Reconciled at Once

GRACE THROUGH FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH

 

TEXT: Matthew 5:23-26

THEME: Reconciliation – Murderers Must Reconcile to both God and Man

TITLE: Reconciled at Once            

PROPOSTIONAL STATEMENT: The

PURPOSE: To Encourage Reconciliation with God and Man

 

I. INTRODUCTION

A. Questions about Going to Church

1) Why do we go to church every Sunday?  To Worship God

2) How is anger affect worship?

3) How do we know that our worship is acceptable?

II. BODY

A. The Convicted Heart – (Inward Effect)

               The word THEREFORE appear if there is a conclusion. This is all about learning of something.This is the summation of what had been learned.

1) Jesus Explained the Deep Meaning of 6^th Commandment

    He attacked the self-righteousness of the Jew

·        He pulled out the root of murder

·        He pulled out the root of slandering

·        He pulled out the root cursing

2) Jesus Gave the Judgment of Violating the 6^th Commandment

            This statement is for those who are fully convinced that they are murderer. They violated the Law and convinced that they are in danger fire.

B. The Contrite Heart - (The Outward Effect)

1) Reconciliation with God – Offering a gift to the Altar

·        Kinds of Offering

o   Burnt Offering

o   Grain Offering

o   Fellowship Offering

o   Sin Offering

o   Guilt Offering

2) Reconciliation with the Offended Party - Settlement

C. Dealing with the Outward Manifestation of Righteousness

We must examine our outward manifestation of righteousness so it will not be like the phony righteousness of the Pharisees.

1) The Most Affected Area of Christian Life – Worship (25)

·        Worship must be holy and acceptable to God (Romans 12:1-2)

·        Offering a gift is vehicle of worship – way man can worship God

o   Old Testament – Abel, Noah after the flood, Abraham offering Isaac

·        Offering a gift is making right with God (Job 42:8) everytime the people of Israel sinned against God they offer a gift

2) The Hardest Thing to Remember – The People we offended (24)

·         Because of man’s self-centeredness he can easily remember those who offended him rather than he offended

·        Because of man’s pride he cannot admit easily that he offended others

Principle : No right relationship with God if there is no right relationship with others.

3) Illustration (25-26)

·        The Duality of the Illustration

o   The duality of illustration  deals with both God and man

§  Racca , Fool

§  Sanhedrin , Danger of the fire of Hell

§  Worship (God) and Relationship (Man)

o   Settling the relationship both to God and man (Luke 10:27)

o   When we offend other person we offend God (adversary – they are the one who has anything against us)

·        The Urgency in Illustration

o   The word quickly means at once, the moment you are convicted settle matters at once.

o   The phrase “while you are still with him on the way” expresses sense of urgency

o   The reason behind urgency is the severity of Judgment

§  Impossibility of getting out of prison – It is impossible for a man to pay his debt if he is in jail.

D. Attitudes That Will Help To Be Reconciled To Others

1) Sincerity (23)– kill the hypocricy

2) Humility (24) – swallow your pride

III. CONCLUSION

            Think of the person whom you offend. Reconciled at once so that your worship will be acceptable or you will be lost forever and be cast in the prison that you cannot compensate the due punishment

For God’s Glory

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             09/11/11

Deprived Yourself of Lust

GRACE THROUGH FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH

 

TEXT: Matthew 5:27-30

THEME: Adultery – The Greatest Desire of Man is Lust of the World

TITLE: Deprived Yourself of Lust               

PROPOSTIONAL STATEMENT: The Steps How to Deprived Self from Worldly Lust

PURPOSE: To learn how to deprived one’s self to worldly lust

 

I. INTRODUCTION

A. The Purpose of Explaining of the Law

·        The Justify Jesus Statement

o   The Justification of Jesus Statement about the Standard of Righteousness by which man can enter the Kingdom in verse 20 “unless your righteousness…..”

o   This verse does not say that Jesus acknowledged the righteousness of the Pharisees and Scribes rather He attacked against it because it is so deceiving and that’s what happens in our time.

o   Anothre reason is that they did not really understand the law and this will lead them to deception.

·        To Bring Back the Standard of the Law from Where it Begins

o   Jews Lowered the Standard of the Law in favor of their legalistic righteousness through observing

o   Jesus Lifted back the Standard of the Law in favor of God’s true and satisfying righteousness

·        To Proclaim that It is Impossible to Obey the Law according to God’s Standard

o   If they will understand they cannot do obey it based on God’s standard, their hope is no longer on Law

o   If they will understand they have no hope in Law they will be miserable as a man dying little by little in cancer

o   If they will understand they are miserable they will begin to cry out to God in agony and in great sorrow

o   And they will turn to the God’s provided lamb (JESUS the CHRIST)

B. The Deprivation

·        The Definition

o   State of being without or denied something, especially of being without adequate food or shelter.

o   Taking away of something you crace heartily.

·        Monasticism

o   Ascetic life – seclusion of onee’s self to the environment that will lead them to sin

o   St. Anthony of Egypt – Desert Fathers – was known as the great father of asceticism

o   Monk and Monastery –  people practicing monasticism are celibated

II. BODY

A. Dealing the Laws – The Fifth and the Sixth Commandments

1. Examining the Law

·        The Similarity

o   They are moral law.

o   Other laws are based on these like judicial law and ceremonial law in Israel

o   They are not burdensome like what Apostle John tells in his epistle.

o   They serve as protection – Thou shall not kill (protects life) while Thou shall not commit adultery (protects family)

·        The Difference

o   In the fifth commandment, Jesus is telling to love what people is hating

o   In the sixth commandment, Jesus is telling to hate what people is loving 

2. Explaining the Law

·        Lowered Down by Jews

o   6 times the phrase “You have heard and it was said” (explicitely and implicitely) have been mentioned in Chapter 5 (verse 27,21,31,33,38 and 43)

o   It explains how the Jews interpret the law that will fit to their custom and theology

o   This is to justify their righteousness

o   They interpret the surface and neglects the bottom part (the very root – the heart)

·        Lifted Up by Jesus

o   “BUT I TELL YOU” stop for a moment every time we read this – He is telling of great treasure with of great value.

o   It is the word of an opposition to the first preceeding statement mentiond also six times that will counter the statement “You have heard…..”

o   This is the word with authority. It does not say Thus says the Lord but I tell you. This mean that Jesus is more than a prophet. He claimed the word only for God because He is God indeed.

o   Jesus opposed their idea about adultery

2. Exegeting the Law

·        Expanded or Explained

o   Jesus did not add to the law in Exodus 20:13 “Thou shall not commit adultery”

o   He explained the very root – the heart that is so lustful (Genesis 6:5; Romans 3:10-11)

o   Jesus explained it is so broad at face value.

o   In Psalms 119:96 David as he meditate the Law he said that the commands of the Lord are boundless

B. Dealing the Sin

1) Entrance of Sin

·        The Lustful Eyes

o   Take the example in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:6)

o   Take the teaching of John (1John 2:16)

o   Eyes is the entrarnce of cravings, pleasures, lust (Matthew 6:22)

·        The Lustful Heart

o   Heart is the seat of cravings, pleasures, lust (Genesis 6:5)

o   Examples : Lust on woman, lost wallet, food which is not good to health (diabetic) other craving in life like latest gadgets which will not be used for God’s glory

2) Elimination of Sin

·        Right Eye and Right Hand

o   It is not the body part perse but it is the symbol of the best faculty that a man had

o   Right hand means authority –therefore it means one that has an authority in man (flesh)

·        Gouging Out and Cutting Off

o   It is not eliminating your body parts but depriving the greatest craving you have for the sake of God’s glory

o   If you love God’s glory you hate to sin

o   Example : Eliminate things that will lead you to sin

§  If you are weak in wine do not attend to occasions with drinking party

§  If you are weak in woman as fantasy do not go to internet pornography or watching pornography or make covenant with your eyes like Job in Job 31:1

3) Explaination of the Sanction

·        Better to loose one part of your body than to be in hell with complete body

o   Deprived yourself one sin your life than to be in hell

o   One part that will taste the pleasure of sin the exchange is the whole body spending in hell in eternity

C. Steps How to Deprived From Worldly Lust

1) Stop Feeding Your Lust – Do not feed it (Romans 13:14)

·        It is not your need

2) Stop Following Your Lust – Do not obey it (Romans 6:11)

·        It is not your master

3) Stop Focusing on Your Lust – Do not meditate on it (Colossians 3:2)

·        It is not your life

III. CONCLUSION

Problem :

            Reading of Genesis 6 will tell us who we are before God that we cannot obey God in our hearts

·        No righteousness, totally fallen and lost forever

·        Pharisees’ righteousness is man made righteousness

·        This is based on observing the law came from wrong interpretation and wrong motives

Provision:

            God provided a way out and it is through the person and work of Jesus Christ that we may have righteousness in Him. He who knew no sin became sin for us to become a righteousness of God. REPENT and BELIEVE

For God’s Glory

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             09/25/11

Jesus Fulfilled It All

GRACE THROUGH FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH

TEXT: Matthew 5:17-20
THEME: Fulfillment of the Law – Jesus Christ Fulfilled All the Laws for Us to have an Acceptable Righteousness
TITLE: Jesus Fulfilled It All
PROPOSTIONAL STATEMENT: The Purposes of Fulfilling the Law
PURPOSE: To Understand the Law and Grace

I. INTRODUCTION
A. The Two Extremes Sides about the Law
1) Legalism – They can attain righteousness through observing the Law (Under Curse)
2) Antinomianism – For them law has no meaning anymore because Jesus already fulfilled it. (Under Delusion)

B) The Law and the Two Adams
1) First Adam – One violation of the enough so that all humanity are under curse and condemnation
2) Second Adam (Jesus) – All law must be fulfilled so that there will be righteousness for humanity

II. BODY
A. The Christ and The Law
1) Antagonists’ False Accusation
• Jesus was accused of nullifying the Law – Abolishing, Disregarding the Law
• Who are the accusers? (The Pharisees, Scribes and Saducees)
o Experts of the Law
o Keepers of the Law
o Guardians of the Law
• These accusers were the great faultfinders of Jesus in His time. And they used the Law to justified their selfish motives
o Jesus was accused of no giving of reverence on Sabbath Day - (Matthew 12:3)
o They tried to trap Jesus (Mark 12:15)
o They accused Jesus of being with the prince of demons (Matthew 12:24)
o They tried to kill Him (John 7:25; Matthew 12:14)
2) Accomplishment of the First Advent
a) The Purpose of the First Advent
• Jesus Christ always tell the purpose why He came down here on earth.
o To do the will of the Father
o To seek and save the lost
o To serve and be a ransom
o To glorify the His Father

B. The Creation and the Law
• 78 times Jesus said the phrase “I tell you the truth”
• This gives us a reason to stop for a moment and listen to what He is saying
• T he Law is more important than creation
• God had destroyed Jericho
• God had destroyed the tribes that occupies Promised Land
• God had destroyed Nineveh
• God had destroyed Egyptians in the Red Sea
• God had destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah
• God had destroyed the world through water
• God will destroyed the whole universe in the Great Tribulation
These destructions show that when God’s law is violated destruction will come
1) Details of the Law
a) Smallest Letter and Stroke
• Greek Letter (Iota) meaning “jot” – Iota subscript is the smallest jot in Greek
• Hebrew Letter (Yodh) is what tittle means. The smallest stroke in Hebrew Letter
b) The Inspiration – Every word is inspired (Verbal Plenary)
• This gives an idea about inspiration
• Every title or jot is important in the Law
2) Duration of the Law
a) The Unity of the Law
• Violating one Law is Violating all Law (James 2:10)
• Disappearance of the Law if All Law will be accomplished
Questions to be Answered:
• Did Jesus Christ fulfill all the law?
o Yes, All the Categories of Law – Moral Law, Judicial Law, Ceremonial Law
• Are all laws still binding?
o There are laws which are still binding. (Moral Law – Ten Commandments minus the Sabbath)
o There are laws which are not binding anymore but must not be removed from the Scripture

C. The Church and the Law
a) Division of the People
• The People Outside the Kingdom
• The People Inside the Kingdom
o The Least in the Kingdom
• The Violators
• The Teachers by being Example to Others
o The Greatest in the Kingdom
• The Doers
• The Teachers by being Example to Others

D. The Law and the Condition
• This is all about certainty of entering the Kingdom of Heaven
1) Condition
• The need to have righteousness
2) Comparison
• Righteousness must surpassed the Righteousness of the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law
o Righteousness of the Pharisees is through observing the Law while Christians is through believing Jesus Christ that He obeyed the Law for their righteousness (Romans 9:30-32)
o The righteousness of the Pharisees is external and temporal but the righteousness of a Christian is internal and eternal

For Better Understanding
If God tells you to save yourselves by being obedient to the law from the moment of your birth until your last breath according to God’s standard, can you save yourselves? (Matthew 19:17 ; 25 – 25)
It is impossible to a man to save his self because it is impossible to keep the law until death based on the standard of God.

THE 2 PURPOSES OF FULFILLING THE LAW

1) For Revelation Purposes
• It reveals the total inability of man in keeping the law
• It reveals that man deserves hell
• It reveals hope in Jesus Christ
• It reveals that law was reserved for Christ to fulfill it (2nd Adam)
2) For Redemption Purposes
• Jesus Christ fulfill the law for us to have righteousness (Matthew 3:15 ; 2 Corinthians 5:21)

III. CONCLUSION

• If you think that you can have the righteousness through observing the law you are in dilemma
• If you believe that you can obey the law, you are in great delusion
• If you insist that you can observe the law, it means you don’t need Jesus. You are in total destruction
• What will be your response knowing that Christ obeyed the law that you cannot obey?
• Will you go on sinning and justify it?









For God’s Glory
08/14/11

Do Not Just Sit on the Pew

GRACE THROUGH FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH

TEXT: Matthew 5:13-16
THEME: The Influence of the Citizens of the Kingdom in Dark Decaying World
TITLE: Do Not Just Sit on the Pew
PROPOSTIONAL STATEMENT: Qualifications To Influence the Dark Decaying World
PURPOSE: To Motivate the Christians how to influence the dark decaying world

I. INTRODUCTION
A. Review of Matthew
• Chapter 1-2 The Promised King
• Chapter 3 The Kingdom of the King
• Chapter 4 The Ministry of the King
• Chapter 5 The Teaching of the King
o The People of the Kingdom
o The Influence of the People of the Kingdom

B. My Doctor’s Prescription
• Antibiotic – to fight and kills bacteria
• Expectorant – to expell the phlegm in my respiratory tract

II. BODY
A. Persepective - World is totally in darkness and continually decaying
• Man’s Perspective
o The song “HEAL THE WORLD” – that there is a hope and this world will be a better place to live in
o People are still looking foreward on the betterment of this world
• Scripture’s Perspective
o The this world is decaying
 Physically, morally, spiritually
 Prophecy about last days
• Great Tribulations , Love of many will grow cold, They will depart from the truth
• Jesus’ Perspective
o His perspective can be traced on His statement “You are Salt and Light of the World” - The World is Decaying

• Visible Result
o All Creation is under curse – death, sickness, war, in the last days the whole cosmos will be shaken.
• Invisible Result
o The wrath of God
o The coming judgment
o The condemnation in hell forever

B. Plan – World will be dominated by the influence of the Christians
• Salt and Light of the World is the Identity of Christian and not his Characteristics
• Being salty and brightness are his characteristics
• Salt and light are inseperable – one deals on the negative aspect and one deals on positive aspect
• Christians are the only people provided by God to influence the dark decaying world.

C. Problem – Failure to influence the dark, decaying world
• Salt – looses its saltiness
o You are in sin, joining the company whose sin is a cherry on the top of an ice cream
 Green jokes, joining the company of those who are smoking, gambling, dringking wine
 You will loose your refutation as a Christian and will lead to fail to prevent corruption because of sin
• Light – Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl
o You cannot influence other if truth will be hidden.
o People will still be in darkness or people will never been exposed to light.

Qualifications To Influence the Dark Decaying World
1) If You Hate SIN
2) If You Love TRUTH
3) If You Prioritize WORSHIP

III. CONCLUSTION
God did not call you to be a Christian and sit in your favorite place in the church. He called you to stay in the dark decaying world to lessen its decaying and give light that they may know and worship the one true God.


For God’s Glory 07/24/11

You Will Be Hated

GRACE THROUGH FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH

TEXT: Matthew 5:10-12
THEME: The Citizens of the Kingdom of God – The Peacemakers are Always in Trouble because of Jesus
TITLE: You Will Be Hated
PROPOSTIONAL STATEMENT: The Benefits of Being Persecuted
PURPOSE: To Understand the Blessedness In Times of Persecution

I. INTRODUCTION
A. The Persecution in the Old Testament
• Slavery in Egypt
• Empires
o Jeremiah, Hebrew Children, Daniel
B. The Persecution of in the New Testament and Early Church
• Jesus
• Apostles and Martyrs
o Paul, Peter, John, Andrew, Thomas, Stephen, Polycarp, John Hus
C. The Persecution in the Last Days
• Last Days (Revelation 6:10)
Note : Those Who Stand in the Truth and Proclaiming the Word will be Persecuted

II. BODY
A. The Theme of the Beatitudes – Who Are the People of the Kingdom of God?
• Being blessed or happy is exactly the opposite of world’s view of true blessedness especially the Jews
o Having a good life or easy life
o Having a good relationship toward others

B. Contrasting Beatitudes
• Christian must be a peacemaker but at the same time object of hatred, mockery, and slandering.

C. Persecution
1) Affirmation of Persecution
• Jesus Affirms that Christians Will Taste Persecution
o Prayer in John 17:14-15
o Encouragement in John 15:18-19
o Teachng in Beattitudes
• Apostles Affirms that Christians Will Taste Persecution
2) Anticipation of Persecution
• Every Christian must not be surprised when persecution will occur
• Every Christian must anticipate persecution in life
o Family, Fellowmen, Friends, Foe

D. Persecutor
Who are the Persecutors
• Mocker - They think that what you are doing and believing are nothing but foolishness
o Jesus in the hands of the Roman Soldies

• Haters – They treat Christians as a threat on their religion and they wanted them to be get rid
o Jesus in the hands of the Sanhedrin
• Slanderers – They wanted others to hate Christians
o Jesus in the hands of the people

E. Persecuted
A. The Determining the True Persecuted
• The ground by which they are persecuted
o Righteousness, Jesus,
• The reason by which they are persecuted
o Not of this world

F. The Benefits of Being Persecuted

1) You are identified with the Lord Jesus Christ (…because of righteousness and because of Jesus)


2) Your are doing your responsibility as Christian( cause of insults, persecutions, and false accusations)


3) You will receive a great reward in heaven


III. CONCLUSION
Do not be surprised when persecution came but be strong and bold to continue to serve the Lord knowing that being persecuted you are identified with Lord Jesus Christ and it is a great privilege. Continue to stand firm in the truth and continue to serve Him no matter what. Rejoice and be glad because the Lord whom you serve that caused persecutions, on that day He will tell you “My good and faithful servant.”



For God’s Glory
07/10/11

Love Keeps Unity

GRACE THROUGH FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH

TEXT: Matthew 5:7-9
THEME: The Citizens of the Kingdom of God – Christians are the Bearers of Love and the Keepers of Unity
TITLE: Love Keeps the Unity
PROPOSTIONAL STATEMENT: The 3 Motivations of Being the Bearers of Love and Keepers of Unity
PURPOSE: To remind the church the responsibility

I. INTRODUCTION
A. The Monarchial Period in Israel
• The Causes of Division
o Moral Impurities
o Hatred
B. The Imperial Period in Israel
• Division of Judaism
o Essenes, Pharasees, Zealots, Saducees
• Love Had Grown Cold because of Oppression of the Empire
C. The Intercessional Prayer of Jesus
• Jesus prayed for Love that will make His People to be United with Them. (John 17:20-26)

II. BODY
A. THE GIVER OF PARDON ( In Relation to Those Who Offended Us ) v.7
1) Mercy Is Always Identified With Forgiveness
• To hunger and thirst for righteousness is asking God to have mercy on him so that he will have a righteousness that will save him (Luke 18:13 “God have mercy on me, a sinner”)
• Matthew 18:27, 33 (The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant) ; Isaiah 63:9; Titus 3:5; Ephesians 2:4
2) God Wants Us to Be Merciful – to Forgive Others
• Peter asked the Lord “How many times shall I forgiv my brothers” - 70 times 7
• The Parable of Unmerciful Servant
• In the Lord’s Prayer
• Joseph Forgave His Brothers
• The First Word of Jesus Christ at the Cross
• Stephen While He was Stoning
3) What Happened if We Do Not Forgive Others?
• The Joy of Salvation will be Lost
• There will be Chastening
Note: Without showing mercy by forgiving the church is in chaos, or it may result to division
Challenge: Do not hold grudges against others, Forgiving means that we love them and it will keep the unity

B. THE BEARER OF PURITY ( In Relation to God Whom We Offended ) v.8
1) Definition of the Heart
• Heart is the totality of man
• The heart is where the mind rest (Proverbs 23:7)
• The heart is affects your will and your emotion and your behavior
Note: If emotion and behavior do not match with the content of the heart that is HYPOCRISY
2) Examination of the Heart
• The Heart is Deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9)
• The Inclination of Heart is Wickedness (Genesis 6:5)
3) Transformation of the Heart
• Before a man enter to the Kingdom of God, his heart must be changed first – Pure Heart
• And this is the the reason why you are blessed because God made your heart pure – (Ezekiel 36:26)
4) Sanctification of the Heart
• God sanctifies us through His Word (John 17:17)
• God sanctifies us through our Responsibility out of Pure Heart (James 4:4-8)
Challenge: Examine your heart before God. If you find it not pure, Ask the Lord like King David (Psalms 51:10)

C. THE MESSENGER OF PEACE ( In Relation to Others Who are at War ) v.9
1) Worldly Peace – Against God and Truth
• The Tower of Babel – Signifies World Peace (Genesis 11)
• In the Last Days there will be a Worldly Peace under the Governance of Antichrist.
2) Godly Peace – Against World’s System and Lies
• It does not compromise the truth
3) God Wanted Christians to be Peacemakers
• During the Roman Empire, Christians were called troublemaker (PAX ROMANA)
• God wanted us to mediate with others who are in conflict
o Conflict between Men – Paul serves as mediator between Onesimus and Filemon
o Conflict between God and Men – God uses the Christian bring others to God through Christ

The 3 Motivations of Being the Bearers of Love and Keepers of Unity

1) Consider the Event of Crucifixion
• Through Crucifixion We Received Mercy
• Through Crucifixion We Possess a Pure Heart
• Through Crucifixion We are at Peace with God
2) Consider the Example of Christ
• Christ Showed Us the Mercy of God
• Christ Died for The Purity of Our Hearts
• Christ Serves as the Mediator Between Us and God
3) Consider the Extent of Crown
• We Receive God’s Mercy
• We See God’s Character, Plan, Rulership
• We Have a Privilege to be Called Sons of God (His sheep, His ambassadors, His people, His bride, His friend)

III. CONCLUSION
We are the bearer of God’s love and the keepers of unity.
Let us forgive one another as God forgave us from all our sins
May our hearts be purfied by His Word and be a peacemakers at all times
Remember what Jesus had done on the cross and the crown that we received from His death.
May all these motivate us to live a godly way while living in God’s Kingdom.
You are in God’s Kingdom live according to what the Bible tells you.
For God’s Glory
06/26/11

I am in Great Famine

GRACE THROUGH FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH

TEXT: Matthew 5:6
THEME: The Citizens of the Kingdom of God – Righteousness Must be the Greatest Desire of Every Christian
TITLE: I am in Great Famine
PROPOSTIONAL STATEMENT: The 3 Testimonies about Righteousness for us to Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness
PURPOSE: To let the congregation examine their selves if they truly hunger for righteousness

I. INTRODUCTION
A. Is the beatitudes before entering the Kingdom or only when we already entered the Kingdom of God?

Jesus set the condition before entering the Kingdom and while dwelling in the Kingdom of God
These people are blessed because God provides grace for them to be able to enter in the Kingdom of God
These people are blessed because God provides grace for them to be able to live in the Kingdom of God

B. The Reverse Principle

• People during the time of Jesus wanted to be happy (blessed) due to the oppression by the Roman Empire
• Some believe that this is the Messiah, the promised King, their Hope because of the signs and wonder He had done. And they long to hear words from Him knowing that this will be a great blessing for them
• But the Lord Jesus Christ told them about happiness that frustrates them – that was not want they like to hear for a King
• Instead of hearing a flattery words they heared words that condemn them

C. The Time of the Great Famine
• Ask these questions
o Ask them if they want to hear a sound coming from a jack hammer
o Ask them if they will accept and eat a food which is the food for the pigs
o Ask them if they will accept and drink a muddy water
II. BODY
A. The Relationship with the other Beattitudes

• From Confronation to Contrition (v.3-4)
• From Consultation to Conviction (v.5-6)

B. The 2 Righteousness Mentioned in the Bible

• Imputed Righteousness
o It is a righteousness given by God through faith in Christ Jesus
o It is the righteousness of Jesus deposited in us for us to be right with God
o This righteousness cannot be earned unlike with the righteousness of the Pharisees
o This righteousness is before entering the Kingdom of God
• Practical Righteousness
o It is the righteousness based on the imputed righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ
o It is the manifestation of the imputed righteousness
o This righteousness while dwelling in the Kingdom of God

The 3 Testimonies about Righteousness for us to Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness

1. Righteousness is the Demand of God

Jesus Christ says that man must surpass the righteousness of the Pharasees and if not he cannot enter the Kingdom of God (Matthew 5:20)

a. The Demand of God to His Son (Imputed Righteousness - Justification)

• The God Man Jesus fulfilled all the righteousness (Matthew 3:15; Romans 10:4)
• The God Man Jesus fulfilled all the righteousness for us to become the righteosness of God (2Cor. 5:2; Philippians 3:8-9)

b. The Demand of God to His People (Practical Righteousness - Sanctification)

• God saved us to do good (Ephesians 2:10)
• God commanded us to do what is right and this is the sanctification (John 17:17)
• Truth Sanctifies Us – How does the Truth Sanctifies Us?
o The more meditation on the Word of God the more the Truth –About God and His Will
o The more the truth you have the stronger the faith
o The stronger the faith the lesser the sin will be commited in life
o The lesser the sin in life the more God will be glorified (Matthew 5: 16)

Note : Practical Righteousness is the manifestation of Imputed Righteousness – If we have imputed righteousness
therefore we are considered good because of Jesus Christ. We are like the good trees He mentioned in
(Matthew 7:16-19) and the good trees will definitely produced good (Practical Righteousness)

Example : My collegue who lives righteously but does not like to know God’s Demand (Rom. 9:30-32)


Challenge

• Do you really hunger and thirst for righteousness knowing that this is a demand of God? If so you will hunger and thirst for the truth – you will hunger to study the Word of God like a deer pants for water.
• Some of us does not hunger and thirst for righteousness because this thing is foolishness, of no value, no need for us because we think we have that.

2. Righteousness is the Desire of Heart

Jesus Christ says that the greatest inclination of your heart is what you value most (Mattew 6:21)

a. The Wrong Desires of Heart of Man

• Desire for Power – Satan (Isaiah 14:13-14)
• Desire for Praise – Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:30)
• Desire for Possession – The Rich Fool (Luke 17-19)

b. The Right Desire of Heart of Man

• Righteousness must be the only desire of man’s heart (Isaiah 55:1-2)
• Righteousness must be the consistent desire of man’s heart (1Chronicles 29:18)

Challenge: Are your hearts desire for righteousness or your hearts are so loaded by the worldly things of this world? If you
desire righteousness you will be so eager to read and study the Bible and eager to know God and His will.

3. Righteousness is the Demonstration of Faith

a. Genuine Faith Precedes Righteousness

• Faith must come first before the Lord declares us righteous before Him – Imputed Righteousness (Romans 3:28)
• Apart from faith we cannot please God even though we do righteous acts (Isaiah 64:6; Hebrews 11:6; Romans 14:23)

b. Righteousness Proves Genuine Faith

• Faith without works (righteous act) is dead faith (James 2:17)

Challenge: Do you have faith in God? Demonstrate it, practice it, show your faith by your righteous act for the glory of God
Be light and salt of the earth.

III. Conclusion
Those who will hunger and thirst for righteousness are those who know that they do not possess righteousness through faith. They are the people in the middle of great spiritual famine. They don’t have it that’s why they cried out to God asking for mercy.
Do you hunger and thirst for righteousness? Do you want to be filled with this kind of righteousness that will make you enter to His Kingdom and live there according to His will? Know His Truth by meditating the Bible because that is where you find God’s righteousness
If you will not do this, you are living with an earthly kind of righteousness that will lead you to destruction. This proves that your great desire is not His righteousness but your own righteousness based on the standard of this world. And sad to say, you are not the blessed whom the Lord Jesus is talking about because you will never be filled. This proves that you are victim of self deception and false faith.

For God’s Glory
06/12/11