Build on The Rock
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Matthew 7:24-27.
Here Jesus gives the call for us to build our faith on the words of Jesus on the words of the Bible.
The Bible is first and foremost a book of faith it points us to God. Secondly and equally as important it is a rule book to telling us how to live with God and with our fellow man.
The Bible gives us moral values to live by.
If more people lived by them our world would be a far better place.
The bible’s highest ideal is love, the apostle Paul writing to the Corinthians saying,
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
Jesus telling us,
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:37-40.
Sadly even in Christian circles people do not practice love as Jesus and the Bible intended.
By not doing so they turn people away from God.
Anne Frank a Jewish girl who hid from the Nazis during world war two. A girl who experienced the worst mankind could offer and who died in a concentration camp wrote these words.
“Give of yourself, give as much as you can? And you can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness! If everyone were to do this and not be as mean with a kindly word, then there would be much more justice and love in the world. Give and you shall receive, much more than you would have ever thought possible. Give, give again and again, don’t lose courage, keep it up and go on giving! No one has ever become poor from giving!”
I like the prayer of Martin Luther King Jr. I think it’s something all Christians should take to hart. It reads,
"We thank thee, O God, for the spiritual nature of man.
We are in nature but we live above nature.
Help us never to let anybody or
any condition pull us so low as to cause us to hate.
Give us strength to love our enemies and to do good
to those who despitefully use us and persecute us.
We thank thee for thy Church, founded upon thy Word, that challenges us to do more
than sing and pray, but go out and work as though the very answer to our prayers depended on us and not upon thee.
Then, finally, help us to realize that man was created to shine like stars and live on through all eternity.
Keep us, we pray, in perfect peace;
help us to walk together, pray together, sing together, and live together until that day when all God’s children, Black, White, Red, and Yellow will rejoice in one common bond of humanity in the kingdom
of our LORD and of our God, we pray.
Amen."
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
This I believe is what Jesus meant when he said to build our house on the Rock. To build it on the firm foundation of the Love of God and his teachings. Teachings that can change the world.
Think about it.
Wednesday, 5 March 2014
Tuesday, 4 March 2014
Not all who appear to be Christians are
Not all who appear to be Christians are.
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?
Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Matthew 7:15-23.
Here Jesus makes it very clear that we are to be cautious. That we are to watch those who preach the word of God.
We are to look at their fruit. Are they brining people into the fold or are they turning people away.
There are a lot of preachers and evangelist out there that say they are proclaiming the word of God but are not.
They cloak themselves in the Bible and misinterpret it for their own gain and glory not God’s.
We are called to present the good news of Jesus Christ to the world we are not called do it for our own glory.
I’ve heard many over the years say well such and such an evangelist or pastor says this. And I know it’s not right.
Most people don’t even bother to check the scriptures quoted to see if they are taken in context or if they indeed do exist.
I know of one man who came to our church he was recommended by a reliable source.
Trouble was in the incredible hour and a half he spoke most of what he said was not right. Some of what he said was supposedly in the bible was not there.
It was an embarrassment to the church. Fortunately there were few visitors that day.
We are called to watch for such people.
And such people will one day stand before God and here Him say,
‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Therefore the message here is clear check what the speaker is saying. Take time to study what he or she said.
If you have a problem with what they say talk to them email them with your questions or even write a letter asking to clarify what they said.
It is up to Christians to keep ourselves honest and hold those who teach us to a very high standard.
So do as Jesus said,
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”
Think about it.
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?
Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Matthew 7:15-23.
Here Jesus makes it very clear that we are to be cautious. That we are to watch those who preach the word of God.
We are to look at their fruit. Are they brining people into the fold or are they turning people away.
There are a lot of preachers and evangelist out there that say they are proclaiming the word of God but are not.
They cloak themselves in the Bible and misinterpret it for their own gain and glory not God’s.
We are called to present the good news of Jesus Christ to the world we are not called do it for our own glory.
I’ve heard many over the years say well such and such an evangelist or pastor says this. And I know it’s not right.
Most people don’t even bother to check the scriptures quoted to see if they are taken in context or if they indeed do exist.
I know of one man who came to our church he was recommended by a reliable source.
Trouble was in the incredible hour and a half he spoke most of what he said was not right. Some of what he said was supposedly in the bible was not there.
It was an embarrassment to the church. Fortunately there were few visitors that day.
