From a talk given at Blazing Fire Church on May 27, 2017. A look at a few passages from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount that can deeply affect how we live. What kind of judging and perceiving is Jesus warning about? Why do we have such challenges seeing God and each other with life-giving understanding?

1. The Path and Gate
of Life
Russ Fochler
May 27, 2017

2. 24 “These words I speak to you are not incidental
additions to your life, homeowner improvements to
your standard of living. They are foundational words,
words to build a life on.
28-29 When Jesus concluded his address, the crowd
burst into applause. They had never heard teaching
like this. It was apparent that he was living everything
he was saying—quite a contrast to their religion
teachers! This was the best teaching they had ever
heard.
Jesus Finishes the Sermon on the Mount
Matthew Chapter 7 (The Message)

3. 13 “Enter by the narrow gate;
for wide is the gate and
broad is the way that leads to
destruction, and there are
many who go in by it.
14 Because narrow is the gate
and difficult is the way which
leads to life, and there are
few who find it.
(Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV)

4. “Your eyes are windows into your body. If you
open your eyes wide in wonder and belief,
your body fills up with light. If you live
squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body
is a dank cellar. If you pull the blinds on your
windows, what a dark life you will have!
(Matthew 6:22-23 The Message)

5. “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For
with what judgment you judge, you will be
judged; and with the measure you use, it
will be measured back to you.
(Matthew 7:1-2 NKJV)

6. When is “Judging” a Snare?
When the story I’m telling myself
about a person leads me to decide
what they deserve and don’t
deserve, and what their value and
worth is.
Then my “eye” has become “evil”.

7. It’s a great grace for us when God
challenges the stories we tell ourselves to
justify condemnation, hatred, jealousy, or
to dismiss the value of a person —
including our own value.

8. The Cave of Judgment - The Shack

9. What happened to Adam and Eve (and
us!) when they believed Satan’s lies,
doubted God’s goodness, and then ate
from the Tree of Knowledge of Good
and Evil?

10. God clothed them
with animal skins
Illustration by William Blake:
“The Angel of the Divine
Presence Clothing Adam and
Eve with Coat of Skins”

11. 13 “Enter by the narrow gate;
for wide is the gate and
broad is the way that leads to
destruction, and there are
many who go in by it.
14 Because narrow is the gate
and difficult is the way which
leads to life, and there are
few who find it.
(Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV)

12. Renewal of Our Mind and Life
“…fix your attention on God. You’ll be
changed from the inside out. Readily
recognize what he wants from you,
and quickly respond to it. Unlike the
culture around you, always dragging
you down to its level of immaturity,
God brings the best out of you,
develops well-formed maturity in you.”
Romans 12:2 The Message

13. Immanuel Approach Exercise:
- Remember a time you felt emotionally
connected with Jesus. As you focus on what
that felt like, enter into that experience again.
- Express to Jesus what you appreciate
about Him and about this experience with
Him. Be specific and savor what you’re
appreciating.
- Begin to interact with Jesus

14. Jesus
Our Path and Gate
of Life