Matthew 11:1-6

And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.

Mat 11:2   Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:  The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.   

verses 2-3 Focus points: John had been put in prison by Herod. Herod had married his own sister – in law, and John publicly rebuked Herod’s flagrant sin(14:3-5) John’s Profile is found in John 1. Herod’s Profile is found in Mark 6.

Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: 
The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:  The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.  And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

As John sat in prison, he began to have some doubts about whether Jesus really was the Messiah. If John’s purpose was to prepare people for the coming Messiah (3:3) and if Jesus really was that Messiah, then why was john in prison when he could have been preaching to the crows, preparing their hearts?  Jesus answered John’s doubts by pointing Jesus’ acts of healing the blind, lame, and deaf, curing the lepers, raising the dead, and preaching the good news to the poor. With so much evidence, Jesus identity was obvious. If you sometimes doubt your salvation, the forgiveness of your sins, or God’s work in your life, look at the evidence in Scripture and the changes in your life. When you doubt, don’t turn away from Christ, turn to him.

 

 

Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.

(NIV)   An unfriendly man pursues selfish ends: he defies all sound judgment.

Psalm 51:1-6

David’s plead for mercy, forgiveness, and cleansing. God wants our hearts to be right with him.

Ref: Proverbs 21:2>Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondered the hearts 

Ref: Prov.16:2> All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD.  

Focus Points:  “All man ways seem innocent to him,” People can rationalize anything if they have no standards for judging right and wrong. We can always prove that we are right, before putting any plan in into action ask yourself these three questions

(1) is this plan in harmony with God’s truth? 

(2) Will it work under real-life conditions?

(3) is my attitude pleasing to God?

people can find an excuse for almost anything, but God looks behind the excuses to he motives of the heart. We often have to make choices in areas where the right action is difficult to identify our motives first and then asking  “would God be pleased with my real reasons for doing this? God is not pleased when we do good deeds only to receive something in return.

Romans 12:209/13/2018

“Right Action follows Right thinking”

… And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

John 7:7>The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil.

Gal.1:4>who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

Eph.2:2>in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.

1Pet.1:14>As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.

Eph.5:10,17>and find out what pleases the Lord. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

Col.1:21-22>Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.
But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—

(Psalm 91:11) Daily Promises (Sept.12th)

For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 

(NIV)
For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 

Focus Points:   One of the functions of angels is to watch over believers (Hebrews 1:14) There are examples of guardian angels in Scripture

(1Kings 19:5;

Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.”

Daniel 6:22;
My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”

Matthew 18:10;
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

Luke 16:22;  Acts 12:13;  Acts 27:23-24) Angels are not visible, except on special occasions

(Numbers 22:31;
Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.)

Luke 2:9
An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

verses 11 and 12 were quoted by Satan when he tempted Jesus 

(Matthew 4:6; “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone

Luke 4:10-11 For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’)

It is comforting to know that God watches over us even in times of great stress and fear.

Reflection
As we abide in the light of our Father, we are given protection beyond all comprehension. These heavenly angels are encamped all about us as they guard our every path throughout this life. Indeed, absolutely nothing shall ever prevail against us as we walk in the light! For He is our rock! He is our mighty fortress! 

Daily Bible Study John 8:31,32/2Corinthians

John 8:31,32> Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.   

Focus points:  

Jesus himself is the truth that sets us free. He is the source of truth, the percept standard of what is right. He frees us from the consequences of sin, from self-deception by Satan. He shows us clearly the way to eternal life with God. As we seek to serve God, Jesus perfect truth frees us to be all that God meant us to be.

Ps.119:45>  I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts. 

Isa. 61:1>  The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,

Rom.6:14> For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

Focus points:

If we’re no longer under the law but under grace, are we now free to sin and disregard the Ten commandments?  Paul says, “By no means”. When we were under the law, sin was our master the law does not  justify us or help us overcome sin. But now that we are bound to Christ, he is our Master, and he gives us power to do good rather than evil.

2Cor.3:17,18> Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Focus points:   Those who were trying to be saved by keeping the Old Testament law were soon tied up in rules and ceremonies. But now through the Holy Spirit, God provides freedom from sin and condemnation (Rom.8:1) When we trust Christ to save us, he removes our heavy burden of trying to please him and our guilt for failing to do so. By trusting Christ we are loved, accepted forgiven, and freed to live for him. “Where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom.”

2Corinthians 10:4,5> And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.  

weekend study Matthew 6

Sermon in the mount continued

6:1 – Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

6:2a – Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues (Church) and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.     

(NIV) “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. 

 Ref:

Rom.12:8> if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

1Cor.10:31> So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Focus points:  God’s love must criterion our motives that all we do will be for his glory. Keep this as a guiding principle by asking, “Is this action glorifying God?” or “How can I honor God through this action?”

6:6 b – When thou prayest, inter into thy closet, 

2 Kings 4:33> He went in, shut the door on the two of them and prayed to the LORD.

6:6 c – and thy Father which sees in secret shall reward thee openly   

 Jer.17:10> “I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”

6:7d – But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions

  Eccl.5:2> Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. (Prov.20:25 – It is a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one’s vows.)

6:7e – for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

1 Kings 18:26> So they took the bull given them and prepared it. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. “Baal, answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made. 

(Ps.115:4-5> But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see.)

(Jer.10:5> Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good.”)

6:8f – for your Father knows what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.   

Ps.139:2> You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 

Focus points: Sometimes we don’t let people get to know us completely because we are afraid they will discover something about us that they won’t like. But God already knows everything about us, even to the number of hairs on our heads (Matthew 10:30). and still he accepts and loves us. God is with us through every situation, in every trial – protecting, loving, guiding, He knows and loves us completely.

6:9g – therefore pray ye: Our Father which are in heaven,   

Deut.32:6> Is this the way you repay the LORD, you foolish and unwise people? Is he not your Father, your Creator, who made you and formed you?

Matt.23:9> And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.

Luke 11:2> He said to them, “When you pray, say: “ ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come” 

Rom.8:15,16> The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba,Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

1Cor.8:6> yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

Heb.12:9> Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!

Hallowed be thy Name.

Lev.10:3> Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD spoke of when he said: “ ‘Among those who approach me I will be proved holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.’ ” Aaron remained silent.

Isa.6:3> And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”

Rev.4:11>“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

Focus points:   The point of this study is summed up in these verses: all creatures in heaven and earth will praise and honor God because he is the Creator and Sustainer of everything.

6:10 i  – Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 

Ps.103:20> Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.

Focus points:   Everything everywhere is to praise the LORD: all angels – mighty ones and heavenly hosts – and all his works!  Praising God means remembering all he has done for us (Ps.103:2) fearing himand obeying his commands (103:17,18> But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.

6:11j – Give us our daily bread.

Job 23:12> I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.

Prov.30:8>Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.

6:13k – And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Matt.26:41> “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Luke 22:40,46>On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

1 Cor.10:13> No temptation[fn] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[fn] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[fn] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

James 1:13> When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;

2 Pet.2:9> if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.

Rev.3:10>   Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.

deliver us :

John 17:15> My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.

Gal.1:4> who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

6:14m – If  ye  forgive not their trespasses, 

Matt.18:35> “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

James 2:13> because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.     

Focus points:    Only God in his mercy can forgive our sins. We can’t earn forgiveness by forgiving others. But when we withhold forgiveness from others after having received it ourselves, we show that we don’t understand or appreciate God’s mercy toward us (see Matt.6:14,15 – For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

 Matt.18:21 – Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

Eph. 4:31,32 – Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Focus points:   This is Christ’s law of forgiveness as taught in the Gospels  (Matthew 6:14,15 Matt.18:35, Mark 11:25). We also see it in the Lord’s Prayer – “Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.” God does not forgive us because we forgive others, but solely because of his great mercy. As we come to understand his mercy, however, we will want to be like him. Having received forgiveness, we will pass it on to others. Those who are unwilling to forgive have not become one with Christ, who was willing to forgive even those who crucified him (Luke 23:34 –  Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”And they divided up his clothes by casting lots). Jesus asked God, the Father to forgive the people who were putting him to death – Jewish leaders, Roman politicians and soldiers, bystanders – and God answered that prayer by opening up the way of salvation even to Jesus’ murderers.  The Roman centurion and soldiers who witnessed the crucifixion said,”Surely he was the Son of God”(Matt.27:54). Soon many priests were converted to the Christian faith (Acts 6:7). Because we are all sinners, we all played a part in putting Jesus to death. The Gospel – the Good News – is that God is gracious. He will forgive us and give us new life through his Son.

Heb.11:1 7/1718

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Romans 8:24> For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?

Focus Points:

Do you remember how you felt when you were very young and your birthday approached? You were excited and anxious. You knew you would certainly receive gifts and other special treats. But some things would be a surprise, Birthdays combine assurance and anticipation, and so does faith! Faith is the conviction based on past experience that God’s new and fresh surprise will surely be ours. Two words describe faith: sure and certain; These two qualities need a secure beginning and ending point. The beginning point of faith is believing in God’s character – he is who he says. The end point is believing God’s promises – he will do what says. When we believe that God will fulfill his promises even through we don’t see those promises materializing yet, we demonstrate true faith. It is natural for children to trust their parents,through parents sometimes fail to keep their promises. Our heavenly  Father, however, never makes promises he won’t keep. Nevertheless, his plan may take more time than we expect. Rather than acting like impatient children as we wait for God’s will to unfold, we should place our confidence in God’s goodness and wisdom.

(John 20:24-31).   Now Thomas (also known as Didymu, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.

So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Being a Servant of the LORD … Matt.25:31,33-40.

verse 31 – When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 

Ref: Zech.14:5. You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake[fn] in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.  

Acts 1:11. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Acts 3:21. Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.

Acts 17:31.   For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

Phil. 2:19-10.   I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 

1 Thess. 4:16.  Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 

 Heb.9:28.  Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety.

Jude 14.  Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones    

Rev. 1:7  “Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen.     

Focus Point:   John is announcing the return of Jesus to earth (see also Mathew 24, Mark 13:  1 Thess. 4:15-18)  Jesus’s second coming will be visible  and victorious. All people will see him arrive (Mark 13:26) and they will know it is Jesus.  When he comes, he will conquer evil and judge all people  according to their deeds (matt. 20: Mark 20 :11-15,),   

verses 33 – 40.  He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.  “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ 

Focus Point: This parable describes acts of mercy we all can do every day. These acts do not depend on wealth, ability, or or intelligence; they are simple acts freely given and freely received. We have no excuse to neglect those who have deep needs, and we cannot hand over this responsibility to the church or government. Jesus demands our personal involvement in caring for others reeds (Isaiah 58:7) There has been much discussion about the identity of the “brothers.” Some have said they are the Jews, others say they are all Christians; still others say they are suffering people everywhere. Such a debate is much like the lawyer’s earlier question to Jesus. “Who is my neighbor? “

(Luke 10:29). The point of this parable is not the who, but the what-the importance of serving where service is needed. The focus of this parable is that we should love every person and serve anyone  we can. Such love for others glorifies God by reflecting our love for him.  

Hebrews 11:1

Heb.11:1- Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
(NIV) Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
FOCUS POINT: Do you remember how you felt when you were very young and your birthday approached? Your were excited and anxious . you knew you would certainly receive gifts and other special treats. But some things would be a surprise. Birthdays combine assurance and anticipation, and so does faith…
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