"The Morsel"

January 31, 2017

“The Morsel”

Blessings folk!

Jesus reveals the traitor…

John 13:20-27

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me;
and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”

When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said,
“Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me.”

The disciples began looking at one another, at a loss to know of which one He was speaking.

There was reclining on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.

So Simon Peter gestured to him, and *said to him, “Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking.”

He, leaning back thus on Jesus’ bosom, *said to Him, “Lord, who is it?”

Jesus then *answered, “That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him.” So when He had dipped the morsel, He *took and *gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.

After the morsel, Satan then entered into him.
Therefore Jesus *said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”


Jesus was troubled in spirit.
He knew the price of betrayal.
He knew what would happen to the betrayer.
He knew what would occur to Him through betrayal.

The disciples were shocked.
Apparently they were clueless.
Peter desired to know what the Lord meant.
Peter motioned to “the disciple whom Jesus loved” - John - to inquire.
John did so.
Jesus gave a subtle sign.
A bite of food.

Upon receiving the morsel, Satan entered into Judas.
Jesus told him - I believe Satan - “what you do, do quickly”.

Things were coming “to a head”.
Jesus knew.
Satan thought he knew.
The disciples?
They still did not know what was actually occurring…

"Receive..."

January 30, 2017

“Receive…”

Blessings folk!

Jesus is speaking to His disciples.

Seriousness is increasing as He instructs.

He has inferred there is a traitor in their midst.

He is about to address the traitor, but first, He says this…

John 13:20
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me;
and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”


Jesus is strengthening the final groundwork for sending the disciples out.
He is encouraging them in a way they know not at the moment.
They will understand later.

He who receives the one that Jesus sends, receives Jesus.
The idea is that they were the emissaries of the Lord Jesus.
So are we.
He who receives the truth we live and proclaim, receives Jesus.

The one who receives Jesus, receives the One Who sent Jesus - Father.

The disciples seated with Jesus needed to know this.
They would remember and receive encouragement and exhortation from this Word.

We do likewise.

We are sent.
Those that receive, receive Him.

The unstated corollary is true.
Those that reject, reject Him.

Trust in the Lord.
Rest in His truth.

"You May Believe..."

January 29, 2017

“You May Believe…”

Blessings folk!

Jesus was speaking with His disciples.
He had just told them that they were clean…but not all.
There was a betrayer in their midst.
Then, Jesus says this…read…reflect…think.

John 13:19
“From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass,
so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He.


From then on…until His exit from this corporeal existence…and beyond.
He would tell them things before they came to pass.

Why?

So that when the events occurred, they would believe that He is I AM.
That Jesus is Messiah.
That Jesus is Christ.
That Jesus is the Son of God.

I believe that this additional “insight” helped the disciples in the extremely difficult days that were ahead.

They knew that He was Messiah.
Continued remembrance of His Word would strengthen this knowledge.

Likewise, we have the Word of the Lord.

2 Pe 1:19
So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.

He has told us.
We know in advance what is to occur.
Know His Word.
Remember His Word.

"I Have Chosen"

January 28, 2017

“I Have Chosen”

Blessings folk!

Jesus tells us:
  • a slave is not greater than his master
  • the one sent is not greater than the one who sent him

Jesus continues.

John 13:16-17

“Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master,
nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.

“If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.


We are blessed if we do these things.
What things? Remember the context…washing of feet.
If we live in humility before one another.
If we help one another.

Jesus knew that that not all who profess to live this way would.

John 13:18

“I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘HE WHO EATS MY BREAD HAS LIFTED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME.’


Jesus knew a traitor was among them.
Jesus knew who he was.
He knew the ones that He had chosen…that can be understood in both senses.
He knows the ones He has chosen.
He knows all about each one…including Judas who He chose as an apostle.

Why was Judas chosen?
That Scripture might be fulfilled.

Psalm 41:9

Even my close friend in whom I trusted,
Who ate my bread,
Has lifted up his heel against me.

The Lord knows.
Rest in this.
Live in this.

"Know/Do These Things"

January 27, 2017

“Know/Do These Things”

Blessings folk!

Jesus completed washing all the disciples feet.
Jesus asked if they understood.
He then explained.

John 13:12-17

So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again,
He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?

