How Should We Pray?

Matthew 6: 9 – 13

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

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 on’”

 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206:9%20-%2013&version=NIV1984)

Most of us, if not all, have heard this prayer.  We have recited it at church and at funerals.  We have probably even heard sermons on it.  But how many of us have really stopped and thought about this prayer when we prayed?  How many of us have really thought about what we were praying for when we prayed it?  It flows so nicely and is pretty easy to memorize but what is Jesus saying when He teaches His disciples this prayer?

First of all Jesus acknowledges the existence and whereabouts of our Father.  He is above us and knows all and sees all.  He acknowledges His greatness, “Hallowed be thy name”.  What does hallowed mean?  It means holy or sacred.  How many of us really stop and think when we pray that we are praying to the Father of all, the one and only God, the holy one, the sacred one?  Jesus tells us that we need to first recognize who we are praying to and acknowledge that we are praying to the most holy one.

Second, Jesus says to the Father, “your kingdom come”.  How often do we stop and think about God’s kingdom when we pray.  When troubled times come we may pray “come quickly Lord” but in the good times we seem perfectly satisfied to be right here on this earth.  But Jesus prays “your kingdom come” in a time that is not necessarily a bad time for Him.  His ministry is just starting and He has followers, things are going pretty well.  Jesus tells us to recognize that no matter how good it is on this earth our Heavenly Father’s kingdom is so much better. 

Third, Jesus prays the hardest prayer of all, “Your will be done” but read on “on earth as it is in heaven.”  Think about it, heaven is perfect, correct?  In heaven the Father is in control, nothing happens unless it is the Father’s will.  So, if we pray “your will be done” we are simply giving control to the One that is perfect.  We are giving control to the one and only one who can make life perfect.  So many times we don’t understand the reasons why things happen and we may think that it couldn’t be God’s will but when we recognize that God is in control and we ask Him for His will to be done we are acknowledging that He is Lord, the perfect and Holy One. 

Fourth, Jesus asks for daily bread.  Now many of us may say this indicates our physical needs, we should pray for our physical needs as well as spiritual needs and this may be true for God supplies all our needs.  But as I read this I remembered what Jesus said to satan just a couple of chapters back in Matthew 4:4.

⁴ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%204:4&version=NIV1984)

And then again in John 6:35 He says:

³⁵ Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.’”

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%206:35&version=NIV1984)

Bread, it is the very word of God.  Jesus spoke the word of God here on earth and He is the way to the Father.  Could it be that Jesus is asking the Father to speak to Him?  Give us your word, which is life, give us your word to sustain us through anything we may go through, give us your word to guide and direct, speak to us Father and we will listen.  Is that maybe what Jesus was trying to say when He said, “Give us this day our daily bread”?  I think so, because He immediately goes into other spiritual matters, He doesn’t say give us this day our daily bread and heal our bodies and make us well.  He says, “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”  That’s a tough one too.  Notice if we want Him to forgive we need to forgive as well.  If we can not forgive our brother how can our Heavenly Father forgive us?  We will talk more on that one tomorrow. 

Lastly, Jesus asks the Father not to lead us into temptation but to deliver us from the evil one.  Who is the evil one?  Yes, satan.  Have you asked the Father lately to keep the evil one away from you?  We can’t assume that if we are Christians that the evil one won’t attack, he will and he does.  The one who can protect us from the evil one is our Father in Heaven.

One last note, do you see that Jesus does not pray this prayer for Himself?  He uses the word “us”.  He does not say keep me from the evil one, He says, “us”.  He does not say give me my daily bread He says, “us”.  We need to pray for others as much as we need to pray for ourselves.  How are you praying?  Do you get so bogged down in your own needs that you forget the needs of others?  Let’s remember to lift each other up in prayer for we all need to recognize His kingdom, we all need to listen to His words, and we all need to forgive others.  This also indicates that we should be together, not apart from one another.  Are you worshipping and fellowshipping with other believers?  If not, I would encourage you to do so, in order that you can grow in Him and pray together.  Even Jesus had a support group, a group of individuals that He could minister to and with. 

