What the World Needs Now - Authentic Difference-Makers, Part 2

You know there's lots of clauses and mix these days and there is absolutely no shortage of agendas. I mean everyone's got an opinion and there's experts everywhere.

Here's the question what's in Jesus opinion about what's happening in the world today and what are his answers to solve stay with you. Thanks for joining us for this edition of living only with Living on the Edges of international discipleship industry helping Christians like Christian. This program shift continues his new series called world needs now as we get started his question. A second ago was a hard Jesus answers to solve. No, I can't say I have this or that going on right now.

Have you I mean if you can imagine would be great to literally hear Jesus say okay people, here's what you do for the truth is he did chips in Matthew chapter 5, so let's listen in as he brings us part two of his message.

What the world needs now is off difference makers into your poor in spirit until you realize you don't bring anything to this party, the Khmer God's favor until you get back to the point when the last time you felt crushed over your sin, our tendency everyone does that. Everyone logs all now and then everyone has little and the everyone's little bit materialistic. Everyone's kinda lazy like me everyone does it, so it must be okay.

Really made probably not the God we probably don't experience his power. Chapter 6 he's going to now shift gears because I think the question that it raises okay. Get your mind back in my Jewish friends. Okay, I don't measure up. I feel really bad about the things that I never even thought or sin. So how do you live this righteous life doing the stuff that we've been doing and following the Pharisees's Lamictal in the world you ever get right with God and so notice what he does in chapter 6 and the beginning of seven.

He gives them for what I call warnings that kill the movement of God in your soul and the kill movement of God in churches. The first issue is the issue of motives. He talks about getting in verses one through four. Prayer in verses five through eight in fasting.

In verses 16 through 18.

And all you need to know is that in Jewish culture that the three primary disciplines the way you earned your favor with God is how much you gave how long you prayed and how often you fast so if you want to get close to God. Camelot pray a lot and fast allotments of the Pharisees did notice picking it up yet your Bible up and follow along.

Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them for. Then you have no reward from your father who is in heaven. This is radical. He's introducing will is about relationship, thus not. If, when you give to the needy sound no trumpet before the hypocrites do in the synagogues in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly I say to you they receive the reward. But when you give to the needy. Don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret, and your father who sees in secret will reward you to see how often reward reward reward father and when you pray verse five, you must not be like the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues at the street corners so they can be seen by others. Truly I say to you, they have their reward. But when you pray shut the door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your father who sees in secret will reward you. Then he teaches the Lord's prayer, verse 16 and when you fast no look gloomy like that. Regrets, for they disfigure their faces and their fasting may be seen by others.

Truly I say to you, or you can get the idea they receive their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face that you may be fasting not to be seen by others but by your father who is in secret, and your father who sees in secret will reward you. The key issue is motives. He says okay, the practice of giving the practice of praying in the practice of fasting is essential.

We only break the lust of the eyes and wanting more. By being generous and giving.

The only way we break the hold of pride on our life. Prayer is the evidence of help me God dependency and the only way we break that the desire for food that's unhealthy or sex. It's unhealthy or shopping. It's unhealthy or whatever it is is you fast from, but there just means of grace. But notice he says you do it you do it to please your father not to earn brownie points. The diagnostic question then is who am I seeking to please who am I seeking to please. Do you know which of the beatitudes he just taught them. Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth toward meekness are translated, gentle or humble.

It's the idea of literally the in the ancient Greek literature. It was a wild stallion that is tamed its power under control in the picture here it's it it's an idea of submission is the idea that I'm going to Truscott. I accept my giving my fasting, my praying.

I can't earn my way I can please God.

And so when I do the right things in the right way. The spiritual disciplines that renew my mind and when I do it out of the love relationship. He said true spirituality occurs. The next movement killer isn't just our motives but it's materialism. Look at verse 19. He's now going to go to the other. God and the other God attempts all of us. This is money so he says in verse 19 don't lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, and then the reason is to protect them because you can lose it. It's where moth and rust destroy and where thieves can break in and steal. But lay up for yourself. Heaven's written assignment that the kingdom of God have and that's real to lay up for yourselves treasures were moth can't get in rust can't destroy these can't break in many talks about the lamp of the body, which is really the essence of where's your passion where's your focus. What really matters and then look at verse 24 he wants to protect them. He says no one can serve two masters for either he will hate the one I love the other, or he will love the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. And so the next key issue of this new revolution is materialism conjunct that in their he talks about their money. Now that you notice member, who were the people at materialistic Pharisees. The Pharisees had worked a religious system where they actually became very very rich and back then they taught this this might sound a little familiar.

Then they taught the evidence of true spirituality and God's blessing is how much money you have, so the more money we have, we must be really spiritual skull prosperity gospel today you plant a seed send money to our ministry and the fact that I have two jets and three mansions and all the stuff is evidence of God's blessing me and from the pit of hell from the pit of hell. See ask yourself what's the agenda secures the real question the diagnostic question is whose agenda or kingdom. Am I seeking to accomplish. Mine success, fame, wealth, my happiness for Jesus thing to ask yourself is, do I use people to get money and things or do I use my money and my things to love people and if you back away. I mean, just, you know, this is us discussing her rights where the serious Christians we came to church. Jesus is saying this will kill your soul but there's there's some things in life that are both land. This is one of them. It's either for Jesus or money and if you look at your time and your energy and your passions and and the demand and the pressure of work or education, etc. if it drives everything or if you look at your giving your prayer in your fasting in the meters really pretty low and you have your answer. But this, this is a revolution of love.

This is this is the kind anointed King and Savior saying, you may end up being very successful in accomplishing your goals. Here's the scariest. The scariest thing that could ever happen in any person's life is to be absolutely successful at the exactly wrong thing. Eunice, like all all of life is against this wall and when you get to the top and you have a ladder that goes to another wall but promised life was there and you get to the top. It's empty and Jesus is saying I'll take care of you.

In fact, look, look at your Bible because I don't have time to read it all. You'll notice that after this right up putting your notes, but but after this, he says to them.

So what why are you so uptight about what we need, but were uptight about what you need because you're talking not living this radical life of faith who are what we uptight about what you been aware or why do you worry so much. See what is what he saying is do you trust me this new revolution is about a love and entrusting of me is the Savior get looked down at verse 33 he gets the end this whole section he basically promises that you know I'm going to take care of you. But notice what he says but seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things to be added to you. Don't worry about tomorrow.

Don't be uptight about stock market. Don't be uptight about what school you kids get in, or if you get married not get married stays on the problems of its own. Just trust me today.

I've got you in the palm of my hand and I love you.

Are you ready to see the beatitude you just taught them. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. What that means this passion to be holy. This passion to be right with God.

This passion in your whole life to want to please God and love God and be used by God blessed our those who hunger that that's what drives you, your motivation, you hunger and thirst, not for riches, not for success, not for fame, not for a better body, not for more likes not for more followers. This is irresolute. You understand how this revolutionize the world when he gets from chapter 6 as it continues to flush out his agenda and third big movement killer is. The issue is misapplication. They've heard a lot of truth and he said the problem is. Sometimes we take truth and we apply to other people and set ourselves a beginning chapter 7 will probably sound very familiar. He says Judge not lest you be judged for the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure that you use it to be measured to you. Why do you seek the speck in your brother's eye.

But don't notice the log this in your own or how do you say to your brother, let me take the speck out of your eye when there's a log in your own you hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and you see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye, and then I think in a reference here to the Pharisees and peoples hardhearted not open to God, he says do not give what is don't give the dogs what is holy, don't throw your pearls before swine. They trample them underfoot in the turn and attack you and then he goes into if you have real needs instead of asking the government or demanding it from them instead of asking education or asking technology in and of themselves, no problem. When you have a great need, ask, seek, not your father really wants to provide verse 12 actually goes with what's above. So whatever you wish that others would do for you do for them. This will fulfill the law and the prophets in the notice. This be careful. Enter by the narrow gate. The gate is wide and easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter in harmony.

But the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Notice will go on and say beware the false prophets said is what you know is is not what people say is not their emotional experience. Trees produce good fruit, bad trees produce bad fruit. Anyone who hears my words and actually puts them into practice is like a man who built his house on the rock.

Anyone who hears my words and intellectually even agrees with them and doesn't put them in the practice is a fool and you'll say I never knew you.

So what you see, he does is he fleshes out the rest of these Beatitudes under judging you might write merciful. Blessed are the merciful.

Blessed are the merciful. Why for they'll be shown mercy when it would get whole generation of people that week we judge everyone, we want people but you know what people that don't know Christ to live like Christians, we would call them in our culture. It that they don't have the power needed to. We, apart from Jesus, where he talks about the preaching don't throw your sacred teaching before the dogs of the swine people that are adamant in and and and and ask is talking about. Blessed are the peacemakers. Blessed are people that instead of trying to convince people that don't want to be convinced our bridge builders instead of people that are antagonist that that that they make the Christian life what it means to be a follower of Christ when some in loving and kind and you agree to disagree and we have clear standards of truth lay up we apply them.

We ask what's this got to do with me instead of why is everyone else wrong. If you listen to the radio talkshow blame blame blame blame blame blame goal on 90% of Christians Facebook and were passing all the stuff they did that they did that they did that on with this party on against that party.

That person did that that person did this. This person did that and Jesus is saying it's what that's for. What about you, what do you need to. How could you be a peace maker, how could you love people that you totally disagree with and treat them with dignity and with kindness not approving of what they do or what they say you understand lost people. Evil people love to hang out with Jesus. Why it's not like he caved into their lifestyle. Let me ask you how many lost evil people in alternative everything. Are your friends and that would like to hang out with you the Christianity today's bicycle become moralism were on the side and we think people that don't know Jesus of the enemy reminder. He came to die for them like he came to die for us. The agenda is to love them, you don't have to agreement to love them.

It's the kindness of God that lead us to repentance. It's the kindness of God through us, that will lead people to him just truth is just Jesus teaching the final movement that will squash our souls is what I just call misperception.

I read it.

He says there's a narrow gate were living in a day. Even in the church that says all you know what is on your sincere working to coordinate, change the rules and what the Bible says about holiness what the Bible says about marriage what the Bible says about sex, but the Bible says about eternity what the Bible says about a real heaven and a real hell you know you guys are really pretty narrow. Here's the deal you choose to be a loving, winsome, nonjudgmental person who in your heart of heart realizes man I'm poor in spirit. I need God and I take my sin seriously and oh God, I need your forgiveness and your comfort and you become that kind of believer that says you know something I don't have the power apart from you. I'm going to be meek, but my passion my life my time on hungering and thirsting for righteousness and I'm gonna I'm gonna have motives him to be pure in heart as best I know. And Lord I'm going to unlock and unlock and adjudge people to show them the kind of mercy unlock it have those critical thoughts in my mind. I catch myself often because I do this a lot. What is he doing that why she do an edit it and and God is just memorize the passage of every kind that's happy. Now I start praying God.

Wonder what your plan is for him. I wanted is for them. Wonder how they got to where they got old Lord, would you help them.

Would you love and would you encourage them and then is there anything you would want me to do right now to express your love and I'm on a journey like a long way to go. But if you would be a bold person to say the way is narrow. Jesus said on the way the truth and the life you will be persecuted.

Do it when suddenly do it lovingly and he started with the kingdom of heaven. He ends with the kingdom of heaven, and you should ask yourself and I'll ask myself where's my fruit not religious fruit, love, joy, peace, patients, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control. That's the Christlike life.

Are you ready to recharge reengage in a revolution of love. Ask yourself which of these one beatitude which one of these. Do I need to say, oh God, forgive me for I have sent. Oh God, you help me when we confess our sins he is faithful and he is righteous or just to not just forgive but to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. What would it look like for us to walk out here to hunger and thirst to be the men and women in our little sphere starting in our homes, apartments with roommates passing out of where we drive where we get our coffee or tea where we work out where we do our dry cleaning where we go to work. What would it look like proceeds planted Crow right where you will be back in a minute with just a quick reminder this message of the difference makers is from chip series with the world needs now he's in Matthew chapter 5 reminding us of Jesus. Specific instructions during a time of deep hurt, turmoil and political strife time all-too-familiar for us today, but what better comfort and encouragement. Good to hear from our Lord the priorities and counsel uppermost on his mind for the people hearing them firsthand. Then and now for us. It's our sincere hope that you'll share this message with a friend of family member on social media anywhere you can communicate with others who need wisdom in the Lord's guidance during these distressing days of excess free MP3s and series discounts go to LivingontheEdge.org hapless nurse just capture woodchip with shutdowns and fires in all of the upheaval going on. A lot of people are wondering how's the ministry being affected these days or what limitations have you had during the season Living on the Edge. Dave thankfully I have an office center video and audio studio that I can keep doing work and I don't think I've ever been busier in my life and it's happened in ways that we never dreamed one we've been able to do things very specifically to help people one on one through something called the daily discipleship with chip where I literally got to one-on-one coaching with people of how to meet with God and how to mentor people and literally how to experience who you are in Christ, so that's been a lot of energy and the impact has literally been probably greater than any single thing we've done is we read the emails and talk to people and then to our delight, we have seen our friends in China take the resources that I'm not at liberty tell a lot about, but true spirituality how to become a Romans 12 Christian in numbers that would just absolutely shock you in the midst of all of this doing training in 18 different cities and so we are so grateful for those who have given faithfully through this time that have allowed us to do what were doing and now the demands are even greater. So if you have never given to Living on the Edge now is a really great time and if you have thank you so much you have allowed us to do some things globally and nationally that we never dreamed could happen thank you very much. It's been humbling to see how people continue to support Living on the Edge even during these unprecedented days of hardship, the need for biblical wisdom and direction has risen, and God's people continue to help us meet those needs. So let me include my thanks to our partners as well. If you like to join the team today would be a great day to do it to send a gift or to set up a recurring donation. Just go to LivingontheEdge.org tap donate on the app or give us a call a triple late. 333-6003 help me. Thank you in advance for whatever the Lord leads you to do as we wrap up today's program.

I want to ask you the question that I ask at the end of the teaching. Are you ready to recharge and reengage in a revolution of love and then what you need to do. I mean, just between you and God. In fact, the title of this message is what the world needs now is authentic difference makers and as we walked to the teaching today. Not only my praying that we have courage and that God would help you trust him and that you would believe he would free our hearts, but I think one of the fundamental questions that we addressed was whose agenda or whose kingdom are you seeking to accomplish that.

I want to probe your little bit. I'm probably gonna make you little upset. Maybe everybody upset but is it the Republican agenda or God's agenda is that the Democratic agenda. Was it God's agenda is that your movements agenda your churches agenda the millennial agenda, the baby boomer agenda. Is it the economy coming out right agenda is your view of the virus agenda mean whose agenda are you championing and I hear you. There are legitimate important issues that need to be addressed that are right and true. But what Jesus was saying now, even as was saying that the number one agenda has to begin with him.

What are you doing that reflects the love of Christ. The compassion of Christ treating everyone with dignity, especially those you disagree with speaking the truth in love. Treating people posting in social media in such a way that even those that you violently disagree with those that make you crazy that your blood boils and you feel like that is so wrong regardless of what side these issues, you are on first and foremost, you are called to be an authentic difference maker who in humility treats everyone is made in the image of God and loves them, cares for them. You can agree to disagree but you need to be one who brings healing to our world. The number one agenda is not any other agenda than the kingdom agenda following Christ, can I ask you to just have a private conversation with God and do your words, your emotions, your attitudes, your actions and what you post on social media reflect first and foremost this is pleasing to God, and if not, would you change that. Let's bring healing not hurt to a very needy world. Just before we close. I would think each of you lose making this program possible through your generous giving 100% of your gifts are going directly to the ministry to help Christians really live like Christians and if you're praying for the ministry.

Thanks for that as well. God is doing amazing things in your part of that will until next time, and for all of us here.

This is the same. Thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge