Knowledge and Understanding

Happy is the man who finds wisdom; and the man who gains understanding. Get wisdom; and get understanding. In reading and studying the Word; we get to know and understand the Father's GRACE. Our Lord desires for us to know Him and He wants to know us.

Thus says the Lord:
That I am the Lord, exercising loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.
For in these I delight,” says the Lord.

Wednesday, 28 February 2018

Salt and Light (Matthew 7)


Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

I stand corrected chapter 5,6, and 7 should have been one chapter.
Above is the end to the sermon on the mount, which encourages us to hear our Lords teachings and do them.

In this chapter our Lord starts by warning us not to judge for we shall be judged the same way we judge.
We all have different strengths and weaknesses, therefore we cannot judge, the journey of following our Lord is not a competition, we all start at the same place and finish at the same place. Salvation is by grace alone, our Lord’s expense alone, only His sacrifice gives us the right to be His followers. How we do along the way is by His mercy too, it is by the Spirit.

Our Lord encourages us ask our Father for what we need and keep on asking; to search His Word and keep on searching to find understanding; to knock in faith and keep on knocking until the door is open.
This section finishes telling us to do for others what we want them to for us, what you give you get back.
A smile begets a smile, kindness begets kindness, etcetera, etcetera.

Our Lord continues to teach us about the Kingdom.
The road to life in the Kingdom is narrow and few find it. As followers of our Lord we must realise following our Lord will never be the popular thing to do but it is a rewarding road to take. A road where we have lots of assistance from our Lord, it is not harsh but padded with mercy and grace. The best part it does not lead to destruction but to life with our Lord to the Fathers glory.
We are also warned about false prophets not everyone who says they belong to our Lord belongs to our Lord. How would we know by the fruit? Salt and light again.

Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’



Tuesday, 27 February 2018

Salt and Light (Matthew 6)




“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves, treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

I believe chapter 5 and 6 should have been one chapter.
Our Lord continues to teach us how to be the salt and the light, we are taught about giving. We are never to give to impress. Let us never obey the Father but seek glory, let us live to glorify the Father.

Our Lord, teaches us to pray.
Without prayer we cannot bring the Father’s flavour and light,
Prayer continually reminds us to surrender to our Father,
Prayer reconciles us to our Father, and His Kingdom,
Prayer gives us an opportunity to confess and seek forgiveness from the Father,
Prayer teaches us to forgive for how can we not forgive when we have been forgiven.

Our Lord teaches us how to fast.
Denying self for the Father’s glory is fundamental in following our Lord. Again we are taught not to do to impress but to glorify our Father in our lives.

We are warned about materialism and the love of money more than our Father.

The last teaching in this chapter our Lord teaches us is about absolute trust in the Father.
As followers of the Lord we must know that our Father loves us and provides for us, and we should trust Him.
We are taught the best way to live is to put the Father and His kingdom first, and He shall provide for all we need for this life.
Not just material things but all we need in this life.

Let us always remember the only way we can be salt and light is when we seek to live in Father's way just as our Lord did.


Monday, 26 February 2018

Salt and Light (Matthew 5)



“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavour, how shall it be seasoned?
 It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand,
And it gives light to all who are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Our Lord does not command us to be the salt of the earth; instead our Lord tells us we are the salt of the earth.
Our Lord does not command us to be the light of the world; instead our Lord tells us we are the light of the world.
This immediately changes how we view our selves as followers of our King. When we consider all the relationships and spheres of influence we have, we can’t help but think how am I flavouring them and bringing light.
Truly though how do I imperfect, often failing, does not understand it all follower, do so?

Verses 3 – 10, our Lord dedicates to teaching us the attitudes that bring flavour and light because we are His followers. Following our Lord transforms who we are and become for in loving and following Him we become like Him. In Hebrews we learnt that we are companions with our Lord, co-partakers in His Kingdom. Our Lord is not telling us something He is not prepared to assist us with but He reveals to us who we are.
We call them the beatitudes, as we learn today we are already are, all we need to do is ask the Spirit to empower us to walk in who we are. Are we going to fail, sure we will, but remember we learnt that the Spirit is our helper the one who walks along us, to empower us for the glory of our Father.
No matter how small or insignificant you think your flavour and light is, remember it always points to the Father and brings Him glory. There is nothing more we can want for, that is what our Lord did, point to and glorify the Father.

Verses 21 – 43, our Lord touches on some of the challenges we face, He is quick to caution us to:
Be aware of the condition of our hearts; don’t let anger and hatred fester
Be honest and truthful
Do not seek revenge but seek to be kind beyond reason
Share your flavour and light with even those who are considered to be your enemies

Without the Spirit counsel, none of this is possible.


  


Friday, 23 February 2018

It is Written (Matthew 4)


It is written


“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”



Our Lord’s life is an example for His followers. In our journey through the gospels we seek to learn and emulate Him.
When in need we should always know are to trust our Father for He is our provider and source.

It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”

Our Father loves us and provides for us.
He has who He is and what He is like in His Word. We need never use tricks and tests to see what He will do.

“Away with you, satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”

We should never serve and worship any other, be it, self, others, money, status, possessions etcetera, etcetera. If not the Father, then not worthy to serve or worship.

The Word is our only weapon against the devil, our Lord, our example reminds us, and teaches us in this chapter. We also need to know it for ourselves and well for the devil knows it too but distorts it to serve his own purposes.


Thursday, 22 February 2018

The Herald (Matthew 3)


The Messiah Herald

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make His paths straight.’ ”

In this chapter we are introduced to John the baptist(baptiser) who was born for one purpose to herald the Messiah. Again Matthew reminds us that he was for told by the prophet Isaiah. Once again scripture is fulfilled.

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”
But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.
And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”


In all our Lord did as we journey through the gospels, He submitted to the Father.
He was born for a purpose and in all He did He found a way to fulfil that purpose.

The lesson for us who have chosen to follow Him is to do as our Lord.
Choose to live for the Fathers purpose, for we too were created with a purpose to fulfil for our Father.


Wednesday, 21 February 2018

God with us (Matthew 1 & 2)


God with us (Matthew 1&2)

In these 2 chapters we learn of our Lords miraculous conception through the Holy Spirit.
His birth in a manger and the story of the wise men coming to worship the King there, is told. Joseph has to flee because our Lord’s life is in danger.
This is a very interesting arrival for the Messiah, a humble and a fugitive start for the King of Kings.

4 old testament prophecies (from Isaiah, Hosea, Micah, and Jeremiah) are fulfilled and Matthew makes sure that we know or realise that.  
He did not arrive as many would have thought He would
BUT Indeed God is with us, the Messiah they had been waiting for has come and we are told from the beginning that He has come to rescue mankind from their sins.

It is through His Spirit that the Father will work in us and use us for His Works. He seeks those who will hear and do what He asks.
It is through His Word that we can reach others and it is through His Word that we all will understand the Fathers purpose for our lives.
Joseph and Mary obeyed the Father and  He fulfilled what He had planned all along.



Monday, 19 February 2018

follower worshiper servant


follower, worshiper, servant

I am challenged by those 3 words.

What are the characteristics of a follower of Jesus, and how do I learn about following Jesus. In our church we are learning about following Jesus.
A follower of Jesus is not perfect or sinless.
A follower of our Lord does not know it all but is always learning about our Lord and is transformed by who our Lord is.

A follower of Jesus is a worshiper of Jesus but cannot do it alone. Together we are better and effective.

A follower of Jesus is a fellow servant with our Lord, in bring the gospel to all in his or her life.

This year I thought we would start by journeying through the gospels. and learn of our Lord trusting to be transformed by Him.

In Matthew we will journey and learn of Jesus the Messiah.
In Mark we will journey and learn of Jesus the Servant.
In Luke we will journey and learn of Jesus the Saviour.
In John we will journey and learn of Jesus the Lord.

My hope this year is that we will learn to follow our Lord together, worship Him together, and learn to give more of ourselves, our time and talents in servant-hood to Him who is our Lord and King.