The inward life

John Stott outlines the Sermon on the Mount so far like this:

Jesus begins with a description of the character of the Christian (the beatitudes), he then describes the influence of the Christian life (salt and light), before describing the righteousness of the Christian life.

In this section he turns his attention to the religion of the Christian. In other words the focus shifts away form the outward life, those things that we do that are seen, that should be seen as a demonstration of our faith, to those things that should not be seen, the inward life of the follower of Jesus.

The inward life is:

#1 A life in tension

We all know that we have two parts to our lives. We know that there is the part that most people see most of the time. And we know that there is a part, a dimension to our lives that is unseen. The Bible states the obvious when it tells us that the unseen affects the seen, that what is going on inside our hearts will affect how we present ourselves to the world at large.
If there is a tension between the two, eventually it will show.

Paul knew those tensions (Rom.7) and he knew the solution (Rom.8). He knew that the only way forward was sacrifice (Rom.12) and transformation (Rom.12). He knew that grace (Eph.2) was the only alternative to legalism and trying to earn your way into heaven (Titus 3). He knew that this transformation only comes about by the work of God (Phil.1) who has a purpose in mind (Eph2-biulding a temple) and a pattern for us to follow (Phil. 2-the example of Jesus). He knew that the battle would be tough (Eph.6) but the goal would be worth it (Phil. – for me to live is Christ, to die is gain).

I’m never comfortable using the term religion when it comes to Christian faith. I much prefer lifestyle, faith-walk, or some other term. Religion seems to have all the wrong connotations for me. That’s why I prefer to talk about the inward life of the follower of Jesus.

The structure of the Sermon on the Mount reminds us that:

Character begets influence and that influence requires righteousness as a way of life in order to be positively sustained. Why do public figures, especially politicians, come under such scrutiny? Could it be that we expect them to live up to the standards that they want to set for us. If they want to influence us we expect their character to reflect their rhetoric. When it doesn’t we ask, “Why should we do as they say when they can’t or won’t do it themselves?” It is no different for the follower of Jesus who wants to influence their friends and families, their co-workers or neighbours. Our character and our lifestyle must hold together. But that is not the end, nor is it the beginning.

If the outward life is going to have any value, then the inward life has to be in place. The inward life of the Pharisees seems to have taken second place to the outward life in the days of Jesus. Perhaps it’s just what happens when human beings get their hands on a code of practice. Jesus seeks to reverse this trend by telling his followers that some things are reserved for the public sphere of witness and influence and some are reserved for the private, inner world of discipleship.

Perhaps of equal importance is the simple truth that if we are going to avoid our outward lives becoming a mechanical series of pre-programmed responses to rules and regulations. If we’re going to avoid being religious and become faith-walkers, then we need to build the outward on the inward.

#2 A generous life

Jesus begins his description of the inner life by contrasting the way a true and fake God-follower goes about the practice of giving. Give to the needy is not just about financial gifts but any act of mercy. The issue is not just one of generosity but of motivation. As with our lifestyle and our righteousness, so too with our acts of kindness and mercy, it’s the heart that gives away the game. As John Stott puts it: It not so much about what the hand is doing as about what the heart is thinking.

There are only three possible motivations according to Jesus:

The praise of men
Self-congratulation (pride)
Honouring God

The first two lead to hypocrisy. Treating the world as if it’s some sort of stage on which we parade our goodness. Our true motivation should be to reflect the merciful and gracious character of God.

#3 A prayerful life

Again Jesus speaks about the difference between the hypocrisy of the religious professional, or rather the professionally religious. They love to pray, not because they love God or love to talk with him, but because they love people to know that they are praying. By contrast, Christians are to go into their rooms, shut the doors and pray in secret.

Is this a solitary practice? Should we meet together to pray? Jesus isn’t suggesting that you can only truly pray if you pray alone. It’s not “aloneness” that is the issue, but secrecy. The secret place is a quite place, a place free from distractions and free from the prying eyes of people. Prayer is about meeting with God. Should we pray on street corners? Yes, if it’s secret. In other words, yes if we’re not trying to draw attention to what we are doing for the sake of praise.

The cornerstones of Christian prayer are:

Adoration of God
The priority of God’s kingdom
His provision for our needs
His forgiveness of our sin
His protection from temptation

#4 A disciplined life

The third “secret thing” is discipline. Jesus uses the example of fasting.

A question: Have you given something up for lent? Is it important to you that people know you’ve given it up? What are you doing with the time you’ve released because you’ve given something up?

Again Jesus points us towards motivation.

Lazy is easy. Discipline is not. Discipline means getting up in the morning and running 10 miles in the wind and rain or snow because you want to enter the London marathon. Discipline means choosing fruit for breakfast rather than eating your way through the New York cheesecake that’s in the fridge. Discipline is about setting aside time in the day or the week to get alone with God and read the Bible, reflect and pray. Discipline is the only ay to go healthier Christian lives.
Without discipline it just doesn’t happen.

Summary

Jesus sums this all up by reminding us that our heart and treasure go together. For the religious hypocrite their treasure is the praise and admiration of others. For the true God-follower it’s in heaven. It’s in the secret place because God is in the secret place.

We cannot help that our outward lives are on display. So we guard them and we do those things that honour God and point people towards heaven. But it’s built upon our inner lives, our lives lived with God.

If we get persecuted for doing the right thing, it doesn’t matter because our reward is not with people but with God. And sees what is done in secret, he looks at the heart, at the inward life more than he looks at the outside.

Four great promises

Last Sunday we put our intercessory prayers at church into the context of four of God's great promises to us. Here are the promises we focussed on that morning.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
(Jer.29:11)

…I am the LORD, who heals you
(Exod. 15:26)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
(Prov. 3:5-6)

…God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
(Heb. 13:5)

Counter-culture

Life presents us with a series of significant questions. Who am I? Why am I here? What does my life mean? What should I believe about life, or death, right and wrong? What should I believe about God, about Jesus?

Perhaps the key question is: “How should I live?” I’m sure it’s a question you’ve asked yourself even if you’ve never asked it of anyone else. As Christians, as followers of Jesus Christ, how should we live?

The Sermon on the Mount gives us some insight into the answer to this question.

Jesus tells his disciples that life in the kingdom looks very different to life in the world, even life in the religious world of the Pharisees and teachers of the Law. He says that it connects with our thought patterns, our relationships, the way we treat our family and even our enemies. He says that you can’t serve two masters, that you must choose where to store your treasure. He says that your righteousness must be of a higher standard than the people you thought were possibly the most righteous in the world, and he also said that breaking the law wasn’t a bar to the kingdom of God, it just made you “least” there.

He said that there was a better way to pray and a more God-honouring way to give; he said there was a solution to worry. He said that the sum of all the Law and the prophets was do for other people what you would want them to do for you. And he said wise people know how to choose a good foundation.

But he begins with a blessing.

#1 The promises

As Jesus begins to teach the crowd he starts with a series of 8 general blessings.

What Jesus doesn’t say: Blessed are the wealthy, or the financially secure; blessed are the happy, or the people who have their lives together. He doesn’t say blessed are the assertive or those who are devoted to keeping all the rules all the time.

Instead he blesses the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek, and the merciful. He blesses those whose hearts search after righteousness, whose hearts are pure. He blesses the peacemakers and the persecuted. As he blesses he describes a new community a counter-culture. These blessings, these promises redefine what the outcomes of following Jesus.

He begins and ends this set of 8 blessings with the promise of an inheritance. He says: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

We know that this kingdom is here now: Repent for the kingdom of God is near you. But we also know that the kingdom is coming. We know that there is much that will change, that must change, but Jesus ushers in a new era. Suddenly God is living amongst people, and not only is the kingdom near, but the king is near too.

And this kingdom is available to ordinary people. Amazing! Whilst all are important, let’s pick out some of these blessings for closer inspection.

