Salt of the World Matt 5:13

Sermon Nuggets week of April 4

Sermon Nuggets Mon April 4

Verses Matt 5:13-16

13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

(NIV)

Salt of the World

I asked a person from Eastern Europe what where some of the cultural surprises she experienced coming to the U.S. She was amazed, if not appalled, at the mammoth selections of food and so many brands of the same thing.

We are very choosy as to what we want to eat and purchase given the price is right. With recent concerns on diet we see low cholesterol, low salt, low sugars, and low calories. We have choices of light chips, light pop, light puddings, light soups, light on salt and light on sugars. Many of these products have additives and imitation substitutes.

I was thinking we also have light Christians. Low salt, low calorie, with a lot of imitation things added.

There is a musical back in the 70s entitled Godspell. Braham preformed it a few years back. It takes its story from the life of Jesus. One of the lyrics to a song is, "You are the light of the world, but if the light is under a bushel, it's lost something kind of crucial. You gotta stay bright to be the light of the world.

“You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost it's flavor it ain't got much in it's favor, you can't have that fault and be the salt of the earth. So let your light so shine before men, let your light so shine, that they might know some kindness again."

As we looked the last couple of weeks at the Beatitudes we noticed happy people are God's people. The people of God are depicted as poor in spirit for they find their richness in God; they mourn, they are meek, they hunger and thirst after righteousness, their merciful they are pure in heart they are peacemakers, and because of that they will be persecuted.

Jesus is teaching that our righteousness is more than the outward acts that we do; it includes the motives behind those acts. It is not the business of the church to adapt Christ to the world, but rather the world to Christ. We do not change spiritual truth, we are instead changed by Jesus who is the way the truth and the life. Love him or leave him.

Jesus is trying to teach His disciples not only the path for happiness, but also how we might influence others around us for Christ. He uses salt and light to illustrate his point. That will be our theme of devotions this week.

How do you influence others for Christ?

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Thurs April 5 –

Verse- Matt 5: 13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

Precious Salt

Jesus said to his followers “You are the salt of the earth.” But we miss something in the modern English translation; It is clear in the Greek that you is not singular, but plural. Certainly it includes these new followers of Jesus called the disciples who were basically uneducated and not leaders in any religious sense of the term. But he is also referring to all the followers of Him. You all are salt of the earth.

What a great compliment! Because salt was a necessity of life in ancient times and thus great value was attached to it. Salt was so important that it was sometimes used for money. The Roman soldiers of Jesus’ day were at times paid with it. In fact, our word “salary” comes from the Latin word salarium which referred to the payments to the soldiers with salt. We still use the phrase saying that someone either is, or is not, “worth their salt.” We don’t think much about salt because we can get as much of it in pure form as we want. It is just that little bottle with holes in the top on the table. But when you are completely dependent on salt to preserve your food, and when it is so valuable that it is used in the place of money, you get a completely different perspective on salt.

In our Western world I think often of how spoiled we are. AS I was eating yesterday I wanted variety and not eat leftovers. I though about the Israelites in the dessert where there was no variety of food- Manna day in and day out. For much of the world it is rice every meal. In part of Africa today they eat corn meal at every meal. Kim Hansen is headed for Tanzania. I heard their local dish is called “ooh golly”. One missionary said it was appropriately named because that is definitely described its taste - “ooh golly.” Without salt to make it palatable, it would be difficult to continue to swallow the same monotonous food, time after time. In Job 6:6 the Bible says, “Can flavorless food be eaten without salt?” For this one reason alone salt is indispensable.

We will continue to look at the value of salt this week, but Jesus wants us all to know first we are valued. We are precious to him. WE are important to the world into which HE has called us. We are to make a different. We are vital to His plan while on earth. We are to make a difference. Even if no one else cares, Jesus does. That makes us blessed. It also is His plan to make us a blessing.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Weds April 6

Verse- Lev 2:13 Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings.

Salt as Preservative

As salt was regarded as a necessary ingredient of the daily food, and so Israelites were instructed to add salt to sacrifices offered to the LORD. There is an Arabic expression, "There is salt between us"; "He has eaten of my salt," which means partaking of hospitality which cemented friendship; compare "eat the salt of the palace". Covenants were generally confirmed by sacrificial meals and salt was always present. Since, too, salt is a preservative, it would easily become symbolic of an enduring covenant. So offerings to Yahweh were to be by a statute forever, "a covenant of salt for ever before Yahweh" (Numbers 18:19).

