To Make A Difference, Be Different

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=50 BGCOLOR="#333366" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>To Make A Difference, Be Different</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=165 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="132" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="21"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id388.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Be (Super) Natural"><U><B><IMG SRC="008151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="35" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="20" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="13"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="27"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> Previous/Next Sermon</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="www.stanbaker.org"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Biblical and Theological Studies"><U><B>Biblical and Theological Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church Ministry"><U><B>Church Ministry</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sermon Notes"><U>Sermon Notes</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Personal"><U><B>Personal</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org"><U>stan@stanbaker.org</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=430 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>"To Make A Difference, Be Different" Matthew 5:1-16,</B></div> <div> <B>Berean Bible Church, June 8, 2003am</B></div> <bR> <div>      If you are preparing a meal, you shouldn't ignore the help and counsel of a master chef. If you are learning to play in instrument, you don't set aside the advice a master of the instrument. If you are learning about your job and profession, you welcome lessons from someone who has mastered the line of work. If you are decorating you home, you don't ignore the guidelines of design professional.</div> <div>      If you have to build something, you don't ignore the help and counsel of a master carpenter. Some of us have ignored their advice, and we realize later that they were right all along. Jesus used a building metaphor to talk about how to build our lives (<A HREF="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passage=Matt+7:24-27" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passag"><U>Matthew 7:24-27</U></A>).</div> <div>      The Master of life itself offers us his guidelines on how to really live life, how to have a life that counts for something, a life that gets better as the years go by, a life that is built into a beautiful, lasting structure instead of a life that is run-down and ruined after only a few years. Some of you have experienced the run-down life, and you are ready to rebuild. </div> <div>      The "Sermon on the Mount" is one of the most familiar sections of the Bible. In it, Jesus, the Master, the King, gives his guidance for life in relationship to his coming Kingdom. We Americans have trouble with anyone telling us what to do. In any kingdom, the king gets to tell people what to do. In this case, Jesus is the King, and he gets to lead. He loves you, and he has your best interest in mind. He knows what is going to work for you and for your life, both now and forever. Follow the guidelines for life that the King himself has to offer.</div> <div>      In order to build a great life, what kind of character should we possess, and what kind of influence should we expect? Jesus offers us some answers.</div> <bR> <div> <B>I. Jesus the King gives us guidelines about our character (</B><A HREF="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passage=Matt+5:3-12" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passag"><U><B>Matthew 5:3-12</B></U></A><B>).</B></div> <div> A. The eight "beatitudes" (vss. 3-12) are characteristics that describe people who are loyal to Jesus the King.</div> <div> 1). A recognition of spiritual poverty (vs. 3). This is instead of self-righteousness.</div> <div> 2). Mourning and grieving over sin (vs. 4).</div> <div> 3). An attitude of meekness, gentleness, humility (vs. 5). This is instead of taking things by force, or being demanding or controlling.</div> <div> 4). A passionate hunger for right living (vs. 6).</div> <div> 5). The habit of showing mercy (vs. 7).</div> <div> 6). Inner personal purity (vs. 8). This is instead of impressing people outwardly.</div> <div> 7). The pursuit of peace (vs. 9).</div> <div> 8). The ability to endure suffering for the sake of the kingdom of God (vs. 10-12).</div> <div> B. True happiness is found through being a part of the Kingdom of God.</div> <div>      "Blessed are those" relates to how to be genuinely happy, fulfilled, and satisfied. A ruler in ancient Rome said, "I have now reigned above 50 years in victory or peace, beloved by my subjects, dreaded by my enemies, and respected by my allies. Riches and honors, power and pleasure, have waited on my call, nor does any earthly blessing appear to have been wanting to my felicity. In this situation I have diligently numbered the days of pure and genuine happiness which have fallen to my lot: they amount to 14!" (Abdalrahman, in <I>The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire</I>).</div> <div>      The wisdom of the world says one thing about how to be happy. God's word says something different. The meek are fortunate and happy, not those who demand and get their own way. The world says, do what you feel like, even it is sinful, and you will be happy. God says that those who are pure and righteous will be satisfied. God, the creator of life, knows what it takes to truly be satisfied in this life and the next. Listen to the Master's counsel.</div> <bR> <div> <B>II. Jesus the King gives us a challenge about our influence (</B><A HREF="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passage=Matt+5:13-15" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passag"><U><B>Matthew 5:13-15</B></U></A><B>). </B></div> <div> A. We are salt (vs. 13). </div> <div>      Salt preserves and adds flavor. It is different than its environment. (When it's thrown in soil, it hardens it). We can make a moral difference in our world, especially by introducing people to the King, Jesus. Or our lack of character, our unwillingness to be different, may be the reason why people's hearts are hardened toward God.</div> <div> B. We are light (vs. 14-15). </div> <div>      Light cuts through the darkness and attracts people to it. Light represents God's revelation and his character, as seen through his people. </div> <bR> <div> <B>III. You cannot have kingdom influence if you do not have kingdom character (</B><A HREF="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passage=Matt+5:16" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passag"><U><B>Matthew 5:16</B></U></A><B>).</B></div> <div>      People outside the faith should see your "good deeds" (the fruit of your character), and they  may glorify God by turning to him. But if we are not living differently, they have nothing to observe about who we are in Christ. The church cannot have kingdom influence if the people of the church do not have kingdom character.</div> <div>      Salt is what we <I>are</I> - will we be useful or useless and worthless as salt? Light is what we <I>are</I> - will we be seen or will we be covered up?</div> <div>      If you want to make a difference as part of the kingdom of God, you have to first of all be different. If you are unwilling to make a difference for the kingdom of God, you are tasteless salt and a covered light. What good is that for the kingdom of God?</div> <bR> <div>      Ask God to develop your character. Get specific (according to the Beatitudes, the fruit of the Spirit, etc.). Are you unloving? Ungrateful and bitter and angry? Lustful? Lazy? Selfish? Demanding and controlling? Quit being satisfied with your character deficiencies. Hunger and thirst for righteousness. Ask God to develop your character, and then ask him to expand your influence.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> copyright, 2003, Stanley Baker</div> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> </td> </tr></table></body>