The House That Stands

Having set forth the principles of discipleship, Jesus closed this sermon with a series of choices for those who would follow Him.  

The house(life) that stands has made some choices.  He/she has considered paths, trees, professions, and foundations.

Matthew 7:13-27 contains four sets of twos:

1.  2 paths (verses 13,14)

2.  2 trees ((verses 15-20)

3.  2 kinds of people (verses 21-23)

4.  2 kinds of builders (verses 24-27)

Two gates - the narrow gate and the wide gate.  One well trodden, chosen by many.  The other, narrow and difficult, found by few.  The narrow gate leads to life -  eternal life and, may we not too quickly dismiss these choices as relating only to our salvation, but also to abundant life here and now.  As Pastor Dale reminded us, "It's not only the narrow path to get in, but it's the narrow path the whole way home".

Two kinds of trees - One bears good fruit; the other just can't.  It can only bear bad fruit.  The kind of fruit born reveals the tree.  It takes time to go from a sapling, to a tree, to bearing fruit.  Take time and watch.  Watch for false teachers.  Do they shun from teaching the narrow way?

Two kinds of people - those who only say "Lord" and those the Lord calls "Mine".  Who will they stand before?  Jesus.  Who will determine their entrance into heaven?  Jesus.  What will be the basis of that entrance?  Those who do the will of the Father and those who do not.  What is the will of the Father?  John 16:29 and John 14:21 - Believe on His Son.  The fruit of that will be loving His Son by keeping His commandments.

Those whom Jesus reject will point to what they have done.  Those whom Jesus accepts will point to what He has done.

Two kinds of builders - foolish and wise - those who only hear the word and those who hear it and do it. The foolish fall when the storms of life come; the wise stand.  There is a place where houses stand, even when there's been a storm.  Those who stand have built on the Rock;  on the sure foundation of Jesus Christ.

Those who fall, even in this life, are those who take the easy way, the short cut, the cheaper materials.

What choices are you making with the storms that confront your life today?  Your choice will determine whether you fall or whether you stand.  

There was much in this message today.  What spoke to you?

Fighting Your Fear

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. [9] And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. [10] Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. [11] For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  Luke 2:8-11

"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."  Matthew 1:23

In two weeks, the date we have designated to celebrate the birth of our Lord will, again, be behind us.  The process of moving on into another year will be upon us.  Will we be any different in 2013 as far as we relate to our fears?

Fear not, for I am with you;
 Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
 I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you,
 I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' Isaiah 41:10

God's answer to our fears is His presence.  On that holy night in that little town of Bethlehem, "the hopes and fears of all the years" were met in Him.

In what ways has the Savior's coming and the Savior's continued presence calmed your fears?
    


    

Do Also To Others

Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.  Matthew 7:12

The Sermon on the Mount is a reminder of God's higher demands (and gracious equipping) on those who chose to follow Him.  Thus, Jesus often began with the phrase you have heard it said.  The people had heard Matthew 7:12 stated in another way - what we would call the negative form.  Religion is full of "do not's".  They had heard, "Do not do to others what you would not like done to you".  But, Jesus calls His followers to do MORE; He calls His followers not to simply refrain from evil, but to do good.  Thus, the "But, I say" of Jesus is Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them.

 I was drawn to this last phrase of this verse:  for this is the Law and the Prophets.  Paul wrote in Galatians 5:13-14  For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. [14] For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 

Jesus' statement in Matthew 7:12, was nothing new.  It was simply the correct application of the second great commandment (see Matthew 22:37-40).   

Whatever you want men to do to you...  I love that.  That says to me that my desires regarding treatment of others is normal and not to be ignored.  It is natural to want from others.  But, this verse also shows me what I am to do when I find myself looking to others; I am to do for them.  Over and over again in Scripture, we find this to be God's answer to our desires from others.  The remedy for wanting from others is to counter with seeking a way to bless them.  In this is the Law and the Prophets.

Disarming Discouragement

"How's the world treating you?".  It was a question asked of me yesterday, with no more of an expectation of a real answer than the general greeting we offer "How are you?".  My answer was no more reflective than the answer we typically give to the latter question - "fine".  But, it got me thinking.  I don't ask myself that question.  My answer would often doom me to discouragement.  My hope is not in this world.

As we close another year, we can be prone to evaluating our lives.  That's a good thing - as long as our evaluations are based on the spiritual.  But, may we not evaluate how the world has treated us this year.  The world disappoints.  It was intended (after the fall) to disappoint.

But, God intends for us to have hope.  

Consider Romans 5:3-5: And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; [4] and perseverance, character; and character, hope. [5] Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 

What have the tribulations of this year produced in you?  God intends for them to produce perseverance, character and hope - a hope that does not disappoint.  Disappointed?  Discouraged?  Examine in who or in what you have placed your hope.  A hope placed in the Lord will not disappoint.  Why?  Look at the last part of verse 5...because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.  As believers, we have a source of hope, a tool, to combat discouragement that unbelievers do not have.     

Discouragement can be like a bomb set before us.  It can't be ignored.  It must be disarmed.

The precipitators of discouragement will be always be a part of our lives.  So, I ask not, "What do you do to prevent them in your life?", but I ask, what do you do when they come?  


2 Thessalonians 2:16,17 
    Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.

    

Seek First

This morning Pastor Dale talked about trusting God, specifically for our finances.   Storing our treasures in heaven is an indication that we trust Him to provide for us today and to keep His promises to us.  Many of God's promises are conditional.  He has made promises to us that are dependent on us doing our part.

Here's just a few:

Verse	Our Part	God's Part
Matt. 6:33	Seek first the things of God's kingdom	Provide for what we need in this temporal kingdom
Mal. 3:10-11	Bring tithes to the storehouse	Pour out  blessings & rebuke the devour
Isa. 26:3	Keep our mind on God &  trust Him	He will keep us in perfect peace
Matt. 11:28	Come to God	He will give you rest
James 4:7	Submit to God; Resist the Devil	The devil will flee from you
James 4:8	Draw near to God	He will draw near to you
James 4:10	Humble yourself in God's sight	He will lift you up
John 3:16	Believe in Jesus	He will give you eternal life

What a challenge to us to not be "selective" believers of God's Word.  He is the keeper of all of His promises.  How we miss out when we believe Him for the things of the next life, and ignore His promises to us to equip us and enable us in this life.

No one is able to serve two masters… No one is able to serve God and possessions.  Matthew 6:24 NET

Jesus is challenging us to stop trying to do the impossible.

Unrealistic Expectations and Depression

Okay... here we go.  This blog is about "us".  Please post your thoughts so that we can encourage one another.

In our last Bible study, Disabling Your Depression, we saw that depression can often be anger turned inward.  

The downward spiral of depression often occurs like this:

unrealistic expectation

↓

unresolved hurt

↓

anger

↓

depression

David reminded himself in Psalm 62:5  My soul wait silently on God alone,  for my expectation is from Him.  

What do you expect from God?  As you consider the above chart, what are your thoughts?  Or, please feel free to post any other insights you gained from the study.

    

Narrow is the Gate

As we studied Matthew 7-29 today, we were challenged to examine ourselves (and others) whether they are "in the faith" or not.  John, in his effort to assure those who truly belong to Jesus, wrote the letter of 1 John.
He provided the following evidence of salvation.  We will (not 100%, but as a lifestyle/these actions will be evident in our lives):


1.    walk in the light as He is in the light (1 John 1:6-7)
2.    confess sin/admit we are sinners (1:8-9)
3.    keep His commandments (2:3-6;5:2-3)
4.    love others (2:9-11; 3:14-17)
5.    not love the world (2:15)
6.    acknowledge the Son (2:23,5:10)
7.    abide in what you have heard from the beginning (2:24)
8.    abide in Jesus (2:24)
9.    practice righteousness (2:29)
10.  will not practice sin (3:6,7,9)
11.  confess Jesus is the Christ (4:2-3)
12.  hears the words of the apostles (4:6,15)
13.  overcomes the world by faith (5:4,5)


Praise the Lord for the changes He makes in the lives that are His!