SERMON ON THE MOUNT continued

Do Not Worry
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?

26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these

30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
(Matthew 6:25-34)

EXPOSITION:

The essence of this principle of Jesus revolves round where our heart is. Is our heart motivation centered upon the world with it's cares and worries or focused upon the kingdom of God? If we focus upon the kingdom our earthly requirements (not wants) will be provided for us.

TESTIMONY:

In our family, as we grew up, my mother was the worrier. Now, in her later years, she has almost overcome this trait. Dad, on the other hand, was the super optimist. It is said that opposites attract! Certainly applied to my parents - in this area at least.

I am of course, a mixture of my parents, but my nature tends towards the optimism of my father, although expressed in a less exuberant way. The result of my mothers influence.

However, this teaching of Jesus was not really about optimism and pessimism, but rather, about what is the focus of our life. What is our priority in life? Are we focused on the spiritual or the natural? Looking after ourselves in the here and now, or building up treasures in heaven? Building our own kingdom, or building the kingdom of God upon the earth?


There is indeed a battle in all our lives in this area. So easily the 'tyranny of the present', the reality of our circumstances, overrules the seemingly ethereal requirement of Jesus to build His kingdom, both in our lives and in the world in which we live.

For me, a major test, which I failed at the time, came 10 years ago, when Jesus called me into a fulltime, unpaid ministry. As I have explained previously, I first tried to make provision for myself and my family which turned out to be a disaster, resulting in bankruptcy.

That certainly challenged my focus and determination! Would I give up on the ministry, or rely upon Him to provide for us?


The past 10 years has been an interesting journey for us. No, we haven't had all our 'wants' met, but our 'needs' have been. Although we never have been profligate spenders, we did formerly have the choice to do many things, overseas holidays being one example, that we do not have the option to do now. We certainly live more simply, having the things we need, although not all we might want.

We do not have property or savings, so are reliant upon Him for our future provision. A worry? Being honest, sometimes, when we look at our friends. But I, in particular, for Kathy has never been particularly money orientated, have had to learn to believe what Jesus promises here. Yes, it is foolish in the eyes of the world. Many would regard me as irresponsible. But I do place my trust in His promises.

How about you?

NEXT WEEK: SERMON ON THE MOUNT continues...

... A longer teaching, on judging others. Something we are all prone to do!

A NOTE FROM DAVID

Worry prevents us from achieving our potential in God, as well as stopping us enjoying day to day life.

To stop worrying, we need to truly believe the promises of God. Helping others also helps, for it takes our mind off ourselves.

BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY

EL AMARNA LETTERS

Could these tablets contain records of Joshua and the Hebrews conquering the land of Canaan?

Tel el Amarna was in ancient Egypt near the Nile River about halfway between Memphis and Thebes. In 1988 there were about 400 cuneiform tablets discovered at this site which were part of the royal archives of Amenhotep III and Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten) who reigned about 1400 BC.

Among them were letters written in Babylonian cuneiform script to these Pharaohs of Egypt by various kings dwelling in the land of Canaan and Syria, they were written during the time of Moses. They provide the first evidence of the Hebrew tribes entering into the land of Canaan in ancient times.

Some of the tablets were anxious letters written from Jerusalem (Urusalim), warning the pharaoh an invasion by the 'Habiru [Khabiru]', who were approaching from Trans-Jordan.

It is interesting that Akhenaten's new capital, Akhetaton, which he built with his queen Nefertiti was at the same place as modern Amarna (Tell el Amarna).

The Amarna Letters discovery is highly important in the study of Biblical Archaeology because they refer to events in the middle east in the 15th and 14th centuries BC. They refer to the Hebrews, they give evidence of the trustworthiness of the book of Judges. They mention a lot about Canaan, the half of Israel to the west of the Jordan. This name "Canaan" has been found in Egyptian inscriptions of the New Kingdom. The king of Babylon used the word Canaan to designate the entire Egyptian province of Canaan when he wrote to Pharaoh: "Canaan is thy land and its kings are thy servants" (El-Amarna 8, 25)

The Tablets are from 3 inches wide and anywhere from 3 to 9 inches in length, and they are inscribed on both sides. The letters were written in Akkadian, which had been the language of international relations for some time. Today the Tell el Amarna Tablets are mainly in the British, Berlin and Cairo museums.

