Kingdom Ministry: Serving from a Bright and Vibrant Heart
I. SERMON ON THE MOUNT: CORE VALUES OF THE KINGDOM
A. The Sermon on the Mount is the constitution of God’s Kingdom. It is the litmus test to measure spiritual development
and ministry impact. We measure our impact by how much people walk out the Sermon on the Mount values. These values
are to be the themes that we most emphasize.
B. The foundational call in the Sermon on the Mount is to live out the 8 beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) as we pursue
100-fold obedience (Matthew 5:48; 6:22). The beatitudes are like 8 beautiful flowers in the “garden in our heart” that God
wants to fully blossom. They define love, godliness and spiritual maturity that pleases God. They describe the lifestyle that
is the core reality of God’s Kingdom. These 8 flowers need to be carefully and continually cultivated as we “weed our
garden” by resisting the 6 negative influences (toxins/poisons) related to our natural lusts (Matthew 5:21-48) and as we
“water our garden” by adding the 5 positive nutrients (Matthew 6:1-18) that position us to receive the Spirit’s strength
(impartation of grace).
C. A wise man builds his life on the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount. The Lord will shake all things at the end of
the age (Hebrews 12:26-28). Many fall away at the end of the age (Matthew 24:9-13; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Timothy 4:1-2;
2 Timothy 3:1-7; 4:3-5; 2 Peter 2:1-3). We endure until the end (Matthew 10:22; Hebrews 6:4-6; 10:26-31; Revelation 2:26;
3:5, 11).
24 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine (Sermon on the Mount), and does them, I will liken him
to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds
blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 Everyone who hears these
sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the
rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its
fall." (Matthew 7:24-27)
D. I highly recommend the book on “Prophetic Untimeliness” by Os Guinness who said, “Never have Christians
pursued relevance more strenuously; never have Christians been more irrelevant.”
E. In the previous session, I referenced some of Guinness’ thoughts, including the need for "resistance thinking"
(term by C. S. Lewis). He stressed the need to resist the popular trend to seek to make the gospel fit with the spirit of our
age, ending up with that which is not the real gospel. We must also emphasize the difficult and repellent themes of the
gospel.
F. The Church’s power lies in our calling to be "against the world, for the world." We view reality both in terms of what
the world was created to be (our dignity and destiny), yet in light of the fall (our depravity). The Christian faith is
simultaneously world-affirming and world-denying. The scandal of the cross is our hope and glory. When the church
neglects to maintain this dual stance, it results in cowardice, corruption, and decline. But when the church is faithful to this
she is at her best with power to transform culture and is once again relevant.
II. BEATITUDES: BRIEF DEFINITIONS (MATTHEW 5:3–12)
A. Being poor in spirit (theirs is the kingdom of heaven, Matthew 5:3) – to acknowledge that I am in great need of
help to attain wholeheartedness. Being poor in spirit is to understand that we are in a serious dilemma in needing a
breakthrough at the heart level in insight and power to live in mature godliness.
B. Mourning for breakthrough (for they shall be comforted, Matthew 5:4) – to be desperate enough to be “extreme”
in pursuit of an ever progressive breakthrough in our heart (insight/power) and ministry.
C. Walking in meekness (shall inherit the earth, Matthew 5:5) – to have a servant spirit in the use of my natural
resources or strengths (time, money, energy, reputation, authority, etc.) especially with those who have less. Humility or
meekness speaks of using our resources with a servant spirit, as we lay down personal rights in serving without regard for
receiving the reward (honor, money) from people.
D. Hungering and thirsting for righteousness (for they shall be filled, Matthew 5:6) – sustained faithfulness that follows
through in wholehearted seeking of God through changing circumstances and seasons.
E. Relating to others with mercy (for they shall obtain mercy, Matthew 5:7) – having a tender spirit in how we treat
others in light of receiving God’s mercy in our continual short-comings (Psalm 18:35; 130:3-4).
F. Being pure in heart (they shall see God, Matthew 5:8) – breakthrough of purity in each area of our heart.
G. Becoming an anointed peacemaker (shall be called sons of God, Matthew 5:9) – anointing to bring peace
(reconciliation) to that which is out of God’s will (healing relationship, bodies, legislation, etc).
H. Enduring persecution (theirs is the kingdom with reward, Matthew 5:10-12) – bearing the counterattack for
plundering Satan’s Kingdom because we operate in power and/or stand for righteousness.
I. Note: In Matthew 5:3-5, we begin the process of transformation as the first three beatitudes (poverty of spirit,
mourning and meekness) relate to “perceiving ourselves” differently. Matthew 5:6 points to “sustained zeal” as we break
through in mercy (Matthew 5-7), purity (Matthew 5:8), anointed service (Matthew 5:9) that requires endurance in
persecution (Matthew 5:10-12).
III. SALT AND LIGHT: OUR CALL TO IMPACT AND GREATNESS (MATTHEW 5:13-20)
A. Jesus referred to two metaphors of salt (flavor, preservation) and light (direction, life) in Matthew 5:13-16. They
emphasize the impact that God’s people will have on individuals and society (political, military, economic, educational,
agricultural, family, media, arts, technology, social institutions, etc) This impact is dependent upon walking out the 8
beatitudes in a consistent and corporate way.
B. Jesus made a significant prophetic declaration in Matthew 5:17-18. He revealed to Israel that He did not come to
destroy (nullify, minimize) God’s moral commandments as seen in the OT law and prophets. He came so that the fullness
of what God originally intended in each of His commandments would eventually be fully expressed in the lives of His people.
Israel did not understand God’s full intention for each command. God wanted His commands to be obeyed in their inner
life as well as in their relationships and outer circumstances. Israel greatly reduced them to apply to external issues.
C. Jesus invited “whosoever” or literally everyone to be great in His Kingdom in Matthew 5:19-20. We cannot repent of
the desire for greatness because God designed our spirit with this longing. We repent for seeking it in a wrong way.
Without the paradigm of being on a journey to greatness, the Sermon on the Mount lifestyle is much more difficult to
sustain. God invites us to greatness without regard to our outward achievements or the size of our ministry impact. Rather,
it is based on the development of our inner man in love, meekness, and revelation or righteousness, peace, and joy
(Romans 14:17).
IV. OVERCOMING HINDRANCES: RESISTING THE TOXIN OF SIN (MATTHEW 5:21–48)
A. Jesus identifies the main battle front that makes the soil of our heart toxic.
B. Jesus gave six practical areas in which we must wage war in our hearts against lust (1 Peter 2:11): anger (spirit of
murder, Matthew 5:21-26), adultery (spirit of immorality, Matthew 5:27-30), divorce (spirit of treachery, Malachi 2:13-17
that manifests disloyalty by disregarding the sanctity of marriage and family, Matthew 5:31-32), false oaths (spirit of
manipulation that seeks to establish our promotion or advantage (honor/money) without keeping our word or commitments
(Matthew 5:33-37). To use “spin” to present ourselves in a false way about our commitments, whether in the past
(deception) or the present (by lack of follow through), demanding justice/honor (spirit of pride or rejection in personal
relationships by using our strengths to insist/enforce our personal rights, Matthew 5:38-41) and retaliation (spirit of
revenge or animosity in personal relationships by refusing to walk in love, Matthew 5:42-47).
V. POSITIONING OUR HEART TO RECEIVE GRACE: THE FASTED LIFESTYLE (MATTHEW 6:1–23)
9 My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness (voluntary weakness or fasted
life style). Therefore…I boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
A. Jesus describes five “soil-enhancing elements” that release grace that nurtures the garden of our heart. Our heart
receives more grace as we serve and give (charitable deeds: giving service and/or money (6:1–4, 19-21), pray (6:5–13),
bless adversaries (forgiving, 6:14–15) and fast (6:16–18).
B. These five areas are expressions of “voluntary weakness” because we invest our natural strengths (time, money,
energy, reputation, etc.) into God’s Kingdom purposes. The “normal” use of our strengths is to use them to increase our
personal comfort, wealth and honor. In other words, by the fasted lifestyle we bring our natural strengths to God as we
trust Him to “return” our strength back to us in a way that enriches our personal spheres of responsibility and transforms
us with meekness.
C. A good or single eye speaks of living in the pursuit of 100-fold obedience (Matthew 6:22-23).
VI. PURSUING OUR DESTINY WITHOUT BEING HINDERED BY FEAR/ANXIETY (MATTHEW 6:24–34)
A. Jesus addresses how we pursue our destiny as related to our finances and possessions. This is vital in sustaining
grace to walk out the beatitudes. The way we pursue our destiny (ambitions) is to be radically different from how the world
pursues them.
B. God’s provision and resources are necessary. Jesus is calling us to escape the slavery of covetousness that is
fueled by the fear of not having enough. We are naturally preoccupied with our pursuit of food, drink, clothing and housing.
Fear or anxiety rise up to resist our progress in walking out the beatitudes in practical ways. Our highest ambition must be
His Kingdom and not pursuit of personal wealth (6:23–24) which touches a fundamental fear (6:25–34).
VII. THE RESULT OF WALKING OUT THE BEATITUDES: RELATIONAL TENSIONS (MATTHEW 7:1-20)
A. Seeking to walk out this Kingdom lifestyle will create many complex relational dynamics that are both positive and
negative. Many relationships will change as we walk out Kingdom values. New relationships will be established as old ones
are changed (sometimes improved and other times damaged). Thus, we must not yield to judging (Matthew 7:1-5) as we
seek to walk in a Kingdom lifestyle.
B. Some will reject our pearls (Sermon on the Mount Kingdom values, Matthew 7:6). We must not use our natural
strengths to war against them, but rather we use prayer (Matthew 7:7-12). We will face the presence of false prophets
and messages (2 Peter 3:3; Deuteronomy 13:1-3) that will seek to hinder us from striving (Lk. 13:24) to enter the narrow
gate and the hard way (Matthew 7:13-20). There are two ways to approach life and ministry (7:13–14). This again will lead
to conflict. We must discern the presence of the counterfeit messengers and messages (7:15–20), as part of the
adversarial element that we encounter. These 8 beatitudes must be walked out in changing and even difficult relational
dynamics.
VIII. MANIFESTING KINGDOM REALITY: IT STANDS IN TIMES OF TESTING (MATTHEW 7:21–27)
A. These 8 flowers will be fully tested. It is not enough to proclaim this reality. The essential issue is whether we walk it
out in pressure.
B. Storms will test the reality of our foundation. The storms of personal pressures, the eschatological storm
(2 Thessalonians 2:3-4) or the final judgment (1 Corinthians 3:10-15) will show forth the truth of which of the two
approaches we have chosen to build our lives and ministries upon (7:24–27).
IX. THE POWER AND PLEASURE OF WHOLEHEARTEDNESS
A. The lamp of the body or that which brings light to our inner man is found in the eyes of the heart. A good or single
eye speaks of living in pursuit of 100-fold obedience.
22 The lamp (source of light) of the body is the eye (of the heart; Ephesians 1:18). If therefore your eye is
good (single, KJV), your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad (lacks single focus), your
whole body will be full of darkness. (Matthew 6:22-23)
B. Jesus’ called us to pursue a lifestyle of obedience that seeks to be perfect or mature in obedience. Seeking to be
perfect is seeking to be mature in the Spirit by pursuing 100-fold obedience.
48 You shall be perfect (mature in obedience) as your Father in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)
10 Be even more diligent...for if you do these things you will never stumble… (2 Peter 1:10)
2 If one does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body. (James 3:2)
C. The pursuit of 100-fold obedience includes making a covenant with our eyes (Psalm 101:3; Job 31:1), bridling our
speech (James 3:2; Ephesians 4:29-5:4), managing our time (Ephesians 5:15-16; Psalm 90:12) and money to increase
the Kingdom (beyond personal comfort and honor) (1 Timothy 6:8; Matthew 6:19-21) as we engage in communing prayer
with the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14).
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my
strength and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)
D. The power of the Christian life is in consistently pursuing 100-fold obedience. There are powerful dynamics that
occur in our heart when we soberly aim at pursuing 100-fold obedience. This pursuit is different than attainment. The 98%
pursuit of obedience has a limited blessing on it. The last 2% is what positions us to walk with a vibrant heart. The cost of
non-discipleship is very high.
E. In Matthew 5-7, Jesus gave us insight into how to believe in Him in the way the Scripture says (describes).
37 Jesus...cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as
the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." (John 7:37-38)
F. We see the pleasure of wholeheartedness (instead of its sacrifice) because it brings brightness to our inner man.
We lose the power of a vibrant heart by allowing compromise to go unchallenged.
34 The lamp (source of light) of the body is the eye (of the heart). Therefore, when your eye is good (single),
your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad (lacks single focus), your body also is full of
darkness. 35 Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness. 36 If then your whole body is
full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp
gives you light. (Luke 11:34-36)
G. God promised to make our hearts vibrant and radiant in righteousness.
1 For Zion's sake I will not hold My peace…I will not rest, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness,
and her salvation as a lamp that burns. (Isaiah 62:1)
35 He (John the Baptist) was the burning and shining lamp. (John 5:35)
H. To be a “people of one thing” is to live with a good or single eye in 100-fold obedience.
42 One thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part… (Luke 10:42)
4 One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the
days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD... (Psalm 27:4)
I. Paul sought to live in 100-fold obedience to Jesus.
9 We make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. (2 Corinthians 5:9)
4 For I know nothing against myself…but He who judges me is the Lord. (1 Corinthians 4:4-5)
12 For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in
simplicity (single focus without duplicity) and godly sincerity… (2 Corinthians 1:12)
3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted
from the simplicity (single focus without duplicity) that is in Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:3)
J. We must not seek ministry increase without continuing to seek to connect with Jesus in a deep way.
7 If you abide in Me (intimacy), and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done
for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit (ministry) … (John 15:7-8)
X. THE PARADOX OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE: DIFFICULT AND EASY
A. The Christian life is difficult in various ways. First, it is difficult emotionally, for people to finally conclude to trust God
by pursuing 100-fold obedience. Second, it is difficult socially, because many resist the Sermon on the Mount lifestyle
(inside and outside the Church). Third, it is difficult theologically, because we do not quickly understand how to walk out
our obedience in every situation. We must struggle until we gain understanding on how to apply the Word.
14 Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life…there are few who find it. (Matthew 7:14)
B. The Christian life is easy and enjoyable after we learn meekness from Jesus and decide on single-mindedness in
our obedience in all areas. Our yoke is easy as we understand that God freely provides what we could never earn or
produce. He gives us forgiveness by giving us His righteousness by faith (Philippians 3:9), so that we can walk in the
assurance that we are enjoyed by God even in our weakness. He also gives us strength to obey His will, including
direction, protection, and provision along with rewards now and in the age-to-come that far outweigh what we deserve
(2 Corinthians 4:17-18). He gives us far more than we give Him in both ages.
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for
your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. (Matthew 11:29-30)
3 …That we keep His commandments. His commandments are not burdensome. (1 John 5:3)