FLYING RIGHT SIDE UP IN

AN UPSIDE DOWN WORLD

MATT. 5:13-16

KC CHEANG

19 JANUARY 2013

THE DIVINE CONSPIRACY

Kovan murder victims - Workshop owner Tan Boon Sin, 67, and his son, Chee Heong, 42,

In a world where the only virtue is tolerance & each

person gets to decide his or her own individual moral

code, there is no real up and down anymore.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus calls us to fly right side up in a world that has always had a tendency to fly up side down.

Salt & Light Law Anger Lust Divorce Retaliation Loving Enemies Giving Prayer Fasting Money Worry Criticism

MATT. 5:13-16

(NIV)

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the

salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made

salty again? It is no longer good for

anything, except to be thrown out and

trampled by men. You are the light of the

world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

Neither do people light a lamp and put it

under a bowl.”

The key point is that Salt cannot

have an effect without being

distinct.

MATT. 5:13-16 (NIV)

“Instead they put it

on its stand, and it

gives light to

everyone in the

house. In the same

way, let your light

shine before men,

that they may see

your good deeds and

praise your Father in

heaven.”

People who do not know

Jesus are living in darkness

because they do not know

God and do not know

ultimate reality.

While we easily focus on the

meanings of salt and light, the

biggest emphasis should be on

the word

MATTHEW 5:11-12

“Blessed are you when people insult

you, persecute you and falsely say all

kinds of evil against you because of me.

Rejoice and be glad, because great is

your reward in heaven, for in the same

way they persecuted the prophets who

were before you. .”

Jesus says, despite the

fact the world sees you

as odd and treats you

with contempt, you will

determine the fate of

humanity.

JOHN 1:4-5

“In him was life, and that life was the

light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.”

MATT 5-7 RADICAL TEACHINGS

THE WORLD SAYS

• Insults are cute & anger

is a good motivator

JESUS SAYS

• Not to call anyone a

fool

• Lust is harmless adult

entertainment

• Better to gouge out eye

than look at a body with

lust • Divorce is acceptable way

to solve marriage

problems

• It is wrong to break our

vows

• I don’t get mad, I get

even

• Turn the other cheek &

forgive 77 times

• Leverage your friends &

crush competition

• Pray for your enemies &

do good to them

• He who dies with most

toys win

• Not to worry about $ but

to seek treasures in

heaven • Assert yourself to get

ahead

• Submit yourself to

others & let God raise

you up

JESUS IS CALLING

US TO A

RADICALLY

DIFFERENT WAY

OF VIEWING

REALITY AND A

RADICALLY

DIFFERENT WAY

OF LIVING IN

THIS WORLD.

Retreat from

the world

Absorb values

of world

Embrace our

distinctiveness

openly

WE ARE THE PROOF IN THE PUDDING.

OUR LIVES EITHER CONFIRM OR DENY

THE GOSPEL IN OUR COMMUNITY.

JESUS’ TEACHINGS

CAN BRING A

CHANGE IN THE

SURROUNDING

WORLD.

JESUS NOT ONLY

HAS CONFIDENCE

IN HIS TEACHING,

HE HAS

CONFIDENCE IN US

AND WHAT HE CAN

DO IN AND

THROUGH US.