The Secret Life of Successful Christians: Part 3, Practicing Prayer

The Secret Life 

of Successful Christians

Introduction: 

"Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven." -Matthew 6:1

In chapter 6 of Matthew, Jesus is giving us practical instruction on Christian living. Specifically, He causes us to focus on our motives. Whom, exactly, are we trying to please? It is entirely possible, it seems, to spend a lifetime doing "righteous" things and yet, not be right with God. Jesus tells us to "beware" of the temptation to live for the applause of people. He further tells us, that if that is our motivation, we forfeit any heavenly reward.

PART 3: Practicing Prayer

"In this manner, therefore, pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’" - Matthew 6:9-13 NKJV

Jesus is giving us a “manner” of prayer, so it is perfectly in order to examine the components of this example.

1. “Pray”. Jesus tells to pray. Pray is not a chant or a recitation. It is a conversation between the petitioner and God.

2. “Our”. The pattern for prayer is not a selfish one. 

Our Lord expects that we pray for one another. [see James 5:16, Galatians 6:2]
Our Lord expects us to pray in humility. [Luke 18:10-14]

3. “Father”. It is on the basis of his Fatherhood (and our position as his child) that we petition him at all. We do not come before him on any other basis. The Father/child relationship supersedes other relationships such as Master/servant or Creator/creation. 

Benefits of being a child of God. 

Inheritance Romans 8:15-17Blessing John 8:18Association John 8:19, 29Instruction John 8:28 

Responsibility of being a child of God. 

Respect Exodus 20:12Show Affection Deuteronomy 6:5Desire to Please John 8:29Love for fellow children John 17:20, 21

4. “in heaven.” Here we recognize the Divine Sovereignty of God. Not only is he our Father, he is also God. So, he is both willing (by virtue of Fatherhood) and able (by virtue of Godhood) to fulfill our petitions. Failure to understand our relationship with God weakens our faith and causes us to hesitate in prayer. When we understand this relationship, prayer becomes a reasonable activity.

5. “Hallowed be your name.” The attitude expressed here is, “May you holiness be maintained.” Our approach to our Father is to be one of Humility and gratitude, not arrogance. To approach his throne in any other manner is a blatant violation of his holiness and is an affront to his goodness and mercy. 

It is presumptuous on our part, if we approach the throne of a holy God with our petition, if we are living in a state of willful sin. The very first request that we are to make, is for the holiness of his name to be maintained.

6. “Your kingdom come.” When we sincerely yearn for his kingdom, our will aligns with his will. When our will is aligned with God’s will, the possibilities of prayer become extraordinary. 

Jesus tells us to “seek first the kingdom of God” [Matthew 6:33] and “seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you” [Luke 12:31]. If we have no desire to see the advancement of his kingdom, we’re freeloading.

What is the Kingdom of God?While ultimately the Kingdom of God will be manifested in the millennial reign of Christ (and beyond), it began with Christ on earth. The phrase is never used in the Old Testament, but it is found 69 times in the New Testament. 

Nature of the Kingdom

Power. "But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you." - Matthew 12:28 ESV
"For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power." - 1 Corinthians 4:20 ESV

"Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, "The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you."" - Luke 17:20-21 ESV

"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." - Romans 14:17 ESV

"Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." ... Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." - John 3:3, 5 ESV 

It is of the heart."For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power." - 1 Corinthians 4:20 ESV

"Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, "The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you."" - Luke 17:20-21 ESV

"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." - Romans 14:17 ESV

"Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." ... Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." - John 3:3, 5 ESV
It is of the heart.

It is selective. Sin not only excludes one from heaven, but also from being used by God. [See 1 Corinthians 6:9-12].

7. “Your will be done.” How do you determine what is the will of God?

General Will.Much of God’s will is universal and absolute. For instance:

Salvation. "who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father…" - Galatians 1:4 ESV. "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." - 2 Peter 3:9 ESV 

Living a Holy Life (Sanctification). "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." - Romans 12:1-2 ESV "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;" - 1 Thessalonians 4:3 ESV 

Thanksgiving. "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." - 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV

Specific will. Most of God’s will for our lives can be found in scripture. Although God’s specific will may vary from individual to individual, it will never violate his universal will. For instance, God will not call you to a sinful lifestyle. Two areas in which we see God reveals his specific will is in: 

Calling. "Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus…" - 1 Corinthians 1:1a ESV 

Suffering. "Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good." - 1 Peter 4:19 ESV

8. “In earth as it is in heaven.” In order to understand this phrase, we need to explore how God’s will is done in heaven.

Heaven is God’s Possession. [Genesis 14:19].He is Absolute [Deuteronomy 4:19]With his omnipotence, he overcomes all enemies. "… "O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you." - 2 Chronicles 20:6 ESVIn heaven his will is accomplished without exception. In earth, the key to the fulfillment of his will is the surrender of our will.By praying in the Spirit. [Romans 8:26-28].By patient obedience. [Hebrews 10:36].

9. “Give us.” 

There is nothing wrong with asking for our needs to be met. As children of God, we are not freeloading on God.  We approach God on the basis of a child approaching a loving parent. In prayer we acknowledge both our dependence on him, and his (self-imposed) responsibility to provide for our needs. 

This is how he tells us to approach him. A friend of mine who spent many years as a missionary to Africa would punish his children if they saw a snake and did not cry out. He expected his children to call out to him if they were in danger. Similarly, God expects that when we are threatened by the enemy, we will cry out to him for help rather than ignoring the threat. 

He has made the initial overture by promising to meet needs if we ask.

    Rest. [Matthew 11:28]  

    Wisdom. [James 1:5]

    Provision. [Matthew 6:25] 

    All needs. [Philippians 4:9] 

The nature of God is to give. In the KJV the words give, gave and giveth are used 1364 times. God began giving in the first chapter when he gave light. In the last chapter of the Bible we see him giving rewards to men. God’s ultimate gift is found in Jesus Christ. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16 ESV
The nature of God’s gifts are good. [James 1:17]

10. “this day our daily bread.” Our request for provision is to be made on a daily basis.
To maintain a daily dialogue. We don’t know what to ask for beyond that anyway. [Matthew 6:34]

11.“and forgive us our debts.” We stand in the audience of a Holy God. As we recognize this truth, we will ask him to forgive us of sins that we commit even after we have addressed him as “our Father”. [Psalm 51:10-12] It is important for the believer to maintain a consciousness of good and evil, and a spiritual posture of repentance. [Ezekiel 18:26-28].

12. “as we forgive our debtors.” Forgiveness at salvation is dependent on faith and repentance. [Romans 10:13]. After we are saved, we are to request that God forgive us just as we are forgiving those who have wronged us. Our attitude and practice of forgiveness directly affects God’s forgiveness toward us. [Matthew 18:23-35]

13. “And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.” 
God does not try to get us to sin. [James 1:13,14]
God leads us out of temptation by delivering us from evil (or the “evil one”). In this phrase, we are asking our Father to erect boundaries around us and administer discipline to our lives. He accomplishes this by:

Spiritual (angelic) protection.Administering discipline (sometimes in the form of punishment or pain) to correct disobedience.

14. “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” The closing phrase recognizes:

The kingdom, and all that it entails, belongs to God not us.
The power that answers prayer belongs to God. He does not need our help.
The glory of answered prayer also belongs to God and not to us. 

To view the next lesson, click HERE.

The Secret Life of Successful Christians: Part 2 - Prayer

The Secret Life 

Of Successful Christians

Introduction: 

"Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven." -Matthew 6:1

In chapter 6 of Matthew, Jesus is giving us practical instruction on Christian living. Specifically, He causes us to focus on our motives. Whom, exactly, are we trying to please? It is entirely possible, it seems, to spend a lifetime doing "righteous" things and yet, not be right with God. Jesus tells us to "beware" of the temptation to live for the applause of people. He further tells us, that if that is our motivation, we forfeit any heavenly reward.

Part 2: Praying in Secret

"And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." - Matthew 6:5-8 ESV

Prayer is Important

Prayer is our opportunity to individually converse with our heavenly Father. Prayer is our audience with God.  In prayer we honor him. In prayer we worship, ask forgiveness, and make petition. In prayer we seek his guidance for our lives.

Avoiding Hypocrisy

The word Hypocrite comes from the Greek word hypokritēs which literally means "actor". In Jesus' day it did not necessarily have the same negative connotation that we associate with the word "hypocrite" today. Jesus is telling us not behave as an actor on a stage playing to the crowd. We are not to seek the applause, fanfare or even approval of the people around us. We are to pray secretly. The reward we seek must not be the praise of people, but the approval of God.

Prayer is the sincere conversation between the heart of the believer and the Heavenly Father. We do not earn an audience with God in prayer. Jesus earned that audience for us. Prayer is not a ritual. Chants or grandiose oratories do not impress Him. What he seeks is purity of heart.

"I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;" [1 Timothy 2:8 ESV] 

Things to ponder...

• Do I consider prayer to be a vital part of my daily life?

• How often do I pray?

• What does the Bible mean with the phrase “pray without ceasing," [1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV]?

• Name some important components of prayer:

• How and when should I approach God in prayer?  

Significant verses regarding prayer...

