Bible Teaching

Calvary Temple Teaching Library

Panel Discussion

We want to finish up the teaching on the Sermon on the Mount; have a little bit of time here to see if there are any questions, discuss a few of the highlights--if the rest of the guys will come on up. We tried to keep things that are not profound per se, but actually the truths here are inexhaustible. In the teaching, trying to keep them very practical and applicable to our day, to the time that we're living in, but the generations don't change the truths. It's never altered; these truths are never diluted by culture, by time--We need one chair. Rob, you can sit on the stool there. Ha. Steve's going to do some ventriloquism. Ha Ha Ha!

Just a few more days and you'll be back in Umoja. Continue to pray for the guys; a lot of interesting things are going on in Africa. We're excited about the ministry there.

I don't know if we had announced or not, about Chacha, had we? Chacha has taken another wife. That's number four, for those of you that are counting. We did talk about divorce here in the teaching on the Sermon on the Mount, didn't we? As you all do remember, though, number one died. So, that's okay. Number two, when Chacha got saved and was called into the ministry his wife left him, despising the gospel. There was a good period of time that I know that he was ministering to her and her family. We've talked about the cultural power there, the hold of tribalism, and you have to understand the power of witchcraft there, and the demonic powers that are involved. There's a stronghold in many of these tribes and families. But, anyway, she left for the gospel's sake. And number three, of course, was the same situation. A young lady that was a professed believer, seemed to be bearing good fruit--and I think that this would be something that might even come into the discussion tonight, of Jesus teaching on fruit--seemed to be bearing good fruit, good works, always helping everybody, and when it came to the place of a choice having to be made between family, (father, tribe, traditions)--which is really the key--over a pure walk in the gospel, the defection there--in the process, as we shared with you--a situation of infidelity, adultery, a number of things that took place there. Tragic, what's taken place. Of course, we all know the trial that was in his life when he was put in prison and the false accusations there and they tried to kill him; a lot of tragic experiences. People are holding up his hands. This was a very interesting situation, how this marriage came about. I think I shared with you; the lady is not a novice. This is the sister of Rachael, Charles' wife. She's been a Christian for--I think they're second generation, aren't they--for at least 30 years. She's never been married; just believing God. It was a very interesting thing the way it came about. Here's a woman who's had her life set apart for over 30 years serving God, and then when this need arose it was like it just leapt in her heart and she thought, "This is what I've been waiting for." This is God's hand in ordering her life. So, that's exciting, isn't it, to see a woman willing to hear from the voice of God in that way and ready to serve; mature, proven. And already the fellowship there is excited and built up. So, be in prayer, and pray for her. This is number four! It seems like those that get to be Chacha's companions are under great attack. So, be in prayer and lift their hands up. It's a time when they are all very excited about what God's doing. So be prayerful there.

Let's go ahead and turn back to Matthew, Chapter 5, and just refresh yourselves very quickly as you look across the chapters. We'll discuss a couple of the key topics and then see if there are any questions on any of the subject matter to make sure that we're clear. We dealt with some pretty weighty issues here. We've dealt with divorce. We were dealing with, as we ended up the teachings, on fruit bearing and how to recognize a true believer. We dealt with vengeance, we dealt with forgiveness; a number of very weighty issues that we dealt with that Jesus put forth as foundational truths that have to be in place if a community is going to exist together. How to stay cohesive, how to love one another, and, of course, it's summed up in what we call the Golden Rule, where He says that all the law and the prophets hangs on this one thing, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." We live off of that principle as believers and seek to honor the Lord.

In the one session we spent a good amount of time on a subject that every one of us deals with daily, and that's the seeking first of the kingdom of God in the midst of a generation of hedonism, pleasure seekers, prosperity, ease and comfort in our society and the potential damage that there can be to those of us in this last day. The need to be seekers of the kingdom of God first: How to pray truly in faith for our daily bread in the midst of our abundance.