We are called to watch for such people.
And such people will one day stand before God and here Him say,
‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Therefore the message here is clear check what the speaker is saying. Take time to study what he or she said.
If you have a problem with what they say talk to them email them with your questions or even write a letter asking to clarify what they said.
It is up to Christians to keep ourselves honest and hold those who teach us to a very high standard.
So do as Jesus said,
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”
Think about it.
Monday, 3 March 2014
A Narrow Gate
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Matthew 7:13,14
The one belief that separates Christians from all other faiths is the claim that they are the only way to heaven.
Here Jesus says that “small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
People all over the world today are looking for the truth. They are honestly looking for the way to heaven.
Almost all religions in the world say you have to be good. Being good is a good thing.
But most religions of the world also say that your good deeds must out weigh your bad deeds in order to enter heaven or reach a plain of ultimate enlightenment.
Christianity does not say that.
Jesus makes the following statements,
"Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
John 14:6
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
John 3:16-18
These statements make it clear that it is only through Jesus that we can enter heaven and obtain eternal life.
The apostle Paul writing to the Ephesians makes it clear,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9
The writer of Hebrews noting,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6.
We can never be good enough to enter into heaven. We are imperfect vessels. We all at one time or another in our daily walk fall far short of what God wants for our life. We sin.
Sin is simply falling short of what God wants for our life.
John states,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
1 John 1:9,10.
Christianity simply states that in order to get into heaven we must first of all believe that Jesus is the one and only Son of God.
That we should confess our sins to Him that he may forgive our sins.
Then we are asked to do our best to live up to the ideals of Christ. knowing that if we do make a mistake if we do sin we can still go back to Him confess it and be forgiven.
Think about it.
But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Matthew 7:13,14
The one belief that separates Christians from all other faiths is the claim that they are the only way to heaven.
Here Jesus says that “small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
People all over the world today are looking for the truth. They are honestly looking for the way to heaven.
Almost all religions in the world say you have to be good. Being good is a good thing.
But most religions of the world also say that your good deeds must out weigh your bad deeds in order to enter heaven or reach a plain of ultimate enlightenment.
Christianity does not say that.
Jesus makes the following statements,
"Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
John 14:6
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
John 3:16-18
These statements make it clear that it is only through Jesus that we can enter heaven and obtain eternal life.
The apostle Paul writing to the Ephesians makes it clear,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9
The writer of Hebrews noting,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6.
We can never be good enough to enter into heaven. We are imperfect vessels. We all at one time or another in our daily walk fall far short of what God wants for our life. We sin.
Sin is simply falling short of what God wants for our life.
John states,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
1 John 1:9,10.
Christianity simply states that in order to get into heaven we must first of all believe that Jesus is the one and only Son of God.
That we should confess our sins to Him that he may forgive our sins.
Then we are asked to do our best to live up to the ideals of Christ. knowing that if we do make a mistake if we do sin we can still go back to Him confess it and be forgiven.
Think about it.
Sunday, 2 March 2014
The Golden Rule
The Golden Rule
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 7:12.
This is a statement that is echoed in other faiths, the so called golden rule.
I find it is something Christians at times forget.
They in the name of God go around preaching and judging others. They try to force what they believe on others.
Many Christian groups have tried over the years to restrict the rights of others. This should not be so.
We should be helping preserve the rights of others whether we are in a democracy or not.
Abba Hillel Silver wrote
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society. Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.”
We as Christians owe it to ourselves and to others to treat all people in the way we wish to be treated.
We should always take time to think before we act and ask ourselves the question would I like this being done to me.
Think about it.
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 7:12.
This is a statement that is echoed in other faiths, the so called golden rule.
I find it is something Christians at times forget.
They in the name of God go around preaching and judging others. They try to force what they believe on others.
Many Christian groups have tried over the years to restrict the rights of others. This should not be so.
We should be helping preserve the rights of others whether we are in a democracy or not.
Abba Hillel Silver wrote
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society. Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.”
We as Christians owe it to ourselves and to others to treat all people in the way we wish to be treated.
We should always take time to think before we act and ask ourselves the question would I like this being done to me.
Think about it.
Saturday, 1 March 2014
Ask
Ask
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
Matthew 7:7-11
According to one commentator Kenneth L Baker writing in the Zondervan NIV Study Bible (2002) for the words, “ask … seek … knock. Greek present imperatives are used here, indicating constant asking, seeking and knocking. Persistent prayer is being emphasized.”
But we should be careful what we ask for, James reminding us,
“You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God.
When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”
James 4:2,3.
We need to ask in a right way. In accordance with God’s will.
I heard one preacher say just ask God and He will give it to you. That’s not so. God will give you what you can handle and what you need.
We must also remember that prayer is an act of faith. That we must be praying always. Placing our petitions before God. Asking that his will be done in our life.
Think about it.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
Matthew 7:7-11
According to one commentator Kenneth L Baker writing in the Zondervan NIV Study Bible (2002) for the words, “ask … seek … knock. Greek present imperatives are used here, indicating constant asking, seeking and knocking. Persistent prayer is being emphasized.”
But we should be careful what we ask for, James reminding us,
“You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God.
When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”
James 4:2,3.
We need to ask in a right way. In accordance with God’s will.
I heard one preacher say just ask God and He will give it to you. That’s not so. God will give you what you can handle and what you need.
We must also remember that prayer is an act of faith. That we must be praying always. Placing our petitions before God. Asking that his will be done in our life.
Think about it.
Friday, 28 February 2014
Do not Judge
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?
You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Matthew 7:1-5
Christians here are told not to judge others. We are not to judge especially hypocritically.
This is not the same as discernment.
I’ve heard people say well you shouldn’t judge what the priest, minister or evangelist says because it’s judging. Not so.
There is nothing wrong with questioning the teachings of anyone ministering the word of God, be they a Sunday School or Bible study teacher or a pastor or evangelist.
This is discernment.
When we question what we are being taught this is a good thing it helps us get to the truth of the matter.
An honest teacher of the Bible will not object to being questioned about his or her teaching.
What Jesus is telling us here is not to judge other people be they Christians or non-Christians for what they are.
We cannot tell what is in someone’s heart.
All Christians grow in the Lord at different rates and it is up to the Holy Spirit to convict someone of any wrong they are doing.
When it comes to non-Christians this is especially true. Judging them may very well turn them away from God.
The Talmud tells a story about Abraham it goes like this,
“An aged man, whom Abraham hospitality invited to his tent, refused to join him in prayer to the one spiritual God. Learning that he was a fire-worshipper. Abraham drove him from his door.
That night God appeared to Abraham in a vision and said: ‘I have borne with that ignorant man for seventy years: could you not have patiently suffered him one night?
The Talmud
Judging someone is dangerous. What Jesus says is true,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
People around us are aware of what we do and say. They are aware of our short comings If we judge them they are going to judge us in the same way.
The classic example I use when I teach is that of someone saying a homosexual is sinning and holding it up as some kind of “special sin.”
It is not the Christians place to judge sin. That is God’s no one else’s. Only he knows the heart and mind of anyone.
The job of the Christian, the only Job of the Christian is to present the Gospel to anyone who will listen and let God do the rest.
Think about it.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?
You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Matthew 7:1-5
Christians here are told not to judge others. We are not to judge especially hypocritically.
This is not the same as discernment.
I’ve heard people say well you shouldn’t judge what the priest, minister or evangelist says because it’s judging. Not so.
There is nothing wrong with questioning the teachings of anyone ministering the word of God, be they a Sunday School or Bible study teacher or a pastor or evangelist.
This is discernment.
When we question what we are being taught this is a good thing it helps us get to the truth of the matter.
An honest teacher of the Bible will not object to being questioned about his or her teaching.
What Jesus is telling us here is not to judge other people be they Christians or non-Christians for what they are.
We cannot tell what is in someone’s heart.
All Christians grow in the Lord at different rates and it is up to the Holy Spirit to convict someone of any wrong they are doing.
When it comes to non-Christians this is especially true. Judging them may very well turn them away from God.
The Talmud tells a story about Abraham it goes like this,
“An aged man, whom Abraham hospitality invited to his tent, refused to join him in prayer to the one spiritual God. Learning that he was a fire-worshipper. Abraham drove him from his door.
That night God appeared to Abraham in a vision and said: ‘I have borne with that ignorant man for seventy years: could you not have patiently suffered him one night?
The Talmud
Judging someone is dangerous. What Jesus says is true,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
People around us are aware of what we do and say. They are aware of our short comings If we judge them they are going to judge us in the same way.
The classic example I use when I teach is that of someone saying a homosexual is sinning and holding it up as some kind of “special sin.”
It is not the Christians place to judge sin. That is God’s no one else’s. Only he knows the heart and mind of anyone.
The job of the Christian, the only Job of the Christian is to present the Gospel to anyone who will listen and let God do the rest.
Think about it.
Thursday, 27 February 2014
Don't Worry
Don’t worry
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ?
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Matthew 6:25-34.
Here in Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus gives us some sound advise about worry. He basically is saying that we shouldn’t worry.
That we should put our trust in God for the things we need.
Paul states,
“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19.
God knows what we can handle and what we need.
Back about twenty years or more ago now I was commuting over a hundred kilometers one way to work.
We were always short of money, but we never missed a meal.
On one occasion I needed some money for gasoline for my truck to get me to work where I could get my paycheck.
I didn’t know how I was going to get it. It was Sunday morning and I had to be at work for eleven o clock that night. All we could do was trust in the Lord.
At church one of the secretaries said “someone left this envelope for you.” she didn’t say who it was but in it was twenty dollars. More than enough to buy the fuel I needed for the round trip.
God had provided.
Such things are common place in our lives. God does truly provide what we need.
He does so for all believers who trust in him.
The important thing is to trust Him.
Think about it.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ?
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Matthew 6:25-34.
Here in Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus gives us some sound advise about worry. He basically is saying that we shouldn’t worry.
That we should put our trust in God for the things we need.
Paul states,
“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19.
God knows what we can handle and what we need.
Back about twenty years or more ago now I was commuting over a hundred kilometers one way to work.
We were always short of money, but we never missed a meal.
On one occasion I needed some money for gasoline for my truck to get me to work where I could get my paycheck.
I didn’t know how I was going to get it. It was Sunday morning and I had to be at work for eleven o clock that night. All we could do was trust in the Lord.
At church one of the secretaries said “someone left this envelope for you.” she didn’t say who it was but in it was twenty dollars. More than enough to buy the fuel I needed for the round trip.
God had provided.
Such things are common place in our lives. God does truly provide what we need.
He does so for all believers who trust in him.
The important thing is to trust Him.
Think about it.
Wednesday, 26 February 2014
You Can't Serve God and Money
You can’t serve God and money
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.
But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money”
Matthew 6:19-24.
Here Jesus is talking about greed. Money and riches in themselves are not bad. The church needs wealthy people to help in the spread of the gospel.
It’s what you do with your money. Don’t hoard it for the sake of hoarding it.
There’s a very famous story of a miserly woman in the late eighteen hundreds. She had substantial wealth enough to pay doctors to help her sick son. Yet the son died because she didn’t want to pay out the money and was looking for a charity hospital to help him and save her money.
While this is an extreme case it is what Jesus is talking about.
Some people put their trust entirely in money. Proud they are self sufficient. Thus quite often they miss the blessings of God.
You can always tell where a persons heart is.
Over the years that I’ve been in church work I’ve met people that are earning an excellent base wage but work long hours of overtime to get the extra they want to buy a new toy, be it a $500 dollar cell phone, half million dollar house or a fancy car.
They work so much they can’t enjoy their toys.
While they claim to love God they are so absorbed in making money that they don’t have time to serve Him.
I think it will be interesting to see how big their house is in heaven.
Jesus made it clear “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money”
We all need money but my cousin use to say “you can’t go anywhere without it. But you can’t take it when you go.”
We all as Christians need to take a long hard look at were our treasure is. Is it hear on earth or is it in heaven?
Do we really need all the toys of this world?
Or could our time be better spent serving God even if it’s only in a small way.
Think about it?
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.
But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money”
Matthew 6:19-24.
Here Jesus is talking about greed. Money and riches in themselves are not bad. The church needs wealthy people to help in the spread of the gospel.
It’s what you do with your money. Don’t hoard it for the sake of hoarding it.
There’s a very famous story of a miserly woman in the late eighteen hundreds. She had substantial wealth enough to pay doctors to help her sick son. Yet the son died because she didn’t want to pay out the money and was looking for a charity hospital to help him and save her money.
While this is an extreme case it is what Jesus is talking about.
Some people put their trust entirely in money. Proud they are self sufficient. Thus quite often they miss the blessings of God.
You can always tell where a persons heart is.
Over the years that I’ve been in church work I’ve met people that are earning an excellent base wage but work long hours of overtime to get the extra they want to buy a new toy, be it a $500 dollar cell phone, half million dollar house or a fancy car.
They work so much they can’t enjoy their toys.
While they claim to love God they are so absorbed in making money that they don’t have time to serve Him.
I think it will be interesting to see how big their house is in heaven.
Jesus made it clear “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money”
We all need money but my cousin use to say “you can’t go anywhere without it. But you can’t take it when you go.”
We all as Christians need to take a long hard look at were our treasure is. Is it hear on earth or is it in heaven?
Do we really need all the toys of this world?
Or could our time be better spent serving God even if it’s only in a small way.
Think about it?
Tuesday, 25 February 2014
Fasting
Fasting
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Matthew 6:16-18.
Do you fast? I think if it is possible for us to fast we need to every now and then. Our Church calls for a week of fasting at the beginning of every year. This is to draw closer to the Lord and see what direction he wants us to go in for the coming year.
I think we should also consider fasting when we are about to make a major decision in our lives.
We need to pray and fast and seek the Lords direction in our lives.
Here in Matthew 6:16-18 Jesus tells us how to fast.
We need to do it privately not making a fuss. We need to do it in such a way as people for the most part don’t know we are doing it.
That way we will receive an answer from the Lord.
Think about it.
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Matthew 6:16-18.
Do you fast? I think if it is possible for us to fast we need to every now and then. Our Church calls for a week of fasting at the beginning of every year. This is to draw closer to the Lord and see what direction he wants us to go in for the coming year.
I think we should also consider fasting when we are about to make a major decision in our lives.
We need to pray and fast and seek the Lords direction in our lives.
Here in Matthew 6:16-18 Jesus tells us how to fast.
We need to do it privately not making a fuss. We need to do it in such a way as people for the most part don’t know we are doing it.
That way we will receive an answer from the Lord.
Think about it.
Monday, 24 February 2014
How to Pray
How to Pray
“This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from the evil one.’
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Matthew 6:9-15
The Lords prayer or as some commentaries put it the “Disciples prayer”.
In all there are six petitions the first three to God and the second toward our fellow man.
1/ We give God the glory acknowledging Him as holy.
2/ We ask that His Kingdom come.
We know that His Kingdom already exists what it mean hear is that God’s kingdom become more of a reality in our lives and on earth.
3/ Your will be done.
We are asking that God’ will be done here on Earth as it is in heaven.
4/ Forgive us our Debts as we forgive our debtors.
In Christian life it is important for us to forgive. We are told even to forgive our enemies. And are asking God that by the same amount we forgive others to forgive us.
5/ Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.
This is something we need to think about carefully. We are tempted and tried daily and it is important that we enlist Gods help to help us avoid the temptations and avoid the devil himself.
6/ Forgiveness of Sins.
It is as I have already stated that we forgive others or God will not forgive our sins.
Take a few minutes and think about this prayer. Do you pray in like manner?
Think about it?
“This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from the evil one.’
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Matthew 6:9-15
The Lords prayer or as some commentaries put it the “Disciples prayer”.
In all there are six petitions the first three to God and the second toward our fellow man.
1/ We give God the glory acknowledging Him as holy.
2/ We ask that His Kingdom come.
We know that His Kingdom already exists what it mean hear is that God’s kingdom become more of a reality in our lives and on earth.
3/ Your will be done.
We are asking that God’ will be done here on Earth as it is in heaven.
4/ Forgive us our Debts as we forgive our debtors.
In Christian life it is important for us to forgive. We are told even to forgive our enemies. And are asking God that by the same amount we forgive others to forgive us.
5/ Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.
This is something we need to think about carefully. We are tempted and tried daily and it is important that we enlist Gods help to help us avoid the temptations and avoid the devil himself.
6/ Forgiveness of Sins.
It is as I have already stated that we forgive others or God will not forgive our sins.
Take a few minutes and think about this prayer. Do you pray in like manner?
Think about it?
Sunday, 23 February 2014
How to Pray
How not to pray.
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
Matthew 6:5-8
Her Jesus tells us how not to pray.
1/ Don’t pray to be seen by man. To have men say “look at the prayer warrior.”
I know people who in church like to pray “in tongues” out loud.
Paul writing to the Corinthians states,
“If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret.
If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God.”
1 Corinthians 14:27,28.
This is not what Jesus had in mind when he wanted people to pray.
