Teaching With Authority (Part 1)

"When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law. "Matthew 7:28,29 NLT

In order to truly understand the premise of these two verses of scripture, one must read the entire chapter—just to keep things in context.

What things had Jesus just finished saying? Jesus was teaching about being judged by the same standards we judge, hypocrites, fruit producing after its kind, where to build a house, asking and receiving, how parents should treat children, the broad and narrow way, the wolf in sheep’s clothing, judgment day exposures—don’t even think about getting in here! And then He admonishes the crowd—those who hear and obey are wise; those who refuse to hear and obey are foolish and will receive a fool’s reward (my thoughts).

And then we come to the crowd’s amazement because He taught with “real” authority, not like those who were just posturing at being religious (Do I sound a little cynical?).

Anyone speaking God’s truth today and not their own, has the propensity to amaze folks because people are so gullible when they believe all those who are posturing—in positions of leadership in was is supposed to be God’s church—not theirs.

Here’s a clue if you don’t know which one you’re attending. In God’s church—it’s all about Him; in their church—it’s all about them. There is a remarkable difference in the messages heard and the behavior exhibited towards others.

In their church (and anyone reading this probably knows exactly what I’m talking about), the leadership expounds on what they want the people to do to make them look good. They bombard people with attempts to denigrate if the people are not giving what they think they should give (financially), they emasculate men who are not doing what they do (when men are in leadership) because they think they have the right to set the standard for how everyone should live. They insinuate that many of the parents are not good parents and put down their children, while ignoring what their own are doing (it’s not pretty). They preach messages out of emotions and observations rather than teaching the word. In doing so, they manipulate and mangle The Word, twisting scriptures out of context in order to get a point across and in the process, prove to anyone who is knowledgeable in The Word that they are not. The leadership in these churches seek people-pleasers so they can keep them in line with false promises and empty friendships. They appoint others into qualified positions who are not qualified and then wonder—what happened when things fall apart. They are very selective about who they want sitting in their precious pews and when stragglers come in off the street, they’re ready to escort you with an armed deacon or whoever. The only relationship they’re concerned with is the one with them—based upon their need of you and your money. If you don’t have money, they don’t have time for you and you can discern this by their reaction to your offering envelope. 

(Part 2 --tomorrow)

Just Curious!

If The Word tells us "we can" do all things through Christ who strengthens us, why is it that many have become so comfortable with, "I can't" that they don't even try?

Either God is lying or those who say, "I can't" are lying. I'm willing to stake my life on the fact that God is not lying, but people are lazy and complacent. Or they do not know how to say, "I don't know how" or "I don't do things as well as.." or "I simply do things differently."

Can't--the four letter word that keeps people from trying has become an excuse for Christians who say, "I can," but never try and then their voice echoes with, "I can'ts' for others to pick up the rhythm and sing the chorus,

"I can't, I can't, I can't
Even though God says I can,
With all my aches and pains,
I'll take my ill-informed stand
Allowing the enemy's lies to reign,
I can't, I can't, I can't."

Okay, I think the point has been made. I don't know how to drive a stick-shift well, but you won't hear me say, I can't. My artwork consists of mostly stick-people, but you won't hear me say, I can't draw. There are so many things that I probably don't know how to do, but you won't hear me say, I can't--if I've never tried, I don't know what I can do in my own power, but with Him, "I can do all things" to His glory!

Just Curious--what are your thoughts?

**Physical incapacity--must include the inability to sit on your own or the inability to stand on your own. If you can do these two things, there are many things "you can do" without thinking about, "I can't."***

This is Why!

If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me." (John 15: 18, 21 NLT)

Sometimes, many believers feel the unusual thrust of hatred from those who don't believe in God or believe Him--it's one thing to not believe in His existence and another to not believe He meant what He says. But we should not marvel at the persecution we feel--Jesus warned us--the world will hate us, but the world (unbelievers) hated Him first.  And why do they hate? They reject the One who sent Him to redeem us.

Let's look at this way--if no one ever told us we were wrong in the things we do--would we continue to do them? Probably. But the minute someone points out our wrong-doing or shortcomings--we get angry and fight back--with false accusations and attempts to humiliate those who dared to tell us we were wrong. We scorn, make fun of and generally try to turn everyone we know against those who dared to tell us we were wrong. That's what the world--of unbelieving people--do.

Parents feel persecuted when teens rebel and the teens rebel because they don't like being told what they cannot do. They do not understand that correction is for their safety and long-life.

When people rebel against The Word and anyone preaching The Word--they do so because The Word convicts of sin and wrong-doing, but of course there would not be wrong-doing, unless there was wrong-thinking. Wrong-thinking--produces pedophiles, murderers, liars, thieves, molesters, hypocrisy, and opens the door to all sorts of evil acts--opposed to The Word of God.

If we want to see a change in what the world is doing--eliminating the violence and hatred--we must change the way we think and align our thoughts with The Word, developing the  mind of Christ. With the mind of Christ--we are able to love--not hate--all--regardless of ethnic origin, race, religion, gender or any other thing that the enemy attempts to use to lead us to hating--just because we know how to love.

We know how to change what is occurring in our society--we know because it is the enemy who plants seeds of doubt, unbelief and hatred in the minds of others. We can change the course we are taking, but we have to want to change it--all of us--not just some of us. When we learn how to love--we will see change, but remember--while we're loving people into a right-relationship with God, the enemy is still planting seeds of hatred and our love must be stronger.

For anyone who hates you--love them even more--and overcome the hatred with love--in spite of them and you. Love really is the key, but just because we love--expect "the haters" to hate, because they do not know Love or how to love.

At The Cross!

"The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God" (I Corinthians 1:18 NLT).

"At the cross, at the cross,
Where I first saw the light,
And the burdens of my heart,
Rolled away,
It was there by faith,
I received my sight,
And now, I am happy all the day!"

I am not as familiar with the author of this song as I am the song, but I can imagine that it was inspired by this verse of scripture (and others, I'm sure)--everything begins at the cross.

Paul tells us--that the message of the cross--the sacrifice made--the humiliation endured--the end results in the resurrection--that began at the cross is foolishness to those who are walking the broad path--headed in the wrong direction. But for those who know--who have had a life-changing experience once their eyes were opened to the way of righteousness, understand the power of God to save--those who were walking the broad path, but are now on the narrow path--which few seem to find--headed towards living with The King-forevermore.

By faith--we who were not at the cross when Jesus was crucified--believe and receive--the love through the sacrifice He made to provide us another avenue--redeemed by the blood shed on the cross.

By faith--we allowed the message of the redemptive work on the cross enter into our hearts and open our eyes so we could see ourselves in all of our mess and know we needed to be cleansed of all unrighteousness.

And now-that our eyes are opened and we have accepted the truth of the work of the cross, we understand the power of God, through Holy Spirit--to lighten our burdens and we can be happy in the knowledge of God's love--all day, every day!

It was at the cross--where all things became available to all who believe and accept the proclamation that Jesus is "The King..." and not just of the Jews as originally proclaimed but of all who believe!

Have you been to the cross? Make your way--by faith--understand the redemptive work completed on the cross, believe that He is our Risen Savior and receive all He has in store for you!  Hallelujah!

When We Pray!

"The LORD has heard my plea; the LORD will answer my prayer" (Psalm 6:9 NLT).

One of the reasons that many do not see their prayers "answered" is because they do not believe that The Lord hears them the first time, so they repeat "often" the same prayer--using the same words--as though God has a memory problem.

Jesus said, "whatever we ask of the Father in His name, would be given." He also said we must have faith, without doubting--if we have faith and don't doubt--we have no need to "ask" again, not for the same thing, using the same words. Once we ask, we simply thank Him for hearing and answering prayer.

One of the biggest problems with "prayers" is the belief that there is only one prayer--The Lord's Prayer--which is inappropriately named. This model prayer should be called, "The Model Prayer" since within it are the elements that Jesus needed to teach the disciples as they requested--before He returned to the Father. The Lord's Prayer--the prayer that He prayed in the garden before being arrested is found in John 17--this is "His prayer" and if we want to teach people His prayer, this is passage of scripture that should be taught. 
                   To Whom do we pray? We pray to The Father--in Jesus' name.
                    If we need to repent--repent.
                    Deliverance is available through the work on the cross--no need to keep asking, unless    one has not been delivered.
                   Our daily bread--provisions for the natural body as well as the spiritual body in His Word.

The point I'm making is that The Model Prayer was provided when He was still here--before His crucifixion and His resurrection. Everything in the Model Prayer has already been accomplished, so why would we ask for it again? Is it because we do not know the power and purpose of prayer?

Prayer should not be a litany of words repeated to sound spiritual, but prayer should be a heartfelt conversation with God--one in which we talk and He talks. He listens and we listen--this is prayer--communication with Him.

If we look closely at what John tells us, Jesus tells exactly when we could ask for whatever we wanted (aligned with The Word of course) and it would be given (John 14:12-14).

Think about prayer--as communication--this way. If we are in relationship with someone else and we are communicating with them--do we say the same thing over and over again or do we listen and respond, while they listen and respond?

Develop a right relationship with God and see the difference our prayers make and His response. We can pray with confidence and know that He hears and will answer our prayers.

I am so confident that He hears my prayers, I have no need to repeat the request, but I do keep thanking Him for whatever it is requested, until the answer is manifested. He always hears and answers my prayers, but sometimes--I simply don't like His response--but He does answer.

Pray--with faith and confidence in Him--and He will answer, but listen closely to what He is saying.

Rabbits and Life

My thoughts about life and these rabbits. The cycle of hormonal-life keeps us shaking our heads in wonder!

He Delivers!

"Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen." 2 Timothy 4:18 NLT

Whenever "evil" attacks--in whatever form it takes--we need to know with assurance, that The Lord will deliver us and we do this by saying what The Word says. "No weapon formed against us shall prosper" or come to any good.

When we see the works of the enemy, we should not be afraid, but confident in knowing, "we are more than conquerors" and will always be victorious."

When sickness and disease attack our bodies, we should not cringe, but know, "by His stripes we are healed" and then do everything we can to make sure it happens. "Faith without works accomplishes nothing."

When our finances are under attack, we need to know that, "the cattle on a thousand hills are His and the fulness thereof," and whatever He has is ours because we are His children.

When we find ourselves being persecuted for our faith in Him, we need to remember, "with God going before us, He is more than the world against us" and we have been empowered through Holy Spirit to keep the enemy in his place.

When problems arise in our marriages and families, we need to remember that, "family is God's idea" and Satan hates Him for it and will do anything he can to create rifts in the family.

When our faith, is based upon the solid foundation of The Word and we know how to empower our lives with The Word, nothing the enemy does shall have any lasting effect and we will come through every trial, refined, better than before because every time we exercise our faith with action, we are muscling up--getting ready for the next attack.

So, don't cringe or marvel at the enemy's attacks.  Think of his attacks as misfired darts that were never strong enough for an impact upon anything and laugh in his face, every time he draws his bow. We have been "watered with The Word" and it,  as our shield, is more than enough to quench any of his fiery darts. Just know--He delivers--the same today as He did--many years ago. Hallelujah for Deliverance!