What stood out to you guys? Rob, I don't know if you have anything; you're getting ready to head on out, and I know it's been an interesting time that you've had here of your warfare, but at the same time I think some good refreshing time at home and the Lord's ministered and strengthened you. I saw you today--Rob was just so blessed watching our kids minister at the old folk's home today--to see the quality of that ministry. It was true ministry; it wasn't just a cute little program. The gospel went forth, praise God! Real ministry and that was exciting. But anybody, if you want to comment quickly, and then we'll see if there are any questions.

PASTOR LAROCK: I think it was the first session where you talked about prayer and the emphasis on our Father and just how important that we understand that God is our dad, Abba Father. The more you think about that, the Holy Spirit opens your eyes and your heart to understand that, it just blows your mind. Really, that's not an overstatement to say that because He's the God of the universe and He's revealed Himself to be our dad, our Father. The people that Jesus first taught that to were probably blown away by that. "Pray this way, ‘Our Father...'" "Really? The guy that shook the mountains and the fire and the smoke, and you can't come near and you can't touch it lest you be stoned or thrust through with a dart, and now He's our Father?" It's just a phenomenal thing that we can approach God as Dad and know that we're loved as a son with the Father. Just to approach Him that way has really blessed me.

That was the first thing, and then the second thing--just real quickly--you asked a question this way a couple of times when you were teaching on the treasures and what our treasures are. A couple of times you said, "What are your treasures...really?" The "really" was the part that got me. Because, when you say what are your treasures a lot of times we know the right answer; we know what our treasures are. But when you said it that way, it kind of makes you get past the hypocrisy or the religiosity to really look at your life. What are your treasures? What gets you excited? What are you giving your life to? What are you giving your time to? What's really in your heart in abundance? It was just very helpful to me and probably to many people to be challenged in that way, to make sure that our treasures are the eternal treasures, and if we see that they're not to make the change that's necessary. Cut things off, make ourselves accountable, get into God's presence; whatever it is that we need to do to keep those treasures where they need to be.

PASTOR SCOTT: The reason I asked the question and asked it that way--I know in my own life and I don't think it's unique to me--my treasures don't always remain the same. I would like to be able to say that the pearl of great price, the kingdom of God, that Jesus is always foremost in my life, but it's not the case. There's times when my treasures are other than what they should be. The danger is when you intellectually know what the right treasure is and you have confidence over the years that you've always, when put to the test, chosen the right treasures, there's the tendency to entertain the wrong treasures for too long a period of time. They need to be dealt with when you recognize it as out of order and deal with it then. Not, "Well, I know this isn't quite right and next week, next month, next opportunity I'm going to do something about it." It's the day that it's recognized in our lives. That's why, in asking the question, "What is it really, right now?" can you say truthfully, "This is the treasure of my life. I am absolutely pressing toward the mark, the prize; I'm all out for the glory of God." Or, do we need to be real in our self-examination and go, "I need to step back and be sober and entertain what the Lord said--don't be anxious, don't be caught up, don't be distracted, the teaching on the sower, the attractions, the distractions, all of these different things--and stay in that spirit of sobriety." It's something that we just have to continually stir ourselves up. And when I say treasures, don't misunderstand what I'm saying. I'm not talking about something that you're in bondage to at that moment or even an addiction. I'm talking about a distraction, something that has your attention that has diminished the value of that pearl. And those are the things that we need to be aware of. It's not acceptable. He deserves our all at all times. Amen? So that's what we're trying to look at. Any other... Rob?

PASTOR ROB: There were a couple of things. One was, as you were dealing with retaliation, vengeance. The entire teaching is so basic to where we live every day, and one of the first things that come to mind when I think of retaliation is when somebody cuts you off. In Nairobi they do a lot of that. And what you're talking about is if they've cut you off, then you're talking about injustice. "That wasn't right." That's always the test for us when you've been treated unjustly in some way: somebody cuts you off or you get passed over for a promotion, or in some way you've been offended because what this person did to you was not right. I always find that to be the biggest test in my life. How do I respond to injustice? How do I respond when clearly this person was wrong in what they did? That really becomes the test for my character. When clearly they were wrong and I was right, so how am I going to respond in a situation like that? Do you turn the other cheek? Do you go the extra mile? Or, do you take matters into your own hands? "I'm going to set this thing right. I'm going to set that person right." Now your heart's really been revealed in the whole thing. That was clearly one aspect that spoke to me.

