthew 5:33-48)

                                                     BECOMING MORE LIKE CHRIST

Matthew 5:33-48

Recently, after seeing a photo I sent her of my granddaughter resting her head on my broad shoulders while my arms lovingly wrapped around her, a friend of mine said, "This grandfatherhood suits you very well. I felt like I had come full circle." One day, my daughter, seeing me spoon-feeding our granddaughter, asked me, "Papa, as you have grown older, do you feel like you are becoming more like Christ?" I paused and said, "I don't know, but I want to become more like Christ." Then she said, "Yes, you are! I have never seen you get mad at me, except a few times when you were irritated because we spilled water or milk!"

That made me realize I might be becoming more like Christ! The thought of becoming more like Christ was deeply satisfying. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we all grew up and became a bit more like Christ? After addressing how the sins of the heart affect our individual lives and those of others, especially our loved ones, through adultery and divorce, Jesus continued to distinguish between the Kingdom Citizens and the people of the world.

He challenged his followers to be perfect, as their heavenly Father is. I titled this message "Becoming More Like Christ: Matthew 5:33-48." Becoming more like Christ means being distinct from the world by cultivating Christ's heart, which compels us to do Christ's works. In his discourse on the Mount, Jesus drew three contrasts between the world's ancient practices and those of the Kingdom's citizens.

I. Being Truthful In All Circumstances

Matthew 5:37: "All you need to say is simply, 'yes' or 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." (NIV). We have heard the statement, "Your Word is Your Bond!" Where did it come from? It comes from Jesus' sermon. In the broader context, Jesus exposed the Pharisees' hypocrisy and distinguished between the people of the world and the followers of His Kingdom.

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

Jesus wanted his followers to be truthful and straightforward in a society that twisted the Truth and manipulated falsehoods, and, in particular, to keep the oaths they had taken before God and others. Jesus encouraged his followers not to break their oaths but to fulfill them. An oath was a promise to do or not do something. So when we make a promise, we should keep it.

In the OT, people made oaths invoking God as witness and as the One who would bring judgment if they broke the promise. Oaths were common to emphasize seriousness and truthfulness. But sometimes they made oaths by invoking something lesser than God, like heaven, earth, or Jerusalem, to give them flexibility so they would not be guilty if they did not fulfill their oath. On the books, they sounded serious, but they got away with breaking their oath.

Jesus was opposed to this dubious practice of saying one thing in public and failing to carry it out. He drew the contrast by saying, "Just say a simple, 'Yes, I will,' or 'No, I won't.' Anything beyond this is from the evil one." In other words, Jesus says your Word should be your promise. Oath or no oath, say what you mean and stick by it. What does this mean for us today? Many people promise to do or not do certain things.

Yet they have no qualms about breaking their promises. As Kingdom citizens, we must be truthful in all circumstances. We must be people of integrity. We must commit only to what we can do, and do it without complaining.

II. An Eye for an Eye, and a Tooth for a Tooth!

Matthew 5:38: "You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth." This is one of the most misunderstood passages in the Bible. Several Christians use this scripture to justify their anger and take revenge aggressively against those who have harmed them. We even hear our elected leaders say, "If you hit me once, I will hit you back ten times harder." This Mosaic law was there not for that reason!

What would happen if we apply this law in its literal sense today? The Baptist  pastor and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr once said, "If we do an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, we will be a blind and toothless nation." So what did this law, also known as the law of retaliation, mean, and how did Jesus modify it? Initially, it was made for the children of Israel and was meant to bring about a measured punishment matching the injury.

Leviticus 24:19-20, "Anyone who injures another person must be dealt with according to the injury inflicted: a fracture for a fracture, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Whatever Anyone does to injure another person must be paid back in kind." NLT. This law was meant to control excessive punishment and curb anger and the desire for revenge.

In the New Testament, the Pharisees and scribes seem to have taken the "eye for an eye" principle and taught that seeking personal revenge was acceptable. If someone punched you, you could punch him back; if someone insulted you, he was fair game for your insults. Jesus countered this common teaching on personal retaliation by introducing Kingdom principles of forgiveness, turning the other cheek, not resisting the evil one, respecting the governmental and judicial authority by going the extra mile, etc. By introducing these principles, Jesus separated responsibilities: our responsibility is to forgive and leave revenge to God, as Romans 12:19 says. The government's responsibility is to punish the evil-doers justly and appropriately.

III. Prayer is the Highest Act Of Love

            Matthew 5:43-45: "You have heard the law that says, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. We know where 'love your neighbor' appears in the OT: Leviticus 19:18. But where do we find 'hate your enemy' in the Bible? Nowhere!"

So where did this idea of hating your enemy come from? The full text of the law reads, "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord." Leviticus 19:17-18. In this text, their love was limited to fellow Israelites who lived among them. They were to seek their welfare and not to hold grudges. They treated everyone outside their community as an enemy, even though they posed no threat or harm, and hated them. At some point, God expanded their neighborhood by including others.

Leviticus 19:33-34: "Do not take advantage of foreigners who live among you in your land. Treat them like native-born Israelites, and love them as you love yourself. Remember that you were once foreigners living in the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God." But the Israelites' hatred toward those who were different continued until the time of Jesus.

 

Jesus acknowledged the law but wanted to change their attitude toward foreigners or non-Israelites by saying, "You have heard the law that says, 'Love your neighbor' and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! Matt 5:43-44 NLT. This was a countercultural idea then and even now.

We humans are selfish by nature; loving others doesn't come easily. Somehow we bring ourselves to love our own people, but loving our enemies and praying for those who are out there to kill us? It is unthinkable and beyond us!

For that very reason, Jesus wanted His followers to love not only those we like but also those we might hate, and even those who try to kill us. How can we love them? By praying for them. Dallas Willard notes that "praying for our enemies is the highest act of love." [1]That is what Jesus did for us. In his high priestly prayer in John 17, Jesus prayed for his followers but also for all those who would be saved through their message, those who might be the enemies of the gospel. A direct prayer he offered for those who were literally crucifying them was on the cross, where he prayed Father forgive them, for they know not what they were doing.

This is what becoming more like Christ looks like. It calls for a lifestyle of truthfulness in all circumstances. We refuse to take revenge; instead, we forgive those who hurt us. We will offer radical prayers for our enemies, including those who persecute us.

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[1] Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy page 182.

Overcoming The Power Of Sin Matthew 5:27-32

                                                   OVERCOMING THE POWER OF SIN

Matthew 5:27-32

A few years ago, there was a fascinating but rather unpleasant story. It had all the qualities of a good mystery. A frantic 911 call brought police to a home. The caller had only been able to communicate that she needed help and was being killed. When police arrived, they found a bloody knife beside her lifeless body on the kitchen floor. Blood was spattered across the room, yet upon examining the body, they did not find a single cut or puncture wound … [but] they noticed a trail of blood leading into the next room and followed it. Entering the room, they found a large dying boa constrictor.

Apparently, the snake had been raised as a pet, but on this day, it wrapped itself around the woman as she was cooking in the kitchen. For whatever reason, she had allowed the snake to entwine her body in its coils, and once it began to constrict its muscular body around her, she sensed the danger. In a panic, she grabbed a knife and began to slash away at the snake, and, while managing to mortally wound it, she was killed herself in the process.

This tragic story is a vivid example of the power of Sin in our lives. We often take subtle compromises into our lives as innocent pets, thinking we can handle them without real risk, and thus deal with Sin flippantly, all the while placing ourselves in great danger."[1] In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warned his followers about the all-consuming power of Sin in an individual's life and in their relationships. Last week, we learned that Jesus wanted his followers to pay more attention to what goes on in the heart than to the outward actions.

Today, we will examine another dangerous aspect of Sin in the heart of man, which, if left unchecked, becomes a destructive force that can ruin marriages and families. In this passage, Matthew 5:27-32, the main idea is not just about the outward actions of adultery and divorce, but about SIN and especially how to overcome it. I titled this message "Overcoming the Power of Sin." Any discussion about Sin is not popular these days. Some think they are good people and they never sin, so they are never in need of forgiveness. But unless we understand the doctrine of Sin, we can never truly appreciate God's gift of salvation. Let us explore the doctrine of Sin.

I. The Origin, Nature, and Power of Sin

            What is Sin? Sin is not a weakness or shortcoming, but it is a violation of God's laws. I John 3:4, "Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness." No matter who you are, we are all guilty of breaking God's laws one time or another and deserve to be punished. God did not create it, but had its beginning with Lucifer, who was later renamed as Satan. He brought Sin to humanity by tempting Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and from that time on, we all have inherited Adam's Sin. Romans 5:12 tells us that through Adam sin entered the world, and so death was passed on to all men because "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23).

            The nature of Sin is defined by rebellion. We all inherited this nature from birth. For instance, no one needs to teach a child to lie, be selfish, disobey, or defy authority. We go to great lengths to teach them honesty, sharing, and obedience. Charles Spurgeon said, "As the salt flavors every drop in the Atlantic, so does Sin affect every atom of our nature. It is so sadly there, so abundantly there, that if you cannot detect it, you are deceived."[2]

 

 

            Sin starts small as a thought or desire in our minds, like that pet Boa constrictor in that tragic story. If left unchecked, it grows larger and can destroy our lives. James 1:14-15, but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to Sin; and Sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."

None of us can escape its powerful grip. But there are always some self-righteous people (like Pharisees and scribes) who think they were not guilty of certain things—adultery, for example, to them, Jesus had this warning, Matt 5:27-28, "You have heard that it was said, 'you shall not commit adultery. But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Jesus equates lusting after women to adultery itself.

In the OT, committing adultery with someone else's wife is breaking the 7^th commandment, for which the punishment was death by stoning. But before committing adultery, we violate the 10th commandment, which says, "You shall not covet your neighbor's wife."

King David could not control his lust, which led him to commit two sins of adultery and murder. II Samuel 11 & 12. We may avoid adultery, but what about the internal violation of covetousness? Looking at a woman with lust is just as harmful as committing adultery. Before any action occurs, it begins in our hearts. Matt 15:19, " For out of the heart come evil thoughts murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander."  After addressing adultery, Jesus turned to the equally chaotic topic of divorce, which is very common in our times as well.

II. Christ's Teaching On Divorce

Matthew 5:31-32, "It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.' But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery." More on Jesus' view of divorce is found in Matthew 19^th chapter.

Divorce is as messy and painful today as it was during Moses and Jesus' time." God never commanded it, nor endorsed it. In fact, He hates divorce. Malachi 2:16. The main rule in Deut 24:1-4 is that a man can divorce his wife if he finds anything indecent in her, and send her away from his house with a certificate of divorce. Mosaic law favored men and victimized women.  

Men at that time used this provision for their lustful passions and punished women through divorce, causing irreparable damage to them and their accompanying children. To prevent these unjustified and uncontrollable behaviors of man and to protect their wives and children, Jesus qualified and restricted it by saying, "divorce is allowed only for sexual immorality." This is by no means Jesus' endorsement but only an allowance to curtail divorce.

Unfortunately, the trend continues today, happening everywhere and at all times for many trivial reasons. Whenever and however a divorce occurs, it hurts everyone involved, especially children. Particularly for Christians who take marital vows saying 'till death do us part' and believe in the one flesh principle in marriage, divorce literally tears apart the couples involved.

Like a torn fabric that can be stitched back together, but the patch remains. People who have gone through a heart-wrenching divorce can be healed by God and go on to live a happy life with someone else, but the scar will remain for a lifetime. So, think twice, pray earnestly, and get wise counsel before considering a divorce, which is only allowed for sexual immorality.

III. Overcoming the Power of Sin.

The sins of our hearts are the main reason for adultery and divorce to happen. We may enact any number of laws to curtail them; they will continue to happen unless we break ourselves free from the power of Sin. How can we overcome the power of Sin? Jesus suggested a strategy to deal with our Sin. "I am paraphrasing, 'If your right eye or hand causes you to sin, get rid of them. It would be better without them in heaven than having our whole body burn in hell.

If this were taken literally, most of us would be living with one eye and one hand. How, then, can we understand this seemingly drastic approach? John Macarthur notes, "Jesus was not advocating self-mutilation. He was using this graphic hyperbole to underscore the seriousness of lust and other evil desires. Sin must be dealt with drastically because of its deadly effects."[3]

In our struggle against the deadly sins of our hearts and desire to overcome them, we must first repent of them and seek God's forgiveness. Then, with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can wage war against Sin in our lives. But through it all, we realize that Jesus overcame Sin and death, and in Christ we are more than conquerors; in time, we too can be totally freed from Sin.

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[1] https://www.christianitytoday.com/pastors/preaching/sermon-illustrations/womans-pet-boa-constrictor-causes-her-death/ 8-5-2026

[2] https://www.gotquestions.org/sin-nature.html

[3] The Macarthur Study Bible, Matthew 5:29