It Is So Obvious - No Excuses Are Allowed

scripture

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Matthew 16:1  The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.

2  He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ 3  and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4  A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.

observation

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What do you mean you want a sign from heaven? Where have you Pharisees and Sadducees been?

Wasn’t feeding a large crowd out of almost nothing a sign? And doing it on two different occasions? How about turning water into wine? (Matthew 14:15, 15:32, John 2:1)

Wasn’t healing a leper, a paralyzed, the blind and thousands of other healing's a pretty good sign?

Casting demons out and having them acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God, wasn’t that an acceptable sign? (Matthew 8:29)

Wasn’t bringing the dead back to life pretty awesome? (Matthew 9:18)

How about walking on water? (Matthew 14:22)

But then there is the largest sign of all, the sign of the prophet Jonah:

Matthew 12:39  He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40  For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
So much irrefutable evidence and still so many millions will not believe, what more could he have done to make it more obvious that he is the Messiah?

Romans 1:20  For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

application

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Are you still looking for proof ? Believe him today and spend eternity with him in heaven.

prayer

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Thank you Lord for making a way for us to have eternal life with you in heaven. I pray that everyone will believe.

So Many Rules

scripture

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Matthew 15:1 Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, 2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don't wash their hands before they eat!”
3 Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?

4 For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ 5 But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God,’ 6 he is not to ‘honor his father’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.

7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: 8 “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 9 They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’”

observation

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Jesus came to give us the opportunity to have a right relationship with him. Just obeying the law even if you did it perfectly would not be enough for God, he wants a relationship built on trust and love.

We don't get to have a relationship based on our performance, God already knows that we cannot meet his standards, we get to have a relationship because he loved us and gave his life for us which is the ultimate display of love. Instead of performance he wants a relationship, he wants a desire to be close to him and live "better" because of our relationship with him not because we have a check list that we are striving to maintain.

It wont do me any good to be a fake, I can sing all the praise songs, pray, attend church at every opportunity and even maintain a daily Bible study blog but I shouldn't even bother to do any of these things if I am not for real walking close to him everyday.

application

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I will be genuine cause God already knows the real me.

prayer

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Thank you for loving me and desiring to have fellowship with me. Help me to follow you and live for you based on love and not just trying to follow the rules.

If You Want To Walk On Water, First You Have To Get Out Of The Boat.

scripture

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Matthew 14:22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

25 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It's a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.”28 “Lord, if it's you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” 32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

observation

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It’s a scary situation to be out on a large lake with a storm tossing your boat around, but then to see something happen that nobody has ever seen done before, wow!

The disciples are already freaked out by the storm and then they see a person walking across the surface of the lake coming toward them, I bet that it wasn’t too comforting to find out who it was, it would still be pretty wild.

Don’t fault Peter for having a lapse of faith, especially in this situation, because there is a boat load of guys that didn’t even take one step out.

application

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When the way is stormy and your boat is being rocked don’t forget that God is right there with you waiting for you to trust him and step out and do something that you couldn’t have done without him.

What am I doing today that I could not do without God? Am I operating only on my own abilities?

prayer

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Help me Lord to reply on you when the storms are rough. Help me to serve and work for you beyond what I could do on my own.

The Master Gardner

scripture

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Matthew 13:24 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

27 “The owner's servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ 28 “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ 29 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”

Matthew 13:36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

40 “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

observation

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Jesus told us in the Sermon on the Mount that the first thing for us to do is to seek his kingdom, now he begins to show us what the kingdom of heaven is like.

Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven begins on this earth and that we will have to live scattered among the weeds. The Devil is not going to allow us to live in a nice pretty field full of wheat for he just loves to scatter his weeds all around us. We have to live side by side with the devils children who are working to carry out their father’s desires.

John 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire.

It is normal for a gardener to pull up weeds as soon as they are found but in God’s garden he allows the weeds to stay so that the wheat does not get pulled up in the process of pulling up the weeds. Sometimes the weeds can look a lot like the plants that you are trying to grow so you can't hardly tell what you need to pull, God wants to protect his wheat so it is better to wait.

I also suspect that God doesn't want the weeds pulled right away because he can perform a miracle in horticulture and maybe some of those weeds can become wheat someday.

