Lisa Godard (Lisa)

Title: Kingdom Bound: Kingdom Foundation

Matthew 7:24-29
Aim: Honestly see things as they are & build upon the right foundation

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Kingdom Bound: Kingdom Priority

Matthew 6:25-34
Aim: Establish that the one priority we all should have is the kingdom.

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Title: Kingdom Bound: Kingdom Treasure

Matthew 6:19-24
Aim: Consider who/what we delight in, holds us captive.

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TITLE: Kingdom Bound: The Proof of the King – Matthew 28:1-15 AIM: The resurrection as the primary proof of the Kingship of Christ. INTRO: Today, Resurrection Sunday, is the highest of all days for the Church. All over the world 100’s of 1000’s are gathering to celebrate the triumph of Christ over sin, death & the grave. What’s the big deal? John Walvoord, in an article entitled “Christ in His Resurrection,” said it well. “The resurrection of Christ essential to all His work. Just as the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ was a proof of His deity and Lordship, so also was His resurrection an indispensable evidence of the efficacious value of His death on the cross. Here again, one is faced with the absolute question of whether Christ is all He claims to be. If He did not rise from the dead, then He is not the Son of God; and it follows that His death on the cross is the death of an ordinary man and of no value to others. If, on the other hand, Christ actually rose from the dead, it not only demonstrates that He is indeed all He claims to be but that His work has the value set forth in the Scriptures, namely, a substitutionary sacrifice on behalf of the sins of the whole world.” So, the resurrection of Christ was the “indispensable evidence” of the effectiveness of His work on the cross, His death for our sins. The resurrection was God the Father’s seal of approval/acceptance of Jesus the Son’s atoning work. Also, the resurrection was “proof of [Christ’s] deity & Lordship. From the 1st of this year we’ve been working w/the theme, “Kingdom Bound,” considering that we who are in Christ are bound for the kingdom of God & eternal life w/Christ; but we are also bound by the kingdom of God, the Lordship/rule of Christ essentially marking our lives here & now. Jesus is our King/Lord, but if He was not raised from the dead after 3 days in the tomb, then the king is dead, & where then is the kingdom? But the resurrection is the proof that Jesus is who He said He is, the ultimate proof that He is indeed King, to whom then we must bow & give our lives. Today, let us look at Matthew’s account of the resurrection of Christ – Matthew 28:1-15 [READ]. Consider the central characters in this historical account of the miraculous triumph of Christ which split history in 2. I)The “Marys” – Read in 27:55-56 that “There were also many women there (at the crucifixion), looking on from a distance.” These were women who “had followed Jesus from Galilee (that is, from early in His earthly ministry), ministering to Him.” Among them, Matthew reported, “was Mary Magdalene & Mary the mother of James & Joseph…” Mary Magdalene was the one from whom Jesus had cast out demons. So, these 2 Mary’s & perhaps some others (Mark mentions same ones, Luke mentions 2 others, not mentioned by Matthew, & John only names Mary Magdalene) were witnesses to Jesus’ death on the cross. Then they saw Him buried in the unused tomb of Joseph of Arimathea (27:61). Then, after the Sabbath, early in the morning of the 1st day of the week, which we know as Sunday, these Marys went to the tomb. Probable that they had begun to prepare Jesus’ body for burial, but were unable to finish before the Sabbath began (at sunset on the day Jesus was crucified), so they were now going to the tomb to complete the heartbreaking task because of their love for Jesus. How they proposed to move the stone, not sure, but when they arrived, they saw that the stone had been rolled away & someone whose appearance was dazzling was sitting upon it. Whether or not they noticed the guards lying on ground, having fainted away, not clear, but the angel encouraged them not to be afraid. He told them he knew they were looking for Jesus, but gladly announced, “He is not here, for He has risen, as He said.” Then he pointed to where Jesus had been laid, & said, “Come see.” So they looked into the tomb where they had seen Jesus laid out in death. He told them to go tell the disciples that He was alive. As they went, these faithful ladies, they encountered the risen Lord Jesus Himself! When He greeted them, they fell down at His feet & began to worship. “It’s true! He’s alive!” Jesus repeated what the angel had told them: “Go tell My brothers to meet Me in Galilee…” So they ran to tell, just as we should. “He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today!” II)The Angel – We’re told in Luke’s gospel that it was the angel Gabriel who was given the glorious task of telling Mary that she would bear the Son of God, the Messiah, but here we’re not given a name for this angel. What a wonderful assignment – to be given the privilege of announcing that Jesus had risen from the dead! This angel came & rolled away the stone from the tomb, not so Jesus could get out – He was already gone – but so others, like the Marys & later Peter & John, could look in! It’s not clear whether his coming & moving the stone was the disturbance that caused the earth to shake or if the earthquake was the tool used by the angel to move the stone – doesn’t matter. His appearance caused the guards to tremble w/fear & faint away. Can you imagine the grin on his face as he sat upon that stone when the women came to the tomb? His message was clear & simple & oh so sweet: “I know you’re looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come see the place where He lay. Then go quickly & tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead…” He must have whistled, sang all the way back to heaven. What a job! III)The Guards – Read at end of Matt.27 that the chief priests & Pharisees went to Pilate & asked him to order the tomb to be guarded/secured, lest someone come & steal Jesus’ body & then claim that He had risen. They remembered what Jesus had said better than the apostles. So Pilate gave them a “guard of soldiers” & told them to help themselves – see to it. A guard of soldiers was anywhere from 4-16, a formidable force of trained Roman soldiers. So these soldiers set forth to the task. They sealed the stone which had been placed at the entrance of the tomb w/wax & set guard, probably 4 at a time in shifts, maybe more. Don’t know if you’ve seen those pictorial jokes sometimes seen on FB or the internet w/the caption: “You had one job.” One is a picture of the word stop painted on the road, spelled “sotp.” Another is a picture of a package of what is obviously hot dog buns labeled “Hamburger Buns.” Well, these guards had but 1 job: secure the tomb. But can’t really blame them, no matter how rugged they might have been. When the angel came & rolled away the stone, his appearance like lightning (either the brilliance or the quickness of his coming) & clothing white as snow (that definitely was blinding, brilliant brightness), the guards “trembled & became like dead men.” Perhaps that meant they fainted, tho they may have simply been frozen in fright & witnessed the transaction between the angel & the Marys. That of course presented a problem when they came to. To be given such a task as a Roman soldier & fail to carry it out was punishable by death. So, some of them went to tell chief priests what had happened, that the angel came & Jesus was gone! So the chief priests called an assembly of the elders together, decided to bribe the soldiers to say, “We fell asleep & Jesus’ disciples came & stole His body.” They assured them that they would make sure that Pilate didn’t punish them. The soldiers took the bribe & spread the lie. But I wonder if any of those soldiers, having seen what they saw, became believers, followers of Christ. Finally we have IV)Jesus Himself – No doubt, Jesus is God’s suffering servant who died on the cross to pay for our sins. He took our place so that we thru faith in Him might become children of God, forgiven, justified, given new life, w/the sure hope of eternal life. “How deep the Father’s love for us, how vast beyond all measure, that He should give His only Son, to make a wretch His treasure!” “Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer. But this I know w/all my heart: His wounds have paid my ransom.” But He is not only the suffering servant. He is the risen Lord! Death & the grave could not hold Him. “He arose! He arose! Hallelujah, Christ arose!” The Father accepted His Son’s sacrifice of Himself for us. The resurrection vindicated the sinless Christ who bore our sins in His body on the cross. The resurrection paved the way for our justification whereby God declares the believing sinner just – not guilty but righteous – in His sight, based upon the atoning work of Christ. But if Jesus has risen, is the risen Lord, then all our allegiance belongs to Him. If He is Lord, then we must be His servants/slaves. If He is Lord, we must bow before Him & offer Him ourselves. He is the King of kings & Lord of lords, the King of the Ages. Should we not embrace Him & follow Him? Do not our lives belong to Him? In olden days, when a king died, before it was announced, his successor was appointed, usually his son. Then the troubling news would be coupled w/encouraging news of the new monarch’s reign. “The king is dead; long live the king!” Message: all things are well, the kingdom will go on w/out missing beat. Today, having celebrated the death of Christ on our behalf, we now celebrate His resurrection & unending life/reign. The King lives! Long live the King! Are you His subject? Does He reign in you? Will you reign w/Him? If we are in Christ, we are indeed kingdom bound. Let us be kingdom minded & King Jesus focused!

Title: Kingdom Bound: Behold Your King – Matthew 21:1-17 Aim: See the kingship of Christ in the Triumphal Entry. Intro: As can tell by the children’s carrying & laying down palm branches, today is what we call Palm Sunday, the celebration of Jesus’ “Triumphal Entry” into Jerusalem. Skipped over good deal of Matthew to get to his account of the TE in chap21. Seems a strange interlude, but really was very significant, especially as a declaration of Christ as King. Theme: Kingdom Bound – not just bound for the kingdom of God, but bound by the kingdom of God – the Lordship/Kingship of Christ marking our lives as we recognize/surrender to Him. What has the Triumphal Entry have to do w/that? It’s by the TE that Jesus is publicly revealed as the Messiah King. Matthew 21:1-17 [READ] As said before, the Gospel of Matthew has been called “The Gospel of the King,” & Ray Stedman points out that the essential message from/thru Matthew is “Behold your King,” just as Mark’s gospel declares, “Behold My Servant” (Jesus as God’s suffering servant), & Luke’s gospel declares, “Behold the Man” (Jesus as the Son of Man), & John’s gospel declares, “Behold your God” (Jesus as God the Son) – different emphases on the person of Jesus Christ. The context of the Triumphal Entry is that Jesus, not many days before, had raised Lazarus from the dead & His fame, while great before this, had spread thruout the region like wildfire. According to John’s gospel, after raising Lazarus, Jesus w/drew from there to a town called Ephraim, to the north, because the religious leaders were plotting for His death, seeking an excuse to arrest Him. But timing is everything, & now, as the Passover drew near & the time for Him to become our Passover Lamb had come, He was making His final trek into Jerusalem (tho He slept at Lazarus’ house in Bethany, close by). In less than a week He would be betrayed & crucified. The distance from Ephraim to Jerusalem was over 10 miles, & as they drew w/in few miles, to the Mt. of Olives, Jesus directed 2 of His disciples to go into nearby town, perhaps Bethany, to get a donkey’s colt – Mark records that it had never been ridden - & to bring that colt & its mother to Him. Jesus planned to ride upon the colt into Jerusalem. This was significant for several reasons. 1st, it was to fulfill Scripture/prophecy, which Matthew made clear, quoting part of Zechariah 9:9, which reads, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold your king is coming to you; righteous & having salvation is He, humble & mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Matthew’s initial readers would recognize this quote & rightly associate Jesus w/the prophecy’s fulfillment. And so, Jesus sat upon the colt & rode the 2 miles or so into Jerusalem. Crowds had come to Jerusalem for the Passover from all over Israel & beyond, & having heard about Lazarus’ resurrection, they were all the more excited to see this Jesus. Could He be the Messiah? Was He the one they had been waiting for? Hearing that Jesus was coming into Jerusalem, many rushed out of the city to meet Him, & that’s when they laid their cloaks down before Him & cut branches off the trees & laid them before Him, This was how they greeted a conquering king, how they lauded a hero. But this was somewhat out of character for Jesus. Up to this time, whenever He healed someone or delivered them from evil spirits, or when the disciples declared who He was – the Messiah of God, the Christ – He told them to keep quiet about it, tell no one (because His time had not yet come). When the crowds wanted to make Him King He eluded them & w/drew. But now His time had come, now He would be recognized (tho not understood) for who He was. The Triumphal Entry was an open, public declaration of Jesus as Messiah & King. Jesus let them receive Him on the way. He received their lauding & praise. Barclay wrote, “Jesus could not have chosen a more dramatic moment. It was into a city surging w/people keyed up w/religious expectations that He came.” Carson added, “The applause & the crowds were not manipulated; they would have occurred in any case; but the ride on a colt, because it was planned, could only be an acted parable, a deliberate act of self-disclosure.” They shouted as He went by, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” The wd “hosanna” literally means, “save, now!” The title “Son of David” was a recognized title of the Messiah. So as Jesus literally headed toward the cross & death on our behalf, as He headed w/His face like flint to carry out the work of our salvation, the people, whether they understood it or not, openly declared their adoration for the Messiah, & Jesus let them, thus claiming to be the Christ & claiming His rightful authority as the king of Israel. They cried out for His saving grace, tho many of these same ones, less than a week later, would also cry out for the necessary means of that salvation: “crucify Him, crucify Him!” Then Matthew records that, as might expect, hearing the shouts & noise of the crowd, “the whole city was stirred up, saying, ‘who is this?’” The answer came, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.” Prophet, priest & king is Jesus, & He received their worship. Let us worship Him, not just by singing or gathering together, but by our dependence upon Him as the only Savior & Lord. Whether it was that day or the next (commentators disagree), Jesus entered the temple, getting no further than the outer court, where He encountered the moneychangers & buyers & sellers of birds & other animals for sacrifice. No doubt He had seen this before, & may have even run them out before (John 2), but zeal for His Father’s house was stirred up in Jesus. A couple of things were happening here. 1st, most likely the people were being cheated. They had to use the temple currency to pay the temple tax & buy the accepted animals for sacrifice. So they had to exchange money. Most likely they were charged extra for the exchange & probably charged more than it was worth to buy the animals. 