"For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."" [1 Peter 3:12 ESV]

"do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." [Philippians 4:6 ESV] 

"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving." [Colossians 4:2 ESV] 

"For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer." [1 Timothy 4:4-5 ESV] 

"And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." [James 5:15-16 ESV]

To view the next lesson, click HERE.

The Secret Life of Successful Christians: Part 1- Giving

The Secret Life

Of Successful Christians

Introduction:

"Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven." -Matthew 6:1

In chapter 6 of Matthew, Jesus is giving us practical instruction on Christian living. Specifically, He causes us to focus on our motives. Whom, exactly, are we trying to please? It is entirely possible, it seems, to spend a lifetime doing "righteous" things and yet, not be right with God. Jesus tells us to "beware" of the temptation to live for the applause of people. He further tells us, that if that is our motivation, we forfeit any heavenly reward.

Part 1: Giving in Secret

 "Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." - Matthew 6:2-4 ESV

Giving is Important

Giving of our time and substance to the kingdom of God is essential for the spiritual health of the Christian. Jesus also said,

"If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?" - Luke 16:11 ESV

In Matthew 25 Jesus tells about the coming judgment of the nations. The litmus test between the "sheep" and the "goats" is determined by the way in which the "least of these" were treated in regard to their physical needs.

Avoiding Hypocrisy

The word Hypocrite comes from the Greek word hypokritēs which literally means "actor". In Jesus' day it did not necessarily have the same negative connotation that we associate with the word "hypocrite" today. Jesus is telling us not behave as an actor on a stage playing to the crowd. We are not to seek the applause, fanfare or even approval of the people around us. We are to give secretly and silently. The reward we seek must not be the praise of people, but the approval of God.

In Luke 10, Jesus tells the parable of the "Good Samaritan". Neither the priest nor the Levite stopped to help the hurt man. Why? Perhaps it was because no one was there to witness the act of compassion. This gives us an example of "secret giving".

Things to ponder...

1. Do I only give if my giving is "tax deductible"?

2. Should I avoid public giving because someone might see me?

3. Do I ever put something small in the offering because others might be watching and disapprove if they don't see me give?

4. Would I feel jealous if someone else was publicly praised for my contribution, gift or idea?

5. How important is it to show an example of giving to those over which I have influence (ie. my children)?

6. How does the following verse apply to this subject?

"So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works." James 2:17-18 ESV

To view the next lesson, click HERE.

Greater righteousness: Better than getting even

Greater righteousness...

 Lesson 5: The Law of Retribution.

In the light of verse 19, Jesus continues to explain to his disciples that his teaching does not do away with the law, rather his teaching supersedes the law. In effect Jesus is raising the standard of what it means to be a “righteous” individual. Then He illustrates this point with specific examples related to the Law. In fact, he places anger, lust, divorce, oaths, and retaliation on the same moral plane as murder, adultery, and perjury. Over the next few weeks we will go over these particulars that Jesus has given us.

Note: While Jesus raises the standard of righteous conduct in this passage, he does not reveal the mechanism by which we arrive at this level of righteousness. On its face, Jesus is placing the Kingdom of Heaven out of reach for everyone. Later passages in the New Testament reveal that the Christian’s righteousness is given to him or her by Jesus Christ and acted out in the Christian as he or she walks in the Holy Spirit. This does not mean that Christians are immune to sin, because believers can and do still sin; however, the spirit of the believer longs to not sin, that is, be righteous. A repentant heart can always find restoration to righteousness in Jesus Christ.

Tempering our Reactions.

"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'  But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. [Mat 5:38-42 ESV]

You may wonder how taking an "eye for an eye" could be seen as a form of righteousness. In Leviticus 24:17-22 God gives instructions on the law of retribution. This law was the civil and criminal code for the nation of Israel. It required that punishment for a crime must fit the crime. The punishment was to be neither excessive or lenient. For that reason, an eye for an eye was an act of righteousness.

Establishing the first premise: The call to personal righteousness.

Jesus is calling us to live in a state of mind in which we do not seek personal revenge for wrongs done to us. Instead, Jesus calls Christians to practice a life of personal forgiveness.

We can only forgive offences made against ourselves. 

It is important to realize that some offences toward an individual are also offences in other spheres of influence. For instance, if someone murders a person I love, multiple offences occur. 

• One is against me, 
• another is against civil government, 
• and yet another is against God. 

While I can forgive the offence against me, I cannot forgive those against government or God. It is not consistent with the rest of scripture to take this passage as a prohibition against justice rendered in a recognized civil government.