The original name of Jerusalem was Babylonian, Uru-Salim, "the city of Salim," shortened into Salem in Gen 14:18 and in the inscriptions of the Egyptian kings Ramses II and Ramses III. In the Tell el-Amarna Letters (1400 BC) Jerusalem is still known as Uru-Salim, and its king bears a Hittite name, implying that it was at the time in the possession of the Hittites. His enemies, however, were closing around him, and one of the tablets shows that the city was eventually captured and its king slain. These enemies would seem to have been the Jebusites, since it is after this period that the name "Jebus" makes its appearance for the first time in the Old Testament (Judges 19:10,11).

"But the man would not tarry that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Jebus, which is Jerusalem; and there were with him two asses saddled, his concubine also was with him. And when they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said unto his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn in into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it." Judges 19:10-11

SERMON ON THE MOUNT continued

Fasting
16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:16-18)

EXPOSITION:

What is fasting? 'It is an act of self-denial, and mortification of the flesh, a holy revenge upon ourselves, and humiliation under the hand of God.' Henry, Matthew, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Bible, (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers) 1997.


In this passage, Jesus was speaking against hypocrisy in fasting, once again warning about following the practices of the Pharisees, who fasted twice a week.

The practice of fasting was not questioned.

Matthew 9:14-15


Fasting was practiced by the early New Testament church.

TESTIMONY:

I have dreaded writing this testimony! For regular, twice weekly fasting until 4pm, was part of my life for 7 years until the time when we started our African clothing project. Then I found, with the hard physical labour involved (clothes are heavy in bulk!), that I needed to eat in order to be able to do the work.

However, as I have contemplated this writing during the week the Lord has given me some revelation.

While we primarily think of fasting as abstaining from food, this is only part of the story as we see an example of here;

1 Corinthians 7:4-5


God has shown me that we have 3 primary areas of human gratification - food, sex, and stimulants. Food and sex are obvious, but stimulants to make us feel good, was a surprise to me. But every society has them. The most 'popular' stimulant is alcohol, but there are a variety of drugs from the mind altering such as cocaine and cannabis, to the gentle 'pick-me-up' of tea and coffee. Tea and coffee? Try stopping drinking them and see if you get a headache! Yes, they are stimulants too.

Twelve years ago now, I was praying for a man in our church at the time, who was an alcoholic. He had been prayed for many times. As he stood there I simply said to him, 'You know what you have to do - stop drinking!'

The Lord hit me with a (metaphorical) hammer! It hurt! 'David, I have been telling you to stop drinking for some time, so how dare you say that to him!!!'

I have not had another drink since!


You see, for the couple of years before this, I had had this prompting to stop drinking. I didn't drink to excess. But I enjoyed a wine or a beer. 'Lord, surely it's not really you, just 'Christian culture'!' It wasn't! It was Him! Why? Why me?

But the Lord knew what He was calling me in to. For within a year or so He would have me travelling to Africa and Asia where, had I been a drinker, even in moderation, my ministry would not have been accepted. For, because of the harm alcohol has caused there, one defining characteristic of becoming a true Christian is to give up drinking. A necessary self sacrifice.

Saturday was my birthday. We went out for dinner with some friends to celebrate the (inauspicious at my age!) occasion. Everyone, except me, had a glass of wine or beer with their meal. I would have loved to have joined them!

But, as I sat their musing about it, the Lord showed me that this was indeed my fast for Him. For I have given up something I enjoyed, and which had no control over me, for Him.

Please don't get me wrong. I am not saying that you have to give up drinking for enjoyment. Unless the Lord tells you to as He did me, or unless you choose to. No condemnation from me.

You may be asked to sacrifice yourself, to fast, in another area. We need to be open to the Lord's leading individually.

Treasures in Heaven
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 “No one can

24 “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. (Matthew 6:19-24)

EXPOSITION:

We have a choice of where our 'treasure' is built, on earth or in heaven. We cannot build treasure in both places, for we are not capable of serving more than one 'god'.


TESTIMONY:

I am a natural, born businessman, an entrepreneur, a risk taker. My life has been a series of ups and downs, financially. Have been a millionaire twice and bankrupt twice! So I know about having money, and also, not having money.

Firstly, I had money without knowing God in a personal way. Then I went bankrupt and found Jesus.

Then, I had money again, tried to provide for myself to go into ministry and went bankrupt again. When bankrupt, I got closer to Jesus.

I think you can see from this brief testimony the truth in my life of what Jesus was saying! With money, our life, time and energy is pulled in two different, incompatible directions.


This is so much against the understanding of both the worldly world and the doctrine of much of the church.

The course I have taken, as a result of my experiences, is to take what Jesus said literally. While this may be easy in places where people have nothing, or very little, in a modern Western economy such as New Zealand, it is actually a very difficult thing to do! It is tough on my wife too, for women do like the security that possessions bring.

We now own just a few household possessions that are necessary (and a few that are not!) to live life in our society. We also live on a minimum income, earned by Kathy, that allows us to meet our daily needs, but not to save money.

I am accused of being foolish and irresponsible for not owning a home, nor having money set aside for retirement. And I certainly am from a human perspective.

Perhaps these verses may help you understand me!

Matthew 7:24-7


Over the past 2 1/2 years we have, unexpectedly to me, built up what is becoming a large (in New Zealand terms) second hand clothing business. But this time I don't own it - and I work in it for no personal income. The business is owned by a Charitable Trust, the primary objective of which is to send money and clothing to Africa.

Yes, I am still using the business skills the Lord has given me, but this time, for His benefit, not my own.

After our first bankruptcy, when I had become a Christian, our mail order business of the time prospered. We were able to provide generously financially both to the church and other causes. We distributed a discipleship course free of charge to many thousands of people, for which the Lord provided the funds through the profits of the business. We did lots of good things for God and others. We were a Christian success story. Yet in the end I, (not Kathy) became reliant upon myself, not God.

For when I was called into 'fulltime' ministry (not a term I like using for we are all in fulltime ministry, but you will know what I mean) I tried, worthily in a human sense, to provide funds so that we would not be reliant upon others for support.

It all went 'pear shaped' as the saying goes, and I was bankrupted again.


But you see, that was where Jesus, where God, wanted me. Dependant upon Him. I had nowhere else to turn. He gave me a depth of relationship and revelation that He could not have done before. No money to help others or build church buildings. But no matter. Most of all He wanted, not my money, but me, and He wants you too - all of you.

I am now back in a difficult situation - for life is never easy! Seekers can become all consuming. I could, and do from time to time, fall back into a situation of self dependency. In spite of not receiving financial rewards, my heart can so easily turn towards doing good works rather than to maintaining and growing my relationship with my Lord.

"Lord, protect me from myself, I pray!"

You may not understand what I have been saying. That is okay. And I am not saying you have necessarily to walk the same path. That is okay too. But I would ask that you meditate and pray upon this Scripture and listen to what God says to you personally. And then, of course, apply it. You may learn about the real you - where your heart truly lies. For money and possessions truly do sort us out!

Where is your heart today?

SERMON ON THE MOUNT continued

Prayer
5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. (Matthew 6:5-8)

EXPOSITION:

Note, Those who would not do as the hypocrites do in their ways and actions must not be as the hypocrites are in their frame and temper. He names nobody, but it appears by ch. 23:13, that by the hypocrites here he means especially the scribes and Pharisees. Now there were two great faults they were guilty of in prayer, against each of which we are here cautioned—vain-glory (v. 5, 6); and vain repetitions, v. 7, 8.
Henry, Matthew, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Bible, (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers) 1997.

TESTIMONY:

This is such a huge subject on the one hand, yet so simple on the other!

Breakdowns in communication, both between people and between people and God, are at the heart of most of the problems of our daily lives, between nations, and between the church and God. The heart of the problem is that we look at life through the coloured spectacles of motivation and prejudice, hearing what we want to hear and saying what our life experience programmes us to say. In our humanness, being basically self-centred, most of us tend to speak (or think) somewhat more easily and often than we listen.