I think the other, again, was what you were just speaking towards, the treasures; the test of believing God. Whether you have abundance or you have nothing, being able to have that reliance upon the Lord; the constant challenge that you face here when you have so much. How easy it is for that heart to, all of the sudden, latch hold of something. You always find in your own heart all of a sudden you feel that, "Hey, I'm grabbing this thing now." I know for myself, I'd like to say all of the time, but that isn't always the case, many times when I feel that then you kind of react spiritually. Okay, you just throw it out there; let it go, whatever it is, because it's amazing how those treasures can capture you. Before you know it, your mind begins to go that direction and you're not thinking on things above; you're caught up on earthly things. Through television and different things, there is just so much emphasis on riches and wealth and the good life. And whether it's here or there, the covetousness that's out there, it's a real battle in those areas to keep your focus, not on the things of this world; to be able to have it and enjoy it and not for it to have you. It's a challenge and yet it's easy.

PASTOR SCOTT: Yes, it really is and covetousness, of course, is relative. We were talking in Africa, people are coveting a paper cardboard box to be able to take home and use as a night stand or something. In the Eldoret church, Tony had to lock up the cardboard boxes from the carnal Christians who thought, "This would serve better at my house." When we talk about covetousness, it's all relative; so don't limit it to anything other than discontentment, to pride, to distraction from the real treasures. I think those are the things that we all have to really look at in our lives. It's a very difficult thing to enter into the Promised Land--we've heard it time and time again--and not forget the Lord. We hear the wise man say, "Don't make me poor that I steal or rich that I forget You." In that balance, how do we walk in that balance? As we've learned over the years in the teachings, the key is in seeking first the kingdom and resting in God's sovereignty. Let His blessings come and make you rich and add no sorrow. Be careful, Paul said to Timothy, those that would be rich are going to allow themselves to be put under great duress and temptation in these different areas. So, it's something we've got to guard ourselves against and it's a very, very fine balance; it's called walking in the spirit. So, we pray and believe God.

Over the years I've shared in my testimony things that Father's done in our lives and blessings, and I know how to be abased, truly, and have know abundance. Thankful for all that God's done. On a couple of occasions divested ourselves of literally everything we had. Just the other day in prayer I was praying and just meditating on the presence of God, just so thankful for the things that Father's blessed us with. I'm talking about in the natural, material things. Thinking, "Father, this is just beyond anything that can be imagined. And not having sought," per se, and then stopped to realize, "You need to really examine your life for just a moment, because it's been a long time since you've been without." Now, you've passed all of the tests to this point, and so that builds in you a confidence, a joy, a hope and faith, but, at the same time, a preparation for the hour we're coming into. Because, beloved, this stuff is all going away sometime in the near future, and are we ready, really? I have--I wouldn't say, I'm very careful to be Peter--I have pretty good confidence that I'm not going to turn away from the Lord based upon that, but I don't know if I could receive it with joy like maybe I should; and I want my heart that way, don't you? To be able to just rejoice in whatever state Father puts us in. So, that's what I search my heart in, in these things, just wanting to be able to honor God in every situation that we find ourselves, and not presume that, "Well, I always have, so I'm sure I will this time too." I don't know that and so I want to be prepared and that's part of what this whole teaching is. Any other comments?

PASTOR LAROCK: A good test to that is just your attitude with what you have right now. Right? I mean, for everybody, right now. Because, you think you could be content if you could have just a little bit more, which is discontentment. But, if you can be thankful with what you have even though it's less than what you may like to have, if you can be thankful with your older car even though you might like to have a newer car, if you can be thankful with the clothes that you have even though you might like to get some new stuff this spring, and we could go on and on. If you can be thankful for the job that you have, even though you might like to have a different job or a better job, then that's a good test, if you can look at it and say, "Thank God. I can look around and see some things that are more attractive to me, things I think I might enjoy more, but this is what God's given me. I'm thankful. God's blessed us." Just to be able to have that in your heart in abundance and not just say it, but to really feel that way. It you're sitting down to a meal and you're having peanut butter sandwiches because that's all you can afford this month, to just be able to say, "Thank God. God's provided for us. He's faithful." When you can say that from your heart, whatever state you're in, then that's just a good test for us. Because we can convince ourselves, "Well, I'd be thankful if I could have this or that. They're thankful because they have that." But, really the test is can you be content, because what you have, that's what God's given you. Are you content with what God has seen fit to give you? Are you content with Him as your provider?

