What the World Needs Now - Authentic Difference-Makers, Part 2

You know, there's lots of causes and movements these days, and there is absolutely no shortage of agendas.

I mean, everyone's got an opinion, and there's experts everywhere. Here's the question. What's Jesus' opinion about what's happening in our world today, and what are His answers to solve it? Stay with me.

I think you're going to love this. Thanks for joining us for this Edition of Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. Living on the Edge is an international discipleship ministry helping Christians live like Christians. I'm Dave Drouie, and wouldn't life be so much easier if you could talk to Jesus about the tough issues you're facing? I mean, literally turn to Him and ask, okay, Jesus, how do I handle this situation?

What do you think I should do about that? Well, the good news is Jesus did provide us with direction and support, and that's what Chip's going to unpack for us as he continues his series, What the World Needs Now. And be sure to stick around after this message to hear some extra insight on this topic from Chip. Well, with that, turn in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 5 for part 2 of Chip's talk, Authentic Difference-Makers.

Until you're poor in spirit, until you realize you don't bring anything to this party that can merit God's favor, until you get that to the point, when's the last time you felt crushed over your sin? Our tendency? Well, everyone does that. Everyone logs on now and then. Everyone has a little envy. Everyone's a little bit materialistic. Everyone's kind of lazy like me.

Everyone does it so it must be okay. Really? Maybe. Probably not to God. And we probably don't experience His power. Chapter 6, he's going to now shift gears, because think of the question that it raises, okay? Get your mind back to my Jewish friends.

Okay, I don't measure up. I feel really bad about the things that I never even thought were sin. So how do you live this righteous life? I mean, if doing the stuff that we've been doing and following the Pharisees isn't the way, I mean, how in the world do you ever get right with God? And so notice what he does. In chapter 6, in the beginning of 7, he gives them four, what I call, warnings that kill the movement of God in your soul. And they kill the movement of God in churches.

The first issue is the issue of motives. He talks about giving in verses 1 through 4, prayer in verses 5 through 8, and fasting in verses 16 through 18. And all you need to know is that in Jewish culture, that the three primary disciplines, the way you earned your favor with God, is how much you gave, how long you prayed, and how often you fasted. So, if you want to get close to God, give a lot, pray a lot, and fast a lot, and so the Pharisees did. Notice, picking it up, you got your Bible open, follow along. Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them. For then you'll have no reward from your Father who's in heaven. This is radical, Abba.

He's introducing, it's about relationship. Thus, not if, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they've received the reward. But when you give to the needy, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Do you notice how often reward, reward, reward, Father? And when you pray, verse 5, you must not be like the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues at the street corners, so they can be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you pray, shut the door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Then he teaches the Lord's prayer. Verse 16, and when you fast, don't look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces, and their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, are you getting the idea? They've received their reward, but when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that you may be fasting not to be seen by others, but by your Father who's in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

The key issue is motives. He says, okay, the practice of giving, the practice of praying, and the practice of fasting is essential. We only break the lust of the eyes and wanting more by being generous and giving. The only way we break the hold of pride on our life, prayer, is the evidence of help me God dependency.

And the only way we break the desire for food that's unhealthy, or sex that's unhealthy, or shopping that's unhealthy, or whatever it is, is you fast from it. But they're just means of grace. But notice He says, you do it.

You do it to please your Father, not to earn brownie points. The diagnostic question then is, who am I seeking to please? Who am I seeking to please? Do you know which of the Beatitudes He just taught them? Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. The word meekness are translated gentle or humble. It's the idea of literally in the ancient Greek literature, it was a wild stallion that is tamed. It's power under control.

And the picture here, it's an idea of submission. It's the idea that I'm going to trust God. I accept my giving, my fasting, my praying. I can't earn my way, but I can please God. And so when I do the right things in the right way, the spiritual disciplines that renew my mind, and when I do it out of a love relationship, He said, wow, true spirituality occurs.

The next movement killer isn't just our motives, but it's materialism. Look at verse 19. He's now going to go to the other God. And the other God that tempts all of us is money. So he says in verse 19, don't lay up for yourselves treasure on earth.

And then the reason is to protect them, because you're going to lose it. It's where moth and rust destroy and where thieves can break in and steal. But lay up for yourself, heavens are real. He's talking about the kingdom of God, the heaven that's real. He said lay up for yourselves, treasures where moth can't get and rust can't destroy and thieves can't break in. And then he talks about the lamp of the body, which is really the essence of where's your passion, where's your focus, what really matters.