I trust that as you pray today that you will remember who you are praying to and really stop and think about what you are praying for.  I believe Jesus made it clear in His prayer that we need to be praying not for what we want but for what we need to make it through this life.  We need to recognize who is in control and acknowledge to Him that we trust Him. 

Next time you pray the Lord’s prayer, really stop and think about what you are praying for and continue to seek Him with all your heart so that you will find Him.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

Prayer (part 1)

Matthew 6:5-8

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 others. Truly I tell you, 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. ⁷ And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸ Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206:5%20-%208&version=NIV)

Prayer is a very sacred and precious time with the Lord.  I love to pray and have sweet communion with my Lord but I haven’t always wanted to pray out loud.  I believe these verses are the reason why I sometimes hesitate.  I have found that if I am more nervous about the people around me than I am about going to the throne of Grace, I probably should just pray silently.   We should pray because that is what God expects of us not because of what people expect of us. 

Have you ever visited with someone who talks on and on and never gives you a chance to say anything?  Dentist are really good at this, they put their fingers in your mouth and then start talking!  You can’t say a word but just sit and listen and then they ask you a question, now how are you going to answer?  Sometimes I feel that is what we do with God, we sit and talk and talk and talk, all the while we have our fingers in His mouth and He can only listen.  Do we take the time to sit and listen to what He has to say?  You say, how can I do that, I have never heard His audible voice?  One way is to read His word.  So many times when I am seeking Him I pick up my Bible and His words are right there for me.  I don’t believe it is a coincidence, I don’t believe in them.  I believe the Lord directs me to the scripture that I need to read.  I have found that sometimes you can pick up a hymnal and start reading the words to those wonderful hymns of old and God can speak to you.  I believe the key is seeking Him, not just talking to Him.

Our Father in Heaven loves for us to come to Him alone, not for show but to be genuine with Him.  Take a close look at verse 8, He already knows what we need.  If He already knows what we need why should we pray?  That is a simple answer because He loves for us to commune with Him.  God is a God of relationships, He wants us to seek Him and put our trust in Him and Him alone.   

Next time you pray, go to Him in secret.  Ask Him to reveal His words to you.  Then, take the time to stop, look, and listen for He has something to tell you.  Seek Him and He will draw near to you.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

Rewards (continued)

Matthew 6:2-4

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 others. Truly I tell you, 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. (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206:2%20-%204&version=NIV)

This is a continuation of the last blog where we looked at Matthew 6:1.  There are people in this world who have a lot of money and they give a lot away.  We hear about them on the news, we see beautiful schools they have built, we hear about them feeding a multitude of hungry people, we even see them build big houses for people because those people did something good for someone else.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with this type of giving.  It is wonderful that others are being helped by someone who has been blessed with much.  However, whenever we give we need to examine ourselves and our motives.  Are we doing it for praise from others or are we doing it because we love our Father in Heaven so much that we want to spread His love to others?  Jesus is very clear that we need to be sure that it is not for the attention of others, not for recognition, but solely for the Lord.

Our town has “Citizen of the Year” where they recognize someone who has given much to the community.  Each year they have nominations for this award and they find people who have done amazing things for others.  I would say that each person that has received that award has received a just reward from the community.  Some of them may also receive rewards in Heaven for things we never saw them do here on earth.  When you begin to think that you wish that someone would recognize what you have done, remember your Father in Heaven does see what you have done and what you have yet to do.  When you think that no one appreciates you, remember your Heavenly Father does and your reward awaits you.  When we begin to seek recognition on this earth we need to reexamine our motives and remember that we are not doing good deeds for ourselves but because it is the will of the Father.

Maybe you are one that has not been one to give to others.  Maybe you think you have nothing to give.  I have found that some of the most generous people are those who have little but do great things with what they have.  They are the first to volunteer to help, they are the first to see where a need is and try to provide.  Those are the people who have a just reward waiting for them in Heaven.  Remember, Jesus doesn’t say “if” you give He says “when” you give.  Ask Him to help you find ways that you can give that will bring glory to Him.