PASTOR SCOTT: And if that's the case, whether it increases or diminishes, the thankfulness is when you're able, as we were saying, to be able to see God as the provider. He's the one that has me where I am at this moment. That's what makes me thankful. I'm in the will of God. This is the blessings of the Lord. That's an important thing, but in the day we're living, like Rob was saying, we're just constantly being told, "You should have more." One of the things, every morning when I'm working out, and I'm listening to teaching on the radio, there's this one advertisement that comes on that just ticks me off. It's on Christian radio and it's some good Christian people wanting you to take a second mortgage on your home to pay your excess credit card debts. How could anybody that says they're part of the kingdom be encouraging somebody to do that? Some of the implications; this you-should-reward-yourself type of a thought process are the things that we as believers have to shy away from, because God is the source, godliness with contentment. Let's not use the world's methods to give ourselves a quick fix of gratification. Even non-Christians--generations ago, we all know that, financing wasn't done; you didn't finance anything but possibly your home. And then we started financing cars, and now people are financing food. "Let's go out and eat and we'll pay that off in three months." In not too long it's gone--flush--and then you're paying on it for how long? If you can't afford to pay for the meal, don't go out. I don't mean you're going to pay your credit card off at the end of the month. "Give us this day our daily bread." It's an attitude as well. I think we need guard ourselves in this hour in what God has provided.

PASTOR ROB: I think the other side of the covetousness thing is when other people are getting blessed and then you find out if you've got jealousy and envy there, which is symptomatic of covetousness. You happen to be the "have not" all the time and there's all those "haves" and all of the sudden you start looking at what they're getting, and, again, it just reveals your own heart that you're not content, you're not thankful. That covetous spirit, "How come they're getting that? How come I never get that? I wish I had what they had." And all of a sudden you just gave up your great treasure.

PASTOR SCOTT: And it's judging God. It's a character trait of jealousy, pride, envy, bitterness these different areas. It's judgment of God's providence for us and God's lack of love. So, those are all issue that we deal with as people. Jeff were you going to share something?

PASTOR HEGLUND: Yeah. It just reminds me of Hebrews 13:5 where it says, "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." He's really our portion, and I know in my own life, just as we're talking--and that stood out to me too about the treasures--I just hate the flesh, how it has that partner with the sin that's in the members, and you're constantly contending with that covetousness. The enemy's always holding out whatever the fruit is, to say, "You'll be happier with this." I constantly try to pray, "Lord help me to value what You value and see what I really have. Give me eyes, spiritual eyes, and ears that I might hear." You have to battle it. You have to purpose to see those things, what your portion is. The Lord has a way of taking things that you don't really like in your flesh, necessarily--you know, some people are shy and they don't like to be around people. Well, being a Christian is being part of the body and He has a way of taking those things and making it your treasure. Whatever it is, in the kingdom--"Well, I don't like working with kids" and you find yourself working in children's church because there's a need and you want to help out and you're nervous and, "I can't do this." God puts you in that thing and takes you out of your comfort zone and He makes it your passion and your treasure to do the things, because He's called you to do them and give back. And when you see the treasure that He is--think of all that we have. I was mentioning something to Chuck the other day, and the kids, of my own life. Most of my life I've know nothing but love. And not just phileo love, I've got a lot of that, but agape; people who have laid down their lives--people on this stage, so many people in this room. I could never say that I'm not blessed, and yet it's pretty ugly where you find yourself sometimes where you're thinking, "I want to do this, or I should..." Just being careful to go, "But wait a minute, this is the treasure. Keep me in that place where I can see." Just the war that that is in this day and age, you've said it many times in this teaching: The tactics of the enemy, of the plugged-in generation and everything to be distracted by, and distracted by attraction, and the war that those things are. This is one of the things that I come back to a lot, the thing that Chuck mentioned from the beginning, the Scriptures: "Am I happy right now? Am I content with what I have? Because Jesus said He'd never leave us or forsake us. Sometimes circumstances are up and sometimes circumstances are down, but where am I?" I think that's a good test. It's a challenging one too. But as Christians, if we just sit back, just tonight, and look around, how many people really care for us? People who have just looked us in the eye and cared for us, loved us, cried with us, picked us up or challenged us in the spirit. We get it all the time! Every week you're standing up here and communicating the things of the Lord, if nothing else. But so much more, I know I have, discipleship training, people taking me out camping and coaching me and it goes on and on, sitting in meetings with the pastors. It's unbelievable and yet how selfish we get.

PASTOR SCOTT: How many of you were helped by the "sufficient to the day is the evil thereof" part of this thing? Anybody that that helped on the heels of the sovereignty teaching? Let me see your hands. A number had come to me and said, "I was just getting down under the weight of stuff and realized that Jesus is coming! I'm worrying ten years down the road and I need to just start being content for the next ten minutes. Praise God!" We're so caught up in the future, and that's one of Satan's greatest tactics: trying to get you to borrow from tomorrow; when Jesus said, "Take no thought for the morrow. Don't worry about that. You just be a part of what I'm doing right now in the kingdom and let me finish the work in your life for today." I think in light of many of our schedules, all of the bondage that people are under, with projections of, "We're going to retire by such and such of time. My investments are going to do this." Everything's out there and everything in the kingdom is to be lived right now. See, God is eternal. He's always in the present moment fully. And that's one of the things that will keep us from being anxious and fearful and covetous, because all I need is what I have right now. Once we can learn to live in that, there's a real walk of faith and contentment that I think is very, very beneficial.

Any questions on any of the major principles that you would like clarified? I don't want our panels, either, to become something that becomes just tradition. You need to be thankful for this. There are not a whole lot of people that are being taught that have opportunity to sit and ask questions in these areas. I don't mean now to sit there and try to think something up. I'm just saying don't wait for somebody else to do it. If there's something that you say, "I've really been wondering," take the opportunity, and don't let the enemy rob you based on fear or that people will misunderstand or people will think it's me. Just say, "I have a friend." or whatever. And you can't do what Keith Stitt did the other day in men's breakfast. All of you ladies will get kick out of this. We were talking about biblical sexuality. And we were saying, "Okay, men we're going to ask some questions and this is being taped." So, Keith Stitt got the microphone and he said, "Yes, I'm Jerry Brooks, Sr....." Anyway, go ahead.

MALE SPEAKER: I just wanted some clarification or maybe a balance on contentment. Given the fact that we're all so prosperous in this room--and that's probably what all of us have practically known since we've been born, for the most part, some with different trials and what not--I just wanted to know the balance when we have the wherewithal to do almost anything that we really want. I might have the wherewithal to go out and get another car, even though I might not need one, but I might want one. It might be necessary, so just learning how to be content with what you have even though you have the wherewithal; where do we draw the balance with things like that? Sometimes, like I was saying, we're so prosperous and we're giving in, we're tithing, we're giving into everything we know we can and we're doing what we believe the Lord is leading us to do, and it is within our power that the Lord's blessed us and we can partake of the fruit of that, but I'm sure there's got to be a balance within that. Maybe some clarification on that.

PASTOR SCOTT: That's a very good question because one of the things that we've got to be careful that we don't do either, is allow the enemy to use our love--our desire to care for those that are among us--against us in what we would see as socialism. "Everybody ought to be equal. I have so much; I should give it away. I can't buy a new car when we have brothers and sisters in Africa that are looking for a cardboard box." Now, let's take that to the extreme. Is that thought process correct? Yes. Is it always correct? No. I'll explain what I'm talking about: If we're not careful, we'll begin to think along those lines and we talked a little bit about, if any man asks you don't turn him away; give, the principles that Jesus taught here. And then we started talking about that: What about if the guy that won't work; just some lazy guy and he comes up and asks you for some money. Instead of giving him money, you need to give him an address for a job. There's the different principles.

So, how do we examine our own hearts? We have to ask ourselves this question: Is it wrong to be prosperous or to be rich? No. Paul says in Timothy 6, charge the rich that are among you to be ready to distribute. So, now we learn something about contentment. That means I'm always ready when God speaks to give. So, what am I going to say my wisdom is? Don't get myself ever in a place of, "I'm going to have a new car, I'm going to get a new house, I'm going to get a new TV." And now I've got so many things and I'm so tied up that I have no capacity to give if God was to speak to me. I always stay in a place to where when God speaks, I can meet needs, if I'm one that God's prospering and blessing. That begins to show that I'm always thinking beyond myself. Now, if in the process, and I don't need a new car, but I see one that I like. I have the wherewithal; God gives us richly all things to enjoy. His blessings make rich and they add no sorrow. So, we're taking these principles and applying them and saying, now, have I manipulated? Have I forsaken my duty as a husband, my commitment to the body to get these things? No, this is the blessing of the Lord. Okay, this has been put into my hands, I can now distribute it as the Spirit of the Lord leads me and those of us that are more prosperous in our midst--we're all prosperous--we need to be very careful that we're not governed by guilt. You don't always give to the people with the least. God's sovereign. People are in different places for reasons, many times, that are sometimes beyond our capacity to understand. So, I've got to make sure that it's not human empathy, that it's the Spirit of God that's speaking to me and leading me. But at the same time we always want to be in that place of liquidity to where we can do what God tells us to do. I think that's part of that balance. Don't let Satan's accusations, the accuser of the brethren, or a natural-type guilt come in, because, we're also in a world that pushes socialism. That is not a biblical principle. What we do look at though is that there should be no needs in our midst ever as we have the same care one for another. That begins to be the biblical balance, and at the same time Jesus said, "The poor you're always going to have with you." That was something that was recognized also by the Lord. We have, today, the secular humanists; their goal is to wipe out poverty. Jesus said you're always going to have poor people. He gives many reasons why. Much of the world's poverty today is because of sin, because of paganism. These are some of the things that they're under the curse. I don't know if that helps at all. Did you guys want to add to that at all?

PASTOR LAROCK: The fact that you want something better doesn't necessarily mean you're discontent, does it?

PASTOR SCOTT: No.

PASTOR LAROCK: The fact that you have something--I'm just thinking that you go to a restaurant and I'm looking at this menu at Outback, and the cheapest thing on there is chicken for $11.00, but I'd really like to get the filet mignon, but that's $20.00. "That's covetousness; that's discontentment." Or, the example he gave, I think he mentioned something about a car and wanting something better, the fact that you would like something better is not in itself discontentment. The discontentment is discontentment; you're unhappy with what you've got. The fact that you'd like something better is not necessarily discontentment. Discontentment is when there's unhappiness, your joy is gone, there's sometimes envy, jealousy, like Rob mentioned, things like that. Another thought to add to what Pastor was sharing, just doing everything for the glory of God--whether we eat or whether we drink, whether we buy a car or whether we don't buy a car--just think what's most for the glory of God. In every practical thing, as you think about your heart motives and how you're going to use this potential thing--whether it's a job change or acquiring a possession, a different position, a better possession--just think what's going to be most for the glory of God. "If I get this, is it going to be a distraction? Or maybe if I get a better car it's going to help me spend more time with my family because I won't be laying under the car so much doing repairs on Saturday." Those practical things should come into play. What's going to be the most for the glory of God? You can be really humble and drive an old car and not spend time with your family because you're always fixing it even though you have the money to buy it. So, what's going to be the most for the glory of God?

PASTOR SCOTT: Sometimes we get confused in our economy, too, and we forget what God was saying when these principles were put down. So, the spirit doesn't change, but it would almost be like the guy feeling bad because God gave him a whole bunch of corn this year. "Man, we didn't need all this corn." When God prospers us, when He's the source and He gives us abundance, that's for His glory; we boast in it, we rejoice in God as our source. Then as stewards we try to wisely lay up and these different aspects that are a part of the process of community. Those are one of the things to look into, and the key is the godliness part of it. Do I recognize God as the source, and am I using it for His glory. That, I think, will help us. Any other questions along this same line or anything? Is that fairly clear for every body? Yes. Wait just a moment and Jim will get there.

FEMALE SPEAKER #1: If we embrace the principle of finding our contentment and our peace and our joy in Christ, how do we know when to draw the line when it comes to dealing with co-workers or unsaved spouses or any of the situations that come up? How do you know when to draw the line? Because, generally to me, I'm living and I'm happy and I have Jesus and all this other stuff is just stuff. I know you should draw the line somewhere.

PASTOR SCOTT: Are you talking about in the time we spend in relationships or when it has to do with interaction and conflict?

FEMALE SPEAKER #1: In conflict, just in general, when it comes to people taking advantage of you, or doing things to you that they shouldn't do to you, or saying stuff. How do you know when to draw the line?

PASTOR SCOTT: I think, if I'm understanding correctly, part of the thing is when we're willing to, as Rob said earlier, we're just content in the Lord and we're living for Him and people are going to say all manner of evil against us or they're going to be critical of us, how do we respond in these types of situations? Remember, it had to do in the vengeance teaching and retaliation. There are times where we're going to speak and address sin or conflict, but not for personal justification, but for the glory of God, to remind and set the biblical principles in order. As it pertains to our own reputation or our own ease and, "I just don't want to be bothered," we always need to be ready to be bothered because we are the salt of the earth. We're the light of the world and we're always there trying to live and portray Christlikeness, the gospel, etc. So, that always is necessitated that we are involved in people's lives that are around us, but it's for the glory of God and not for our own purposes. Am I answering the question or maybe...? Go ahead and ask it again, maybe I'm not getting it all.

FEMALE SPEAKER #1: Well, you got it; it's just that often I feel like I don't respond well when people do things to me. I feel like I should have some response, but I really just don't care.

PASTOR SCOTT: There's nothing wrong with just turning the other cheek. If it's something that people are misunderstanding us or speaking evil against us or they're being harsh because of our commitment in the kingdom, then count it all joy. I think some of us--this is part of the teaching we did early on--most of us have the other mistake; we want to retaliate, we want to say something, we want to fix it, we want to justify, we want to set things right. Moses; he just got on his face before God, and many times that's the best action: Just let God do it. I know over the years I just absolutely--in the years where we were receiving a lot of criticism, I just wouldn't respond. I had nothing to say. And you know what? It's part of what you're saying: "I just can't be bothered with that. I am not going to waste my energy in fighting you." Don't answer a fool according to their folly, and then the same proverb goes on and says, but there are times when you need to answer a fool according to his folly. So, it's a time of being lead by the spirit. Most of the time we'll just be quiet as Jesus was dumb before His shearers. I think if we can do that in the spirit of humility, we're probably not going to go wrong most of the time.

FEMALE SPEAKER #1: Okay, okay. That answers it.

PASTOR SCOTT: I hope that answers. Good. Thank you. Any other questions along some of these principles, because this is where we really live. When people are hassling us at work, or we were talking about the prosperity, we're living in a society when we're all being told we should all have everything. And yet it seems like I'm the only guy that never gets a break. How come my brother over here that has so much doesn't give it to me? In Africa, I told people, I said, "We, as the fellowship in Sterling, we could send you more money. But, we're not going to." Why? You need to trust God! We're not your source. Now, if God tells us to, we will. But there's nothing that teaches an equality of lifestyle in the Scripture. In fact, it teaches just the opposite. So, we've got to be very careful of what is human empathy and what is the heart of God and compassion and caring for the poor and helping the weaker brethren and those things. It's all just walking in the spirit, hearing the voice of God. Any other questions on any of these subjects? Yes. Jim's getting good exercise.

FEMALE SPEAKER #2: If I could just kind of carry on with our sister's question over here, I know for me, my problem would be turning the other cheek. If somebody insults me, I'd prefer to insult them back. But, for a lot of women--in particular women, I know there are some men like this--they've got the turn-the-other-cheek down so well that they've become a doormat. So, how do you find that balance so that you don't become a doormat, but you definitely turn the other cheek so that you're not defending yourself. Only Jesus would you defend, if you know what I mean. But, you don't allow yourself to be abused either.

PASTOR SCOTT: Could you give me kind of a hypothetical maybe?

FEMALE SPEAKER #2: I think a lot about situations, especially marriages where you're dealing with an unbelieving spouse and then the wife is the believer. And I know I've encountered situations like that here where the wife is just so beaten down, emotional abuse, not physical, but emotional abuse to the point where you're like "Stand up to this person, the Word says this, and too bad." I remember a woman who used to come here and her husband would just, "Well, if you do that, I'm going to leave." I said, "Did you offer to iron his shirts, pack them for him and send him on his way?" That was not her perspective, because he was emotionally abusing her. He was an unbeliever, he was not pleased to dwell; he was pleased to abuse. So, where's the line?

PASTOR SCOTT: I think in that illustration, those are things where we do know the Scriptures and say "Listen, the Bible says if you want to depart, depart, but here's how I'm going to live my life. I'm serving the Lord; I'm training these kids up in the nurture and the admonition of the Lord. You are not their spiritual covering; you're their natural provider, you're their parent, but in the secular realm. You've abdicated that. And here's the clear teaching, the Pauline doctrine on this issue, and if you want to leave, then hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more." But we have to know what the Scripture teaches. If we're going to turn the other cheek, like Jesus was teaching, when it has to do with pride and my reputation, then we just don't address that; but when it comes to the lordship of Jesus, the institution of the church or the kingdom of God, then we're to contend for the faith, and we're not to stand there and stay mute when people are speaking contrary to Jesus' lordship. Those are very important things. So, we have to know the biblical principles that would pertain to that. It's clear in one where they're threatening to leave, "If you go to church, I'm going to divorce you, if you go to that prayer meeting tonight." Say, "Get your papers together; I'll sign them when I come back." These are some of the things where there can be no compromise. In Moses' meekness, as he stood against Pharaoh, in Jesus' meekness--you know when Jesus was smitten, and we talked about that one exception, He didn't stay quiet. He said, "What are you doing smiting me against the law?" See, when the law was broken, not just Jesus' reputation, when the law was broken, Jesus rebuked the ones that were offending Him. That's, I think, the order of it. Does that help?

FEMALE SPEAKER #2: Absolutely.

PASTOR SCOTT: Good. Any other questions on any of the subjects, the principles here in the Sermon on the Mount? It's getting just about done. Anything else? Any African questions? Any others? Let's pray.

Father, thank You for Your love. You know, people would--it's interesting, books have been written on the hard sayings of Jesus, and many of them come out of these chapters. There's nothing hard here, it's just stark reality. You're asking us to live against everything that's in our flesh, that's natural. And You've said, "You've heard it written, but I say unto you...." Thank You for the voice of the Holy Spirit. Thank You for the enabling of the grace of God and the power of God to live beyond ourselves to keep Your commandments, to joy in Your holiness, to identify as separate, as the children of God, ambassadors of truth in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. Lord, as our minds momentarily go back over these chapters, thank You for being our Father, for the privilege of the high calling of salt and light. Thank You for the brethren. Help us to be forgiving and loving and to do unto others. Help us to be truthful with our own hearts and those that are around us because it's by our fruit that we're known. Let us dig deep into this rock. It's a life process. It requires much effort, but we will not be destroyed. We will not fall. We will not even be shaken, and we rejoice in that, Father, when the trials of life come. They stood and were amazed that You taught them, not as the scribes, but one having authority. That says it all, Lord. These are not suggestions, these are not things that we will consider and possibly get put into our lives. Taught as one having authority, You are Lord, these are Your directives; we have no other way to live. And so we thank You for the wisdom, for the direction, for the foundation You've built, and Father, we just want You to be glorified, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Turn to somebody next to you, and say, "Dig deep!" Praise God! Amen. Go in peace, God's love go with you.

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