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Pastor Mike Mounts |
The Path To True Happiness Introduction Blessed Are The Poor in Spirit Happy Are The Meek As a parent was there
ever a time when it seemed the more you loved your child, the less they loved
you? I mean, you cared, you gave, you spent, you sacrificed; but it seemed to
go unappreciated and taken for granted? As a parent perhaps you warned; you cautioned; and
you were lovingly truthful with your son or daughter. But they perceived it
as never meeting your expectations, never being good enough, or your being
judgmental. Perhaps they even viewed you (the parent) as the enemy instead of
their best friend. As a parent you desired the best for your child.
You longed to see them reach their full potential, but they seemed to be
content with mediocrity - settling for less than God's best and the fullness
of His blessings. And it breaks your heart. You have a sanctified
dissatisfaction on their behalf. You know if they would truly submit and
surrender to God's will for their life that God "is able to do exceedinly abundantly above all they could ever ask or
think'' in and through their life! (Eph. 3:20). That should
first-and-foremost be in the heart of any Christian parent - even before our
child's education, career, or income. The apostle Paul experienced this on a spiritual
level as a spiritual father. To the Galatians, he warned and cautioned them concerning Judaizers who
taught a salvation and sanctification through Christ plus the Mosaic law (i.e.,
works). He had a sanctified dissatisfaction for the Galatian
believers. Listen to what he wrote: "My little children, for
whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you." (Gal. 4:19) "Have I therefore become
your enemy because I tell you the truth?" (Gal. 4:16) When writing to the Corinthians, time and time
again Paul sought to lovingly correct their carnality. But in response, some
thought to discredit Paul, his ministry, his apostleship, and even his
motives. But what was Paul's response? "And I will very gladly spend and
be spent for your souls [just like a parent]; though the more abundantly I
love you, the less I am loved." (2 Cor. 12:15) Paul had a holy dissatisfaction regarding his own spiritual
maturity. When writing to the Philippians he made it perfectly clear that he
had not reached some spiritual plateau in his life where he could say he had
finally arrived. He knew he wouldn't attain full and complete Chirstlikeness in this life, but that remained his goal
and pursuit. "Not that I have already attained,
or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for
which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count
myself to have apprehended; but one thing I
do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to
those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the
upward call of God in Chirst Jesus." (Phil.
3:12-14) Paul had an intense desire for the Philippian
believers to conduct themselves as citizens of heaven (Phil. He urged the Romans that the only reasonable and logical
response for those who truly experienced the lovee,
grace, and forgiveness of God is, " . . . Present your bodies a
living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of
your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect
will of God." (Romans 12:1,2).) Paul reminded the Corinthians that the true
believer is one being transformed more and more into Christlikeness. "But we all, with unveiled face,
beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into
the same image from [one level of] glory to [another level of] glory, just as
by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Cor. 3:18) His desire for the Ephesian
believers was that they would possess their spiritual possessions and walk
according to their position, possessions, privileges, and power they had in
Christ. Please listen to Paul's paternal desire for the
Thessalonians: "You are witnesses, and God also,
how devoutly and justly and blameslessly we behaved
ourselves among you who believe; as you know how we exhorted, and comforted,
and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you
would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory."
(1 Thess. 2:10-12). Paul sought to encourage, comfort, and when necessary,
properly discipline any erring believers. The apostle Peter also had this
sanctified dissaisfaction in behalf of the church. "Therefore gird up the loins of
your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be
brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not
conforming yourselves to the former lusts as in your ignorance; but as He who
called you is holy, you also be hold in all your conduct, because it is
written, "Be holy, for I am holy." (1 Pet. 1:13-16) "Therefore, laying aside all
malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes,
desire the pure mild of the word, that you may grow
thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious." (1 Pet.
2:1-3) "Beloves,
I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from
fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among
the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your
good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation." (1
Pet. 2:11-12) "But grow in the grace and
knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2 Pet. 3:18) In his second letter, the apostle Peter is very
bold as he writes to his brethren, "to make [their] call and election
sure" (2 Pet. He doesn't make reference to merely walking an
aisle, making a decision, signing a card, or even being baptized. He says,
"Take a look at your life. Does your life give proof? Are these
Christian virtues visible in your life?" Truth is, if you have truly
been made a partaker of the divine nature (i.e., if you have truly been born
again), they will be evident. - Virtue (2 Pet. 1:5). Genuine saving faith always puts
God's Word into action. - Knowledge (2 Pet. 1:6). This is an experiental knowledge of God through His Word. - Self-control (2 Pet. 1:6). A disciplined life (under
the Holy Spirit) that controls the flesh. - Perseverance (2 Pet. 1:6). This is a patient endurance
in doing what is right. - Godliness (2 Pet. 1:6). Although spiritual is internal,
it doesn't lay dormant. It will always be demonstrated externally through a
godly life. It's a change from the inside-out. - Brotherly kindness (2 Pet. 1:7). This is an affinity
for the people of God. - Love (agape; 2 Peter 1:7). This is divine love (John Paul gives a similar warning (as Peter did) to the
Corinthians when he writes: "Examine yourselves as to whether
you are in the faith. Test yourselves." (2Cor. 13:5a) Make sure your faith is genuine, real, and authentic. In
his first letter the apostle John gives a strong contrast between the true
and false believer, and he clearly gives us the birthmarks of a true
believer. Are we noticing a theme or trend among the New Testament
writers? Each of these writers cared for, gave themselves to, lovingly
cautioned, and warned their readers. They longed to see them reach full
maturity in Christ. There was a holy dissatisfaction in their
own lives, as well as in behalf of other believers. They didn't want to see professed believers deceiving
themselves with their own self-righteousness: hearing and admiring the truth,
but not doing; saying one thing but living another. Truth is, there has to be
that constant reminded because too many have mistaken church attendance for
salvation; church membership for salvation; the good outweighing the bad for
salvation; or a mere emotional decision for salvation. Conclusion As your pastor, I personally have a holy
dissatisfaction for my own life. I have many areas which need to be
brought more and more under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. But I also have a
holy dissatisfaction for each of you. Not because you don't meet my expectations
or you're not "good enough." I'm not being judgmental and I'm
certainly not your enemy. Truth is, if you let me, I can be a true friend to
each and everyone of you. I desire God's best for you. I love for you to bring your
Bibles to every service, so that together we can become better acquainted
with God through His Word. I long for you to get into His Word, so His Word
gets into you. I long for each of you to be fully equipped to carry out your
own Go-given ministry. I long for each of you to come to the unity of the gaith, growing up in Christ.I
desire for you to possess your spiritual possessions, privileges, and power
that you have in Christ. I long to see you appropriate your position in
Christ and for each of you to walk accordingly. I long for us to genuinely
call on God; to see God move in our midst; to see genuine revival. I
deeply desire for each of you to truly worship the Lord in spirit and in
truth. I long to see us go beyond the walls of this building and share the
good news of Jesus Christ with out family and friends, right here in our own
community. I remember sitting across from a member of a
previous pastorate several years ago. He said that as his pastor, I had no
right to be concerned about his spiritual growth and maturity in the Lord.
Needless to say, that conversation went south real quickly. For whatever
reason, I couldn't convince him otherwise. But as I look back, he was one who
seemed to always have something derogatory to say. And I shouldn't question
or be concerned about his spiritual maturity? Just as a shepherd carefully watches over the
well-being, not only of the flock, but each individual sheep in the flock, so
I am to carefully watch over your spiritual welfare and well-being. If not,
then I'm not much of a pastor/shepherd. As we continue our series (The
Path To True Happiness) Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount gives us the
character and characteristics of those who are truly the King's kids. Such
characteristics are those, not of exceptional Christianity, but normal
Christianity. The true child of God, only through a new birth, a brand-new
life, and a new nature, will most certainly exhibit these characteristics. But those who are depending on self-righteousness
cannot. Those who only hear but do not do, cannot.
Those who only say, but do not do, cannot. My desire is that each of you experience
the fullness of God's happiness and blessing. That's what I long for each and
everyone of you today. Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:3). Once again, the word
that Jesus uses for "poor" is to be so poor, we can't even take out
a loan! We have absolutely no spiritual collateral! We are completely
unworthy of His Love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. That's exactly why Jesus went to the cross of You can continue to claim your own
self-righteousness and good works but in the end lose your soul in an eternal
hell, or you can acknowledge and confess your own sin and guilt before God, trust in Christ and Him alone as your Savior and Lord
and become a child of God and an heir to His Kingdom! Which do you
prefer? |
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