God is going to have the angels clean up his field at harvest time so that the wheat will have good strong roots, it is the angels that will determine between the two, it isn't my job to judge.

application

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My main concern should be whether I am wheat or if I am a poser and I should be concerned with helping to save the weeds from the fire.

prayer

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You told us Jesus that the harvest is ripe; I pray that you will send more workers into the fields.

Your Words Are Telling On You

scripture

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Matthew 12:33-37  “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.

You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.  The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.  

But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Luke 6:45  The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

observation

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Are you capable of producing good fruit? Only if you are a good fruit tree. It is easy to tell what kind of fruit tree you are looking at if it is the right season and you can see the fruit. Those of us that are a part of God’s family better be producing fruit it should be on our tree year round. And it better be good fruit or else you should be watching out for the pruning shears.

Jesus said “blessed are the pure in heart” in the sermon on the mount and now he tells us that the condition of the heart can be known by the things that come out of our mouths.

Proverbs 16:23  A wise man's heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction.

Since your words are a display of the condition of your heart then by your words you will be judged. It should scare us some to thing that Jesus said that by every “careless” word we will be judged, what a serious thing it is to open our mouths and yet most people just open up and let it fly.

David, “the man after God’s own heart” had it right when he prayed:

Psalms 19:14  May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

application

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It is a very serious issue to flippantly say just anything that comes to mind. I must always remember that my words say a lot about who I am and what I believe and what I believe affects my decisions which then affects my fruit (decisions and actions).

prayer

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You are an awesome God and I want to thank you for your word. I pray just like David did that my words and the meditations of my heart will be pleasing to you. My desire is to produce fruit and be productive for you until take me home.

Come And Get The Rest You Need.

scripture

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Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

observation

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Maybe your New Year's resolution was to slow down and rest and maybe you just haven't made any progress towards slowing down.

There is a rest that we all need, it's the rest that we are all longing for inside to unload our burdens and rest in Jesus.

He came to free his church from the burden of those carnal ordinances, all the rituals and rules that the Pharisees forced on the church.

He came to free us from the bondage to sin that would lead us to eternity in hell. We have an invitation that we should accept, an invitation to accept him as our Physician and Advocate

Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.

Jesus said "My yoke is easy and my burden is light"

We need not be afraid of his yoke for the burden of Christ’s cross is a light burden,

2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

We must come to Jesus Christ as our Teacher, a teacher that taught by example,

1 Peter 2:21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

We need to look to Jesus to guide us and then we will find rest for our souls

Jeremiah 6:16 This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.

application

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I need to remember to take up my cross daily and seek the Lord's wisdom in everything that I do.

prayer

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Help me Lord to take every step in ministry as I rest in you and learn what you want me to do. thank you for lifting the burden of my sin debt that I could not pay.

Send More Workers...the field is ready.

scripture

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Matthew 9:35  Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.

36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Matthew 10:1  He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

observation

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Jesus saw hurting people everywhere that he went and he was greatly moved by their problems and needs. Jesus was there in the beginning before the fall so when he was looking upon the crowds he was probably able to recall what it was like before the fall and how we were intended to be in fellowship with God. What a heart break to know how it was supposed to be and walk amongst us and seeing how poorly mankind had done.

Jesus told us to pray for more workers because there was so much need and the people were so ready for the good news and then he gave his disciples the power and authority to do the job.

The rest of chapter ten gives the disciples their directions on how to do the work that Jesus has called them to do. They were going out into a hostile environment which is a fact that has not changed. I have never gone to do mission work in a hostile environment and I don’t think that I would be very bold in the situation; thankfully there are workers that are willing to go even into the most difficult situations.

application

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I need to be bolder as a worker in God’s harvest.

prayer

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Help me Lord to be a bolder witness for you, there are plenty of ripe fields that are ready for harvest. I need to realize the power and authority that you have given me to do the job.

Come to Jesus

Scripture

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Matthew 8:1-3 Large crowds followed Jesus as he came down the mountainside.

2 Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him. “Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.”

 3 Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared.

Matthew 9:23-26 When Jesus arrived at the official’s home, he saw the noisy crowd and heard the funeral music. 24 “Get out!” he told them. “The girl isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” But the crowd laughed at him. 25 After the crowd was put outside, however, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up! 26 The report of this miracle swept through the entire countryside.

Observation

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I never noticed before how many times the scripture says in these two chapters that someone came to Jesus.