The most drastic action of any civil government, capital punishment, was sanctioned by God in Genesis 9:6:

 "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image. [Gen 9:6 ESV]

He reaffirms this in Romans 13:

"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.  Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.  For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. "[Rom 13:1-4 ESV] 

However, we can advocate before God for those who have done evil against us. 

"But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. [Luk 6:27-28 ESV]

Behavior toward those who claim offence from us.

Jesus tells us that if someone sue to take away our tunic, give them the cloak also. In other word, we are to live in such a way that our honesty will be above question. If we do cause an offence, it is a righteous thing to go out of our way to make restitution.

Behavior toward those who would take advantage of us.

Jesus uses a hated practice of the Roman government to illustrate this point. A Roman soldier could compel a civilian to carry his pack for him for a mile. Jesus says to take it two miles. It is important to remember that when I got saved, I surrendered my rights for the mission of his kingdom. 

As believers, you and I have a greater call than the pursuit of personal justice. We are to pursue personal righteousness. In so doing we bear a light for His Kingdom.

To go to the next lesson, click HERE.

Greater Righteousness: Love your enemy, too.

Greater righteousness...

 Lesson 6: Love your enemy, too.

In the light of verse 19, Jesus continues to explain to his disciples that his teaching does not do away with the law, rather his teaching supersedes the law. In effect Jesus is raising the standard of what it means to be a “righteous” individual. Then He illustrates this point with specific examples related to the Law. In fact, he places anger, lust, divorce, oaths, and retaliation on the same moral plane as murder, adultery, and perjury. Over the next few weeks we will go over these particulars that Jesus has given us.

Note: While Jesus raises the standard of righteous conduct in this passage, he does not reveal the mechanism by which we arrive at this level of righteousness. On its face, Jesus is placing the Kingdom of Heaven out of reach for everyone. Later passages in the New Testament reveal that the Christian’s righteousness is given to him or her by Jesus Christ and acted out in the Christian as he or she walks in the Holy Spirit. This does not mean that Christians are immune to sin, because believers can and do still sin; however, the spirit of the believer longs to not sin, that is, be righteous. A repentant heart can always find restoration to righteousness in Jesus Christ.

The Superiority of Love.

The practical application of living in love.

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." [Mat 5:43-48 NKJV ]

Establishing the first premise: Hatred is bad.

By definition, hate is an “intense hostility and aversion usually deriving from fear, anger, or sense of injury.” (Merriam-Webster).

Hate is a destructive force. Let’s go all of the way back to Genesis once again, 4:3-12.

• With whom was Cain really angry?
• On whom did he display his anger/hatred?
• What was the result of his unbridled hatred?
• How do you suppose Cain might have justified his outburst?

Defining "love". 
The English language does not differenciate between different types of love as do some other languages. We say that we "love" God, our spouse, our children, friends, things, and activities. We use the same word for all of these. "Love" can even mean a score of zero in tennis! In contrast, the New Testament uses at least five different words that are translated into English as "love". These are:

• agape' - affectionate, benevolent, self-sacrificing, based in a concious decision (functions as a noun).
• agapao' - social or moral love (functions as a verb form of agape)* [used here in this passage].
• phileo - friendship, personal affection, based in an emotional connection.
• thelo - preferencial love.
• philoteknos - maternal love.

The Biblical definition of "love" [agape'].

 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;  it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never ends...[1Co 13:4-8a ESV] 

The Purpose of Intentional Love - Imitate the Father

1. God is love in his very essence. 1 John 4:8,16
2. Love exceeds the Law because it carries it's own sense of obligation.
3. First commandment, Love God. Mark 12:29-30
4. Second commandment, Love Neighbor. Mark 12:31
5. New Commandment, John 13:34

• Does "agape" love require that I have a personal affection for the one to whom I am to show love?
• Can I love someone I do not like?
• Why did Jesus choose to include a call to perfection in this passage? [see James 3:2]
• What is the mark of a true disciple? [see John 13:35]

*http://www.regent.edu/acad/global/publications/innerresources/vol1iss1/winston_agapao.pdf

Greater Righteousness: Oaths and Honesty

Greater righteousness…

 Lesson 4: Living a life of Honesty.

In the light of verse 19, Jesus continues to explain to his disciples that his teaching does not do away with the law, rather his teaching supersedes the law. In effect Jesus is raising the standard of what it means to be a “righteous” individual. Then He illustrates this point with specific examples related to the Law. In fact, he places anger, lust, divorce, oaths, and retaliation on the same moral plane as murder, adultery, and perjury. Over the next few weeks we will go over these particulars that Jesus has given us.

Note: While Jesus raises the standard of righteous conduct in this passage, he does not reveal the mechanism by which we arrive at this level of righteousness. On its face, Jesus is placing the Kingdom of Heaven out of reach for everyone. Later passages in the New Testament reveal that the Christian’s righteousness is given to him or her by Jesus Christ and acted out in the Christian as he or she walks in the Holy Spirit. This does not mean that Christians are immune to sin, because believers can and do still sin; however, the spirit of the believer longs to not sin, that is, be righteous. A repentant heart can always find restoration to righteousness in Jesus Christ.

Speaking truthfully...

Speaking with purpose.

Mat 5:33-37 ESV - "33 "Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.' 34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil."

Establishing the first premise: Lying is bad.
Unfortunately, we can no longer assume that everyone is aware of the seriousness of "bearing false witness". Regardless of the cultural perception of normalcy, the Bible is clear that the people of God are to be characterized by honesty.

Now, the question is why? Why does God place such a high priority on this area of our lives?  As with many things, to find the Biblical beginning of a subject we need to return to Genesis. Read Genesis 3:1-6.

• How would you characterize Satan's initial lie to the human race?  Was it the direct opposite of the words of God or a slight distortion of God's word? 
• What are some common motives for lying?

Lying is of Satanic origin.

[Jhn 8:44 ESV] 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Apparently in Jesus day truth was measured in degrees. The object or person by which one swore was  determined the strength of the oath. In other words, it was acceptable to break your word if you had sworn by a weak object or had not sworn at all.

The Higher standard.
Jesus' call to  greater righteousness stands in stark contrast to this perception. In fact, Jesus instructs them to not take oaths at all. He elevates everyday conversation to the same standard as being under oath. In his words, our "yes" should mean "yes", our "no" should mean "no" and we let it go at that.

• Should a Christian be more truthful when under oath in court than they are in their everyday life?
• In what way should we temper our promises to others? [see James 4:13-17]
• Is a Christian obligated to be truthful with everyone? 
• Is a Christian obligated to tell everyone everything that they want to know? How do you determine this?[see Proverbs 12:23]
• What are some likely results we will see from honest speech? Are people likely to react to us the same way they reacted to Jesus?

To go to the next lesson, click HERE.

Greater Righteousness: Marriage and Divorce

Lesson 3: Recognizing Jesus' higher call for marriage.

In the light of verse 19, Jesus continues to explain to his disciples that his teaching does not do away with the law, rather his teaching supersedes the law. In effect Jesus is raising the standard of what it means to be a “righteous” individual. Then He illustrates this point with specific examples related to the Law. In fact, he places anger, lust, divorce, oaths, and retaliation on the same moral plane as murder, adultery, and perjury. Over the next few weeks we will go over these particulars that Jesus has given us.

Note: While Jesus raises the standard of righteous conduct in this passage, he does not reveal the mechanism by which we arrive at this level of righteousness. On its face, Jesus is placing the Kingdom of Heaven out of reach for everyone. Later passages in the New Testament reveal that the Christian’s righteousness is given to him or her by Jesus Christ and acted out in the Christian as he or she walks in the Holy Spirit. This does not mean that Christians are immune to sin, because believers can and do still sin; however, the spirit of the believer longs to not sin, that is, be righteous. A repentant heart can always find restoration to righteousness in Jesus Christ. [1 John 2, Romans 8]

Important Note: Jesus did not dismiss or abuse people who had been divorced. In fact, in John 4, Jesus goes out of his way to minister to a woman who had been divorced five times and was now living in adultery. According to the culture of his day he was violating numerous protocols. He was a Jew talking to a Gentile, a man talking to a woman, a rabbi talking to a sinner. Yet, he cared about her so deeply that he was willing to reveal his true identity to her. He revealed himself to be the Christ. It is important as we study Jesus' teaching on this subject that we remember Jesus doesn't hate divorced people. What he hates is a practice that damages lives and families, and destroys a union that God had declared to be holy.

The Sanctity of Marriage in an Age of Grace

[Mat 5:31-32 ESV] 31 "It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Establishing the first premise:  God hates divorce.

[Mal 2:13-17 NLT] 13 Here is another thing you do. You cover the LORD's altar with tears, weeping and groaning because he pays no attention to your offerings and doesn't accept them with pleasure. 14 You cry out, "Why doesn't the LORD accept my worship?" I'll tell you why! Because the LORD witnessed the vows you and your wife made when you were young. But you have been unfaithful to her, though she remained your faithful partner, the wife of your marriage vows. 15 Didn't the LORD make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his. And what does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth. 16 "For I hate divorce!" says the LORD, the God of Israel. "To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies. "So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife." 17 You have wearied the LORD with your words. "How have we wearied him?" you ask. You have wearied him by saying that all who do evil are good in the LORD's sight, and he is pleased with them. You have wearied him by asking, "Where is the God of justice?"

The prophecy of Malachi is the last prophecy recorded in the Old Testament. The book ends, leaving the story of redemption very much unfinished. In many ways, Jesus picks up where Malachi left off. This is one such instance. In Malachi, God is lodging several complaints against his people. One of those is the prevalence of divorce among their numbers. Then he tells them why. 

A. Divorce violates the vows of marriage.B. Divorce destroys a union God has created. [Matthew 19:6 , Mark 10:9   ESV]C. Divorce has an irreversible effect on children.D. Divorce brings heart-ache to the one you have vowed to protect.

Divorce in the case of sexual immorality.
Jesus does permit one to initiate divorce if the spouse has been sexually unfaithful, but divorce is not mandated in such a case. Jesus isn't creating a new exception. Rather he is restating the original provision in the Mosaic Law. In such a case, divorce is an option but not the only option. There are a number of factors which should be considered. 

If God hates divorce, why did he allow it in the first place?
The Law permited divorce only if a man takes a wife and then discovers that she has previously been with another man.

[Deuteronomy 24:1-4 ESV] 1 "When a man takes a wife and marries her, if then she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, and she departs out of his house, 2 and if she goes and becomes another man's wife, 3 and the latter man hates her and writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, or if the latter man dies, who took her to be his wife, 4 then her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after she has been defiled, for that is an abomination before the LORD. And you shall not bring sin upon the land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance.

This passage of the Law gave women legal standing in the nation of Israel. Rather that being bought and traded as property, they had to be treated as people. This provision of the Law stipulates that if a man divorced his wife and she became remarried, he could never again take her as his wife. Such a law protected women from being prostituted or swapped.
The Pharisees considered giving a "writ of divorce" to be a righteous act.

The entire emphasis of this portion of Matthew 5 is to exceed the common concept of righteousness.  Somehow, the Pharisees had twisted this scripture to mean that they could divorce their wives for any reason as long as they gave them a receipt on the way out the door. Jesus directly contradicts this erroneous belief.

Read and Discuss Matthew 19:3-10.

Jesus declaration (restatement really) that there was only one legitimate reason for divorce seems to catch his disciples by surprise as well. So much so, that they declare that a man shouldn't even get married.

Questions

• How should Jesus teaching on divorce affect our view of marriage?
• What instructions/advice  should we give those who are not yet married?
• How did Jesus treat those who had been divorced? [see John 4]
• How are we to treat those who have a history of divorce?
• Can you name one prominent groom in the New Testament who considered divorcing his bride? [see Matthew 1:19]
• Is a "lack of love" a legitimate reason for divorce? 
• Is love a decision, a feeling or a commitment?
• How do these verses apply to love in marriage? Ephesians 5:33, John 15:13, Matthew 5:44.
• Are "religious differences" a legitimate reason for divorce? [see I Corinthians 7:12-16]

To continue to the next lesson, click HERE.

Greater Righteousness: The Dust of Lust

Lesson 2: Recognizing the sinfulness of lust.

In the light of verse 19, Jesus continues to explain to his disciples that his teaching does not do away with the law, rather his teaching supersedes the law. In effect Jesus is raising the standard of what it means to be a “righteous” individual. Then He illustrates this point with specific examples related to the Law. In fact, he places anger, lust, divorce, oaths, and retaliation on the same moral plane as murder, adultery, and perjury. Over the next few weeks we will go over these particulars that Jesus has given us.
Note: While Jesus raises the standard of righteous conduct in this passage, he does not reveal the mechanism by which we arrive at this level of righteousness. On its face, Jesus is placing the Kingdom of Heaven out of reach for everyone. Later passages in the New Testament reveal that the Christian’s righteousness is given to him or her by Jesus Christ and acted out in the Christian as he or she walks in the Holy Spirit. This does not mean that Christians are immune to sin, because believers can and do still sin; however, the spirit of the believer longs to not sin, that is, be righteous. A repentant heart can always find restoration to righteousness in Jesus Christ. [1 John 2, Romans 8]

The Dust of Lust.

The unrighteousness of Lust.

Mat 5:27-30 ESV – “You have heard that is was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.”

Establishing the first premise: Adultery is bad.

Unfortunately, we can no longer assume that everyone is aware of the seriousness of adultery, or even aware of the definition of adultery. Regardless of the cultural perception of normalcy, the Bible is clear that the only people who should be having sex is a man and a woman who are married to each other. There is no other sexual relationship sanctioned by God. [Matthew 19:4,5; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Hebrews 13:4]

Now, the question is "why"? Why does God place such a high priority on this area of our lives?  As with many things, to find the Biblical beginning of a subject we need to return to Genesis.

Marriage is a holy union.

Contrary to the winds of much of the current social climate, marriage is much more than a contractual agreement. Marriage is not just a business merger or a means of getting a better tax break or insurance rate. Marriage is a holy covenant, sanctioned by God, between one man and one woman. 

The very first commandment give to man by God is contained in the following passage:

Gen 1:27-28 NKJV - "27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.""

Genesis chapter 2 further elaborates on the creation of man and woman:

Gen 2:21-24 NKJV - "21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. 23 And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man." 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh."

The key to understanding the importance of marriage is contained in the phrase, “created…in the image of God.” The Bible is specific in its teaching that man is not just another animal. Mankind’s mind and intellect make him unique in all of creation. The eternal nature of his soul and spirit reflect the eternal nature of God and elevate him far above the level of a mere animal. Unlike anything else in creation, man's soul was birthed by the very breath of God. [Genesis 2:7].

Satan’s desire is to undo anything God has done. This includes the sacredness of marriage. [John 8:42-45;  Romans 1:18-32].

Marriage is a life of self surrender. Marriage is not about getting, marriage is about giving.  In marriage you learn to surrender the things you want (or even need) to see to that the other person's needs are met. [Ephesians 5:21].

• You may do without physical comforts.
• You may have to surrender your "toys".
• You may spend holidays with people you don't really like.
• You may have to curb your spending habits.
• You will have to learn to share living space with another person whose routine and habits are very different from your own.

Marriage is a life of mutual empowerment. When a marriage is built on a Biblical foundation, the value of the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. There is a principle in the Bible in which those who follow the Lord together gain exponential strength. [Leviticus 26:8]. This hold true, I think, in the realm of marriage as well. 

Several years ago there was a line in a movie that gained popularity among lovers. "He completes me...<insert dreamy look here>". Such an idea is nonsense. If you are an incomplete person before marriage you will be an incomplete person afterward. Only Jesus Christ can "complete" you for he is your creator. You can put that kind of pressure on your spouse. He or she cannot do that. Rather a godly spouse is a complement or, if you prefer, a "help meet for" you.

In marriage we imitate the Divine. Like it or not, marriage is a God given visual aid of the relationship between God and his people. In the Old Testament, used it to illustrate his relationship to Israel and Judah [Jeremiah 3:20; Isaiah 62:5]. In the New Testament, it illustrates the relationship between Christ and his Church. [John 3:28,29; Ephesians 5:21-33]. Christ sacrificed himself for his church. The church is called upon be a living sacrifice for her Savior. [Romans 12:1-3] Jesus initiated the relationship with his church and leads his church. [Romans 5:8]. The Church worships and magnifies the Savior. [Phillipians 3:3]. 

In what way does this parallel the "love and respect" passage of Ephesians 5?

• Adultery undermines all three of these principles
• Adultery is a selfish act.
• Adultery weakens and humilitates the spouse one has pledged to protect/honor.
• Adultery breaks a sacred covenant.

Jesus states that, for the person committing the sin, lust is the moral equivalent of adultery. In the "amputation" verses here, Jesus is impressing on us the seriousness of sin. If it were our eyes or our hands that caused us to sin, physical amputation would be a quick (albeit drastic) solution. The problem is that our hands and eyes are not the source of sin. The source of sin is our own fleshly desires.

 "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." (James 1:14-15 KJV)

Conclusion: The bottom line is that Jesus is raising the bar on Christian conduct. While physical fidelity is a good thing, Jesus is calling us to spiritual fidelity as well. Because of Jesus' conquest of sin and Satan at Calvary, it is possible for Christians to live a victorious life in this world. This doesn't mean that the sin nature in us has been annihilated, but it does mean that as believers, we can walk after the Spirit rather than after the flesh.

To continue to the next lesson, click HERE.

Greater Righteousness: The Danger of Anger

Preface: This is the first in a series of lessons based in Matthew, beginning in 5:21. In this series of lessons entitled "Greater Righteousness" we will explore how Jesus compares the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. 

In the light of verse 19, Jesus continues to explain to his disciples that his teaching does not do away with the law, rather his teaching supersedes the law. In effect Jesus is raising the standard of what it means to be a “righteous” individual. Then He illustrates this point with specific examples related to the Law. In fact, he places anger, lust, divorce, oaths, and retaliation on the same moral plane as murder, adultery, and perjury. Over the next few weeks we will go over these particulars that Jesus has given us.

Note: While Jesus raises the standard of righteous conduct in this passage, he does not reveal the mechanism by which we arrive at this level of righteousness. On its face, Jesus is placing the Kingdom of Heaven out of reach for everyone. Later passages in the New Testament reveal that the Christian’s righteousness is given to him or her by Jesus Christ and acted out in the Christian as he or she walks in the Holy Spirit. This does not mean that Christians are immune to sin, because believers can and do still sin; however, the spirit of the believer longs to not sin, that is, be righteous. A repentant heart can always find restoration to righteousness in Jesus Christ.

The Danger of Anger 

The unrighteousness of Anger

Mat 5:21-26 NKJV - "21 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' 22 "But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 "leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 "Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 "Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny."

Unjustified anger is as evil as murder. Not all anger is sinful anger, but I venture to say that most of our anger is sinful. Jesus is speaking specifically here about being quick tempered. God is not quick tempered. Neither should we be.

The divine example:

Psa 145:8 KJV – “ The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy."

Instructions from Proverbs:

Pro 15:18 KJV - "A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife."Pro 16:32 KJV - "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city."

The evil of name calling / personal attack

Insulting the intelligence of another:

“Raca” literally means “empty head” and was a term of reproach used among the Jews in the time of Christ. It carries the idea of being intellectually void. It is a put-down term.
Jesus warning here is that angry outbursts complicate life rather than simplify it, and will even result in legal trouble. Then he explains that not only will unbridled anger get you into trouble in this world, but it can damn your soul in the next. 
Insulting the worth of another:

“Fool” here is the word “moros” from which we get our word “moron”. It means to be “impious or godless”. It is a scorn of heart and character.

People are created in the image of God, and they are loved by God. While it is okay to disagree with another person, it is not okay to devalue them. God loves the other guy just as much as he loves me.

Jas 3:6-11, 13-18 ESV - "6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? ...  

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." 

The importance of Reconciliation

 Verses 24, 25 emphasize the importance of speed in reconciliation. As soon as you figure out that you have been a heel (or someone thinks you have been a heel) you need to make amends, even if it is inconvenient. 

To continue to the next lesson CLICK HERE.

LESSON : It Still Matters (The Bible).

It Still Matters.

The relevance of God's Word.

Lesson by Tony Thomas

Jesus said:

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.  For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." [Mat 5:17-20 KJV]

The connection between the Old and New Testaments.

The phrase “it is written” occurs 26 times in the gospels and a total of 63 times in the New Testament. The New Testament makes reference to “the scriptures” (meaning the Old Testament) 21 times, and there are many direct and indirect quotes throughout the New Testament.¹

Question: Does the Old Testament (Covenant) predict the New?²

Question: Does Jesus address the coming of a “New Testament”? ³

Question: How did other New Testament writers see the difference between the Testaments?⁴ Are they competing or complementary?

Question: Why is the New Testament necessary?⁵

The value and function of the Old Testament.

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane [and] vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. [2Ti 2:15-19 KJV]

Question: Should Christians study the Old Testament? Why or why not.⁶

Question: Who is the “author” of the Bible?

“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” [2 Peter 1:20,21KJV]

Question: What is the function of the Old Testament, in New Testament times?⁷

The value and function of the New Testament.

Question: Did the New Testament writers recognize that scripture was being written in their time?

Case Study: Peter commenting on Paul

Even though Peter and Paul had distinct ministries that on at least one occasion brought them into conflict⁸, Peter regards Paul's writings to be “scripture”. He writes:

15 And account [that] the longsuffering of our Lord [is] salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all [his] epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as [they do] also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. - 2 Peter 3:15-16 KJV

Case Study: Paul's quotation of “scripture”.

In 1 Timothy 5:18, Paul makes a quotation from “scripture” that borrows from both the writings of Moses and the Luke's Gospel.

18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn⁹. And, The labourer [is] worthy of his reward.¹⁰ - 1 Timothy 5:18 KJV

Question: Did Jesus indicate that the Apostles would receive special Divine instruction after his departure?

26 But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. - John 14:26 KJV

Question: How does one gain “greatness” in the Kingdom of Heaven? (Refer back to Matthew 5:19).

To continue to the next lesson, click HERE.

Endnotes:

1In the KJV. Specific wording in other versions may vary, but the idea is the same.

2 Jeremiah 31:31-34, Hebrews 8:6-8.

3Matthew 26:28, Mark 14:24, Luke 22:20, 1Corinthians 11:25

42 Corinthians 3:6, Hebrews 9:15

5Hebrews 10:1

6John 5:39, Romans 15:4, 2 Timothy 3:15

7Romans 16:25,26; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4

8Galatians 2:12-14

9Deuteronomy 25:4

10Luke 10:7