Salt was most commonly used as a preservative for foods. Salt kept food from spoiling. We have become so used to refrigerators for keeping and storing and preserving foods from contamination for a period of time. We can keep food in freezers for long periods of time and it will still be good to eat. Hospitals find that refrigerators and cool storage is necessary for preserving blood that is collected and stored before use. Medicine is kept good by refrigeration; however they did not have electric refrigerators in the Middle East at that time.

When the disciples caught fish they had to get it to market soon. The only way to get it there in a condition in which anyone would want to buy it was to salt it down. They would pack it between layers of salt so they could carry it with them down into the markets in Jerusalem where it could be sold as fresh as when they caught it. Salt arrested corruption; it kept fish edible.

In that same manner you as followers of Jesus Christ we are to preserve our society with righteousness. Our lives become a living sacrifice to the Lord and living for Christ is to affect our sin filled world. We are to so stand as a preventative to corruption and decay in our society and world. Part of that influence that Christians are suppose to have in our life around them is to halt growing sin and corruption of man and their devises. We need to be people that say no to corruption be it in government, schools, social agencies as well as churches. We need to vote and speak up with issues on morality, pornography, injustice, truth, honesty, abortion. We need to preserve sanctity of family and marriage, and freedoms that will build good in our society and not free to impose the evils on one another.

Christians need to preserve our society by reminding us that it is a lie that winning is the only thing in life. Sports researcher Robert Goldman polled 198 world class athletes and asked, "Would you take a pill that would guarantee a gold medal even if you knew that it would kill you in five years? More than 50% agreed they would.

We need to foster a keen sense of right and wrong in early years. High on the list of priorities is pleasure and good times without weighing long range consequences that scar and hurt personalities for years to come. It's no wonder that the kids who want to remain chaste often feel like prudes and freaks today. Pornographic music videos, raunchy TV and teen sexploitation movies make it seem like everybody's doing it.

We are responsible before our Lord, not only of living honestly and Christ-like in our world, but by so doing we preserve it from getting worse. And that by living like Jesus.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Thurs April 7

Verse Ezekiel 16:1 "On the day you were born your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to make you clean, nor were you rubbed with slat or wrapped in cloth."

Salt Purifies

Salt is also used as a purifier. It became like an antiseptic in certain incidences. It was considered pure as a kind of medicine it was to clean and purify wounds. However if I got salt into a wound it would hurt!

And Christianity may rub many the wrong way, because it’s irritating to their wounds of sin. We shouldn’t purposefully try to be irritating, but also not surprised when it happens. It symbolized the purity and honesty of the agreement of people. Christians are to be pure and an example of purity by not lowering their standards. Being salt involves being honest and diligent in their work, conscientious in speech and in deed and thought.

Look at music over the last 50 years. It used to be that Dick Clark’s American Bandstand was considered the music of rebellion. But look at what’s on TV today. I remember when Gone with the Wind was being talked about because Redd Butler used one curse word. Have you watched the cartoons and how foul mouthed the characters are? Everyone gasped when the first couple was shown, not in separate beds, but in the same one…oh my! Don’t look at how it is today!

I flipped the channels and saw dancing with the stars and first thought it had something to do with Victoria’s Secret. I worry about our children and our grandchildren and the world where texting nude pictures to one another in elementary school is common.

What would the world be like if there were no salty Christians? We don’t have to guess…just read the book of Revelation once the salt is removed! If you think we’re in a wild spiral now, just wait!

We need to be salty saints when it comes to the abortion holocaust, pornography, homosexuality and gay marriage, and so much more!

The best way we can seek to be purifying agent is point people to the only one that can cleanse or purify anyone from their sin- Jesus Christ. Many have experienced freedom from sin and guilt that makes people so miserable and wonders what in the world is life for anyway.

It is not uncommon for me to hear someone tell me they wished they accepted Christ as their savior years earlier before they wasted so much of their lives. They discovered we really can know God his closeness and power in our lives when we stop living by our own lusts and wants and invite him to take over. Instead of being constricting it is a freeing up process. Born again people are not sorry about it, they are freed from guilt; the past is forgiven.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Fri April 8

Verses- Matt 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

Job 6:6 "Food is tasteless without salt there is no flavor

in the white of an egg"

Palatable

Many foods without salt taste horrible; they are not palatable. They have little enjoyable flavor without adding some seasoning. The good old days did not have the variety of spices we do today so salt and pepper were the main ingredients. Salt adds flavor to many foods which are otherwise bland and insipid.

We typically have way too much salt in processed food and acquire a taste using greater quantities and as a result many have high blood pressure and hyper-tension.

But the figurative expression calling Christians to be like salt is to bring out the best in situations and other people. It is to have a positive effect on our society.

Jesus says that if the salt loses its flavor, (v. 13b) “… It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” Technically speaking, salt cannot lose its saltiness; sodium chloride is a stable compound. But in the part of the world where Jesus lived, salt was collected from around the Dead Sea where the crystals were often contaminated with other minerals. These crystallized formations were full of impurities, and since the actual salt was more soluble than the impurities, the rain could wash out the salt, which made what was left of little worth since it lost its saltiness. When this happened, the salt was thrown out, since it was no longer of any value either as a preservative or for flavoring.

When the salt was leeched out it still looked like salt, but it lost its taste. The essential difference can be leached out of a Christian’s life by the constant flow of the world’s values through our lives.
When Mahatma Gandhi was the spiritual leader of India, he was asked by some missionaries, “What is the greatest hindrance to Christianity in India?” His reply was, “Christians.”
Salt in order to be any good must make contact with something.

To keep from corruption and decay it must touch the fish, to purify it, it must be rubbed on the wound, to taste good it must be sprinkled on the food. It is not worth much just sitting on a table.

Christians aren't much good sitting back and not making contact with others. We must have contact in our society in the earth to provide an affect on it. We are to be in the world, but not of it. But we must not be so contaminated that we are of no effect. For then you might as well be thrown out and trampled under foot by man. Mixture with impurities can make salt become useless and even dangerous according to chemists and nothing can be done to help it. If the salt loses its effectiveness it alone makes everything else corrupted. Our mission, as believers in Jesus, is to save and influence this world and if we don't the world is lost.

What type of influence do you have on others around you?

Pastor Dale

Beatitudes continued Matt 5:8-12

Sermon Nuggets week of March 28 Beatitudes continued

Sermon Nuggets Mon March 28- Motives

Verse Matt 5: 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Examining Motives

This week we will continue with the teachings of Jesus on the Mount. We have looked at the beatitudes where Jesus encourages his followers into ultimate blessings when we begin recognizing our need. We will find freedom when we see our sin and mourning over it for then we will repent and yield our hearts to God in meekness. For someone of faith they will seek righteousness and desiring to be filled with God and moved to do His will. Then we need to reach out to others with the same mercy that God has shown to us.

But what does God see in our hearts? Happiness is derived from God through seeking a pure heart. Pure in heart literally means free from impurity. Such a heart is spotless, white, and completely clean. This is a progression along our stair steps of beatitudes. But our response to God and to one another is not just good deeds, but better than that, it is with good motives and purposes for those good deeds. One can do the right deed for the wrong motive and not be counted righteousness at all.

I remember a fellow who never gave anything all year to the church, but when the financial year ended and there was a push for extra giving, he would give a great sum so that he could get notoriety. He didn't give with the right motive, or purity of heart, but gave seeking selfish praise.

In the book of Acts we think of the story of Ananias and Sapphira who did a very good deed. They desired to sell their property and give it to the disciples for the good of the church. They changed their mind and kept back portion of it for themselves. They told others they gave all their profits. They were lying to God not men. God's judgment fell on them as a warning to the church and to us. Purity of heart involves self examination and God's examination.

The Pharisees sought purity through ceremonial washing, fasts, and outward displays of righteousness. Jesus wasn't impressed. He knew the heart. We can think the best of someone, but God sees things entirely different. He knows the motives. He knows the desire of one who maybe would misjudge and think ill of them. God alone justifies. We do not get into the Kingdom by keeping the law or no one would be in the Kingdom. We come into the Kingdom by poverty of spirit mourning over sin, yielding in meekness to God desiring to be filled with righteousness, showing kindness to others and what we do, we do with pure heart and motives.

The Sermon on the Mount points me Jesus. The pure in heart are those who desire to be washed clean by God and forgiven. We cannot become pure in heart without his cleansing grace. I John 2:7 says, If we walk in the light as He himself is in the light we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ, His son, cleanses us from all sin."

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Tues March 29 Peacemakers

Verse Matt 5: 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Seeking Peace

This has been a hard decade Americans. Since the attack of 9/11/01 we have been at war with Muslim terrorists. Last night President Obama, who was a strong critic of the invasion of Iraq finds himself embattled in the tyranny of Libya’s leader. We have expanded our involvement in military conflict as part of the team of NATO forces. We want our troops to return home quickly and safely. But the countries we would be leaving seem to replace one group of dictators with another group of greedy politicians who are more intent on personal gain than concern for the people. How have we helped in the long run other than the gospel has been presenting to 10,000s of people who would not have had an opportunity to heard of Jesus Christ.

We live in a world that has no easy answers and every move one takes it hurts lives, property, and the pursuit of happiness. We can rally around the cry for war, justice, and retribution, but it still means people dying, crying, hurt, maimed, and suffering. How can there be a peace?

There is a problem you know with peacemakers. The task is beyond human capabilities. We hope for successful talks with countries of the world. Ultimately it isn't important who is able to begin the process to peace, we want it. But we want it in a manner that corrects wrongful aggression. We are a people at war.

When Jesus talks about peace he also talks about persecution. That seems odd doesn't it? If one is at peace there should not be persecution; if one is being persecuted there isn't any peace.

Persecution will not be in the Kingdom to come. It happens now. We are at a different war with a different enemy.

The pursuit of peace must involve reconciliation.

The Bible began with the peaceful existence in the garden of Eden, and concludes in Revelation with the joy and peace in the forever Kingdom when Satan has been thrown forever in the bottomless pit. Peace was interrupted was when Satan appeared on the scene. The first couple yielded to temptation. Since then “Shalom” translated from the Hebrew to mean peace isn't just the absence of war. Shalom means a desire for everything which makes for highest good. It seeks reconciliation of man with man, with himself, and with God.

What the peacemakers in the world strive to reconcile enemies. Biblical peacemakers are not necessarily quiet, easy going people who do not want to make waves, who are compromisers and appeasers for the absence of conflict, but seek the cause for the problem of disharmony and address sin or correct Biblical misunderstanding.

Where in your life do you long for peace? What keeps you from it? Are there things you can do to enhance reconciliation?

I hope to add to our understanding on being a peacemaker in the next days.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Weds March 30 Risk

Verse Matt. 10:34 "Jesus said, Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."

Peacemakers Risk

Looking at being a peacemaker involves risk. I’ve included a surprising and confronting truth of Jesus today in Matt 10:34 that seems to be a contradiction from Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the Sons of God." What gives?

Being a spiritual peacemaker is looking at the sin and that which continually brings opposition to peace with God. Jesus did come to bring peace, but not at any price. God's peace is the presence of righteousness and the way to righteousness he outlines before us.

It always seemed odd to me that peace keeping forces usually involved military presence or combat. In order to find peace in Libya, military operations are being conducted which ironically involves destroying the enemy that seeks to impose their will on others by force. The conflict of two opponents never seems to bring peace, but further conflict, especially in the Middle East.

Whether or not you agree with the events being played out Jesus came to reconcile people to Himself, but the enemy will not let that happen peacefully. To be reconciled to God means to confront sin and personal barriers that seeks to keep God from having control over our lives to ultimately involve peace within and forever.

To be a peacemaker is also telling people the good news. But to understand the good news one must be aware of the bad news. The bad news is that we are in sin and headed for eternal destruction. We risk the reaction of rejection.

How do you think the world would respond if they heard the message the way to find blessing is to realize you first are poor in spirit. "No! We're number one; we're the best; we can do anything we set our minds to."

We are nothing, only if you repent to God and turn to Him will you be strong. Those who seek to be over-comers from the worlds view believe strength does never have to say you're sorry. You seldom find politicians and never find countries say they made a mistake. Listen to the news and the reports form each side in the war. Facts are twisted to be in line with their position. It always appears to stand for right and good and so forget meekness, mercy, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, for purity in heart.

Romans 12:18 "If it is possible so far as it depends on you be at peace with all men" We cannot begin to do that until we make peace with God personally as an individual. When we make peace with God then we can begins to make peace with our brothers.

It is risky to bring the message of Jesus into a Muslim controlled country. It is risky to go to skid row and demonstrate kindness of Jesus. It is risky to take a stand at work or school when the peer pressure to fit in is so strong. One can lose their jobs, their reputation, their friends and even their lives. Confronting lies and confronting the popular message is risky when we believe truth. To be a peacemaker, a spiritual peacemaker, is risky business.

Jesus sought peace through the reconciliation by his blood (Col

1:20) "..and through Christ to reconcile to himself all things whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross." The means of reconciliation is the blood of Jesus for he died for your sin and sins of your brother and sister and the sins of USA, and until we come to a cross that sin cannot be forgiven; until we seek to bring others to the cross there will be continued tension, and friend, until we daily and continually come to depend on that peace with God there will continue to be tensions with one another.