As you seek Him today, ask Him to bring a need to mind for you to fulfill and do it for His glory not yours.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

Where is Your Reward?

Matthew 6:1 

¹ “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206:1&version=NIV

This verse is a very special verse to me because of a childhood experience.  When I was around 10 years old we had an evangelist come to our church.  He preached but he also drew beautiful chalk drawings that had a black light and you could see another picture when you turned on the light.  Each evening he would draw a picture and would give it to the person who brought the most people to church.  One evening I was selected to be in the contest and I went out and brought a lot of people.  I didn’t just ask people who were in church I looked for those who were not and invited them.  The next evening as we stood to be counted with those we had invited, there was a tie between another person and myself.  Then, the preacher remembered that the other person had invited him so I lost.  I had worked hard to get that picture and I was quite disappointed.

The next morning the pastor of our church came to our house.  He came before I even got out of bed and I will never forget what he told me.  He told me that my reward was not in that picture but was stored up in heaven for me and that it was an even better reward than that drawing.  That turn of events changed my ways on why I do things.  I don’t do them for a thank you, for a picture, or to be recognized.  I do all things for the Lord.  The only way that I want to be recognized is with Him by my side and me giving praise and glory to Him.  A thank you on this earth is nice but the reward in Heaven is much greater. 

The next night we did it all again and I won the picture.  You know what happened to that picture?  It got rolled up and put in the closet.  When my dad moved after my mother’s death, I found the picture and it is somewhere in my house, still rolled up and not in the best of shape.  But you know what, I am not concerned about it because the next night I didn’t invite those people so I could get the picture but because I wanted to invite them to the Lord.

What are you doing and why are you doing it?  If it is to feel better about yourself, to get recognition, to feel that you are important, for money or for any other reason than for giving glory to the Lord, you need to check you motives and remember where your reward is being stored.

As you seek Him and find Him may you remember that the things of this earth will pass away and that your reward awaits you in Heaven if you do it for the right reason.  Next time someone doesn’t thank you for doing something, remember that your reward will come and it will be amazing.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

Who is Your Enemy?

Matthew 5: 43 – 48

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^[a] and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children 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 own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.  (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205:43%20-%2048&version=NIV)

I wore a shirt one day that said, I love . . . and it was a country that some people have no regard for.  I was criticized for wearing the shirt as if it were a political statement and told that I should not wear it again.  But the thing is, it was not a political statement, it was a sincere statement that I do love that country not for who they are or what they stand for but for whose they are.  Even though they may not do things the way I believe they should, even though there are ungodly things that go on in that country (like nothing ungodly goes on in America), I know that God loves them just as much as He loves me.  I know that He sent His Son to this earth to save them just as much as He sent Him to save me.  I know that the “church” is growing more rapidly in that country than it is in the United States, why should I not love them?  Jesus is very clear in this passage that we should not just love our brothers and our friends but that we should love our enemies.

In most cases it is easy for a person to love someone who loves you.  If someone throws themselves in front of the bus for you, you will most likely cherish them.  If someone gives you everything you ever desire, you will most likely love them.  But what about those that annoy us?  What about those that are always asking for something and never giving in return?  What about the one that just never agrees with anything you say?  Are those people easy to love?  Those are the people that Jesus says that we should love and that we should pray for.

Maybe your worst enemy is yourself.  If that is the case pray for yourself, that you can love yourself in order to love others.  Remember God loved you first, He made you, and you are worth more than gold to Him.  If you love God, then love yourself.

Maybe your worst enemy is someone who ridicules you and puts you down, persecutes you, pray for them.

Maybe your worst enemy is another country.  Pray for them, that God’s glory will be made known to them.

