Series: Cliff Hangers
Introduction:
These teachings were risky, some would even say very dangerous, they would be teachings that would be opposite of what the religious leaders of the day were teaching, and they would become points of dissension and points of exhilaration. Some people would rejoice and others sigh. Some would be happy and others angry. What Jesus was teaching them he put them all on the edge of their seats. His teachings made people nervous and yet it changed the way people of His day thought or perceived what the Kingdom of Heaven was. Jesus’ teaching along with their acceptance by the crowd would change the course of history between God and mankind. The people would be blown away by what Jesus taught and the religious leaders would pick up a spirit of offense against Jesus and seek His life for these teachings.
Summary:
1. Matthew 5:1-12 – “Who does God Bless?”
2. Matthew 5:13-16 – “Salt and Light”
3. Matthew 5:17-20 – “Old vs. New”
4. Matthew 5:21-26 – “Really bad Sin”
5. Matthew 5:27-30 – “Bulging Eyes”
6. Matthew 5:31-37 – “Who me Divorced?”
7. Matthew 5: 33-42 – “Divorce, Oaths and Revenge”
8. Matthew 5:38-48 – “Break the hate”
Summary of last week:
Divorce was never God’s plan because He knew the hurt and pain it would cause. We need to respect the act of marriage and go into with the intention of it’s a lifetime commitment. But if we sin and divorce then we need to be reminded that Jesus does offer forgiveness and restoration.
We then highlighted “Oaths” some of us know how “Our big Mouths!” can get us into trouble - Oaths to say them or not? Mt 5:33-37 Jesus tells us to say what you mean, mean what you say, don’t give false promises because it is not even necessary to do so. Oaths it’s better to not even make them if you are going to break them.
How many have been insulted? How many have confronted a person with “Don’t slap me!” if you do you will regret it the rest of your life - Mt 5:38-42 deals with how to handle insults and that revenge is not a Kingdom of Heavens residents option when it comes to dealing with offense. Instead turn the cheek is recommended, give the person what they desire and if needed go the extra mile and help out someone who could never repay you.
Sermon title: “Break the Hate!”
Thesis: Jesus taught us to break the hate in our hearts and lives and to offer people love, prayers and forgiveness so that they would see that people who are a part of the Kingdom of Heaven are using a different operating system than this world.
Introduction:
Banker charged with hate crime this week:
In NEW YORK - William Bryan Jennings, Morgan Stanley’s bond-underwriting chief in the United States, was charged with a hate crime in the stabbing of a New York City cab driver of Egyptian descent over a fare.
Mohamed Ammar said the banker attacked him on Dec 22 with a blade and used racial slurs after a 64.4km ride from New York to the banker’s US$3.4 million (S$4.25 million) Darien, Connecticut home.
Jennings, who was returning from a bank holiday party at a Manhattan boutique hotel, refused to pay the US$204 fare, the driver said. When Mr Ammar threatened to call police, Jennings said they would not do anything to help because he pays US$10,000 in taxes, according to a Darien police department report.
Mr Ammar said he then backed out of the driveway to seek a police officer. The banker called him an expletive and said: "I’m going to kill you. You should go back to your country," according to the report.
A fight ensued and Jennings, 45, allegedly cut Mr Ammar, 44, police said.
The banker, who fled the cab and turned himself in two weeks later after a vacation in Florida, was charged with second-degree assault, theft of services and intimidation by bias or bigotry. He faces a jail term as long as five years on the assault charge. Bloomberg
Our world is filled with hate and revenge. Just look at the last weeks headlines:
The school stabbings in the morning at a Chicago School
The school shooting that occurred in the school cafeteria in Ohio
The killings of America soldiers in cold blood in Afghanistan. Were they ones they are training turn on them and shoot them!
How about the school shooting in a Amish school house on Oct 2, 2006?
Video Clip: A lesson from the Amish – http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3678469
Amish School Shooting and Grace
October 2nd, 2006. It was a typical fall day. Birds could be heard in the distance and little else, except maybe the clip-clop of a horse’s hoofs and the rattling of a buggy heading down a back country road. It’s normally quiet and peaceful in the rolling Amish farmlands of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
But that peace was shattered when the sound of gunfire was heard from inside an Amish school. When local police broke into the one-room Amish schoolhouse they found 10 Amish girls ages 6-13 had been shot by Charles Carl Roberts IV, who had then committed suicide.
School shootings are a far too frequent occurrence in this country. But this case openly displayed a clash of two different cultures - the modern, more "advanced" American society and the withdrawn community of the Amish, who intentionally attempt to distance themselves from worldly influences. The violence that is far too common in one society blasted its way into the non-violent, peaceful community of "the gentle people".
The shooting took place at the West Nickel Mines Amish School, located about 12 miles southeast of Lancaster City. Nickel Mines is just a crossroads within Bart Township, a local municipality with a population of roughly 3,000 Amish and English (the Amish term for the non-Amish).
The school was a typical Amish one-room school with a school bell on the roof, two outhouses, a ball field, and an enclosed schoolyard. It was built in 1976. On the blackboard was a sign with a teddy bear. The sign read "Visitors Bubble Up Our Days". Twenty-six children, ages 6-13, from three different local Amish church districts attended this school.
Charlie Roberts was a milk truck driver who serviced the local community, including the farms of some of the victims’ families. Nine years earlier his wife Amy gave birth to their first child, a baby girl. However, the baby died after living only 20 minutes. Apparently his daughter’s death affected him greatly. He never forgave God for her death, and eventually planned to get revenge.
On the morning of October 2nd Roberts said goodbye to two of his own children at the school bus stop, then drove to the West Nickel Mines Amish School. When he walked in the door, some of the children recognized him. That day the school had four adult visitors - the teacher’s mother, her sister, and two sisters-in-law. One of the women was pregnant. When the young teacher saw his guns, she and her mother left the other adults with the children and ran to a nearby house for help. A call was made to 911.
The pregnant visitor was trying to comfort 7-year old Naomi Rose when Roberts ordered the adults to leave. Then he told the boys to leave. The boys huddled near an outhouse to pray. Roberts had the 10 girls lie down facing the blackboard and he tied their hands and feet. Roberts told the girls he was sorry for what he was about to do, but "I’m angry at God and I need to punish some Christian girls to get even with him."
When the state police arrived, Roberts ordered them to leave the property or he would shoot. He told the girls, "I’m going to make you pay for my daughter." One of the girls, 13-year old Marian, said, "Shoot me first." Roberts began shooting each of the girls before finally shooting himself. When the police broke in to the school, two of the girls, including Marian, were dead. Naomi Rose died in the arms of a state trooper.
Emergency personnel arrived quickly, and helicopters flew the wounded to hospitals in Lancaster, Hershey, Reading, and Delaware. Two sisters died later that night in two different area hospitals. Amish parents tried to console themselves by saying the five girls who had died were "safe in the arms of Jesus."
Word about the shooting spread quickly throughout the Amish community. The shooting was reported on local television stations, and was soon picked up by the national media. Reporters, photographers, and video crews invaded this rural countryside to report this story around the world. While the Amish community strives to avoid publicity, this tragic event thrust their community in front of a worldwide audience.
The Amish were obviously shocked by this incident and they collectively grieved for the children and their families. But that shock extended far beyond just the Amish. This tragedy rocked all of Lancaster County. The day after the shooting, 1600 gathered for a prayer service at one local church, while hundreds more met at other churches for prayer. All Lancaster County shared in the horror and grief of this tragedy. As one Amishman said, "Today, we’re all Amish."
Some individuals and organizations hosted barbecues and other events to raise financial support for the victims’ funds. Over 3,000 motorcyclists rode together from nearby Chester County to Lancaster in a procession over 12 miles long. They raised over $30,000 in support.
A number of funds were set up to accept donations for the families of the Amish girls who were shot, and for Roberts’ wife and three young children. Donations and sympathy flowed in not only from Lancaster County but from across the county and around the world. For months volunteers met at the Bart Twp. Firehouse to sort through thousands of cards, letters, teddy bears, and other gifts from around the world. Some were addressed simply to "Amish Families, USA".
In all, over four million dollars was raised in support of the families.
The horror of this school shooting was the story the reporters came to tell about. However, in the hours and days following the shooting another story developed that also caught the world’s attention - the story of Amish grace and forgiveness. Be sure to read about the Amish response to this tragedy.
Article from http://www.800padutch.com/amishshooting.shtml
Amish Grace and Forgiveness
Following the tragic Amish school shooting of 10 young schoolgirls in a one-room Amish school in October 2006, reporters from throughout the world invaded Lancaster County, PA to cover the story. However, in the hours and days following the shooting a different, an unexpected story developed.
In the midst of their grief over this shocking loss, the Amish community didn’t cast blame, they didn’t point fingers, they didn’t hold a press conference with attorneys at their sides. Instead, they reached out with grace and compassion toward the killer’s family.
The afternoon of the shooting an Amish grandfather of one of the girls who was killed expressed forgiveness toward the killer, Charles Roberts. That same day Amish neighbors visited the Roberts family to comfort them in their sorrow and pain.
Later that week the Roberts family was invited to the funeral of one of the Amish girls who had been killed. And Amish mourners outnumbered the non-Amish at Charles Roberts’ funeral.
It’s ironic that the killer was tormented for nine years by the pre-mature death of his young daughter. He never forgave God for her death. Yet, after he cold-bloodedly shot 10 innocent Amish school girls, the Amish almost immediately forgave him and showed compassion toward his family.
In a world at war and in a society that often points fingers and blames others, this reaction was unheard of. Many reporters and interested followers of the story asked, "How could they forgive such a terrible, unprovoked act of violence against innocent lives?"
The Amish culture closely follows the teachings of Jesus, who taught his followers to forgive one another, to place the needs of others before themselves, and to rest in the knowledge that God is still in control and can bring good out of any situation. Love and compassion toward others is to be life’s theme. Vengeance and revenge is to be left to God.
Read through some of the passages regarding Biblical forgiveness and love toward others and you’ll better understand how the Amish were able to forgive.
All of Lancaster County mourns the loss of these young girls and the terrible affect this has had on so many lives. We request your prayers for the families of the children who died, as well as those children and adults who have lived through this terrible ordeal. We also ask your prayers for the wife and three young children of the man who committed this senseless act. They, too, will have to live with this for the rest of their lives.
For the follow-up to the story of this tragic shooting, see the aftermath of this tragedy. From
Article from: http://www.800padutch.com/amishforgiveness.shtml
T.S. - So let’s go back to our Scripture Text from Matthew 5:38-48
Matthew 5:38-48:
An Eye for an Eye
38“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’
39But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.
41If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Love for Enemies
43“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor£ and hate your enemy.’
44But I tell you: Love your enemies£ and pray for those who persecute you,
45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
T. S. – Let’s look at the first part of our text again as to how we are respond to others who have insulted us:
I. Jesus instructions on how to deal with insults and revenge in a world which operates different than the Kingdom of Heaven.
a. Jesus always modeled what He taught.
i. In our first scripture segment for today in Matthew 5:38-42
1. We have Jesus telling us how to deal with the wrongs that are committed to us:
a. Reference the text:
2. As you study on in Matthew you quickly learn that Jesus role modeled this passage in his own life and death. He walked through these three things below during His trial and crucifixion. In a sense he communicated to the crowd that he would practice what he preached this section has a prophetic element attached to it.
3. Comparison Texts:
a. Matthew 26: 67-68: (The turning the other check comparison) 67Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him 68and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?” and Matthew 27:12-14: 12When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. 13Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?”
14But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.
b. The Soldiers Mock Jesus (The tunic comparison in the prophetic teaching)
27Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him.
28They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him,
29and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said.
30They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.
31After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
c. Matthew 27:32: (Comparison of walking the extra mile) Jesus carrying the cross and then Simon from Cyrene who was forced to carry it the rest of the way to Golgotha. “As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.”
T. S. – Jesus modeled for us how we are to deal with insults, persecution, revenge and how we also must choose to break the hate!
II. Jesus commands us to not seek revenge but to break the hate by using the Kingdom of Heaven’s operating system for life.
a. Matthew 5:43-48
i. He specifically commands us to break the hate:
1. We are to Love our enemies
2. We are to Pray for our enemies
a. Why - When you do these two things you are sons and daughters of your Father in Heaven, you are acting like residents of the Kingdom of Heaven – you are operating in a different system than the rest of the world.
ii. We can compare this concept of two operating systems to the different computer operating systems most of us deal with today in the computer world – We have the Apple System which for us we have been converting over too here at Christian Hills to the more popular Microsoft System.
1. So let’s take a vote:
a. Who loves Apple?
b. Who loves Microsoft?
c. I actually like both of them and find plus and minus with both.
b. I want to remind you of one of the major teachings of the Bible.
i. We understand from the Bible that God is the judge of this world – God created the world we live in – We know from the Bible that God set up an original operating system for this world but Adam and Eve infected it with a virus called sin.
1. This virus is still spreading today and it continues to impact God’s operating system in billions of individual operating systems of the world – this means people like you and me.
2. When the individual system allows the virus in it always crashes God’s system in the individuals.
ii. We know from the Bible that God knows best and He knows how to handle all kinds of people - including your enemies.
1. He tells us to use His operating system for living our life.
a. We do this by using love with our enemies and when we do this we receive a great reward in Heaven – Jesus did this on the cross by saying Father forgive them for they know not what they do!
i. Their deceived by their faulty operating system!
iii. Jesus is telling the crowd on the Sermon on the Mount that Christians need to operate in the Kingdom of Heaven System – Not the Worldly system which is all around them.
1. To be on the road to perfection as Jesus instructed here requires us to operate within the operating system of the Kingdom Heaven – remember applications like the beatitudes – they describe God’s operating systems which we need to be using. These are applications we need to click for life!
2. The worlds’ virus infected operating system looks like this:
a. Click here for “Hatred”
b. Click here for “Un-forgiveness”
c. Click here for “Revenge”
d. Click here for “Racism”
e. Click here for “Sin”
f. Click here for “Prejudice attitudes”
g. Click here for “Self-centeredness”
c. Let me pause a moment and talk Systems Theory for a moment:
i. Nelson Searcy has a booklet called Healthy Systems –Healthy Church in it he states:
1. God must be into systems. He organized the universe with systems. He established the measurement of time through a system. And, from the beginning, He formed our bodies as a cohesive unit of systems. Adam and Eve – untouched and unblemished specimens of God’s craftsmanship – were compilations of the systems that caused them to function…Without systems humming under the surface, they would not have been able to walk or even breathe. They wouldn’t have been able to experience the pleasures of the garden. Eve wouldn’t have been able to pluck the apple from the tree and Adam wouldn’t have been able to take the bite that set God’s redemptive plan into motion. Without their systems, they would have remained as unmolded lumps of clay, unable to fulfill the purposes of God. From the beginning, God has put systems to work, providing the mechanics and the platform through which He shows His greatness.
d. Here is what Jesus is saying to the crowd - But we – as members of the Kingdom of Heaven must be into operating life in accordance with God’s System for dealing with life and we cannot be using the world’s infected, defective, virus filled system.
i. We have to act and respond like people who are working within the operating system of God!
1. Question: “Are you operating your life in accordance with God’s Life Application System?”
a. Are you using His operating system for the virus infected one?
e. In a moment we are going to celebrate with a few people who have chosen to leave this world’s operating system of life and they have chosen God’s operating system for life.
i. These two have already made a commitment to operate their life in accordance with the teachings of Jesus and to follow his lead on how to live their life.
1. So they are dismissed to go get ready at this point.
2. Today they being a testimony to what Jesus has already done in their lives and they are showing how they want to be obedient in following the teaching of Jesus who said “Repent and be Baptized” .
f. While they are getting ready I want to highlight an up and coming opportunity for you here at Christian Hills.
i. Promo: To better learn about God’s Operating Systems we invite you to come out to the “Church Systems Seminar” which we are hosting on Saturday – March 30th 9:30 am and May 5, 2012 from 9:30-3:30pm. You will learn about the 8 operating systems within the church of Jesus Christ – the Acts New Testament Church and learn how to make sure are churches operating is virus free and healthy:
1. The 8 systems of the church are:
a. The Weekend Service System
b. The Evangelism System
c. The Assimilation System
d. The Small Groups System
e. The Ministry System
f. The Stewardship System
g. The Leadership System
h. The Strategic System
Conclusion:
Remember we must - “Break the hate” by using God’s Operating System of love and prayer in accordance with Matthew 5:43-48.
We need to use the love application to deal with wrongs, insults or hurts – Why because according to the Bible it always wins and it will always be the last Application standing in the end!
Love is application of all Kingdom of Heaven members and this is how we are to live our lives!
Pray for the ones who have hurt you or mistreated you!
By all means use the forgiveness application from God’s operating system to deal with hurt.
When we use God’s system then we are on the road to perfection and living the abundant life that Jesus told us about.
Baptismal
Beth takes over with worship and final comments.
