Christian Accountability
“You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean.
In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.”
Matthew 23:24-28
Another admonition of Jesus to the religious leaders of his day. He’s accusing them of looking good on the outside while inwardly they are a rotting mess.
Here is a good example of why we need to get to know our Christian leadership well.
I think anyone who has been a Christian in North America for any length of time knows at least one evangelist who has fallen from grace.
A so called man of God who on the outside looks good but on the inside was far from God.
We need to check out those we support carefully.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with asking the ministers we support be they our church leaders or evangelist in the media, what they are doing with the money we donate to them.
I think every Christian institution should publicly give a detailed list of how they spend the money donated.
The men and women who lead our churches or are representing God in the media need also to prove they are as clean on the inside as they are on the outside. The need to live exceptionally moral lives.
It’s a hard thing to do but I firmly believe that if there is even the hint of something wrong within a ministry those who head the ministry from the pastor, board members on down need to come clean about what they are doing publicly.
If it comes down to a matter of morals especially with regards to anyone in authority within a ministry it first needs to be dealt with in accordance to instructions give to us by Jesus in Matthew 18:15-17 which states,
“If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.
But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”
I think it should go with the territory. If a religious leader such as an evangelist wishes to live in the media, in the public eye. Then they should be willing to be accountable in the public eye for things both financial and moral.
At our church we have a yearly meeting in which every penny is accounted for.
I have also been a part of another church a much larger one in which a pastor was dismissed because of a moral problem in his life.
To this day that church still holds its pastoral staff and board members to the highest possible moral standard.
It is only right that the Christian leadership be held to a high standard of accountability then they must be removed from their position of authority and if necessary cast out of the church.
Think about it.
Thursday, 5 June 2014
Wednesday, 4 June 2014
Blind Guides
Blind Guide
“Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’
You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?
You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.’
You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?
Therefore, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.
And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it.
And he who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.”
Matthew 23:16-23
Her Jesus is criticizing the teachers for their practices. They are too busy teaching about the material things that come into the temple but forget the more important matters of Justice, mercy and faithfulness.
I see especially in the media televangelists constantly teaching on giving money into the Lords work.
The classic example is ‘seed faith’. Give to get is how many preachers who bring the topic up teach.
Some are going as far as saying be faithful with your pledge to keep this ministry going and God will bless you many times over.
On one occasion I was even shocked at a person saying if you don’t honour God with your tithes and offerings to their ministry God will not honour or bless you.
This is not what the Bible says.
It seems to be a common thing with such ministries that they also are spouting off about all the ills of the world.
They centre out groups, politicians, and individuals people of various lifestyles, whom they claim promote sinning. Usually people with whom they don’t see eye to eye.
In doing so the true lesson of Christ is missed one of Justice Mercy and Faithfulness.
How sad, especially when the message of the gospel is one of the love and mercy of God.
God understands the heart and the position everyone is in. God meets people where they are at.
He does not care how much you give financially to His work. He cares about the spiritual condition of each person and wishes to come into a personal relationship with them.
This is the true message of the gospel.
As Christians we and our leaders need to examine what we are teaching and make sure that it is the true message of the Gospel of Christ. That justice love and mercy are being preached both in our lives and in the church congregation we attend.
We need to seek out people who are espousing the doctrine of the Love and Mercy of God.
We in our own lives need to be showing to the world God’s Love and Mercy.
Think about it.
“Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’
You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?
You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.’
You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?
Therefore, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.
And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it.
And he who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.”
Matthew 23:16-23
Her Jesus is criticizing the teachers for their practices. They are too busy teaching about the material things that come into the temple but forget the more important matters of Justice, mercy and faithfulness.
I see especially in the media televangelists constantly teaching on giving money into the Lords work.
The classic example is ‘seed faith’. Give to get is how many preachers who bring the topic up teach.
Some are going as far as saying be faithful with your pledge to keep this ministry going and God will bless you many times over.
On one occasion I was even shocked at a person saying if you don’t honour God with your tithes and offerings to their ministry God will not honour or bless you.
This is not what the Bible says.
It seems to be a common thing with such ministries that they also are spouting off about all the ills of the world.
They centre out groups, politicians, and individuals people of various lifestyles, whom they claim promote sinning. Usually people with whom they don’t see eye to eye.
In doing so the true lesson of Christ is missed one of Justice Mercy and Faithfulness.
How sad, especially when the message of the gospel is one of the love and mercy of God.
God understands the heart and the position everyone is in. God meets people where they are at.
He does not care how much you give financially to His work. He cares about the spiritual condition of each person and wishes to come into a personal relationship with them.
This is the true message of the gospel.
As Christians we and our leaders need to examine what we are teaching and make sure that it is the true message of the Gospel of Christ. That justice love and mercy are being preached both in our lives and in the church congregation we attend.
We need to seek out people who are espousing the doctrine of the Love and Mercy of God.
We in our own lives need to be showing to the world God’s Love and Mercy.
Think about it.
Tuesday, 3 June 2014
Woe
Woe
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.”
Matthew 23:13,14.
This I believe is an admonition for today. It is directed not only at the Pharisees and teachers of the law in the time of Jesus but at teacher of the scriptures today.
There are many churches out their that you must follow such and such a ritual in order to get to heaven.
There are many ministers, and evangelist who are laying down strict rules with respect on how a Christian is to act. Rules if not followed they say will bar the convert from heaven.
There is a lot of legalism in the Christian world.
The result is to turn new converts off and on to a road that is going far from God. This should not be so.
We as individual Christians need to be reading the word of God. We need to be in prayer asking God for his guidance in both our lives and in the lives of our leadership.
My challenge to the Christian community as a whole is to take a look at the leadership within the congregation you are attending.
Take a look every so often at what is being taught in your church congregation and denomination and what you yourself believe.
Then read the Bible and the teachings of Christ and the apostles and see if what is being taught lines up with the Bible and Christ.
This is not an unusual thing. Good things have come from questioning the authority of the church leaders.
Men like Martin Luther, Calvin, and others did so and in doing so brought the church back closer to its roots. And the correct teachings of the scriptures.
Think about it.
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.”
Matthew 23:13,14.
This I believe is an admonition for today. It is directed not only at the Pharisees and teachers of the law in the time of Jesus but at teacher of the scriptures today.
There are many churches out their that you must follow such and such a ritual in order to get to heaven.
There are many ministers, and evangelist who are laying down strict rules with respect on how a Christian is to act. Rules if not followed they say will bar the convert from heaven.
There is a lot of legalism in the Christian world.
The result is to turn new converts off and on to a road that is going far from God. This should not be so.
We as individual Christians need to be reading the word of God. We need to be in prayer asking God for his guidance in both our lives and in the lives of our leadership.
My challenge to the Christian community as a whole is to take a look at the leadership within the congregation you are attending.
Take a look every so often at what is being taught in your church congregation and denomination and what you yourself believe.
Then read the Bible and the teachings of Christ and the apostles and see if what is being taught lines up with the Bible and Christ.
This is not an unusual thing. Good things have come from questioning the authority of the church leaders.
Men like Martin Luther, Calvin, and others did so and in doing so brought the church back closer to its roots. And the correct teachings of the scriptures.
Think about it.
Monday, 2 June 2014
Jesus Words
Jesus Words,
“Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:
“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.
So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.
They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
“Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them ‘Rabbi.’
“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.
Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ.
The greatest among you will be your servant.
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
Matthew 23:1-12
Here Jesus tells his disciples to obey what the religious leaders tell them. In other words they were preaching the law which the disciples Jews had to follow.
The problem with the teachers of the law was that they themselves were not practising what they were teaching.
The wanted the prestige the job brought. They wanted to be recognized as someone special.
God never intended our religious leaders to be puffed up. They were to be humble practising what they preached.
Jesus laid down some guide lines for his disciples and those to follow them as to how they were to act.
1. you are not to be called “Rabbi’ all are equal among the disciples. No one is better than the other.
2. Don’t call anyone on earth ‘Father’ because you have only one father God
This is referring I believe in the religious sense. We have no spiritual ‘fathers’ on earth only God who is in heaven.
3. You are not to be called teacher. For you have one teacher Christ.
Here he’s warning against people rising up and calling themselves teachers interpreting the scriptures in a wrong way. Such teachers may even claim they have new revelation. This is wrong.
Our teaching comes from Christ and him alone. All correct Christian teaching comes directly from God and Christ alone.
History is full of men and women who have misled people by claiming their teaching is the only correct teaching.
We must always be careful that our teaching is in line with that of the bible.
4 The greatest among you will be your servant.
Lack of humility was a major problem for the Pharisees. Our ministers and evangelist must be humble people. If they are not they can be led astray.
A humble person particularly a leader recognizes his ministry is one of service to his congregation.
He will listen to people and even admit if he makes a mistake and submit to correction.
All of the above is what a Christian should be.
Think about it.
“Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:
“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.
So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.
They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
“Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them ‘Rabbi.’
“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.
Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ.
The greatest among you will be your servant.
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
Matthew 23:1-12
Here Jesus tells his disciples to obey what the religious leaders tell them. In other words they were preaching the law which the disciples Jews had to follow.
The problem with the teachers of the law was that they themselves were not practising what they were teaching.
The wanted the prestige the job brought. They wanted to be recognized as someone special.
God never intended our religious leaders to be puffed up. They were to be humble practising what they preached.
Jesus laid down some guide lines for his disciples and those to follow them as to how they were to act.
1. you are not to be called “Rabbi’ all are equal among the disciples. No one is better than the other.
2. Don’t call anyone on earth ‘Father’ because you have only one father God
This is referring I believe in the religious sense. We have no spiritual ‘fathers’ on earth only God who is in heaven.
3. You are not to be called teacher. For you have one teacher Christ.
Here he’s warning against people rising up and calling themselves teachers interpreting the scriptures in a wrong way. Such teachers may even claim they have new revelation. This is wrong.
Our teaching comes from Christ and him alone. All correct Christian teaching comes directly from God and Christ alone.
History is full of men and women who have misled people by claiming their teaching is the only correct teaching.
We must always be careful that our teaching is in line with that of the bible.
4 The greatest among you will be your servant.
Lack of humility was a major problem for the Pharisees. Our ministers and evangelist must be humble people. If they are not they can be led astray.
A humble person particularly a leader recognizes his ministry is one of service to his congregation.
He will listen to people and even admit if he makes a mistake and submit to correction.
All of the above is what a Christian should be.
Think about it.
Sunday, 1 June 2014
Sound Teaching
Sound Teaching
"While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,
“What do you think about the Christ ? Whose son is he?” “The son of David,” they replied.
He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says,
“ ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” ’
If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?”
No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions."
Matthew 22:41-46.
The Pharisees considered themselves the successor to Moses when it came to teaching the law.
So Jesus answered them a question,
“What do you think about the Christ ? Whose son is he?” “The son of David,” they replied.”
Jesus then presented them with a problem,
“How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says,
“ ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” ‘If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?”
The Pharisees had no answer. Their theology was in error. David was referring to someone that was his Lord. Therefor was greater than David and couldn’t be his son.
As they had no come back they stopped asking him questions.
It’s the same today. If our Christian doctrine is correct it will line up with the word of the Lord, the Bible. If it is in error it will not.
If you question someone, be it a preacher, evangelist or average Christian a question about their teaching and it doesn’t line up with the Bible, most of the time they will avoid speaking with you.
There are very good examples out there in the world today of Televangelist who are teaching wrong things.
When questioned they refuse to answer the question or they ignore all together the person asking the question.
We as Christians must be aware of these people.
For me I strongly believe a minister be they in the media or in the pulpit, must be accountable to some group in authority.
Independent evangelist or pastors give me cause to be very cautious simply because over the years I’ve found many of these people to surround themselves with yes men. Who don’t oppose them in any way even when they stray from correct teaching.
This should not be so.
We as Christians should be able to hold our spiritual leaders to account with respect to what they teach and how they act.
If they are not they can like the Pharisees of old go off the rails and start teaching things God never intended to be taught.
Thus to both Christian and Non-Christian reading this I would advise that when it comes to choosing a preacher or church congregation to listen to and attend, I would say go to one that is attached to a denomination that holds their ministers and teachers accountable.
Three examples I can think of are Baptist, The Assemblies of God in the United States and the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. I have found have proven track records with respect to seeing that their ministers, teachers and missionaries in line with the teachings of the Bible.
Therefore I would encourage people to go to one of these churches and ask them what they believe and why.
Please think about it.
"While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,
“What do you think about the Christ ? Whose son is he?” “The son of David,” they replied.
He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says,
“ ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” ’
If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?”
No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions."
Matthew 22:41-46.
The Pharisees considered themselves the successor to Moses when it came to teaching the law.
So Jesus answered them a question,
“What do you think about the Christ ? Whose son is he?” “The son of David,” they replied.”
Jesus then presented them with a problem,
“How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says,
“ ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” ‘If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?”
The Pharisees had no answer. Their theology was in error. David was referring to someone that was his Lord. Therefor was greater than David and couldn’t be his son.
As they had no come back they stopped asking him questions.
It’s the same today. If our Christian doctrine is correct it will line up with the word of the Lord, the Bible. If it is in error it will not.
If you question someone, be it a preacher, evangelist or average Christian a question about their teaching and it doesn’t line up with the Bible, most of the time they will avoid speaking with you.
There are very good examples out there in the world today of Televangelist who are teaching wrong things.
When questioned they refuse to answer the question or they ignore all together the person asking the question.
We as Christians must be aware of these people.
For me I strongly believe a minister be they in the media or in the pulpit, must be accountable to some group in authority.
Independent evangelist or pastors give me cause to be very cautious simply because over the years I’ve found many of these people to surround themselves with yes men. Who don’t oppose them in any way even when they stray from correct teaching.
This should not be so.
We as Christians should be able to hold our spiritual leaders to account with respect to what they teach and how they act.
If they are not they can like the Pharisees of old go off the rails and start teaching things God never intended to be taught.
Thus to both Christian and Non-Christian reading this I would advise that when it comes to choosing a preacher or church congregation to listen to and attend, I would say go to one that is attached to a denomination that holds their ministers and teachers accountable.
Three examples I can think of are Baptist, The Assemblies of God in the United States and the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. I have found have proven track records with respect to seeing that their ministers, teachers and missionaries in line with the teachings of the Bible.
Therefore I would encourage people to go to one of these churches and ask them what they believe and why.
Please think about it.
Saturday, 31 May 2014
The greatest commandment
The greatest commandment
“Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together.
One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
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 neighbour as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:34-40.
Paul makes it clear what true love is like when he states,
True Christians believe the above. True churches are all inclusive. They reach out to all members of society irrespective of their lifestyle, colour race or creed.
Jesus came to this earth for everyone.
Years ago one of my pastors outside of our church put this sign up.
“This church for Sinners Only. All are welcome.”
The Pharisees asked Jesus disciples,
“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew 9:11-13.
There are sadly many church congregations out there that will never reach a lot of the lost simply because they are not inclusive. They cater to the saved or those who think the same as they do. This should not be so.
A true Christian will sit down and talk to anyone who will engage in an open and honest dialogue with them.
The mark of a true Christian is one who
Think about it.
“Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together.
One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
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 neighbour as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:34-40.
Paul makes it clear what true love is like when he states,
“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 True Christians believe the above. True churches are all inclusive. They reach out to all members of society irrespective of their lifestyle, colour race or creed.
Jesus came to this earth for everyone.
Years ago one of my pastors outside of our church put this sign up.
“This church for Sinners Only. All are welcome.”
The Pharisees asked Jesus disciples,
“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew 9:11-13.
There are sadly many church congregations out there that will never reach a lot of the lost simply because they are not inclusive. They cater to the saved or those who think the same as they do. This should not be so.
A true Christian will sit down and talk to anyone who will engage in an open and honest dialogue with them.
The mark of a true Christian is one who
" ‘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.’”
On this can rest the eternal resting place of the people we as Christians meet.Think about it.
Thursday, 29 May 2014
The Feast
The feast
"Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying:
“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.
He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.
“Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’
“But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business.
The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them.
The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.
“Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come.
Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’
So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.
“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. "‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless.
“Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
“For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
Matthew 22:1-14
This parable notes several things.
First the King (God) sends out invitations to heaven. First of all to invited guests who refused to come.
Since they refused the Kings judgement is passed on them.
Secondly he sends his servants out to the streets to invite people to the banquet.
