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

We are living in a day when injustice of every kind is being called out, 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 had a stay with me. Welcome to this edition of living only a chipping victory in the mission of these daily programs is to intentionally disciple Christians, the Bible teaching of German nearing the end of our series with the world needs now. Over the past few messages we've learned the value of being an off difference maker why we must strive to be humble bridge builders miss those messages. Let me encourage you to check them out on the chipping remap. But for these last two program strips going to challenge us to join a new radical movement. There are tons of great causes and groups to support out there, but Jesus is calling us to revisit our priorities and follow a new agenda one that's way more important than anything else. To find out what that is. Turn in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 5. Let's join Chip for today's talk. 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 may be 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 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 all your secrets, what would he 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 solved and then maybe 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 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 in 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 some do the Bible and somebody 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 had 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. They are 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 or 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 soon 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 you, not the father you want to be the man you want to be another 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 your good person make the world a better place. Here's five lessons on morality, just trying 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 descending 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 in the notice. Not only is it 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 youth.

A lot of the world. You 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 of your not there.

He sets forth the Kingsway by contrasting it with the current interpretation of the law that we have different laws at different times and he he takes all of the Old Testament and he speaking to the scribes, 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, it 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 unless 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 want to 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 unless you are righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and the Pharisees asked 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 would be a new covenant. Someday some way that be a new day there be a savior there BMS. I am what is good to go 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. 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 disease tree bears bad fruit.

Healthy tree can't bear bad fruit, nor can a disease 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 out life of new power that brings transformation and new speech and Luke 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 die 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 it 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 that 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 an 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 triple joint assurance. This application just a minute you've been listening to the first part of his message radical mercy giver series with the world needs now turmoil division political corruption prejudice. These are just a few of the serious issues were dealing with in our society today. But did you know the early church in Jesus's disciples faced similar problems in this three-part series chip shares the guidance Jesus gave to his followers, some 2000 years ago and how that wisdom relates to us today.

Don't list the ways to build your relationships handle injustice and live your life like never before.

For more information about what the world needs now for our many resources.

Just go to LivingontheEdge.org or call us at AAA 333-6003 that's AAA 333-6003, or LivingontheEdge.org hapless nurse to have special offers before we continue, hears Chip to talk about something that's really close to his heart. Let me ask you a question.

Do you struggle to find time to meet with God each and every day does it feel like your life is just too busy. You just can't squeeze that time in or you decide you're gonna do it and you try really hard and then you just keep blowing it time after time will believe me I've been there. But let me challenge you to develop a new habit that will produce really life-changing results.

I want to show you how to move from what I call simple devotions to experiencing the power of daily discipleship. I invite you to join me as we study the book of James in the brand-new daily discipleship with chip is called the art of survival.

And here's how it works. Each day I'm going to meet with you one-on-one for 10 days or we can discover what James chapter 1 teaches about the art of survival and life's trials will start her time together where I will literally get a couple coffee open my Bible and I'll talk directly with you one-on-one and will walk through how to study the Bible, you'll learn to study the Scriptures for yourself in a way where you hear God's voice and have God speak in such a way that gives you the strength to make it through life's hardest and most difficult times. So here's the challenge spend 10 days 10 minutes a day with me 10 minutes on your own and then let me encourage you invite 10 people to join you, let's be difference makers.

Let's learn the art of survival in the age of chaos. You know those early disciples turned the world upside down and that's God's plan for you and me. Won't you join me, but strip were so excited to share with you our new daily discipleship with chip. The art of survival used in James chapter 1 through this free video series will discover how to handle circumstances out of our control guard our attitude against discouragement and trust God in his provision. If you're ready to learn the art of surviving in these challenging times and preregister today to take the daily discipleship with chip challenge and when you sign up will send you a new leather bound prayer journal is our gift to you to take this free 10 day daily discipleship challenge go to LivingontheEdge.org or call us at AAA 333-6003 that's AAA 333-6003 or go to LivingontheEdge.org hapless nurse top discipleship as we wrap up today's program. I hope you picked up on the idea of the 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 the most radical and provocative things. Jesus told them was I didn't come to abolish the law I came to fulfill it. But 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 to 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 in and there's a some agendas that are very, very important and 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 thank each of you who's making this program possible for your generous giving 100% of your gifts are going directly to the ministry to help Christians really live like Christians. A few found chips teaching helpful, but you're not yet on the team. Would you consider doing that today to donate. Just go to LivingontheEdge.org Donate on the up or give us a call at AAA 333-6003, let me thank you in advance for whatever the Lord leads you to do one selects time for everyone here. This is Dave Drewry saying thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge