The Successful Life - George Wood

8/13/2019 The Successful Life - George Wood

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The Successful

Life



The SuccessfulLife

AGLOW CORNERSTONE SERIES

by The Rev. George Wood

WOMEN'S AGLOW FELLOWSHIPP. O. Box I

Lynnood! WA "#$%&())#! *SA



Cover: Kathy Boice

© Copyright 1984, Women's Aglow ellowship, !ynnwoo", WA, #$A%All rights to this &oo are reserve"% (o part o) this &oo may &erepro"*ce" in any manner whatsoever witho*t written permission )romWomen's Aglow ellowship% +rinte" in the #nite" $tates o) America%

$B(: -.9/-02.83.0

All re)erences are taen )rom the (ew nternational ersion, *nlessnote" as )ollows: K5 6King 5ames ersion7, !B 6he !iving Bi&le7,

AB 6he Ampli)ie" Bi&le7%



Contents

ntro"*ction%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%0

1 $pirit*al ormation%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%9

3 ealing With Anger %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%10

/ ealing With $e*al an" ;arital $in%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%30

4 ealing With the i))ic*lt +erson%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%/0

B*il"ing $pirit*al iscipline%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%4

2 <ow to +ray =))ectively%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

0 >vercoming Aniety an" Worry%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%2

8 he !or"'s =t Ceteras%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%0

9 hree Choices )or the *t*re%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%8/





Introduction

While visiting a ch*rch, r% ?o&ert rost once gave a petition "*ring his $*n"ay morning prayer which ase" this

)rom @o": !or", help them to &*il" )o*n"ations strong eno*ghto &ear the weight o* will later place *pon them%

thin o) that prayer o)ten, especially in relation to the$ermon on the ;o*nt 6;att: :/.0: 397% or, in this $ermon,5es*s is laying the )o*n"ation o) the Christian li)e an" <e shows*s how <e wants o*r li)e )orme"% hose who tae <im serio*sly &y a&sor&ing an" o&eying <is wor"s, &y "rining this $ermoninto their so*l, will have the strength to &ear any weight, passany test, s*rvive any press*re%

he $ermon on the ;o*nt imme"iately )ollows a s*mmaryo) 5es*s' healing ministry 6;att% 4:3/.37% he physical healingso) the o*ter man are accomplishe" instantly% n the $ermon onthe ;o*nt, 5es*s t*rns to ministering to the inner man% he innerhealing o) li)e taes time it involves a process% 5es*s provi"esthro*gh <is teaching the means where&y we may re.pattern o*r

lives into <is wholeness%$omeone has sai" that o*r h*man pro&lems are )o*r.)ol":

ecological 6the alienation o) man )rom his environment7,sociological 6the alienation o) man )rom man7, psychological6the alienation o) man within himsel)7, an" theological 6thealienation o) man )rom @o"7% he $ermon on the ;o*nt shows*s the way o*t o) alienation into reconciliation%

he $ermon &egins with a list o) eight personalitycharacteristics 5es*s wants "evelope" in o*r li)e% <is emphasis)irst is on being rather than *pon doing. <is will )or o*r li)e isnot simply a matter o) where we sho*l" go 6locational7, or what

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The Successful Life

we sho*l" "o 6"irectional7 <is concern is *pon the in" o) person we are &ecoming%

8



1

1Spiritual Formation

5es*s sees to )orm eight &ehavior traits into o*r li)e%

The Poor in Spirit

he lea" characteristic 5es*s wants in *s is that we might &e people who stan" in the place o) nee": "Blessed are the poor in spirit..."

he @rees ha" two wor"s to "escri&e poverty: one wor"

"esignate" the poor who somehow went on s*rviving the other,the destitute poorDthe poor who ha" a&sol*tely nothing an"wo*l" "ie *nless someone else provi"e"%

he secon" term is the one 5es*s employs: the destitute poor.

5es*s, thro*gh this )irst Beatit*"e 6they are all &e.attit*"es7,is telling *s that the sel).s*))icient person never maes it into the

ing"om o) @o", an" the ing"om o) @o" never enters him% he person who says, am not poor, have no nee" o) salvation, can mae it on my own, "on't nee" 5es*s or the crossDthat person stan"s o*tsi"e the ing"om%

>nly when we realiEe o*rselves that we are, in act*ality, the"estit*te poor, that we have nothing to give @o" to gain the gi)to) eternal li)eDthat none o) o*r &est h*man e))orts can pay o))the "e&t o) sinDonly then, when we stan" in the place o)a&sol*te nee", can we &e in the company o) 5es*s an" gain the &lessing o) the ing"om ("Theirs is the kingdom").

his poverty o) spirit, which is really total "epen"ence *pon@o", is not only an essential )or entrance into the Christian li)e,

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The Successful Life

it is a con"ition )or all o*r Christian eperience% he moment we &ecome in"epen"ent an" )eel we are sel).s*))icient, the !or"

speas to *s as <e "i" to the !ao"iceans:

“You say ! am rich# ha$e ac%uired &ealth and do not

need a thing.! But you do not reali'e that you are&retched pitiful poor blind and naked" (e$. *+,).

A Question for Reflection:

s my li)e mare" &y a gen*ine "epen"ence *pon the !or" tomeet my "eepest nee"sF

Those Who Mourn

he secon" personality trait 5es*s "esires in *s is that wemay )eel sorrow over the presence o) h*rt an" sin: "Blessed arethose &ho mourn..."

his &e.attit*"e really "oes not have anything to "o with theepression o) grie) s*ch as we )eel at )*nerals% $*ch grie) is anormal an" nat*ral h*man emotion an" is present in &oth &elievers an" non.&elievers%

he mo*rning spoen o) here is line" to the ing"om% tinvolves personal sensitivity to what h*rts @o", o*rselves an"others%

t is the opposite o) a spirit that says: "on't care% hey'vegot what's coming to them% t serves them right%

hose who mo*rn are a ;other eresa who taes "yingchil"ren into her arms, a parent who carries a spirit*al &*r"en)or a waywar" chil", or a neeling Christian who &egins to getthe heart&eat o) 5es*s )or the so*ls an" cares o) people%

A mo*rning person is one who has not loce" himsel) into a

place where he is isolate" )rom pain, grie), sorrow, an" h*rt% Amo*rning person )eels the regret over his shortcomings, as wellas the )ail*res o) others%

When we en"lessly p*rs*e sel).grati)ication, we move away

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Spiritual -ormation

)rom i"enti)ying with the ;an o) $orrows' tears, an"compassion%

hose who mo*rn receive com)ortDhelp )rom @o"'s han"%hose who never mo*rn will "ie in sel).centere" emptiness%


Am a person who gen*inely )eels sorrow )or the h*rts have ca*se", an" empathiEes with others who h*rtF

The Mee

A thir" mar Christ sees in <is "isciples is that we practicethe gentle strength o) "iscipline: "Blessed are the meek..."

he wor" meek has receive" a &a" press% ;ost peopleassociate mee with mil", timi", or wea% t's a sissy in" o)wor"%

he original meaning o) the wor" 5es*s *ses, however, has a)ar "i))erent connotation% eek is a term *se" to "escri&e a wil"stallion who has &een &roenDits energy is now *n"er controlan" channele" so that it is *se)*l% ;ee "escri&es a person whois in &alanceDone who, )or eample, neither hoar"s money northrows it away% ;eeness may also "esignate gentleness%

h*s, when 5es*s calls )or meeness in <is "isciples <e isasing *s to practice the gentle strength o) "iscipline% >nly thisin" o) person can inherit the earth, )or only this in" o)temperament can avoi" maing a mess o*t o) everything% Amee person is one who nows the "iscipline o) s*&mission an"mo"eration%


Am seeing to &ecome a "iscipline" person, a &alance" person, a gentle personF

The !un"r# and Thirst#

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The Successful Life

A )o*rth G*ality which 5es*s wants is that we h*nger an"thirst )or righteo*sness%

We can all recogniEe "i))erent levels o) h*nger an" thirst%he h*nger we have )or )oo" wo*l" &e consi"era&ly "i))erentthan the h*nger o) a person who has only ha" one small &owl o)rice all wee%

5es*s speas o) the "eeper h*ngerDa h*nger so *rgent thatit m*st &e satis)ie", or "eath will event*ate%

$o many times o*r li)e.goals involve things that are o*tsi"e

o*rselves: owning a ho*se, "riving a new car, getting eactly theright Ho&, or having a goo", )inancial c*shion% B*t, every goal see that is o*tsi"e mysel) is losa&le% ;y ho*se, my car, my Ho&may &e taen )rom me%%%so also my )amily, my health, my)rien"s%

When everything else is gone, what "o have le)tF 5o& )ace"that G*estion% When everything was gone, his integrity

remaine"% /ho am cannot &e taen )rom me%5es*s ass *s to h*nger an" thirst )or that which cannot &e

remove" )rom *s, &*t is within *sDrighteo*sness% An", whoeversees )or righteo*sness will eperience @o" an" &e satis)ie"%


s my inner li)e mare" &y "eep longing to eperience @o"

an" have <is righteo*sness "welling in meF

The Merciful

A )i)th personality goal 5es*s sets &e)ore *s is that we mightlearn to tae on the shame o) others: "Blessed are themerciful..."

n her &oo, 0ut of the Salt Shaker Becy +ippert tells thestory o) a ch*rch in +ortlan", >regon, which wante" to reach o*tto the *niversity camp*s across the street% hey &egan prayingthe !or" wo*l" help them to win st*"ents% >ne $*n"ay morninga college i" came into the crow"e" worship service% <e was

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Spiritual -ormation

&are)oote", long.haire", an" in a tee shirt% All the seats were)ille", so he ma"e his way "own the aisle o) this properly

"resse", won"er)*l gro*p o) Christian people an" sat on the)loor in )ront o) the )irst pew% he room )ille" withapprehension% $oon, one o) the ol"er saints rose )rom his pewan" &egan slowly waling "own the aisle% ension replace"apprehension as the congregation waite" epectantly )or theol"er, "igni)ie".looing man to escort the yo*ng man o*t% B*t,then an action too place that &ecame )orever stampe" *pon theli)e o) that ch*rch% At consi"era&le pain an" with slowness

&eca*se o) his age an" the con"ition o) his Hoints, the ol" mangot "own on the )loor an" too his seat on the carpet alongsi"ethe st*"ent% here was not a "ry eye in the ho*se%

<ere is a man who practice" mercy, who i"enti)ie" himsel)with the "i))erent an" the h*rting% he merci)*l receive &acwhat they give: mercy%

A Question for Reflection:o stan" aloo) )rom or i"enti)y with the shame an" nee"s

o) othersF

The Pure in !eart

he sith mar o) a "isciple is one who welcomes cleansingin the inner li)e: "Blessed are the pure in heart..."

+*rity o) heart can never &e attaine" thro*gh sel).e))ort% )yo* want p*rity o) heart, )ollow the )irst )ive &e.attit*"es: stan"in the place o) nee", )eel sorrow over the presence o) h*rt an"sin, practice the gentle strength o) "iscipline, h*nger a)ter @o",tae on the shame o) othersDan", then, watch @o" p*t p*rity inyo*r heart as a conseG*ence%

Another wor" )or p*rity is cleanse "the cleansed in heart."We all nee" moments when o*r heart is cleanse" )rom &itterness, rage, anger, l*st, "epression% When these things )illo*r heart, we "o not see @o"%

B*t the <oly $pirit is to o*r heart what the tear "*ct glan" is

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The Successful Life

to the eye% $*re, imp*rities get into the eyeD&*t the tear "*ctglan" )loo"s the eye with liG*i" to wash the imp*rities away%

$*re, we pic *p imp*rities on the roa" o) li)e &*t, as we staysensitive to the convicting o) the <oly $pirit, we eperience thewashing o) )orgiveness thro*gh the &loo" o) Christ%


Am a person who is allowing @o" to cleanse my inner li)eor am so wrappe" *p in imp*rity that cannot see @o"F

The Peacemaers

A seventh personality goal the !or" "esires is that we might &e persons who mae peace: "Blessed are the peacemakers..."

!oving peace an" maing peace are not the same thing%;aing peace involves moving away )rom a seat in thegran"stan"s to play o*t in the )iel"%

;aing peace involves helping settle "isp*tes &etween parties% 5es*s' )irst tas as a peacemaer is to en" the enmity &etween *s an" @o"% ollowing <im as a peacemaer willinvolve *s in the tas o) witnessing to non.Christians that wemight &e Christ's agents o) reconciliation%

We also mae peace as we see to en" the estrangement &etween h*s&an" an" wi)e, parent an" chil", &rother an" sister,

)rien" an" )rien", an" enemy an" enemy% n this way we &ecomei"enti)ie" with the $on o) @o"%


Am &ecoming nown as a person who helps &ring peaceinto tro*&le" relationships, an" who sees )or the *nsave" to &ereconcile" to @o"F

The Persecuted

A last G*ality o) &eing 5es*s wants "evelope" in <is people is that we learn to &ear o*r cross: "Blessed are those

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The Successful Life

When something happens to yo*, it involves an event coming toyo* )rom the o*tsi"e o) yo*rsel): happened to meet the right

girl, get a goo" gra"e, have goo" health, etc% $o many peoplethen &ase their happiness on things that happen to them, it is nowon"er we get unhappy when things *nhappen to *s%

Blessing "escri&es the state o) &eing that no o*tsi"e han" or)orce can to*ch% t is an inwar" wellness, a con"ition o)eperiencing @o"'s approval an" the "eeper Hoy that )lows )romnowing <im%

We m*st &e care)*l not to treat these eight characteristics asa "ispensa&le list% ;any o) yo* have memoriEe" lists )or testsan" then promptly )orgotten the list once the test was over% $omeo) *s this past wee went to the store with a grocery list an""ispense" o) it as soon as we wale" o*t o) the store% he list5es*s gives is not a grocery listI <e gives *s the necessaryingre"ients )or the )ormation o) a spirit*al li)e which will mae*s completeI $o, we m*st commit these characteristics &oth to

o*r memory an" to o*r eperience%

he person who lives in this manner will th*s salt the earthan" light the worl"I

5es*s maes an a*"acio*s statement in ;atthew :1/.12when <e prophecies this little gro*p o) insigni)icant @alileanswill &ecome the salt o) the earth an" the light o) the worl"% Whocan &elieve these or"inary people co*l" ever have s*ch a mighty

in)l*enceF

et, to"ay, as we or"inary )ol tae the !or"'s wor"sserio*sly an" set o*t to &ecome what <e wants, we, too, will saltthe earth an" light the worl"I

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$

$%ealin" With An"er

n the &eginning o) the $ermon on the ;o*nt, the !or"speas to *s a&o*t spirit*al )ormation% <e tells *s what in" o) people <e wants *s to be.

(ow, in ;atthew :10D:48, <e t*rns to repatterning o*r &ehavior% <e is concerne" with how we han"le anger, l*st,)i"elity in marriage, ver&al commitments an" contracts, an"retaliation against persons who "o wrong against *s%

Statement of Principles

his entire section on instilling right &ehavior patterns in *s &egins with a general statement o) two ey principles 6;att%:10.317%

First& 'esus states that !e has not come to destro# the

La( )ut to fulfill it* !o( can this )e+

We m*st remem&er that there are )o*r "imensions o) the!aw in practice at the time 5es*s gives this teaching%

he )irst in" o) law is the civil or H*"icial% t contains theco"es an" stat*tes necessary )or the operation o) srael as anation, or government% 5es*s )*l)ills this aspect o) the !aw &y &ringing into eistence a new spirit*al srael which )*nctions notas an earthly ing"om eeping the letter o) the law, &*t aspirit*al ing"om eeping the spirit o) the law% h*s, >l"estament co"es which lai" "own r*les )or how civil an"criminal H*stice was to &e en)orce" are lai" asi"e &y 5es*s, whilethe principles which *n"ergir"e" those laws are ept in the (ewsrael o) @o"%

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The Successful Life

A secon" "imension to the !aw was its ceremonial or priestly r*les: the maintenance o) priesthoo", temple, an"

sacri)ices% he &oo o) <e&rews teaches *s that 5es*s )*l)ille"this aspect o) the !aw &y &ecoming o*r <igh +riest, o))ering<imsel) as a sacri)ice once )or all, an" trans)orming o*r li)e into<is temple% here)ore, again, the eternal reg*lations o) the !aware set asi"e that its "eeper meaning might &e )*l)ille"%

A thir" "imension o) the !aw involve" scri&al tra"ition%5es*s rep*"iate" the scri&al interpretation o) the !aw% An

eample o) scri&al tra"ition is seen in how the scri&es or ra&&isattempte" to interpret the )o*rth comman"ment, eeping the$a&&ath holy% he scri&es so*ght to "e)ine every conceiva&lesit*ation where one might &e in violation o) the $a&&ath &yworing% here)ore, speci)ic r*les were lai" "own regar"ingwhat "i" an" "i" not constit*te &earing a &*r"en 6or woring7 onthe $a&&ath% A $a&&ath &*r"en was )oo" eG*al to the weighto) a "rie" )ig, eno*gh wine )or miing in a go&let, mil eno*gh

)or one to swallow, honey eno*gh to p*t on a wo*n", oil eno*ghto anoint a small mem&er, water eno*gh to moisten an eye salve, paper eno*gh to write a c*stoms ho*se notice *pon, in eno*ghto write two letters o) the alpha&et%%% o* will )in" thislegalistic interpretation o) the !aw a&sent )rom the teachings o)5es*s%

A )o*rth "imension o) the !aw involve" moral teaching% t isthis aspect o) the !aw which 5es*s "eals with in the rest o);atthew % he moral !aw, the Comman"ments, remain ine))ect% (ot only "o they remain in e))ect, they are ma"e to applynot simply to o*twar" actionsD&*t inwar" attit*"es%

5es*s' high regar" )or the >l" estament is seen in <isstatement that not a Hot or iota o) the law wo*l" "isappear *ntilall ha" &een )*l)ille"% he Hot re)erre" to the smallest letter o)the <e&rew alpha&et an" the iota, the smallest letter o) the

@ree alpha&et% 6We o*ght always to mae s*re that we have thesame high view o) the $cript*re as 5es*sI7

5es*s, however, also teaches grace% <e "oes not say that the person who relaes or &reas one o) the least o) <is

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1ealing /ith 2nger

comman"ments will &e o*tsi"e the ing"om, only that they will &e calle" least in the ing"om o) heaven%

h*s, the )irst maHor principle given &y 5es*s is that <e hascome to )*l)ill the !aw an" the secon" maHor principle is that<is "isciples are to have an ecee"ing righteo*sness%

>*r righteo*sness is to ecee" that o) the scri&es an"+harisees in at least two ways% irst, their righteo*sness waslargely "e)ine" &y a set o) negatives, o not%%% 5es*s is goingto move *s past the "o nots into the more "i))ic*lt area o) the

"o% <e moves *s away )rom a negative to a positive li)estyle%$econ", 5es*s moves *s )rom an o*ter righteo*sness to an

inner righteo*sness% t is not merely o*r acts that co*nt it is o*rattit*"es%

o &ecome more righteo*s "oes not mean that we &ecomegreater religio*s eternalists% he greater righteo*sness isinterior% t is precisely what the scri&es an" +harisees lacD

5es*s' ill*strations will point this o*t% he ecee"ingrighteo*sness o) 5es*s says illing is an attit*"e, not H*st an acta"*ltery is a "isposition o) min", not H*st physical "ivorce is notallowe" H*st )or any ol" ca*se, &*t on one gro*n" alone yo*rwor" m*st &e goo" &y itsel) witho*t having to go thro*ghsemantical technicalities t*rning a chee an" going the etramile is more righteo*s than retaliation loving yo*r enemy is to &e chosen over hating him%

;any persons who reHect the message o) 5es*s that we m*st &e &orn again, nevertheless, will see to "e)en" their reHection o)Christ &y saying they try to live &y the $ermon on the ;o*nt%Anyone who has serio*sly rea" the $ermon on the ;o*nt,however, nows how impossi&le it is to live this $ermon%Anyone who tries to &ase his relationship with @o" *pon howwell he eeps the $ermon on the ;o*nt will win" *p

con"emne"%%%an" the only thing that will save him is the grace o)@o"% hat's why 5es*s &egins the $ermon with a statement ongrace: “Blessed are the poor in spirit..." (o one will ever gainthe ing"om *nless it is given to them%

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The Successful Life

he teaching which )lows )rom the statements o) principlein ;atthew :10.31 is not "esigne" to show people how they

can earn salvation, &*t is meant to pattern the eperience o)those who have alrea"y receive" salvation as a )ree gi)t )rom@o"%

An"er

he )irst ill*stration which )lows o*t o) 5es*s' generalstatement o) principles relates to anger%

5es*s will not tolerate <is people living &y a moral co"ewhich to*ches only their eternal actions% <e has come, in thewor"s o) the prophet, 5eremiah, to "put my la& in their mindsand &rite it on their hearts" (3er. +*).

he person who hol"s a co"e o) eternal righteo*sness onlyhas to avoi" illing someone% he person within Christ'sing"om m*st avoi" three in"s o) attit*"es towar" his )ellow

man an", while avoi"ing these three attit*"es, positively"emonstrate two in"s o) action%

Restrictions

!et *s note what 5es*s "eman"s we avoi"%

irst, we cannot &e angry with o*r &rother%

n the @ree, there are two wor"s )or anger: thumos an"orge. Thumos is a more o*twar"ly ecita&le anger that is veryG*ic to )lare an" rece"e whereas orge is a long.lasting type o)anger, slower to &*il", &*t, once present, it is "eeply settle" an"sees revenge% t is this wor", orge which 5es*s *ses%

t m*st &e note" that the !or" is not con"emning all )orms o)anger% <e <imsel) eercise" the emotion o) anger% $*ppressinganger can &e very harm)*l% What 5es*s con"emns is the anger

that goes on, that contin*es stirre" *p, that neither sees norwants reconciliation, that will not &e satis)ie" *ntil the other person is p*nishe" or has pai" his po*n" o) )lesh%

he penalty )or the person who has ille" was that he wo*l"

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1ealing /ith 2nger

&e &ro*ght to the H*"gment% he H*"gment consiste" o) a smallgro*p o) appointe" H*"gesDnormally sevenDwho, when trying

the m*r"erer, ha" only one option i) the ver"ict was g*ilty% hem*r"erer m*st "ieI $o, 5es*s says, anger &rings a&o*t the sameres*lt% t lea"s to the "eath o) the one who is angryI he irony isthat no o*tsi"e person nee" pass the sentenceDthe angry person"estroys himsel)%

$econ", we cannot ins*lt o*r &rother%

he wor" 5es*s employs is aca 6Whoever says to his

&rother, '?aca'%%%7% aca is an i"iomatic wor" o) 5es*s' "ay whichis practically *ntranslata&le% t carries the i"ea o) regar"ing a person as a &rainless i"iot, or &lochea", +erhaps, stupid idiotcomes closest to the meaning o) aca.

5es*s is saying <is people will avoi" placing la&els o) ins*lton others%

!et me spea a&o*t a practical eample o) this teaching%

have a )rien" who set o*t to "o a "octoral "issertation on theG*ality o) sportsmanlie con"*ct in intercollegiate games at &othChristian an" non.Christian college camp*ses% <is thesis wasthat yo* wo*l" )in" a m*ch higher level o) sportsmanliecon"*ct among the players an" the )ans at Christian colleges% <e"evise" a G*estionnaire which so*ght to meas*re G*alities ingoo" sportsmanship 6lac o) name.calling, &ooing, catcalling,re)eree &aiting, etc%7 hings lie cheering )or yo*r team an" the

"isplay o) positive enth*siasm were consi"ere" epressions o)goo" sportsmanship%

can never )orget his een "isappointment when the res*ltso) his G*estionnaire were ta&*late" )rom the h*n"re"s o)responses given &y players an" )ans on &oth Christian an" non.Christian camp*ses% Christian sportsmanship was no higher thanthat )o*n" on sec*lar camp*ses%

hat o*ght not to &e the case% =ven when we are in acontest, we sho*l" never see to "emean o*r opponent% <e "oesnot "eserve to &e calle" aca.

he person who ins*lts his &rother, his )ellow man, is lia&le

31



The Successful Life

to the Co*ncil% he wor" )or Co*ncil is Sanhedrin whichconsiste" o) seventy% or &eing angry, a person is &ro*ght &e)ore

the H*"gment o) seven )or ins*lting another, he is &ro*ght &e)ore seventy% n &oth cases the res*lt is "eath%

Contempt an" ins*lt are terri&le things% $ome have contempt)or others &eca*se o) their race, their physical characteristics,their social stan"ing, or their level o) nowle"ge or sill)*lness%5es*s says s*ch a "is"ain)*l attit*"e towar" others will ill yo*%

hir", 5es*s )or&i"s character assassination%

Anyone who says, 'o* )oolI will &e in "anger o) the )ire o)hell (4ehenna)."

he wor" )or )ool is moros 6)rom which we get moron). oros is "i))erent )rom aca in that aca epresses contempt)or a man's hea"D&rainless i"iot while moros speas o) a manwho plays the role o) a moral )ool% t is a wor" which casts "o*&ton his moral character an" regar"s him as a sco*n"rel% o call a

man or a woman moros is to "estroy name an" rep*tation%he penalty )or "estroying a person's rep*tation is the hell o)

)ire, or 4ehenna. 4ehenna was the name given to the alley o)<innom so*thwest o) 5er*salem% n this valley, King AhaEintro"*ce" the worship o) ;olech, which involve" the sacri)icial &*rning o) chil"ren 63 Chr% 38:/7% King 5osiah stampe" o*t the practice, an" the alley o) <innom &ecame the gar&age "*mp o)5er*salem% Always )ire smo*l"ere" in it, an" it &re" a partic*larly loathsome worm that was har" to ill% 5es*s taesthe wor" 4ehenna an" *ses it to sym&oliEe the place o) eternal p*nishment% nto 4ehenna is cast what is worthless an" )ilthy to@o"%

5es*s is telling *s that when we "estroy the rep*tation o)another thro*gh character assassination, we place o*rselves in"anger o) &eing cast into the same "*mp%

<ow to*gh 5es*s is% <e not only a))irms the !aw that wesho*l" not m*r"er, &*t says o*r righteo*sness m*st go &eyon"the eeping o) eternal reG*irement% We m*st not have an on.going anger against another, ins*lt or treat with contempt

33



1ealing /ith 2nger

someone else, or "estroy a person's rep*tation &y o*r recless,*ntr*e, or *nin" tal%

Positi,e Actions

<aving given *s these three restrictions, 5es*s goes on to point o*t two positive actions we m*st tae towar" someonewho has something against *s%

he interconnection &etween the restrictions an" the positive actions has pro)o*n" meaning% ) we simply live &y the

restrictions we can go on witho*t having to ever "o anything o) a positive nat*re towar" the person who has anger against *s%<owever, 5es*s is teaching *s we are o*r &rother's eeper an" i)something is wrong with o*r &rother's attit*"e towar" *sDeventho*gh we may &e per)ectly in the clearDwe have an o&ligationto try to reconcile with o*r &rother%

irst, 5es*s tells to reconcile &e)ore worship%

"f you are offering your gift at the altar and thereremember that your brother has something against you lea$e your gift there in front of the altar. -irst go and be reconciledto your brother# then come and offer your gift5 ($$. 667).

Worship is not H*st a time )or meeting with @o"% As weapproach coming to worship we are to eval*ate o*r relationshipwith others an" i) we now someone has something against *s

we )irst are to see reconciliation% ) the other person re)*ses to &e reconcile", that &ecomes their responsi&ility an" not o*rs%

$econ", 5es*s says we are to &e reconcile" &e)ore we are H*"ge"%

"Settle matters %uickly &ith your ad$ersary &ho is taking you to court. 1o it &hile you are still &ith him on the &ay orhe may hand you o$er to the 8udge and the 8udge may hand

you o$er to the officer and you may be thro&n into prison" ($.69).

5es*s a"monishes *s to settle "isp*tes &e)ore we reach the place o) H*"gmentDthe h*man co*rt o) H*"gment or the "ivine

3/



The Successful Life

co*rt o) H*"gment%

Conclusion

(ow we nee" to tae this teaching an" apply it to o*r hearts%

hin o) yo*r relationships% s there anyone with whom yo*are angryF Anyone whom yo* have contempt )orF Anyonewhose rep*tation yo* have harme"F @o to them an" tell themyo* have sinne" against them an" "esperately want their)orgiveness%

When we "o not "eal with o*r anger these res*lts occ*r:

617 $el). "estr*ction% $taying angry with someone is liethrowing a cact*s with yo*r &are han"sDthe other person may get h*rt &*t so will yo*I

637 amily "estr*ction% Cain shows *s the "evastationwithin )amily when anger goes *nchece"% 5eremiah an"

=Eeiel &oth teach that, when the )athers have eaten so*rgrapes, the chil"ren's teeth are set on e"ge% 65er% /1:39,=Ee% 18:37%

6/7 Contin*e" anger prevents a sol*tion &eca*se o*r spiritsare not entreata&le%

647 Anger "irecte" against someone else "oes not changethem, &*t only maes them worse or &elligerentthemselves%

67 Anger is contagio*s% +rover&s 39:33 teaches, "2n angryman stirs up dissension."

h*s, it is critical that we tae steps now to "eal witha&i"ing anger in o*r li)e% When o*r own anger has &een "ealtwith, we can &e in a place to help others o*t o) their own "anger%

Who has &een angry with yo*F Who has contempt )or yo*F

Who has so*ght to "estroy yo*r rep*tationF @o spea to theman" see to &e reconcile"Deven i) yo* are the innocent party%5es*s places that responsi&ility *pon yo*% An", )or s*re, i) yo*are the g*ilty party, settle *p that person nowD&e)ore yo* )ace a H*"gment% on't hol" o*t, epecting to prevail, when yo* now

34



1ealing /ith 2nger

in yo*r heart o) hearts yo* are wrong% t is clearly 5es*s' will )oryo* to see reconciliation an" to see it today.

*rther, we m*st not miss what this passage is telling *sa&o*t @o"'s relationship to *s% Whenever the !or" speas to *sa&o*t how we sho*l" treat one another, <e is simply giving *sinsight into how <e treats *s% <e never ass *s to "o what <e<imsel) "oes not "o% All the &ehavioral an" ethical reG*irementslai" on *s )low o*t o) <is own nat*re%

@o" is not angry with yo* <e loves yo*% We m*st not

con)*se the wrath o) @o" with the concept o) h*man anger%;any times people )alsely ass*me that the wrath o) @o" means@o" is tice" o)) with *s an" is waiting )or a chance to &*mp *so))% he wrath o) @o" is simply the with"rawal o) @o"'s presence )rom o*r lives, which pro"*ces lostness an""isintegration in *s &oth now an" )orever% @o" sees notwith"rawal )rom o*r li)e, &*t entrance% <is love a&i"es *pon *s%<e is not waiting to ins*lt *s, to treat *s as something less than

<e has ma"e *s%

@o" is "oing everything possi&le to reconcile *s to <imD even tho*gh <e is the innocent party% <e interr*pts the en"lessworship o) heaven &eca*se there is an estrange" person on earth%5es*s p*ts asi"e the glorio*s tri&*tes an" songs o) the angels"irecte" to <im, leaves the altar o) heaven, an" comes "own tosee *s o*tDto &e reconcile" to <im%

@o" sees not with"rawal )rom o*r li)e, &*t entrance% <islove a&i"es *pon *s% <e is not waiting to ins*lt *s, to treat *s assomething less than <e has ma"e *s%

he case against *s is airtight% We have &een the ones whohave separate" o*rselves )rom @o", &roen <is laws, an"ignore" <is gracio*s attempts to win *s% <e still sees )or *s tosettle o*t o) co*rtDto settle with <im now, &e)ore we )ace the

&ar o) eternal H*"gment, an" it &ecomes too late%>pen yo*r heart to <im% $tan" in the grace o) the

acceptance an" par"on <e o))ers yo*% Be reconcile" to @o"%

3





-

-%ealin" With Se.ual and Marital

Sin

hol" in my han" a "elicate, &ea*ti)*l, )ragile, China c*p%

his c*p represents some o) *s who have a wholesomenessin o*r se*ality% We may &e single or marrie"% We have notsinne" se*ally nor are we even &othere" &y se*ally imp*retho*ghts%

>thers o) *s loo very m*ch lie this c*p yet, *pon closereamination one can see a chip, a nic, a small hair.line )ract*re%here have &een moments when we have epresse" se*ally in awrong)*l manner, or tho*ght imp*rely% he c*p is in &asicallygoo" con"itionD&*t we are conscio*s o) some imper)ections%

$ome among *s, in o*r se*ality, loo very m*ch lie a c*pthat has &een "roppe", &roen into a n*m&er o) pieces, an" thengl*e" &ac together% We are eenly conscio*s o) having sinne"

se*ally in tho*ght an" "ee"% B*t, somehow, the pieces are &actogether% We are in one piece again al&eit o*r earlier p*rity isgone%

$till others among *s no longer )eel lie a c*p which iswhole% We are shattere", torn apart, *n"one &y wrong)*l *se o)se*ality% We won"er i) we co*l" ever &e in one piece again%Co*l" @o" <imsel) even p*t *s togetherF We lost control o)

o*rselves in se*al imp*rity an" immorality an" whatever wethrow on the )ire o) passion to "o*se it only t*rns o*t to &e moregasoline )*eling the )lame%

Consi"er to"ay what in" o) c*p yo* are consi"er that

30



The Successful Life

others a&o*t yo* may have a c*p *nlie yo*rs% ) yo* have an*n&lemishe" c*p, than the !or" &*t "o not loo "own in

"is"ain *pon another whose c*p is chippe", patche", or &roen%) yo*r c*p is &roen, li)t *p yo*r eyes to the !or" who o))ersyo* <is restoration%

What 'esus Is /ot Sa#in" A)out Se.ual Sin

n or"er to rightly *n"erstan" the script*re &e)ore *s in the$ermon on the ;o*nt, ;atthew :30./3, we m*st )irst notice

what 5es*s is not saying a&o*t se*al an" marital sin% oo o)ten,we premat*rely H*mp into a passage o) $cript*re witho*ts*))icient attention to its contet, an" th*s we gain wrongimpressions, "evelop incorrect "octrine, an" even &ring )alseg*ilt into o*r lives%

irst, 5es*s is not saying se*al temptations eG*als se*alsin%

We m*st all realiEe that it is no sin to &e tempte"%emptation really has )o*r phases:

617 $*ggestion% sn't this something wo*l" lie to "oF

637 Consi"eration% $ho*l" "o thisF

6/7 Consent% have inwar"ly agree" to "o it%

647 Commission% "o it%

emptation occ*rs at levels one an" two% here is no sininvolve"% o not )eel g*ilty i) yo* have &een tempte"% $ome persons, in regar" to se*al sin, )alsely thin that i) they evenconsi"er momentarily entertain the prospect o) an imp*re se*altho*ght or "ee" they have sinne"% ) sinning is entertaining as*ggestionDthen even 5es*s <imsel) co*l" not have &eentempte" )or temptation cannot occ*r witho*t the tho*ght &eing p*t there%

he >l" estament !aw locate" sin as occ*rring on the)o*rth levelDyo* "i" the "ee" an" yo* were g*ilty% 5es*slocates sin as occ*rring on the thir" levelDwhen yo* havecommitte" the sin in yo*r heart% >*r =nglish translation o) 5es*s'

38



1ealing /ith Se:ual and arital Sin

wor"s in ;atthew :38 "o not "o a"eG*ate H*stice to what the!or" is really saying% t appears that even one glance which

involves se*al longing in"icts the person with sin: "&hoe$erlooks at a &oman lustfully." <owever, the @ree present tensever& connotes contin*ing action: "/hoe$er goes on looking at a&oman lustfully..."

his lea"s *s to the secon" point: here is a "i))erence &etween imp*rity an" immorality%

We may &e tempte" to say, Well, i) se*al sin is locate" on

the consent level, then it maes no "i))erence whether me"itateon the sin or act it o*tDso might as well go ahea" an" "o itsince the penalty is the same in either case%

he "i))erence, however, is this: sin)*l tho*ghts involveonly one's own sel) an" "o not reG*ire the involvement o)another% he act o) immorality has social conseG*ences that theact o) imp*rity "oes not% When we sin thro*gh act*al

)ornication, we necessarily reG*ire the participation o) someoneelse as well%

A thir" thing 5es*s is not saying is that se*al sin is worsethan all other sin%

his whole section in the $ermon on the ;o*nt, ;atthew:10.48, "eals with a wi"e variety o) sin% All )orms o) sin h*rt *san" others%

o*rth, 5es*s is not teaching that &o"ily m*tilation is theanti"ote to l*st%

When 5es*s tals a&o*t c*tting o)) o*r han" an" pl*cingo*t o*r eye as steps to resisting se*al sin, <e "oes not inten" to &e taen literally% We now this )or two reasons: the )orm o)speech <e employs is hyper&oleDan eaggerate" statement"esigne" to arrest o*r attention 6literally, an overthrow7 an",none o) the irst.Cent*ry "isciples ever too <im literally% Werea" o) no m*tilate" apostlesI Co*l" yo* imagine the early proclaimers o) 5es*s having any a*"ience i), o*t o) )ear o)committing se*al sin, they tae the preventive o) go*ging o*ttheir eyes an" chopping o)) their han"sF Blin"e" an" han"less

39






We have alrea"y note" in o*r )irst two loos at the $ermonon the ;o*nt that 5es*s &egins &y taling a&o*t spirit*al

)ornicationD<e is concerne" in the Be.attit*"es with"eveloping character in *s, with what in" o) persons we willbe. hen, &eginning with ;atthew :10 thro*gh verse 48, <etals a&o*t &ehavior patterning% <e o))ers si speci)icill*strations where <e wants <is "isciples' &ehavior to &e morerighteo*s than that o) the scri&es an" +harisees%

he )irst eample the !or" selects in this section on the new

righteo*sness is that o) anger% he secon" eample has to "owith l*st%

Anger an" l*stDin that or"erI An" what a connectionI

$everal years ago, as was greeting people at the "oor a)terch*rch on a $*n"ay morning, a yo*ng mother in her mi".thirtiescame *p to me arm in arm with a tall gentleman% new thiswoman ha" &een thro*gh several marriages, an" ha" so*ght to

reach o*t )or love &y engaging in a n*m&er o) inci"ents o)se*al promisc*ity% <er h*s&an" ha" H*st le)t her an" now herewas this new man on her arm% $he sai" to me, '" lie yo* tomeet a real miracle in my li)e%

;y heart went o*t to her &eca*se int*itively sense" thathere was another one.night, or one.wee stan"% $he soon )o*n"that he wasn't really a miracle a)ter allD&*t 'm not so s*re she*n"erstoo" some o) the "ynamic o) her own &ehavior% o* see,

when we are h*rt &y someone, it is a nat*ral h*man reaction to &e angry% t's part o) the mani)estation o) the )lesh% When wehave &een Hilte" or "*mpe" on in a marriage or love relationship,we can &ecome very angry% ;any times that anger then is live"o*t &y going )or a re&o*n"% nee" love right now% h*rt so &a"%'m so angry, 'll show yo*% 'll prove 'm lova&le% can getsomeone to love me, 'll )in" my miracle%

$o many a))airs really res*lt )rom anger% he h*s&an" isma" at his wi)e )or her nagging, her neglect o) him, her"isinterest in se% >r, may&e it's the wi)e who is angry with herh*s&an"% <e or she )inally says, >h, what's the *seDi) yo* aregoing to treat me lie that, 'll H*st )in" someone else% An" s*re

/1



The Successful Life

eno*gh, H*st at that moment, someone else is right there% An", oh &oy, it H*st seems so per)ect: at last we have )o*n" the love o*r

spo*se wo*l" not give *s% B*t, it "oes not tae long to "iscoverthe )r*it has a &itter tasteDthe new relationship cannot wor,either% WhyF Well, it &roe @o"'s laws% es, that's tr*e &*tthere is more% he relationship co*l" never have wore" &eca*seno relationship can ever s*ccee" when it is )o*n"e" *pon anger%

5es*s is sen"ing *s a message: "eal with the anger in yo*rmarriage an" se*ality lest s*""enly yo* )in" yo*rsel) also

"ealing with in)i"elity, enormo*s h*rt, an" "amage%he secon" way 5es*s helps *s is that <e openly tals a&o*t

se*al sin an" marital in)i"elity%

oo o)ten religio*s teachers have avoi"e" the s*&Hect o)se*ality% $omeone has sai" that the worl" never wants to tala&o*t "eath, an" the ch*rch never wants to tal a&o*t se% B*t,we sho*l" tal a&o*t se% @o" tals a&o*t se% <e ma"e

se*ality% t's even an aspect o) o*r &eing ma"e in <is image%>ne o) the greatest anti"otes to se*al sin is honest tal% We

nee" not only clear an" "irect teaching on the p*rpose an" proper *se o) o*r se*ality, we also nee" to open *p an" con)essse*al sins%

!et's )ace itD5es*s, in these verses in the $ermon on the;o*nt, is &asically taling to men% ;en are se*ally aro*se" )armore rea"ily &y sight an" to*chDin spite o) the re.e"*cation Ho&sec*lar women's magaEines are trying to "o on the Americanwoman%

am pers*a"e" that a great many Christian yo*ng men an"grown men co*l" more rea"ily overcome se*al temptation i)they H*st ha" someone with whom they co*l" tal, con)ess to,an" pray with% >*r teen.age &oys o)ten have a terri&le timenowing how to "eal with the changes taing place in them%

<ow won"er)*l it wo*l" &e i) )athers co*l" provi"e the in" o)loving, open, an" s*pportive contet where o*r sons co*l" talto *s )reely a&o*t what is going on insi"e them%

am convince" that many yo*ng men 6or women7 have

/3




"roppe" o*t o) &eing practicing Christians &eca*se they )eel theycannot live the li)e% hey have &een &othere" &y imp*re se*al

tho*ghts an" )antasies% hey have not realiEe" that theawaening o) a "esire )or the opposite se can &e a positiveeperience, which @o" has place" in them to motivate themtowar"s marriage an" the contin*ation o) the h*man race%?i""en with g*ilt an" loce" in the prison o) isolation they &ecome convince" that they m*st &e the only ones with theseevil tho*ghts, that they can never please @o" an" &e totally p*re,so they )alsely thin @o" is reHecting them, ass*me they cannot

live the Christian li)e, an" "rop o*t% <ow "i))erent it will &e i)o*r yo*ng people can con)i"e in *s, let *s help them &eacco*nta&le, allow *s to pray with them an" let them now theyare not alone%

;ay the !or" help the marrie" people to &e s*pport to oneanother an" have s*ch a*thentic relationships that they can sharewith one another any se*al str*ggles or temptations they are

going thro*gh%Whether marrie" or *nmarrie", we are calle" *pon to

con)ess to @o" an" one another even o*r se*al sins an"temptations% hat con)ession &ecomes a )reeing process% tsho*l" not &e ma"e to H*st anyone pre)era&ly it sho*l" &e ma"ewithin )amily or to a person in the Bo"y who can &e a&sol*tely"epen"e" *pon to pray with *s, enco*rage *s, an" call *s toacco*nta&ility%

he thir" thing 5es*s "oes is teach *s to plan in a"vancehow we are going to respon" to se*al temptation%

<is re)erence to pl*cing o*t o*r eye an" c*tting o)) o*rhan" has to "o with the practical recognition that 99 o) se*altemptation comes thro*gh the senses o) sight an" to*ch% <e issaying, ae inventory o) what yo* allow to se*ally stim*lateyo* vis*ally an" tactilely% ?emove *nwholeness an" imp*rein)l*ence )rom yo*r li)e%

o*ng people nee" to "etermine to*ch limits &e)ore they goon a "ate, an" not a)ter% Christian a"*lts nee" also to set to*chlimits on their contact with the opposite 6or even the same7 se%

//



The Successful Life

here are certain movies, television shows, magaEines, &oos we are to avoi" seeing &eca*se o) their sin)*l eroticism%

We nee" to &e lie 5oseph, who, long &e)ore he everenco*ntere" +otiphar's wi)e, ha" "etermine" what his answerwo*l" &e: ";o& then could do such a &icked thing and sinagainst 4od" (4en. <*<).

aniel "etermine" &e)orehan" with the other <e&rewchil"ren not to "e)ile himsel) with the heathen li)estyle 6an%1:87%

o*rth, 5es*s helps *s &y giving *s a &o*n"ary to staywithin%

5es*s' "isallowal o) "ivorce an" remarriage )or any ol" ca*searises, not &eca*se <e "elights in imposing s*))ering on people, &*t &eca*se <is law is meant as a protective enclosing &arrier%

!et me ill*strate% When yo* are happily marrie", yo* "o notnee" a law telling yo*% on't commit a"*ltery, an" "on't get a

"ivorce% Why, that's the )arthest thing )rom yo*r min"% !ovehas yo* in the center o) the circle, an" not on the o*ter e"ge% helaw against a"*ltery an" "ivorce is )or those who have )allen o*to) love% t's there to tell *s, $tay insi"e the )ence, "on't H*mp the &arrier% >nce yo* leap o*tsi"e, yo* will never wor o*t yo*rmarriage, yo* will have no chance to get &ac into the center o)the circle% he law then &ecomes operative )or o*r &ene)it%

he !or" is calling )or *s to "eal with con)lict, not to r*nan" escape )rom it% @o" <imsel) is the ?econciler an" sees *sto Hoin with <im in reconciliation%

We cannot &*y the i"ea that incompati&ility in an" o) itsel)is a gro*n" )or "ivorce% We &ear witness that the healing love o)@o" is more power)*l than the h*rting power o) hate% nstea" o)o*r "i))erences "riving *s apart, the !or" can help *s mae theminto compati&le strengths% he !or" can help *s &ear the cross ina relationship &eca*se we now <e is the !or" also o) the?es*rrection%

he )i)th way the !or" helps is that <is teaching here maes*s even more "epen"ent *pon <is grace%

/4




5es*s' teaching on a"*ltery, "ivorce an" remarriage reallyocc*rs as a response to the phony righteo*sness o) the scri&es

an" +harisees% ;any o) them pri"e" themselves on their eternalmoralityD&*t 5es*s new the evil in their hearts%

A +harisee co*l" live all his li)e an" not nee" the grace o)@o"D)or he ha" H*sti)ie" himsel)% <e ma"e the stan"ar"s loweno*gh so he co*l" eep them% 5es*s tightens the law &y"e)ining se*al sin as a matter o) the heart, not H*st an eternalaction% here&y, 5es*s &rings the many into con"emnation%

>nly when we now we cannot eep @o"'s law, no matterhow har" we try, can we &e in a position to loo to the grace o)@o" to help *s% $o, we m*st go &ac again to the &eginning o)the $ermon on the ;o*nt "Blessed are the poor in spirit..." heing"om enters *s, an" we enter the ing"om when we tell @o"we "o not have it together an" we "esperately nee" <is help% <eenters *s an" we &egin to change%

As we rea" the (ew estament, we will )in" the changetaing place in several ways% mme"iately, when we come toChrist, immoral activity with other persons will en"% he &attlewill move inwar"% he Christian is no longer a )ornicator ora"*lterer, &*t he or she may str*ggle still with l*st% <owever, wecarry on this str*ggle within the contet o) @o"'s acceptance an"<is grace% 5*st as we "on't ic a chil" who st*m&les manytimes while learning to wal, so also @o" "oes not ic *s as we

learn to wal the Christian li)e% An", we will still &e learning towal with Christ *ntil the "ay <e calls *s home%'

Conclusion

(ow, thin again o) the c*p we &egan with%

Are we )ree o) se*al temptationF s the c*p o) o*r li)e &ea*ti)*l an" p*reF @ive praise to the !or"% han <im% B*t

"on't loo "own on someone else with a &roen c*p% We m*sthave the same compassion the !or" "emonstrate" towar" peoplewho ha" sinne" se*ally%

Are we chippe", "amage", &roen an" gl*e" &ac together,

/



The Successful Life

or H*st &roen an" lying in shattere" piecesF We m*st catch anew vision o) what the !or" "esires to "o in o*r li)e% <e wants

to repair o*r so*l% ) we will place o*r li)e in the han"s o) the!or", <e will p*t *s &ac together% An", g*ess whatF <e's the;aster ?estorer% <e will even p*t a new glaEe on the c*p o)yo*r li)e% We will &e &ea*ti)*l, "elicate, wholesome% he !or"gives *s <is wor": "Behold make all things ne&="

/2



2

2%ealin" With the %ifficult

Person

n ;atthew :10.48 5es*s gives si speci)ic ill*strations"escri&ing the &ehavioral changes <e sees in *s%

=ach ill*stration is prece"e" &y the phrase: "You ha$e heard thatit &as said...but tell you..."

he )irst an" secon" ill*strations 6:31./-7 tell *s thatm*r"er an" a"*ltery are more than actsDthey are attit*"es%5es*s reG*ires *s to honestly come to grips with anger an" l*st,an" learn to &e cleane" )rom their "estroying in)l*ence%

he thir" ill*stration 6:/1./37 relates to "ivorce an"remarriage% >*r !or" a))irms the marriage &on" an" tells *s wemay not "ivorce or remarry *nless there is in)i"elity%

he )o*rth ill*stration o) the &ehavioral change relates toeeping o*r wor" 6://./07% >ne ha" to &e very care)*l a&o*ttaing )or grante" the wor" o) a +harisee &eca*se he *se" avoca&*lary o) oathsDsome o) which &o*n" him to his wor", an"others which "i" not 6c)% ;att% 3/:12.337%

5es*s teaches *s not to play wor" games with tr*th, not tospea o*t o) &oth si"es o) o*r mo*th, an" not to mae promiseswe "o not eep%

?ecently, atten"e" a l*ncheon to which a n*m&er o)ministers ha" &een invite"% =ach ha" con)irme" they wo*l" &e present% A&o*t one.thir" never showe" nor "i" they even callwith an eplanation or apology% heir yes was not a yes%5es*s says, $ay what yo* mean an" mean what yo* say% ) yo*

/0



The Successful Life

say yo* will "o itDyo* will &e at a certain engagement, yo* willeep a commitmentD"o it 6or honestly see to &e relieve" o) the

commitment &y the person to whom yo* ma"e it7%$ome people )alsely interpret 5es*s' wor"s on oaths to

incl*"e a prohi&ition against *sing an oath in co*rt 6 swear totell the tr*th, the whole tr*th, an" nothing &*t the tr*th, so helpme @o"7% We now, however, that 5es*s "i" not mean to &e so*n"erstoo"% <e <imsel) respon"e" to Caiaphas when the high priest p*t him *n"er oath (" charge you under oath by the li$ing

4od..." ;att% 32:2/7% +a*l also involve" @o"'s name as a witnessto his wor"s " call 4od as my &itness" an" " assure youbefore 4od that &hat am &riting to you is no lie" 63 Cor% 1:3/an" @al% 1:3-7%

Who Is 3our %ifficult Person+

he )i)th an" sith ill*strations 6:/8.487 relating to changesin o*r &ehavior have to "o with how we respon" to o*r enemies Dthe person who stries *s, s*es *s, )orces their will on *s,imposes *pon *s% 5es*s tells *s what actions to avoi" an" to p*rs*e%

am not content to let this teaching apply only to an o*tsi"erwho maes my li)e "i))ic*lt or who &*gs my li)e in a limite"way% hose who have the most power to h*rt *s, to &e o*renemies, are the people we are closest to: a mother or )ather, a

h*s&an" or wi)e, a son or "a*ghter, a &rother or sister, an in.law,a once close )rien"%

5oyce !an"or) has written a &oo calle" rregular >eople inwhich she tals a&o*t the person we are )orce" to maintain closeties with &eca*se o) circ*mstances or &eca*se they are withino*r )amily% $he "e)ines an irreg*lar person as having threecharacteristics%

irst, an irreg*lar person is emotionally &lin"%

hey can see their own nee"s 3-J3-, &*t never see yo*rs%hey live with yo* &*t "o not see the real yo*% hey have per)ect vision in seeing yo*r imper)ections &*t are &lin"e" to

/8



1ealing /ith the 1ifficult >erson

yo*r achievements%

hat irreg*lar person may &e a parent who never sees a )a*lt

in yo*r &rother or sister &*t, no matter how har" yo* try to please them, yo* never G*ite meas*re *p% o* may even have &orne yo*r parents gran"chil"ren an" ha" hope" yo*r )ather ormother wo*l" &e pro*"Donly to hear them note that yo*r &rother's or sister's i"s are: 6a7 smarter, 6&7 more well.&ehave",6c7 &etter looing%

hat irreg*lar person may &e a spo*se who can give long

lists o) yo*r shortcomings an" sees little o) what yo* "o right% nt*rn, they are totally o&livio*s to their own )ail*res an" "on'tseem to have the )aintest i"ea o) their "e)iciencies when yo* &ring them *p% 6t's really ro*gh when two irreg*lar peoplemarry each otherI7

he irreg*lar person may &e an in.law who comes to yo*rhome an" is still *ncom)orta&le when yo* call them mom or

"a"% hey are emotionally &lin" to what a goo" son.in.law or"a*ghter.in.law yo* are% o* may have noce" yo*rsel) o*t preparing a "elicio*s hansgiving "innerDan" all they can seeor mention is that the meal was serve" hal) an ho*r late%

he irreg*lar person may &e a chil" who only loves yo*when they want something, an" the rest o) the time they are &lin" to the la&or o) love yo* give in maing their li)e &etter%

$econ", irreg*lar people are emotionally "ea)%

We co*l" spill o*r g*ts o*t to them an" their response isWhen will "inner &e rea"yF

We try to tal to them a&o*t what is really going on in o*rli)e, where we h*rt, what they co*l" "o to help% B*t, they willnot listen or they will imme"iately mae a very H*"gmental or"e)ensive response%

aling to them is lie a""ressing a &ric wall, or taling toa ro&otDthe response is always an" totally pre"icta&le%

ConseG*entially, we &ecome very care)*l in selecting whatwe will tal a&o*t to them% We wish so "eeply we co*l" really

/9



The Successful Life

open *p an" comm*nicate )rom o*r inner coreD&*t this personsimply "oes not hear *s%

5oyce !an"or) attri&*tes a thir" characteristic to the irreg*lar person: "amage" vocal chor"s%

he wor"s, am sorry, was wrong, apologiEe,+lease )orgive me, "o not come )rom the irreg*lar person% o*m*st always &e the one to mae peace, to apologiEe, to tae thelea" in restoring the relationship% he irreg*lar person "oes notsee himsel) as a person who co*l" &e in the wrong or mae a

mistae% $omeone else is always at )a*lt, someone else is always &lame", an" someone else always nee"s to apologiEe%

Wor"s o) en"earment an" enco*ragement rarely ever come)rom the people with "amage" vocal chor"s% love yo*,o*'re special, o*'re &ea*ti)*l, o* mean so m*ch tome, are a&sent )rom their voca&*lary%

have notice" one a""itional characteristic in the irreg*lar

person: tie" han"s%heir han"s "o not hol" yo*, em&race yo*, pat yo*, stroe

yo*, or to*ch yo* in love% t's as tho*gh they are a living m*mmywith arms tightly wrappe" against their si"es% 5*st once yo* wishthey wo*l" throw their arms wi"e open an" give yo* one greath*g o) love an" acceptance%

o yo* recogniEe, )rom these )o*r characteristics, any

irreg*lar people in yo*r li)eF Wo*l" these characteristics"escri&e yo*F

Strate"# for %ealin" (ith the %ifficult Person

5es*s gives *s a plan o) action )or "ealing with this "i))ic*lt,irreg*lar person%

irst, in this passage, 5es*s "oes not hol" o*t any hope that

the "i))ic*lt person will change%

realiEe that the @ospel teaches *s to have )aith% t alsoshows *s the importance o) renaming people positively% 5es*scalle" shi)ting san"sL $imon a ock. <e wants *s to help others

4-




"iscover a new i"entity%

B*t, there are some people who "o not change no matter

what yo* try%

We eep hoping they will change% An", perio"ically, we'll"o something really nice )or them to see i) o*r love cannot getthem to respon"% Act*ally, we employ a in" o) s*&tlemanip*lationD;ay&e this will &e the ey to changing them%

B*t, time a)ter time, that "i))ic*lt person simply goes rightonDtotally *nchange"% hey are legalistic 6eye )or an eye7,

a&*sive 6strie yo* on the chee7, *nreasona&le an" *nthining6tae yo*r cloa7, an" "eman"ing 6give me, loan me7%

5es*s is telling *s to "evelop a plan o) action which "oes not"epen" on them changing%

<e "oesn't even hol" o*t the hope that when we have t*rne"the other chec, gone the secon" mile, given o*r cloa, givenan" loane" o*r li)e an" money that the "i))ic*lt person's heart

will melt an" their ol" cr*sty )rog nat*re will &e isse" into a prince charming% When we are "one with all o*r loving an"caring, they may still &e emotionally &lin", emotionally "ea),have "amage" vocal chor"s, an" tie" han"sI

o* are going to have to "eci"e what in" o) person yo*will &e to them on the ass*mption they will never change% heyeither may not have the capacity to change, or more liely,

choose not to change%Anne >rtl*n" has a &oo with a "elight)*l title, ?hildren

2re Like /et ?ement. wo*l" hitchhie on that concept &ysaying the irreg*lar person is lie "rie" concrete% heir whole"isposition in li)e has &ecome set%

am not saying to give *p on the irreg*lar person or to G*ithaving )aith )or them%

am saying, plan yo*r response to them on the ass*mptionthey are not going to change% !et the goo" yo* show to them &ean honest "ecision to ret*rn goo" )or evil, an" not anotherattempt to manip*late them into maing a "esira&le response%

41



The Successful Life

>nce yo* )ree yo*rsel) )rom epecting them to change, yo* canalso avoi" the emotional *ps an" "owns they p*t yo* thro*gh%

o* now they have pro&lems emotionally seeing, hearing,speaing to, an" to*ching yo*% ?ather than "irecting yo*renergies towar"s getting them to change, the !or" ass yo* to"irect yo*r energies towar" "eveloping yo*r response to them%o* have no way to control or change them &*t, with the !or"'shelp, yo* can change an" control yo*rsel)%

t's a great )reeing moment when yo* can say: his person

is evi"ently never going to change% et, accept them% An", choose to love them%

A secon" )reeing action the !or" gives *s )or "ealing withthe "i))ic*lt person is to avoi" retaliating against them%

he >l" estament allowe" retaliation: eye )or eye, tooth)or tooth, scar )or scar, wo*n" )or wo*n"% Act*ally, the >l"estament law o) retaliation was a positive step )orwar" in that

it place" a limitation on vengeance% ) yo* p*t o*t my eye, co*l" not noc o)) yo*r hea"I

$ome people, in looing at ;atthew :/8.43, mis*n"erstan"what 5es*s is asing )or an" thin <im to &e an impractical an"*nrealistic +aci)ist% or eample: sho*l" we "is&an" police)orces in or"er to let anyone hit anyone they wantF $ho*l" wetae away all laws relating to lia&ility so that a person co*l"wrec whatever havoc they "esire" an" never have to pay a

"amage s*it in co*rtF ) a ma"man or a three.year.ol" ass to &orrow yo*r &*tcher ni)e, are we o&ligate" to give it to themFhe answer to all three G*estions, )rom other teaching in the (ew estament, is (>I (>I (>I

5es*s is not here trying to intro"*ce a new legal or economicsystem% <e is helping *s with o*r personal response to the"i))ic*lt person: how "o yo* cope with their ins*lt 6a strie on

the right chee7F <ow "o yo* respon" to their lac o)consi"eration, *nrealistic or &*r"ensome reG*irements, an""eman"ing nat*reF

5es*s teaches *s to avoi" personal vin"ictiveness, a

43




retaliatory spirit, an" get.even actions%

We are to go over&oar" in o*r reaction away )rom

retaliation% 5es*s tells *s to t*rn the other chee, throw in thecloa, an" go the secon" mile% >nly the )ree person can tr*ly "othis% ) yo* try to "o these things &eca*se someone is laying ag*ilt trip on yo*, or &eca*se yo*'re &*ying into the i"ea thatgoo" Christians sho*l" &e passive towar" "i))ic*lt people &yrolling over an" playing "ea"Dyo* will &ecome a "oormat% >ne"ay yo* are going to get tire" o) &eing steppe" on, an" yo* will

eplo"e with anger%>n the other han", a )ree an" conscio*s choice to

consistently ret*rn goo" )or evil maes *s )ree% t restores o*rsel).esteem an" o*r con)i"ence in @o" &eca*se we )in"o*rselves reaching with real mat*rity towar" that immat*re an"emotionally retar"e" person in o*r li)e%

hir", 5es*s tells *s to love the "i))ic*lt person%

n the parallel passage o) !*e 2:30, two actions are calle")or a)ter the wor"s, "Lo$e your enemies." &elieve these twoactions "escri&e how we are to love: "o goo" to an" &less yo*r"i))ic*lt person% 5es*s here&y "e)ines love as an action morethan an emotion% <e "oes not say, eel goo" &*t o goo"I

he wor", bless literally means speak &ell of. here are somany tr*e yet nasty things we co*l" say to an" a&o*t the"i))ic*lt person% 5es*s ass *s to *se positive speech whentaling with them or concerning them%

n this manner, can resist &ecoming that mirror% Whysho*l" &e emotionally &lin" an" "ea), have "amage" vocalchor"s an" tie" han"sF will "o an" spea the goo"% will love%;y love will not simply &e an earthly love which reG*ires theother person to love me &ac% will step into a heavenly love,the love o) @o", which contin*es regar"less o) the response% )

the !or" can ca*se the s*n an" the rain to )all *pon the goo" an"evil )armers' )iel"s, then , too, can step into a style o) love that"oes not "epen" on a))irmative )ee"&ac%

inally, 5es*s tells *s to pray )or the "i))ic*lt person%

4/



The Successful Life

When we stop praying )or them, we really "o &ecome"e)eate"I

=ven tho*gh we have accepte" the )act they may neverchange, an" we m*st plan o*r action accor"ingly, there is a G*ietcorner in o*r heart, where in prayer we yet say, All things are possi&le%

) that "i))ic*lt person is not )ree" in this age, we now in prayer that he will &e ma"e new in the age to come% 5es*s hascome to restore sight to the &lin", hearing to the "ea), speech to

the m*te, an" )ree"om to the &o*n"% ) that wor is notcomplete" nowDit will &e thenI We pray, hy ing"om comeinto this "i))ic*lt person's li)e thy will &e "one in them%

he !or" simply calls )or *s to "eal with the "i))ic*lt personin the same way <e has "ealt with *s% <e ept on loving *s whenwe "i" not see <im, hear <im, spea to <im, an" hol" <im% (ow that we are <is, <e invites *s to &e per)ect 6mat*re,

complete7 as o*r <eavenly ather is per)ect%

44



4

45uildin" Spiritual %iscipline

What in" o) a person are yo* &ecomingF What sort o)in)l*ence "o yo* haveF o yo*r actions i"enti)y yo* as a"isciple o) the !or"F

he a&ove three G*estions have &een "ealt with &y 5es*s in;att% % he Beatit*"es tell yo* what in" o) person <e wantsyo* to &ecome% $alt an" light spea o) the in)l*ence yo* willhave% nner righteo*sness will mar yo*r con"*ct towar" the person yo* may &e angry with or wrong)*lly se*ally attracte"

to, a spo*se yo* wo*l" rather leave, a ver&al commitment yo*have ma"e, a "i))ic*lt person in yo*r li)e who taes )rom yo*rather than gives to yo*%

) yo* have &een care)*lly living &y the wor"s 5es*s speasin ;atthew , yo* are now in "irect nee" o) <is teaching in;atthew 2% WhyF

Well, let's s*ppose that in"ee" yo* are &ecoming all that

5es*s has ase"% o*r character is mare" &y "epen"ence *pon@o" an" the seven &eatit*"es which )ollow% o* have a positivein)l*ence in yo*r worl" rather than H*st &eing a person who isle" aro*n" &y the i"eas an" val*es o) others% o* s*ccess)*lly"eal with anger an" l*st% o* have not violate" marriage vowsnor taen lightly any other commitment% o* even treat the"i))ic*lt person in yo*r li)e as Christ "i" <is own enemies%

o* are now at a "angero*s moment in yo*r Christianeperience, )or the temptation is to say: ;an, have arrive"% am the person the !or" wants me to &e% >thers loo at me as amarvelo*s Christian eample% Compare" to other people, @o"has G*ite a priEe in meI

4



The Successful Life

he !or" says to yo*: B=WA?=, B= CA?=#!I

he temptation now eists that yo* will *se yo*r spirit*ality

to call attention to yo*rsel)% 5es*s tals with *s a&o*t the threeareas o) spirit*al "isciplineDgiving, praying, )astingDwhere weare most liely to r*in thro*gh spirit*al pri"e what the !or" is"oing in *s%

he anchor verse in ;atthew 2:1 gives the principlesgoverning the three ill*strations o) 2:3.18% We are warne"against "oing acts o) righteo*sness to &e seen o) others%

here is s*ch "elicate &alance in the Christian li)e% >n theone han", 5es*s tells *s we will &e seen &eca*se we are the lighto) the worl", an" light cannot &e hi" 6:147 on the other han",<e tells *s not to &e seen o) others% he "i))erence has to "owith o*r motivation% When o*r goal is to ealt the !or" thro*gho*r li)e, then others will see o*r goo" "ee"s an" praise o*rather% <owever, when o*r goal is recognition, we will see o*r

own praiseDnot @o"'s%!et *s loo at two o) the three spirit*al "isciplines "ealt with

in ;atthew 2:1.18Dgiving an" )asting%

6i,in"

We imme"iately recogniEe that everything 5es*s or the Bi&lehas to say a&o*t giving is not )o*n" in ;atthew 2:3.4% here are

at least three maHor principles o) giving ta*ght in $cript*re, an",here, 5es*s only "eals with the thir"%

he )irst principle a&o*t giving ta*ght in $cript*re is that@o" never inten"e" )or *s to *se o*r income to meet only o*rown nee"s%

hro*gho*t &oth the estaments we are ta*ght to give to thewor o) the !or" an" to others% =ven poor people are

commen"e" )or giving, s*ch as the wi"ow who gave all she ha",an" the ;ace"onian saints who gave o*t o) their own poverty tothe 5er*salem saints% >n the other han", the rich )ool who lai" plans to only spen" on himsel) ha" his li)e taen )rom him in amoment%

42



Building Spiritual 1iscipline

here are three attit*"es a&o*t material things represente" inthe para&le o) the @oo" $amaritan% he ro&&er epitomiEes the

attit*"e o) some: What's yo*rs is mine i) can get it% he!evite an" priest represent the attit*"e o) many: What's mine ismine an" yo* can't have it% he $amaritan represents the perspective o) the !or"'s "isciple: What's mine is yo*rs i) yo*nee" itI

) yo* *se yo*r income only )or yo*rsel) an" yo*r )amily,yo* stan" o*tsi"e @o"'s will )or yo*r li)e, an" yo* "evelop traits

that are harm)*l to yo*: sel).centere"ness, )ail*re to o&ey @o" ortr*st <im to meet yo*r own nee"s as yo* give, loss o)compassion, an" a )ail*re to i"enti)y with the !or" whose verynat*re is to give%

A secon" principle a&o*t giving ta*ght in $cript*re is thatwe "isting*ish &etween reG*ire" an" vol*ntary giving%

n ;atthew 2:3.4 5es*s speas o) vol*ntary giving%

=lsewhere, the $cript*re speas o) reG*ire" giving% or eample,;alachi /:1-, coming at the en" o) the >l" estament,s*mmariEes a theme o)ten occ*rring thro*gho*t the law D "Bring the &hole tithe into the storehouse=" 5es*s a))irms theaction o) tithing in ;atthew 3/:3/, an" the <oly $pirit ca*se"the writer o) <e&rews to insist that tithing &egan &e)ore thegiving o) the !aw with the man o) )aith, A&raham 6<e&% 0:4))%7%

A""itionally, acts o) &enevolence are reG*ire"% he )armer

was to leave the &or"ers o) his )iel" *nc*t that the poor mightglean in them an" there&y have something to eat% >*r !or"<imsel) sai", "t is more blessed to gi$e than to recei$e" (2cts6@*9).

ma"e some maHor mistaes as a yo*ng Christian% or years "i" not completely tithe my income an" ec*se" mysel) onthese gro*n"s:

617 it was an >l" estament an" not a (ew estament practice

637 the poorer people who tithe", incl*"ing my )ols, "i"n'tseem to &e getting any richer

40



The Successful Life

6/7 "i"n't earn m*ch so my giving really wasn't nee"e"

647 the preacher ma"e more money than "i"%

$everal things pers*a"e" me these arg*ments were )alse:

617 irst the whole Bi&le did teach tithing, an", i) "i" nottithe, was &eing "iso&e"ient towar" @o" <imsel)

637 while my parents were )inancially poorDthey ha" richesin other areas 6)or eample, won"er)*l i"sI7

6/7 i) all o) *s who "on't mae m*ch choose not to tithe, it

amo*nts to a very large s*m an" we there&y h*rt thewor o) @o"

647 i) the preacher earns more than "oDthat's his pro&lem &e)ore @o" an" not mine% 6(ow, that am a preacherD &elieve he earns whatever is pai" himI7

=arly in o*r marrie" li)e we )inally &egan tithing reg*larlyD largely, &eca*se we ept getting into one )inancial "isaster a)ter

another an" )inally realiEe" the !or" was telling *s to p*t <im)irst even when we co*l" not a))or" it% We never co*l" a))or" atithe, &*t we "i" anyway% An", won"er o) won"ers, the &alanceo) o*r nee"s was taen care o)%

$iteen years "own the roa", tithing is no longer a G*estionor even a &*r"en% When am pai", it's the )irst chec o)) the topan", o) all the checs mae o*t, it's the one )eel &est a&o*t%his is going to "o the greatest wor on earthDthe !or"'s worI

Beyon" the reG*ire" giving, there are all in"s o) options )orvol*ntary giving% wish co*l" give towar" every nee"% here isso m*ch wo*l" lie to "o )or missions, )or Christian highere"*cation, )or the ch*rch &*il"ing program, )or st*"ents whonee" scholarships, )or people in nee"% cannot "o everythingD &*t can "o something%%%an" so can yo*% When we all p*lltogether, the nee"s within the Bo"y are metI

he thir" maHor principle o) giving is the one 5es*s teacheshere in ;atthew 2Dwe m*st g*ar" against wrong motivation ingiving%

?ecognition is an important motive )or giving an" a well

48




recogniEe" principle &y those who are pro)essional )*n" raisers%+eople want their giving to &e notice"% $o we name &*il"ings

a)ter "onors, or p*t their names on walls or "oors, invite them toselect )*rnit*re, or give them honorary titles or "egrees%

5es*s in"icates <is "isciples are not to give o*t o) amotivation to &e recogniEe"%

>ne loo aro*n" the Bo"y o) Christ to"ay convinces yo*rather G*icly that on this matter the !or" is ignore" rathercommonly%

Borrowing some o) the techniG*es that are in vog*e to"ay toget money )or Christian organiEations, once tho*ght wo*l" propose the )ollowing )or the net year's ch*rch &*"get:

=very tither wo*l" get an a*tographe" pict*re o) the pastoral sta)) an" &oar"%

Anyone contri&*ting at least M3,--- to the ch*rch wo*l" &e taen to "inner &y the assistant pastor%

hose who gave at least M,--- to the ch*rch wo*l" &egiven a special re" letter l**rio*s )amily Bi&le &o*n" inleather importe" )rom the tanner's ho*se in 5oppa, srael%

) an in"ivi"*al contri&*te" at least M1-,--- his namewo*l" &e p*t on the <all o) <eroes, a special &ronEe plaG*e to &e locate" at the entrance o) the ch*rch &*il"ing%

hose who gave M3-,--- an" more wo*l" &e given acomplimentary to*r o) the <oly !an" )or not less than ten"ays &y +astor Woo"I

(ow, we all la*gh at s*ch a ri"ic*lo*s proposalI et, almostevery "ay we are &eseige" &y Christian organiEations withgimmics "esigne" to motivate *s to give% n the Christian me"iain"*stry, they're calle" gi$ea&ays. A ministry m*st have a

giveaway to get the "onor to release his money% $o yo* areo))ere" a &oo, or tape, or recor", or trinet with the hope yo*'llsen" &ac money ten times more than the worth o) what is sentyo*I

49



The Successful Life

Where has simplicity in giving goneF What is le)t o) the i"eathat we give &eca*se there is a real nee", or the <oly $pirit has

lai" something on o*r heart, or the only one we want recogniEe"is the !or" <imsel)I

wo*l" even &e so &ol" as to s*ggest that we m*st not give &eca*se the ?$ will give *s cre"it% willingly tae thea"vantages which comes &eca*se o) the ta laws &*t, i) #ncle$am "eci"e" to"ay to tae away the &ene)it, it sho*l" not changeo*r giving one iotaI

Fastin"

A secon" area o) spirit*al "iscipline 5es*s "eals with is)asting 6;atthew 2:12.187%

$in is so power)*l an" "eceptive it can in)iltrate o*r no&lest"ee"s% asting, which is one o) the most "i))ic*lt o) all spirit*al"isciplines, can &ecome an occasion )or the sin o) pri"e%

he +harisees p*t on the )asting loo so people wo*l"esteem their spirit*ality% he tr*ly spirit*al person is concerne"a&o*t what @o" thins they loo lieDthere)ore, that personavoi"s a religio*s type o) appearance which only calls attentionto himsel) or, on the opposite etreme, a sec*lar type o)appearance which "etracts another person )rom seeing the !or"%

>*r !or" here is correcting the a&*se o) )asting% <is

teaching ass*mes we will )ast: "&hen you fast..." As eamine )asting in the $cript*re, )in" at least three

goo" reasons )or )asting%

asting is a sign o) &arrenness an" epresses a "esire )orgreater )r*it)*lness%

he )irst mention o) )asting in the Bi&le occ*rs in the storyo) <annah tol" in 1 $am*el 1% <annah was "istresse" &eca*se

she was chil"less% <er grie) was so great she co*l" not eat%

A total a&sence o) )asting in o*r li)e may &e an in"icationthat we are not really "esperate )or @o" to &e at wor in *s% Wehave settle" too easily into a pattern o) com)ort% asting is )or

-




those who recogniEe that only @o" can mae them tr*ly )r*it)*l%

$econ", )asting sho*l" prece"e maHor "ecisions or actions%

5es*s )aste" )orty "ays prior to &eginning <is ministry% he)irst missionary Ho*rney o) +a*l an" Barna&as came a&o*t as ares*lt o) an intensive time o) worshiping the !or" an" )asting6Acts 1/:37%

>nce we get past the h*nger pains in )asting, we &ecomevery sensitive to the <oly $pirit's voice, an" <e more rea"ilycon)irms @o"'s will to *s%

wo*l" never have laste" as pastor o) a ch*rch witho*thaving gone thro*gh an intensive )ast prior to accepting thech*rch's invitation% When one.thir" o) the ch*rch le)t in the )irstsi months o) my pastorate thereDthe thing which hel" me wasthe nowle"ge that @o" ha" con)irme" <is will to me "*ring a)ast% entere" the )ast telling the !or" my "ecision was to cometo that partic*lar ch*rch, &*t "*ring those "ays o) the )ast <e

sho*l" clearly show me i) <e "i" not want me to comeD otherwise, <e o*ght never to throw it *p to me that got o*t o)<is will% ;y en" o) the &argain was that i) &roe the )ast &e)ore the appointe" time, then wo*l" not come &eca*se wo*l" regar" that as a sign o) not having eno*gh spirit*alstrength to "o the tas set &e)ore me%

Are yo* consi"ering a maHor change in yo*r li)eF Are yo*consi"ering marriageF ;ay recommen" that yo* )astF @ive the!or" a chance to con)irm or &loc yo*r propose" co*rse o)action%

$ometimes what yo* )ast may &e )oo" an" water, sometimesonly )oo", an" sometimes something other than )oo"% >ne timewhen was rea"y to )oolishly eplo"e over a certain sit*ation,the <oly $pirit very clearly spoe )o*r wor"s that chece" me)rom really "oing something )oolishly in anger% he wor"sF

@eorge, )ast yo*r tong*e% $o )aste" my tong*e )rom speainga&o*t that partic*lar sit*ation an" in a wee the !or" ha"wore" it all o*t%

hir", )asting may &e an appropriate way to epress a

1



The Successful Life

som&er reaction to the !or"%

n the >l" estament there were moments o) great revival

when @o"'s people or lea"ers repente" som&erly with )asting 61$am% 0:2, =Era 1-:27% he som&erness might &e epresse" over aheavy &*r"en 6(eh% 1:47, or a time o) great "anger 63 Chr% 3-:/7%he psalmist when )ace" with a li)e threatening sit*ation crie"o*t: "y knees gi$e &ay from fasting* my body is thin and gaunt" (>s.

+@<*67). 3esus says that ;is disciples &ould fast &hen the Bridegroom&as taken from them (ark 6*6@ Luke 9*9).

+erhaps yo*r li)e is so )*ll o) won"er)*l events that yo*now no sorrow% hro*gh )asting, @o" can acG*aint yo* withthe &*r"ens o) <is heart an" the &*r"ens o) the worl"%

>ne wor" o) ca*tion a&o*t )asting in a time o) sorrow: "onot stay in that sorrow in"e)initely% he !or" )aste", &*t <e alsoate with sinners an" p*&licans% avi" )aste" when the chil" o)Bathshe&a's &ecame ill, &*t, when the chil" "ie", he p*t o)) the)ast &eca*se he wisely recogniEe" that, when yo* can no longer"o anything a&o*t a sit*ation, yo* are to lay asi"e that time o)som&erness 63 $am% 13:1.37%

Re(ard

he !or" tells *s that i) we will give, pray, an" )ast to &eseen &y <im rather than &y men, <e will rewar" *s% What willthe nat*re o) that rewar" &eF

he whole concept o) rewar" is a "i))ic*lt one to grasp sincewe ten" to thin in terms o) trophies% >ne minister commente"that when we all get to heaven an" lay o*r trophies at 5es*s' )eet,no&o"y will &e a&le to see 5es*sI

thin can "emonstrate what a rewar" is% When my wi)e)ell in love with me 10 years ago, what was her rewar"F A ringFA ho*seF *rnit*reF @i)tsF (o, noI <er rewar" was meI 5*st

thin o) it, she got meI An", got herI he rewar" we looe")orwar" to &y &eing marrie" ha" nothing to "o with somethingeternalDit involve" a relationship on a )ar "eeper an" moremeaning)*l level%

3




$ome people only thin o) rewar"s in heaven )rom amaterialistic view: mansions, gol", or space travelI he real

rewar" o) heaven is the intensi)ie" relationship we will enHoywith @o"% "Then shall see ;im face to face..."

<e is aware o) the spirit*al "isciplines live o*t &e)ore <im,"isciplines no one else is aware o)% <e sees my giving or lac o)it, my praying or lac o) it, my )asting or lac o) it% t's a secret &etween <im an" me% ) give, pray, an" )ast, "o not there&ygain entrance into heaven% he entrance is o&taine" &y my

receiving the gi)t o) <is grace% B*t, somehow, what "o now is"rawing me nearer to <im an" even "eepening the relationshipwe shall share )or all eternity% here will &e a "ay when <ereviews my chec&oo an" my "aily calen"ar% want to see Hoyin <is )ace when <e reviews my giving, praying, an" )astingI

/





7

7!o( to Pra# 8ffecti,el#

When the s*&Hect o) prayer is mentione", "o yo* )eel g*iltyF;ost o) *s wo*l" say yes% +rayer is a pro&lem )or *s% We

now we sho*l" pray &*t, either, we "o not or we )eel whatever praying we "o is not s*))icient%

<ow then can o*r !or"'s wor"s on prayer help *sF

irst, the !or" tells *s what to avoi" in prayerDpraying to &e seen o) others an" vain repetition% 5es*s is not r*ling o*t

p*&lic prayer, only the wrong)*l motivation to *se prayer toenhance an image o) o*r own spirit*ality% <e is not )or&i""ingetensive seasons in prayerDonly that in" o) prayer which priEes G*antity a&ove G*ality%

$econ", 5es*s sets a realistic goal o) prayer )or the &eginner:twenty meaning)*l secon"s% hat's how long it taes to pray the!or"'s prayerI n any area o) spirit*al, physical, or mental

"iscipline, we sho*l" not &ite o)) more at the &eginning than wecan chew% $o, the !or" starts a &eginner with a short prayer% )yo* are not praying at all, start praying twenty secon"s at a timeI

hir", 5es*s gives *s a pattern )or all prayer% he !or"'s+rayer can &e praye" G*icly, or it can shape every min*te o) ali)etime% t serves as a mo"el an" an o*tline )or all o*r praying%We "o well to *se it as o*r pattern in prayer%

The Address in Pra#er

he !or"'s +rayer has three &asic "ivisions: the a""ress in prayer, petitions, an" praise%



The Successful Life

>*r prayer is a""resse" to >*r ather in heaven%

he wor", -ather teaches *s we are praying to a personal

@o"% >*r prayer can never &e a&stract, o))ere" to the man*pstairs 6whoever he is7 or to a cosmic principle or li)e )orce%+rayer, contrary to the science o) min" an" sel).realiEationmovements, is more than a catharsis o) the so*lDit is a""resse"to the real an" only @o", the ather o) o*r !or" 5es*s Christ%

) yo* have pro&lems calling @o", -ather &eca*se yo*lace" a h*man )ather, or ha" a )ather who neglecte" or

mistreate" yo*Dthen thin o) @o" as the ather o) 5es*s% onot let father &e an etension o) an ina"eG*ate earthly mo"elhave the ather o) 5es*s who speas this wor", o* are my &elove" chil"%

<e is o*r ather in ;ea$en. he close relationship we enHoywith <im as ather m*st not &l*r the )*n"amental "istinction &etween <imsel) an" *s% he )act that <e is ather tells *s <e is

near the )act <e is in <eaven speas o) <is otherness 6<e is nota man, <e is @o"I7% As ather, <e is goo" as @o" in <eaven,<e is greatI

Best o) all, <e is our ather in heaven% We are privilege" to &e in relationship to <im an" own <im as our !or", o*r 4od.

n the secret place o) prayer, we m*st not H*st race thro*ghwor"s% he opening o) prayer creates a conscio*sness o) the person to whom we are speaing, the >ne into whose presencewe come% $lowly re)lect on each wor": >*rDatherDinD heaven% Are yo* conscio*s o) <im as yo*r atherF Are yo*resting in the nowle"ge that <e is in heaven where myria"s o) power)*l angels an" re"eeme" saints worship an" serve <imF

ho* art coming to the King, !arge petitions with thee &ring or <is grace an" power are s*ch, (one can ever as toom*ch%

The Petitions of Pra#er

>*r !or" net teaches *s the si reG*ests which )orm theo*tline )or all petitions we &ring to <im% he )irst three petitions

2



;o& to >ray Affecti$ely

)in" *s praying )or @o" to &e glori)ie" in o*r li)e the last threeinvolve *s praying over o*r own nee"s an" concerns%

What a pro)o*n" insight 5es*s o))ers% ?ather than r*shinginto @o"'s presence an" imme"iately &aring or"ers or ticingo)) o*r own concerns prayer m*st )irst involve *s in consi"eringwhat @o" wants in o*r li)e%

Three Petitions for !is 6lor#

irst, 5es*s teaches *s to &ring this reG*est: ";allo&ed be

your name."

What "oes hallo&ed mean 6t so*n"s so close to<alloween7F t means to treat something or someone as holythat is, "i))erently )rom how yo* wo*l" treat everything else%

n the Bi&le, names are more than a tag% A name representsthe nat*re, personality, an" character o) the &eing who stan"s &ehin" the name% here)ore, treating @o"'s name as hallowe"

involves )ar more than H*st rightly *sing <is name in ver&alcomm*nication%

When we pray, <allowe" &e yo*r name, we are asingthat @o" &e given the reverence which <is nat*re an" character"eserve%

What i) one o) my st*"ents wrote a very poor paper )oranother pro)essor an" then tol" him ha" rea" it an" approve" it

as a masterpieceF hat st*"ent wo*l" not &e hallowing mynameI $el)ish prayers which sign o)) with in the name o) 5es*sca*se the same ang*ish in the !or" that )eel when a st*"entmis*ses my name%

;artin !*ther's catechism ass the G*estion: <ow is @o"'sname hallowe" among *sF he answerF When o*r li)e an""octrine are tr*ly Christian%

<allowing the name o) @o", there)ore, involves o*r asing@o" the ather to help *s &*il" a tr*ly Christian li)estyle an""octrine% he name o) @o" is <is stamp o) approval on what we, &elieve an" how we &ehave% <allowing <is name involves *s

0



The Successful Life

)irst seeing to &*il" a li)e @o" can en"orseDa li)e which tr*lyrepresents <is nameI

$econ", 5es*s teaches *s to pray, "Your kingdom come."

What we are really saying is, !or", tae over an" r*le% o*are the a*thority% o* are the KingI

he ing"om comes intensively an" etensively%

n its intensive manner, we are to pray )or @o"'s r*le, <iswill to move "eeper into *s% We pray this &eca*se we &ecome

pain)*lly aware o) areas in o*r li)e where <is ing"om has notyet come% Brea in, > !or", an" shatter the r*le o) sel) an" ther*le o) the evil one%

We pray )or the ing"om to come etensivelyDto others%hy ing"om come is the prayer o) evangelism% We are "rivento concern )or those who live o*tsi"e <is r*le an" a*thority%

We "o not )oc*s rightly *pon @o" *nless we catch <is

heart&eat, an" we have not really praye" the min" o) Christ*nless one o) o*r contin*ally &*rning petitions is to see <ising"om a"vance &oth in o*r li)e an" that o) others%

hir", 5es*s tells *s to pray, "Your &ill be done on earth asit is in ;ea$en."

he little wor", as has &een misrepresente" &y some% heysay, here is no sicness in heaven there)ore, i) we are really praying @o"'s will, there will &e no sicness in o*r lives onearth% #sing that in" o) logic 6%%%on earth, as it is in heaven7,we sho*l" there)ore &egin to pray that there will &e 34 ho*rs o)"aylight with no "arness, since <eaven only has lightI

here are no cr*ci)iions in heaven yet, on earth, 5es*s praye" in @ethsemane that <e have strength to )ace the cross:hy will &e "one%

he wor" as "oes not carry the i"ea o) @o"'s will &eingepresse" in the same manner on earth as in heaven &*t with thesame o&e"ienceI

t is regretta&le that there is, in the Bo"y o) Christ to"ay,even a nee" to "e)en" the !or"'s wor"s, hy will &e "one% B*t

8




there are those who have twiste" this $cript*re 6as they "o other$cript*res7 to "eny the &eliever the right to leave things in the

lap o) the !or"% We are tol", i) yo* say, hy will &e "one, thenyo* "o not have eno*gh )aith% hey ass*me that a*tomatically inevery sit*ation yo* simply anno*nce to @o" what <is will is an"claim it%

hro*gh prayer, @o" "oes allow *s to &e a co.a*thor o) <iswill% B*t, <e has a maHority vote in the partnership, an" myloyalty an" )aith are *ltimately in <im an" not in my i"ea o)

what <e sho*l" "oI love the wor"s o) the $econ" Cent*ry Christian, +olycarp,

who was a "isciple o) 5ohn% +olycarp serve" as Bishop o)$myrna an", in his nineties, was &ro*ght into the arena where hewo*l" &e &*rne" at the stae )or his )aith in Christ% @iven a lastchance &y the procons*l to recant, +olycarp &ol"ly replie"=ighty an" si years have serve" <im, an" <e hath "one meno wrong how then can &laspheme my King who save" meF

he ho*r is at han" in the Ch*rch when we nee" to p*t theey to o*r li)e &ac into the han"s o) the !or" an" &ol"lycon)ess with +olycarp, <e hath "one me no wrongI

+olycarp's con)ession is )ollowe" &y this notation: As hespae these wor"s an" many more, he was )ille" with co*ragean" Hoy an" his co*ntenance was )*ll o) grace, so that%%%the procons*l was astonishe"%

!et no one mishear me an" pres*me am a"vocating a passive approach to the will o) @o" as tho*gh whatever will &e,will &e% he $cript*res ehort *s to )aith, to &eing a participantwith @o" in the maing o) <is will% <owever, when have praye" an" lai" my case &e)ore @o", am to rest in <is han"san" tr*st% <e will "o me no wrongDan", as accept <is will,with +olycarp, my co*ntenance can &e )*ll o) co*rage, Hoy, an"

grace%$ome respon" to @o"'s "i))ic*lt will with "e)eate"

resignation: @o", wish it "i"n't have to &e this way &*t sinceyo*'ve given these "irections g*ess 'll have to go ahea" an" "o

9



The Successful Life

it% >thers respon" to @o"'s will with &itter resentment: @o",why "i" yo* "o this to meF Why "i" yo* allow it to happenF

B*t, 5es*s ass *s to pray, hy will &e "one, not &eca*se<e sees to enco*rage passivity or a ;*slim type o) )atalism &*t, &eca*se <e wants *s to receive <is will with per)ect lovean" tr*st%

Three Petitions for 9ur /eeds

he )irst three petitions in the !or"'s +rayer have centere"

o*r complete attention *pon @o"% We have &eg*n &y praying )orthe iss*es *pon <is heart we have not so*ght to &en" <im too*r will% ?ather, we have so*ght to )irst let <im shape o*r lives%

s this tr*th a )actor in o*r prayingF o o*r prayers &egin &y)oc*sing *pon yo*r or meF >nly when we have )oc*se" )irst*pon @o"'s concerns can we then rightly pray )or o*rselves%

irst, we are to pray )or the necessities o) li)e: "4i$e us

today our daily bread."

he &eginning o) the !or"'s +rayer has ta*ght *s to pray )orthe really &ig things: @o"'s name to &e hallowe", <is ing"om tocome, <is will to &e "one% resh )rom these vast concerns, weare to pray )or so small a thing as o*r "aily &rea"%

o* will never really )eel close to @o" *ntil yo* *n"erstan"<im not only as the !or" o) the #niverse, &*t as the >ne who

cares a&o*t yo* as an in"ivi"*al%

When praying )or yo*r own nee"s, 5es*s )irst has to )oc*s*pon o*r &o"ies% o* might have tho*ght <e wo*l" p*t this lastin the or"er o) petitions or may&e not even incl*"e it at all% et,5es*s places high val*e on physical li)e% <e wants *s to pray )orthe maintenance o) li)e% 5es*s "oes not want yo* to throw awayyo*r li)e% o* are to pray )or yo*r "aily &rea"% o* are to as

)or the reso*rces where&y yo*r li)e will &e contin*e"% o* mayhave )ace" real temptation to commit s*ici"e% o not then "enyyo*rsel) this prayer )or &rea"% n 5es*s, there is a )*t*re )or yo*%Bring <im, as yo*r )irst concern )or sel), the prayer )or li)e%

2-




>) co*rse, "aily &rea" cannot only mean &rea" &*t all thatis reG*ire" to eep *s going physically% o a"" the wor", daily

also means that this is a prayer which nee"s to &e praye" every"ay o) o*r li)e% his petition contin*ally remin"s *s that all wehave is tr*ly )rom the !or"% $ho*l" <e with"raw <is provi"ential care, we co*l" not live%

What a tremen"o*s prayer to pray when we are yo*ng an"things are going great, or when we are ol" an" earthly "ays are"rawing to a closeD!or", give me what it taes to live this

"ayI<ave yo* &een praying )or yo*rsel)F >r, "o yo* have a

)eeling that in prayer yo* sho*l" never &other @o" a&o*t yo*rown nee"s H*st those o) othersF hen, let 5es*s teach yo* to pray% @ive *s to"ay o*r "aily &rea"%

>ne wor" o) co*nsel sho*l" &e a""e"% he prayer )or o*r physical nee" is not meant to &e a replacement o) o*r own wor%

$omeone has sai" that while @o" )ee"s the sparrows, <e "oesnot p*t the cr*m&s in their mo*ths% $o we, also, are to wor i)a&le%

he secon" petition we pray )or o*rselves is "-orgi$e us..."

What "o we as to &e )orgiven o)F Always when we *se the!or"'s +rayer in p*&lic, we pa*se when we come to the wor"which )ollows orgive *s o*r%%% s it "e&ts ortransgressionsF he reason )or the *ncertainty is that the!or"'s +rayer in ;atthew *ses the wor" "e&ts, whiletransgressions is the wor" *se" &y !*e%

e&ts represent o*r )ail*re to what is "*e% ransgressionsrepresents a missing o) the mar, a )ail*re to hit the target%

>) all the petitions in the !or"'s prayer, this is the only onewith a con"ition attache": orgive *s%%%as we have also )orgiven%5es*s is so concerne" we not mis*n"erstan"% <is statement that<e a""s these a""itional wor"s at the en" o) the prayer%

"-or if you forgi$e men &hen they sin against you yourhea$enly -ather &ill so forgi$e you. But if you do not forgi$emen their sins your -ather &ill not forgi$e your sins."

21



The Successful Life

he story is tol" that @eneral >glethorpe sai" to 5ohnWesley, never )orgive% Wesley replie", hen hope, sir, yo*

never sin%Who "o yo* nee" to )orgiveF

he thir" petition )or o*rselves comes in two phrases, "Leadus not into temptation but deli$er us from the e$il one."

o* may as: What is thisF tho*ght the $cript*re says that@o" tempts no one to sin 65as% 1:1/,147 how is that we are toas <im not to lea" *s into temptation% @o" wo*l" not lea" *s

there anyway, wo*l" <eF

emptation can have two meanings% We most )reG*entlyassociate temptation with the &a" meaning o) &eing se"*ce" toevil% et, temptation also has a goo" connotation% t can mean totest. Whenever a &aset&all team plays another team, they areentering into a time o) testing, not se"*ction to evil% he tr*e p*rpose o) temptation, )rom @o"'s perspective, is not to mae *s

)all% ?ather, it is to mae *s strong%he place o) temptation, however, is not one we are to see%

t is a "angero*s place, an" the o*tcome is li)e or "eath% or thatreason we are to petition @o" that <e lea" *s away )rom the place o) testing% he )act that we are even praying this way at allhelps ins*re that we o*rselves will tae practical sa)eg*ar"s tostay away )rom temptation% When we pray, lea" *s not%%%, weare stating to @o" that we o*rselves are not going to the place o)testing, that we wish <e wo*l" not lea" *s there &*t i) we "ogo, it will only &e &eca*se <e is g*i"ing% What a "i))erent*n"erstan"ing this gives to temptation% When )ace" with testing,we can con)i"ently say, @o" has me here )or a reason, ratherthan, s*re st*m&le" into this one%

he !or" will not always lea" *s away )rom the place o)testing% 5es*s praye", ?emove this c*p )rom me% <e praye" to

avoi" trial% B*t, i) @o" chooses to go ahea" anyway an" lea" *sinto that place, 5es*s tells *s to pray a &ac.*p petition: eliver*s )rom the evil one% 5es*s <imsel) went to the cross, "ran thec*p @o" "i" not "eliver <im )rom this eperience, &*t )rom the

23




evil one%

n the three petitions )or o*rselves we "iscover @o" in o*r

past, present an" )*t*re% <e is in the present, giving *s &rea"% <eis over the past, )orgiving o*r sins% <e is in the )*t*re, lea"ingan" "elivering *s% When we pray )or &rea", we thin o) @o" theather who sen"s the materials o) li)e )or o*r s*&sistence% Whenwe pray )or )orgiveness we thin o) @o" the $on who gave<imsel) *p )or *s% When we pray )or lea"ing an" "eliverance,we thin o) @o" the <oly $pirit who is sent to "irect *s%

Praise in Pra#er

<ow simple, yet "eep, is this &rie) prayer given *s &y the!or"% We are to *se it as the pattern )or o*r own praying% Whenwe have gone thro*gh the opening phrase o) a""ress an" si petitions, there will &e a spirit o) praise welling *p within *s%

he lea"ing @ree man*scripts o) the (ew estament "o not

incl*"e the )amiliar wor"s that en" this prayer% "Yours is thekingdom and the po&er and the glory fore$er. 2men."<owever, s*ch an ascription o) praise arises nat*rally )rom o*rheart as we )inish the !or"'s +rayer% he en"ing to this prayer isreally a con"ensation o) a prayer o) avi" in 1 Chronicles 39:11:

"Yours 0 Lord is the greatness and the po&er andthe glory and the ma8esty of the splendor for e$erything

in hea$en and earth is yours. Yours 0 Lord is thekingdom# you are e:alted as head o$er all."

+ray e))ectivelyI !et the !or"'s +rayer start yo* praying an"more than thatDlet this prayer constantly shape the totality o)yo*r li)eI

2/





9,ercomin" An.iet# and Worr#

now what is to &e )*ll o) aniety an" worry%=arly in my ministry ha" a very serio*s pro&lem with my

nerves% At that time was &oth Camp*s +astor an" $t*"ent !i)eirector o) a Christian college%

he mi""le o) the spring semester &ecame an intense time o) press*re )or me% hat's the perio" o) each year when st*"entshave an inclination to see release )rom the tension o) tests an"

term papers &y er*pting with prans an" parties% When st*"entsmis&ehave", it ma"e me loo &a"% A)ter all, was the person incharge o) spirit*al an" social li)eI

wo*l" &ecome irrita&le% ;y stomach m*scles wo*l" &eginto tense% @etting to sleep too ho*rs% hen, something moreserio*s starte" to happenDmy legs, arms, an" &ac &ecame paincenters% happen to have photo.sensitive sin which means can &e very easily s*n&*rne"% o me the pain )rom s*n&*rn is

eG*ivalent to a million straight pins sticing yo* sim*ltaneo*sly%;y nerve pain was eactly lie my s*n&*rn painDecept,eternally, yo* co*l" not see the e))ects on my sin%

;y nerves a&sol*tely &egan to go &erser on me% &egan toitch an" scratch *ncontrolla&ly% $ince we live" only two &locs)rom a hospital, one night at /:/- a%m%, wale" over to theemergency room an" plea"e" )or a shot to tae away the pain%

;y aniety increase" as realiEe" was still in my twentiesan" alrea"y was *na&le to han"le stress% <ow co*l" everremain in an occ*pation which reG*ire" me to "eal with people'snee"s an" pro&lems, or reG*ire" any amo*nt o) stress at allF

2





0$ercoming 2n:iety and /orry

or the)t% he wor"s moth rust an" thie$es break in and stealgive *s a goo" i"ea o) what persons treas*re" in <is "ay%

;oths a))ect clothing% An ela&orate war"ro&e was thetreas*re o) some% ust is the =nglish wor" we *se )or the literal@ree term, eats a&ay. ;ost liely, 5es*s inten"e" this termeats a&ay to re)er to crop storage rather than metal r*st% A signo) wealth, or treas*re, was the siEe o) the crop that was store" ina &in 6$ee !*e 13:12.31Dthe rich )ool who so*ght to &*il" &igger &arns7% Another treas*re consiste" o) the money an"

val*a&les a person eeps stashe" in his own home% <o*ses were &*ilt o) stone an" mortar or m*" &ric, an" thieves commonly"*g thro*gh an" stole these treas*res% 5es*s, there)ore, tells the people o) <is "ay not to treas*re *p )or themselves clothes,crops, an" precio*s metals an" stones &*t to lay *p )orthemselves treas*res in heaven%

$ince we can tae nothing material into heaven, o*r priorities in li)e m*st not &e on the earthly%

;y sec*rity in the "ays o) nerve attacs was &o*n" *p withmy Ho&% ) ept my Ho&, then ha" a )*t*re &*t i) were"ismisse" )rom my Ho& &eca*se co*l" not eep or"er oncamp*s, then ha" no val*e as a person% ;y treas*re was in myworDan" yet my wor was eternal to me% co*l" not tae my Ho& as a camp*s pastor an" st*"ent li)e "irector into heaven% nee"e", there)ore, to hol" it lightly in my han"% o let @o" tae

it )rom me i) <e wants% t's not the en" o) the worl", nor the en"o) me% ;y tr*st an" my treas*re is in @o", not this Ho&%

<ow tightly are yo* hol"ing on to things yo* can never taeinto eternityF <ow a&o*t easing *p yo*r grip an" letting goF Areyo* *ptight over things which will matter 1-- years )rom now,or even a year )rom nowF

=very three years the ch*rch votes on whether or not

sho*l" contin*e as pastor% $*ppose they )elt @o"'s time wasthro*gh )or me here% Co*l" wal away witho*t &itterness orregretF es% As m*ch as love this ch*rch an" the positionentr*ste" me, my worth is not )o*n" in my titleDit is )o*n" inthe )act am @o"'s chil"% 'll not tae this role o) pastor into

20



The Successful Life

heavenDthere's only one $hepher" there% want to tae my)amily an" want to tae yo* with me into @o"'s presence

)oreverDthat's where my treas*re m*st &e an" is% =verythingelse is eternal%

he h*moro*s story is tol" o) the man who gave instr*ctionsthat when he "ie" each o) his three sons was to place M1-,--- o)their inheritance insi"e his co))in% inally, he "ie" an" le)t a vast)ort*ne% At the gravesi"e, the ol"est son came *p to the opencaset an" slippe" an envelope with M1-,--- cash into his

)ather's insi"e s*it pocet% he secon" son "i" the same thing%When the thir" son came to the caset, he co*l" &e seen slippingsomething o*t o) his )ather's pocet an" p*tting something elsein% A)ter the &*rial, his &rothers con)ronte" him: What "i" yo*tae o*t o) "a"'s pocetF Well, he replie", gave "a" hisM1-,---% p*t a M/-,--- chec insi"e his s*it an" too M3-,---in changeI

A secon" principle given &y 5es*s )or overcoming aniety

an" worry is that we eep a clear o*tloo on li)e 62:33.3/7%

Anyone who wears glasses nows that, i) yo* are to seeclearly, yo* m*st eep them clean% 5es*s says the eye is the lighto) the whole &o"y, an", i) yo* have the wrong o*tloo on li)e,yo* will &e )*ll o) "arness%

<ow "oes a person get a clear o*tloo on li)eF A cl*e to thatanswer may &e )o*n" in this phrase: ) yo*r eyes are goo"% he

King 5ames translates that phrase: i) yo*r eye is single% hewor" translate" good or single act*ally comes )rom a root wor"which always means generous.

o 5es*s, goo" eyesight is one that sees the nee"s o) othersan" acts genero*sly to meet those nee"s &a" eyesight is one thatsees only his own nee"s an" sel)ishly p*rs*es only his owninterests%

When yo* live )or sel) alone yo* will &e )*ll o) "arness%

$everal years ago, we &egan the )irst e))orts to relocate thech*rch% We nee"e" M1-,--- to enter escrow on the lease o) siacres% hro*gho*t the late s*mmer, we share" that )inancial

