THE SUPERHUMANS
Mt. 5:46-47
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR: CHEERFUL GIVER
1. Hoping to develop his son’s character, a father gave his son a $20 bill and a $1 bill as he was dropping him off for children’s church.
2. After church, the father asked him which he had put in the offering. The boy said, “Just before they passed the bucket, Mrs. Jones said that ‘God loves a cheerful giver.’ I knew I could give the $1 bill a lot more cheerfully than the $20, so I gave it!”
B. TEXT
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children 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. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matt. 5:43-48, NIV.
C. THESIS
1. This is one of the most explosive teachings of Jesus in the Bible. Jesus tells us that not only are we capable of living more powerful lives than other humans, but that He expects us too!
2. The title of this message is “The Superhumans.”
I. THE STARTLING TEACHING OF JESUS
A. OUR LIVES ARE TO HAVE SUPERHUMAN EFFECTS
1. We are to be the salt of the earth, the light of the world, a city set on a hill, seen by all. Like salt, you’re to alter the flavor of your city, your family, school, or job. Your life should be so different from everyone else’s, that it stands out like a lighthouse shining on a dark sea.
2. If you’re a parent, your children should be influenced; if you’re are an employer, your employees should be impacted. If you’re a student, your peers should be different because of being around you.
3. Christ tells His followers to turn the other cheek, give more than they’re asked for, love their enemies. If they ask you to go a mile, go two miles; and if they want your coat, give them your overcoat, too.” How many know this is not normal?
4. When reproached, we give a gentle answer; we return kindness for meanness; keep silent when accused; don’t consider getting even with revenge; don’t fight for our rights, but accept an injustice, rather than offend.
5. This requires a power beyond ourselves! It’s impossible for US to do this, but when you get in tune with the Holy Spirit, and get the perspective of eternity – you begin to see the value of a soul!
6. Selfishness is as foreign to Christianity as an alien from another planet. The true Christian LIVES to do good to others & serve them. They look upon immoral & misguided people, not with judgmental eyes, but with redemptive eyes -- desiring to reclaim them.
7. Instead of hating our personal enemies, we do them a kindness, because when we were enemies of God, Christ DIED for us! What a Savior!
8. SUMMARY: JESUS’ TEACHING IS, THAT OUR RELIGION IS WORTH LITTLE IF WE DON’T DEMONSTRATE THE HIGHER LIFE OF GOD AND LOVE MORE THAN THE A NORMAL HUMAN!
B. VARIOUS VERSIONS OF WHAT JESUS SAID
1. CSB, “What are you doing out of the ordinary?”
CEV, “What’s so great about…?” (what you’re doing)
Philips, “Are you doing anything exceptional?”
MSG, [What you’re doing-] “Anybody can do that!”
NLT, “How are you any different?”
Worldwide English, “…you are not doing anything better than other people. Even people who do not believe in God do that.”
2. The question is, “ARE WE ANY DIFFERENT than those around us? Are we standing out by our exemplary words and behavior? Can people sense something different around us than around others?
C. “I CAN'T POSSIBLY BE AN OVERCOMER”
1. The Bible tells us that we’re more than conquerors, but sometimes we don't feel like it. We wake up Monday morning, look into the mirror, and instead of saying, "Good Morning Lord!", we say, "Good Lord, It's Morning!"
2. The person in the mirror in no way resembles some sort of champion. We've got challenges on every side. We’ve got more to do than we can ever get done
3. Like one guy said, "I've heard that you won't die unto you finish the work that the Lord has for you. If that is the case, I'm so far behind that I don't think I'm ever going to die!"
4. But you know, people in the Bible were just like us, yet they didn’t settle for normal living. “By faith they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; who…became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies” Heb. 11:33-34. WOW! They were superhuman -- because they walked with a superhuman God!
II. THE EARLY CHURCH LIVED THAT WAY
A. NEVER HAD THE WORLD SEEN SUCH LOVE
1. Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35
2. “All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.” Acts 2:44-45.Love was not simply a feeling they felt for each other, but a commitment. Love was a verb; it was an action.
3. Greek writer, Lucian (A.D. 120-200), said, “It is incredible to see the fervor with which those people help each other in their wants. They spare nothing. Their first legislator (Jesus) has put it into their heads that they are brothers/ family.”
4. Tertullian, an early Christian, said, “It is our care for the helpless, our practice of loving-kindness, that brands us in the eyes of many of our opponents. “Look”, they say, “How they love one another! Look how they are prepared to die for one another!”
5. Paul captured the attitudes toward others when he wrote, “When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly.” 1 Cor. 4:12-13.
6. WHY? While we yet sinners, Christ died for us!
B. COMPARISON TO THE MODERN CHURCH
1. George Barna, a Christian pollster, did a study that asked unsaved people to use single words to describe Jesus. They responded, "wise, accepting, compassionate, gracious, humble." Then he asked them to use single words to describe Christians, they said, "critical, exclusive, self-righteous, narrow and repressive."
2. Mahatma Gandhi said, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ….If Christians would really live according to the teachings of Christ, as found in the Bible, all of India would be Christian today.”
3. I don’t think this characterizes all Christians, but it certainly does many. Instead of being defensive, we should examine ourselves to see if there’s any truth to this criticism.
4. Do we have the same spirit of love that Jesus had? Have we died with Christ & we no longer live, but Christ lives in us? Is self-sacrifice for the good of others our daily inspiration?
C. ILLUSTRATIONS: PROVING YOUR IDENTITY
1. The famous artist, Gustave Dore was traveling from one country to another in Europe when he lost his passport, which was required to be shown by every traveler.
2. Trying to cross to the next country he said to the border agent, “I am sorry, but I have lost my passport. I am the artist, Gustave Dore. I hope you will let me pass.”
3. “Oh,” said the officer, “you can’t deceive me. Many people try to pass through, claiming they’re some famous person.” But Dore declared he actually was the famous artist.
4. The border agent said, “We’ll soon see if you’re the famous painter. Here’s a pencil and paper. Do you see that group of tourists? Make a sketch of them for me!”
5. The great artist did, and so lifelike was the sketch that the officer was immediately convinced and let him pass through! [7,700, #1522]. HIS IDENTITY WAS PROVEN BY HIS NATURE! A tree is known by its fruit. Do you have the fruit of Jesus?
III. FOUR REASONS WE “CAN” LIVE A HIGHER LIFE
God expects more from us because we have received more than regular people.
A. WE’VE BEEN “BORN FROM ABOVE” JN. 3:5
1. YOU’RE A CHILD OF GOD! “Beloved, now we are the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is” 1 Jn. 3:2. We are “Partakers of the Divine Nature” 2 Pet. 1:4 KJV. God has put His Holy Spirit into you!
2. Each creature of this world reproduces after its own kind; life originates at the genetic level. God has put the “genes of God” (“seed,” sperma; 1 John 3:9) in you. You’re NOT a normal Mortal!
3. Fish love water, groundhogs love dirt, and birds love the air, but we’ve been “implanted” by God’s divine nature.
4. ILLUS. A man accidentally shot a mother eagle.
a. He remembered that there was a nest in a tree, so he climbed it and found an eagle egg. He got it and put it in his chicken coup under a chicken.
b. The eagle grew up among chickens. It acted like a chicken: scratching the dirt, pecking at seeds, and clucking. The man wondered if it would ever begin acting like a chicken. Months passed by.
c. One day a norther blew in with gigantic clouds. High among the clouds soared a mighty eagle, and it made a great cry. The eagle on the ground immediately experienced a transformation; its original nature reasserted itself! It spread its wings and with a cry joined the eagle in the clouds.
5. The same type of fate has befallen us. We have the eagle nature, but we’ve always dwelt among chickens. We’ve assumed we are no different, so we’ve discounted the power of Christ within us! Don’t accept the life of a chicken when you’re an eagle! “Greater is HE who is in you than he that is in the world!”
6. Believers must never say, “I can’t overcome that habit” or “I can’t live for God.” That’s NOT TRUE! Depend on God’s power and strive after the life that Jesus made available. “I CAN do all things through Christ!”
B. BECAUSE CHRIST GIVES US HIS STRENGTH
1. When we reach the end of our poor resources, we have the great resource of prayer! We can call upon the Lord. God hears and answers prayer.
2. God said, “Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me” Ps. 50:15. Our God is mighty to save! His strength is made perfect in our weakness.
C. BECAUSE OF GRATITUDE FOR GOD’ LOVE
1. We have great motivation to strive for Jesus’ higher life when we consider how much the Father has loved us. Think how much it cost the Father to give up his Son and to see Him suffer so! Think how greatly the Son of God suffered for us – don’t you feel you owe the Lord something?
2. If Christ suffered for you, aren’t you willing to suffer for Him? If He asks you to give up something you love, don’t you love Him more than that thing? Your gratitude ought to drive you to make any sacrifice the Son of God asks you to make!
D. BECAUSE GOD PROMISES US GREAT REWARD
1. Believers ought to do more than others because they believe and are looking for a City of Gold, mansions that will make Donald Trump’s mansions look like beggar’s huts, bodies that will live forever, and pleasures that pale to any this world has to offer. In short, we are promised a great reward.
2. It’s understandable why non-believers wouldn’t want to sacrifice their pleasures now, for this is all they expect to have.
3. But for us who have such an incredible future hope, any sacrifices during our 70 years here, are like trading peanuts for pearls! What’s a $1,000 sacrifice for $5 billion dollar reward?
4. YOU CAN MAKE A PROFOUND DIFFERENCE IN YOUR WORLD!
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION: LOVING HIM BETTER
1. One time, as Gustave Dore, the famous painter, was putting the finishing touches on the face of Christ in one of his paintings, a close friend entered his studio and was watching with bated breath as he finished the painting.
2. She finally said with admiration, “Mr. Dore, you must love Jesus very much, to be able to paint such a likeness of Him!” Dore answered, “Yes! I DO love Him; but if I loved Him better, I would be able to paint Him better!” [7,700, #3220]
B. THE CALL:
1. How many of you want to love Jesus better? Let’s pray about that right now.
2. How many of you will make yourselves available to let God’s omnipotent power work through your life to demonstrate the love of God to others? Stand. Let’s pray.
3. What can you do this week that no one but a Christian would do?