“If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet,
you also ought to wash one another’s feet.

“For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master,
nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.

“If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.


Jesus acknowledged that He is Lord and Teacher.
If He washed their feet, then they should do likewise to one another.
They should walk in humility and love.
They should think better of the other.

Jesus gave an example whereby we should do as He did.

He then drives home the point.
A slave is not greater than his master.
One sent is not greater than the One Who sends.

We are blessed if we do as He did.

Remember, we are no longer slaves.
We are heirs and sons of the Most High.

Gal 4:7

Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.


We, as true believers, have been sent forth by the Most High.
May we do as He did.
May we do as He does.
Know these things.
Do these things.
We are blessed if we do so.

"Not All Are Clean..."

January 26, 2017

“Not All Are Clean…”

Blessings folk!

Jesus told Peter that he was “bathed” (cleaned), he only needed to wash his feet…to wash away that which is collected as we walk through each day.

But then Jesus says something interesting at the end of the verse…(Isn’t everything Jesus says interesting?)

John 13:10
Jesus *said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.”


Not all of them were clean.
Not all of those with Jesus at that moment…what we call the Twelve apostles.

John clarifies.

John 13:11
For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, “Not all of you are clean.”


Jesus knew betrayal was occurring.
Jesus knew who it was.
Jesus said this so that upon reflection, the apostles would understand that He knew all along.

John 6:64-65
“But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him.

And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you,
that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.”


Jesus knew from the beginning who would believe and who would not believe.
Jesus knew from the beginning who would betray Him.
Jesus knew from the beginning that only those granted from the Father can come to Him.

This turns many believers “theology” upside down.
Many will shout man-made labels at one another over such.

Yet, the truth is simple.
The Lord knew.
The Lord knows.
Believe.
Be clean.

"Wash All!"

January 25, 2017

“Wash All!”

Blessings folk!

So, Jesus tells Peter that if he does not allow Jesus’ washing, then he has no part of Him.

John 13:8
Peter *said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!”
Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”


Peter’s reaction?

Peter was a man of strong emotions, strong reaction.
He was a man of passion.

John 13:9
Simon Peter *said to Him, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.”


Peter was proclaiming “wash me from head to toe!”

He realized that he had been wrong in his feigned humility.

If the Lord seeks to do something in our lives, let Him do it.

Look at how the Lord responded.

John 13:10
Jesus *said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.


The picture is this.
Peter had no need to be washed “head-to-toe” because he had “bathed”.
He had believed the Lord.
He was righteous before the Lord.

Then why the washing of feet?
I believe that it is a picture of how the Believer needs to wash away the things of the world that we collect as we go about day by day.

Jesus was showing how we need to live humbly before one another.
I believe He was also showing how we are to help “wash the world” from each others “feet”.
In love.
In humility.
In care and comfort…pictured by the basin, the water, the cloth.
A careful, compassion process of being “clean” in our walk and life.
Done in the true community of faith.
Oh how we need such…

"Lord, Never...Wash"

January 24, 2017

“Lord, Never…Wash”

Blessings folk!

Jesus walked in true humility.
Not “humility” with a personal agenda.
Not “humility” of arrogance and hubris.
True humility of love, concern, compassion.

One example was when He washed the feet of His disciples.

How did the disciples react?

Watch Peter.

John 13:6-8

So He *came to Simon Peter. He *said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?”

Jesus answered and said to him,
“What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.”

Peter *said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him,
“If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”


Peter questioned Jesus.
Why would the Lord wash His feet?

Jesus made no attempt at explanation at the moment.
He simply told Peter that though he did not understand now, he would later.

A great truth for us.
Things happen now that we do not understand until later.
Do we trust in what we see now?
Or, do we trust in what we know to be true…later?

Peter’s reaction.
He refused the Lord.
He boldly stated “never” would Jesus wash his feet.

We see this several times in Peter’s life.
Something that is impossible.
We can not say “Lord”…as Peter did in verse 6…and then say “never” to HIm.
One can not say “Lord, no!”
If we say “no”, He is not Lord.
If we say “Lord”, then we will not say “no”, “never”.

Jesus cut to the issue.
If Peter did not allow Jesus to wash his feet, then Peter had not part with Jesus.