They came for many different reasons:

• Healing.
• Drive out demons.
• An offer to follow him anywhere.
• Disciples wanting their lives saved from the storm.
• Sinners came to eat with him at Matthew’s house.
• John’s disciples came wondering why Jesus disciples did not fast.
• A ruler came to have his daughter brought back to life.

While Jesus was on earth people were attracted to him they couldn't stay away. I wonder why he isn't so attractive anymore?

Maybe the church has been distorting the world's view and they cannot see the real Jesus. You know, the Jesus that we see in the Bible before God's people misbehaved.

If they really could see Jesus I don't think that the church would be struggling to survive.

Application

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How can we show people the real Jesus? How can we better represent our Lord?

Prayer

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Help us to put away the sin that distorts the view that the world has of our Savior. Forgive us for not representing you better.

Following Gods Will? Good Job!

Scripture

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Matthew 7:21 “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. 22 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?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

24 “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. 25 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. 26 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. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Observation

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I said in my last post that we were created for relationship, today Jesus tells us about some people who claim that they have a relationship but they really don’t.
Not everyone that is religious is going to be entering into heaven, just going through the motions isn’t getting you anywhere. The truth is that if you are not sold out to who Jesus is then you are wasting your time getting out of bed on Sunday morning.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice…”

What words is he talking about? Probably he was talking about the words that he said at the beginning of this sermon. Words like “be humble, be pure, seek his righteousness, be salt and light” are all words that we can use as a foundation to build our lives on, words that will not let us down in the storms of life nor will they let us down when we get to the other side.

Will you reach heaven and hear: “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” or will you hear: “Well done, good and faithful servant! Come and share your master's happiness!”

Application

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I want to follow Jesus by putting his words into practice. If I could just master obedience to the words of this one sermon in Matthew 5-7 then I would be sure to hear Jesus say “Well done, good and faithful servant! Come and share your master's happiness!”

Prayer

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 I love your word Lord, help me to always be in close fellowship with you by studying your word and finding out what pleases you and then putting it into practice.

Broken Relationships

Scripture

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Matthew 7:1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

3 “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? 4 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? 5 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.

Observation

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Mercy and grace are so awesome to receive from God, he could have said “I am God and you messed up so here is what you deserve.”

What hypocrites we are, God does not stand up for his “rights” so why can’t we follow his example and allow ourselves to be wronged without wanting to settle the score with our offender?

Our relationships here on earth are tainted by sin. Look at the relationships in the Garden of Eden, there wasn’t any sin and both man and woman and God are all in perfect relationship as God desired for it to be. But as soon as sin came into those first relationships everything changed. God no longer walked in the garden each day with his first children he couldn’t be as close to them as he was before. I am just guessing but without sin in the picture there was probably no reason that Adam and Eve couldn’t look directly at God and talk to him face to face, but as soon as sin came in then it was time for them to go hide.

Adam and Eve no longer related to each other the same either, God placed Adam over Eve. Immediately there became rules for relationship, it seems that God knew that our relationships would become selfish and that there would have to be a hierarchy in relationships so that we could settle our differences. But that hierarchy gets messed up when one of us thinks more highly of our self than we should or becomes corrupt, that is evident in marriage, friendships and in government.

Too bad that we cannot relate to each other the way that God desired without fear or judging. We are all in the same situation we all need forgiveness through God’s mercy and grace.

Who can possibly understand the perfect relationship that we see in the trinity? All three entities working in perfect harmony, the only relationship cannot be broken by sin.

Application

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I will remember to dish out mercy and be forgiving. I cannot relate properly with those around me without being in close relationship with God, the creator of relationships.

Prayer

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You are the creator of relationship, it is the only reason that you created us. Help me to treat others as well as you have treated me.

Don't Sweat The Small Stuff

SCRIPTURE

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Matthew 6:25 and 33 “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?

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

OBSERVATION

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Don’t worry about this world and providing for these temporary needs that we have down here. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?

What do you mean, I have to worry about feeding myself and my family, and these clothes they are almost rags by now. It’s all that I can think about besides paying these taxes to Caesar.

Jesus audience was oppressed by the Roman government and it must have been strange to hear him tell them to change.

Here is what Jesus said that you need to be concerned with:

Seek his kingdom – Matthew gives us a lot of parables that Jesus used to describe the kingdom.

Seek his righteousness - because our righteousness would have to surpass the righteousness of the Pharisees (Matt 5:20)

How do I do that? Jesus just told you in this sermon:

The humble, the pure in heart and those that are persecuted for righteousness, these people are going to be in the kingdom (Matthew 5:3, 8, 10).