Today, as you seek Him remember the words found in Hebrews 12:14 ¹⁴ Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2012:14&version=NIV)  May God bless you as you follow His commands and work towards the perfection of Christ.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

Turn the Other Cheek and Give God the Glory

Matthew 5:38 - 42

³⁸ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’^{[a] 39} But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. ⁴⁰ And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. ⁴¹ If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. ⁴² Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205:%2038%20-42&version=NIV1984

How many of us really want to live by these words?  It is so difficult to practice this when we are being attacked and when life just doesn’t seem fair.  It makes us look like wimps, sets us up to be trampled over, and yet Christ commands this of us. 

How many of you would describe Christ as a wimp?  I doubt anyone reading this would describe Him that way, yet He practiced this when He was being persecuted, all the way to the cross.  Even though He had the power to call down the angels to save Him, He did as His enemies requested and He went with them.  Let’s take a look at the Bible verses that describe this to us.  First of all when Jesus was arrested, the account as found in Matthew 26: 47 – 56:

 ⁴⁷ While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. ⁴⁸ Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” ⁴⁹ Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.

 ⁵⁰ Jesus replied, “Friend, do what you came for.”^[a]

   Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. ⁵¹ With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

   ⁵² “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. ⁵³ Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴ But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

 ⁵⁵ At that time Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. ⁵⁶ But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2026:47%20-%2056\'&version=NIV1984

The account in Luke even shows that Jesus not only rebuked the ear being cut off but healed the man by touching his.  Luke 22:51  ⁵¹ But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.  Would this not be an example of turning the other cheek?  (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2022:51&version=NIV1984)

Jesus did as they asked all the while being mocked and ridiculed.  He carried His cross as they asked but after being beaten the cross became heavy but there is no recorded word that He complained.  At one point they had to have a man by the name of Simon carry the cross because it became so heavy for Jesus.  Read Matthew 27: 27 – 44 and imagine how you may have reacted if you had been in this situation. 

 ²⁷ Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. ²⁸ They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, ²⁹ and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. ³⁰ They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. ³¹ After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

 ³² As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. ³³ They came to a place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). ³⁴ There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. ³⁵ When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.^{[a] 36} And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. ³⁷ Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. ³⁸ Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. ³⁹ Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads ⁴⁰ and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”  ⁴¹ In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. ⁴² “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. ⁴³ He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2027:%2027%20-%2044&version=NIV1984

But look how Jesus responded, as recorded in Luke 23:34

³⁴ Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”^[a] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.    http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2023:%2034&version=NIV1984

If you have ever been ridiculed or falsely accused, you know that these are not easy words to say and even harder to really mean but Jesus demonstrated to us how we must respond.  He was not a coward, He was an obedient Son who sought more to glorify God than to glorify Himself.  As the account goes on in Matthew we find that others did believe after His death.  Read on in Matthew 27: 45 – 54

⁴⁵ From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. ⁴⁶ About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi,^[a] lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”^[b]

 ⁴⁷ When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”

 ⁴⁸ Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. ⁴⁹ The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”
 ⁵⁰ And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
 ⁵¹ At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. ⁵² The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. ⁵³ They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
 ⁵⁴ When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son^[c] of God!”
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2027:%2045%20–%2054&version=NIV1984

How many times do we miss spreading the Gospel message because we do not turn the other cheek, we react in ways that don’t bring glory to our God.  Jesus lived the example that we are to follow.  Jesus not only spoke the words but He lived them out. 

As you seek Him today, take up His cross and follow Him wherever it may lead you.  Glorify God through your trials and give Him the honor and praise that He so rightly deserves.

Seeking Him with all my heart,
Sheila

Honest and Truthful

Matthew 5:33-37

³³ “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ ³⁴ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; ³⁵ or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. ³⁶ And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. ³⁷ All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.^[a] (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205:33%20-%2037&version=NIV)

In America if you go into the court system to testify you are asked to put your hand on the Bible and swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God.  This scripture always made me wonder if we should not do that.  A long time ago I watched or read a story about an Amish person who had to testify in court.  They refused to do this and said something to the effect of “let my yes be yes and my no be no”.  Of course religious freedom in America allowed them to do this and it made me wonder if we as Christians should all be doing the same. 

