I like hopping on the podium, grabbing a microphone and talking. But for those of you who do this regularly, you know that it takes preparation. You need to have an outline of what you want to share. Deliver a tangible hook in the beginning to grab the attention of your audience. Lay the foundation for the message you are going to convey, tie it all up in a nice conclusion. And drive home the point with a punch. It is exciting. But all of this takes preparation.
I keep getting drawn to what Jesus might have done to prepare for the sermon on the mount from Matthew 5-7. Do you think He wrote an outline and then wrote up a draft followed by a final version?
I do not know how to do it any other way and hence my limited thinking on how The Almighty prepares for a sermon of the greatest importance. He took time to share something supremely valuable with us. I want to go through how He might have prepared.
When He created us, He knew we would be victims of dark lies and get engulfed in sin. He acted by debasing himself, becoming one of us. He prepared for the speech of a lifetime and delivered it with perfection, like no other sermon in the world. He, as 100% man prepared for the sermon by living it.
- He surrendered to the will of God
- “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” – Luke 22:42
- He was the salt and the light when He was on earth
- “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” – John 8:12
- He is righteousness incarnate
- “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” – 2 Corinthians 5:21
- He did not get angry without a cause
- He did not commit adultery
- He did not swear
- He went the extra mile, He served
- “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:28
- He loved His enemies
- ‘Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”’ – `Luke 23:34
- His actions pleased God
- “And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” – John 8:29
- He prayed
- “ Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.” – Luke 6:12
- Everything He did was for God’s eyes only
- “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” – Mark 1:44
- He laid up his treasures in Heaven
- ““Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” – Matthew 8:20
- He was generous
- “And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.” – John 6:11
- He served God not riches
- He knew God would provide for Him on earth
- He did not judge (but will when He comes back)
- “And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.” – John 12:47
- He asked, He sought, He knocked
- “And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.” – Matthew 14:23
- He picked the narrow path
- “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” – John 1:29
- He knew how to identify people by their fruit
- “Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” – Matthew 12:34
- He was obedient
- “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” – Philippians 2:8
- His life was built on His sermon
I can only imagine how spectacular the sermon would have been. Jesus radiant and truly inspiring. When we read Matthew 5-7 which takes 12 mins, we can hear His wonderful instructions come to life. May His words lead you closer to Him.
Dear Jesus,
Thank you for being a perfect example of how to do everything as a child of God. Please guide me to be obedient to You and all that You want me to do, say, hear and see. May all my actions bring You glory today and always. Amen.