Gtcotr/ss0312223
I listen to preachers on TV or the internet, and even at conferences and in churches from time to time and I take notes and compare scripture with scripture in my assessment of what is being said. Often I come away saying to myself: “Well, they had some good things to say but it’s not exactly what I believe or how I understand it. I see it a little different.”
I think this is a common practice and I realize people leave my last best sermon having decided how much of what I said was the truth and how much was opinion. No doubt it will happen today, and every person must be persuaded of the truth in their own hearts and minds. No one else can be your Holy Spirit; no one else can guide you into all truth; and no one else will stand and answer for you at the great white throne judgment seat. It will be just you and God.
For that reason you want to be sure your faith and the practice of your life is standing on the solid rock of the truth of God’s Word and not on anyone else’s opinion. But …
Can you imagine what it would have been like to hear a sermon from Jesus Himself? I mean … whatever He said, there would be no room for any argument or differing opinions as to truth. You wouldn’t be able to leave there and say: “Well Susie, He said some good things, but He also said some things I just don’t see in the same way … I see it a little differently.”
You can’t see it differently than Jesus said it, and still be right with God.
However Jesus contended with this type of behavior all of the time. The Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, lawyers, Herodians, the priests, all left the teachings of Jesus saying, “Well, some believe He is a teacher or others a prophet, and some even imagine He might be the Messiah, but we don’t believe it like that. Moses said it a little differently and Jesus is just not quite right.”
I believe like you probably do. If I heard Jesus preach a sermon, I’d take it for the God’s honest truth!
Luke 5
1 ¶ So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret,
2 and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing theirnets.
3 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.
Luke doesn’t give us insight into the outline or the conclusion of Jesus’ message that day but I know it was good. Do you ever wonder what He said? No doubt His message contained critical keys to this life. I am convinced He didn’t waste His time on politics or some transient issues of the day. No where else in the scriptures did Jesus waste His words on trivial matters. He had a job to do and limited time and opportunity to get it done. When Jesus took the time to talk to the multitudes, He chose His topics and His words seriously.
Even though we don’t have the outline of this specific sermon from Luke 5 on record, we do have the exact words of another sermon He taught to the same group of people on a hill less than a half a mile away on what we have come to call the Sermon on the Mountbeginning in Matthew 5.
Since we know Jesus was not sending mixed messages, we can confidently know the message in Matthew 5 would have reinforced what Jesus told the people earlier in Luke 5. So, without further ado … let’s look at the first three points of the sermon outline created by Jesus to tell mankind the truth about life. And surely no one will leave here believing something different than what Jesus taught.
Matthew 5 NKJV
3 ¶ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
12 “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
13 ¶ “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Jesus’ outline along with His subpoints continue for 3 whole chapters, 111 verses in all; over 2500 words; that’s over 2 hours of non-stop talking. Each point deeper than the last. That’s a fairly long outline for only one sermon.
He told us to:
Matthew 7
28 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching,
29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Do you hear His words today? Let’s not be like those who leave here wondering what Jesus wants us to do in life.
Most likely you are more in the will of God right now than you give yourself credit for. Jesus said life would not always be easy but that is no indication you are outside of the will of God or the place He wants you.
We are still in the season of the suffering servant. We are living in the first coming of Christ. We are the Body of Christ and God has saved our souls by the blood of Jesus so that He could fill us with the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit. This power isgiven to us so that we can continue the ministry of Jesus in bringing lost souls to the saving knowledge of God.
One day we will see the second coming of Christ as a conquering King and we will join in that new season and rule and reign as kings and priests on the earth. Presently, we shall encounter trials, tests, temptations, tribulation, and trouble. After His resurrection the Apostles asked Jesus if it was time for Him to set up His kingdom on the earth. He said no. And instead of giving them a cushy throne, He sent them like God sent Him.
Go into all the world and proclaim the Good News!
God bless you when you are meek and merciful; Be very excited when you are persecuted for serving Jesus; and Make a difference in this world!