In our relationship with God, our humanness tends to come out even more, as God is physically unseen, yet has power over the universe. We so easily feel we can ignore His desires for us while giving Him a shopping list of how He can make our lives more comfortable! Sorry to be so straightforward, maybe even outrageous, but it applies to me as much as anyone else! How often do we regard our God as a great Father Christmas in the sky?


Of course, we give God thanks, may praise and worship Him too, and pray for others. All very worthy and good. But seldom do we simply sit in the solitude of internal quietness and let Him speak His heart out to us and for us. We want to hear His word for us through the prophet, yet do not wait upon Him to talk to us directly. Yet good two way communication is at the heart of every successful relationship, in both the natural and the spiritual.

Over the years, as I have grown a little in God, I have come to realise and appreciate that it is not all about me, but progressively developed through Him and me to finally, all about Him. I try now to seek, sometimes more successfully than others, His will for me, rather than mine for Him! This doesn't happen all the time, for at times I am closer to Him than at others, or He might choose to test me for a season by letting me be seemingly alone for a time.

The 'vain glory' and 'vain repetition' that Matthew Henry mentions above, are classic examples of communication breakdown. We easily try to impress others, rather than speaking to the intended recipient, or repeat others' words because we don't know what to say ourselves.

The ideal for me, which I have not yet achieved, is to have an open conduit to God 24/7, so we can talk to each other on an ongoing basis. A spiritual cellphone! 'Txts' to God!


Prayer meetings are good to bring people together and to petition God on behalf of a group, but the essence of prayer is personal communication with our Lord, away from the public eye, on a one to one basis. And most importantly, is then doing what He tells to do.

I am far from perfect. My prayer life, my cellphone with God, sometimes runs out of battery (of spiritual charge) or I wander outside the reception area (of desire or sin)!

I guess both you and I are 'works in progress'. May we be open to His leading and guiding in our lives, through prayer, today.

May we too, be like Jesus at Gethsemane, who was obedient even to a death, a death more horrible than anyone else has ever experienced.

Matthew 26:39


Now for the second part of Jesus' instruction on prayer.

9 “This, then, is how you should pray: ”‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ (ADDED FROM KJV 13b. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.)

14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matthew 6:9-15)

EXPOSITION:

There are 3 parts to what we know as the Lord's Prayer (More accurately the 'Disciples Prayer'.)

1. THE PREFACE - stating whom we are addressing our prayer to.
2. THE PETITIONS - of which there are 6, the first 3 relating to God and the last 3 to our own concerns.
3. THE CONCLUSION - in which all glory is given to God.

TESTIMONY:

It is impossible to discuss the multitudinous aspects and depth of this amazing 'model' prayer here.

Sadly, over the years, through many repetitive, rote utterances, the 'sacredness' and depth of meaning of this prayer has been largely lost, until (particularly in charismatic and pentecostal churches) it has become largely ignored in worship services.

Yet there is a new revelation of its meaning coming to a wider and wider group of people who are starting to understand that this prayer is talking not about the future, but the establishment of God's kingdom upon earth in the here and now.

If the petitions of this prayer were fully reflected in our behaviour God's kingdom would come upon the earth! For the coming of His kingdom (your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven) is dependant upon our complete devotion to Him and full submission to His will. If we truly lived the lifestyle of the remaining petitions, 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ we really would be kingdom people. Not forgetting of course, the 'conditional key' contained in the final verse. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Oh dear!

Yes, you may accuse me of being idealistic! And I fully concede that I don't live up to this prayer all the time. And I cannot in my own power. But there is a new day dawning, one when the Holy Spirit is to be poured out upon the earth in greater measure than we have experienced in the past.

Joel 2:28-30


At this time, through the power of the Holy Spirit, those who choose to make the sacrifice will herald the return of Jesus becoming the pure, perfect bride whom Jesus is coming to marry.

Revelation 19:7-8

Impossible? Not according to God's Word. What will you, what will I, choose to believe?