What the World Needs Now - Radical Mercy-Givers, Part 1

We are living in a day when injustice of every kind is being called. It's wrong. It's not fair.

Something has to change. And it has to change now. Something inside us demands justice today.

Jesus will tackle this one. Stay with me. Welcome to this Edition of Living on the Edge roof at your finger Living on the Edges of international discipleship ministry open Christians what Christian venture continues his new series called what the world needs no we've already learned the value being authentic different and humble bridge builders miss those messages but heard you bigger than when LivingontheEdge.org or on the chipping remap in this program. She reminds us that while we may be calling out injustice is a fine thing to do.

Jesus is calling us out as Christians there's an agenda that has to take priority over all others were about to find out what that it is just continues in Matthew chapter 5 with his message with the world needs now is radical mercy.

I would like if you would to pull out your phone, please don't use it, but pull it out and I like you to imagine that just hypothetically, at this very moment. Maybe in 10 9876 bang every phone was flashing every pad, every new station every satellite all over the world and was flashing in the God of the universe that I have a message and in the next hour I will be giving a message to the entire world. He would speak in a language that everyone of all humanity would understand exactly what he saying to come on your phone will come on your tablet. No communication of any kind could happen anywhere.

God is going to speak to humanity. Here's my question.

What he think it's a mean just all the people China, South America, Antarctica, Australia, Europe bodhi say everybody gathered maybe zooming the lens and since he's God he could speak to all of us individually. Simultaneously the same time what you think you would say to you personally. He knows all your thoughts are your fears are your secrets what what you think of the big issues he would address we just look at racism in politics and corruption just the unraveling and the evil in the world. What what would he say what would be the big issues and then finally, what solution would provide speaking to all of us at the same time. This is how the world gets all in the Navy.

More specifically what you think he would ask each one of us to do to be a part of the solution.

Now that's a pretty big hypothetical and if you'd like to have a I think a lot of fun at a dinner party you might raise those questions and say what you think or what you think and I know what you think. I think the big issue be this now in Levison that would be a lot of fun, but the fact is this is that you are not all-knowing, all wise owl all-powerful, you can't see the end from the beginning and the beginning from the end. Your thoughts and your ways compared to God are as far as the earth is from the heaven and the heaven is from the earth, and here's the amazing thing this message that God would give this sermon to all humanity. Are you ready for this.

It's already been given it was given by God the son.

It's commonly called the sermon on the Mount is found in Luke six and then in Matthew five, six and seven, but I have this I just it's somewhere between a fear of burden and concern that many of us who absolutely would say I'm a follower of Jesus, we do not get the message. We don't really understand what God is saying.

We've analyzed a few trees over here in a tree over here and has something do with the Bible and some to do with prayer and some to do with the cross and some to do with forgiveness and some do it in a good person and you get all these trees, but I believe that many many many many very sincere Christians have completely missed the forest and really do not know the singular most important sermon or message from God. If you would to pull out your notes. I'm going to give you the summary of that message and then will cover the very end.

Because here's what God would say because this is what he did say he would say the fundamental problem in the world is life isn't fair, most of you the experience that if you're older. You've experienced a lot. If you come from a different background are born into a situation.

Unlike a lot of people you may have experienced it extremely. In one word.

The biggest problem in the world is injustice. Some people no fault of their own. There born blind.

They can't see. Some people are lame. Some people are born abject poverty. Some people were beaten before they were very old.

Some people been abandoned, abused, some people lost their jobs. There's been greed, corruption, there's been clues in countries that have killed millions of people.

When God looks on the earth that he made that he loves what we see today is not what he wanted nor created. Sin occurred and what you can see is in his sermon everything he says and those attitudes are about bringing about justice first in incremental ways now and then, forever and ever and ever. That's the corporate issue. The private issue gets a little more personal. The fundamental problem in my life and in your life is we don't measure up.

You don't okay and by the way don't get over it, not the father you want to be the man you want to be you, not the student you want to be you, not the woman you want to be your not the daughter you want to be you not always kind always loving you have private thoughts, you have loss, you have little lies and big lies. You have stolen you stolen people's ideas. You marred the reputation you assassinated them with your lips. What I'm describing is humanity in one word, it's unrighteousness and what the sermon on the Mount does, and this is what I think we miss Jesus sermon on the Mount introduces a kingdom that's a odd word for Americans. It really works everywhere else in the world. Most people for all time is used. Having a king or dictator or someone that you realize what they say is this is the way of life but Jesus kingdom or way of life, promises justice and he redefines righteousness and introduces this concept of his way or his kingdom with him being the king and calling and asking us to follow in all of his sermons were about the kingdom of God. In Matthew chapter 5 verses one through 12.

He sets forth the prerequisites to enter the kingdom and to experience and to expand it now and forever, and so contrary to be a good person make the world a better place. Here's five lessons on morality, just trying to figure out in your mind what would Jesus do and try really hard to do what he would do.

He says all of that is completely the opposite of what I want is not looking for little moral robots piecing you need to see how desperate you are poor in spirit are spiritually bankrupt. Your good deeds and my good deeds and the best of humanity is like a dirty, righteous, filthy rag compared to this supreme pristine unapproachable light of God's holiness and those that see that and get that realize their need. They mourn. Therefore, God comforts them theirs.

He says when you begin to thirst, not for fame and wealth and significance and power but for righteousness will be satisfied because those people that are gentle that are willing to let go of their rights and serve other people you actually one day, just as you can inherit the earth. Each one of these Beatitudes is not like a new moral code. Here's what he saying these are the heart conditions and the kind of people that represent my values and the notice. Not always a tell us these are the prerequisites to both enter and expand his kingdom. But then in Matthew chapter 513 through 16. He says there's the purpose for this now and later member.

Use a lot of the world are the salt of the earth.

In other words, the kind of life that follows Jesus by his power and his life exposes darkness, the kind of life that is other centered and kind and and and overcomes evil with good and works in these countercultural ways as a follower of Jesus, you preserve righteousness you, you begin to give people a taste of what heaven and real life is like, and then in Matthew 517 through 48. You can turn the page.

If you're not there. He sets forth the Kingsway by contrasting it with the current interpretation of the law know we have different laws at different times and he he takes all of the Old Testament and he speaking to describes the Pharisees a bill here. All this and there's this multitude of people and he goes down through and he looks at the law of murder and it was just about the physical act and he said no, like the sacred. That's the kingdom value. There is the law of reconciliation. He said relationships matter more than fulfilling religious requirements say when it comes to adultery. It's not just the physical act.

It's it's fidelity at the heart of purity a mind and a heart that sexually pure longs to be pleasing to your heavenly father you look at the law of divorce and he says I created a man and a woman to come together forever in the covenant that you make matters and it's holy and apart from unique unique circumstances that should never ever be broken if the law boasts in this time everyone in the some cultures where lying is okay, literally I've been in cultures where lying is morally okay as long as you don't get caught by this time in Judaism, everyone knew that the less you said I swear by the temple, or I swear by God, then you have to tell the truth any other timeline would be okay and he said I don't hear none of that your yeses yes your nose know what is really saying is the kingdom value is were men and women of integrity will look at the law of retribution. No paying back when you incur injustice and will look at the law of love. But what I want you to see. Look at the bullet point underneath. In each case, Jesus sets forth what the exceeding righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees look like for his kingdom followers member verse 20 is the key to this whole sermon.

He says to them, he says to us in less you are righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and the Pharisees who fast twice a week who tie I mean everything from their money down to the herbs and spices who are squeaky clean, externally and morally.

He says unless your righteousness is above. There's you can even enter the kingdom because there's was external and it was hypocritical then he these are the points. What he does after chapter 5. He says then here's how the practices look because giving is important because you can't ever win over greed unless you become generous praying is important because you never overcome pride less your dependent in prayer and fasting is critical because we all have things to get a hold of our life. We need to break free from them, but you do it for the right reason with the right motive and then the word father.

It's about relationship. Then in chapter 7 it's filled with warnings Jesus makes clear that living out his kingdom values requires a new heart.

Jeremiah 31 said there be a new covenant. Someday some way that be a new day there be a savior there be a Messiah and what is still take the heart of stone inside of human beings and make it a heart of flesh, and people would want to obey from the inside out. And Jesus has made this impossible standard to help us see we need a new heart and we need new power that only he can provide. But look at chapter 7 verse 13. He's told them about all these things he told them about connecting with their heavenly father and so he says in verse 12, so whatever you wish, what others would do for you do for them, for this is the law and the prophets sucking at this complete inside out, upside down completely different way of thinking that goes against human nature.

But notice he says enter the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. We do not take that seriously. You've grown up in an evangelical world where I prayed a prayer or I had a little spiritual moment. He saying that to enter the kingdom you need a new heart. You don't need to be remodeled. You don't need to try harder. You need a completely new life and I need a new life. And then the warning goes on. He says, beware of false prophets, what are they as a people who tell you things that are true, they come to you in sheep's clothing and inwardly the ravenous wolves. And then he gives us parallel. He says you'll recognize them by their fruits, their lifestyles, how they actually live in that he gives this example are grapes gathered from thorn bush. Of course not, or figs from thistles, of course not.

So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but a diseased tree bears bad fruit.

Healthy tree can't bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, you will recognize them by their fruit is not that they prayed a prayer their life.

This is a supernatural lower light of new power that brings transformation and new speech and loop takes the same passage and says the way you evidence this is that the mouth speaks from that which fills the heart. He said if there hasn't been a change if there's not a revolution.

If Jesus isn't the focus of your life. Be careful says in a try hard. Be nice be moral come to church. This is a revolution that has to occur.

So he warns us.

Jesus also makes it clear that only those with an eternal perspective of his sovereign ruler ship. In other words final justice can live this counter cultural life. Again he gives it in verse 21 of chapter 7 he says not everyone who says to me Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven.

But the one who does the will of my father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name. Then we do many mighty works in your name and then I will declare to them, I never knew you depart from me, you workers of lawlessness when you grasp this new life. The forest not just some trees, not just some spiritual little cues here and there. Unless you have an eternal perspective. When Jesus says give good for evil. When you're encountering justice when Jesus says you're poor in spirit, and your thinking. I got plenty of money I got a great job I'm pretty smart. I'm a person that makes it happen when Jesus says to do the most countercultural things to give to love, to care when it costs a lot.

Are you ready be willing to die at a small group of people in my home last night I shared an interview that I can't share publicly because of the danger to his life.

It's interview with a young pastor in Syria who every day lives in a world and the people with him to become a follower of Jesus. Yes I'm receiving God's grace. And yes, I'm signing up that I in all likelihood need to be prepared to die and probably will produces a little bit different, follower notice, Jesus makes clear that only through death to our personal agendas and selfish ambition can the supernatural life that expands his kingdom be experienced. Notice what he says in this morning.

He says everyone. Verse 24 chapter 7 everyone who hears the words of mine and does them doesn't agree with them doesn't have them underlined in their Bible doesn't have them on a plaque at home doesn't have their kids learn them in a Christian school.

Everyone who has these words of mine and does them will be wise like a man who built his house on the rock and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on the house, but it didn't fall because they've been founded on the rock and everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like the foolish man who built his house on the sand in the rain fell in the flood came, and the winds blew and the beat against the house, and it fell in great was the fall and when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching as one who had great authority and not like their scribes under the bullet point where it says we need to exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, I want you to write the words the required response.

What's the required response of a follower of Jesus to be more righteous in the scribes and the Pharisees and then under that I've given you the bullet point, but under the bullet point it says Jesus made clear that these kingdom values require a new heart and new power.

I want you to write the words new relationship and underwrite that right the word of God as father. That's what they missed. They had religion they had morality. All of chapter 6 was a practice to please. One when your father who sees in secret he will reward you. So a new heart, a new life and then on your notes on the left side write the word faith. This is new to all of them. Yes, he's healed people he's right, people from the dead. He's fed 5000. He's now claiming to be the king and is now set this king, and there is his way, which is called his kingdom. And if you want to follow me, you need to believe in me, and believing in me you have new relationship that requires a new heart and a born-again experience and you be pleasing to your heavenly father got the bullet point under that says Jesus makes it clear that only those with eternal perspective of his sovereignty can live this countercultural life under that. I want you to write new allegiance new allegiance. You see, the sermon on the Mount says there's a new relationship God the father through Jesus. Now there's a new allegiance and right under that Jesus is Lord, not religion, and for us, not money, not success, not education, not what people think, not how your body looks. Jesus is Lord, to be back in a minute with just a quick reminder this message radical mercy givers is from chip series. 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, a 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 will 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 access free MP3s and series discounts go to LivingontheEdge.org hapless nurse just capture what you are really love the simplicity of your last words in the teaching Jesus is Lord. But, you know, the fact is, he's not Lord to everyone. I mean, there's a whole unseen spiritual realm whose sole purpose is to instigate strife and hate, even violence. So we need to be mindful that there's a lot more going on behind the scenes, which is why we created a brand-new set of spiritual warfare. Scripture cards absolutely day.

The fact of the matter is, is that the enemy is having a heyday.

There is a very personal angelic power called Satan, who fell from heaven and took 1/3 of the angels that are now called demons and when they are greatly at work. They divide people and they cause anger and bitterness and resentment and they get us to attack one another and so these spiritual warfare cards help you understand what spiritual warfare is when you're involved in it how Satan actually works and how to respond and so I would encourage people as you look at what's happening across the landscape, understand our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, the powers the world forces of this darkness, according to the apostle Paul. I think these cards would be a great resource.

Very helpful will be spiritual warfare. Scripture cards have been completely revised there organized in several categories to help you remember the truth about Satan and his tactics.

Be aware of your position in Christ and then be calm and steady to stand firm in your convictions whether there for you or to give as a gift to help and encourage someone else. I hope you'll pick up a set or two while discounted supplies last. For all the details on our newly revised spiritual warfare.

Scripture cards visit us online at http://livingontheedge.org or tap special offers on the app will now here's chip as we wrap up today's program. I hope you picked up on the idea of a new allegiance that you know in Jesus day the Jews had this unbelievable allegiance to the law to the Torah and they were to follow it as closely as possible to show God. You know how much they loved him. One of most radical and provocative things. Jesus told them was I didn't come to abolish the law I came to fulfill it.

What he wanted them to see was they needed to change their allegiance they had fallen into it and allegiance to religiosity they had fallen into allegiance to a secondary cause instead of the number one cause God himself. Think about that today you know Christians that I know and in love and sometimes I hear us talking and there's some secondary allegiances and and their important in there's movements in and there's causes and there's the sex trade and there's abortion and there's racism then and there's a some agendas that are very very important in if you're not careful. Here's what you need understand secondary allegiances can be lethal lethal to your spiritual health and lethal to what God wants to do. In other words, when anything or anyone, no matter how important the cause becomes the number one thing then something really tragic is happened and when it's the number one thing, then we tend in ourselves to try and pull it off our way and I just want to ask you right now above your political persuasion any social justice issue or any recommendation that you think has to happen in the future of our country. I just want to ask you is your number one allegiance first and foremost, the Lord Jesus and is that being played out in your private time with him in your relationship with other Christians and in how you treat your enemies. See Jesus was very very clear when you're allegiances to him.

We pray for those who persecute us. We love our enemies, we bless those who curse us and we are the kind of people that are great mercy givers even as we fight for the things that are right now.

Let's go do that. Just before we close. I want to say thanks to those of you who are giving regularly to the ministry of Living on the Edge you're making a huge difference helping other Christians live like Christians of your enjoying the benefits of Living on the Edge, but are get on the team would you do that today. You can set up a recurring donation by calling us at AAA 83336003.

Topping the donate button or visiting us online at http://livingontheedge.org. Thanks for doing whatever the Lord leads you to do well for chip and all of us here, this is Dave Drewry saying thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge