4/7/10 “Who Is Jesus? And Why It Matters” Part 1
Who was Jesus and why does it matter? – His Messages
“Counter Cultural Christianity “
4 7 10 HT PM
Philippians 2:1-5 NKJV
Philippians 2:1 NKJV
Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,
Philippians 2:2
fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Philippians 2:3
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
Philippians 2:4
Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Philippians 2:5
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
This passage opens up with instructions about congregational conduct (vs1-4). Then verse 5 shifts to the idea of permitting Christ to be the template for your life. This passage provides an instruction to our life to lived out as exampled by Christ.
Tonight we launch a new series on the life of Christ – who he really was and why it matters to us right now. We will look at the life of Christ in the following four areas;
1. His Messages
2. His Ministry
3. His Management
4. His Mission
Over the next few weeks we will look at His life as a motivating template for our life.
Question: Who is the all time greatest preacher and for what message is He most famous?
Here a some possibilities (please show these as I mention them)
• Sinners in the hands of an angry God – Jonathan Edwards
• Salvation by Faith – John Wesley
• All Comers to God welcome – C.H. Spurgeon
• The Temptation of Christ – George Whitefield
• The Second Coming of Christ – Billy Sunday
• 100 Years from now – Billy Graham
• Oxymoron’s – Jesus Christ ☺
Ok, so I took some liberty and titled a portion of the greatest message of all time by the greatest preacher – the real answer is = Jesus Christ – Sermon on the Mount.
Tonight we kick off this series with a very comprehensive look at Christ; His introduction to the role of Christianity as it relates to being counter to its culture. No other script from the heart of Jesus reveals how counter culture Christianity is than the series of oxymoron’s Christ gave in the intro of the Sermon on the Mount… we call them the beatitudes -
Matthew 5:1-12 NKJV
Matthew 5:1
And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him.
Matthew 5:2
Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
Matthew 5:3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:4
Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
Matthew 5:5
Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
Matthew 5:6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
Matthew 5:7
Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
Matthew 5:10
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:11
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
Matthew 5:12
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
We recognized this chapter as the Beatitudes – or the attitude to have. Consider a few observations about this passage to set us up to break down this foundation of the message that day on the mountain.
Counter Cultural Christianity
1. Each of these eight beatitudes begins with a timeless promise of reward.
This is indicated by the word “blessed”. In this context, the primary sense of the word “blessed” is approval. To be blessed is to experience the joy of being approved by God. It is the applause of heaven! Can you hear the applause of Heaven about your life?
2. All of these beatitudes are despised by our present age.
3. All of these beatitudes disclose a future reversal in the making.
Those who exhibit the characteristics in 5:3–12 may not be honored on earth, but their eternal reward will be great. Furthermore, there will be a sense of joy and satisfaction that will permeate their lives even here on earth.
4. These beatitudes are intended to characterize every disciple, not just the “spiritual elite.”
We can’t pick and choose which ones we want to fulfill—these beatitudes are a packaged deal. These are not eight separate groups of disciples, some who are meek and others who hunger for God. It’s easy to make the mistake of saying, “I’m just not merciful” or “I’m just not a peacemaker.” We can’t pick the easy ones and ignore the difficult ones, like being pure and being prepared for persecution.
5. First set of four beatitudes focus on our vertical relationship to God
6. The second set of four on our horizontal relationship to people.
The Sermon on the Mount launches off with the idea that heavenly approval is of greater importance than earthly. Jesus says many things in the SOM – this foundation is essential because it forces a shift to heavenly and eternal thinking. One of our greatest struggles as Christians is the mindset struggle of the present vs. the eternal.
Tonight’s review of the beatitudes –
1. B1: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (5:3).
The word that is translated “poor” (ptochos) refers to a person who doesn’t have sufficient food, clothing, or shelter. One who has nothing! To be “poor in spirit” refers to being a “spiritual beggar.” It means being totally dependent on the goodness of God.
Isaiah 57:15 NKJV
For thus says the High and Lofty One
Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in the high and holy place,
With him who has a contrite and humble spirit,
To revive the spirit of the humble,
And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Its been said that – “God created out of nothing. Therefore until a man is nothing, God can make nothing out of him.”
The benefit of being poor;
• Nothing to lose
• Nothing to hide
• No one to impress
• Nothing to occupy you
• More of a present mindset
2. B2: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (5:4).
The word “mourn” in this context refers to mourning over sin. We should mourn the lack of righteousness in ourselves, our churches, and our society (in that order).
We should also long for God to eradicate sin and usher in His perfect justice. To mourn, then, is to lament that the kingdom has not come and God’s will is not yet done.True Christianity manifests itself in what we cry over and what we laugh about.
Romans 12:2 NKJV
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
3. B3: “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth” (5:5).
Jesus didn’t mean “blessed are the weak and deficient in courage.” “Gentle” or “meek” originally meant to bridle wild horses, to put strength and power under control. The word means “the ability to submit to God’s will.” The strongest man is not the one who forces his will upon others but the man who has power and willingly surrenders it.
Matthew 11:28 NKJV
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:29
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 11:30
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
4. B4: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied (5:6)
This beatitude is particularly interesting. Jesus does not say that He is looking for people who possess righteousness, but for people who want it desperately but don’t yet have it. Matthew most commonly uses the word “righteousness” to describe right–living before God. To “hunger and thirst for righteousness” is to desire to be Christ–like above all else. Think about the last time you were really hungry or thirsty. You were distracted from whatever else you were attempting to do, right? A person who is hungry or thirsty tends to push other things aside. They are desperate and their top priority is satisfying their hunger or thirst. Similarly, “those who hunger and thirst for righteousness” put becoming like Jesus Christ first. The result is they will be satisfied by God in this life and the next.
Matthew 6:33 NKJV
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
[The first four beatitudes show that God’s approval is found when we are humbled by God and respond appropriately to Him.]
5. B5: Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy” (5:7).
Mercy is the willingness to not impose a penalty or a loss that is fully deserved. Do you have any enemies? Is there someone in your life who drives you crazy? Grant them mercy. Are you able to bless your enemies?
You won’t be merciful to others unless in the core of your being you appreciate the mercy that God has shown you.
Lamentations 3:22 NKJV
Through the Lord’S mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
Lamentations 3:23
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
6. B6: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (5:8)
Jesus’ words are very significant. He refers to the “pure in heart.” In the Scriptures, the heart describes the inner person—who a man or woman really is. This is where purity begins. Jesus took the Pharisees to task on many points all of which centered on the inconsistency between the external and internal parts of their lives. The outside parts of their lives were exceptionally clean, but on the inside their hearts were unclean. They wanted the world to see their clean hands while trying to hide their unclean hearts. It’s easier to avoid unclean hands (murder, stealing, and gluttony) than an unclean heart (envy, pride, bitterness).
Psalm 139:23 NKJV
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
Psalm 139:24
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.
7. B7: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (5:9).
Jesus blesses “peacemakers,” not peace–keepers. This means we are not appeasers of men. We do not seek peace at any price, but we seek to pursue the path of peace
Romans 12:18 NKJV
If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
Romans 12:19
Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
Romans 12:20
Therefore
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
Romans 12:21
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
8. B8: “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (5:10).
You will have moments in life where you feel present pain in exchange for future glory.
2 Corinthians 4:17 NKJV
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
2 Corinthians 4:18
while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Who was Jesus? Jesus was counter culture
Why it matters? We should be too