REVIEW
FLIP CHART: SOM’S KEY VERSE, GOAL, MOTTO
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness ….” (Mt. 6:33a).
The law sends us to Christ for justification; Christ sends us back to the law for sanctification.
FLIP CHART: Show new “Perfect Righteousness” chart explaining steps to coming to Christ (As a worm, mourning, meek, spiritual hunger/thirst with the result of legal righteousness). Explain: moral righteousness, immediate moral change at conversion, gradual change through life’s challenges and speeding up moral change via CCRC (Concentration, Choice, Reflection and Confession/Thanksgiving). Key verse, “By one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (Heb. 10:14).
FLIP CHART: John Stott’s outline of SOM.
25″Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28″And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was not dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
INTRODUCTION
Theme of 6:18-34 is “A Christian’s Ambition.” Here Jesus warns us to renounce materialism, the value system of the pagan.
Vss. 32-33: The pagans focus on material wealth, we are to focus on God’s Kingdom and righteousness.
FLIP-CHART – Vs. 33: But seek (zeteo) ye first the kingdom of God …. The same root word. So we could translate Mt. 6:33 as follows: We should have our thoughts dominated by and diligently, eagerly seek the extension of God’s Kingdom and His righteousness
REVIEW:
The big question for us: Do I have an unhealthy pre-occupation with things? Am I focused on laying up treasures on earth? Do I own a generous or a stingy eye? Am I seeking to split my allegiance between God and materialism? I have a worldview. Is it materialistic? Partially materialistic? Although there is a good type of worry/concern about the physical and spiritual well-being of others, anxious worry and running after material needs for self is the mark of a Materialist.
If my thought life focuses on worrying about material needs, I am a Materialist at heart. Don’t I realize that the body is more valuable than clothing? If God made the body, won’t he clothe it? Don’t I realize that I am more valuable than the birds of the air? If my Father feeds them won’t he also feed me? If he clothes the flowers of the field, won’t He clothe me? Worrying accomplishes nothing. It is much better to commit our needs for food, drink and clothing to our Omni-Multi-Tasker. We must have faith that our Heavenly Father knows our needs and will supply them. Thus we will avoid being like the pagans who focus on and worry about the material.
OUTLINE FOR TODAY:
REASONS WHY WE SHOULD NOT / MUST NOT WORRY ABOUT FDC
1. The Body/Life is Worth More than FDC
2. The World’s Birds are Fed by God
3. Worry Solves No Problems, Accomplishes Nothing
4. The Flowers that God Creates & Clothes Last a Day, We are Eternal
5. Our Father is the Ultimate / Perfect Omni-Multi-Tasker
6. Faith in a Loving Heavenly Father Overcomes Worry
7. Our Heavenly Father Knows What We Need
8. Anxiety is Worldly & Makes Us Like the Pagans
9. When We Prioritize His Kingdom He Supplies our Basic Needs
a. We Must Pursue His Righteousness
Imputed, Infused & Imbibed Righteousness
b. We Must Pursue His Kingdom
c. We Must Prioritize These Two Goals
d. If Our Priorities are right, He Will Supply Our Basic Needs
10. Don’t Bring Tomorrow’s Worries into Today
RUNNING AFTER GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS!!!
I. THE BODY/LIFE IS WORTH MORE THAN FDC
II. THE WORLD’S BIRDS ARE FED BY GOD
III. WORRY SOLVES NO PROBLEMS, ACCOMPLISHES NOTHING
IV. THE FLOWERS THAT GOD CREATES AND CLOTHES LAST FOR A DAY, WE WILL LIVE FOREVER.
FLIP CHART: “Earth is crammed with heaven ….”
V. OUR FATHER – THE ULTIMATE OMNI-MULTI-TASKER
FLIP CHART:A.W. Tozer…An infinite God can give all of Himself…
VI. FAITH IN A LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER OVERCOMES WORRY
If we don’t learn from our past faith experiences and evidence of God’s intervention in our lives and continue to doubt God’s providence we are classed as of “little faith.” Worry is not a trivial sin because it strikes a blow at God’s love and integrity.
VII. OUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS WHAT WE NEED
VIII. ANXIETY IS WORLDLY, LIKE THE PAGANS
IX. WHEN WE PRIORITIZE HIS KINGDOM AND RIGHTEOUSNESS HE PROVIDES OUR BASIC NEEDS
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (33).
FLIP CHART:Four high demand verses. Go over each verse carefully. Point out that Mt. 6:33 along with Mt. 5:20 the key verse in the Sermon on the Mount. Mt. 5:20 refers to man’s best efforts at becoming righteous. Mt. 6:33 talks about seeking God’s righteousness.
For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven (Mt. 5:20). . . . But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you (Mt. 6:33).
The whole emphasis of the Sermon on the Mount is about possessing a righteousness that surpasses the righteousness of the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law.
The real question is how do I “Seek …. His righteousness” e.g. how do I come to possess the righteousness of God?
CLASS ACTIVITY:Separate the class into three groups. Send them to the three corners of the room. Give the name of each group as follows: Maternity Personnel, Intensive Care Personnel, Rehabilitation Personnel. Ask the question: What is the main task of each unit and what are some of the major means used to accomplish the task?
EXPLAIN: The maternity ward is where life is given and can be compared to “imputed righteousness.” The Intensive Care unit often uses infusion technology to save the patient’s life. This can be compared to “Infused Righteousness.” The Rehabilitation Unit is used to train a person to function again and could be compared to “Imbibed Righteousness” or “Learned Righteousness.”
IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS
The first four Beatitudes set the stage for imputed righteousness. A person needs to be poor in spirit, mourn for his sin, meek, that is not defensive and hunger and thirst for righteousness. Such a person will call on God in brokenness and repentance and thus experience the imputation of the righteousness of Christ.
QUESTION: What are some of the Biblical verses that refer to imputed righteousness?
In I Corinthians 1:30 Paul writes that “. . . you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us . . . our righteousness, holiness and redemption.”
In II Corinthians 5:21 Paul wrote, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Paul counted all loss so that he might “. . . be found in Christ, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ – – the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.” (Phil. 3:9)
FLIP CHART: Perfect Righteousness” chart re steps coming to Christ (As a worm, mourning, meek, spiritual hunger/thirst with the result of legal righteousness). Explain: moral righteousness, immediate moral change at conversion, gradual change through life’s challenges and speeding up moral change via CCRC (Concentration, Choice, Reflection and Confession/Thanksgiving). Key verse, “By one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (Heb. 10:14).
INFUSED RIGHTEOUSNESS
FLIP CHART: The three points on the triangle represent three sources of righteousness. The first is “Imputed Righteousness,” the second is “Infused Righteousness” and the third is “Imbibed / Learned Righteousness.
QUESTION: What are some terms Christians use to describe “Infused Righteousness”?
DESCRIPTIVE TERMS FOR “INFUSED RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
Abiding in Christ (Andrew Murray)
Crucified life (L.E. Maxwell)
Deeper Christian Life
Identification with Christ (Neil Anderson)
Keswick Experience
Oneness with Christ / Divine Union / Union with Christ
Perfect Love
Second Blessing
Spirit Filled Life
The Exchanged Life
The Life of Rest
Total Sanctification
An 11 page Annotated Bibliography of books (150 titles) on God’s role in producing holiness in our lives can be found on the web at:
( http://www.christinyou.net/pdfs/unionbiblio.pdf). Some of the titles are as follows:
Christ in us, Christ as Us, Christ Through Us; The Deep Things of God, The Liberating Secret, The Key to Everything; Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret; Naturally Supernatural, Letting Jesus Live Through You; Life on the Highest Plane; The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life.
BASIC THEORIES OF “INFUSED RIGHTEOUSNESS”
THEORY A – SALVATION ALONE IS THE KEY. In we have all we need to live a godly life. Our two natures, the spirit and the flesh, will always be with us and we will always struggle to be godly but gradual growth is the key to a deepening faith, victory over sin and godliness.
THEORY B – INITIAL AND CONTINUAL INFILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. There must be a filling of the Spirit by faith, a filling subsequent to salvation. In faith we pray and accept that the Spirit fills our life, even if there is no inward assurance. Now we move forward be continually filled and also being filled with the Spirit to grow into righteousness.
THEORY C — A UNIQUE WORK OF SANCTIFICATION. A second work of grace in the heart, entire sanctification, a definite work in the believer, both negative and positive. Negatively, it purifies the heart, destroys the body of sin, crucifies the flesh, cleanses from all sin. Positively, it fills with the Spirit, perfects love, perfects holiness, sanctifies wholly. Those who preach and believe it testify to the destruction of the old nature, the removal of carnality from the heart, the replacement of the heart of stone by the heart of flesh through the baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire. Yet at the same time, all who teach thus are most careful to stress that such an experience can be lost through disobedience or neglect; that the close walk with God must be maintained.
THEORY D — A UNIQUE WORK OF GRACE AUTHENTICATED BY A SIGN GIFT, USUALLY TONGUES. Similar to Theory C but insist that the experience of entire sanctification be accompanied with outward signs / manifestations, usually speaking in tongues etc.
QUESTION: Of the four theories, what one do you think has the most biblical support?
All of the above would generally accept the statement of Major Ian Thomas: “Godliness (practical righteousness) is the direct and exclusive consequence of God’s activity in man” (Ian Thomas).
“The key to sanctification (living a righteous life) is a divine work of God (in the life of the believer)” (Norman Grubb)
SCRIPTURAL SUPPORT FOR “INFUSED RIGHTEOUSNESS”
In the Sermon on the Mount the Lord provides one illustration that points to the inflowing of God’s life into the life of the believer:
“A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.” (Mt. 7:18)
This analogy is drawn out in detail in John 15.
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me” (John 15:4).
“Remain in” is translated as “dwell in,” “live in,” “abide in,” “Be in me,” “continue in me.”
ILL: The best illustration I have ever heard is the one given by Lou when the suggested it is the idea of being hooked up to an IV in the “Intensive Care” ward in a hospital.
QUESTION: What does the patient have to do in order to receive life giving sustenance from the IV?
He must consent only to be hooked up!!!
IMBIBED / LEARNED RIGHTEOUSNESS
“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13).
“Have nothing to do with Godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.” (I Tim. 4:7).
“So live by (walk in) the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. . . . keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16, 25).
The Sermon on the Mount is a primer on what a truly righteous person looks like and what we are to do in order to obtain / possess this righteousness:
We are to avoid anger and reconcile quickly with a brother if we have been angry with him (5:21-26).
We are to avoid sexual lust (5:27-32)
We are to be totally honest and trustworthy (5:33-37).
We are to totally avoid a spirit of retaliation (38-42).
We are to love our enemies perfectly (5:43-48).
We are to give to those who are in need (6:1-4)
We are to pray (6:5-13)
We are to forgive others for their sins against us (5:14-15).
We are to fast (6:16-18)
We are to let God have full control of our material wealth (6:19-24)
We are not to focus on and/or worry about our material needs (6:25-34).
We are to focus on the extension or God’s kingdom (6:33).
All of these explanations about what true Biblical Righteousness looks like are given in the form of commands. They are things that we are to do. In other words, our will needs to be engaged.
FLIP CHART: Go over the “17 Spiritual Disciplines” chart.
As we practice Spiritual Disciplines our Father, little by little, works out practical righteousness in our lives.
FLIP CHART: Perfect Righteousness” Explain: moral righteousness, immediate moral change at conversion, gradual change through life’s challenges and speeding up moral change via CCRC (Concentration, Choice, Reflection and Confession/Thanksgiving). Key verse, “By one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (Heb. 10:14).
FLIP CHART: We can see change in our lives as we Concentrate on a character weakness; Make deliberate choices; Reflect on those choices and then confess failures or thank God for His intervention in our lives.
SO WHAT???
1. We are not to settle for a self-developed righteousness on the level of the righteousness of the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law.
2. We are to run after, seek, pursue the righteousness of God.
3. When we experience the new-birth God’s righteousness is imputed to us.
4. By consenting to our status as a branch in the vine and thus resting in Christ, His empowerment to live a righteous life flows into us.
5. Our Father has given “Spiritual Disciplines” as a means of grace. By exercising these disciplines we will grow in righteousness.