“THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT – AND BEYOND !!!”

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor,

how shall it be seasoned?

It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out

and trampled underfoot by men.”

—Matthew 5:13

We have now come to the “AND BEYOND !!!” part of the Sermon on the Mount. Having finished the 8 beatitudes (“blessed…”), the Savior now invests several of our chapters discussing how the believer is to be different in the world wherever He has wisely placed us.

Today’s study takes us initially to the kitchen, and with the subject matter being “SALT”. Now, I’m a real aficionado when it comes to the kitchen. Back in 2002 when I was pastoring my first charge in a small town called Beaver Meadow, NY, my wife suddenly developed cancer. She would need surgery and as a result would be bedridden for several weeks following the surgery. [BTW – that cancer no longer exists, PTL!] The church ladies asked if they could help to make meals while my bride was recovering. I wisely said, “I’ve got it all taken care of! We’ll have hot dogs on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; and we’ll have hamburgers on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. On Sundays? Oh then we’ll have leftovers. I’ve got it all taken care of!”. Needless to say, the kind ladies and their families fed us well!

SALT! The Lord Jesus is taking us into the kitchen of His usefulness. When He says, “you are the SALT of the earth”, He is making a number of distinctions:

* The “YOU” is the Christian – the individual making an impact in the day to day living.

* The “YOU” is NOT primarily the Church (local or universal); while a lighthouse in the community, it is not as evident as the Christian on a day to day basis.

* The “EARTH” is the world and its system, quite distinct from the Christian.

* The distinction is always to be evident. We are in it to win it but not a part of its system – we were bought out of it!

But when the Christian has lost its “FLAVOR/SAVOR” – its strength, its distinctions – he is now useless, and the world (and Satan) has gained another victory.

THIS MAY SOUND HARSH: The world is FULL of useless Christians who have given up being SALTS. Today’s verse is designed to REFRESH, to REVIVE, and to PRICK as a warning of what could happen.

I’M NO CHEF! Thankfully the Bible shows several uses – pictures – of SALT which should remind the Christian of what he is to be:

First, SALT shows an AGREEMENT.

“As for the offering of the first fruits, you shall offer them to the Lord, but they shall not be burned on the altar for a sweet aroma.  And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your grain offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt.” Leviticus 2:12-13

This is the harvest season! And the description of “first fruits” means that these are lifted up to God at the start of the harvest. It is an act of faith – letting God know that the farmer/citizen is trusting God for the bounty of the REST of the harvest!

The “SALT of the covenant” is a recognition of GOD’S provision. SALT thus becomes a wonderful picture of what God has provided.

“There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ

Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His

mercy He saved us…” Titus 3:5a

This is the Father’s greatest agreement, that He has provided a Savior AND He has provided salvation in the Savior – His Son the Lord Jesus – ALONE!

But further, it is an agreement that salvation is in Christ and NOT in the church.

NOTE THE WARNING HERE: When the Christian forgets, casts aside this agreement, he has lost his focus, his SAVOR, and he is now USELESS.

Second, SALT shows a JUDGMENT.

In Genesis 19, we find God’s judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah, two cities which He was going to destroy due to their extreme and willful wickedness. By the grace of God, Lot’s family was spared from the destruction. But they were given a warning. Listen to the Holy Writ:

“Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain.” [v. 17c].

Of course, we know Lot’s wife’s ultimate response:

“his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of SALT.”

It reminds me of the story of the little Sunday school boy listening attentively to the teacher describing the above incident. He politely raised his hand, and when called upon recounted, “the other day my mom was driving, and she looked back and turned into a telephone pole.”

Of tremendous interest is the look of Abraham just moments later:

“ Then he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain; and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land which went up like the smoke of a furnace.” [v. 28].

Why was Lot’s wife judged and turned into a pillar of SALT, but when Abraham looked at the destroyed towns, he was NOT judged? The answer is simple: Lot’s wife looked with longing; Abraham looked with horror while observing the holiness of God on display.

SALT shows a JUDGMENT.

Third, SALT shows an HEALING.

In 2 Kings, a situation developed where water was no longer drinkable. This was a most dangerous situation – for without good water, the ground could not be cropped and the people would also die of thirst. Elisha the prophet was used of God in a most unique way. His instructions were most unique:

“Bring me a new bowl, and put SALT in it.” So they brought it to him. Then he

went out to the source of the water, and cast in the SALT there, and said, “Thus

says the Lord: ‘I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or

barrenness.’ ”

As the SALT was used of God to be an instrument of healing bad water, so the Christian is to be a SALT, an healing influence of hearts for eternity. He is also to be a healer of lives for today. He makes a difference. He IMPROVES his world, his job, his community. Do WE?

Finally, SALT shows a SEASONING.

I’m no chef, but a little SALT DOES make eggs taste better!

Listen to this amazing verse:

“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with SALT, that you may

know how you ought to answer each one.” [Colossians 4:6]

The Christian is the GRACE – the presence of Christ – here through the tongue. He adds flavor to the arena in which he has been wisely placed by the living God.

As SALT also acts as a preservative, keeping food from decaying – even so, the Christian is an instrument who holds back sin and in turn changes lives into something useful for God! You’ve seen in personally: when you walk into a room, what happens? The swearing stops! Or you hear, “oh, I’m sorry, pardon my French!”.

The reality is that where SAVOR is lost, SIN WINS.

The Christian is in a battle to be SALT. How are YOU doing in this battle?

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor,

how shall it be seasoned?

It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out

and trampled underfoot by men.”

—Matthew 5:13

“THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT – AND BEYOND !!!”

Beatitude #8: “Blessed are the persecuted – REALLY?”

“10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you,

and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.

12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven,

for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

—Matthew 5:10-12

We have come to the last of the 8 beatitudes of our Savior’s “Sermon on the Mount” {SOTM!) found in its entirety in Matthew 5-7. This study has a question mark (?) at its end – for who in his right mind would want any part of being persecuted? Sounds, well, PAINFUL!

“I HAVE MY RIGHTS!” Well, we’ve been through much – not only in the past year or so with the Covid-19 pandemic. In the past 30 plus years, we have been inundated with RIGHTS: Woman’s Rights (well, what about “men’s rights”? Just asking for a friend). Gay Rights. Animal Rights. Whale Rights. Manatee Rights. Raccoon Rights. To everyone involved in each of these issues, these are important rights.

BUT the worse rights of all: MY RIGHTS!

The Lord Jesus Christ approaches this subject in a most unusual way, through the eyes of…PERSECUTION!!!

What is it? Webster’s Dictionary defines “persecution” this way:

1. To harass with cruel or oppressive treatment
2. To maltreat or oppress because of race, religion, or beliefs
3. To annoy or harass

OK, I GET THAT. So who gets persecuted, according to the Scriptures? Let me give a few illustrations, right from the Word of God:

DAVID In the midst of persecution, he found encouragement in the WORD of God. See Psalm 119:86: “All Your commandments are faithful; They persecute me wrongfully; Help me!” And Psalm 119:161 “Princes persecute me without a cause, But my heart stands in awe of Your word.”

David also found hope through the WORKS of God:

3 For the enemy has persecuted my soul;

He has crushed my life to the ground;

He has made me dwell in darkness,

Like those who have long been dead.

4 Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me;

My heart within me is distressed.

5 I remember the days of old;

I meditate on all Your works;

I muse on the work of Your hands.

6 I spread out my hands to You;

My soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah

—Psalm 143:3-6

PASTORS Listen to Jeremiah:

As for me, I have not hurried away from being a shepherd who follows You,

Nor have I desired the woeful day;

You know what came out of my lips;

It was right there before You.

17 Do not be a terror to me;

You are my hope in the day of doom.

18 Let them be ashamed who persecute me,

But do not let me be put to shame;

Let them be dismayed,

But do not let me be dismayed.

Bring on them the day of doom,

And destroy them with double destruction!

—Jeremiah 17:16-18

EVEN THE APOSTLE PAUL! Listen to a portion of his testimony:

8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—

—2 Cor. 4:8-9:

But the question must be asked, WHY DO THEY GET PERSECUTED? There is a common bond, a linking thread which connects all of the above: GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS, or, better, HIS RIGHTS (Matthew 5:10) and HIS SAKE (v. 11).

But what about MY rights? Have you read Isaiah lately?

But we are all like an unclean thing,

And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags;

We all fade as a leaf,

And our iniquities, like the wind,

Have taken us away.

—Isaiah 64:6

So WHY do I get PERSECUTED? First, I have God’s righteousness! Have you read Psalm 4:1 lately? “Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness.” How about Psalm 7:17? “I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.” And how about Psalm 15:1-2?

Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle?

Who may dwell in Your holy hill?

2 He who walks uprightly,

And works righteousness,

And speaks the truth in his heart…”

God’s righteousness doesn’t leave me empty. In Him I have all things! I encourage you to read through the book of Proverbs each month! How? Read the chapter which corresponds with the day of the month! Today is the 5th, so today I read Proverbs 5! Look at Proverbs 28:25-26:

He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife,

But he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered.

26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool,

But whoever walks wisely will be delivered.

Let’s wrap this up! Our text says “REJOICE” when persecuted for His rights. For His sake – NOT for our rights nor for our sake.

The Lord Jesus already gave us great insight in John 15:20:

Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’

If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they

will keep yours also.

The one who has turned over to God all of his rights, his goals, his ambitions, will find that the rights and glory of the Lord to be more than satisfying!

The one who makes God’s rights his own rights will become all that is summed up in one word: BLESSED! “Makarios”! “Happy” because I belong to the King of kings!

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you,

and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.

Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven,

for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

“CHALLENGES OF AN EARLY MORNING” (Matthew 28:1-7)

An Easter Sunday Message by Semi-Retired Pastor Jeremy Stopford

Originally preached April 12, 1998 (really!)

Beaver Meadow (NY) Christian Church

OUR TEXT: Matthew 28:1-7

1 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn,

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.

2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.

3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.

4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.

5 But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid,

for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.

6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”

How many of you are MORNING people? You know who you are – you just love to get up as early as possible. You function best in the early part of the day. You’re the kind that when all your friends are just getting with it, you say, “I’ve got 8 hours of work done already!”. Then there are the NIGHT people! Are you one of those? You are the kind that think nothing of staying up well past midnight, sleep for 8 hours (or longer), and then start all over again.

The story of the Savior’s Resurrection Day is a morning person type of story. Matthew initially looks at the resurrection through the eyes of two people. No doubt, THEY are morning people! (My 20th century guess is that all people of the first century were “morning people” – what else did they have to do?). They are identified as “Mary Magdalene and the other Mary” (Matthew 28:1). We know a little about each one.

“Mary Magdalene”, or better, “Mary of Magdala” – a region in Israel – is set aside in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke as one “out of whom He had cast seven demons”. Who knows what horror her life “before Christ” was like!

But we DO know, according to Luke 8:2-3, that along with two ladies named “Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna” (and apparently many others) “provided for Him from their substance.” Whatever funds she had in her life now were under the Lordship of Christ! (ARE OURS? Hmmm.). John’s gospel gives a wonderful picture of the poignant meeting with the risen Lord and this Mary (John 20:11ff).

The second visitor to the tomb in Matthew’s account is a woman called “the other Mary”. The gospels of Mark and Luke describe her a little more fully as “the mother of James the less and of Joses”, disciples of the Lord Jesus.

Though little is known of these ladies, it is apparent that the Lord did a GREAT CHANGE in their lives – so great, they sought to be both at the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus and as well at His graveside even days later.

There are at least four brief lessons that every seeker or follower of the Lord Jesus should learn from the lives of these two women that first Easter morn.

First, we have the need to remember the day and still walk by faith! In the gospel of Matthew we have met these two Christ followers before. Do you remember when? Go back to 27:56 where these two were among those who beheld the events of the cross “afar off”.

And after the Savior died, they also sat “over against the sepulcher (27:61). They knew exactly where the Savior’s tomb was. They would remember that day. WHAT DAY? What day of the week was it? Well, we do know that the Savior rose “on the first day of the week” (28:1). That would be on the Jewish – and our – calendar as SUNDAY.

And we do know that He said He would be in the tomb “three days and three nights”, according to the prophecy of Jonah (Matthew 12:40). So on what day of the week did the Savior die? Our problem is that we look at this through Western civilization eyes and not through Jewish eyes.

Fortunately for us, we can understand time through the words of Jonathan, Saul’s son. Look at a blurb from 1 Samuel 20:12: “When I have sounded out my father sometime tomorrow, or the third day…”. So Jonathan saw time through today (Day #1), tomorrow (Day #2) and the third day (Day #3).

Through that visual, the day of the week that the Savior died was…FRIDAY! The Lord loves to challenge His followers through the use of the expression “the day” or “this day”. “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). “Sufficient unto the day is its own evil” (Matthew 6:34). “I must work His works while it is day”. (John 9:4). “Now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2). And the favorite of many, “This is the day that the Lord has made” (Ps. 118:24). Remember the day – and walk by faith!

Second, we need to be available to see the holy among the ordinary (re-read Matthew 28:2-5). Do you have any idea how often angels appear in Scripture? An amazing 283 times! Angels surrounded our Savior – we see them in Scripture at His birth, at the time of His temptation; throughout His earthly ministry; at His death; and now at His resurrection. These girls were in on a majestic viewing, weren’t they? That reminds me of the new pastor’s visit upon a younger woman of the church. He knocked on her front door. She was expecting one of her suitors and so shouted out to him, “Is that you, ANGEL?” The quick pastor responded, “No ma’am. But I’m from the same department!” And yet, Hebrews 13:2 challenges us: “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.” The ladies saw the holy – the angel – among the ordinary – a tomb. And so must we on a daily basis! We must have our spiritual eyes OPEN to the hand of the personal, loving God on each day! Have you put to practice the words of Psalm 119:62? “At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You, because of Your righteous judgments.” Wake up in the middle of the night and can’t sleep? You should review the day you’ve just gone through. When did the Lord show Himself in real ways, yet you simply took those ways for granted? You pray for safety on the roads before leaving the house? Do you ever THANK HIM for giving you that safety once the trip is over? We need to see the holy among the ordinary!

Third, we need to cast aside earthly fear that we may see only Jesus (Matthew 28:6). Read that passage really slowly. Besides these two, there are the guards – ROMAN guards. They are there guarding an “empty tomb”. They were to FEAR no one! Yet when the angel appeared, “the guards shook for FEAR of him, and became like dead men.” But what about the girls? The angel brings comfort by saying those royal words of heaven, “FEAR NOT”. I looked it up – do YOU have any idea how many times the expression “FEAR NOT”appears in Scripture? An unbelievable 67 TIMES! Yet you and I live in a world filled with what? FEAR! What – or better WHO – is the Answer to the fear of man? The Lord Jesus! Just as these ladies found at the empty tomb the promise of eternal hope is through the Risen Savior, even so should we. And if we have, we should be like the woman at the well (John 4). When she met Jesus, she wanted to tell EVERYONE about Jesus! We need to cast aside earthly fear that we may see only Jesus!

Finally, we need to be obedient to simple tasks that higher purposes may be realized (Matthew 28:6-7). The angel’s words were simple: He’s not here…He is risen (as He said)…Come (see for yourselves)…Go (quickly!) and tell! Did the angel say “walk 1000 miles and tell everyone you see along the way that Jesus is risen?”. No, he began with a simple task: see for yourselves that what Jesus said would happen HAS happened! As the Apostle Paul would later define the gospel, in 1 Cor. 15:1-4, Jesus was crucified, buried, and rose again the third day JUST AS HE SAID. That is the gospel, the GOOD NEWS! The angel’s simple task was to begin with those with whom they were familiar – the one’s hurting because of life. The disciples – all of whom had fled at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion – were fearful men. But now, but NOW they would soon be not only in the presence of these first eyewitnesses. They would be in the presence of their risen Savior! Yes, God through this angel gave them a simple task. The resurrected Savior gave them the power to share. And Who gets the glory? HE DOES!

Remember the day – and walk by faith!

Be available to see the holy – among the ordinary!

Cast aside earthly fear – and see Jesus!

Be obedient to your simple assignments – and see the higher purposes!

And Jesus gets the glory!

Beatitude #7: “Blessed are the peacemakers”

“SERMON ON THE MOUNT – AND BEYOND !!!”

Jeremy Stopford, Semi-Retired Pastor

“Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.” (Matt. 5:9).

We have come to the 7th of the 8 beatitudes of our Savior’s “Sermon on the Mount” {SOTM!) found in its entirety in Matthew 5-7.

“Blessed”. Do you remember what “BLESSED” means? The Latin word for “blessed” is properly translated… “BEATITUDE”. AND the Greek word for “blessed” is “makarios”. “Makarios” is…GOD’S HAPPINESS, HIS JOY! It is GOD’S kind of “happiness” which is not dependent upon “happenings”. It is dependent upon…GOD HIMSELF!

So in this beatitude, the blessing is for the “peacemakers”. Do you remember one of the Old Testament titles for the soon coming Messiah? Remember carefully as you read these verses:

For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, PRINCE OF PEACE.

Of the increase of His government and peace

There will be no end,

Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,

To order it and establish it with judgment and justice

From that time forward, even forever.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. [Isaiah 9:6-7]

The Messiah, the Lord Jesus, is the One Who is the ultimate Peacemaker! He is the One Who can make peace between countries and even between peoples. But most importantly, because of the cross, He can make peace between God and me!

Jesus paid the price of peace! Listen to Isaiah 54:10,13 where the prophet Isaiah is looking forward to the day when the Messiah, the Prince of Peace, will be orchestrating peace because of the price He paid:

For the mountains shall depart

And the hills be removed,

But My kindness shall not depart from you,

Nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,”

Says the Lord, who has mercy on you. [v. 10]

All your children shall be taught by the Lord,

And great shall be the peace of your children. [v. 13]

So our Savior is the Author of peace, which is effected when His death on the cross is applied to the sinner who trusts that that death and shed blood was indeed done in his, the sinner’s place!

Have YOU trusted the Lord Jesus as your Savior, your peace?

Have you ever heard the story of Peter Bilhorn? He was born in Mendota, Illinois in 1865 (and lived until 1936). Since his father died when Peter was about 8, Peter quit school and did all he could to support his mother. When he was 15, the family moved to Chicago so he could be near where his voice could be used as an attraction in concert halls.

But then at age 20 an amazing thing happened – he was converted to saving faith in the Lord Jesus! Over the remaining years of his life, he would be used to write songs or their music on behalf of such evangelists as Dwight L. Moody (founder of Moody Bible Institute, as well as a worldwide evangelist).

Peter Bilhorn was asked by a friend to write the words for a song. He asked the friend what the theme should be, and she replied “any sweet piece.” Years later, the music for a song came to him, but he didn’t have the words for it. Shortly afterwards, while he was riding on a train to Iowa, the train came to a sudden stop. A dead body had been found on the train tracks. As the body was carried away, it left behind a pool of blood.

A friend, Major Whittle, suggested to Peter, “Do you know that is all Jesus Christ left on this earth? His body rose for our justification, but His blood was left to atone for our sins.” Peter replied back, “Yes, that is what gives me sweet peace.” Here comes the song, “Sweet Peace, the Gift of God’s Love”:

There comes to my heart one sweet strain,

A glad and joyous refrain,

I sing it again and again,

Sweet peace the gift of God’s love.

Through Christ on the cross peace was made,

My debt by His death was all paid,

No other foundation is laid,

For peace, the gift of God’s love.

When Jesus as Lord I had crowned

My heart with this peace did abound

In Him the rich blessings, I found

Sweet peace the gift of God’s love.

Our Savior offers His PEACE to every sinner. And all who come to Him through the shed blood of Calvary’s cross will immediately have that sweet peace.

When we have that SWEET PEACE then we are called the “children of God”. Hmm…that sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Even the Apostle John records, in John 1:12-13:

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

We who have found that peace with God are called “children of God”, or better, “sons of God.” !!!

The early disciples were to make a difference in the world in which they lived. Perhaps in their limited “worldview”, they were thinking mainly Jerusalem, or even Galilee. But you and I can look back and see that in the BIG picture, when the Apostle John wrote in John 3:16 that “God so loved the WORLD”, He was talking about a picture well beyond the first disciples’ comfort zone!

But what are WE to do with that SWEET PEACE?

There are at least 3 pre-requisites to our being a peacemaker for Jesus:

#1—be at peace with God

#2—be at peace with yourself

#3—be committed to bringing others to Christ and showing them the Prince of peace.

Be at peace with God – IF/SINCE your have come to know the Lord Jesus as your Savior/your Peace, you have Peace with God! Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…”. This is a present position! It is not some future “hope so” but rather a present “KNOW SO”! We have peace with God.

But further, we are to be at peace with ourselves. That means that we have “nothing between our soul and the Savior”, as the old song says.

And then? We are to be committed to bring others to Christ, the Prince of Peace! We are to show our family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, enemies, strangers, EVERYBODY – what Jesus has done for us, and for THEM! We are to have the Lord Jesus’ view of people. We are to look at people through His eyes. We are to be instruments of reconciliation between the sinner and the Savior, pointing the sinner to the cross and His available redemption in Him.

And when we do that, do you know what we’ll be? Yep! We’ll be…PEACEMAKERS! Because being a peacemaker is what God’s children are and do!

“Blessed are the peacemakers,

For they shall be called sons of God..”