What To Do When We Face Difficulties Practising the Sermon on the Mount?
Sermon Summary: What To Do When We Face Difficulties Practising the Sermon on the Mount?
Bro. Brendan Leow | 7 December 2025 | 1 John 5:14–15
The teachings in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7) describe what it means to live a life worthy of heaven. Jesus speaks of being pure in heart, the light of the world, dealing with anger and lust, forgiving others, and even loving our enemies. These are not rules to follow blindly or ritualistically—they describe a heart posture that is beautiful in God’s eyes, a way of living that reflects His character.
But as we learn and listen, many of us feel the weight of these teachings. Loving your enemies? Controlling anger? Being truthful even when it costs you? Forgiving the unforgivable? These are perfect principles—yet impossible to apply perfectly because of our human weakness. There is nothing wrong with Jesus’ teaching; the struggle comes from our frailty.
Jesus preached these teachings to His followers to show them how to live a Christ-centred life, applying heavenly values that often contradict worldly values. He taught Jews living under harsh Roman rule who longed for justice and relief. Under a culture dominated by “an eye for an eye,” Jesus said, “Love your enemies.” In a world shaped by Pharisee traditions, He confronted a problem not of actions alone, but of the heart. Their outward acts looked religious, but their hearts were far from God. They prayed to be seen, gave charity for applause, and honoured God with lips while their motives were selfish.
Jesus emphasized an internal, not external, transformation—pray in secret, give without announcing it, guard your thoughts, and watch over your heart, because anger leads to murder and lust leads to adultery. He described godly traits to broken people, not perfect ones.
1 John 5:14–15
“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”
This is not blind hope but confidence assurance with absolute certainty— that Christ hears us when we pray in alignment with God’s will.
1. Remember God’s Purpose for Us
God does not expect perfection—He expects obedience.
Psalm 103:14–15
“For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust.
As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.”
God knows our limitations. He understands our frailty. He asks for humility, not flawlessness.
Micah 6:8
“He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?”
None of us would make it to heaven if perfection were the requirement:
Romans 3:23
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
So Jesus’ teachings serve as a guide, shaping us as we grow in godliness — a guide that helps us become better versions of ourselves.
2 Peter 3:18
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Growth is gradual — it unfolds over time and is often non-linear. We will fall short along the way, so we must not be too hard on ourselves or on others. What matters is that we keep striving to live the way Jesus wants us to live.
Some delay baptism because they feel “not worthy”—but the truth is that God calls sinners to Him. Christians grow and remain faithful because they are surrounded by fellow believers, upheld by grace, and strengthened by God. We are imperfect people who depend entirely on a perfect God.
2. Bring Our Struggles to God in Prayer
It is normal for Christians to experience struggle because we are human:
Matthew 26:41
“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Because our flesh is weak, we must draw near to God.
Hebrews 4:15–16
“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses…
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Jesus sympathizes with us. He knows how we feel. So we must come boldly—not timidly—to Him.
2 Corinthians 12:9–10
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness…
For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Sometimes, telling someone “don’t worry” without understanding their pain makes things worse. That is why we must seek God in prayer, walking closely with Him.
Example of King Jehoshaphat, a faithful God-fearing King of Judah
2 Chronicles 20
Verse 1 – 2 – A massive army came against Judah.
Verse 3 – Jehoshaphat feared, but his first instinct was to seek the Lord.
Verse 12 – He admitted, “We have no power… nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”
Verses 15–17 – God responded: “Do not be afraid… for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
Jehoshaphat did not pretend to be strong; he turned his fear into prayer, one of the most powerful prayer. God fought for His people because they sought Him.
God is saying, “I can.” And although we often feel that we cannot, we must keep our eyes on Him when struggles arise. God hears us, and He fights for His people when we seek Him and walk in obedience.
3. Consistently Practise and Reflect
To grow in the Sermon on the Mount, we must continually practise Jesus’ teachings.
1 Timothy 4:7 “…exercise yourself toward godliness.”
Spiritual growth, like athletic training, requires discipline.
James 1:22–25 “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only…”
Ephesians 4:22–24 “…put off… the old man… and put on the new man which was created according to God.”
Just as badminton players train tirelessly, Christians must cultivate habits—encouraging others, offering help, doing small daily acts of love. Even subtle hints to friends about church or faith may open doors.
But we must also avoid reverting to our old ways:
2 Peter 2:22. “…a dog returns to his own vomit…”
We are called instead to transformation:
Romans 6:4. “…we also should walk in newness of life.”
Growth is slow, like Rome was not built in a day. We may not see dramatic change daily, but consistent effort, by God’s help, shapes a Christlike heart.
Conclusion: Hope for Christians Who Struggle
The teachings of the Sermon on the Mount are challenging—but there is hope.
God expects obedience, not perfection.
Bring our struggles to God in prayer.
Consistently practise and reflect.
And for all who seek salvation, Jesus offers the path:
Hear the Word | Believe | Repent | Confess Christ | Be baptised | Live faithfully
May we face the challenges of living out the Sermon on the Mount not with fear or discouragement, but with confidence in the God who equips us. Though these teachings stretch us, expose our weaknesses, and call us to a higher way of life, we do not walk this path alone. With Scripture to guide us, the church to support us, and God’s strength sustaining us, we can persevere.
So let us commit—not to perfection, but to obedience; not to flawless performance, but to sincere effort—trusting that as we strive to follow Jesus’ words, He is faithfully shaping us for eternity.
