Message by Dr. David Drake

rec0724-112124

Series: “Inside / Out”

Living Today The Life Of Jesus

A study through The Sermon On The Mount

Matthew 5-7

The Power of Forgiveness

Matthew 5:21-26

Matthew 5:21-26 (NASB)
²¹  “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’
²²  “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.
²³  “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
²⁴  leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.
²⁵  “Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.
²⁶  “Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent.

Alexander Pope: “To err is human, to forgive divine.”

The book, Apples of Gold: “Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that crushed it.”

1. Forgiveness … Needed

Matthew 5:21-22

Temporary Forgiveness … from man

Eternal Forgiveness … from God

2. Forgiveness … Given

Matthew 5:23-26

Forgiveness is an act BEFORE we worship … vs. 23

Forgiveness is an act OF our worship … vs. 24

Forgiveness is an act BEYOND our worship.

Three Truths of Forgiveness

1. Impede

You IMPEDE (slow, hinder) the activity of worship with unforgiveness.

2. Imitate

You IMITATE Christ by giving / extending forgiveness.

3. Instruct

You INSTRUCT others in the power of forgiveness … ref. Matthew 18:22

Matthew 18:22 (NASB)
²²  Jesus *said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Forgiveness … Practical and Applied

F … Forfeit your right to be right

Ephesians 4:32 (NASB)
³²  Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

O … Offer forgiveness in order to obtain forgiveness

Matthew 5:23-25 (NASB)
²³  “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
²⁴  leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.
²⁵  “Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.

R … Restore the person to the place of fellowship

James 5:14-16 (NASB)
¹⁴  Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;
¹⁵  and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.
¹⁶  Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

G … Give forgiveness freely

Luke 6:38 (NASB)
³⁸  “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure””pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”

I … Imitate the spirit of Jesus Christ

Luke 23:34 (NASB)
³⁴  But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”

V … Victory awaits all, the forgiven & the forgiver

Matthew 6:12 (NASB)
¹²  ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

E … Eternity is at stake

Matthew 6:14-15 (NASB)
¹⁴  “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
¹⁵  “But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

(Illustration: The common bond between those who ride motorcycles)

Message by Dr. David Drake

rec0710-112325

Series: “Inside / Out”

Living Today The Life Of Jesus

A Study Through The Sermon On The Mount

Matthew 5-7

The Sacred Nature of God’s Word

Matthew 5:17-20 (NASB)
¹⁷  “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.
¹⁸  “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
¹⁹  “Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
²⁰  “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

I. The Fulfillment Of God’s Word

Matthew 5:17 (NASB)
¹⁷  “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.

Jesus fulfills His Word in TYPE.

John 3:16 (NASB)
¹⁶  “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Hebrews 10:4-10 (NASB)
⁴  For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
⁵  Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, “SACRIFICE AND OFFERING YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, BUT A BODY YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR ME;
⁶  IN WHOLE BURNT OFFERINGS AND sacrifices FOR SIN YOU HAVE TAKEN NO PLEASURE.
⁷  “THEN I SAID, ‘BEHOLD, I HAVE COME (IN THE SCROLL OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME) TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD.'”
⁸  After saying above, “SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS AND WHOLE BURNT OFFERINGS AND sacrifices FOR SIN YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, NOR HAVE YOU TAKEN PLEASURE in them” (which are offered according to the Law),
⁹  then He said, “BEHOLD, I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second.
¹⁰  By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Jesus fulfills His Word in TRUTH.

Matthew 5:17 (NASB)
¹⁷  “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.

Luke 1:1-4 (NASB)
¹  Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us,
²  just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word,
³  it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus;
⁴  so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.

John 1:14, 17 (NASB)
¹⁴  And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
¹⁷  For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.

John 18:38 (NASB)
³⁸  Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?”

John 14:6 (NASB)
⁶  Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

II. The Faithfulness Of God’s Word

PROMISE

Matthew 5:18 (NASB)

18  “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

1 Peter 1:25 (NASB)
²⁵  BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.”

PUNCTUATION

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NASB)
¹⁶  All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
¹⁷  so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

III. The Forecast Concerning God’s Word

HEAVEN’S REBUKE

 Matthew 5:19 (NASB)
¹⁹  “Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

HEAVEN’S REWARD

Psalm 119:11 (NASB)
¹¹  Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.

Message by Dr. David Drake

rec0626-112148

Series: “Inside / Out”

Living Today The Life Of Jesus

A Study Through The Sermon On The Mount

Matthew 5-7

Salt and Light

Matthew 5:13-16

Matthew 5:13-16 (NASB)
¹³  “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
¹⁴  “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
¹⁵  nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
¹⁶  “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:11-12 (NASB)
¹¹  “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
¹²  “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

1. We “SEASON” The World Around Us … Matthew 5:13

Matthew 5:13 (NASB)
¹³  “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. 

– Salt Flavors When Applied

– Salt Preserves When Applied

2 Corinthians 2:14-16 (NASB)
¹⁴  But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.
¹⁵  For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;
¹⁶  to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?

2. We “ILLUMINATE” Christ To The World Around Us … Matthew 5:14-16

Matthew 5:14-16 (NASB)
¹⁴  “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
¹⁵  nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
¹⁶  “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

– Exposed…vs. 14

Light when exposed will be seen.

– Used…vs. 15

Light when used will be of great value.

– Seen…vs. 16a

Light when seen will reveal.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NASB)
²²  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
²³  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

– Responded…vs. 16b

Light when responded to will produce growth.

We are salt and light because of our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Romans 12:9-21 (NASB)
⁹  Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.
¹⁰  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;
¹¹  not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
¹²  rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,
¹³  contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
¹⁴  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
¹⁵  Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
¹⁶  Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.
¹⁷  Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.
¹⁸  If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
¹⁹  Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord.
²⁰  “BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.”
²¹  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Message by Dr. David Drake

rec0612-101639

Series: “Inside / Out”

Living Today The Life Of Jesus

A Study Through the Sermon On the Mount

Matthew 5-7

Persecuted And Loving It

Matthew 5:10-12

Matthew 5:10-12 (NASB)
¹⁰  “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
¹¹  “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
¹²  “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Romans 8:18 (NASB)
¹⁸  For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Philippians 1:29 (NASB)
²⁹  For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,

The Persecutions Of The Past

Matthew 5:10, 12 (NASB) 10  “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 12  “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The Recipients

The Reality

The Reason

Hebrews 11:36-37 (NASB)
³⁶  and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment.
³⁷  They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated.

The Persecutions Of The Present

Matthew 5:11 (NASB) 11  “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.

Verbal

Physical

Spiritual

Ephesians 6:10-12 (NASB)
¹⁰  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
¹¹  Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
¹²  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

The Persecutions Of The Future

Matthew 5:12 (NASB) 12  “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

2 Timothy 3:1 (NASB)
¹  But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
¹²  Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

Our Attitude

Our Anticipation

James 1:2-3 (NASB)
²  Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
³  knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

Message by Dr. David Drake

rec0605-101934

Series: “Inside / Out”

Living Today The Life Of Jesus

A study through The Sermon On The Mount

Matthew 5-7

The Character Of Our Character

Matthew 5:1-12

Matthew 5:1-12 (NASB)
¹  When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.
²  He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,
³  Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴  Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
⁵  Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
⁶  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
⁷  Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
⁸  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
⁹  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
¹⁰  Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
¹¹  Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
¹²  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 

Matthew 4:23 (NASB)
²³  Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people. 

The Gospel of the Kingdom not only takes care of today but will also assist you for eternity.

Beatitudes means “the attitudes to be.”

I. Our “Inward” Attitudes…Matthew 5:3-6

³  Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Poor in spirit” is our attitude of humility toward God.  “Poor in spirit” means we are spiritually destitute.

Luke 18:9-14 (NASB)
⁹  And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:
¹⁰  “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
¹¹  “The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
¹²  ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’
¹³  “But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’
¹⁴  “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

⁴  Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Mourning should be our attitude of sorrow for our sin.

⁵  Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

 Meekness is our attitude of waiting for God’s mercy.

⁶  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Hungering and thirsting is our attitude of asking for God’s righteousness to move in our hearts and lives for salvation, for everyday living, and for justice.

II. Our “Outward” Actions…Matthew 5:7-12

⁷  Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

This is our action of forgiveness toward others.

Ephesians 4:32 (NASB)
³²  Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

How do we forgive?

-privately

-publically

-always personally

⁸  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

This is our action of holiness before God and others.

James 1:19-27 (NASB)
¹⁹  This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;
²⁰  for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.
²¹  Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
²²  But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
²³  For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;
²⁴  for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.
²⁵  But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
²⁶  If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.
²⁷  Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

⁹  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

This is our action of being a soul winner (peacemaker).

2 Corinthians 5:18-20 (NASB)
¹⁸  Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,
¹⁹  namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
²⁰  Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

¹⁰  Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
¹¹  Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
¹²  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

This is our action of enduring before others.

BE…DO!

Become what God has created us to be,

then do what He calls us to do.

BE…DO!

Message by Dr. David Drake

rec0529-101629

Series: “Inside/Out”

Living Today the Life Of Jesus

A Study Through The Sermon On The Mount

Matthew 5-7

The Master’s Message

(An overview of Matthew 5,6,7)

The Sermon On The Mount
111 verses
19 different paragraphs of thought
Points the listener into the direction of spiritual responsibility

The Theme of The Sermon on the Mount 

The Gospel of the Kingdom

Matthew 4:23 (NASB)

23  Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people.

Prerequisites for entrance into the Kingdom:

 Repentance

Righteousness

Childlike Faith

The Points of the Sermon on the Mount

1. The “Citizens” of the Kingdom

2. The “Righteousness” of the Kingdom

3. The “Encouragement” to enter the Kingdom

Why did Jesus preach this sermon?

1. To Express Truth

2. To Expose Truth

3. To Apply Truth