DELIGHTING in the LORD

Transcription

1 The one thing I ask of the Lord - the thing I seek most - is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord s perfections and meditating in his temple. Psalm 27:4 DAY 1: Live the Beatitudes and You Will be Salt and Light, the Picture of Christianity Matthew 5: The King s New Teaching: The Heart s Motivation As chapter 5 opens we find the first sermon Jesus taught as recorded by Matthew. Most likely, these lessons were taught upon a high hill on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus teaching may have been hard to fully comprehend by His disciples and listeners because He was redefining true blessedness. Here we see Jesus open His mouth to teach and the first word out is blessed. How this speaks to the heart of God! The Sermon on the Mount is not the law and not the Gospel, but kingdom principles for the followers of God. (Joe Focht) The key verse is found in Matt 5:20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus tells us our need for Godly righteousness (not manmade) and introduces us to the kingdom of heaven. This was a new message for the people. As the chapter unfolds, Jesus clarifies true righteousness from self-righteousness and He addresses the law through the heart s motivation (v ). R RECEIVING God s Word Open in Prayer Read Matthew 5:1-48 Today s Scripture Focus: Matthew 5:1-16 E EXPERIENCING God s Word The Beatitudes are a list of attitudes that a believer in Christ should exhibit in their daily life. Read each Beatitude and then rewrite them in your own words. An example is done for you. Beatitude (v. 1-12) Be Attitude (Be like Christ) In my own words Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. As I am humble before the Lord and confess my sins, then He will raise me up and provide for me all that I need in order to live for Him here on earth and then someday I will live with him in heaven. Matthew Chapter 5 Day 1

2 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew Chapter 5 Day 1

3 A person who lives in the Spirit will see the progression of the Beatitudes in their life; a person who lives to please the flesh will see the progression of godlessness. There is a radical difference between the two. The following diagram is a visual of the progression of the qualities that are seen in a believer when living out the Beatitudes. Start at the bottom and read upward to see the progression. The first three qualities are basically required of the person so they can even receive anything from the Lord. Your heart must be in this position and Christ must be your focus. Then you will hunger and thirst for His righteousness, not the things that you will do outside of Him that make you look righteous. As you are filled by the Spirit you will be acting in the Spirit (mercy, purity, peace) and you will be blessed as will others that cross your path. Read the following verses and fill in the godly quality based on verses 3-12 then in the final column find at least one supporting Biblical reference for each Beatitude result. The first one is done for you. Matthew Chapter 5 Day 1

4 Godly Quality Result One supporting Biblical reference for the result of the Beatitude V.3 Poor in spirit This means humble before God Isaiah 6:1-8 (realizing the holiness of God and our sinfulness need of Him) V.4 This means sorrow for sin V.5 This mean truly knowing your position before the Lord V.6 Desiring God s righteousness above all else V.7 Not giving others what they may deserve V.8 Clean conscience before the Lord V.9 Not being argumentative or trying to assert your position V A trial of any sort that refines us 1. In verse 13 and 14 Jesus compares His followers to what two things? Why? Matthew Chapter 5 Day 1

5 2. What is the purpose of salt? How can salt loose its saltiness? Now stretch the analogy of salt and apply it to your faith/testimony before others. How can your faith loose its saltiness? 3. What does light do? How can a light be hidden? Are you radiating light wherever you go? 4.As salt and light how are you glorifying God? A ACTING on God s Word A key thought in both the pictures of salt and light is distinction. Salt is needed because the world is rotting and decaying and if our Christianity is also rotting and decaying, it won't be any good. Light is needed because the world is in darkness, and if our Christianity imitates the darkness, we have nothing to show the world. (Guzik) This quote from Guzik is a great summary of the powerful testimony of a Christian. Do you feel as though your testimony is salt and light producing? What circumstances cause you to hide your light or become less salty to those around you? When you think about these situations, what is God speaking into your heart about them? What would He have you to do to be more effective for His kingdom? Matthew Chapter 5 Day 1

6 D in God s Word Micah 6:8 says He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. God desires these things from us as we have seen in our lesson today. Spend time meditating on the Beatitudes and how to delight in living out these blessed behaviors as well as being salt and light to the world you live in. Close in Prayer NOTES Matthew Chapter 5 Day 1

7 The one thing I ask of the Lord - the thing I seek most - is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord s perfections and meditating in his temple. Psalm 27:4 DAY 2: The King is the Fulfillment of the Law Matthew 5: The King s New Teaching: The Heart s Motivation A key truth Jesus tells his listeners in verse 17 is Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. Jesus is part of the trinity, therefore for Him to come and destroy the Law would have been Him not following His own rules! Jesus fulfilled the law perfectly because He was sinless and He fulfilled the law perfectly through His death and resurrection. Let s read on and discover the message Jesus is trying to drive home to our hearts. R RECEIVING God s Word Open in Prayer Read Matthew 5:1-48 Today s Scripture Focus: Matthew 5:17-26 E EXPERIENCING God s Word 1. What part of the Bible do the Law and the Prophets make up? 2. Not one jot (the smallest of the Hebrew letters) or one tittle (a little stroke that distinguishes one Hebrew character from another) will pass from the law until all is fulfilled. What point is Jesus making here? 3. What will happen to someone who breaks, or teaches people to break the law? Matthew Chapter 5 Day 2

8 4. What kind of righteousness can be achieved past how the Pharisees lived? (Hint: for man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart. 1 Sam 16:7) 5. Why do you think Jesus is clarifying the law regarding murder with new information? 6. What does Exodus 20:13 tell us about the law of murder? 7. How is unrestrained anger like murder? 8. Verses is a plausible scenario that probably played out on the streets of Israel. Why does Jesus address this and teach them a better way to live? A ACTING on God s Word In essence Jesus was telling his listeners not to be angry with one another because anger is like murder in the heart. Wow, think about that for a minute. Can you recall a time when you were angry and took your wrath out upon someone? (Ouch!) In your heart did you want to harm them? Do you remember what Jesus fifth title was called in Isaiah 6:6? Write it here. Matthew Chapter 5 Day 2

9 Jesus is the Prince of Peace and therefore we want to promote peace whenever possible, even if that means having to be the first person to go to someone who has wronged you and ask for forgiveness. Jesus encouraged people not to even bring their offering to the temple until they reconciled to their brother (Matt 5:23-24). Is there some relationship that needs mending in your life? Pray to God to reveal how you are to proceed with working toward reconciliation and peace. Pray the Lord prepares the other person s heart. D in God s Word Praise God that He came to fulfill the law! He came also to scrape away the crusty manmade traditions and interpretations that had taken away from the true essence for why the law was instituted in the first place. Praise God for His Holy Spirit which indwells you as a believer and can help you to live even more righteously than the Pharisees! Close in Prayer NOTES Matthew Chapter 5 Day 2

10 The one thing I ask of the Lord - the thing I seek most - is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord s perfections and meditating in his temple. Psalm 27:4 DAY 3: Adultery and Divorce Matthew 4: The King s Teaching Ministry Begins R RECEIVING God s Word Open in Prayer Read Matthew 5:1-48 Today s Scripture Focus: Matthew 5:27-32 E EXPERIENCING God s Word 1. Read Exodus 20:14 what does the law say about adultery? 2. What does Jesus say to clarify further what adultery really looks like? 3. Jesus gives a solution to eyes that cause sin, what is it? Do you think Jesus really meant for you to actually remove your eyeball? What is the true point He is trying to make? 4. What is the law according to Deut 24:1-4 regarding divorce? What does Jesus say regarding this law? Matthew Chapter 5 Day 3

11 A ACTING on God s Word Jesus deals with the heart once again in this portion of scripture. In the heart, people commit adultery even if the physical act never takes place. How can you guard your mind and your imagination against such sin? Is there someone (in your daily life or on TV) whom you think about inappropriately? Deal ruthlessly with this sin today before the sin in your heart has the opportunity to springboard itself into action. Is there someone you need to focus on less and perhaps even remove from your life in order to keep your mind pure? Psalm 101:3 says I will set nothing wicked before my eyes. Recognize that anyone, who is not your husband, that you lust after, is a wicked thing. Don t allow it to go before your eyes. D in God s Word Psalm 1:2 says But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. Spend some time delighting in laws God has established for your good and protection. Close in Prayer NOTES Matthew Chapter 5 Day 3

12 The one thing I ask of the Lord - the thing I seek most - is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord s perfections and meditating in his temple. Psalm 27:4 DAY 4: Swearing and Oaths Matthew 4: The King s Teaching Ministry Begins Recently one of my children brought home a paper from school that asked them this question If you were President of the United States, what law would you create? In child-like handwriting I found this answer written in the blank No one would be allowed to say Oh my G*D. We may smile at my child s answer (and trust me that worksheet is a keeper!) but the reality is that God wants our words to be enough that swearing by anything is not necessary to prove our honesty! Let s dive in and see what we can learn today. R RECEIVING God s Word Open in Prayer Read Matthew 5:1-48 Today s Scripture Focus: Matthew 5:33-37 E EXPERIENCING God s Word 1. What does Leviticus 19:12 and Deut 23:23 tell us about the law? 2. What does Jesus tell us regarding this law? 3. Fill in the four specific things Jesus tells us not to swear by Do not swear by: Because: v.34 v.35 v. 35 v. 36 Matthew Chapter 5 Day 4

13 4. Jesus says our answers should be simple. What is His answer in v. 37? Where does anything else come from? 5. Why does anything beyond yes or no come from the enemy? A ACTING on God s Word Do you have a hard time just allowing your words to speak for themselves or do you look to others to support what you are saying or swear in order to get people to believe you? If so, what have you learned today that will help you in this area? Why is it so hard to just say yes or no? What can you plan to do the next time you are tempted to go off and say lots of words when just yes or no will suffice? Will remembering that anything beside yes or no comes from the evil one? D in God s Word What can you delight in from today s lesson? Create a prayer of thanksgiving and delight in the Lord. Close in prayer Matthew Chapter 5 Day 4

14 The one thing I ask of the Lord - the thing I seek most - is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord s perfections and meditating in his temple. Psalm 27:4 DAY 5: Retaliation is not Love Matthew 5: The King s New Teaching: The Heart s Motivation R RECEIVING God s Word Open in Prayer Read Matthew 5:1-48 Today s Scripture Focus: Matthew 5:38-48 E EXPERIENCING God s Word 1. What does Lev. 24:19-22 have to say about retaliation? 2. What does Jesus teach us to do when we are: a. Physically attacked b. Legally attacked c. Given governmental demands d. Asked for financial resources 3. Can you give two words to describe the over arching theme of Jesus message in verses 38-42? (for example, compassion could be one) 4. What does Lev. 19:17-18 have to say about loving your enemies? What are you supposed to do in these situations according to verse 44? (fill in the chart) YOU SHOULD Love your Bless those Do good to those Pray for those who Matthew Chapter 5 Day 5

15 5. Considering that Matthew was once a tax collector, what do you learn about practices he might have employed toward others in his profession according to v ? 6. How can we possibly follow the teaching set forth in verse 48? When Jesus uses the word perfection, what is He getting at? A ACTING on God s Word Jesus gives us very high standards in which to follow regarding retaliation and loving our neighbor. Which verses have struck conviction in your heart? Is there some area in which God would like you to express His love by following the commands in this chapter? Are you willing to do it? What, if anything, is standing in your way? D in God s Word 1 John 4:7-8 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God, He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God s love is amazingly perfect and completely fulfilling. Praise Him today for His unconditional and supernatural love that He has poured all over you so that you can pour it into others! Close in Prayer Matthew Chapter 5 Day 5