As I thought more about this scripture an example of this very scripture came to my mind.  You can find it in Matthew 26:59-64 when Jesus was taken to the high priest Caiaphas where He was falsely accused.  Read how Jesus replied:

 ⁵⁹ The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. ⁶⁰ But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward ⁶¹ and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”

 ⁶² Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” ⁶³ But Jesus remained silent.

   The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ,^[a] the Son of God.”

   ⁶⁴ “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2026:59%20-%2064&version=NIV1984)

Then again, Jesus was taken before Pilate who also questioned Him (Matthew 27:11):

¹¹ Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2027:11&version=NIV1984)

Here Jesus was being charged with blasphemy and false testimonies were being proclaimed against Him.  His own friend betrayed Him in the garden with a kiss.  Most of us would have been furious and wanting to defend ourselves yet Jesus simply replied, “yes”.  The one who said don’t swear an oath, just let your “yes” be “yes”, practiced His very words.  The very ones who were accusing Him were the ones swearing under oath by saying “I charge you under oath by the living God”.  It is pretty apparent to me that they were breaking the oath that they had made to the Lord by even bringing Jesus to trial and then there were the false witnesses.  Look at the verse Jesus was referring to in Leviticus 19:12  ¹² “‘Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.’”(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%2019:12&version=NIV1984)  Being a high priest and teachers of the law,  you would expect them to follow the law of Moses yet they plotted against Jesus and they brought false witnesses to accuse Him so they could put Him to death. 

I had a couple of thoughts as I read these verses:

The first is to make sure that I am always truthful and that when I say “yes” and when I say “no” people will know that I am telling the truth. 

The second one may be a little more controversial and I hope that you will understand what I am saying.  Always be alert to false witnesses.  Always keep your eyes on the Lord and test those who proclaim the gospel.  Even those who may call themselves pastors, Christians, leaders, elders, deacons, or men of God can be false witnesses.  We must respect them when that respect is deserved and evident through their actions.  If you are one of these leaders, live a life worthy of the Gospel and that respect will be automatic, let God guide you and pray continually.   Just as the elders and the teachers of the law in Jesus time fell into the sin of falsehood, so can this happen today. Don’t be sucked into a vacuum by thinking that everyone who claims to be holy is truly holy but as Peter wrote in II Peter 2:1-3

¹ But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. ² Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. ³ In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Peter%202:1%20-%203&version=NIV1984)

We need to be alert and watching but we must also be honest and truthful, living a life of integrity, in order that our “yes” can be “yes” and our “no” can be “no”.  As you seek Him today, go to Him seeking a pure heart and ask Him to help you be the person He has called you to be, one of integrity, one who is honest, not seeking his own gain but that the Lord can be exalted.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila  

I Am Free!

Matthew 5: 31-32 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205&version=NIV)

³¹ “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’^{[f] 32} But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

God’s plan for Adam and Eve was that they live a sinless life together and that they produce children who too would live a sinless life.  We all know how that turned out.  They disobeyed God and ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil and one of their son’s murdered his brother.  I was told once that the first sin was the sin of wanting “more”.  In today’s society I believe that that sin is getting stronger and stronger.  As we live in a life of fast computers, fast food, fast cars and fast planes, we seem to want more.  Even the clock and the calendar seem to be moving faster and we want more time. 

The verses we are looking at today may seem a little harsh and unfair especially if you are one that has been divorced or married a divorced woman.  But you should not feel any worse than the person who wants more time, more money, or more influence.  The sin of more comes within us, we were born with it, just as it says in Romans 3:23  ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%203:23&version=NIV).

It is God’s desire that we live a sinless life but the temptations of this world sometimes overtake us.  Jesus is making a point to everyone that it goes beyond the written law.  Even the law of Moses had its gaps but the law of God is clear and Jesus spoke of this again in Matthew 19:3 -11 when the Pharisees questioned Him concerning divorce,
³ Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”
   ⁴ “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’^{[a] 5} and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’^[b]? ⁶ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
 ⁷ “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”
 ⁸ Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. ⁹ I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
 ¹⁰ The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.”

 ¹¹ Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. ¹² For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.” (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2019&version=NIV)

Another time Jesus was questioned by the Pharisees when they asked a question concerning the greatest commandment,

Matthew 22:36 ³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Matthew 22:37-39  ³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^{[a] 38} This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^{[b] 40} All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2022:36%20-%2040&version=NIV)

If we all followed these commands there would be no need to speak about divorce, adultery, or any other sin because it all comes down to loving God first, loving others second, and putting ourselves last.  We seem to get that order mixed up just like Adam and Eve did in the perfect Garden of Eden.  The beautiful thing about it all is that God had a plan for our sinful nature and He came in the form of man, Jesus, the Son of God, to set His captives free. 

Romans 10:9

⁹ If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2010:9&version=NIV)

What a glorious message!  Jesus lived a sinless life but carried the cross that He was crucified on for our sins.  All we have to do is to confess that He is Lord and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead and we will be saved!  Saved from the sin that weighs us down, free from the guilt, we are free!  Seek Him daily and thank Him for His precious gift of salvation. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MbcYyOsF50)

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

What Causes You to Stumble?

^{Matthew 5:27-30 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205&version=NIV)}

²⁷ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’^{[e] 28} But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ²⁹ If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. ³⁰ And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Some of you may be thinking, “Why would Jesus say such a thing?”  Gouge your eye out or cut off a limb?  Let’s take a little closer look at this verse and see what Jesus may be saying to us through these verses.  Look closely at the end of verse 28, it says that sin has already been “committed with her in his heart”.  Now that is where we need to start, with the heart.  Someone who is addicted to pornography can still sin in this way even without eyes.  They have vivid pictures ever etched in their brain that will cause them to sin over and over again.  Some of our actions may never be erased from our brain but we can be free from them by confessing them and handing them over to the Lord.

As I read this scripture I was brought to another passage that speaks of the body of Christ.  I Corinthians 12:12-26

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%2012&version=NIV)

 ¹² Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³ For we were all baptized by^[c] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. ¹⁴ Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

 ¹⁵ Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. ¹⁹ If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

 ²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” ²² On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³ and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, ²⁴ while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵ so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

In this scripture Paul is trying to emphasize the importance of each member of the church but in the same way we need to remember that if there is one part of the body that is going wayward, it causes the whole body to stumble.   As I thought of this some friends came to mind who told us of their conversion experience.  Our friends accepted the Lord as adults and had close friends that they liked to associate with.  These friends had rejected the gospel message and continually tried to pull them down, cause them to sin, and go back to their sinful ways.  They knew that the only way to be free from this was to disassociate with them.  Yes, it hurt but they knew that in order to grow in Christ they could no longer be around these friends but had to find friends that would encourage and lift them up.  In essence they detached themselves from these friends and became a part of the body of believers. 

So it is with all of us.  There are things in our lives that cause us to slip away from the truth.  We find ourselves worrying about things of this world, we find ourselves falling into the trap of doubt, dissatisfactions, anger, resentment, and the list goes on.  Anything opposite of the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control are all signs that we need to take a triple look at what we are doing with our body.  Maybe it isn’t an eye or a hand that is causing us to sin maybe it is the television, the internet, the telephone, or maybe even a friend.  As you examine your life today, look at what it is that causes you to stumble.  Begin with your heart and ask the Lord to purify you and make you clean again.  Confess your sins to Him and He will hear.  Then, take action in your life to make sure that you are continually seeking Him with all your heart.  Maybe it is turning off the television or internet and reading His word instead, immerse yourself in Him not in worldly things.  Choose Christian friends who will bring the best out in you, not your worst.  Choose the one true friend who is Jesus Christ our Lord.  Seek Him daily with your whole heart and the things of this world will no long matter.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

Have You Forgiven?

Matthew 5:21-25  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5&version=NIV

²¹ “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,^[a] and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ ²² But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister^[b][c] will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’^[d] is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

   ²³ “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

   ²⁵ “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. ²⁶ Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

Jesus is very clear in these passages that we need to settle disputes with our brothers quickly.  If we are to be the salt and the light to spread the word of the good news of Jesus Christ, the last thing we need to be doing is bickering among ourselves.  According to http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Racathe definition of Raca is:A term of reproach used by the Jews of our Savior's time, meaning "worthless." Whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council. - Matt. v. 22.

Raca appears to be a term used if you were to take someone before the council to make a judgment.  I gather that if you did this, the matter would be settled and life would go on.  However, if you say to someone “You fool” which indicates that all the blame is on one person and one person alone, you are the one who will be in danger of the fire of hell. 

My understanding of this is that we need to all look not only at the person that we disagree with but also to ourselves.  Not one of us is perfect and if we think that we are, then we might actually be the one who is being foolish.  This reminds me of Proverbs 3:7 

⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.

(New International Version (NIV) http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+3:7&version=NIV)

As we meditate on these verses today may we forgive those who have offended us, ask forgiveness of those we have offended, and be at peace with one another and most importantly be at peace with our Lord and Savior. 

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

How Are You Doing in the Faith Department?

How Are You Doing in the Faith Department?

Matthew 5:17-20

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law of the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.  (18) I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter , not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.  (19) Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (20) For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”

There is a lot packed in to these three short verses so let’s look a little closer at it and see what we can learn from Jesus today! 

First of all it is important to notice that Jesus was very clear that we need to follow the law of the Prophets.  He didn’t come to destroy the old testament teachings but He came to fulfill the teachings.  We could spend a lot of time looking at the ways that Jesus fulfilled prophesy by His presence on this earth.  That can be a study by itself so I will hold off for now in writing about it.  But, one way He fulfilled the law was by living a sinless life.  The Pharisee’s made the law about doing righteous acts but do you remember what Jesus told the Pharisee when he asked what greatest commandment was?

                Matthew 22:37

“Jesus replied, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. (38) This is the first and greatest commandment. (39) And the second is like it: Love you neighbor as yourself. (40) All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.’”

There is no question that Jesus fulfilled these laws.  For the Father, he obeyed.  For others, He sacrificed His life on the cross and rose again in three days. 

Now let’s consider what laws might be okay to break---NONE!  Furthermore, Jesus tells us that if we break the least of a command and teach others to do the same, we are least in the kingdom of heaven.  Jesus gave us a perfect example in our message yesterday on how we should treat others.  Sometimes we fail at treating them the way we should so we have broken the law of loving our neighbor.  Sometimes in this life we get so busy with everything else that we forget to pray, read our Bible, or in someway fellowship with God.  By doing this we have loved other things more than God.   Anytime we break the law we are most likely involving others in the process whether we know it or not and we are teaching them to do the same.  I have seen the ripple affect happen more than once when someone has made a bad choice, it affects those around them and those far away.  So many times we think that we are only hurting ourselves when in essence we may be hurting those we don’t even know.

Jesus goes on to tell us that we need to keep the commands and teach others to do the same.  Sometimes the only way to teach those commands is to live them out for others to see.  I have heard the right words spoken but the lifestyle did not match the words spoken.  The old saying “actions speak louder than words” is so true.  Sometimes the words are not heard because the actions don’t match the words.  Jesus is very clear when he says that we need to first practice and then teach.  I believe that he purposely mentioned practice before teach.

Now let’s look at the last part of these words,

(20) “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”

What is righteousness?  I have heard it described as “right living” and that is what the Pharisees tried to base their entire life on.  But let’s look at Romans 3:21-23L

“But now a righteousness from God apart form the law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.  (22) This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.  There is no difference.  (23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Did you see that?   Righteousness comes from FAITH.  If we do not have faith our right living will do us no more good than it did the Pharisees.  How are you measuring up in the faith department?  Do you have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ who came to save you from the grasp of sin in your life?  If not, it does not matter how well you live you will not enter the kingdom of God.  If you do not have this faith, ask Christ today to become a part of your life, confess to Him, accept His forgiveness, recognize His greatness, and seek Him with all your heart.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila