Being Perfect
Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Introduction: Greetings to all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
🙏 The Lord will keep our spirits, souls and bodies intact as the year is running to an end in Jesus name.
▶️ During family devotion, we came across our text for today, which instructs us to be perfect as God our Father is Perfect. I then remember the common saying that “no one is perfect”. How can we be perfect like God? Is it possible? I curiously checked what was there before the Master concluded with “Be ye therefore perfect”. This brought clearer picture of Being Perfect to me as we study together.
🛑 Our text is the conclusion of what Jesus Christ taught His Disciples on the Mount when He left the multitudes of people and only Disciples followed Him.
▶️ The teaching is known as “Beatitudes” which simply teaches about how the attitudes of a Disciple or Christian should be. Determination to possess these attitudes makes Disciples to be perfect. This sermon on the Mount is NOT for general public BUT Disciples that can follow Jesus Christ to the Mountain.
❓What came before “Be ye therefore perfect” that we need to know for our perfection ?
1️⃣ Disciples that Curse is grouped with murderers going to hell fire.
Matthew 5:21-22 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
2️⃣ Before acceptable sacrifice to God, reconcile with anyone who has something against you.
Matthew 5:23-24(AMP) So if when you are offering your gift at the altar you there remember that your brother has any [grievance] against you, Leave your gift at the altar and go. First make peace with your brother, and then come back and present your gift.
3️⃣ Come to terms with your adversary or accuser before he wreaks havoc to you.
Matthew 5:25-26(AMP) Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way traveling with him, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last fraction of a penny.
Example of adversary that came to mind is corrupt law enforcement agents. Two police women arrested me claiming I moved at traffic red light knowing that it was traffic jam that kept me after I was passed by the traffic light. They wanted to take me to station but I had to settle with =N=2,000 otherwise they were ready to wreak havoc. I didn’t bribe them but it was an extortion from me and they will suffer for it. Settling with them saved me from havoc.
4️⃣ Lustful heart is adultery
Matthew 5:27-30 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
5️⃣ Christian couples are NOT supposed to divorce
Matthew 5:31-32 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
6️⃣ Disciples MUST NOT Swear.
Matthew 5:33-37 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
7️⃣ Disciples should NOT retaliate BUT allow yourself to be cheated.
Matthew 5:38-42 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
8️⃣ Disciples are to Love their enemies.
Matthew 5:43-47(AMP) You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy; But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, To show that you are the children of your Father Who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and makes the rain fall upon the upright and the wrongdoers [alike]. For if you love those who love you, what reward can you have? Do not even the tax collectors do that? And if you greet only your brethren, what more than others are you doing? Do not even the Gentiles (the heathen) do that?
🛑 All these eight points brought about Being Perfect as Disciples of Christ.
▶️ You will agree with me that being a Disciple or Christian is NOT by mouth but requires work.
Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
▶️ Natural man or Human nature contends with what the Master taught and commands His Disciples to behave towards perfection.
Galatians 5:17(AMP) For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the [Holy] Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other [continually withstanding and in conflict with each other], so that you are not free but are prevented from doing what you desire to do.
🛑 Working towards perfection as Disciples of Christ is continuous until death or appearing of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 3:12(NLT) I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection! But I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be.
❓What then can we do to be perfect
1️⃣ Habitually walking before God
Genesis 17:1(AMP) WHEN ABRAM was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, I am the Almighty God; walk and live habitually before Me and be perfect (blameless, wholehearted, complete).
Genesis 6:9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.
2️⃣ Meet God’s requirements; Fear God, Love God, Obey God, Please God and Serve God. (F.L.O.P.S)
Deuteronomy 10:12-13(NLT) “And now, Israel, what does the lord your God require of you? He requires only that you Fear the lord your God, and live in a way that Pleases him, and Love him and Serve him with all your heart and soul. And you must always Obey the lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good.
Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
3️⃣ Ensure to belong to God alone. There must be Separation from the world.
Leviticus 20:26(GNT) You shall be holy and belong only to me, because I am the Lord and I am holy. I have set you apart from the other nations so that you would belong to me alone.
4️⃣ Disciple should be Christ-like
Luke 6:40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
5️⃣ Daily cleansing of Fleshly works
2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
6️⃣ Spiritually minded against Canal mind
Philippians 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Philippians 3:15(AMP) So let those [of us] who are spiritually mature and full-grown have this mind and hold these convictions; and if in any respect you have a different attitude of mind, God will make that clear to you also.
✍ Finally brethren, being Perfect and working towards perfection is achievable for any Christian or Disciple whose target is to have peace on this earth and be with the Prince of Peace at the end.
Psalms 37:37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
✋ Maranatha