28




nee" with the congregation an" ase" them to give a sacri)icialo))ering% We set a partic*lar $*n"ay as the target "ate% When the

o))ering was co*nte" )or that "ay, we ha" only receive" a&o*tM/,--- 6only M/,---I7%

was really "isco*rage" an" gen*inely "o*&te" i) we sho*l"even mae the e))ort to relocate% We set a Boar" meeting to"etermine o*r co*rse o) action, an" really so*ght the !or"'shelp in "eveloping a reaction which wo*l" &e in <is will%*ring that time the !or" "ealt with me a&o*t the )act that was

only looing at the nee"s o) o*r ch*rch% )elt @o" saying to me:>pen yo*r eyes an" see i) there is a pressing )inancial nee" insome other ministry% $*re eno*gh, s*ch a nee" &ecameimme"iately evi"ent% When o*r Boar" met, we still )elt the <oly$pirit was in the relocationD&*t that, as an act o) )aith an" tr*stin <im, we sho*l" tae M,--- )rom the @eneral *n" 6not therestricte" money the people ha" given7 an" give it to thatministry% o this "ay, am still not G*ite s*re how @o" met all

the nee"s o*r ch*rch ha" &*t now <e "i", incl*"ing o*r nee")or relocation%

An", &est o) all, learne" again that a genero*s o*tloo is as*re way to &e release" )rom my cl*tching, grasping ten"encies%When am only concerne" a&o*t what happens to me, cannever see clearly%

o* may &e in a relationship which is &ringing yo* a lot o)

stress or aniety% o* may &e saying, >h, i) heJshe wo*l" onlymeet my nee"s% B*t, i) yo*r goal is to only have yo*r ownnee"s met, then within yo* is psychological an" spirit*al"arness% he only person who receives love is the person whogives it% Keep a genero*s o*tloo on li)e, on othersI

A thir" principle given &y 5es*s )or overcoming aniety an"worry is that we "o not let money get in the "river's seat o) o*rli)e 62:347%

5es*s tells *s we cannot &e a slave to @o" an" money% (otice <e "oes not say we should not &e a slave to money, &*twe cannot. he wor" )or money in the ol"er translation ismammon. >riginally, )or the 5ews, mammon "escri&e"

29



The Successful Life

something which ha" &een entr*ste" to someone else% n the"ays &e)ore &ans, when yo* went on a trip, yo* might want to

tr*st a val*a&le asset to someone else% his wo*l" &e mammonsomething entr*ste"% >ver the co*rse o) time, the meaning o) thewor" mammon change" )rom that which is entr*ste" 6passive7 tothat in which a person tr*sts 6active7% t is easy, there)ore, to seewhy the mo"ern translations *se the wor" money )or mammon.+eople "o more than entr*st their money to a &an orinvestment they tr*st in their money )or their sec*rity, theirwell.&eing, their li)e style%

;oney gets in the "river's seat when we get into "e&t 6an" "o not re)er to "e&t which we can sa)ely amortiEe an" which issec*re" &y capital items7, &*t the in" which eats away o*rcommitment to @o", )amily, an" others% We &ecome so &*sy)inancing o*r "esire" li)e style that we have little time to giveo*r )amilies, the ch*rch, the comm*nity% We spen" more oninterest that we "o on giving to @o" an" others% 5es*s is saying,

on't &*y into that in" o) li)e style an", i) yo* are in thatcycle, &egin getting o*t% o* may not ri" yo*rsel) o) yo*r "e&tsovernight, &*t get &ac on the roa" to letting @o" r*le how yo*spen" yo*r time an" money, rather than letting "e&t r*le yo*%

@o" is really only concerne" with two things a&o*t yo* an"money: how yo* get it an" what yo* "o with it% ) yo* "on't get ithonestly, yo* then serve it rather than @o"% ) yo* "on't spen" it &y letting <im &e !or" o) it, yo* serve it rather than <im%

;ammon may not always &e money% t may &e anythingother than @o" in which yo* p*t yo*r tr*st% When my tr*st wasin hol"ing my Ho&s, my nerves went wil"% When came to the point o) saying, @o", 'll "o what can "o, an" o* have to "othe rest, @o" gave me peace%

A )o*rth principle )or overcoming worry an" aniety is thato*r emotions m*st &e ta*ght to o&ey what 5es*s teaches 62:3./47%

he strong presence o) aniety an" worry in o*r li)ein"icates that negative an" harm)*l )eelings have taen thegoverning role% <ow "o we "eal with these strong emotionsF

0-




5es*s gives *s some logical steps to tae in reor"ering o*rtho*ght process% <e is really telling *s that o*r rational si"e

m*st tae control away )rom o*r emotional si"e, that thiningm*st &e in control o) )eeling, that what we &elieve is to governhow we &ehave%

his is not an easy transition to mae% Anyone "ominate" &ythe strong negative emotions o) aniety an" worry *s*ally "oesnot consi"er himsel) to &e in a position to act or thin logically%When was overcome with attacs on my nerves, the wor"s o)

5es*s in ;atthew 2:3./4 act*ally ma"e me angry% hey onlyseeme" to con"emn me more% An", in"ee", when we are alrea"yin a state o) aniety, we may simply increase aniety &ythining: 'm not s*ppose" to &e this way% wante" a G*ic )i,a pill )rom 5es*s, that co*l" tae )or instant relie)% 5es*s eptinsisting that learn <is process )or "ealing with aniety, that m*st train my emotions to &e s*&Hect to <is Wor" or teaching%=ven tho*gh was given an imme"iate healing, that healing

simply )ollowe" my wrestling with this passageDmy coming toa point that sai": !or", tae o* at o*r Wor" this is o*r pro&lem now, an" not mine% he healing was maintaine" &ycontin*al practice o) the processes given &y the !or" )orreconstr*cting the min", an" maing it master o) the )eelings%

want to warn yo* that this is a "evelopmental process, thatthese steps given &y the !or" may not &e realiEe"instantaneo*sly in o*r eperience% t has taen *s awhile to )allinto the trap o) &eing r*le" &y o*r emotions, an" it may tae *ssome time to totally reverse the process% An ocean liner maes asweeping t*rn when it changes "irection it "oesn't H*st "o ana&r*pt a&o*t.)ace% $o, also, we may nee" to see o*rselves as &eing given the time to mae a t*rn.aro*n"%

<ere are the speci)ic seven steps the !or" gives in p*ttingthe min" in charge o) the )eelings as a ey to overcoming worry

an" aniety%

First& <e teaches that li)e itsel) is more important than thethings nee"e" to s*stain it: )oo" an" clothing 6or whatever else7%"s not life more than food and the body more than clothes" n

01



The Successful Life

other wor"s, s*rely the @o" who p*ts li)e into *s in the )irst place is a&le to give *s the lesser things nee"e" to s*stain li)e% )

@o" has "one the greater, then can we not tr*st <im )or thesmallerF

Second& <e points *s to the eample o) the &ir"s% hey "onot store away )oo", yet the ather taes care o) them% Bir"sworD@o" H*st "oes not "rop see" or worms into their mo*th%5es*s' point is that their la&or "oes not involve anio*sconsi"eration )or the )*t*re% ) @o" provi"es the process

where&y the lesser things o) <is creation are )e"Dthe &ir"sD has <e not also provi"e" a process where&y that which is o)more val*e to <im, o*rselves, may &e care" )or as wellF he ol"chil"ren's song p*ts this tr*th well%

here's a little &ir"ie in the apple tree, Chirping o*t hislittle song so merrily, <e's a l*cy &ir"ie an" thin he nowshat @o" is watching over him where'er he goes% B*t that little &ir"ie isn't hal) so "ear As every little &oy an" girl that @o"

p*t here, An" as watch that &ir"ie in the apple tree nowthat @o" is watching over me%

Third& 5es*s shows *s the complete )*tility o) worry, "/hoof you by &orrying can add a single hour to his life" Worryserves no positive p*rpose% t "oes not prolong o*r li)e 6)anything, it shortens itI7%

Fourth& o*r !or" points *s to the )lowers o) the )iel" as

another eample against worry% he lilies are alive to"ay, an"tomorrow are thrown into the oven% Why sho*l" that &e acom)ort to *sF Beca*se, i) @o" wo*l" tae s*ch intricate care tomae s*re that a )lower which &looms )or only a "ay is clothe"with tremen"o*s &ea*ty how m*ch more is @o" concerne" toclothe *s with &ea*tyF

Fifth& it is the pagans 6those who "o not now @o"7 who

worry% We are chil"ren o) the ather% <e nows o*r nee"s, an"we m*st tr*st <im to provi"e% have o)ten )o*n" that @o" may provi"e )or my nee" to &e met in a way "i))erent )rom what planne", &*t my heavenly ather watches over me% am not anorphan le)t to )ate or chance am a chil" o) @o" in whom <e is

03




always woring o*t the goo"%

The si.th step 5es*s gives in p*tting o*r tho*ght li)e in

control over o*r emotions is to see )irst <is ing"om% Wheno*r attention is a&sor&e" in o*r own wel)are rather thancentering )irst *pon @o"'s concerns, things get o*t o) &alance%?emem&er the petitions o) the !or"'s +rayerF >nly when we p*t<is concerns )irst can we pray aright over o*r own%

5es*s promises that when we see <is ing"om )irst, allthese things shall &e a""e" to *s% his phrase is &eing *se" &y

some to H*sti)y the i"ea that once @o" is given o*r lip service,then every material possession is legitimately o*rs% B*t, 5es*s"oes not say "A$erything shall &e a""e" to *s <e says, "thesethings%%% What thingsF he things 5es*s is taling a&o*t in this passage: the &asic essentialsDeno*gh to eat, to wear, an"somewhere to lay yo*r hea" at night% $ee @o" )irst an" <e willtae care o) these things%

The se,enth step in gaining control over the emotionality o)worry is to live one "ay at a time: "Therefore do not &orryabout tomorro& for tomorro& &ill &orry about itself. Aach dayhas enough trouble of its o&n."

magine )or a moment that all o*r tro*&les an" trials co*l" &e represente" &y rocs strewn along the pathway o) o*r li)e%We have a &*rlap sac in which we place the rocs, an" then wethrow the sac over o*r sho*l"er an" carry it% he r*le o) the

roa", tho*gh, is this: we can only pic *p the rocs we see on the path we wal to"ay% We cannot r*n ahea" along the roa" an" pic *p the rocs &elonging to tomorrow an" tomorrow'stomorrow% ) we try to pic *p anything other than to"ay'sconcerns, o*r sac will &e too heavy an" we will not &e a&le toeep going "own the roa"%

$ho*l" we then ever attempt to &e concerne" a&o*t

tomorrow's pro&lemsF esI By all meansI <owever, we m*stonly "eal with the aspect o) that )*t*re pro&lem that can &ehan"le" to"ay% We can't p*t tomorrow's &o*l"ers into to"ay'ssacI We nee" to learn to live seG*entially, to learn to tr*st @o" H*st )or to"ayI

0/



The Successful Life

At the same time, we "o not p*t into tomorrow what @o"wants *s to "eal with to"ay% or eample, to"ay is the "ay <e

calls *s into salvation i) we are *nsave"% o"ay, <e calls *s togive )orgiveness i) there is enmity &etween o*rselves an"someone else% o"ay <e ass *s to "eal with anger an"*n)orgiveness in o*r li)e%

Are yo* anio*s an" &*r"ene" with worryF ae thesewor"s )rom o*r !or" an" as <im to *se them to renew yo*rmin"% Cast all yo*r care *pon <im, )or <e cares )or yo*I

04



;

;The Lord0s 8t Ceteras

hro*gho*t the $ermon on the ;o*nt, 5es*s "escri&es theli)e style o) the person in whom <is ing"om comes%

he Beatit*"es "escri&e what we are to &ecome re)erencesto salt an" light in"icate what o*r in)l*ence will &e ill*strationson inner righteo*sness contraste" with the eternal co"e o) the+harisees tell *s how to "eal with anger, l*st, "ivorce,commitment, an" "i))ic*lt people eamples o) piety teach *show we are to give, )ast, an" pray an" principles are share"

where&y we can overcome aniety an" worry% All these maHorareas o) ing"om living are )o*n" in ;atthew an" 2%Beginning with ;atthew 0:1/ 5es*s will "raw the $ermon to aclose thro*gh the telling o) stories ill*strating the choices wem*st mae%

<owever, we )in" twelve verses &etween the last verse o)chapter 2 an" verse 1/ o) ;atthew 0% he teaching seems to )it

neither the pattern o) tho*ght imme"iately prece"ing or)ollowing itDthere)ore, call it the !or"'s et ceteras. n;atthew 0:0.13 5es*s states three a""itional li)e G*alities <esees "evelope" in *s% Witho*t them we will not &e a whole person even i) we have implemente" all <e has ta*ght *s in theopening two chapters o) the $ermon on the ;o*nt%

A first et cetera life <ualit# 'esus sees is the a)sence of

a critical or ne"ati,e spirit =:1>4?*

$omeone has sai" that every &ase&all team co*l" *se the player who never maes an error on the )iel" an" &ats well over4-- percent &*t there's no way to mae him lay "own his hot"og an" come o*t o) the gran"stan"I

0



The Successful Life

<ow "o yo* now i) yo* are a critical personF ae thislittle sel). inventory test%

617 o my )eelings get h*rt easilyF

637 When someone "oes wrong to me, "o eepremem&ering an" hol"ing that against himF

6/7 Am constantly s*spicio*s o) other people's motivesF

647 Am a stingy person 6)or eample, "o mae a ha&it o)giving cheap an" meaningless gi)ts to people or "o

avoi" giving at all7F67 Am more concerne" a&o*t what people are "oing )or

me than what nice things can "o )or themF

627 Am o)ten gr*mpy or arg*mentativeF

607 s my )avorite topic o) conversation mysel)F

687 o more o)ten )in" )a*lt with rather than praise other peopleF

697 o have "eep )eelings o) ina"eG*acy an" )ear otherswill reHect me or "on't lie meF

61-7 o sel"om, i) ever, sing, whistle, or play a m*sicalinstr*mentF

) yo* answere" yes on a maHority o) the G*estions, yo*are most liely a critical.type person whom others "o not really

enHoy &eing with 6or else yo* are very "own on yo*rsel)7% A noanswer on a maHority o) the G*estions pro&a&ly in"icates thatyo* are a )airly positive, cheer)*l, an" enco*raging personwhom others see o*t )or relationship 6or else yo* have an*nrealistically high view o) yo*rsel)7%

5es*s says that highly negative persons are mare" &y twoG*alities%

First& they will receive &ac the negativity they give o*t60:37% ) they are always "owning someone else, people will not &e positive towar" them% $omeone has sai" that, i) yo* *se thetomahaw on others, yo* sho*l" epect to get scalpe" yo*rsel)%

Second& the negative person ten"s to play "own his own

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The Lord!s At ?eteras

)a*lts while playing *p others' shortcomings 60:/,47% =very vice"oes have two names "epen"ing on whether it occ*rs in me or

another person% or eample, when someone else is &*llhea"e", am simply &eing consistent% hey are pro*" have a goo" sel).image% hey are hate)*l am H*sti)ia&ly angry% hey are gree"y am motivate"% hey are sel)ish am simply protecting my ownlegitimate sel) interest% hey are gossipy am in)ormative%

5es*s simply says the negative person sees the spec insomeone else's eye while ignoring the log in his own% n other

wor"s, the critic taes a microscope to loo at another person'simper)ections while selecting a telescope to loo at his ownI

5es*s tells *s that the way o*t o) having a critical an"negative spirit is to )oc*s *pon the nee" )or change in o*r ownli)e rather than the change another person may nee" 60:7%

The second et cetera life <ualit# 'esus calls for is

discernment =:7?*

>n the one han" 5es*s tells *s in verses one thro*gh )ive thatwe are to avoi" &eing H*"gmental now, in verse si, <e tells *sto *se goo" H*"gment% (ote the &alance% he anti"ote to &eing acriticalJnegative person "oes not involve throwing away o*r power o) "iscernment% $ome persons in"ee" are "ogs an"pigs, an" we m*st &e a&le to s*))iciently H*"ge character sothat we "o not let s*ch people cons*me o*r time, o*r energies,or trample on o*r val*es%

or eample, 5es*s treate" <ero" o) @alilee with totalsilence% <e re)*se" to give him what was sacre", or to cast <is pearls o) wis"om an" revelation &e)ore him% <ero" ha" not acte"on the nowle"ge o) @o" alrea"y given &y 5ohn the Baptist, an"5es*s re)*se" stea")astly to spea to <ero" &eca*se wor"swo*l" only &e waste"%

<ow can we "isting*ish whether we are a critical or

"iscerning personF Both types o) persons m*st *se H*"gment inassessing character &*t one type )ails in their relationship with people, an" the other s*ccee"s% What maes the "i))erenceF

When 5es*s "escri&es the +harisees an" hypocrites in

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The Successful Life

;atthew 3/, <e gives *s the mars o) a criticalJnegative person:

617 they "o not live &y the r*les or g*i"elines they lay on

other peopleDth*s, they are inconsistent

637 they loa" people "own with their i"eas o) per)ection, &*tthey "o not provi"e any emotional s*pport orenco*ragement to help another attain what is epecte"

6/7 they are more concerne" with o*twar" appearances thaninwar" realities

647 they choose to ignore their own )ail*res an"67 they are )ille" with resentment an" anger%

>n the other han", a "iscerning person operates with theopposite G*alities:

617 they are as to*gh or to*gher on themselves than others

637 they are realistic in their epectations towar" other persons, allowing )or shortcomings, an" provi"ing

enco*ragement

6/7 they are a&le to loo past negative eternals to see the positive inner potential an" traits in someone else

647 they live as v*lnera&le people who are willing to sharetheir own )ail*res with others an"

67 their &asic li)e attit*"es are ones o) thansgiving, praise

an" loving in"ness%he Apostle +a*l ha" the mars o) a "iscerning person% <e

contin*ally ha" to assess character in choosing co.worers, in"ealing with ch*rch pro&lems, an" in resisting )alse teachers% >nthe &asis o) ;atthew 0:1., co*l" someone tell +a*l that hesho*l" simply &e a permissive person an" mae no H*"gmentsa&o*t othersF By no meansI he eercise o) "iscernment is vitalIWitho*t "iscernment anything goes, innocent people get h*rt,

chaos res*lts%

o* have choices to mae in "iscernment% As a yo*ng person yo* m*st "eci"e who will &e yo*r )rien"s, what personsyo* will t*rn to )or g*i"ance an" lea"ership, who yo* will marry

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i) yo* marry% As an a"*lt yo* m*st mae "ecisions as to whomyo* can tr*st, how )irm or )lei&le yo* sho*l" &e in "ealing with

sticy an" "i))ic*lt relationships how m*ch time yo* sho*l"allocate to the vario*s people in yo*r li)e when yo* sho*l" hol"on, let *p, or let go%

$ometime ago &ecame involve" in attempting to help avery tro*&le" person, whom now &elieve is a psychopathic liar%his in"ivi"*al ha" a way o) almost *n&elieva&ly entanglingother people in his pro&lems an" then maing it appear that the

other people were the ones with a&normal &ehavior% )o*n"mysel) spen"ing massive amo*nts o) time with this person an"the a)ter.e))ects o) sit*ations he ha" create"% )inally came tothe concl*sion that this person was not going to change nomatter what "i", an" that m*st cease allowing him tomanip*late me &y cons*ming precio*s time co*l" &etter *se inhelping others% ha" a real str*ggle &eca*se a great part o) mesays never give *p on a person% <owever, since this person ha"

reHecte" all my co*nsel an" contin*e" to practice "eception, ha" no reco*rse &*t to tell him wo*l" no longer see him or &einvolve" in his li)e% n the wor"s o) 5es*s, co*l" no longergive "ogs what is sacre", or cast my pearls &e)ore swine%

As a secon" "et cetera" li)e G*ality, "iscernment eeps *smoving on a practical, positive, an" realistic co*rse whileavoi"ing having o*r li)e an" time cons*me" &y those whom wecannot help &eca*se they re)*se to change%

A third et cetera life <ualit# is the presence of a

persistent trust in 6od =:>1$?*

oo o)ten these verses are separate" )rom the rest o) what5es*s has &een teaching in the $ermon on the ;o*nt% he wor"s,ask seek knock are taen to re)er to the i"ea that @o" will giveme whatever as )or as long as am persistent%

<owever, thro*gh this whole message 5es*s has &eenteaching *s what to see% he Beatit*"es tell *s to see the personality G*alities )o*n" in 5es*s% he teaching on salt an"light motivates *s to as @o" to mae *s an in)l*ence )or <im ino*r worl"% he ill*strations o) inwar" righteo*sness lea" *s to

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The Successful Life

p*rs*e a li)e style which rightly "eals with anger, immorality,commitment, an" the "i))ic*lt person in o*r li)e% We are to

noc on the "oor o) spirit*al "iscipline &y &ecoming a persono) giving, )asting, an" prayer% We are to see resol*tion to o*raniety an" worries &y taing the !or"'s wor" into o*r hearts%

(ow that we now what in" o) person we are to &e an"how we are to &ehave, 5es*s tells *s in ;atthew 0:0.13 to persistently see @o"'s help in "eveloping these G*alities in o*rli)e%

!et *s, there)ore, go on asing, seeing an" nocing to &emore lie 5es*s to &e less worl"ly, less grasping, less sel)ish tohave increase" love an" )aith to have greater p*rity o) heart to &e an em&ol"ene" witness )or <im%

mmat*re praying )oc*ses more *pon asing @o" to "osomething for *s% We reG*est eternals% !or", give me this%!or", change that% !or", mae that person "i))erent%

here s*rely is nothing wrong with asing @o" )oreternals, &*t mat*re praying )oc*ses more *pon asing @o" to"o something in *s%

;any eternal prayers are not answere" in the way we want%$o, we throw the !or"'s wor"s in ;atthew 0:0.13 &ac at <im%o* sai", i) ept on asing, seeing, nocing wo*l" get it Dan" yo* haven't ept o*r wor"%

love the acco*nt o) prayer )o*n" in Acts 4:3/./1% +eter an"5ohn have H*st &een release" a)ter their imprisonment )or healinga cripple" man% hey report to the Christians what has happene"an" then they all &egin to pray% am intrig*e" &y what they "onot as: they "o not reG*est @o" to change the eternalsDtostrie "own the r*lers, mae things easier )or them, protect them)rom any )*rther imprisonment or p*nishment% nstea", they as@o" to "o something in them: ;ae *s more &ol"I

@o" is completely committe" to answer all prayers thatinvolve <is changing *s into the lieness o) Christ% <e iscommitte" to answer all prayers that tr*ly eten" <is ing"om%here)ore, )oc*s my prayer in these areas% persistently an"

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"ogge"ly p*rs*e @o"'s ing"om to come into my li)e, an" intomy worl"% <e gives goo" gi)ts% <e "oes not give me a stone

when as )or &rea", or a snae when as )or )ish%he present tense ver&s, @o on seeing, go on asing, go on

nocing, remin" *s that prayer is a processDthat change "oesnot happen overnight% We )ail many times, &*t the !or" calls *sto get &ac on o*r )eet an" eep going%

<ow &ea*ti)*l is yo*r inwar" li)eF Are yo* moving towar" &eing a person who is )ree )rom a negative or critical spiritF Are

yo* &ecoming a "iscerning in"ivi"*alF o yo* contin*e to asthe !or" to "evelop in yo*r <is way o) thining, )eeling, an" &ehavingF

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@

@Three Choices for the Future

he $ermon on the ;o*nt reveals the ing"om 5es*s wantsto p*t within *s% What in" o) character will we haveF What will &e o*r in)l*enceF <ow will we s*ccee" with o*r relationshipFWill we &e a person o) spirit*al "isciplineF <ow will we han"lestress an" anietyF s o*r o*tloo on li)e "iscerning or H*"gmentalF >*r answer to these G*estions "etermines the etentto which the ing"om o) @o" "wells in *s%

As 5es*s closes the $ermon on the ;o*nt, <e is concerne"

to &ring *s to a "ecision% <e is not content that we simply havethe in)ormation nee"e" to live the ing"om li)eD<e calls *s toact *pon what <e says% h*s, <e provi"es three eamples which pict*re the conseG*ences o) the choices we mae in accepting orignoring <is teaching%

T(o Tra,ellers

The Lord0s first concludin" illustration concerns t(otra,ellers on the road of life 60:1/.147% >ne taes the wi"e gatelea"ing to the &roa" roa" the other enters the narrow gate an"taes the narrow roa"% >ne )in"s "estr*ction the other )in"s li)e%

t is very clear that the narrow gate is &oth the !or" <imsel)an" <is teaching% n 5ohn 1-:9, 5es*s "eclares: " am the gate#&hoe$er enters through me &ill be sa$ed." An", in 5ohn 14:2,

<e says: " am the &ay and the truth and the life. Co one comesto the -ather e:cept through me."

We will never now @o", we will never have salvation, wewill never eperience the &lesse"ness o) eternal li)e *nless we

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The Successful Life

come thro*gh 5es*s Christ% ;any people choose to "isagree withthat, to say there are many ways to reach @o"%

;y )ather con"*cte" a )*neral several months ago )or amother o) 2- pl*s years% <er ashes were taen in an *rn o*t on a &oat where they were scattere" on the sea% As part o) thememorial service, )amily mem&ers ha" &ro*ght some items tothrow into the water so ;other will have something to taewith her on her Ho*rney% A can o) &eer was thrown over&oar",with the comment: ;om, we now how m*ch yo* lie" &eer%

his B*"'s )or yo*% >ne )or the roa"% <ere, ;om, here is a t.shirt )rom yo*r )avorite tavernDtae this an" wear it on yo*r Ho*rney% ;om, wish co*l" have &ro*ght the slot machineyo* lie" so well in egas, &*t here's some coins% <ave a goo"time an" play them on yo*r Ho*rney%

<ow tragic is the en" o) the person who has never entere"li)e thro*gh 5es*s Christ, an" who "ie" apparently witho*thaving nown @o"% t is 5es*s, not me, who sai", "/ide is the

gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction and manyenter through it."

5es*s' gate is narrow% hat "oes not mean that it's "*llsvilleinsi"e the gate% he gate at isneylan" is also narrow% he gateto Christ's King"om is narrow )or two reasons: &eca*se there isno other entrance ecept thro*gh <im an" &eca*se <e wants *sto enter one &y one as in"ivi"*als%

Again an" again the @ospels remin" *s o) 5es*s' )oc*s onthe in"ivi"*al% Crow"s thronge" <im, &*t s*""enly they wo*l"melt away an" this one &lin" man, this one paralytic, or this onewoman with her "isease stoo" &e)ore <im% <e personally singles*s o*t o) the crow" an" ass *s to )ollow <im%

he roa" is also narrow% While the gate "escri&es entranceinto the ing"om the roa" "escri&es the wal o) Christ's

"isciple% he wor" narro& means hard or hemmed in. t is aterm *se" to "escri&e a roa" which ascen"s a mo*ntain gorgean" &ecomes more hemme" in, or narrow, as it nears the top%<ow "elight)*l, however, to &e on s*ch a trail as yo* ascen" the pea oh, what a viewI he toil o) the clim& is nothing compare"

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Three ?hoices for the -uture

to the gran"e*r o) the vista which meets the eyeI

hro*gho*t this $ermon on the ;o*nt, 5es*s has &een

laying "own the "i))ic*lt termsDthe pathway o) a "isciple% ewwill choose to live with s*ch "iscipline yet all great attainmentsocc*r only to the "iscipline"%

he en" o) the narrow roa" is li)e% 5es*s, *nlie $atan, statesthe cost an" the rewar" )rom the &eginning% $atan gives a )alsecost an" promises a )alse rewar"% h*s, he is the "eceiver%

<ave yo* entere" thro*gh the narrow gateF Are yo*

traveling the narrow roa"F

T(o Trees

he !or"'s secon" concl*"ing ill*stration to the $ermon onthe ;o*nt contrasts the "i))erence &etween two trees 60:1.3/7%n it <e speci)ically warns *s to "iscern &etween tr*e an" )alse prophets%

What is a prophetF A prophet is one who &rings a message)rom @o"% A )alse prophet &rings a message )rom a so*rce otherthan @o": himsel), the "evil, or some other religio*s lea"er%

<ow "o we "etermine a tr*e )rom a )alse prophetF =ternalappearanceF $pirit*al )ervencyF $pirit*al powerF (oI he tr*e prophet is on the narrow roa" o) "iscipline" commitment to@o" the )alse prophet is on the wi"e roa" o) "oing what seems

pleasing to <imsel) or the crow"%

5es*s states that eternally the )alse prophet may appear to &e a sheep while inwar"ly &eing a raveno*s wol)% We are,there)ore, to watch o*t )or lea"ers who appear to &e loving an"go"ly, &*t all the while are maing "eman"s an" sacri)ices o) *sto enhance their own li)e style% $hepher"s )ee" the sheep, an"wolves eat them%

A )alse prophet may mani)est spirit*al )ervency% !or",!or", )alls easily )rom his lips% <e nows how to employreligio*s lang*age, to *se the right tone o) voice, to so*n" verya*thentic an" spirit*al%

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The Successful Life

alse prophets may even ehi&it great spirit*al powerD casting o*t "emons an" "oing miracles% have trie" to "iscern

who Christ co*l" possi&ly &e singling o*t on the contemporaryscene an" have come to the concl*sion that verse 33 co*l" onlyre)er to certain charismatics% o* see, the non.charismaticch*rch &elieves that miracles are a thing o) the past, it's thecharismatics who &elieve in eorcisms an" miracles% 5es*s saysthere are going to &e some charismatics who have great miracleministries who nevertheless are going to &e "enie" entrance intoheavenF WhyF

hese )alse charismatic prophets are e$ildoers. he wor",e$ildoer "oes not G*ite "o H*stice to the concept 5es*s teaches%!iterally, <e states they are those who wor anomia the @reewor" is la&lessness the same wor" *se" o) the anti.christ 63hess% 3:/7I

<ow can this &eF <ow can a person &e gi)te" with a miracleministry &e a person o) lawlessnessF =asily% hey &egin to )eel

their special gi)ts entitle them to &e eempt )rom the li)estyle,morality, an" character in or"inary &elievers% hey are a&ove thelaw, they "on't have to report to anyone% What gi)t they have &rings in &*cs, attracts crow"s, allows them to live an op*lentan" even *ngo"ly li)e style% hey )orsae the law o) Christ, an",there)ore, are properly "escri&e" as lawless% hey )leece wi"owsthat they might live in palaces% hey lay han"s on the sic &*t)orsae the law o) marriage to )in" a yo*nger wi)e more pleasingto them than the )irst one they go to a )oreign co*ntry asing people to raise their han"s in greeting an" then sen" home photographs in their slic newspapers showing tho*san"scoming to Christ%

he story o) the two trees is 5es*s' way o) telling *s that agen*ine "isciple, a gen*ine prophet, will act in a way consistentwith the @ospel li)estyle% A goo" tree cannot &ear &a" )r*it%

5es*s is again telling *s that <e is )ar more concerne" withwho we are &ecoming than what we are "oing% <e is warning *snot to H*"ge o*r spirit*ality &y the gi)ts we possess, &*t &y the)r*it we grow%

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Three ?hoices for the -uture

he tr*e prophet, the tr*e "isciple, taes this $ermon on the;o*nt into his li)e as a r*le &y which his &elie) an" &ehavior are

to &e shape"% <e taes the !or"'s wor"s serio*sly an" o&eysthem%

T(o 5uilders

The third concludin" illustration in the Sermon on the

Mount tells the stor# of the t(o )uilders =:$2>$?* hey"i))er )rom one another in their &eginnings an" in their en"ings%

$omeone has sai" that the stories o) the two travelers, thetwo trees, an" the two &*il"ers reveal the areas where a "iscipleis teste"% n the )irst story, o*r o&e"ience is teste"% Will we enterthe narrow gateF n the secon" story we are teste" &y "eception%Will we recogniEe the goo" )r*it an" see it in o*rselves an"othersF n the thir" story we are teste" &y a"versity%

n"ee", this last story in Christ's sermon is a pointe" promise

that each o) <is "isciples will )ace the same "i))ic*lties whichcon)ront all%

ears ago on $meeton ta*ght me this principle in*n)orgetta&le wor"s% on is now an Assem&lies o) @o"missionary with the nternational Correspon"ence nstit*te inBr*ssels, Belgi*m% n those "ays he was a st*"ent at CentralBi&le College an" newly marrie"% >n an >Ear roa" one )oggy$at*r"ay morning, he an" his wi)e, olores, were involve" in ahea" on crash which serio*sly inH*re" them &oth% olores wasnot epecte" to live &*t mirac*lo*sly p*lle" thro*gh al&eit, shewas permanently &lin"e"% $ome months a)ter the acci"ent, onshare" this wor" in the college chapel: he "i))erence &etweenthe Christian an" the non.Christian is not that the non.Christianhas pro&lems an" the Christian "oes not% he Christian also)aces sicness, )inancial reverses, "eath, an" yes, a*to acci"ents%

he real "i))erence &etween the Christian an" the non.Christianis that the Christian has Christ with him in the mi"st o) his pro&lem% n"ee", this yo*ng co*ple's response to trage"yshowe" that they ha" &*ilt *pon roc%

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The Successful Life

We sho*l" note the similarities o) the two &*il"ers in 5es*s'story% Both ha" the same "esireDto &*il" a ho*se% Both live" in

the same general locationDthe same weather con"itions prevaile"% Both ho*ses appeare" similarDan initial glancewo*l" not have s*ggeste" any "i))erence in their )o*n"ations%

;ost importantly, &oth ho*ses eperience" the same storm:rain )rom a&ove, )loo"s )rom &eneath, an" win"s%

he critical "i))erenceF >ne ho*se withstoo" the stormIWhyF Beca*se the &*il"er ha" taen time to )in" roc )or his

)o*n"ation%Are yo* &elieving on rocF hat's what the $ermon on the

;o*nt is all a&o*t% t's the &e"roc o) 5es*s' teaching on how to &*il" o*r li)e% ) we will let <is teaching go to wor in o*r li)e,we will withstan" the storm% We can tae the reverses an"s*rvive, even s*rvive tri*mphantly% An" when the greatest stormo) all comes, "eath itsel), o*r li)e &*ilt *pon the )irm )o*n"ation

o) Christ <imsel) will stan"IWhen 5es*s )inishe" this $ermon, the crow"s were amaEe"%

<ow m*ch &etter it wo*l" &e i) ;atthew ha" &een a&le to say,he crow"s o&eye"%

!et the wor" o) 5es*s "o more than amaEe *s% !et it change*sI

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Documents

The Successful Life - George Wood