"Sermon on the Mount" Pt. 6

Hi, this is John O'Zanting, lead pastor of Evolved Church, and this is the Evolved Church Podcast.

Thanks so much for tuning in.

We hope that you find today's message encouraging and full of hope for wherever you're at.

Grab your Bible, grab your notebook, and grab your seat.

We are on part six of a series in the Sermon on the Mount.

We've been working our way through Matthew chapter five, six, and seven.

If you've been away for the summer or if it's your first time here, be at ease.

You're allowed to hear today's message without hearing the other five.

But I would like to encourage you to go back on our YouTube channel or our audio podcast if you want to watch, if you want to listen and listen to the other five messages in this series.

Brian Globish kicked us off in July on the Beatitudes and myself and Pastor Bennett as we've worked our way through Jesus' teachings from the Sermon on the Mount.

And I want to begin today with this thought.

And I jokingly like, you're good times a billion, good times a trillion, good times a zillion.

I can't even count it all.

You're nothing but good God.

So I mean, we sang that for the very first time today.

And as we were singing it, my heart was like, I wonder if people actually believe that.

I wonder if we actually live our lives from a posture of trusting that he's good.

And one of the fascinating things about humanity is that it's not just that we don't know how to ask for help.

It's that we don't know what to ask help for.

Think about this.

Have you ever had somebody who's going through a really hard time and you're like, what can I do to help you?

And how how how often do people respond with like, I don't know.

I don't know.

And I've given it a lot of thought this week, partly because I road tripped with my son to Victoria, and on the way there, I said to him, son, there's lots that I've modeled for you, lots that I've taught you over your first 18 years.

But I want to say something.

The culture, the world that you live in will forever try and convince you that you have to have what it takes.

And that in order to have what it takes, you have to strive, work hard, prove yourself, push other people down, and on your own make a name for yourself and make make it make a great name for yourself and find your place in this world and make a difference in this world.

And cultures convince not just the masculine heart, but every heart that in order to have what it takes, I have to prove and I have to prove it on my own.

And attached to that is such a wicked lie of the enemy.

Because here's what's true.

Of course you have what it takes.

But not because you're good at something, it's because you're created in the likeness in the image of God.

And He's redeemed you and made all things new.

It's because of Jesus that you have what it takes.

And from that place you live tethered.

You live surrendered.

Like that's the goal.

And we had this conversation about the difference between a culture that says you've got to prove, versus Jesus' kingdom that says you have nothing to prove.

And attached to that, I said, you know what, son, since I was 19 years old, I've read through Proverbs pretty well every month of my life.

It's 31 chapters.

I read a Proverb a day.

I read Proverbs chapter 7 this morning because it's September 7th.

Proverbs 7 · chapter mention

I've been doing this since I was 19.

And one of the overwhelming themes in the book of Proverbs is: do you want to have what it takes?

Do you want to be wise?

Ask for help.

Ask for help.

Know that you need help.

Know that you can't do it on your own.

And attached to that today, as we finish this series, is how often do you stop and actually trust that because God is good, not only does he want to help you, but that he will help you.

And so we're finishing this series in Matthew chapter 7, starting in verse 13.

Matthew 7 · chapter mention

Sorry, yeah, 13.

And you can read along on the screen or in your own Bible.

Here's what it says you can enter God's kingdom only through the narrow gate.

The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.

But the gateway of life is very narrow, and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.

You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act.

Can you pick grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles?

No.

A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit.

A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit.

So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire.

Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.

Like when I read about a narrow gate and a wide one and the highway to hell, I want you to feel that.

Because some of you are like already, you're like, I'm not sure about hell.

You just said God is good, and if God is good, talk to me about hell.

We're supposed to look at people's actions and decide whether people are good or bad, or I don't know, that feels kind of judgy.

That was a great message last week, Bennett.

Go back and listen to that one.

We're gonna talk about this today.

21 not everyone who calls out to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven.

Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.

And on judgment day, is that hard to hear?

This is gonna be a judgment day.

Many will say to me, Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name, we cast out demons in your name, we performed many miracles in your name.

Jesus says, But I'll reply, I never knew you.

Get away from me, you who break God's law.

So anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.

Though the rain comes in torments and the flood waters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse because it is built on bedrock.

But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn't obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.

When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.

Notice rains come and winds beat, regardless of where the house is built.

And when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority, quite unlike the teachers of the religious law.

I heard a true story this week about a father, a father who was estranged and distant from his son, and he decided to try and contact his son one day to no avail.

His son wouldn't respond.

And so this father thought it would be a good idea to call the police and make up a false allegation that his son was physically abusing him.

And when pushed, he said, Well, I did it to get my son's attention.

And truthfully, this father is how many of us see God.

You don't actually believe he's good.

I don't actually believe he's good.

And as we close out Jesus' teachings from Matthew 5, 6, and 7, I want to ask, what do you believe to be true about God's nature and his character?

That's the question where I want you to start today.

Where I want us to start, here in this room, watching from home.

A couple weeks ago, I read verses seven and on.

Keep on asking, you'll receive what you ask for.

Keep on seeking, you'll find.

Keep on knocking, the door will be open.

Everyone who asks, receive.

Everyone who seeks, finds.

Everyone who knocks, the door's gonna be opened.

You, parents, if your child asks for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone?

No.

If they ask for fish, do you give them a snake?

No.

That's mean, of course not.

So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly father give good gifts to those who ask him?

The most loving response of a father is to be both clear and kind.

And when I read Matthew 7 and some of the hard things that we're gonna look at today, here's what I want you to know.

I hear a voice wrapped in warmth, wrapped in gentleness, wrapped in strength of purpose.

I want you to hear the father saying, daughter, son, do you trust me?

Will you believe that I'm as good as Jesus claims I am?

Will you immerse your life in my love, in my authority, and in my provision?

And will you live tethered, yielded, and surrendered?

I love how the prophet Isaiah said, Don't be afraid, for I'm with you.

Don't be discouraged, for I'm your God.

I'll strengthen you, I'll help you, I'll hold you up with my victorious right hand.

This is our God.

And without a deep trust that God is for us and with us and holding us, the rest of our lives, let alone the rest of Jesus' teachings from Matthew 7, are going to be really, really hard.

So Matthew 7 is the tale of two: two gates, two trees, and two houses.

And I want to break it up that way.

Two gates.

Verses uh 13 and 14.

You can enter God's kingdom only through the narrow gate.

The highway to hell is broad, its gate is wide for the many that choose that way.

But the gateway to life is very narrow.

Leon Morris says that a narrow gate must be sought out.

It is not as easily perceived as is the broad one.

Are you seeking the narrow gate?

And I thought about it this way: if there are two roads, a broad one and a narrow one, two paths, you're already on one of them.

You're already on one of them.

But it's not like God sends people down the wide, broad road that leads to hell.

God doesn't send people there.

Which is where you get to say, I just don't understand how a loving God could send people to hell.

He doesn't.

Sin chose that.

Sin chose that.

You were born into sin.

You were born on the wide, broad road.

I'm sorry, but that's true.

All of us are born into sin.

Sin chooses that road for you.

So the question is, is will you seek the narrow way?

Will you pursue the narrow gate and will you pursue it your whole life long?

See, the broad way is the easy way, it's the popular way.

But we must not judge spiritual profession by statistics.

The majority is not always right.

The fact that everybody does it is no proof that what they're doing is right.

Quite the contrary is true.

God's people have always been a remnant, a small minority in this world, and the reason is not difficult to discover.

The way of life is narrow, lonely, costly.

And we can walk on the broad way and keep our baggage of sin and worldliness, but if we enter the narrow way, we have to give up those things.

So here then is the first test.

Did your profession of faith in Christ cost you anything?

And if not, then it was not a true profession.

Many people who trust Jesus Christ never leave the broad road with its appetites and associations.

They have an easy Christianity that makes no demands on them, and yet Jesus said that the narrow way was hard.

We can't walk on two roads in two different directions at the same time.

And this is Warren Wearsby writing about Matthew 7.

What has your profession of faith in Christ cost you?

What has been the cost of choosing the narrow way and choosing it in this season and choosing it again in the next season, and choosing it with a heart intent on a long obedience in the same direction?

It costs me my ego and it costs me my pride when I choose the humility of Christ.

It costs me my desires and it costs me my urges when I choose a marriage covenant under God.

It costs me my pursuits and my wants when I choose kingdom generosity.

It costs me my time and my energy when I value family over making a great name for myself.

And it costs me myself when I choose his presence and choose it again.

I don't want to have an easy Christianity that makes no demands of me.

The old me died when I was baptized and raised to life.

And I need to ensure that he stays dead.

Yes, John 10, 9, yes, I'm the gate, Jesus says.

Those who come in through me will be saved.

They'll come and go freely and find good pastures.

Listen, this is the clear and kind, loving, good nature response of our Father.

You belong to family.

So go freely and find good pastures.

There is hope because of Jesus.

Jesus is the gate.

If you have any question about it, isn't it kind and loving for God to go?

You're born into sin, you're on this popular wide road.

I love you so much.

I'm gonna give you one option.

Not 17.

One.

Choose a narrow way.

Oh, in case you're wondering, walk through the gate.

Oh, in case you're wondering, Jesus is the gate.

Like, let's make it real simple.

How clear, kind, and loving is the Father.

Psalm 16 says, You'll show me the way of life, God, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.

That's our God.

Psalm 23, surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

How good and kind and faithful is our God.

Not just as placating words that sound right because we're in church, but as a way to live surrendered.

He's good.

He's good when I see it, he's still good even if I don't see it.

His nature and character don't change because life happens.

So will you pursue Jesus?

Will you seek out the narrow gate?

Will you pursue it your whole life long?

There's two gates.

There's also two trees.

15 to 20.

Beware of false prophets.

You can identify them by their fruit, by the way they act.

Good trees produce good, bad trees produce bad.

This is actually a really important addendum to Pastor Bennett's text on judgment from last week.

Consistent godly character expressed through our behavior, through how we act, through our track record, really, really matters.

I want to say that one more time.

Consistent godly character that shows up in how we live, in how we act, really, really matters.

You can't actually know someone's motives or intentions.

You can't.

You can't judge anyone's heart.

Only God can do that.

But we can inspect others and be inspected by how we act.

And because God is good, and because God can be trusted, and because we're choosing the narrow path and the long obedience, we have to prioritize the judging of our own actions instead of the actions of others.

Sawdust verses two by four, if you missed last week.

I love Stephen R.

Covey's quote: don't judge others by their actions, but yourself by your intentions.

And we do this all the time.

Like, oh, can you believe that person did that?

Someone's like, Yeah, but you did this.

Well, I know, but I intended to do this.

So, like, somehow like your actions are void because your intentions were different?

That's garbage.

We need to invite the Holy Spirit to self-assess and examine our lives.

Are we acting in a way that models the way and the truth in the life of Christ?

Because people might be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines the heart.

And so the second test is this: Did my decision for Christ change my life?

False prophets who teach false doctrine can produce only false righteousness, Acts 20.

Their fruit is false and cannot last.

The prophets themselves are false.

The closer we get to them, the more we see the falsity of their lives and of their doctrines.

They magnify themselves, not Jesus.

And their purpose is to exploit people, not to edify them.

And the person who believes false doctrine or who follows a false prophet will never experience a changed life.

And unfortunately, some people don't realize this until it's too late.

And as your pastor, I want to ensure that Jesus is being magnified in us.

And us includes me.

I want to ensure that Christ is being magnified in his church.

Oh Christ, be magnified on the altar of our lives.

Christ be magnified in me.

Has our decision to follow Jesus actually changed our lives?

And are we allowing Christ to change us still?

And this is this is a great place to pause for a moment.

Like if there's a pattern of sin in your life that's been there for years and years and years, I had four conversations with men all across Canada this week that I know and love about an addiction to pornography.

I just can't give you a heads up.

In the next year, I'm gonna be talking about pornography a lot.

We are.

Not me, us.

We are.

Why?

Because 70 to 80% of you are addicted to it right now.

That's the stat.

And it's destroying your brain, it's destroying how you think, it's destroying your surrender to Jesus, it's destroying your marriage, it's destroying your ability to love people well, it's destroying your life, and it's so hidden, and it's so secret, and it's so shameful that you'll never bring it out of darkness into light.

So we're just gonna normalize the conversation.

It's gonna be fun.

You're gonna love it.

It's gonna be great.

Why?

Because we're gonna impact our kids and our grandkids from a posture of wholeness and freedom and real life in Christ.

To grow is the pursuit.

Are we growing in the journey?

Are you different this year than you were last year?

Are you being transformed bit by bit into the image of his own dear son?

Are you changing?

And if not, maybe your salvation to Christ is too isolated.

Maybe you don't have, maybe you haven't asked for help.

Maybe you don't know how to ask for help.

Do you want to know why we say, hey, join a team, get in a small group?

It's so that your life gets smaller in proximity and real relationship to other people.

And then other people get to say, I love you too much to let that go.

And would you love?

Me the same way?

Like this is church.

This is why family matters.

And you're fine with it in biological family.

You understand that moms and dads correct sons and daughters, and that as kids age up, their voices matter in the home, and they're allowed to say, hey mom, hey dad, you say this all the time, but it doesn't line up with what you taught me, or you do this all the time, but I couldn't help but notice that's not what you taught us when we were kids.

Like this is this matters in family.

There's this reciprocal, like, uh, hey, I'm working on my two by four.

Let's talk about the sawdust for a second, right?

So whether we are changing or whether we're not will be evidenced in how our lives appear to be changing bit by bit.

When's the last time you observed?

Oh, I'm actually different than I used to be.

Some of us are here in this room today or watching from home because you've recognized just how much you need to change.

That's why you're here.

But often we avoid rooms like this because of the guilt and the shame of needing to change but refusing to.

And it works both ways and it's messy, but oh, how kind and how good is the Father, how clear and consistent is his love.

His still and whispered invitation remains come, child.

Come on in, daughter, son.

Be transformed by my love, the fullness of my love expressed through my own dear son, dying in your place, come in close.

Be raised to new life because Jesus was raised from the dead, and then find your truest self in Christ.

Bit by bit, be transformed into the image of my own dear son.

This is the prayer of the Father.

Or as Jesus put it in John 15, remain in me and I will remain in you.

And I like that Jesus doesn't force himself on anybody.

Remain in me, oh, and then I will remain in you.

For a branch cannot produce fruit if it's severed from the vine.

Your life cannot produce good fruit if you're isolated from the body of Jesus Christ, if you're cut off from fellowship with his family, if you untether your life from Christ.

And how is Jesus' love being expressed in this world?

Through the local church, through the Capital C church, through the global church, through his church.

And if you've believed the lie that you can live saved and surrender to Jesus and not be a part of a life-giving church community, you are deceived.

I am sorry that that last place broke your heart, didn't meet your expectations, hurt you, but don't live from that place of hurt and disappointment.

And let the Holy Spirit heal.

Some of you are in the room here today because you're like, I want to give Jesus' church another chance.

Man, I'm proud of you.

So let's be trees that bear good fruit and grow up in Christ.

Let's be branches that remain tethered to the vine.

What does it cost you to follow Christ?

Because there's two gates.

Has your decision to follow Jesus Christ changed you?

Because there's two trees.

And then what will God say to you one day?

Because there's two houses.

And not everyone who calls out Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven.

But only those who actually do the will of my Father.

There will be a judgment day.

There will.

And the best part about that is you don't even have to be afraid of that.

You don't even have to be bothered by that.

You don't have to be worried about that.

Jesus said it first and said it best.

I'll be back.

Terminator 2 judgment day.

That was a good reference, right?

No, no, come on.

Come on.

That was a good reference.

Jesus said it first.

I'm coming back.

I'm coming back from my glorious, spotless, without wrinkled bride.

That's you, by the way.

And it's absolutely true that delayed obedience is disobedience.

This is not about what you intend to do one day.

This is about therefore how will I live today?

In part four of this series, I gave you a math equation from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.

Hear plus do equals.

Hear plus do not do equals.

I intended to obey your teachings, Jesus.

I intended to trust that God was good.

I intended to say yes to his revealed will for my life that the Bible lays out so lovingly and clearly and kindly.

Some of you are still struggling, you're like, I just want to know the will of God.

Pick up your Bible.

Allow the word of Christ to dwell in you richly.

I intended to, but hey, don't judge others by their actions and yourself by your intentions.

1 John 2 17 says, This world is fading away along with everything that people crave.

But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

So, how can we prepare for this judgment?

By doing God's will.

Obedience to his will is the test of true faith in Christ.

And the test is not words, it's not saying Lord, Lord, and then not obeying his commands.

How easy it is to learn a religious vocabulary, even memorize Bible verses and religious songs, and yet not obey God's will.

When a true person is truly born again, he has the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of God living within him.

And the Holy Spirit enables us to know and to do the Father's will.

God's love in his heart or her heart motivates him to obey God and serve others.

Because it's the goodness of God that leads people to repentance.

It's not being afraid, it's not taking and thinking that he's treating us like that father, that story I told you.

It's like, oh, he's good.

He's good because he's good.

He's good because he's always been good.

He's clear, he's kind, he's loving.

He loves me so much.

He wrote it down in the greatest love story known to humanity, the greatest selling book of all time is a clear, kind, compelling love story about how a father worked so hard to redeem and restore his children into relationship with him, and that's still who he is today.

And that's true, and it's true when I see it with my own eyes, and it's true when I don't.

And it's true when I feel it in my own heart, and it's true when I don't.

And it's true when I experience his presence that moves me to tears, and it's true when I don't.

And it's true when I receive the miraculous provision of a good father, and it's true when I don't.

And it's true when I get the miracle I've been praying for, and it's true when I don't.

It's true, and it will always be true.

So, how will we respond?

From a heart posture of knowing and trusting that he's good and that he's loving.

How clear and how kind for him to make a way for us to hear him say one day, well done, good and faithful servant.

Thank you so much for listening to today's message.

If you're ever in the Edmonton area, pop by for a visit.

And if you need any more information, visit Evolvechurch.com.

We hope to see you soon.