Be salt and light (Matt 5:13)

Do your good deeds so that they bring glory to your Father (Matt 5:16)

Don’t kill anybody, easy enough, but then Jesus associates anger very closely with murder (Matt 5:21-22).

Keep your commitments (Matt 5:27-37)

Be merciful (Matt 5:38-42)

Love your enemies (Matt 5:43-48)

Have compassion (Matt 6:1-4)

APPLICATION

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Wow, what a list to live by! We have to be a part of this world but we have to have a different mode of operation, we should look a lot different than the rest of the world that doesn’t know Christ.

Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

I want to be sure that I am doing God’s will.

PRAYER

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Lord God, help me seek your kingdom and your righteouness so that I will be salt and light in this world, working to be your man on your mission.

Financial Ruin

SCRIPTURE

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Matthew 6:19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 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!”

24 “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.”

Ecclesiastes 2:4 I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. 5 I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. 6 I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. 8 I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired men and women singers, and a harem as well—the delights of the heart of man. 9 I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.

10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor.

11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.

OBSERVATION

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This life is a temporary assignment and the treasures of this world are just as temporal, for what value is it to you after you leave this temporary assignment and arrive at your eternal destination?

Every day in the news there is another loss in somebody’s temporary wealth, probably it was somebody that put great value in their treasures here on earth. Look at how much wealth that Solomon had accumulated and yet he tells us that it is all “meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”

Paul reminds those that are following Christ that we are to have a different perspective:

Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

And when we “appear with him in glory” what eternal riches we will have!

APPLICATION

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I will work to have eternal treasures, I want to be "His man on His mission"

PRAYER

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Lord you are a great God with eternal riches that can not pass away, I thank you that you want to share those riches with us for eternity. I pray that I will work for what matters and be your man on your mission. I pray that you will raise up many more men that will be on your mission, storing up eternal rewards.

Prayer 101: An introduction on how to talk to God.

SCRIPTURE

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Matthew 6:9 This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.


Also Luke 11:1-4

OBSERVATION

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Notice the two distinct sections of Jesus prayer, first we must acknowledge God and give him honor and only after we do that should we ask to receive anything from him.

First, this prayer teaches us to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and that all other things shall be added (Matthew 6:33). Prayer isn’t all about us and we need to slow down and consider who it is we are talking to and consider how much he has already done for us before we ask him to do more. The word hallowed doesn’t get used too much in this day but it means holy, sacred or blessed.

After the things of God's glory, kingdom, and will, then we pray for the things that we need:

Bread for today, which is all the bread that we need if we are relying on God

We should seek to receive forgiveness, but only to the extent that we are willing to forgive others.

And we should be praying for God’s divine intervention so that we will be prepared to resist Satan.

APPLICATION

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I will stay focused on the awesome God of the universe as I pray. Forget the shopping list and concentrate on how big he is.

PRAYER

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What an awesome God that you are! You created beyond man’s ability to comprehend and yet you are still interested and concerned with us. Lord, help me to trust you for my daily provisions, whether it is bread or any other resource that I need for the day. Keep me close to you so that I can resist Satan’s attack.

Where Is Your Reward Coming From?

SCRIPTURE

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Matthew 6:1 “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

5 “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. 6 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.

16 “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.

17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 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.

OBSERVATION

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We have an AWESOME God:

Isaiah 57:15 For this is what the high and lofty One says— he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.

Jesus being equally God is just as awesome:

Philippians 2:6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!

Both God and Jesus could have decided to have nothing to do with us little puny humans. The one that Isaiah called “The high and lofty one” was willing to connect and have a relationship with the “contrite and lowly in spirit.”

As big and awesome and powerful as they are they took the time to care about us without favoritism, they displayed their love for us and provided us with access to them.

How can we ignore their example in the way we treat our peers? How can we ignore their teaching?

Matthew 20:26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Are you better than the next guy? Do we perform our “acts of righteousness” as if we are on a different level from the rest? You may fast, pray or give to the poor but do you feel like you deserve to be elevated above the rest of the sinners that you are sharing the planet with.

We must be careful about how we view our status.

Ephesians 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Romans 12:3 Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

When we take least notice of our good deeds ourselves, God takes most notice of them.

APPLICATION

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I will guard my attitude, I don’t want to carry out my “acts of righteousness” as a performance.

PRAYER

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Lord help us to view ourselves from your perspective. I don’t want to do anything that appears to elevate myself above my peers. Help me to be humble no matter what spiritual discipline or success in ministry I may experience, it is all for you and not for my own glory.

A Higher Standard

SCRIPTURE

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Matthew 5:38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 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. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?

48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

OBSERVATION

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Most people will do good if someone has been good to them, and most people will do good to someone if there hasn’t been any hostility between them, but Jesus is asking us to be good to everybody.

Romans 12:18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

He wants us to return good when we have received evil but then he gives us an even higher demand that we should make it our goal to be like our Father.

Most kids do look like their parents in the way they behave you can see characteristics that resemble the parent. My heavenly Father, who is perfect, is telling me that if I am a member of his family then I need to behave like him.

1 Peter 1:15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

APPLICATION

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Don’t give the family a bad name with my misbehaving

PRAYER

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Jesus please give me the strength and wisdom to enable me to behave like one of your children should.

Let's Try To Be More Attractive

SCRIPTURE

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Matthew 5:13-16 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

OBSERVATION

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Men are attracted to salt

Is there anybody that does not like salt? Even if we don’t add salt at the table most of the food that we eat already contains salt and we wouldn’t like our food without it. Just like salt we are to have an effect on the world, the gospel should be attractive to them and they should be drawn to it by the seasoning of our life.

At night men are attracted to the light

If you have ever been in complete darkness then you know what a strange eerie feeling that it can be. We are always more comfortable when we have some light in the midst the darkness, just wait until the next power outage and see how many people are attracted to the flashlights or candles that you have.

Is your life attractive to those around you that are looking for truth?

APPLICATION

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My wife is the saltiest person that I know. The people in her workplace have always been attracted to her when they need to get some truth or a prayer. I need to be more salty and have more people drawn to me when they are hurting and are seeking truth.

PRAYER

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I want the world to see a difference in me and be attracted to the gospel, I want to be salt and light for you Lord.

Check out some of the uses for salt that can be found in the Bible:

• Seasoning food Job 6:6
• Seasoning sacrifices Le 2:13; Eze 43:24
• Ratifying covenants Nu 18:19; 2Ch 13:5
• Strengthening new-born infants Eze 16:4

These People Are Blessed.....check them out.

This is a continuation of yesterdays blog entry.

Matthew 5:1 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

• Don’t forget that God is in charge.

4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

• He didn’t promise us that this life would be easy, he did promise to help you through it.

5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

• It’s not about me; it’s about God and then others.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

• I need to long to be more like him every day.

7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

• If I want to receive compassion then I better start showing some compassion. If I want to have a friend then I better be friendly.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

• This is a tricky one since we can be fooled by our hearts so easily.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

• True members of God’s family do not like fighting

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

• We are in a spiritual battle so remember your reward when you are persecuted, keep your eyes on the prize.

Now That's Real Change

SCRIPTURE

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Matthew 5:1-12

Now when he saw the crowds, Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them, saying:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

OBSERVATION

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It’s that time of year when we are tempted to examine ourselves and take note of things that you want to change or improve, we even elected our new president based on the promise of bringing change.

Certainly there was a need for change in the “religious” people of Jesus time on earth, way back in the Old Testament God had called his people to live a different lifestyle than the rest of the world but through the ages his people had gone astray. The people didn’t have any help from their leaders even if they wanted to live God’s way, there were few leaders willing to show the people how to live to please God. Just look at the religious leaders that Herod rounded up a few chapters back in Matthew 2:3-4, they were made aware that the Messiah was near but they had absolutely no interest.

Blessings and happiness were very foreign to the Jewish people. They were under persecution from the Roman government and they were forced to obey the strict, ungodly religious system that the Pharisees had invented.

So Jesus begins his ministry by getting back to the basics, showing the people the kind of characteristics that he takes pleasure in, he said “these are the kind of people that I am going to bless, these are going to be happy people.”

It is tempting to endeavor to make superficial changes to help make myself a better person, but are they the changes that will please God?

APPLICATION

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I will pray and work on the things that God says that I need to work on to become more like him this year. I will pray for my brothers and sisters that are persecuted for Christ.

PRAYER

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Jesus I thank you that I live in a country where I am free, I have no idea what it is like to live in a country that persecutes your believers. I pray that you will show me the areas in my life that I need to change to become more like you.