2/ We should pray in private with the door closed.
Now this does not preclude praying in church but it should be in a known language and appropriate to what is happening.
3/ Avoid constant repetition. Don’t babble on that’s what the pagans did.
Jesus points out that God knows what you need before you ask.
Payer is thus an act of faith. Even though God knows what we need he wants us to act in faith and ask Him for our needs in our own language.
Because as the writer of Hebrews notes,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6.
Think about it.
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
Matthew 6:5-8
Her Jesus tells us how not to pray.
1/ Don’t pray to be seen by man. To have men say “look at the prayer warrior.”
I know people who in church like to pray “in tongues” out loud.
Paul writing to the Corinthians states,
“If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret.
If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God.”
1 Corinthians 14:27,28.
This is not what Jesus had in mind when he wanted people to pray.
2/ We should pray in private with the door closed.
Now this does not preclude praying in church but it should be in a known language and appropriate to what is happening.
3/ Avoid constant repetition. Don’t babble on that’s what the pagans did.
Jesus points out that God knows what you need before you ask.
Payer is thus an act of faith. Even though God knows what we need he wants us to act in faith and ask Him for our needs in our own language.
Because as the writer of Hebrews notes,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6.
Think about it.
Saturday, 22 February 2014
Hey got'a love those enemies
Hey got’a love those enemies
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Matthew 5:43-48
It’s easy to love lovable people, family friends even acquaintances, particularly if they have never wronged you.
But it takes something else to love an enemy. Someone who has wronged you. When I was a young Christian we use to say to those who did wrong to us, “Lord love them with a brick.” WE WERE WRONG!
Back when I was a young Christian, back in the 1970's (yes I’m that ancient), there was two people that use to drive me crazy at work.
Both hated the fact that I was a Christian. One was the son of a Baptist minister that was in a state of total rebellion against everything his parents believed.
The other was a mean character who was into the martial arts and simply didn’t like Christians.
I suffered a fair bit of abuse from them for several years. I thought of leaving the job because of it. It was only the good pay and benefits that kept me there.
But God told me to pray about those two men.
I didn’t know what to say so I simply said Lord please change them. It was a prayer I said often over the period of some months.
One day the son of the Baptist preacher went on vacation. He hitchhiked down to the southern states and back.
On his way back he was mugged and it almost cost him his life.
The incident became a turning point in his life and he gave himself to the Lord accepting Jesus as his saviour.
I could tell the moment he returned to work he was changed. He came over to me and apologised for what he’d done to me.
The other person met a girl he liked. She introduced him to Christ and he accepted Jesus as his saviour.
The change was instantaneous and he came to me and apologised to me for what he’d done.
Both these men went on to bible school and to pastor churches.
It was quite a lesson for me as a young Christian one I have never forgot.
Question when was the last time you prayed for your enemies?
Think about it.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Matthew 5:43-48
It’s easy to love lovable people, family friends even acquaintances, particularly if they have never wronged you.
But it takes something else to love an enemy. Someone who has wronged you. When I was a young Christian we use to say to those who did wrong to us, “Lord love them with a brick.” WE WERE WRONG!
Back when I was a young Christian, back in the 1970's (yes I’m that ancient), there was two people that use to drive me crazy at work.
Both hated the fact that I was a Christian. One was the son of a Baptist minister that was in a state of total rebellion against everything his parents believed.
The other was a mean character who was into the martial arts and simply didn’t like Christians.
I suffered a fair bit of abuse from them for several years. I thought of leaving the job because of it. It was only the good pay and benefits that kept me there.
But God told me to pray about those two men.
I didn’t know what to say so I simply said Lord please change them. It was a prayer I said often over the period of some months.
One day the son of the Baptist preacher went on vacation. He hitchhiked down to the southern states and back.
On his way back he was mugged and it almost cost him his life.
The incident became a turning point in his life and he gave himself to the Lord accepting Jesus as his saviour.
I could tell the moment he returned to work he was changed. He came over to me and apologised for what he’d done to me.
The other person met a girl he liked. She introduced him to Christ and he accepted Jesus as his saviour.
The change was instantaneous and he came to me and apologised to me for what he’d done.
Both these men went on to bible school and to pastor churches.
It was quite a lesson for me as a young Christian one I have never forgot.
Question when was the last time you prayed for your enemies?
Think about it.
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