One of the best peacemakers is one who seeks to be a witness of the saving power of Jesus. Many believers decline to be peacemakers because they fear a hostile reaction. Hostility is directed to God not to us. A true friend will be willing to hear what you have to say about God or anything that is important to you. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they seek reconciliation a shalom of rightness with world with others, with self and God and you will be Sons of God.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Thur March 31 Rejection

Verses- Matt 5:8-12

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Peacemakers Rejection

One problem with Peace is rejection. Whenever we attempt to offer the olive branch, the difficulty is that it can be snatched from us. Jesus came to bring peace followed by rejection and crucifixion. When the disciples went out to heal and preach Jesus told them to plan on rejection. Rejection isn't fun. But all Christians who are Christ followers will be rejected by some. Jesus said, "Luke 9:26 "Whoever is ashamed of me and my words of him will the son of man be ashamed." Luke 6:26 "Woe to you when all men speak well of you." If you are liked by everyone something is wrong. When the disciples came to Jesus they were rejected. When Jews come to Christ many of their families have funerals for them, disowning them and treating them as if they were dead. In this passage rejection is talked about by insults or reviling persecution, facing accusations for Jesus sake.

To be reconciled with Christ is to be so identified with him that your life will not go the way of the world. It will seek to be ethical in business, to be forgiving to offenders, to be legal in activities and to be moral in our relationships. Friends want friends they can feel comfortable around and many are not comfortable around someone who is dedicated to live their lives in honor of Jesus.

A certain amount of persecution is inevitable because the church is to be a conscience of the nation or society. Rev. Paul Lundgren took a public stand against pornography in Cambridge with video stores and was publicly lambasted and ridiculed. Pornography is a horrible addiction and disrupts families and disregards women in society as objects for lust. The job of the church is to praise God, point people to Jesus and condemn evil and sin. When we break the silence barrier then there will be trouble.

I read in this David Platt’s book, Radical, how one missionary couple of the last century sensed the call of God to go to a Muslim village to tell the people how they can have peace with God. They whole family was killed. Years later another missionary couple came on the scene and told the same message. Remembering the stories of their first missionary they listened and responded in faith in Christ. Who would volunteer to be martyred so a future generation might be saved?

That is far different than the type of rejection that happens to most American Christians today. Some might not get promotions on their job. Some may not get hired or can get fired because their practices are not in cooperation with certain sales promotions. Some get laughed at work or mocked in the neighborhoods. Some are made fun of, or politely but consistently ignored by others. Many evangelical Christians are in politics are categorized as extremists and bigoted and forced out of office.

Jesus warns that people will say evil things, maybe beat and kill believers and say things that simply are not true. One man came to Tertillian, a 2nd century church father, and said, "I've come to

Christ, but I don't know what to do. I have a job that I don't think is right, but I have to live."

Tertillian responded, "Must you?"

The call to follow Jesus and seeking peace with God and confronting evil in society can easily result in rejection.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Fri April 1 Rewards

Verses- Matt 5: 11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Peacemaker's Rewards

There is a comforting and hopeful word. There is rejoicing found in peacemaking. There is rejoicing found in reconciliation to God and one another and peace within one’s self. Because Gods' Word is true we can put our faith in great promise of reward. For great is your reward in heaven. For the man of peace that perseveres has the assurance of blessing because of his loyalty to the cross. A blessedness is promised for those reconciled to God and seeking to reconcile others to him and to one another.

Even in persecution joy is possible. Acts 5:41 "The apostles left the Sanhedrin rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name of Jesus" The peacemakers can be called the sons of God.

Sometimes in a counseling experience there is the pain of reviewing one's life and sins. There are painful times in the past hard to talk about. Many carry bitter and half forgotten memories that when dealt with often resulting in a sudden pouring forth of emotion, like a lanced boil. Emotional and spiritual pain and pressure can be released in confession and forgiveness. It is called a catharsis experience when all that needs to come out is released and a healing begins to take place. That healing is such joyful relief.

It is a reward that is well worth the effort to confront some of the fears and sins that keep us from growing.

When one goes to the physician sometimes there is pain induced to get well. The prize of health may first require an operation, therapy, and recuperation. The prize of peace may first have to face pain of confession, and sometimes that pain of persecution, but he prize is Gods' kingdom of peace and blessed rewards.

Romans 8:18 "For I consider that the suffering of this present time are not worth to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us."

We are at war. The largest war facing us is not Middle East conflicts. We are called to a battle as soldiers in God's army whose battle is to bring peace. Peacemakers go out armed with righteousness, mercy and purity to free others from their poverty, to bring them the good news.

We belong to a strange army with a strange mission. Testing examines us to see if our hearts are pure, if we really hunger for righteousness or still crave comfort and approval. Satan sets ambushes to waylay us. If we aren't grounded in the earlier beatitudes, persecution will inflict wounds too deep to bear.

But the rewards are worth it- the short of it includes peace, the longer promise is “great is your reward in heaven.” We start with nothing; we end with blessing.

Pastor Dale

The Happy Man Matt 2:3-7

Sermon Nuggets Mon March 21 Happy Man

Verses- Matt 5: 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The Happy Man

A few years ago in parade magazine there was a survey of what citizens of various countries believe brought happiness. Austrians said health is most important precondition for happiness. The Finns said it was kindness. The Greeks mentioned honesty. The Dutch told us beauty in women and handsomeness in men make for happiness. The British claimed a sense of humor is indispensable. The Italians, Japanese, and Americans all agree that money is no guarantee if happiness but it sure helps.

I read that some people bring happiness where ever they go, some whenever they go." Show me a person who is completely dependent and trusting God and there will be one who is happy under various circumstances.

We introduced this theme last week as we through about the Sermon on the Mount. We began with the beatitude, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.” We come to the Lord without personal merit only relying on his grace. We have no righteousness of our own. We see ourselves in light of God's perfection. No one can say, "I'll come to God when I'm good enough, or when I get my life straightened out, or I'll come to God when I'm living the way I should, because none of us will be good enough straightened out enough or live the way we should. We are sinners.

To be POOR IN SPIRIT is to recognize one’s spiritual poverty apart from God. It is to see oneself, as one really is; lost, hopeless, and helpless. Apart from Jesus Christ every person is spiritually destitute, no matter what his education, wealth, social status, accomplishments, or religious knowledge.

This keeps us from making the fatal error of thinking that God was less holy than He is and that we are more holy than we are. Being poor in spirit is the first beatitude because humility must precede everything else. No one can receive the kingdom until he recognizes that he is unworthy of the kingdom.

Jesus is saying, “When your recognize your spiritual poverty and have no place to turn, then you are blessed, because when you come yielded then I can give you the Kingdom by God's grace.”

My mind goes to the time when the disciples were trying to figure out who Jesus was. Peter, James and John were out fishing, but caught nothing. Jesus, from shore, asks how it went. Peter’s reply was they were fishing all night and caught nothing.

Jesus told them to go and put the nets on the other side of the boat. It always amazes me that from a human point, Jesus was a carpenter telling professional fishermen how to do their job.

The passage doesn’t record what they were thinking, but perhaps reluctantly they went and did as Jesus said. To their shock the nets were so full they were about to break.

That’s where God has to get us, to the place where our human efforts are useless. Where the only way it’s going to work out is for God to get involved. Peter realized Jesus wasn’t just merely a teacher to be called “master.” But He was God, so he called Him, “Lord.”

He was poor in spirit and although he didn’t know what would die ahead in the coming days and years, yet me made a decision that day to follow Jesus. He discovered the Kingdom of heaven.

Pastor Dale

Sermon nuggets Tues March 22 Mourning

Verses – Matt 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Mourning

I think some of the beatitudes follow a sequence. Since the poor in heart refers to the importance of our need and humility that explains our condition before the Lord it will result in mourning or sadness for sin.

I do not want to ignore the hope that we have as grief stricken people who are part of Gods’ kingdom. We certain experience grief in our world with the loss of loved ones, loss of friends, loss of homes or jobs. There will be comfort. There will be hope that turns those things around from eternity’s eyes.

But I wonder if Jesus is also saying being aware of sin and our need before God brings to us conviction of the soul and sorrow for sin. Recognition of the spiritual poverty is followed by mourning over that condition. When they enter the Kingdom of God they will be comforted. There will be relief.

There are some who mourn when things don't go their way. That is selfish not referred to here. Some mourn our of self pity and personal loss. What sense does it make to declare blessing those who are sad? We soon realize that authentic happiness does not mean the absence of sorrow. What Jesus is referring to is a Godly sorrow. A Godly sorrow reflects a broken heart and moves us to rest upon God. Hurt that drive us to such mourning brings God's comfort. When we cry unto the Lord for help, there is comfort His presence which satisfies.

When the poor in spirit have given up on their attempts to find happiness turn in humility toward God, when they see their emptiness before a righteous God they mourn their sin. It is then they discover they have been seized-wholly seized-by the grace of God. Kingdom people, therefore, mourn. God transforms their values and changes their perspectives.

One of the missing messages in today’s gospel of salvation seems to be repentance. Those who see themselves with their need see they are not worthy to receive salvation for they see themselves out of fellowship with a Holy God. That is when they come to Him in sorrow and seek salvation and desire to repent from their ways and embrace the Lord who will save all who come to Him.

When we have been touched by the grace of God we then mourn for the sin of the loved ones around us and see what victims they are. We mourn when people endure spiritual pain they do not have to endure. We want people to see the love available in God. We wonder why people do not turn to Him. We cannot live in a sinful world without mourning as we seek the heart of God. What breaks God's heart breaks our hearts.

But think also of the comfort. Those who experience greatest pain experience greater joy. Those who have been saved from the bondage of a sin full life better rejoice in their salvation. They know that which God has saved them. We see this dichotomy demonstrated in Jesus life. What we see in Jesus Christ is one who experiences the hurts and pains of our life. We see Jesus weeping over the death of his friend Lazarus; we see Jesus filled with compassion, suffering with the sick and dying; we see Jesus taking the sin of the entire world into himself and dying on a Roman cross. A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.

But then comes the joy, the comfort, the peace, the celebration. Then on Easter we see the victory.

Mary Magdalene was a great mourner at the grave of Jesus. She was faithful to the end. She mourned when he cried out in agony on the cross. Peter and the others could not handle it that ran for safety from the horror of it; they ran back to fishing, back to families and homes. But Mary stayed with her grief. So to the tomb she went weeping that morning, simply to be the like a loved on goes to grave of the person they lost. She went to cry and finish the preparation for burial since she and the other women had to leave so quickly.

To whom did the resurrected Lord first appear on Easter? Who felt his comforting presence before anyone else? It as Mary who stayed with her grief until the comfort came.

For some they will not experience the complete comfort in this life, but rather the filling of the Holy Spirit that is the seal for the life to come. Those that mourn will be comforted.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Weds March 23 Meekness

Verse- Matt 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Meekness

Too often our culture interprets meekness as a spineless, ineffective weakness. In the secret life of Walter Mitty James Thurber presented a man who imagined great things through courage and accomplishments in his secret dream life, but in reality had a personality who couldn't stand up to anyone and was a door-mat to the world. In our society one who is meek seems to be taken advantage of by others.

We admire the mighty and the successful. The sharks of our society make things happen. We perceive the meek of society watch things happen. Many delight to the call to valor. The recent air strikes over Libya have an appeal of strength that seeks to stop the attacks by the evil dictatorship of Muammar Gaddafi.

It is easy for Christians to adopt a stance that says ‘no one is going to push us around’. But "God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong..” (I Cor. 1:27)

The secret behind Samson was not his muscles; it was the Spirit of the Lord. The Christian will either rely on our own earthly resources, or on the Spirit of the Lord and the difference is night and day.

The Lord told Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you for my power is perfected in weakness." Weakness and meekness are not the same thing.

Aristotle referred to the term meekness to indicate a balance between two extremes. It was used to indicate anger at the right time and never at the wrong time or in the wrong way. It highlights a sense of moderation but with a spirit of seeking others good more than your own. Perhaps words for our culture to understand might be yeildness or subjection of one's emotions so they are under control.

In the context of the spiritual happiness and blessing from God the term takes on an added meaning. Blessed is the one who is poor spiritually, and has spiritual sorrow for confession then one is in the position of being yielded to God and seeks to have God now control their own urges, passions, and life. Many are unhappy because they will not mourn for their sin, nor yield themselves unto God, but think have something they can give to God.

When we freely admit our weaknesses, there's no more show to put on before the world. We don't have to prove anything to anyone other than we're dependent on God. When we acknowledge the truth about ourselves and the truth about the completeness of Christ and rejoice in him, the Lord gives us His wisdom and strength.

Jesus demonstrated meekness in the garden when he said, "Lord not my will, but Thine be done" It is seeking to let God take control of ones life. But Jesus also stood against his accusers and attackers. The pierced lamb ready for the sacrifice is the picture of the might from God. Through Christ's meekness the victory over all the forces of evil was established.

The meek shall inherit the earth. Notice the meek are not taking the earth by force, but inheritance comes as a gift that is promised by another. God promises to give us the earth when we are yielded to His will and not seeking our own advantage. Jesus owns the earth and all that is in it belongs to him.

When will there be an earth to inherit? I believer Scripture is pointing to the Millennial reign when there will be ushering in a new Kingdom order on earth after Jesus’ return. And following there will be a new heaven and new earth. We shall reign with him eternally.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Thurs March 24 Righteousness

Verse- Matt 5: 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Righteousness

Bob Bonebrake recalls after church his brother and sister would persuade their father to buy sodas and ice cream. One Sunday he protested, "Where does it say you kids should always get something to eat and drink right after church?" In the Bible they responded, "It says, Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness."

What is it we hunger and thirst for? These words come from the poverty stricken culture where people in the desert area know what dying of thirst means; We do not. They know what hunger is and what starvation is; we do not. They know that when they are so hungry nothing else but food matters. They don't care how they look, whether they have shoes whether they own a house, the very basics for survival is food and water. With that kind of craving for life, Jesus poses the thought. Blessed are they that have that desire and ambition for righteousness, the desire to do what is right and doing what God would have us do.

Notice the blessed man is not necessarily the one who achieves goodness, or righteousness, but the one who longs for it with all his heart in spite of his failures and failings. David desired more than anything to build the temple for God but it was not in God will, yet according to I Kings 8:18 Because it was in your heart to have a temple built for my name you did well to have this in your heart."

David was blessed for that which was his desire. When people hungered Jesus said I am the bread of life when they thirsted Jesus said, I am the living water.

Would our world change if our ambition were to serve God? The lusts of the heart, according to the Bible, are self serving. The things we long for, beyond our basic needs, does not satisfy. Saved people find purpose in a life that is devoted to God. Those are the treasures in heaven that will not pass away.

One man translated this verse this way- "O the bliss of the man

who longs for total righteousness for that man will be truly satisfied.” How unhappy are they who do not desire God and instead live for things that pass away. They will find themselves hungry and thirsty for momre, but never filled. Jesus said in Matt 6:33 “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Fri March 25 Mercy

Verse Matt 5: 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Mercy

Another stepping stone for spiritual happiness relates to our relationship with others. We begin recognizing our need, mourning over our sin, yield our hearts to God in meekness, desiring to be filled with righteousness from God and doing his will. Then we need to reach out to others with the same mercy that God has shown to us. If we have received such tremendous mercy, can we fail to be merciful to others? How much is kindness toward others seen in your life? How much is kindness from Christ shown to you?

Mercy most often is shown in forgiveness. It realizes hurts, debts, and sins can be put aside for the sake of a relationship.

Merciful people do not hold others to a standard they cannot keep themselves. As we have been forgiven out of that same mercy forgive others. As we thirst for righteousness in our own lives, we find our hearts more and more broken for the needy.

I was watching a concert on PBS last week where in costume the singers sang the songs from Les Miserables. Victor Hugo tells the story of Jean Valjean, who stole a loaf of bread to feed his sister's starving children. After serving 19 years for his crime he was released. Unable to find work because he had been a convict, he came to the home of a Bishop who kindly gave him supper and a place to sleep. Yielding to temptation, however, Valijean stole the Bishops silver plates and slipped out into the night. But he was apprehended and brought back to the scene of his crime. The kind Bishop did not want to prosecute the man. Deciding to try and win him to the Lord instead, he told officers he wanted Valjean to have the silver plates. Turning to the culprit he said, "And Jean you forgot to take the candlesticks." He handed them to him. The criminal was astounded, and the kindness later resulted in his conversion. This brought a deep sense of joy to the compassionate Bishop.

God will reward us with additional blessing and increased happiness. As Ralph Scot comments, "Kindness is a hard thing to give away; it keeps coming back to the giver."

That isn't always easy. It isn't our nature. We want revenge. Like one T-shirt said, "I don't get mad, I get even."

Jesus sought instead to get into the skin of man and walked this earth and showed mercy to those in need: the lame the blind, the deaf, the poor, the sick, the prostitutes, the tax-collectors.

James 2:13 says, God will not show mercy when he judge the man who has not been merciful." We recite the Lord' prayer at times, Lord forgive me my transgression as I forgive those who trespass against me." Like Joseph showed to his brothers who wronged him and sold him into slavery; like Moses showed to the Israelites again and again when they rebelled against him; like Stephen prayed for the persecutors throwing stones at him, "Father forgive them they do not know what they are doing"

Watch for an opportunity to extend mercy and kindness to someone today.

Pastor Dale