1. Blessed are poor in spirit

These are the first people Jesus says will inherit the kingdom. So who is “poor in spirit”?
This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.
(Ps.34:6)

In the OT the “poor man” is the one who calls out to God, who recognises his spiritual need. He, or she, trusts God for salvation rather than their religious virtue or their own ability.
The new order Jesus is announcing is available to all yet open only to those who realise they need help. And they will get the help they need.

2. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness

Recognising your need is a great first step, but you’ve got to ant what God is offering. To hunger and thirst implies a sense of pursuit. The fully committed follower of Jesus goes after righteousness not as if he or she could own it, but because it’s the right way tot live.

Recognising your spiritual poverty stops you from thinking you’ve ever arrived. You will not achieve perfection in this life, so you pursue righteousness knowing that without God’s help you wouldn’t even come close to catching a glimpse of what it truly looks like.

And the promise? If you pursue it you will be filled. In the OT God said: Seek me and you will find me; Jer.29:13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

3. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness

It’s not all plain sailing. Things can and probably will get rough. You will face some level of persecution. But because this world is not all that there is, there is a promise of a better future, an inheritance that, as Peter says, will not spoil of fade.

#2 The Perspective

After pronouncing all these general blessing (Blessed are the, or blessed are those who), Jesus becomes specific. He directly addresses his disciples.

Looking them in the eye he says: Blessed are you.

Blessed are you when you are insulted, persecuted and falsely accused because of me.

Why should we, why do we expect our Christian lives to go so well? Why, rather like our transport systems, are we caught out by sudden downturns or changes that make life difficult? Whilst it’s almost possible to see the 8 beatitudes as an idealised utopian dream, this 9th blessing brings it all into sharp focused reality.

It will not be easy to follow Jesus. It will be costly. Crosses to be borne, sacrifices to be made, options to be rejected and persecutions to be faced.

It will not be easy, but it will be worth it.

#3 The Purpose

Our God is a purposeful God. He does not act randomly he is not caught by surprise. He knows what he is doing. When you and I face challenges and problems, God is there with us, working out his purposes. Your suffering is not without purpose.

Now, purpose is not the same as reason. The reason for your suffering, for challenges, for your persecution could be all sorts of things. You may have brought it upon yourself through carelessness or disobedience to God’s call on your life. You may be suffering simply because we live in a fallen world, and sin is widespread. There are all sorts of reasons why you might be suffering.

But the purpose is different. If God is working his purposes out as year succeeds to year; if God is working his purposes out and the time is drawing near, the time that shall surely be, when the earth is filled with glory of God as the waters cover the sea.

If God is doing this, then our suffering is not in vain.

But there is more to purpose here than the future kingdom to which we look. There is purpose in the here and now. Jesus tells us that as a disciple of his we fulfil two vital functions.

1. We are salt

At the time of Jesus, salt was collected from the shore of the lake. It wasn’t purified in the way we would purify it these days. If the dried salt was left too long before use and if it got damp then it was possibly that all the salt would leech away and you’d just be left with the girt and dirt of the impurities that had been gathered with the salt. Now it was useless. All you could do was throw it on the rubbish heap.

The challenge of these blessings is a challenge to live a counter-cultural life. A life that is not all about self but a life that is all about God. That is all for God.

We are salt, and salt preserves and flavours. Our Counter-culture should impact our communities. It should bring flavour, it should bring something that impacts.

Salt is used as an antiseptic, bringing healing and relief. What a great picture of what it means to live for God in the world that needs him.

2. We are light

Like salt, light makes a difference. Light illuminates, Light pushes back the darkness. Darkness has no power over light. Light brings revelation. What could not be seen in the dark is suddenly revealed in the light. The more light the less the darkness covers.

Conclusion

The pattern of life is challenging, the opposition is determined, and the persecution is real. The rewards are great.

People who love darkness will do all they can to snuff out the light, but remember that the true light has come into the world and the darkness cannot snuff that light out.

We are called to live differently, to live as salt and light, to seek the kingdom of God, to live out the principles and pattern of that kingdom. And as we do this, God’s promise is to bless and use us to influence and change the world.