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

Greatest Sermon Matt. 4:23-5:2

Sermon Nuggets Mon March 14 Sermon on the Mount


Verses Matt 4:23-5:2 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them.
25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.
5:1 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them, saying:



THE GREATEST SERMON EVER PREACHED

A young minister was preaching in South against gambling and found many in his congregation worked for the casino and was getting into trouble. Then he preached on the evils of smoking only to find a good percentage of farmers grew tobacco. The next Sunday he preached on the evils of drinking and was told to go light because an important member owned the distillery. The next Sunday he preached on the evils of fishing within the territorial waters of foreign country. They thought that was the best sermon ever preached.

The greatest sermon ever preached was by the greatest preacher,
Jesus Christ. It is also the longest sermon in the Bible and known to us as the Sermon on the Mount. Every time I read it I feel like Jesus is getting into trouble. Because unlike the preacher down south he steps on just about everyone's toes eventually.

There will be things Jesus tells us that will bother just about everyone because it deals with life as we know it also on the threshold of the 21st century.

It is called by some the Magna Charta of the Kingdom, the Manifesto of the King. Some think that it is for the future Millennium Kingdom, and not for our age; Some believe it is intended for the Jews and not the Gentile church, some feel it is the ideals of what a holy life is to be and by doing it you will find favor with God.

I read a tract that proposed salvation is possible during the tribulation, not by faith in Christ, but by obeying everything Jesus puts forth as righteousness. Many will agree these are impossible demands and when we realize God's righteousness we have no place to turn by to the grace of God. Therefore it, like the law, only points to our great need for salvation.

That is true we must trust the grace of God, but Jesus is doing more than. If we take those viewpoints, alone, I'm afraid then it doesn't speak directly to us and there is little reason to study it except as an historical document, or capture our curiosity of the future. If that is the case then it would be abusing the Christian responsibility of the attitudes so expressed within humility, mercy, righteousness, and service. He is calling us to commitment of a righteous life and expects us to be different than the world if we are to be members of His Kingdom. Jesus is calling kingdom people to faith and also to live differently than those of the world.

Jesus had just shortly begun his public ministry. He was with his disciples and showed His power and wisdom by the words He shared.

It is good for us to listen with open hearts seeking to understand more and obey and follow the Messiah and His teachings.


Pastor Dale



Sermon Nuggets Tues March 15 Compassion


Verses Verses Matt 4:23-5:2 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them.
25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.
5:1 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them, saying:



Jesus Brought Compassion

Notice what was on the mind and heart of Jesus that caused him to sit and begin teaching. He saw the crowds. These were people from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, across the Jordan and they were following him, some out of curiosity, most because they were being healed. The whole story of God's revelation is a story of God's love.

There is no reason in the world why He needed to put up with us, not one reason why he should save us except for his glory that we might see His love. His love sent Christ to us and the character of God is seen in Jesus preaching good news, healing every disease.

Love brings us to God. Love brought Jesus to the cross. Love brings sacrifice for our sin. God is continually showing us his compassion.

Often in the Bible it is recorded that Jesus saw the multitudes and had compassion on them. It is said that he went preaching the good news; proclaiming the hope of the kingdom. He preached and taught.

It wasn't so surprising that Jesus went up to the mountain to get away from the crowd, especially those too sick to climb, or to be carried up, but it seems that some continued to follow. Maybe it was to pray or be alone, but when they came he sat down and gave more concentrated instruction to his disciples.

In that day a Rabbi would walk and teach, but when he sat down with his followers that as the official and significant instructions. That was the custom of that day, the rabbi sat while the others stood around and listened. This was particularly important.

He is officially laying out the manifesto for his Kingdom. It wasn't only the special disciples listening in, others hear him too. But the words are for followers of Christ. A disciples is a learner a follower of Jesus and if you seek to learn and follow him it this is for you today.

It is love that also causes us as parents to want to train the children and discipline them, instruct them. It is an unloving parent that leaves the children to fend on their own. Love is what motivates us to give time and energy to their well-being physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually. Parents that really love their children need to make sacrifices and efforts to see them grow spiritually.

I remember the two times where as a parent my emotions turned to terror when in large crowds we “lost” our son. I had heard the horror stories of little children being kidnapped in crowds and smuggled never to be seen again. Imagination runs away in our minds.

Judi and I went in opposite directions yelling at the top of our lungs feeling like a fool, but having love overcome inhibitions.

Well, in each case attractions to their little eyes caused them to leave us. Bryan was at Disneyland enjoying the parade and following some of the figures to shake their hands, Justin was at the fair and pigs seemed more interesting to him than the displays in the room.

In seeking to save the lost, many have their attention captured by pigs and Mickey mouse and leave the source of our creator's protection and care. Many do not even know the are lost. It was love that brought Jesus to man. It is love that caused him to view the multitudes and sit and teach important lessons to his children.

We are guilty when we see how much Jesus loved the multitudes and how little we do. When missions has workers wanting and willing to go and not the funds, when economic security is high on our reason for war, when homes are broken and people sick and world lost, but God gives us the compassion shown by Jesus. Each one of you is loved of God far more than any human relationship could love you. He died to prove it.


Pastor Dale




Sermon Nuggets Weds March 16 Contentment


Verses- Matt 5:1 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them, saying:

Jesus Taught Contentment

Jesus began to teach them. Surprisingly He tells them how they can be happy and blessed. I can't think of too many who characterize this sermon by the word contentment, but that is what comes to my mind. However, contentment comes as we commit all areas of our lives to the Lordship of Jesus. The source of happiness is Jesus. What Jesus gives is a life that is committed to him regardless of the cost to the world.

The Greek word for blessing of happiness is "makarios" meaning you are living in a state of contentment, fulfilled joy. True happiness is only found in the right relationship with God. Its greatest hindrances are selfishness, and sinfulness.

The world will tell us in many ways, "Happy are the rich for they will have an easy life; Happy are they who find success for life is going to go their way; Happy are those who laugh and never let life hurt them. Happy are they who have no troubles, for then life is a bed of roses."

Isn't that what you long for- wealth, no troubles, getting what we want all the time, one great big party?

Most are not rich. Not one I know is without troubles. I know of none who do not cry. The ones that are partying all the time are not doing so because of joy, but are terribly seeking it as an escape from the unfulfilled mundane experience.

Jesus is teaching His followers to be different from the world, and how the world thinks and acts. Christians are different in value systems, in ethical standards, in religious devotion, in attitudes of their possession, in ambition, in life style, and in social and religious relationships.

In our world we are seekers of pleasure. We have made this point before but the problem isn't the goal, it is the object of that pleasure. Pleasure that is lasting and fulfilling isn't in money, cars, jobs, girl friends, boyfriends, education or sex. Pleasure in God is a worthy pursuit. For when we seek the pleasure in God we will not be disappointment, nor will it be taken away.

Jesus teaches that if you are really going to be my people you will go against the way your friends and relatives will want you to live. Even many church members want you to have Jesus, but not to the degree that you make Him first in all areas of life.

As we look at the happy people, the blessed people we soon discover is that they are poor in spirit, mourners, meek, hungry, thirsty, merciful, and pure in heart, peacemakers persecuted, reviled. That hardly characterizes contentment does it?

The Sermon on the Mount portrays a repentance and righteousness which belongs to God's kingdom. Jesus tells us what life should be like when it is under the direct and complete rule and authority of God.

Yet when we know who we are in Christ, we can be like Paul content “in every circumstance, whether well fed or hungry, whether in plenty or in want.” As we take a thumb nail sketch of the Sermon on the Mount you will find contentment is a characteristic given to us by God when we are seekers of Him. Contented people do not have to cover up lies. They do not have to seek to steal, or kill or destroy.

When people are content with the Lord, they do not have to worry about what other people think of them. We are to influence our society around us with godliness even if we are persecuted for it. We are to live the way God wants us to lives.

Although, Jesus is challenging all the way people live, piety comes from within not in outward performance.

When we think of marriage we talk a lot of love and commitment, but love is displayed not in words, but in deeds and that is the significant ingredient to a lasting marriage. We submit ourselves one to the other for the good of the relationship. Without commitment there is no marriage. Without commitment to Christ there is no salvation. Without commitment there is no true contentment, blessing or happiness.


Pastor Dale


Sermon Nuggets Thurs March 17 Conversion

Verses- 5:2ff "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of God. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are those how hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.


Jesus Sought Conversion

The righteousness of God is far beyond our capabilities. We are sinful people and even when we give our hearts to Christ, we struggle. But to come to the Lord there is hope for those who are struggling.

Listen to this "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of God. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are those how hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.”

We cannot begin our walk with God unless we realize that we are spiritually depraved. We do not have anything really to offer God. We cannot live by God's standards until we are converted, meaning that we turn from our evil ways and let the Holy Spirit take over. It is yielding to God's call on our life. Salvation is through new birth given to us by God, will you receive it?

The essential theme of this Bible and this sermon is God calling out a people for Himself. True contentment is to be set apart for God our creator. Law isn't what does it, humility and trust does.

What the sermon does is bring us back to the preacher, to Jesus Christ, who not only shows us our need, but offers us the way to meet that need. The sermon's realities keep bringing us to Him as we walk daily by faith trusting the one who shed his blood and broke his body for us. The sermon shows us the necessity of the new birth, which is the only way to happiness.

Jesus came not to bring a new law, but to bring a new covenant, or agreement by which we might have our hearts changed from sinner to saint from the desire for worldly things to heavenly things, the re-emphasis on conversion from making self the boss to making the Savior our King.

So in life where is happiness? What assure us of future riches and blessing that this heart craves for? Jesus said unless you can come to me needy, broken, and aware of your sin and poverty you cannot see the Kingdom of Heaven.

I believe that as we see the beatitudes; they are like stepping stones that build upon one another. The prerequisite for blessing is realizing our spiritual need. We are lost and without God when God is outside of our lives. We have nothing good in ourselves that we are needy.

The word for poor in the Greek means complete abject poverty. The one who is poor has no earthly resources and must put his whole trust on God. But the word does not mean all the poor people are blessed. He speaks of those who are poor in spirit. We are to strip ourselves of pride and self-righteousness, and selfishness, and sin.

Prov. 16:5 says, "The Lord detest all the proud of heart, but be sure of this: They will not go unpunished" Compare that with David’s prayer in Psalm 51:17 "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."

Jesus compares the prayers of the Pharisee to the prayer of the publican. One prays with thoughts on how good he is, the other with the realization that he needs mercy for he has sinned against God. When we all compare ourselves to God are destitute spiritually, completely lacking all in righteousness are as filthy rags.

He calls people to change. He calls people to conversion. He does more than that. He makes it happen to any who will receive Him.


Pastor Dale



Sermon Nuggets Fri March 18 Comfort


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


Jesus Brought Comfort

As we will look at the beatitudes next week we see the formula of three parts of the phrases and truths Jesus uses. The “Blessings” or happiness that he pronounces to begin the truth, the situation as it is with the struggles and difficulties people face, and thirdly, the results desires and promised for those he loves.

These promises might be called (by me) the comforting parts of the beatitudes. The conclusion of old novels would read, “And they lived happily ever after.” The conclusion of God’s big book is the same way. There has been a fall, destruction, situations that are brought about because of the antagonist (Satan) the struggle and the rescue and defeat of the bad guys or the overcoming of the odds and conflict until it results in an end that is satisfying and enjoyable.

I believe theses types of stories which we see played out in story after story is what is implanted in our hearts for these are shadows of the BIG story of God intervening and directing our world. We the comfort and conclusion of it all is blessedness, peace, salvation, and comfort.

Blessed is the one who mourns for he will be comforted. Who is our comforter? He is revealed by Jesus in John 16-17 as none other than the Holy Spirit. The comforter is called to walk along side to help to support, and strengthen. The only comfort we can receive for mourning over our sin is free and complete forgiveness.

David was full of remorse and tears when faced with his sin. He realized his poverty and mourned. Nothing broke his heart more than how he hurt God. When we look upon the cross of Christ we see the ultimate effect of our sin and what it did to Him.

One poet wrote, "I walked a mile with pleasure; she chatted all the way, but left me none the wise for all she had to say. I walked a mile with sorrow, and never a word said she, but oh, the things I learned from her, when sorrow walked with me."

Barclay paraphased it, "O the bless of the man whose heart is broken for the worlds suffering and for his own sin, for out of his sorrow He will find the joy of God."

Malcolm Muggeridge was a British author and social critic. He made much of his living criticizing virtually all of this society's institutions. He made the church the object of much satire. However at the age of 70 years we was converted to Christ.

Muggeridge wrote " I may, I suppose, regard myself or pass for being a relatively successful man. People occasionally stare at me in the streets-that fame. I can fairly easily earn enough to qualify for admission to the higher slopes of the Internal Revenue-that's success.

Furnished with money and a little fame, even the elderly if they care to, may partake of trendy diversions-that's pleasure. I might happen once in a while that something I said or wrote was sufficiently heeded for me to persuade myself that it represented a serious impact on our time-that's fulfillment. Yet I say to you- and I get you to believe me-multiply these tiny triumphs by a million add them together, and they are nothing-less than nothing, a positive impediment-measured against one draught of that living water Christ offers to the spiritually thirsty irrespective of who or what they are."

Jesus shares with us of the Kingdom life. It is a call to commitment, but it is more than that it is a look at Jesus who brought compassion, who taught contentment, and sought for us conversion and we are in the comfort of his relationship, love, and presence.


Pastor Dale