One report I read said that it was the custom for the host to provide wedding garments. However one person did not avail himself of the garments thus the King told his servants to throw him into the darkness.
I believe the interpretation is simple.
Many people are invited to heaven to sit at the marriage supper of the lamb but these people must first of all want to come. If they refuse to do so God’s judgement is passed on them.
Secondly when they come they must be willing to put on the wedding clothes. New garments casting their old clothes aside.
In other words abide by the word of God. Turn from their old life. And live the life Jesus wishes us to live as Christians.
God does not choose people arbitrarily to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. He gives everyone a choice and sets the rules as to how they are to behave.
True we are saved by faith but James makes it clear our faith without works is dead, when he writes,
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder....
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
James 2:14-19,26.
In order to get to heaven we must act both in faith and deed. The writer of 2 Chronicles saying,
“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14.
Think about it.
"Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying:
“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.
He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.
“Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’
“But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business.
The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them.
The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.
“Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come.
Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’
So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.
“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. "‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless.
“Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
“For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
Matthew 22:1-14
This parable notes several things.
First the King (God) sends out invitations to heaven. First of all to invited guests who refused to come.
Since they refused the Kings judgement is passed on them.
Secondly he sends his servants out to the streets to invite people to the banquet.
One report I read said that it was the custom for the host to provide wedding garments. However one person did not avail himself of the garments thus the King told his servants to throw him into the darkness.
I believe the interpretation is simple.
Many people are invited to heaven to sit at the marriage supper of the lamb but these people must first of all want to come. If they refuse to do so God’s judgement is passed on them.
Secondly when they come they must be willing to put on the wedding clothes. New garments casting their old clothes aside.
In other words abide by the word of God. Turn from their old life. And live the life Jesus wishes us to live as Christians.
God does not choose people arbitrarily to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. He gives everyone a choice and sets the rules as to how they are to behave.
True we are saved by faith but James makes it clear our faith without works is dead, when he writes,
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder....
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
James 2:14-19,26.
In order to get to heaven we must act both in faith and deed. The writer of 2 Chronicles saying,
“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14.
Think about it.
Wednesday, 28 May 2014
New Tenants
New Tenants
“Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey.
When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.
“The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third.
Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way.
Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.
“But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’
So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
“Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”
“He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “ ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’ ?
“Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.
He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”
When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them.
They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.
Matthew 21:33-46
Here Jesus uses a simple parable to illustrate for the people of his day what was to happen and has happened as we know today.
Matthew records,
“When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them.
They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.”
Jesus came to give salvation to the Jews first. They knew the one true living God. Therefor it was only right that God would send his One and Only Son to the Jews first.
That being said the religious leadership refused to recognize who Jesus was although it is evident from what is said here the people held that he was at least a prophet.
John writes,
“He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.
He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
John 1:10-13.
Had the Jews and particularly the Jewish religious leadership accepted Jesus in the first place the church would have started from there however they rejected Jesus and with the help of the Roman governor, a gentile, had him put to death.
They completely rejected the teachings of Jesus.
I believe it was God’s intentions from the beginning of the world to take the news of Salvation through faith to all the world.
Unfortunately the Jew did not do it. Thus Jesus was sent. He in turn sent his apostles who started a movement that to date has reached 2.2 billion (2,200,000,000) people in every part of the world.
God did not just love the Jews although they were and are his chosen people and I firmly believe that nations and individuals will be judged in part by how they treat God’s chosen people.
Still it is the Christians that have taken the love of God to all nations.
History records that by the end of the second century the church was almost entirely made up of none Jews.
It is only in recent times that a concerted effort has been launched by Christians to reach God’s chosen people the Jews with the news that Jesus is indeed the suffering Messiah mentioned in Isaiah. And that he will one day return to his people as a conquering messiah.
Think about it.
“Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey.
When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.
“The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third.
Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way.
Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.
“But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’
So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
“Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”
“He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “ ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’ ?
“Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.
He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”
When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them.
They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.
Matthew 21:33-46
Here Jesus uses a simple parable to illustrate for the people of his day what was to happen and has happened as we know today.
Matthew records,
“When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them.
They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.”
Jesus came to give salvation to the Jews first. They knew the one true living God. Therefor it was only right that God would send his One and Only Son to the Jews first.
That being said the religious leadership refused to recognize who Jesus was although it is evident from what is said here the people held that he was at least a prophet.
John writes,
“He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.
He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
John 1:10-13.
Had the Jews and particularly the Jewish religious leadership accepted Jesus in the first place the church would have started from there however they rejected Jesus and with the help of the Roman governor, a gentile, had him put to death.
They completely rejected the teachings of Jesus.
I believe it was God’s intentions from the beginning of the world to take the news of Salvation through faith to all the world.
Unfortunately the Jew did not do it. Thus Jesus was sent. He in turn sent his apostles who started a movement that to date has reached 2.2 billion (2,200,000,000) people in every part of the world.
God did not just love the Jews although they were and are his chosen people and I firmly believe that nations and individuals will be judged in part by how they treat God’s chosen people.
Still it is the Christians that have taken the love of God to all nations.
History records that by the end of the second century the church was almost entirely made up of none Jews.
It is only in recent times that a concerted effort has been launched by Christians to reach God’s chosen people the Jews with the news that Jesus is indeed the suffering Messiah mentioned in Isaiah. And that he will one day return to his people as a conquering messiah.
Think about it.
Tuesday, 27 May 2014
Two Sons
Two sons
“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
“ ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
“Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
“Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.
For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.”
Matthew 21:28-32.
Here’s a simple parable directed at the religious leaders of the day.
John the Baptist came to these leaders to show them the way of righteousness yet they didn’t believe him. These leaders did not recognize their sins and thus failed to repent.
He went to the tax collectors and prostitutes and they recognized their sins and repented.
It’s the same in the church today. God is speaking to the religious leaders in our churches. Everyone from the Televangelist to the media pastors to the man and woman in the pews and on the streets.
God is calling them to repentance and many of those who call themselves Christian leaders are not repenting.
All the while the average person in the pew. The person on the street who truly get the message of Christ’s saving grace are repenting.
It is to the those Church leaders who fail to repent. Who fail to look at the sin in their own life that Jesus will say “I never knew you.”
Matthew recording,
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 7:22,23.
Think about it.
“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
“ ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
“Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
“Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.
For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.”
Matthew 21:28-32.
Here’s a simple parable directed at the religious leaders of the day.
John the Baptist came to these leaders to show them the way of righteousness yet they didn’t believe him. These leaders did not recognize their sins and thus failed to repent.
He went to the tax collectors and prostitutes and they recognized their sins and repented.
It’s the same in the church today. God is speaking to the religious leaders in our churches. Everyone from the Televangelist to the media pastors to the man and woman in the pews and on the streets.
God is calling them to repentance and many of those who call themselves Christian leaders are not repenting.
All the while the average person in the pew. The person on the street who truly get the message of Christ’s saving grace are repenting.
It is to the those Church leaders who fail to repent. Who fail to look at the sin in their own life that Jesus will say “I never knew you.”
Matthew recording,
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 7:22,23.
Think about it.
Monday, 26 May 2014
In Memorial
In Memorial
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 12:18-21
I thought this appropriate, as today is Memorial Day in the United States. A time when they honour those who have served and are serving in their armed forces.
Someone asked me back in November around Remembrance Day (November 11th) when Canada honours its fallen soldiers, is it right for us as Christians to honour our soldiers.
My simple answer is yes.
Over the past number of years my pastor has asked me to prepare a brief slide show of remembrance for our fallen soldier that is presented at our church on Remembrance day.
It is a memorial to those who not only have fallen but those who have served and are serving in our armed forces.
I believe we must honour those who choose to put themselves in harms way to uphold our freedoms.
Whether we like to admit it or not the soldiers of the western nations have always been their for us amid the darkest days of history.
Western nations particularly in the twentieth century and into this new century have been bastions of freedom where our faith has been able to grow and prosper.
All true Christians want to do if we are honest is to as the Apostle Paul said,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
We wish to follow the commission given to us by Jesus who said,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20
What Jesus is telling us as Christians is to present what he has taught us to the individual person and let them make the decision for themselves.
Sadly in many nations we cannot do that.
Kelly James Clark writing in the world post states,
“German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared that Christianity is "the most persecuted religion in the world." Although met with predictable criticism, Rupert Short's recent research report for Civitas UK confirms Merkel's claim -- we may not want to hear it, but Christianity is in peril, like no other religion. While this is a contest no one wants to win, Short shows that "Christians are targeted more than any other body of believers." Short is the author of the recently published Christianophobia: A Faith Under Attack. He is concerned that "200 million Christians (10 percent of the global total) are socially disadvantaged, harassed or actively oppressed for their beliefs."
It is because of the statistics above 200,000,000 Christians under attack and many of them dying for their faith, that we need a strong military to protect that most precious gift freedom.
So today take time to pray for those men and women who have served and are serving in the military. That we may have the freedoms we enjoy.
Please don’t think about it DO IT.
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 12:18-21
I thought this appropriate, as today is Memorial Day in the United States. A time when they honour those who have served and are serving in their armed forces.
Someone asked me back in November around Remembrance Day (November 11th) when Canada honours its fallen soldiers, is it right for us as Christians to honour our soldiers.
My simple answer is yes.
Over the past number of years my pastor has asked me to prepare a brief slide show of remembrance for our fallen soldier that is presented at our church on Remembrance day.
It is a memorial to those who not only have fallen but those who have served and are serving in our armed forces.
I believe we must honour those who choose to put themselves in harms way to uphold our freedoms.
Whether we like to admit it or not the soldiers of the western nations have always been their for us amid the darkest days of history.
Western nations particularly in the twentieth century and into this new century have been bastions of freedom where our faith has been able to grow and prosper.
All true Christians want to do if we are honest is to as the Apostle Paul said,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
We wish to follow the commission given to us by Jesus who said,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20
What Jesus is telling us as Christians is to present what he has taught us to the individual person and let them make the decision for themselves.
Sadly in many nations we cannot do that.
Kelly James Clark writing in the world post states,
“German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared that Christianity is "the most persecuted religion in the world." Although met with predictable criticism, Rupert Short's recent research report for Civitas UK confirms Merkel's claim -- we may not want to hear it, but Christianity is in peril, like no other religion. While this is a contest no one wants to win, Short shows that "Christians are targeted more than any other body of believers." Short is the author of the recently published Christianophobia: A Faith Under Attack. He is concerned that "200 million Christians (10 percent of the global total) are socially disadvantaged, harassed or actively oppressed for their beliefs."
It is because of the statistics above 200,000,000 Christians under attack and many of them dying for their faith, that we need a strong military to protect that most precious gift freedom.
So today take time to pray for those men and women who have served and are serving in the military. That we may have the freedoms we enjoy.
Please don’t think about it DO IT.
Sunday, 25 May 2014
The Authority of Jesus
The Authority of Jesus
“Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”
Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or from men?” They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’
But if we say, ‘From men’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”
So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”
Matthew 21:23-27.
Here the chief priests and elders questioned the authority of Jesus to teach. It was just another incident in a series of traps the religious leaders were laying for Jesus. Jesus did not fall for it.
Today people while respecting Jesus as a good man are still asking the by what authority did Jesus come.
The early apostles had no doubt by who’s authority Jesus spoke. Peter is recorded as staying,
“Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.
This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.
But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.
David said about him: “ ‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope,
because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’
“Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day.
But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne.
Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay.
God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact
Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.
For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” ’
“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
Acts 2:22-36
Think about it.
“Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”
Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or from men?” They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’
But if we say, ‘From men’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”
So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”
Matthew 21:23-27.
Here the chief priests and elders questioned the authority of Jesus to teach. It was just another incident in a series of traps the religious leaders were laying for Jesus. Jesus did not fall for it.
Today people while respecting Jesus as a good man are still asking the by what authority did Jesus come.
The early apostles had no doubt by who’s authority Jesus spoke. Peter is recorded as staying,
“Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.
This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.
But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.
David said about him: “ ‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope,
because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’
“Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day.
But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne.
Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay.
God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact
Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.
For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” ’
“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
Acts 2:22-36
Think about it.
Saturday, 24 May 2014
A Lesson
A Lesson
“Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry.
Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.
When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
Matthew 21:18-21.
Here is an example of what scholars call Matthew compressing events. In Mark chapter eleven the cursing of the fig tree takes place over Monday and Tuesday. In Matthew it’s seems to be instantaneous.
How long it took however doesn’t matter the lesson here is one of faith. Jesus says,
“I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
All believers in Christ have faith. It’s through our faith that we are saved.
The disciples had faith. They believed Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. They had faith I believe like most Christians in great quantity.
Here Jesus however is talking about the depth of our faith however. There’s a difference.
Jesus says “if you have faith and do not doubt.”
I believe we all doubt despite what we think.
It’s that doubt that sometimes stops things from happening when we pray and act in faith. At times also we pray for the wrong thing.
Some people have said to me Jesus says, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
We must remember it is important for us to pray for the will of God to be done. Jesus states in the Lords prayer, when telling us how to pray, pray,
“your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Matthew 6:10.
God knows what is best for us.
When I was diagnosed with cancer the doctor was surprised I didn’t get upset. I simply said I’m in God’s hands. My wife said the same thing.
We believed God would direct me to the right doctors at the right time.
It’s just the way we’ve started to think in the almost forty years we’ve known the Lord.
God did direct my path. I got an excellent surgeon who caught it all in time.
Then thirty-seven days later when I was rushed to hospital with what the doctor said was huge blood clots on my lungs and groin, side effects of the cancer surgery, the right doctors were there for me.
My church was I know praying for me during the eight days I was in hospital and I had a chance to witness to people I met in hospital.
Honestly I’d never intended to witness, but while in hospital I followed my normal routine of reading morning devotionals, and the bible.
The fact that I had a bible next to my bed sparked discussion from people that came into the room.
It was a hard time in my life at one point my life was in the balance but God brought me through it pain and all.
Now I’m not super spiritual in any way I’m just a simple Christian trying to do what God wants me to do.
I like anyone have doubts, and fears from time to time but I’ve learned to pray and put my trust in God.
I honestly don’t see great miracles happening in my life. But I do see the hand of God in the little things and that’s what strengthens my faith.
I also remember the teachings of Jesus when I pray who instructed his disciples and through them us, how to pray saying,
“Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry.
Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.
When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
Matthew 21:18-21.
Here is an example of what scholars call Matthew compressing events. In Mark chapter eleven the cursing of the fig tree takes place over Monday and Tuesday. In Matthew it’s seems to be instantaneous.
How long it took however doesn’t matter the lesson here is one of faith. Jesus says,
“I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
All believers in Christ have faith. It’s through our faith that we are saved.
The disciples had faith. They believed Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. They had faith I believe like most Christians in great quantity.
Here Jesus however is talking about the depth of our faith however. There’s a difference.
Jesus says “if you have faith and do not doubt.”
I believe we all doubt despite what we think.
It’s that doubt that sometimes stops things from happening when we pray and act in faith. At times also we pray for the wrong thing.
Some people have said to me Jesus says, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
We must remember it is important for us to pray for the will of God to be done. Jesus states in the Lords prayer, when telling us how to pray, pray,
“your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Matthew 6:10.
God knows what is best for us.
When I was diagnosed with cancer the doctor was surprised I didn’t get upset. I simply said I’m in God’s hands. My wife said the same thing.
We believed God would direct me to the right doctors at the right time.
It’s just the way we’ve started to think in the almost forty years we’ve known the Lord.
God did direct my path. I got an excellent surgeon who caught it all in time.
Then thirty-seven days later when I was rushed to hospital with what the doctor said was huge blood clots on my lungs and groin, side effects of the cancer surgery, the right doctors were there for me.
My church was I know praying for me during the eight days I was in hospital and I had a chance to witness to people I met in hospital.
Honestly I’d never intended to witness, but while in hospital I followed my normal routine of reading morning devotionals, and the bible.
The fact that I had a bible next to my bed sparked discussion from people that came into the room.
It was a hard time in my life at one point my life was in the balance but God brought me through it pain and all.
Now I’m not super spiritual in any way I’m just a simple Christian trying to do what God wants me to do.
I like anyone have doubts, and fears from time to time but I’ve learned to pray and put my trust in God.
I honestly don’t see great miracles happening in my life. But I do see the hand of God in the little things and that’s what strengthens my faith.
I also remember the teachings of Jesus when I pray who instructed his disciples and through them us, how to pray saying,
“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
Think about it.
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