We will see Peter’s reaction/decision.
(Ah…how the pendulum swings&hellipWinking

For today…

  • do not reject the move of the Lord
  • walk in the Lord…do not say “no”, “never”. If you do so, He is not Lord.
  • allow Him to wash you…

"Jesus, Knowing...Washed"

January 23, 2017

“Jesus, Knowing…Washed”

Blessings folk!

Jesus knew His hour had come.
The time to complete His purpose of taking on flesh.
He loved His own…to the end.

John 13:2-5

During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon,
to betray Him,

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands,
and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God,

*got up from supper, and *laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself.

Then He *poured water into the basin,
and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.


A plot.
A plan.
One developed through the ages.
Was coming to fruition.

The devil had put into the heart of Judas betrayal.
Judas was in their midst.

Jesus…

  • knowing that Father had given all things into His hands
  • knowing that He had come forth from God
  • knowing He was going back to God

We forget this.
Jesus knew.
He knew before, during, after.

Judas, betrayer, sat with Jesus.
Jesus knew.

What did Jesus do?

He humbled Himself in the midst of the men.
He humbled Himself in the midst of betrayal and impending persecution…death.

He got up from supper…they were still eating.
He laid aside His garments.
He took a towel.
He girded Himself.
He poured water in a basin.
He washed the disciples feet.
He wiped their feet with the towel by which He was girded. (That is interesting&hellipWinking

Each step a picture of humility, love, compassion…passion…for them.

Is it not time that we as Believers do likewise with one another?
Live humbly.
Honor one another.
Submit to one another.
Love one another.

Jesus did it.
He empowers us to do likewise.

"He Loved..."

Pasted Graphic

(Close attention to the Feasts detail in the gospel gives us accurate timing as to the events occurring. From this we glean that Jesus was not crucified on “good Friday”, but on Wednesday afternoon. Jesus declared that He would be in the belly of the earth “three days and three nights”. Complete. Not portions thereof. Yes, Jesus was taken off the cross because “the next day was the sabbath”, but it was not the weekly sabbath. It was the sabbath of the first day of the feast of Unleavened bread. More as we go&hellipWinking

Look at what was occurring.

Jesus knew that the hour had come for Him to depart this world and return to Father.
Jesus loved His own who were in this world.
Jesus loved them to the end.

This does not mean that He did not love those in the world.

It means He fulfilled His mission.
He was faithful to the end. He loved.

"Abide In/Obey Me"

January 21, 2017

“Abide In/Obey Me”

Blessings folk!

Three weeks into the new year, and two Words still ring in thoughts.
Abide.
Obey.

Let us look at some of what the Lord says about such…

John 15:4
“Abide in Me, and I in you.
As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine,
so neither can you unless you abide in Me.


A command.
An instruction.
We are to abide in the Lord.
He will abide in us…every True Believer.
We can bear fruit of the Kingdom no other way.
Only in abiding in Him.

We are jumping into the midst of an account here.
We will back up and set the entire scene, but for today…

Seek to abide in Him in all things.
Bear His fruit, not ours.

One thought on “obey”.

John 3:36
“He who believes in the Son has eternal life;
but he who does not obey the Son will not see life,
but the wrath of God abides on him.”


Obey not the Son?
Will not see life.
Wrath of God upon him.

Abide.
Obey.

"Bless God"

January 20, 2017

“Bless God”

Blessings folk!

On this day of political transition, we would do well to remember this Word.

Daniel had a problem.
The King was about to kill him, his friends and all the “wise men”.

Daniel sought the Lord.
The Lord answered Daniel.

Dan 2:19
Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a night vision.
Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven;


Daniel’s response?
He blessed the God of Heaven.
So should we.

Hear the blessing…

Dan 2:20-23

Daniel said,
“Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever,
For wisdom and power belong to Him.

“It is He who changes the times and the epochs;
He removes kings and establishes kings;
He gives wisdom to wise men
And knowledge to men of understanding.

“It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things;
He knows what is in the darkness,
And the light dwells with Him.

“To You, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise,
For You have given me wisdom and power;
Even now You have made known to me what we requested of You,
For You have made known to us the king’s matter.”


Live and rejoice in the truths of the Most High.

God…

  • wisdom and power belong to Him
  • changes the times and the epochs
  • gives wisdom to wise men
  • gives knowledge to men of understanding
  • reveals the profound and hidden things
  • knows what is in the darkness
  • light dwells in Him

This is Who we worship.
This is Who has saved us.
This is Who will guide us…if we allow.
This is Who removes kings and establishes kings.

Give Him thanks.
Give Him praise.

He is all we need.
Bless the Name of the Lord forever…and forever.

"Hear These Words"

January 19, 2017

“Hear These Words”

Blessings folk!

Jesus is drawing His teaching time to a close (what we call the “sermon on the mountHappy.

Jesus makes a promise to those who hear these words.

Look for the promise.
Also, look for the response of the people.

Mat 7:24-29

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them,
may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.

“And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.

“Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them,
will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.

“The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house;
and it fell—and great was its fall.”

When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching;

for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.


If we hear the Word of the Lord…
If we act on them…obey them…apply them…
Then we will be as a house built upon a solid foundation of rock.
No storm will conquer.
No flood will wash away.
No wind will destroy.

If we hear the Word of the Lord…
If we do not act on them…
If we do not obey…
Then the house will fall by the storm…by wind…by rain.

The people were amazed.
Jesus taught.
They heard.
They learned.
He taught as One with authority.
He did not teach as the scribes.
The Word of the Lord is always clearly different from the word of man.
If we have eyes to see.
If we have ears to hear.
If we are led by the Spirit.

The scribes pushed “denominationalism”.
They were more concerned with the mechanics of Law than with the heart of man.
They sought to control the people via Law.

Nothing has changed.
Most of the contemporary church is still lead by scribes, pharisees and the like that seek to control the Body.

“Leading” by the law is easy…just lay out the rules of man and demand obedience.
Leading by the Spirit…which the Lord requires…is harder…
Trusting the Lord to lead His flock…
Trusting true Believers to seek the Lord…
Equipping the Saints for the work of the Kingdom…
Allowing them to do what the Lord directs…
Such is rare.

Let us to it.

"I Never Knew You"

January 18, 2017

“I Never Knew You”

Blessings folk!

Many will say to Jesus “Lord, Lord”, yet they will not enter the King of heaven.

They believe by word of mouth, yet do not have a true belief.

Mat 7:21
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven,
but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.


Jesus continues…

Mat 7:22
“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name,
and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’

“And then I will declare to them,
I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’


These verses are some of the most somber in all of Scripture.

Think about it.

There will be those who will say to the Lord Himself…
“Lord, Lord did we not prophesy in Your Name…?
“Lord, Lord did we not cast out demons in Your Name…?
“Lord, Lord did we not perform miracles in Your Name…?

These are things that we often think are representative of “true believers”…prophesy, casting out of demons, miracles. We often think that such folk are “more spiritual”.

Any yet, Jesus…

  • tells them to depart from Him
  • states that they were actually practicing lawlessness

How can it be lawlessness when doing these good things?
Note, these things occurred…they were real…prophesying, casting out of demons, miracles.

They occurred not because of the those who “did them”, but rather, they were done in the name of the Lord.

In the Name of Jesus the Word came forth.
In the Name of Jesus the demons fled.
In the Name of Jesus miracles are wrought.

So, what was the problem with these whom Jesus said practiced lawlessness?

They never knew Him.
It is that simple.

They used the name of the Lord.
The Lord chose to honor His name.
Yet, they never knew Him.

How many today fall in this way?
I suspect many.
We go about religious activity, much good, yet, we know Him not.
We miss the foundational.

Above all, know Him.

"Lord, Lord"

January 17, 2017

“Lord, Lord”

Blessings folk!

We will know them by their fruit.
The evil/bad.
The good.
Jesus told us so.
Be inspectors of fruit.
Beware.
Be not deceived, especially in these last days!

Jesus continues…

Mat 7:21

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven,
but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.


These next few verses are some of the most humbling…dare I say “frightening”?…in all of Scripture..

Read this verse again.

What is being said?

There will be some who will say “Lord, Lord”…

  • they will declare that Jesus is Lord
  • they will make profession with their mouth
  • they will be religious
  • they will “attend church”

And yet…
  • they will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Why?

Apparently because they were making a “false profession”.
They did not truly believe.

How do we know?

They did not have deeds to show evidence of true repentance.
They did not do the will of Father.

Those who do the will of Father will enter heaven.

What are we doing?

"False Prophets"

January 16, 2017

“False Prophets”

Blessings folk!

Jesus continues.
Now, a Word of warning.
Remember, He had told us not to judge.
Give heed to what He says about fruit.
Give heed to the Word of warning.

Mat 7:15-20

“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing,
but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

“You will know them by their fruits.
Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?

“So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.

“A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.

“Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

“So then, you will know them by their fruits.


Word of warning - beware of false prophets.

This means there will be false prophets.
It also means that there will be true prophets, otherwise we could say that anyone prophesying is false. Such is not true.
There are prophets.
There are false prophets.
Beware of the false.

What are their characteristics?
They appear as in sheep clothing…harmless, innocent, etc.
They are inwardly ravenous wolves.

Are we to fear them?
No.
Are we to “endure” them?
No.

How will we know them?
By their fruit.
We can discern by their fruit.
We can “judge”…there we go!…by their fruit.

We do not “judge”.
We are “fruit inspectors”.

We will know them by their fruit.
Bad tree - bad fruit.
Good tree - good fruit.
Simple.

What is the outcome for the bad…false prophets?
Cut down.
Lake of fire.

That is their future.
Beware of them.
They are everywhere, especially in the professing church.

"Gates"

January 15, 2017

“Gates”

Blessings folk!

Jesus continues.
He is revealing the life of the Kingdom.
Fear not.
Fret not.
Be not anxious.
Judge not.
Ask.
Seek.
Knock.
In everything, treat others as you desire to be treated.

Then, He says this…

Mat 7:13-14

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.

“For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.


There are two gates…hummm…there were two trees in the midst of the Garden of Eden…

One gate…

  • is wide
  • has a broad path
  • leads to destruction
  • many enter through it

One gate…
  • small
  • narrow
  • leads to life
  • few find it

Gates to where?
Eternity!
Both gates lead to eternity.
One to eternal destruction without end.
One to eternal life without end.
Which have you chosen?

"In Everything"

January 14, 2017

“In Everything”

Blessings folk!

Do not fear.
Do not fret.
Do not be anxious.
Do not judge.
Ask.
Seek.
Knock.

The Lord reveals what to do…how to live.

Look what He next states…

Mat 7:12
“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you,
for this is the Law and the Prophets.


A conclusion, “therefore”…in light of what has been stated previously.

The parameter, “in everything”…not some things, not some times, not some ways. Everything.

Treat people the same way you want them to treat you.

Simple.
Concise.

According to the Lord this is the summation of the Law and the Prophets.

Some Believers will cry “we are not under the Law”.
True.

We fulfill the Law in and through the Lord Jesus.
We live all we have seen in these passages through the power of the Lord.

Do so.

"Loaf, Stone, Fish, Snake"

January 13, 2017

“Loaf, Stone, Fish, Snake”

Blessings folk!

Ask. He will give.
Seek. You will find.
Knock. It will be opened to you.

Read the passage again.

Mat 7:7-11

“Ask, and it will be given to you;
seek, and you will find;
knock, and it will be opened to you.

“For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds,
and to him who knocks it will be opened.

“Or what man is there among you who,
when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone?

“Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!


Jesus drives home the point by giving an example.
A father and son.
Is there any man…a man of the world, not necessarily a man of faith…who would not meet the request of a son?
Especially a foundational request of physical sustenance, food?

The unstated answer is “no”.

If a son asks for a loaf of bread, father will not give a stone.
If a son asks for first, father will not give a snake.

The point?
If we, being evil by nature, know how to give good gifts to our children…
How much more will Father, the Most High God, give good gifts to those who ask Him.

This gives some insight into the “gifts” that are in view.

We will see more…

For today, know Father desires to give only good.
Ask.
Seek.
Knock.
See what He does.

"Ask, Seek, Knock"

January 12, 2017

“Ask, Seek, Knock”

Blessings folk!

Jesus tells us to…
  • not fear
  • not fret
  • not be anxious
  • not judge

What does he say next?

Something very familiar.
But, now we know the context.

Mat 7:7-11

“Ask, and it will be given to you;
seek, and you will find;
knock, and it will be opened to you.

“For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds,
and to him who knocks it will be opened.

“Or what man is there among you who,
when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone?

“Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!


Look at what the Lord says in the first verse.
Ask - it will be given to you.
Seek - you will find.
Knock - it will be opened to you.

“But”, we say, “I ask/seek/knock and nothing happens”.

Are we asking with the correct motives?

Remember, this…

Jas 4:3

You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives,
so that you may spend it on your pleasures.

What are the motives?
What is the source of the asking/seeking/knocking?
If it comes from the Lord, then He will grant.
If not, then not.

…to be continued…

"Tares, Dogs, Swine"

January 11, 2017

“Tares, Dogs, Swine”

Blessings folk!

We are not to be hypocrites.
Yet, we know that there will be hypocrites seeking to be among true believers.
There will be tares among the wheat.

Mat 13:24-30

Jesus presented another parable to them, saying,
“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.

“But while his men were sleeping,
his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away.

“But when the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also.

“The slaves of the landowner came and said to him,
‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’

“And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!’ The slaves *said to him,
‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’

“But he *said, ‘No; for while you are gathering up the tares,
you may uproot the wheat with them.

‘Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up
but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”


Jesus will deal with the tares.
They will be among us.
Are we to ignore them? No.
We are to continually bring the gospel before them.
Many are “church members”.
All are unsaved.

We are not to get into “debates” etc. with such.
They will not receive the truths of the Lord if they reject His salvation.

We are to speak judiciously, ever bringing the foundation of the gospel of the Lord.

Save the other things for those who are true believers.

How do we know this?

Mat 7:6

“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine,
or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

Keep focus and attention upon the important.
Be not distracted by the strategies of the world and the enemy.
Do not give what is holy to dogs…the world/unsaved.
Do not throw your pearls before swine.

Tough Word.
Needed Word.

"Hypocritical Judging"

January 10, 2017

“Hypocritical Judging”

Blessings folk!

Do not judge so that you will not judged.
Yes, Jesus said it.
He meant it.
Yet, there is much more.
He was dealing with hypocrisy.

Read again…

Mat 7:1-5
“Do not judge so that you will not be judged.

“For in the way you judge, you will be judged;
and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.

“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye,
but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?

“Or how can you say to your brother,
‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye?

“You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye,
and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.


We will be judged in the way that we judge.
The Lord will judge and reveal the hypocritical heart.

He gives an example.
Pointing out the speck in a brother’s eye while ignoring the log in one’s own eye.

The Lord is showing that we often have “concern” about a matter in someone’s life, while ignoring more serious matters in our own lives.

Hypocrisy.

Reject such.

Allow the Lord to remove the speck.
Allow the Lord to remove the log.

Yes, we are to encourage and exhort one another, but remember, the Lord knows the motivation of the heart.

Be not the hypocrite.

"Judge"

January 9, 2017

“Judge”

Blessings folk!

Jesus has instructed us to worry not…to fear not…to fret not…to be anxious for nothing.

What does he say next? Happy

Mat 7:1
“Do not judge so that you will not be judged.


Whoa!
Did not see that one coming.

This is the favorite passage of those in the world…unbelievers.
They usually know it.
“You can’t judge me!”

This verse does not mean what is often offered as a opinion.
Yes, we can judge.
We can judge fruit…

Mat 7:16
“You will know them by their fruits.
Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?

Mat 7:20
“So then, you will know them by their fruits.


To “know them by their fruits” requires an observing…a decision…a judgment.

But, there is more.
Read more of the passage to see what the Lord says to us…

Mat 7:1-5
“Do not judge so that you will not be judged.

“For in the way you judge, you will be judged;
and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.

“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye,
but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?

“Or how can you say to your brother,
‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye?

“You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye,
and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.


We will look at “judging” more later.

For now, what is the bigger subject that Jesus is addressing?

Correct!
Hypocrisy!

Be not a hypocrite.
Deal with your own “log” first.

May it be so…

"Worry Not...For This Reason..."

January 8, 2017

“Worry Not…For This Reason…”

Blessings folk!

We arrive where we began…

Mat 6:25

“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?


For this reason, that we are to serve only One Master, the Most High God, we are not to be worried about life.

Be not concerned about food or drink.
Worry not for your body, how it will be attired.
Fret not over shelter and housing.

The Lord knows our needs.
He knows our desires.

Unbelievers pursue these things with vigor, yet they chase the wrong thing.

Mat 6:32-34

“For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things;
for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own.


So, forget not.
Seek first His Kingdom and Righteousness.
Do not worry about tomorrow.

Then…wait to see how Jesus continues…

"Two Masters"

January 7, 2017

“Two Masters”

Blessings folk!

The Lord has told us to keep our eye clear.
If we keep our eye clear, then the whole body will be full of light.
But, if not…

Mat 6:22-23
“The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light.

“But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.
If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!


Jesus continues…

Mat 6:24
“No one can serve two masters;
for either he will hate the one and love the other,
or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and wealth.


We continue to see the context of Jesus’ Word - treasures.

The Truth is simple.
Either we serve God or not.
Either we are devoted to God or not.
Either we love God or not.
We can not serve/honor/worship/glorify/etc. God and something else…especially wealth.

Too many individuals and “churches” profess to be of God.
They are not.
They are “of” themselves.
They are of wealth and the pursuit thereof.

How do we know of what we are?
Take it before the Lord.

Know this, if we spend more time on pursuit, thinking, participating in anything other than the Most High, then we are serving the wrong master.

There are Two Masters.
One, the True Master, the Lord God.
The other, a false master, the world and all it entails…read again…

1Jo 2:15-16
Do not love the world nor the things in the world.
If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

Serve Father.
Be of Him.
Not of the world.

"Eye"

January 6, 2017

“Eye”

Blessings folk!

Jesus instructed us to pursue the “correct” treasure.
The treasure of heaven.
Not the treasure of earth.

Why?

Because…

Mat 6:21
for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.


What do you look upon?
Upon what do you focus your eye and attention?

Hear the Word of the Lord!

Mat 6:22
“The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light.

“But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.
If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!


What we take in visually…
What we spend time viewing…
What we pursue with our eye…
Will greatly impact the light in our body…
Will greatly impact the light of The Body (of Christ)…
Will fill us with light…
Will quench the Light…

Note the context is treasure.
Note we have a responsibility.

The Lord give more insight…

1Jo 2:15-16
Do not love the world nor the things in the world.
If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

Therefore:
Do not love the world.
Do not love the things of the world.
Why?
If one loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
All that is in the world…
- the lust of the flesh
- the lust of the eyes
- the boastful pride of live
…is not from the Father, but is of the world.

Be not of the world.
Have the eye of the Lord.
Focus on the things above.

"Treasures"

January 5, 2017

“Treasures”

Blessings folk!

A new year.
A new day.
A commandment to fear not, to fret not, to worry not.

The Lord tells us forthrightly to “fear not”.

When we choose…and it is is a choice… to live in a pattern and practice of behavior that is guided and controlled by fear, then we are committing idolatry.

We are saying “I know better than the Lord.”
We are exalting our thoughts and emotions above the Word of the Most High.

We have seen that the Lord tells us to worry not about food, drink, clothing.
We continue to examine the context of His statement…

Mat 6:19-21

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy,
and where thieves break in and steal.

“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys,
and where thieves do not break in or steal;

for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.


The command of Jesus to fear not comes in the midst of a teaching on “treasures”.
This is the crux of the issue.
Fear is keeping our focus on the things of this world rather than the Most High.

Look at the commands.

We are not to store up for yourselves treasures on earth?
Why?
First, they are “for yourself”…the Word teaches us that if we have abundance, then the excess is for meeting the needs of others, beginning with the household of faith.
Then, the treasures of earth are temporary…they will pass…they succumb to the ravages of sin…the second law of thermodynamics… Happy Happy
The treasures of earth are susceptible to thievery and the like.

We are to store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.
There the ravages of sin have no effect.
There thieves can not still.
There our heart will be at peace.
There fear exists not.

Determine today to live not in the fear of the treasures to his world, but in the faith and peace of the treasures of heaven.

Seek the things above.

https://open.spotify.com/track/2OVbTllND2PK0IJDnxtcJi

"Do Not Be Worried..."

January 4, 2017

“Do Not Be Worried…”

Blessings folk!

What things do we allow to cause worry, fret, fear, anxiety in our lives?

We saw yesterday that Jesus said not to worry.
To what did He reference.

Mat 6:25
“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life,
as to what you will eat or what you will drink;
nor for your body, as to what you will put on.
Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?


“For this reason…”?
We will look later at what preceded.

What worries did Jesus reference?

Overall, do not be worried about your life.
If we are True Believers, our lives are the Lord’s.
Worry is trusting in self rather than trusting in the Lord - Idolatry.

So, do not worry about your life.
It is not our burden to carry.
Do not worry about what is to be eaten.
Do not worry about what is to be drank.
Do not worry about clothing for your body.

Life is so much more than such.

Life is more than food - though to hear many, that would be a surprise.
How many live to eat rather than eat to live?

The body is more than clothing.

The Lord is showing us the foolishness of the pursuit of such…the worship of such.

We are to pursue Him.
We are to worship Him.
He will provide all we need.

"Worry About Tomorrow"

January 3, 2017

“Worry About Tomorrow”

Blessings folk!

A new year.
A new day.

The Lord tells us a repeated truth in His Word.
Do not worry.
Do not fret.
Do not fear.
Be not anxious.
Especially related to the future.

Why?

Read…

Mat 6:34

“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own.


A major portion of Jesus’ “sermon on the mount” in Matthew 5-7 speaks of not being anxious, not worrying, not fretting.

He commands us forthrightly to not worry about tomorrow.

Why?

Because tomorrow will care for itself.

Know that each day has enough trouble of its own.
In other words, deal with the issues of the day, not the phantom issues of the future.

Note the word “so” at the beginning.
This truth is stated in light of something.

We will see.
What is that folk worry about?
Jesus tells us.
We will look later.

For today, do not worry about tomorrow…the future.
Do not fear, fret, worry over today. Lay it before the Lord.

"New"

January 2, 2017

“New…”

Blessings folk!

A new beginning.
A new year.
A new day.

There may have been difficult days of late.
There will be difficult days ahead…the Word tells us.

Hear the Word of the Lord.
We know one of these verses well.
But do we know the context?

Remember this…

Lam 3:19-23

Remember my affliction and my wanderings,
the wormwood and the gall!

My soul continually remembers it
and is bowed down within me.

But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.


What do we call to mind?
The difficulties of the past?
The challenges?
The disappointments?
The “what abouts?”

Where is our hope?
If our hope is in anything other than the Most High, we will fail.

Here is what we are to call to mind.
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.
The mercies of the Lord never come to an end.
His love and mercy is new every morning.
His faithfulness is great.

Every day is a new day in the Lord.
His love.
His mercy.
His faithfulness.
In this we rejoice.
In this we hope.
In this we live.

"Eyes of the Lord Upon New Beginnings"

January 1, 2017

“Eyes of the Lord Upon New Beginnings”

Blessings folk!

A new year.
A new day.
A new beginning.

Every breath granted by the Most High is a new beginning for the Believer.

Remember this…

Gen 1:1
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.


God was/is God and Lord before a beginning existed.
All our beginnings are in Him.
He gives us beginning.

If you do not believe this, then you have a false faith.

Remember also…

Zec 4:10
For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. “These seven are the eyes of the LORD,
which range through the whole earth.”


Do not despise the day of small things.
Do not despise the day of small beginnings.
Why?
Because God knows.
The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth…

2Ch 16:9
“For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His…

Psa 34:15
The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous
And His ears are open to their cry.

Pro 5:21
For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the LORD,
And He watches all his paths.

Prov. 15:3
The eyes of the LORD are in every place,
Watching the evil and the good.

Pro 22:12
The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge,
But He overthrows the words of the treacherous man.

1Pe 3:12
“FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE TOWARD THE RIGHTEOUS,
AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER,
BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL.”

The eyes of the Lord are upon us.
He is looking to support those whose hearts are His.
Fear not times of transition and beginnings.
Rejoice in them!