And then look at verse 24. He wants to protect them. He says, no one can serve two masters for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will love the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. And so the next key issue of this new revolution is materialism.

You can jot that in there. He talks about their money. Now did you notice, remember, who were the people that were materialistic? Pharisees. The Pharisees had worked a religious system where they actually became very, very rich. In fact, then they taught, this might sound a little familiar, then they taught the evidence of true spirituality and God's blessing is how much money you have. So the more money we have, we must be really spiritual. It's called prosperity gospel today. You plant a seed, send money to our ministry, and the fact that I have two jets and three mansions and all this stuff is evidence that God's blessing me, and it's from the pit of hell.

It's from the pit of hell. See, ask yourself, what's the agenda? See, here's the real question. The diagnostic question is whose agenda or kingdom am I seeking to accomplish? Mine, success, fame, wealth, my happiness, or Jesus?

Thing to ask yourself is do I use people to get money and things, or do I use my money and my things to love people? And if you back it away, I mean, just, you know, this is us, just us here, right? We're the serious Christians.

We came to church. Jesus is saying this will kill your soul. There's some things in life that aren't both and.

This is one of them. It's either or. Jesus or money. And if you look at your time and your energy and your passions and the demand and the pressure of work or education, et cetera, if it drives everything, or if you look at your giving, your prayer, and your fasting, and the meter is really pretty low, then you have your answer. But this, this is a revolution of love. This is, this is the kind anointed king and savior saying you may end up being very successful in accomplishing your goals.

Here's the scariest, the scariest thing that can ever happen in any person's life is to be absolutely successful at the exactly wrong thing. You know, it's kind of like all of life is against this wall and when you get to the top and you have a ladder that goes to another wall that promised life was there and you get to the top and it's empty. And Jesus is saying, I'll take care of you. In fact, look, look at your Bible because I don't have time to read it all. You'll notice after this, right, I put it in your notes, but, but after this, he says to them, so why are you so uptight about what are we going to eat?

Well, we're uptight about what we're going to eat because you're talking about living this radical life of faith or what are you, what are you uptight about what you're going to wear or why do you worry so much? See what he's, what he's saying is, do you trust me? This new revolution is about a love and entrusting of me as the savior get looked down to verse 33. He gets the end of this whole section.

He basically promises that, you know, I'm going to take care of you, but notice what he says, but seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you. Don't worry about tomorrow. Don't be uptight about the stock market. Don't be uptight about what school your kids get in or if you're going to get married or not get married. Today's got enough problems of its own. Just trust me today.

I've got you in the palm of my hand and I love you. Are you ready? Did you see the beatitude he just taught them? Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.

You know what that means? This passion to be holy, this passion to be right with God, this passion in your whole life to want to please God and love God and be used by God. Blessed are those who hunger. That's what drives you, your motivation. You hunger and thirst not for riches, not for success, not for fame, not for a better body, not for more likes, not for more followers. God, this is a revolution.

Do you understand how this revolutionized the world? Well, he gets from chapter six as he continues to flesh out his agenda and the third big movement killer is the issue is misapplication. They've heard a lot of truth and he says the problem is sometimes we take truth and we apply it to other people instead of ourselves.

Beginning of chapter seven will probably sound very familiar. He says judge not lest you be judged for with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged and with the measure that you use it'll be measured to you. Why do you seek the speck in your brother's eye but don't notice the log that's in your own? Or how do you say to your brother let me take the speck out of your eye when there's a log in your own? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye and then you see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. And then I think in a reference here to the Pharisees and people's hard-hearted and aren't open to God he says do not give what is don't give to the dogs what is holy don't throw your pearls before swine they trample them underfoot and they'll turn and attack you. And then he goes into if you have real needs instead of asking the government or demanding it from them instead of asking education or asking technology in and of themselves no problem when you have great need ask seek knock your father really wants to provide verse 12 actually goes with what's above so whatever you wish that others would do for you do for them this will fulfill the law and the prophets and then notice this be careful enter by the narrow gate the gate is wide and easy that leads to destruction and those who enter it are many but the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life and those who find it are few notice he'll go on and say beware the false prophets said here's what you know is it's not what people say it's not their emotional experience good trees produce good fruit bad trees produce bad fruit anyone who hears my words and actually puts them into practice is like a man who builds his house on the rock anyone who hears my words and intellectually even agrees with them and doesn't put him in the practice is a fool and he'll say I never knew you so what you see he does is he fleshes out the rest of these Beatitudes under judging you might write merciful blessed are the merciful blessed are the merciful why for they'll be shown mercy we've got a whole generation of people that we we judge everyone we want people that you know we want people that don't know Christ to live like Christians we call them in our culture they don't have the power neither do we apart from Jesus where he talks about the preaching don't throw your sacred teaching before the dogs of the swine people that are adamant and and and and and ask he's talking about blessed are the peacemakers blessed are people that instead of trying to convince people that don't want to be convinced are bridge builders instead of people that are antagonist that they make the Christian life what it means to be a follower of Christ winsome and loving and kind and you agree to disagree and we have clear standards of truth but they apply them we ask what's this got to do with me instead of why is everyone else wrong if you listen to radio talk show blame blame blame blame blame blame go on 90% of Christians Facebook and we're passing on all this stuff they did that they did that they did that I'm with this party I'm against that party that person did that that person did this this person did that and Jesus is saying guess what that's fruitless what about you what do you need to own how could you be a peace maker how could you love people that you totally disagree with and treat them with dignity and with kindness not approving of what they do or what they say you understand that lost people evil people love to hang out with Jesus why it's not like he caved into their lifestyle let me ask you how many lost evil people in alternative everything are your friends and that would like to hang out with you the Christianity today has basically become moralism we're on this side and we think people that don't know Jesus are the enemy reminder he came to die for them like he came to die for us the agenda is to love them you don't have to agree but to love them it's the kindness of God that led us to repentance it's the kindness of God through us that will lead people to him it's just truth it's just Jesus teaching the final movement that will squash our souls is what I just call misperception I read it he says there's a narrow gate we're living in a day even in the church that says oh you know what as long as you're sincere we're gonna we're gonna kind of change the rules and what the Bible says about holiness what the Bible says about marriage what the Bible says about sex what the Bible says about eternity what the Bible says about a real heaven and a real hell you know you guys are really pretty narrow here's the deal you choose to be a loving winsome non-judgmental person who in your heart of heart realizes man I'm poor in spirit I need God and I take my sins seriously oh God I need your forgiveness and your comfort and you become that kind of believer that says you know something I don't have the power apart from you I'm gonna be meek but my passion my life my time I'm hungering and thirsting for righteousness and I'm gonna I'm gonna have motives I'm gonna be pure and hard as best I know and Lord I'm gonna I'm not gonna I'm not gonna judge people I'm gonna show them the kind of mercy I'm not gonna have those critical thoughts in my mind I catch myself often because I do this a lot oh what is he doing that why is she doing that or this and and God is just I've memorized the passage every time that's happening now I start praying God I wonder what your plan is for him I want it is for them I wonder how they got to where they got oh Lord would you help them would you love them would you encourage him and then is there anything you would want me to do right now to express your love and I'm on a journey and I got a long way to go but if you would be a bold person to say the way is narrow Jesus said I'm the way the truth and the life you will be persecuted do it winsomely do it lovingly and he started with the kingdom of heaven he ends with the kingdom of heaven and you should ask yourself and I'll ask myself where's my fruit not religious fruit love joy peace patience kindness goodness gentleness self-control that's the Christ like life are you ready to recharge re-engage in a revolution of love ask yourself which of these one beatitude which one of these do I need to say oh God forgive me for I have sinned oh God will you help me when we confess our sins he's faithful and he's righteous or just to not just forgive but to cleanse us from all unrighteousness what would it look like for us to walk out of here to hunger and thirst to be the men and women in our little sphere of influence starting in our homes apartments or with roommates passing out of where we drive