2ndly, all this happened w/in the outer court, which was the court of the Gentiles. That made it difficult if not impossible for Gentiles to come in & worship. Add to that the noise that must have filled the place – have you ever tried to pray/worship in the midst of chaos? Not impossible, but difficult. Jesus began to overturn the tables & cages – John also records that He made a whip by entwining cords together - & drove out the moneychangers & sellers. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’ (quoting Is.56:7), but you make it a den of robbers.” The cleansing of the temple was an open rebuke from the Son King, the Messiah. I believe Jesus will rebuke those who are charlatans today, moneychangers who hinder folks from drawing near to God. I caution you to beware those who urge you to send in that “seed-faith” money to them/their ministry, so they might pray for you & you might also receive a blessing (but them 1st). There are many who are genuine ministers of the gospel, proclaiming the truths of Scripture, but there are also many others who are simply out to relieve you of your money, so they can build their little empires. But the imp question is, “How might Jesus rebuke us today?” Is this church a house of prayer? Are there any ways we are hindering any who want to come to God? Reading between the lines, this cleansing of the temple may have been the opening the blind & lame were longing for. The outer court was as far as they could come, according to Jewish law, so they too had been restricted by the moneychangers. Now, they “came to Him in the temple, & He healed them.” This, as did all the miracles of Jesus, revealed His identity as the Messiah & as Lord/King. And King Jesus swung open the door – He is the door – to whosoever will come. Will you come? Come to Him in faith for your salvation, your deliverance, your healing, your transformation from wretchedness to new life in Him. Come w/your brokenness & be made whole eternally. And we who are His by faith should come to Him as His children, that He might take us w/Him where He goes, that He might make us more like Christ & use us for His kingdom work. Of course, all the miraculous healing & the joy of the healed had to have been quite a scene, causing quite a stir & being quite noisy. To that was added the voices of children, for whom also it seems the way which had been blocked by the charlatans/money-changers was opened. Jesus made room for the children, & they came. They came into the temple where Jesus was & continued the chorus that had been sung as Jesus rode into the city, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” Those children were doing what came natural. Out of their innocent & sincere faith & in their purely motivated way, they were praising Jesus for who they understood Him to be – the Messiah, tho they probably didn’t fully understand all that meant. It was delightful praise to the ears of God the Father & Christ the Son, just as I believe He delights in the pure praise/worship of children here in our church & thruout His Church who sing His praise & declare His glory. The religious leaders were indignant, “& they said to Him, ‘Do You hear what these are saying?” Of course, Jesus was there & certainly heard it. They wanted Him to put a stop to the praise being heralded upon Him. He replied to them, “Yes, I hear it. Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouths of infants & nursing babies you have prepared praise’?” That was a paraphrase of Psalm 8:2, which uses the wd “strength” instead of “praise.” But that certainly was no accident by Jesus. Praise to God is strength, declaring the truth that suppresses the lies of the enemy. The demons flee when Christ is praised. God’s enemies are silenced & defeated when He is worshiped. You can be sure that Satan was holding his ears when he heard the praise of the children. “Make ‘em stop!” In Luke’s account of the Triumphal Entry (19), he reports that the Pharisees urged Jesus to “rebuke your disciples” (those who were lauding Him). Jesus replied to them (vs40), “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” So, the children, the disciples following Jesus on the way, & the very stones on the side of the road were as open mouths full of praise to the Messiah who had come, the Savior of the world, the King of glory. So, the message of the Triumphal Entry is “Behold your King! Is He your king? Oh, He is King whether or not you recognize Him or praise Him. And He will one day rule in your life in judgment if not as Savior/Lord now. As said, many who lauded Him on that 1st Palm Sunday shouted for His death less than a week later. Mere words of praise, singing in church, cannot save you – you must be born again, born from above as you put your faith in Jesus for right relationship w/God, forgiveness, new life, eternal life – a faith that demands the follow-thru of commitment, surrender to the Lordship of Christ, a giving over of your life to King Jesus, deciding to follow Jesus as He enables you. It’s faith that falls in love w/Jesus & marks our life as delighted subjects of the king, surrendered but freed to be who we’re created to be – children of God, followers of Christ. One way or another, we are kingdom bound – bound for the Kingdom, yes; but also bound by the kingdom, the rule of King Jesus marking our lives day by day. Let us be kingdom minded & King Jesus focused.

TITLE: Kingdom Bound: Your Kingdom Come – Matthew 6:9-13 AIM: Consider what it means to pray “Your Kingdom come.” INTRO: We prayed the Lord’s Prayer this morning, so we essentially read the Scripture passage at which we will look today. I’m not a fan of habitually reciting the Lord’s Prayer, tho it is beautiful & very meaningful. I think it becomes just words, if we’re not careful. In Matthew’s gospel, the context of what we call the Lord’s Prayer is the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus was exhorting His hearers not to do whatever they did just to be seen/heard by men – giving, praying, fasting, etc. I think His intent was to give them an example of prayer that was not long, wordy, but deep w/purpose, earnest. He wasn’t necessarily saying “pray these wds,” but “pray in this manner. Luke records a similar prayer from Jesus (Lk11) in response to his disciples asking Him to teach them to pray. There were similar words, but not exactly like those Matthew recorded, indicating that it was not necessarily intended to be recited by rote, but, when pray, consider these themes, pray w/this understanding. In Barnes’ Notes, we read, “Some of these petitions [may have been] taken from those in common use among the Jews… [&] some of them are still to be found in Jewish writings, but they did not exist in this beautiful combination. [The Lord’s Prayer was not prescribed as form,] “but to express the substance of our petitions… There is no proof that either [Jesus] or His disciples ever used exactly this form of prayer. Let’s briefly look at the elements of the Lord’s Prayer, & then I’d like to spend time on the phrase “Your kingdom come…” Our theme for this year is “Kingdom Bound,” & we have stated that we are not only bound for the kingdom of God & eternal life w/Him, but we are bound by the kingdom of God here & now. What does it mean to pray for God’s kingdom to come? Think about that as we proceed. Jesus said, “Pray then like this…” – in this manner. “Our Father in heaven…” Immediately we see several things which could be considered in depth & take our entire time. The wd “our” tells us that this is meant for the body of Christ/family of God. It’s not just about God & me, but God & us, & we should think that way even when we’re praying alone. The wd “Father” contains a wealth of truth. God is called Father very few times in the OT. In Ps.68:5 He is called the “Father of the fatherless,” & in that famous passage quoted at Christmas (Is9:6), the coming Messiah (God the Son) is called “Everlasting Father.” But the Jews simply didn’t think of God as Father – they thought it too familiar/intimate. Jesus changed all that. I think I’ve said before that I love John 20:17, where after the resurrection Jesus appeared to Mary & said, “Go to My brothers & say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father & your Father, to My God & your God.’” It’s about relationship, made possible by what Christ has done for us in obedience to His Father. The wds “in heaven” keeps it in perspective. He is high & holy & to be reverenced, even as we draw near to Him w/boldness & confidence & crawl up on His lap as His children. “Hallowed be Your name” – The wd “hallowed” means “rendered or acknowledged as holy, separate.” God’s name is to be celebrated & esteemed as none other. He is to be praised & exalted & held in highest esteem in our hearts & gatherings & prayers. “Your kingdom come…” – The wd “kingdom” means “royal power, kingship, dominion, rule.” That’s from Strong’s Concordance, tho it also says that kingdom can mean realm, or “territory subject to the rule of a king.” “Your will be done…” – “Will” means that which is desired or determined to be done,” pointing here to the purposes of God. Jesus is saying that it is the Father’s will which is most imp & should take precedence over what I want, tho that is imp to God regarding His children. As Jesus prayed in the garden, “Not My will but Yours be done,” so should we, surrendering our will to God’s. “On earth as it is in heaven.” Obviously, God’s will is perfectly carried out in heaven. His commands are obeyed, His pleasure is sought & fulfilled. It should be our prayer that such would be true in this world & at this time & in our lives. That’s not a futile prayer. God can & does bring that about one life at a time & He does reign over all in reality & His will shall be done. Again in Barnes’ Notes we read, “The objects of these 1st 3 petitions is that God’s name should be glorified & His kingdom established; & by being placed 1st, we learn that His glory & kingdom (& will) are of more consequence than our wants, & that these should be 1st in our hearts & petitions before the throne of grace.” “Give us this day our daily bread…” – “Daily bread” is essentially that which is necessary, or which suffices for each day. Tho God knows what we need, He wants us to depend upon Him every day & look to Him for every need, which He has promised to supply – needs, not greeds. “And forgive us our debts” – “Debts” here refers to sins, offences against God, asking Him to put them away, let go of them, forgive. God certainly does that, based on the atoning death of His Son, Jesus. Hallelujah! He casts our sins away into the depths of the sea of His forgiveness. But pay close attention to this whole clause. “Forgive us…as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Jesus is saying that’s the measure of forgiveness we will receive, & obviously there are some theological/doctrinal quandaries here. I think what this means is that an indicator of our relationship w/God is our willingness to forgive others. No one has ever sinned against us to the extent that we have sinned against God. If we are not willing to forgive, are we in Christ? We can’t have received God’s forgiveness & understood its depth if we are unwilling to forgive others. That should be a huge checkpoint in our lives. “And lead us not into temptation…” – “Temptation” means “testing or trial,” not necessarily that which prods us towards sin, tho that is included. Tho God will not tempt us to sin, He will allow us to be tested, by which we can grow. But it is good to pray that God would lead us thru the trial & accomplish His purpose & to help/enable us to pass the test. David prayed in Psalm 141:4, “Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself w/ wicked deeds…” In our daily battle, that is a good prayer! “But deliver us from evil.” Barnes reports that in the original texts it reads, “deliver us from THE evil” or “the evil one,” that is Satan. Our lives are battlefields in the war between God & Satan, the Holy Spirit & the flesh, good & evil. It is good & right to ask God to deliver us, & then to cooperate w/Him as He works w/in our lives. Some manuscripts & thus some translations of the Bible do not include the last phrase of the Lord’s Prayer. But the fact that it is found in some & certainly does not contradict any of the rest of Scripture is enough reason for us to consider it & pray it. “For Yours is the kingdom…” – the reign, dominion. “…and the power…” – the ability & might to accomplish all that is asked. “…and the glory forever” – honor & praise which belongs to God always. “Forever” indicates the truth that God has always reigned & will always reign, He is omnipotent from beginning to end, & He is always to be glorified, from now thruout eternity. “Amen” is a simple wd meaning “so be it!” From beginning to end this model prayer makes it clear that we should have, as David Gudzik wrote, “passion for God’s glory & agenda. His name, kingdom & will have top priority” (or should). Is that true in your life? What does it mean to pray “Your kingdom come?” We need to understand the phases of the kingdom of God. Before time & to eternity God’s reign/rule is over all. His creation is His realm. But He has given the rule of this world to Satan, for a time. Jesus called him “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31). Jesus was talking about the necessity of His atoning work, which included His death on the cross. He said, “…for this purpose I have come to this hour,” & He prayed, “Father, glorify Your name,” & the Father replied, “I have glorified it & will glorify it again.” That’s when Jesus said, “Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.” When Jesus died & rose again, He broke the rule of Satan over this world, tho that will not be fully seen until He comes again. Jesus’ purpose in coming to this world was not just to redeem us, but all creation, & to reestablish the kingdom of God on the earth as it is in heaven. When Jesus said “the kingdom of God/heaven is at hand, He was referring to this. He was/is the kingdom come! He embodies the kingdom of God. And since His resurrection & ascension, His kingdom/reign has been spreading thruout the world as the gospel goes forth to conquer people’s hearts. Then Jesus will complete/ consummate the reestablishment of the Kingdom of God when He comes again. It is then, as Paul records in I Cor.15:24, that Christ will deliver “the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule & every authority & power.” So, for us to pray “Your kingdom come” is to pray for spread of His rule, or the influence of His reign; for His gospel to go forth & conquer, for the name of God to be honored & the will of God to be done. And to pray thus should mean that we are willing to be part of the answer. In our mission conference we were challenged, “What’s in your hand?” “What has God given you to use for His kingdom sake?” “What’s on your heart? What’s the burden that God has given, placed upon you?” How are you called to be a partner in/for the gospel? “What comes natural to you?” How can you give for the sake of the gospel, kingdom of God? We must answer the call. That means we should also understand that when we pray “Your kingdom come” we are praying for His rule in you/me – us, & therefore surrendering to His reign, Jesus & His kingdom being the priority of our lives. Is that true for you/me? Not always. What in your life doesn’t fit w/kingdom purposes, the rule of Christ? Those things must go! And I think also that praying “Your kingdom comes” means praying for the consummation of the kingdom/ages, the return of Christ, God’s eternal reign/rule over all – sin, death & Satan vanquished forever. But there are many yet not w/in the fold of God. If Christ would come today they would be lost, & that should burden our hearts. Would you pray today for those you know who are not in Christ, who are lost & headed to God’s judgment? And would you pray today for God’s kingdom to come, not only in this world, but in you? Brothers/sisters we are kingdom bound. Let us be kingdom minded & King Jesus focused!

Speaker: Jeannie Mears

Title: Kingdom Bound: Kingdom Influence – Matthew 5:13-20 Aim: Sound the call to be salt & light. Intro: If add black paint to white, it will change the color to gray, how dark depending on how much black you add. It will never be white paint again, nor black. Adding garlic or garlic powder to any food will definitely change the taste; some like, some don’t. Say this for Pastor Tom’s benefit, since we celebrate him today: getting rid of some players & adding some others seemed to be a big part of the dramatic turnaround of the Red Sox last yr – from worst to first. Not better talent necessarily, but better chemistry. All of which comes under one heading: influence. The black paint influences the white (& vice versa); the garlic influences the taste of the food; & personalities influence others, for good or ill. What kind of influence are you? We all have influence, for good or ill, in the lives of those around us, whether we think we do or not. Theme: Kingdom Bound – if we are in Christ, then we are bound for eternal life in the future kingdom of God to come, a sure hope for which we should be grateful. But also, if we are in Christ, then we are bound by the present kingdom of God – the rule of God in our lives & over all. That rule of God should/must mark our lives now as we follow our King Jesus. Should make a distinctive difference in our lives, a difference that will influence others for Christ. I submit to you that every follower of King Jesus is intended by God to be a kingdom influence. Turn our attention once again to Jesus’ wds in His Sermon on the Mount, today Matthew 5:13-20 [READ]. I think what Jesus is getting at should be evident to us. Salt & light are both influences. Salt has a precious quality, value. Some cultures thruout history have used salt as currency, because of its value. Roman soldiers were sometimes paid w/salt. Perhaps that’s where the phrase, “worth his salt” comes from. Salt has value because of its various uses. Think of just a few. Salt preserves – used to cure, preserve meat. My father used to love salt-cured ham – a bit too salty for me, but he grew up on it. In Strong’s Concordance it is reported that in some oriental cultures, as a symbol of a compact or treaty being preserved unchanged thru the yrs to come, the 2 parties would partake of salt together, because salt preserves. Salt also flavors, or enhances the flavor of food. Even if don’t actually taste the salt, it may be used in cooking to enhance the flavor. My oldest brother, who doesn’t drink coffee, was said to make the best coffee at his work. His secret? He put a little salt in the grounds, thus lessening any bitterness of the coffee. Salt also purifies. Will hurt like the dickens, but put salt on a wound it will keep from infection, purify. So we can understand the meaning of what Jesus was saying: you are the salt of the earth. We should be a positive influence in the world in which we live. Some would argue that Christianity & all religions (especially Christianity, Islam & Judaism) have had a negative effect on the world thruout history, & that is an argument that, sadly, can be made. A lot has been done in the name of religion, even Christianity, which has been negative. But I would argue that true Christianity – following Christ & making disciples & proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom of God – has never been a negative influence but always positive. Schools, hospitals & benevolent societies have often had Christian origin. Christian awakenings thruout history have always resulted in moral reform, often whole towns/cities being affected. But we’re not just talking about Christianity as a whole; we’re talking about your life & mine. Jesus was speaking to His disciples; He’s talking to you/me. We are to be salt in our worlds. We should add value to whatever group, endeavor of which we’re a part, but not our own value; rather, the value of Christ, Christ-likeness. We should be preserving factors – preserving what is good & right, God-honoring. We should be flavor enhancers, leaving a good taste in others’ mouths, making better whatever we’re involved in. We should be purifying agents, insofar as we introduce others to the only One who can change their lives, the Lord Jesus Christ. Our lives should make others thirsty for Christ, as they see the difference He has made in us. Of course, if they can see no difference in us, they won’t be influenced for Christ. Jesus said that salt that has lost its saltiness is good for nothing except to be thrown out & trampled underfoot. When we lose our positive influence for Christ, what good are we for His kingdom sake? Next, Jesus said, “You are the light of the world.” That is such a marvelous statement. In I John 1:5, we read that “God is light, & in Him is no darkness at all.” Jesus said of Himself in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” We are called by God thru John to “walk in the light as He is in the light” (I John 1:7). We are reminded & admonished by Paul in Eph.5:8 that at “one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light…” Those who have encountered the light of the world, Christ, have themselves become the light of the world. We’re not the source of this light – Jesus is; but we who are in Christ become like candles lit by the fire of Christ. We receive & reflect His light, like the moon, which has no light of its own, but reflects the light of the sun. Like salt, light has many valuable uses. Light illuminates – helps us to see. The older I get the more light I need to read by (or the stronger the reading glasses). We talk about the light coming on when what we mean is that something becomes clearer to us, so that we can understand. Light also guides, helping us to see where we’re going. How valuable a good flashlight is on a dark night walk, or the headlights of our cars when we’re driving at night, or a candle when the power goes out – guides us thru the darkness. Light also exposes & dispels darkness. Darkness cannot exist in the presence of light. What was in the dark is exposed for what it is when the light shines upon it. Darkness is dispelled – cast out – wherever the light shines. So, again, we can easily understand what Jesus meant. We who are in Christ, in whose hearts the light of Christ has shone, are to reflect His light to others, helping them to be able to see, know the truth of His life changing gospel, guiding them to Christ & faith in Him, the light of Christ in us lovingly exposing the darkness in other lives & dispelling that darkness. God has brought us into His marvelous light thru Christ, & He wants to use us to do the same for others. Jesus compared His followers to a city. “A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” That’s a simple statement w/profound truth. The lights of a city on a hill can be seen from miles away. You can’t hide it unless every light is turned off. If the light of Christ is truly in us, if we truly belong to Christ, that truth can’t be hidden, at least not for long, & especially if we let our lights shine. Jesus went on to say that those who light a lamp/candle don’t do so just to put it under a basket, but they put it on a lampstand so it will give light to all who are in the house. So not only can we not hide our light if Christ is in us, but we shouldn’t try to hide the light, & we should seek opportunities for the light to shine. We are to let our light shine before others by the way we live our lives, the works that we do in Jesus’ name. Is your light shining? The intention is that God will be glorified as others see how we live, the works that we do, the difference Christ makes. Thruout the rest of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus illustrates for us that difference He makes in us, the kind of life we should live, the kind of influence we should have. Jesus would be accused at various times during His earthly ministry of trying to subvert or do away w/Jewish religious law. But He made it clear: “I haven’t come to abolish the Law or the Prophets, but to fulfill them.” The Law & the Prophets the authority & principles of the OT – law given to Moses for the people of Israel, the words spoken by God thru the prophets. Jesus fulfilled the Law & the Prophets several ways: 1)By perfect obedience. He lived His life w/out sin, never transgressing the law. 2)By dying on the cross for our sin to satisfy the law’s demands for judgment/justice. 3)By taking the law to its highest level, understanding & teaching them as matters of the heart, not just outward or formal observation. The Law & prophets serve 2 purposes for us today: illustrate to us our spiritual poverty, need of a Savior, which it does by condemning us; & serving as a standard for living – not ceremonial law which we don’t need to practice today – circumcision, ceremonial washings, sacrifices, & not so much penal law, as in stoning children who rebel, but moral & ethical law, which expresses God’s character. David Gudzik wrote, “The law sends us to Jesus to be justified, because it shows us our inability to please God ourselves. But after we come to Jesus, He sends us back to the law to learn the heart of God for our conduct & sanctification.” God’s law hasn’t changed nor will it – not one iota, until all is fulfilled when Christ comes again. Jesus warned that those who sin against the law & teaches others to disregard the law will be called the least in the kingdom of heaven, & I think the meaning of that is these so-called least will not be a part of the kingdom of God to come. If you’re not part of the kingdom of God here/now, you won’t be then. Then Jesus made a very stark statement to explain: “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes & Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” The scribes, students of the law, like lawyers, & the Pharisees, a Jewish sect & elite religious group, they were meticulous about keeping the law – at least outwardly & formally. The apostle Paul took as a reason to boast in the flesh, the fact that he had been, “as to the law, a Pharisee…as to righteousness under the law, blameless” (Phil.3:5-6). Of course his whole argument was that he considered that rubbish & counted it loss for the sake of knowing Christ. But how can anyone have a righteousness that exceeded the scribes & Pharisees? They were teachers of the law & judges of those who transgressed. Exceeding righteousness is vital, inward & spiritual. By vital righteousness I mean the righteousness of Christ counting for us. Thru faith in Christ we are clothed w/His righteousness, credited to us who believe/receive Him as Savior/Lord. That is our right standing before God. Hallelujah! If you don’t have Christ’s righteousness counting for you, you have not entered & will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Come to faith in Christ. By inward, spiritual righteousness is meant Christ the application of the atonement & the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit w/in, the life of Christ flowing in/thru us, righteousness that’s not merely outward, formal, but of the heart, from the heart, moving outward in practical living. And so, the rest of the Sermon on the Mount expresses that righteousness from the heart, Christ-like righteousness which will influence others for Christ like salt in a rotting, tasteless, putrid world & light in a world of darkness where people are in desperate need of the light of truth, the light of life. Read the rest of the Sermon on the Mount & understand your need of a Savior & see the distinctive, influential life of Jesus flowing in you. Vs21-26 – not just avoiding murder, but letting go of anger, letting go of hatred, seeking to be reconciled, understanding the connection between communion w/God & communion w/each other. Vs27-30 – not just avoiding adultery – the outward practice of sexual immorality, but putting away impure thoughts, bouncing your eyes away, putting away lust, striving & crying out to God to be pure in heart, that you might see God! Vs31-32 – not just getting out when the going gets tough; but practicing marital fidelity & seeking marital harmony, oneness that points to Christ & the Church. Vs33-37 – not just making promises to be heard by others, but being true to your word, to God & others, no matter what. Vs38-42 – not seeking revenge, retaliation, even if it’s justified, but turning the other cheek. Let your life be about giving instead of demanding/exacting. Vs40-48 – Not just loving those who love you & are easy to love, but loving your enemies, just as God loved us & Christ died for us, “while we were yet sinners.” 6:1-18 (won’t read) – live your life – whether it’s giving or praying, or fasting, etc. - to please God, not to be seen by others. Do what you do not to get praise from men, but because you love God. Look at the Lord’s Prayer & more of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in the coming weeks, but you/I are called to be kingdom influences – pointing others to Christ & showing them the difference He makes. After all, we’re Kingdom Bound!