Questions in Matthew – 8

20:32
So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

21:10
And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?”

21:16
and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?”
  And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read,
   ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
 You have perfected praise’? ”

21:23
Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?”

21:25
The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?”
  And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’

21:28
“But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’

21:31
Which of the two did the will of his father?”
  They said to Him, “The first.”
  Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.

21:40
Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?”

21:42
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:
   ‘The stone which the builders rejected
 Has become the chief cornerstone.
 This was the Lord's doing,
 And it is marvellous in our eyes’?

[Message No: 6699]

The Road that Leads to Life

“[Jesus said,] "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." – Matthew 7:13-14

Over two decades ago, Juan Carlos Ortiz criticized European and American evangelists for offering a carrot stick gospel that focused on the pay off and not lordship of Jesus. Jesus, especially in Matthew 7, reminds us that grace does not dismiss discipleship and mercy does not release us from our need to genuinely repent. We must accept the grace that is given us and truly let Jesus be Lord of our lives. It's not an either-or proposition, but a both-and call from God to receive grace and to follow Jesus as Lord.

Overstated Commitment' — John 13:36-38

Most of us have done it. We've overstated (or at least, overestimated) our commitment, abilities, or strength. Our intentions, at the time, were probably good. We just didn't realize Satan's power to combine circumstance, fear, doubt, disillusionment ... in a concoction brewed just right to bring us to our knees. Peter had a tendency to overstate everything in his early years as a disciple. However, once Peter suffered through his personal embarrassments and failures, Jesus had a disciple fully prepared to lead powerfully while also walking humbly.

Let's not let our failures keep us from following Christ and being used for his glory. In addition, let's not overstate our ability to handle temptations, trials, difficulties, challenges, or problems. God's strength is made perfect when we realize our weakness and vulnerability and then rely on his strength to sustain us!

Thought

"'Difficulty' is not a word to be found in the dictionary of heaven. Nothing can be impossible with God." - Charles H. Spurgeon

Transformed By Truth

John 8:31-32

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

[Message No: 6698]

Questions in Matthew – 7

19:16
Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”

19:17
So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

19:18
He said to Him, “Which ones?”
  Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’

19:20
The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”

19:25
When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”

19:27
Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?”

20:6
And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’

20:13
But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?

20:15
Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?

20:21
And He said to her, “What do you wish?”
  She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.”

20:22
But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”

  They said to Him, “We are able.”

[Message No: 6697]

Questions in Matthew – 6

17:10
And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

17:17
Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.”

17:19
Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”

17:24
When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?”

17:25
He said, “Yes.”

18:1
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

18:12
“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?

18:21
Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”

18:33
Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’

19:3
The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?”

19:5
and said, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?

19:7
They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?”

[Message No: 6696]

Besides Still Waters - 42

The Lord is My Helper

Hebrews 13:6
So we may boldly say:
  “The Lord is my helper;
   I will not fear.
 What can man do to me?”

Count it All Joy

James 1:2
Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

The Testing of Your Faith

James 1:3
knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

If Any Of You Lacks Wisdom

Hebrews 1:5
For to which of the angels did He ever say:
  “You are My Son,
 Today I have begotten You”? And again:
 “I will be to Him a Father,
 And He shall be to Me a Son”?

Every Perfect Gift

James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

No Variation

James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

You Do Not Ask

James 4:2
You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.

[Message No: 6695]

Is Prophecy Always Perfect?

1 Corinthians 13:9-10

For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

What are the safe realms of Prophecy?

1 Corinthians 14:3

But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.

1 Corinthians 14:31

For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.

Is Condemnation from God?

John 3:17

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Romans 8:1

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Romans 8:34

Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

What is source of Prophecy?

The Human Spirit – Ezekiel 13:2-3

 Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy out of their own heart, ‘Hear the word of the Lord!’ ”

   Thus says the Lord God: “Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing

The  Lying Spirit – 2 Chronicles 18:21

So he said, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And the Lord said, ‘You shall persuade him and also prevail; go out and do so.’

[Message No: 6694]

Questions in Acts – 7

23:4
And those who stood by said, “Do you revile God's high priest?”

23:19
Then the commander took him by the hand, went aside, and asked privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”

25:9
But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there be judged before me concerning these things?”

25:12
Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go!”

26:8
Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?

26:14
And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.

26:15
So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

26:27
King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.”
God's Word for God's people*

Psalm. 88:2
May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry.

Ps. 89:5
The heavens praise your wonders, O LORD, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.

[Message No: 6993]

Passion for Souls

Bishop Joseph Berry – referring to the gospel (Luke 14:16-21)

The man who sits down to the banquet  and selfishly enjoys its light and warmth, with never a thought of the hungry multitude outside, is a caricature of a Christian. He has caught not true vision of his Lord;  nor have the fires of Christian evangelism been kindled in his heart.

He may be a church member, but he is not a Christian … is anyone a real disciple of Christ who is not swayed by this consuming passion?

Quote:

“Even when life may be difficult, we should thank God for all He does for us which we do not deserve.” –Billy Graham

God willing, let’s all meet in our Worship Service tomorrow morning … then, it’s time for us to Count our Blessings received from Him – One by One.

John 1:12-13

To all who received him, to those who believe in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. —

We live in a time and culture of rights. "It's my right to ___." Just fill in the blank. But we don't have a right to be God's child. We are given that right by God's grace. This right came to us at great cost to God. Jesus' came to earth, lived, died and was raised from the dead. We receive this grace through faith: God gives us new birth as we trust in Jesus as Lord and we are baptized and reborn through the power of the Holy Spirit (John 3:3-7; Titus 3:3-7).

To be born of God, to be born from above, to be born "again" is the gift of adoption into God's family and brings us all the rights of heirs in God's house (Galatians 3:26-29; Galatians 4:1-7). So let's not take this grace, this blessing, this adoption, this right for granted! We are God's children right now (1 John 3:1-3). Let's give thanks for this grace and live like we belong.

Prayer

. Lord, I need Your wisdom and understanding. I have tried for so long to operate with my own wisdom, and it just isn’t good enough. Help me to live a faithful, innocent life, free from fear and sin and worry, trusting in Your provision and protection. You are able, Lord, and I am not. Forgive me for trying to run my life and make my plans without consulting You for wisdom, understanding, guidance, and direction. Lead me, and I will follow. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
[Message No: 6692]