Matters of the Heart” Part 2: Revenge
Step beyond anger is taking revenge.
-Someone spread a rumor about you
-Someone physically hurt you or a family member
-Someone misrepresented you and made you look bad
-Someone made an underhanded comment right to your face to purposely hurt you.
-a boyfriend or girlfriend broke up with you
-an ex-husband or wife is making it tough for you to see your children.
“revenge is sweet”
Matthew 5:38-48
V38 OT passages Ex. 21:24, Lev. 24:20 & Deut. 19:21
Not of revenge but punishment for crime. It limited what the offender had to endure. It was not a command it was more like restitution for the offended if they desired it. Lex talionis “law of retaliation”.
That was the external and it became a means to get even with the offender.
Jesus then brings this to the next level. Where is your heart and why do you feel the need to get even.
V39a Evil people need love too.
Jesus is asking us to look at this person and have compassion on them because they are evil (as we are)
Jesus the example of this Luke 23:34, 1 Peter 2:22-23
Two things Christ is trying to teach us
We must not take revenge but have a loving and forgiving heart. V39b-41
Show the person who has wronged you that you will go to the greatest degree to keep or restore peace.
-we are not doormats, we can defend ourselves but the main goal is to restore peace and not take revenge.
Romans 12:17-21. God takes care of that.
V42 Go to the next step and do good to them.
Sometimes it is easy not to pay people back but how easy is it to do something for them?
Not taking revenge or seeing revenge can be our best teacher
Hungarian immigrant
Richard Petty’s win
V43 “hate your enemy” is not in the law of Moses but it was something that the Pharisees practiced. They hated the enemies of Israel.
V44 In order for our hearts to be in the right place Jesus gives us commands on what to do.
1. Love –
2. Bless – make them happy
3. Do good
4. Pray – that prayer will change how you feel
V45 “that you may be sons” is saying that you may be like God who still blesses evil people. Every good gift comes from above
V46-47 Even the worst of the worst can love someone who shows them love. There is no reward for that.
V48 “be perfect” God’s requirement
In order to live in a way that is pleasing to God and worthy of His Kingdom we would have to be perfect in all these situations. We know we can’t be. That does not mean we should not try but we have to rely on Jesus no come to our rescue.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Sunday, September 9, 2007
"Matters of the Heart" Part 1: Anger
“Matters of the Heart” Part 1: Anger
Matthew 5:17-20
V17 Abolish or fulfill – Jesus life and sacrifice fulfilled what the law required for our salvation. Jesus’ life gave the law meaning
V18 God’s Word stands and His entire plan will come through
V19 If you break the commandments and teach others to break them your heart is in the wrong place. There will be a loss of reward.
V20 “One must surpass humanly contrived religious respectability, if one is to mesh their life with the kingdom of heaven” Dallas Willard in Divine Conspiracy
Matthew 23:2-3 Follow the law and don’t look to the Scribes and Pharisees. There was something commendable about them. The Pharisees aimed at the praise of men not God.
**what are you doing in your life so others will notice?
It’s a matter of the heart not just observing the law.
Become the kind of person from whom the deeds of the law flow
Matt 12:33-35 Our words reveal what is in our heart.
Matt 23:25-26 work on your heart not you outward appearance
“law is not the source of righteousness but the course of righteousness.”
John 6:29 “the work is belief” displays the heart
Dikaiosune = greek word Greek philosophy Socrates, Plato, Aristotle “what makes a person good”
Old Dikaiosune = law New Dikaiosune = the desire of the heart.
You shall not murder the 6th commandment
V 22 Heart issue # 1 Anger What is anger?
Anger is a response or a feeling based on a situation, in and of itself it is not sin. Ephesians says in your anger do not sin. “anger without cause” when there is no just cause
. Possibly after someone has said they were sorry or did not intentionally harm you.
When is anger right or ok? Jesus’ anger ill
What causes anger?
Tough situations, people not doing what we want them to do, wounded ego, self-righteous think we are better. It takes energy to keep anger alive. Reminding ourselves of why we are angry.
***Story of Cain’s anger was because of himself
What should we do with our anger?
1. James 1:19 says be slow to anger. Your testimony
2. Think about the positives
3. Write a letter.
4. Ephesians 4:26 “Don’t let the sun go down”
Result-“in danger of judgment” **keep your anger in check
What does unchecked anger lead to?
Billy Sunday Ill Shot gun
1. Ill feelings - contempt “Raca” = empty headed - Aramaic word may have come from the sound of gather spit. The intent of contempt is to push away, leave someone out or exclude them. lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
Once contempt is established it justifies anger.
-Cain was jealous
Result-“in danger of the council” being sued, guilty of the crime = sin
2. Action - “you fool” Where anger and contempt are full blown there is the act of writing the person off and defaming their character.
Not much power in today’s society but biblically…
Pro. 14:16, 18:2 & 26:11
-Cain was a murderer
Result-“in danger of Gehenna” a burning garbage dump outside of Jerusalem. You are actually sinning, wages of sin is death.
V23-25 If your heart is in the wrong place get it right. Religious exercises are not acceptable to God if your heart is wrong.
V26 There will be a consequence for not getting it right. Cain's consequences.
Matthew 5:17-20
V17 Abolish or fulfill – Jesus life and sacrifice fulfilled what the law required for our salvation. Jesus’ life gave the law meaning
V18 God’s Word stands and His entire plan will come through
V19 If you break the commandments and teach others to break them your heart is in the wrong place. There will be a loss of reward.
V20 “One must surpass humanly contrived religious respectability, if one is to mesh their life with the kingdom of heaven” Dallas Willard in Divine Conspiracy
Matthew 23:2-3 Follow the law and don’t look to the Scribes and Pharisees. There was something commendable about them. The Pharisees aimed at the praise of men not God.
**what are you doing in your life so others will notice?
It’s a matter of the heart not just observing the law.
Become the kind of person from whom the deeds of the law flow
Matt 12:33-35 Our words reveal what is in our heart.
Matt 23:25-26 work on your heart not you outward appearance
“law is not the source of righteousness but the course of righteousness.”
John 6:29 “the work is belief” displays the heart
Dikaiosune = greek word Greek philosophy Socrates, Plato, Aristotle “what makes a person good”
Old Dikaiosune = law New Dikaiosune = the desire of the heart.
You shall not murder the 6th commandment
V 22 Heart issue # 1 Anger What is anger?
Anger is a response or a feeling based on a situation, in and of itself it is not sin. Ephesians says in your anger do not sin. “anger without cause” when there is no just cause
. Possibly after someone has said they were sorry or did not intentionally harm you.
When is anger right or ok? Jesus’ anger ill
What causes anger?
Tough situations, people not doing what we want them to do, wounded ego, self-righteous think we are better. It takes energy to keep anger alive. Reminding ourselves of why we are angry.
***Story of Cain’s anger was because of himself
What should we do with our anger?
1. James 1:19 says be slow to anger. Your testimony
2. Think about the positives
3. Write a letter.
4. Ephesians 4:26 “Don’t let the sun go down”
Result-“in danger of judgment” **keep your anger in check
What does unchecked anger lead to?
Billy Sunday Ill Shot gun
1. Ill feelings - contempt “Raca” = empty headed - Aramaic word may have come from the sound of gather spit. The intent of contempt is to push away, leave someone out or exclude them. lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
Once contempt is established it justifies anger.
-Cain was jealous
Result-“in danger of the council” being sued, guilty of the crime = sin
2. Action - “you fool” Where anger and contempt are full blown there is the act of writing the person off and defaming their character.
Not much power in today’s society but biblically…
Pro. 14:16, 18:2 & 26:11
-Cain was a murderer
Result-“in danger of Gehenna” a burning garbage dump outside of Jerusalem. You are actually sinning, wages of sin is death.
V23-25 If your heart is in the wrong place get it right. Religious exercises are not acceptable to God if your heart is wrong.
V26 There will be a consequence for not getting it right. Cain's consequences.
Monday, September 3, 2007
"The Women at the Well"
Intro: In this passage Jesus describes himself as the “Living Water” The water that quenches a persons deepest thirst and spiritual need. Not by some formula or religious activity but by giving us Himself if we are willing to take Him
On of the main reasons people come into church is to get their spiritual needs answered and met. So there is a call on Pastors to facilitate that. .
In John 4 A needy women found Jesus in an unlikely place
verses 3-9
The political background “Jews hate Samaritans” Goes back to the exile of the Jews, Sargon King of Assyria repopulated the area of Samaria where the northern kingdom of Jews were with foreigners and complicated the ancestry, so they were half breeds. They had such a bad relationship they would not even have a Samaritan serve them.
***Are there people in your life that you feel such hatred or toward that you don’t even want anything from them
Verses 10-15
Jesus tells her who He is.
She did not get the point and she was just looking for her physical needs met. **is that why you are interested in God
verses 16-18 Jesus points out her sin Omnisceince
***What is the sin that Jesus is pointing out in your life?
Unbeliever- what is keeping you from trusting?
Believer- Fine tooth comb Gum and Lice
Verses 19-20 Theological question where should I bring my sacrifice.
Jews would bring a sacrifice to the temple in Jerusalem
Samaritans would bring it to Mt Gerizim- which was the place Abraham offered up Issac and met Melchizadek . They only accepted the first 5 books of the Bible the Pentatuach
** what do I do? Unbeliever Romans 10:9
Believer 1 John 1:9
Verse 21-24 Jesus explains that there is no need for a specific place. God desires worship in Spirit and In truth
Spirit-God gives us His spirit when we believe
Truth- The worship of God through Christ
Verses 25-30 The woman response
** What is your response to God and His word can people see that living water flowing out of your life, or it is a stagnant drip.
On of the main reasons people come into church is to get their spiritual needs answered and met. So there is a call on Pastors to facilitate that. .
In John 4 A needy women found Jesus in an unlikely place
verses 3-9
The political background “Jews hate Samaritans” Goes back to the exile of the Jews, Sargon King of Assyria repopulated the area of Samaria where the northern kingdom of Jews were with foreigners and complicated the ancestry, so they were half breeds. They had such a bad relationship they would not even have a Samaritan serve them.
***Are there people in your life that you feel such hatred or toward that you don’t even want anything from them
Verses 10-15
Jesus tells her who He is.
She did not get the point and she was just looking for her physical needs met. **is that why you are interested in God
verses 16-18 Jesus points out her sin Omnisceince
***What is the sin that Jesus is pointing out in your life?
Unbeliever- what is keeping you from trusting?
Believer- Fine tooth comb Gum and Lice
Verses 19-20 Theological question where should I bring my sacrifice.
Jews would bring a sacrifice to the temple in Jerusalem
Samaritans would bring it to Mt Gerizim- which was the place Abraham offered up Issac and met Melchizadek . They only accepted the first 5 books of the Bible the Pentatuach
** what do I do? Unbeliever Romans 10:9
Believer 1 John 1:9
Verse 21-24 Jesus explains that there is no need for a specific place. God desires worship in Spirit and In truth
Spirit-God gives us His spirit when we believe
Truth- The worship of God through Christ
Verses 25-30 The woman response
** What is your response to God and His word can people see that living water flowing out of your life, or it is a stagnant drip.
Monday, August 20, 2007
"Salt & Light"
Matthew 5:13-16 Our christian testimony
Salt: Seasons, cures, preserves.
Sweat and tears are salty, We should work hard and morn for people who do not know God.
Light: We are a reflective light of Jesus Christ
Romans 13:12, Ephesians 5:8 & 14
Our good works should be a light that shines before others so that they would praise God.
God Bless, Mike
Salt: Seasons, cures, preserves.
Sweat and tears are salty, We should work hard and morn for people who do not know God.
Light: We are a reflective light of Jesus Christ
Romans 13:12, Ephesians 5:8 & 14
Our good works should be a light that shines before others so that they would praise God.
God Bless, Mike
Monday, August 13, 2007
Is there only one way to Heaven?
Why do people have this infatuation with Heaven?
Ecclesiastes 3:11
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
Is there only one way and what is it.
Matthew 7:13-14
Narrow - The nature of Truth is that it must be narrow. If there is only one truth it is narrow. Truth illustrations?? Another suggestion is that it is narrow because we can’t take anything or anyone with us.
Unfortunately “Narrow minded” is a negative characteristic of a person
What is the narrow way? Gospel Matt 1:21, Romans 5:8, Ephesians 2:8-9, John 3:16
Acts 4:12, John 14:6
Difficult- This is not saying that God makes it difficult but it is difficult for people to accept truth it is difficult for people to turn their backs on sin selfishness and give their lives to God
Few- the harsh reality that the majority reject God and His plan. Maybe only few enter because only few seek. Jesus said if you seek you will find.
Wide Gate
Broad- Is the way to destruction (not annihilation but ruin or loss) Broad minded open accepting. How broad minded are you when you spouse cheats on you or someone robs your home?
Many enter it because there are many ways.
God Bless!!
Ecclesiastes 3:11
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
Is there only one way and what is it.
Matthew 7:13-14
Narrow - The nature of Truth is that it must be narrow. If there is only one truth it is narrow. Truth illustrations?? Another suggestion is that it is narrow because we can’t take anything or anyone with us.
Unfortunately “Narrow minded” is a negative characteristic of a person
What is the narrow way? Gospel Matt 1:21, Romans 5:8, Ephesians 2:8-9, John 3:16
Acts 4:12, John 14:6
Difficult- This is not saying that God makes it difficult but it is difficult for people to accept truth it is difficult for people to turn their backs on sin selfishness and give their lives to God
Few- the harsh reality that the majority reject God and His plan. Maybe only few enter because only few seek. Jesus said if you seek you will find.
Wide Gate
Broad- Is the way to destruction (not annihilation but ruin or loss) Broad minded open accepting. How broad minded are you when you spouse cheats on you or someone robs your home?
Many enter it because there are many ways.
God Bless!!
Monday, August 6, 2007
Why does God allow suffering?
Listen to the podcast if you were not there to hear Madalaine's testimony.
Here are some passages I used in the message.
Suffering alerts us that there is a problem
Romans 5:12 tells us sin is in the world
Romans 8:18-22 talks about suffering focuses us on the afterlife and we realize that the whole world is subject to sin.
Suffering directs our perspective
Prverbs 3:5-6, Romans 8:18
Suffering shapes our spiritual life and drives us toward maturity.
Romans 5:3-4 & James 1:2-4
Suffering also unites believers together
1 Corinthians 12
Suffering gives us opportunities to meet the needs of others
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 & Galatians 6:2
We are the hand and voice to comfort others in their time of suffering.
God wants to comfort you in your suffering.
If you need to talk with anyone please contact me at mike@the5church.com
God bless!
Here are some passages I used in the message.
Suffering alerts us that there is a problem
Romans 5:12 tells us sin is in the world
Romans 8:18-22 talks about suffering focuses us on the afterlife and we realize that the whole world is subject to sin.
Suffering directs our perspective
Prverbs 3:5-6, Romans 8:18
Suffering shapes our spiritual life and drives us toward maturity.
Romans 5:3-4 & James 1:2-4
Suffering also unites believers together
1 Corinthians 12
Suffering gives us opportunities to meet the needs of others
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 & Galatians 6:2
We are the hand and voice to comfort others in their time of suffering.
God wants to comfort you in your suffering.
If you need to talk with anyone please contact me at mike@the5church.com
God bless!
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Were we created or are we here by chance?
Here are some "Quick facts" that can help us to know that we are not here by chance.
QUICK FACTS
The odds of the simplest single celled life form assembling according to Harold Morowitz are 1 in 1099,999,999,916
The odds of all the functioning proteins assembling in one place according to Fred Hoyle 1 in1040,000
The odds of any individual being born with a “favorable” mutation 1 in 10 billion to 1 in 1trillion
The 2nd second law of thermodynamics says that all things start out with more order than they end with (decay) the theory of macroevolution says the opposite. Law beats theory any day of the week!
The divine watchmaker argument shows that common sense alone can prove that order doesn’t come from chaos in our universe. Interesting patterns like crystals and fractals maybe, but not information.
The fossil record shows us that species exist, then die, and are replaced by another species right after. As opposed to neo-Darwinian evolution which says that a given species tends to slowly change into another.
The fossil record also shows a reversal of the speciation rate; since modern man came on the scene no new species have appeared and instead several go extinct each year. (note: the term species has many definitions)
“The production of a new animal species in nature has yet to be documented” Paul & Anne Ehrlich(biologists)
With all of our modern technology, we haven’t yet created any form of life under ideal (laboratory) conditions.
DNA is one of the most complicated things in the universe, following a complex set of rules and grammar, while maintaining incredible amounts of information. Information is created, it doesn’t luckily appear.
They say that DNA packets the size of 2 aspirin could hold the genetic information of all the people on Earth. Yet all the computers in the world couldn’t yet match this information density (efficient packaging). Generally speaking, the more complex anything in our universe is the faster it breaks down (unless it has help).
The # of electrons in our universe matches the # of protons to a precision of 1 part in1037. If this were not so gravity wouldn’t hold planets in orbit because electromagnetism would be a more powerful force.
1037 is equivalent to this; Cover the entire North American continent with dimes, to a height equal to the moons orbit about 239,000 miles up. Now cover 1 billion North American continents with dimes and paint one dime red. Blindfold a friend and have him choose a dime at random. The odds he will pick the red dime are 1 in 1037! To pay our national debt off with dimes (some 6 trillion dollars) would cover 1 square mile less than two feet deep in coins. That’s 60 trillion dimes!
We have only one universe to use as a sample, because we can never even in principle know of another outside of our own. The universe we live in is finite, believed to contain 50 billion-trillion stars, and it is alone. Many scientists argue for multiple universes to improve the odds for evolution, but they do so from faith, not facts. In our one known universe the mathematics say life shouldn’t exist.
The laws of physics are said to control the processes that allow evolution to occur. Someone had to write those laws. No judge would ever claim that he could sentence someone to jail for violating a law that wrote itself. Our moral values (instincts) that allow us to write moral laws are anti-Darwinian.
These facts can all be found in the books cited in the above paper by Hugh Ross and Fred Heeren. Almost none of the ideas are mine; they are adaptations and combinations of all the things that I have read. Certain values have been updated due to ongoing research since the writing of the cited books.
Check out these passages about creation
Genesis 1, psalm 19, Romans 1
Listen to the message giving by Chris Bird on the audio link
QUICK FACTS
The odds of the simplest single celled life form assembling according to Harold Morowitz are 1 in 1099,999,999,916
The odds of all the functioning proteins assembling in one place according to Fred Hoyle 1 in1040,000
The odds of any individual being born with a “favorable” mutation 1 in 10 billion to 1 in 1trillion
The 2nd second law of thermodynamics says that all things start out with more order than they end with (decay) the theory of macroevolution says the opposite. Law beats theory any day of the week!
The divine watchmaker argument shows that common sense alone can prove that order doesn’t come from chaos in our universe. Interesting patterns like crystals and fractals maybe, but not information.
The fossil record shows us that species exist, then die, and are replaced by another species right after. As opposed to neo-Darwinian evolution which says that a given species tends to slowly change into another.
The fossil record also shows a reversal of the speciation rate; since modern man came on the scene no new species have appeared and instead several go extinct each year. (note: the term species has many definitions)
“The production of a new animal species in nature has yet to be documented” Paul & Anne Ehrlich(biologists)
With all of our modern technology, we haven’t yet created any form of life under ideal (laboratory) conditions.
DNA is one of the most complicated things in the universe, following a complex set of rules and grammar, while maintaining incredible amounts of information. Information is created, it doesn’t luckily appear.
They say that DNA packets the size of 2 aspirin could hold the genetic information of all the people on Earth. Yet all the computers in the world couldn’t yet match this information density (efficient packaging). Generally speaking, the more complex anything in our universe is the faster it breaks down (unless it has help).
The # of electrons in our universe matches the # of protons to a precision of 1 part in1037. If this were not so gravity wouldn’t hold planets in orbit because electromagnetism would be a more powerful force.
1037 is equivalent to this; Cover the entire North American continent with dimes, to a height equal to the moons orbit about 239,000 miles up. Now cover 1 billion North American continents with dimes and paint one dime red. Blindfold a friend and have him choose a dime at random. The odds he will pick the red dime are 1 in 1037! To pay our national debt off with dimes (some 6 trillion dollars) would cover 1 square mile less than two feet deep in coins. That’s 60 trillion dimes!
We have only one universe to use as a sample, because we can never even in principle know of another outside of our own. The universe we live in is finite, believed to contain 50 billion-trillion stars, and it is alone. Many scientists argue for multiple universes to improve the odds for evolution, but they do so from faith, not facts. In our one known universe the mathematics say life shouldn’t exist.
The laws of physics are said to control the processes that allow evolution to occur. Someone had to write those laws. No judge would ever claim that he could sentence someone to jail for violating a law that wrote itself. Our moral values (instincts) that allow us to write moral laws are anti-Darwinian.
These facts can all be found in the books cited in the above paper by Hugh Ross and Fred Heeren. Almost none of the ideas are mine; they are adaptations and combinations of all the things that I have read. Certain values have been updated due to ongoing research since the writing of the cited books.
Check out these passages about creation
Genesis 1, psalm 19, Romans 1
Listen to the message giving by Chris Bird on the audio link
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