where we get our coffee or tea where we work out where we do our dry cleaning where we go to work what would it look like for seeds to be planted and grow right where you are triple D right back with his application for this message authentic difference makers from his series what the world needs now turmoil division political corruption prejudice these are just a few of the serious issues we're dealing with in our society today but did you know the early church and Jesus's disciples faced similar problems in this three-part series chip shares the guidance Jesus gave to his followers some 2,000 years ago and how that wisdom relates to us today don't miss the ways to build better relationships handle injustice and live your life like never before for more information about what the world needs now or our many resources just go to Living on the Edge dot org or call us at triple 8 3 3 3 6 0 0 3 that's triple 8 3 3 3 6 0 0 3 or Living on the Edge dot org app listeners tap special offers before we continue here's chip to talk about something that's really close to his heart for almost two years now I've heard people say we are living in unprecedented times and then I hear all these things from the news and the media and social media about how challenging how difficult how terrible I hear Christians talking to one another like the sky is falling I've got news for you we are not living in unprecedented times the kind of things we're experiencing has happened multiple times in history in fact when the early church was birthed it was a lot like right now except a lot worse and you know what God had a word for those people it was James chapter 1 and the Apostle James filled with the Holy Spirit spoke to that group of people running for their lives out of money abandoned by people in their world and you know what he said to them he said there's a way there's an art to survive in the midst of chaos and those early Christians they took the worst of life circumstances and they turned it around and they changed the world I want to invite you in fact I challenge you to join me for the new daily discipleship with Chip it's called the art of survival you're going to learn how your circumstances may not change but God can give you grace and perspective where you change in such a way that the people all around you change here's how it works each day I'm going to meet with you one-on-one for 10 days and we're going to discover what James chapter 1 teaches about the art of survival and life's trials we'll start our time together where I'll literally get a cup of coffee open my Bible and I'll talk directly with you one-on-one and we'll walk through how to study the Bible you'll learn to study the scriptures for yourself in a way where you hear God's voice and have God speak in such a way that gives you the strength to make it through life's hardest and most difficult times so here's the challenge spend 10 days 10 minutes a day with me 10 minutes on your own and then let me encourage you invite 10 people to join you let's be difference makers let's learn the art of survival in the age of chaos you know those early disciples turned the world upside down and that's God's plan for you and me won't you join me thanks Chip well we're so excited to share with you our new daily discipleship with Chip the art of survival based in James chapter 1 through this free video series we'll discover how to handle circumstances out of our control guard our attitude against discouragement and trust God and his provision if you're ready to learn the art of surviving in these challenging times then pre-register today to take the daily discipleship with Chip challenge and when you sign up we'll send you a new leather bound prayer journal as our gift to you to take this free 10-day daily discipleship challenge go to livingontheedge.org or call us at 888-333-6003 that's 888-333-6003 or go to livingontheedge.org app listeners tap discipleship as we wrap up today's program I want to ask you the question that I ask at the end of the teaching are you ready to recharge and re-engage in a revolution of love and then what do you need to do I mean just between you and God in fact the title of this message is what the world needs now is authentic difference makers and as we walk through the teaching today not only am I praying that we would have courage and that God would help you trust him and that you would believe and he would free our hearts but I think one of the fundamental questions that we addressed was whose agenda or whose kingdom are you seeking to accomplish now I want to probe here a little bit I'm probably going to make you a little upset maybe everybody upset but is it the Republican agenda or God's agenda is that the Democratic agenda or is it God's agenda is it your movements agenda your church's agenda the millennial agenda the baby boomer agenda is it the economy coming out right agenda is it your view of the virus agenda I mean whose agenda are you championing and I hear you there are legitimate important issues that need to be addressed that are right and true but what Jesus was saying now even as it was saying then the number one agenda has to begin with him what are you doing that reflects the love of Christ the compassion of Christ treating everyone with dignity especially those you disagree with speaking the truth in love treating people posting in social media in such a way that even those that you violently disagree with those that make you crazy that your blood boils and you feel like that is so wrong regardless of what side these issues you are on first and foremost you are called to be an authentic difference maker who in humility treats everyone as made in the image of God and loves them cares for them you can agree to disagree but you need to be one who brings healing to our world the number one agenda is not any other agenda than the kingdom agenda following Christ could I ask you to just have a private conversation with God and do your words your emotions your attitudes your actions and what you post on social media reflect first and foremost this is pleasing to God and if not would you change that let's bring healing not hurt to a very needy world just before we close would you stop for a minute and pray for Living on the Edge we've never seen a greater need for God's truth to go out than right now and by God's grace Living on the Edge has been able to provide encouragement teaching and personal discipleship resources to more people than ever before so thank you to those who support us with your prayers God is doing amazing things well until next time and for all of us here this is Dave Drewey saying thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge.