JSM | Uprightness.1 | Torah & Prophets (8/11/2024)

JSM | Uprightness.1 | Torah & Prophets
By Rev. Nicholas Sybrowsky
Heb. (נּט רּקהץ מּןביםךשד דּטנרם'דלט)
Gk. (Βψ Ρεω. Νιξηολασ Σψβροωσκψ)

Invocation:

Holy Father.  We are gathered here today in your house of prayer.  Summer is ending and though fall is not yet here we anticipate the seasonal changes are coming.  Just this weekend we’ve had large volumes of rain and the morning temperatures have a cooling effect that tells us fall is coming.  Public schools are preparing to receive students and parents are preparing to send children back to school.  Almighty Creator have your way in the children, the parents and the teachers this coming year of schooling.  May the habitat necessary for learning righteousness ever be present in our homes, our schools and our libraries.  Whether in public or private schools, home schools or seminary.  Whether in the lower or upper education.  Lord may your presence be ever welcome in these places of learning and ever present in this house of worship.  Amen.

Opening Word & Reading for Worship:

(Psa 24:1-10 ESV) "(1) A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, (2) for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. (3) Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place? (4) He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. (5) He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation. (6) Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah (7) Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. (8) Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle! (9) Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. (10) Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory! Selah"

Uprightness requires observation, meditation and careful application of the owner’s manual, the Bible.

Intro:

Three course meals typically consist of and appetizer, the main course and dessert.  The beatitudes have been quite filling.  Like the appetizer in a 3-course meal, it seems we could simply focus on this section of the Lord’s sermon on the mount and be satisfied.  I hope you’ve saved room for the main course!

B.I.B.L.E.  Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.  These aren’t ONLY instructions to be observed before leaving earth.  The Bible holds instructions for living on earth.  Basic instructions for learning, loving, living, leading and leaving on earth.  By show of hands.  After purchasing a new device or tool, how many of you like to read the owner’s manual?  Do we have any chef’s in the house?  Do you follow a recipe for a successful meal?  (Can Am Owner’s Manual Listen to Live Sermon for further illustration).

Uprightness.  The greater righteousness demonstrated by Jesus the Christ our Lord and Savior.  We’re entering into the main body of this famous discourse from Jesus the child of Mary and Joseph out of Nazareth.  Herein Jesus fulfills the law and the prophets.  In order to understand this prophesied “fulfillment of the Torah” it helps to know the history of the Pentateuch and the Prophets.  The main body of this message from Jesus demonstrates perfect practice of the moral law.  For an estimated 15-16 weeks we will continue in our verse by verse, line by line, section by section examination of the LORD’s famous Sermon on the Mount.  Although we’ve plodded our way through the Identity introduction section of the sermon, we maintain familiarity of his opening teachings regarding Kingdom Identity and our call to BE.  He is the “ I AM” and we are the Being. We are called to be image bearers and as image bearers we possess a shared identity that we must BE responsible to carry out.  Knowledge of this responsibility can be crushing if we fail to submit to the Creator’s reign and dominion.  The weight of God’s surpassing power and eternal life and death is far too heavy for man 

(2Co 4:17 KJV) "(17) For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding [and] eternal weight of glory;"

Listen live or research it {Place holder Titan Atlas Sculpture}  {Greek God Atlas, used to illustrate the temptation and sense that we might feel if trying to control or shoulder all the responsibilities in this world.}  

Only the One True God can shoulder the world and all that’s in it on His shoulders.

 “He’s got the whole world in his hands!”

Ps. 9:8 “He will judge the world in righteousness; He will give judgment to the peoples in uprightness.” (MEV)

Here in this Psalm David 

“thanks and praises the Lord because he will one day fully rescue those who depend on him (Ps.9:8-14). In fact, God will bring judgment against his enemies (Ps. 9:3-8, 15-20). (1) While it might be easy to get discouraged by what seems like the success of evil in the world, God’s people must remember, based on his Word, that the Lord will make everything right in the end.  God will honor us if we remain faithful to him even though other people and circumstances try to weaken or destroy our faith in God (Ps.9:7-10, See Rev 19-21). (2) Believers today can apply these verses to the enemies of Christ and his church.  As the conflict rages between the forces of evil and the forces of righteousness, every Christian will face opposition from Satan, the world and even false believers within the church (see 2 Ti. 3:12).” ~Donald C. Stamps Full Life Study Bible

At times it may feel like the task in front of you is all on your shoulders, but in reality, God never intended for you to have the weight of the world on your shoulders.  As we tarry and plod through this sermon series I’m reminded of years of devotional reading of the scripture.  When we slow down and allow the world to spin on without us.  When we are still knowing that the Lord is in control (Ps. 46:10).  If we can stick to the plan established by our God.  In due time the sense of frenzy and/or frantic will be demolished by the Sword of our LORD.  We can then be blessed or rather spiritually prosperous in the fruits of our labor.  As we move forward in our Bible in a year reading devotional schedule.  As we move forward plodding through this central sermon of sermons please be comforted by the peace that surpasses all understanding.

By show of hands (leave a comment below), who here desires to be successful?  May I suggest to you a recipe for success? Let “meditation on the law” and the precepts of God prove His faithfulness.  If the plodding seems to cause any of you have a sense of panic, frenzy or franticness.  Let me encourage you with this passage from Moses.  

Fear NOT, the LORD is with us wherever we go.  This promise to Moses shared by the LORD and then shared with “…Joshua son of Nun, the assistant of Moses…”(Jos.1:1) in Joshua in 1:8—9 is a timeless promise to us as followers of Jesus Christ.

Again, we are plodding our way through this Sermon on the Mount.  While we do this I want you to keep these questions in front of you.  The Five W’s from Jesus. It’s your choice. Where are you going? What are you producing? Who are you? Are you undecided? Are you fooling yourself? Why haven’t you decided? When will you commit?  

Another way to put this is WWJD is What Would Jesus Do?  WWYD?  Is What Will You Do? 

Proverbs 21:5 of The Living Bible (TLB) translation says

"Steady plodding brings prosperity; hasty speculation brings poverty" ~Proverbs 21:5 (TLB) a paraphrase of the Bible in English, written by Kenneth N. Taylor and first published in 1971.

 Main Text:

Uprightness 5:17-7:12 | Torah & Prophets 5:17-48.

 Teachings about the 

1. Law (.2), 
2. Anger, 
3. Adultery, 
4. Divorce, 
5. Oaths, 
6. Revenge and 
7. Love for Enemies.

 :48 Be Complete

• .9 Another Beatitude:  Wholeness, Perfected, Completeness (10).  Humility, Mourning, Meekness, Crave Righteousness, Merciful, Purity of Heart, Peacemakers, Persecuted, Salt & Light & Be Complete.  

 :48—6:1-21 Religious Practices:  True Reward:1, True Devotion:1-18 & True Wealth:19-21

• .10 Teaching About Charitable Giving :1-4
• .11 The Lord’s Prayer :2-18
• .12 Teaching About Fasting :19-21

 6:19-7:12 Right Relationships:  God & Money, God & Neighbor and the Golden Rule:

• .13 Treasures in Heaven, The Light of the Body, God & Money, Care & Anxiety :19-34.
• .14 Judging Others 7:1-11. 
• .15 Ask, Seek, Knock | Prayer 7:7-11 & 
• .16 The Golden Rule 7:12 (cf. Lev 19:18, Gal 5:14).

 (7:12) Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets."

The Moral Law is also known as the 10 Commandments.  The ten commandments are like our moral mirror granting us the ability to see our moral reflection and then do whatever it takes to adjust and get right with our owner.  The owner of creation is the Creator.  Getting right with God means knowing the God’s law.  

1. Called to Greater Righteousness. 

(Mat 5:20, 48 KJV) "(20) For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. ... (48) Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

In Jesus’ description of Oneness with the Father while encouraging the disciples, according to John’s gospel he said,

(Jhn 14:11-15 KJV) "(11) Believe me that I [am] in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. (12) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. (13) And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (14) If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do [it]. (15) If ye love me, keep my commandments."

As followers of Jesus we are all being called to live a greater righteousness.  And this uprightness is what the main course or main body of this sermon on the mount is about.  From Mt 5:17-7:12 Jesus renders instruction in greater righteousness validating the moral law.  He highlights the practice of that righteousness.  And then gets into how to have uprightness in our relationships with others.

How can we possibly do

 “greater things”?  

We do it by loving Jesus and keeping his commandments under the strength and gift of the Holy Spirit according to what Jesus shared and John wrote in Jn. 14:15-31.  We will never be successful in the practice of the Moral Law without the help of the Holy Spirit.

2. Answer the call to uprightness effectively.

To effectively answer this call to uprightness we must observe the Torah and the Prophets.  We must observe the Old Testament.  If you're visually impaired, then you know from experience that observation is more than visual.  Observation includes all our senses!

According to Joshua 1:8 as it was passed down to Moses.  Observation, meditation and careful execution of the moral law empowers you to be prosperous and have good success.  If this is true, then we must read the OT to gain the quality of being morally right or justifiable.

  

What is the Torah & Who are the Prophets? 

 Simply put, the Old Testament.  Further explained the Pentateuch is the first 5 books that make up the Torah. 

"These include 3 categories of law.  Within you can observe the Moral law, dealing with God’s rules for holy, morally pure and right living (Ex 20:1-17); the Civil law, dealing with Israel’s legal and social life as a nation (Ex 21:1-23:33); and the Ceremonial law, dealing with the form a ritual of Israel’s worship of the Lord.  The ceremonial law included regulations for various kinds of sacrifices (Ex 24:12—31:18).  The law that Christians are responsible to keep contains the ethical and moral principles of the OT (Mt 7:12; 22:36-40; Ro 3:31; Gal 5:14). {Citation Donald C. Stamps Pg. 1298 Fire Bible and Pg. 124} As well as the teachings of Christ and the apostles who authored the NT.  These laws reveal God’s character, desires, standards and general purposes for all people, which still apply today.  OT laws that applied directly to the nation of Israel—such as the sacrificial, ceremonial, social or civil laws—are no longer binding on NT Christians (Heb 10:1—4; e.g., Lev 1:2-3; 24:10).  However, these laws may be based on principles that should still guide our behavior.  By obeying the commands of moral conduct from God’s word and living by God’s standard, Christians show their gratitude to Christ for saving them and living through them (Rom 6:15-22).  As for the “…Prophets…” “this includes: “the books called the Latter Prophets (i.e., the Major Prophets [Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel, although Daniel is sometimes classified differently because of its focus on end times], along with the 12 Minor Prophets, which close out the OT), and (b) the books called the Former Prophets (Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings).  Other parts of the OT, referred to as the Writings, can also be classified as prophecy (see Mt. 13:35, which refers to Ps 78:2 by saying “what was spoken by the prophet”)."  ~DC Stamps Fire Bible

Taken together In Mt. 5:17 Jesus uses the phrase 

…”the Law or the Prophets…” 

this is reference to the Entire Old Testament (or the Old Covenant).  

Personally, when I travel, I have a very difficult time doing so, without the entire Biblical library.  I’ve tried to study the Word of God the NT without the OT, but there is to often a remark, quote or reference to the Old Testament.  Can you relate? 

3. Next Week:  JSM | Uprightness.2 | Jesus Fulfills

Conclusion:

Ownership is essential to the fulfillment of God’s promises in our life.  To present a healthy and delicious meal on the table it helps to follow a recipe. This sermon from Jesus on the mount is like the recipe for a successful meal in the spiritually prosperous life. Jesus points to the Bible.  Which is the Owner’s manual of basic instructions for humankind on earth.  If we want God’s perfect will in our life and we desire His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, we must allow the owner of creation to instruct us with our owner’s manual, the Bible.  Without the Bible we wouldn’t have a moral compass.  {Compass Calibration Illustration} Without this moral compass calibrated with true north we will not inherit the kingdom of God and we will not be effective in uprightness.  We might be affective, but to truly be effective we must do preventative maintenance and observe the Word.

Exhortation:

Who own’s you?  Are you the owner?  Have you written an owner’s manual for the life you want to have?  Are you living the temporary life?  Let the designer of life and death lead you with His Bible, the Owner’s manual.  If you want the promises of God to become positively constructive in this life we must observe, meditate and take special care to follow the instruction manual from God and for God’s holy purposes.  

Altar Call to Action/Suggested Response:

Get your Bible dusted off!  Have multiple translations.  Attend and or learn to lead a study group.  If you haven’t heard the call to righteousness, then you likely haven’t listened to the Bible.  It’s time for you to listen to it and learn to obey it’s instructions.  

Prayer & song:

Benediction:

(24) "The LORD bless you and keep you; (25) The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; (26) The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace." ' (Num 6:24-26 NKJV)

Join us in person or online Next Week:  JSM | Uprightness.2 | Jesus Fulfills