Sermon on the mount

Sermon on the mount

Last week the message came from Mathew 5, This was the first topic from a whole series of topics which Jesus taught high up on the mountainside.
Today our focus will be on the last topics Jesus taught during the time on the mountain.
As a review from last week we heard Jesus talking about the eight blessings.
These blessings are called the beatitudes
Each of these eight blessings have two significant aspects.
Promises and Blessings
Both the promises and the blessings are available to all of us as believers, remembering that they come to us automatically when we meet the conditions.
The beatitudes teach us about having the right heart attitude, when our heart is right, the blessings are ours to enjoy.
We cannot change our hearts,
We cannot change our hearts Jesus changes our heart attitudes when we acknowledge its sinful condition.
Ezekiel 36 : 26

Jesus addressed many topics during his session with those who followed him, teaching many principles, principles which are for our good.

Some believe they put restrictions on us, but in reality they liberate us.
When we live in Truth, we live liberated and free lives.

Let’s go to Mathew 7 and read Jesus concluding teachings.
I encourage everyone to study the content from Mathew 5 to Mathew 7.
Jesus say’s
Mathew 7 : 21 – 23
I want to briefly teach about this section.
Jesus say’s only those who do the will of my Father in heaven.
How many of us get stuck in life trying to fulfill our earthly Fathers will for our lives.
Wanting and needing his acceptance and affirmation?
I had this dilemma in my life.
Michael my son was a great sportsman and rugby player, his coach once told me that if he continued, he would play rugby for South Africa.
So I encouraged Michael with all my heart to play his heart out.
This is exactly what he did.
We discovered a year after he left school that the reason he continued to play Rugby was to please his dad.
When he told me he was stopping rugby, I became angry with him.
The Holy Spirit ministered to me from this passage.
Since then, Michael has gone on to do His Heavenly Fathers will, he enjoys great success as a business man, preacher and leader.
I am blessed to have a son who follows hard after God.
So let me ask, who are you trying to please, consciously or unconsciously,
Alive or dead, many chase after our earthy father’s will for our lives.
When Jesus said I never knew you, he means we never had an intimate relationship with him.
Jesus concluding teaching is about The Wise and Foolish Builders
Mathew 7 : 21 - 29
Many people have the understanding that to have wisdom means to gather as much knowledge as possible, this will make you wise.

This is actually a lie, Jesus teaching Truth, teaches us something very different about wisdom.
Jesus says,
Mathew 7 ; 24
Lets understand what Jesus means.
Jesus say’s everyone who hears
Greek word : akouō
This word means to hear with understanding.
Often we hear things without understanding what we have heard.
Jesus says, we should hear and understand.
If we want to be considered wise, we will do three things.
1.We will hear what is being said
2.We will seek understanding of what has been said.
3.We will apply what has been said.
To be honest, most of us are really poor hearers, because many times we don’t seek understanding of what we hear, or what Jesus said.
We legitimize our arguments against Truth
Sometimes what is being said is in disagreement, or conflict with our understanding, so we reject what I am hearing.
Sometimes what is being said is different to my cultural understanding or upbringing. so we reject what I am hearing
Sometimes what I am hearing requires change and effort, which can be difficult and painful. so we reject what I am hearing
Sometimes it is opposite to my earthly fathers beliefs and standards, which has potential to challenge them and cause division. so we reject what I am hearing
Listen to Jesus little brother James.
While Jesus was alive, James and all the family of Jesus were in serious opposition to his teachings.
Jesus whole family rejected his teaching.
When James wrote this book, he had become the leader of the church in Jerusalem,
he has accepted Jesus teaching and he now understands them and is therefore speaking with authority.

James 1:19
James says be swift to hear
Greek word tachus : Quick, Or speedy
In other words
When we hear truth, if you don’t understand it, find understanding in a hurry, be quick to learn. Ask, God, ask someone, find understanding
We have an enemy, he is called a Thief ,
His name is Satan, The Devil
His whole motive, his desire is to steal truth from us so that we don’t put truth into practice.
Most times Truth comes to us like a seed which needs to be planted and grow, the devil steals the seed before it can get planted.
Jesus further says
The person who puts the understanding of truth into practice is like a wise man who built his house upon a rock.
He says our whole lives will be solid, stable, progressive and able to withstand the storms of life when they come.
Mathew 7 : 25
Notice Jesus doesn’t say storms won’t come, he says when they come
This house will not fall.
Mathew 7 : 26-27
Both the wise and foolish men can bulid the same style house from the same plans.
But the one that has the right foundation will stand.
What have you been building on?
Rock or Sand ?
Today you can make the decision to build right.
Wisdom is therefore the practical application of truth.
Hearing
Understanding
Applying
The truths found in Mathew chapters 5 -7 will bring , freedom, life, stability, and you will be called wise by Almighty God.

I want to finish today’s message from Mathew 5 : 48

Mathew 5:48
The full meaning of this word Perfect is to Be Holy, Be complete, Be mature in all the ways of the Kingdom.
People have taken this scripture out of context, like the Pharisees of Old, trying to be outwardly Perfect.
This is just Religion which God hates, we should hate

It’s Impossible for us to be perfect without the work of the perfecter in our lives.

Hebrews 12:2 

A theological principle for our understanding
We have already been declared perfect through the Finished work of the Cross.
We are also being perfected by Jesus continuously.
Our Flesh and our soul are being transformed and aligned with Truth which brings about maturity in every area of our lives.

The more truth we live, the more perfected our lifestyles become, the more of heaven on earth we experience.
For us to experience this transformation requires a submitted heart.

Philippians 1 : 6