Jesus Christ

Building the House

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“Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” Psalm 127:1 (KJV)

You are a house.  You house a spirit; your spirit from which you get drive, ambition, dreams, and even successes and failures.  That spirit is dead to God though.

We can spend our lives doing “good” things.  We can feed the hungry, clothe the poor, provide them shelter from the cold and the heat; all “good” things, yet not have God the LORD building the house.  These are labors in vanity.  They will profit nothing for eternity.

The Psalmist says, “Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it”.  Jesus said,

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:24-27

Kind of makes me wonder if Jesus did not have Psalm 127 in mind as He spoke these words.

Neither, can a guard watch a city effectively without the LORD who keeps it.

Stop trying to build your own life, and turn it over to the LORD.  Start by trusting Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour.  Then, go and feed the hungry, cloth the poor, and call them to repentance in faith of Christ Jesus.

A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD

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“Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto Thee.” Psalm 102:1 (KJV)

The title of this post is the title of the Psalm.

Have you ever prayed the above prayer?  I have.  I am fairly certain that many Christians have prayed it, and not just one time.

In times of affliction.  In times of sorrow.  In times of need.  In times when we feel as though God may not be listening our cry goes out “Hear my prayer, O LORD…”

If you are feeling afflicted today, overwhelmed, rejected, neglected, then pour out your prayer, your complaint to the One who alone can hear and answer your prayer and  your need.

Remember that God loved you so much that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever would believe in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Israel; Jacob’s Fear Not

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“And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I. And He said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.” Genesis 46:2-4 (KJV)

Israel is the new name God had given to Jacob.  Jacob had been a “supplanter” a deceiver; and had tried to have things his own way.

Jacob’s life had now changed at the end of his life.  He had just heard that his son Joseph was not only alive, but was a ruler in the land of Egypt, and due to famine throughout the Middle Eastern countries was being invited by that son and the Pharaoh of Egypt to come into the land and dwell there.

Now there was no more scheming, no more planning and or plotting to achieve his desired path, but now Jacob was in the hands of the Sovereign hands of GOD.  “Fear not to go down into Egypt…” were the words of God to Jacob.

God promised Jacob that when he died Joseph would be at his side.  He also promised that it would be in Egypt that “I will there make of thee a great nation”.  He also promised that they would come out of Egypt, to the land He had promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

We can learn from these passages; as Joseph’s brethren had learned – You cannot thwart the  plan of God.  Instead they were used in their evil plot to work the plan of God.  How do I explain that?  I do not even try.

It is best for me and all God’s children to leave these matters in His hands; to trust Him, and believe that whatever happens is going to be for our good and His glory.  It was, for example, our evil that caused Jesus to be nailed to the cross; however it was the plan of God that His Son die for our sins, that we might have access to the very throne of God.

God speaks, and He sees to it that what He speaks comes to pass just as He has spoken.  Just as Jacob/Israel saw his son Joseph again; so too will Jesus come again.

Believe God and trust Him today.

The Greatest Desire

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As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God. Psalm 42:1

This Psalm’s title is “For the sons of Korah”.  Korah was a leader in rebellion against Moses’ leadership through the wilderness journey (Numbers 16).  There were three men who are noted for that rebellion; Dathan and Abiram being the other two.  All who joined these three in the rebellion were destroyed when the ground opened up and swallowed them alive.  Some of Korah’s sons evidently did not join their father, and lived.  They had a heart for God; which was given them by God’s grace.

There are human desires aplenty in our times.  They have in fact run amuck.  Many think that life is all about having their desires fulfilled.  The greatest desire for which I am aware is the desire to know God.  Many will deny that of course.  The desire for God is usually masked by craving other things to find fulfillment.  They do not.

Whether it is beer, wine, hard liquor, cannibis, cocaine, heroine, or any other mind robbing drug; there is no fulfillment for the human mind and heart until we find our rest and peace in GOD.

The deer, or hart as the text says, after running through the woods, or across the plains, or the meadow longs for that fresh, flowing stream of water for a drink, for refreshment.  Just as that deer desires water, and finds refreshment the one who knows GOD seeks fulfillment in Him.  Once you are fulfilled in Him, you long, you desire to know Him even more.

You can look in religion, but you will not be fulfilled there.  You can look in nature you will not find fulfillment there.  You can look wherever you choose, but you will not find fulfillment until you believe what God says about His Son Jesus Christ.  “This is my beloved Son, hear Him.”

In Jesus Christ Son of the Living God there is fulfillment, and everlasting life.

2014 in review

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The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 5,700 times in 2014. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 5 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

I thank God for all who have visited this blog.  To think this is visited by people from 93 countries.  My prayer is that all who visit here know my Lord and  Saviour Jesus Christ.

Lifting Up the Name of the LORD

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“I will extol Thee, O LORD; for Thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.” Psalm 30:1 (KJV)

According to this Psalms title it is a song at the “Dedication of the house of David”.  The LORD had lifted David to heights he had never dreamed.  He was the king of Israel.  He had wealth, subjects, soldiers, and worth.  David, however, knew from whom these things had come.

He says in this song, “I will extol Thee, O LORD…”  To “extol” means to lift up, to praise and adore.  God had lifted him up, and he now lifts up the name of the LORD, so that all may know the LORD.

We live in a world and/or a culture which is absorbed with self fulfillment.  I have some news for you.  This life is not about you.  It is about GOD.  It is about His greatness, His grace, His mercy, His love, and Him sending His Son to die for us.

Let us be content to be like David; whether we have been exalted to greatness in a palace or whether we live in a fallen down shack in the woods; let us exalt, extol – lift up – the name of Jesus.  He is the “exact representation” (Hebrews 1:1-3) of the Father.

Lift up His name by believing Him.

The LORD My Rock

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“Unto Thee will I cry, O LORD my Rock; be not silent to me: lest, if Thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.” Psalm28:1 (KJV)

The Psalmist David is praying again.  It is important to pray.  It is important to whom you pray even more.  David prayed to the One he calls “My Rock”.  Who is this Rock?  He is the One who followed the Israelites through the wilderness of the Exodus.

The apostle Paul says, “And that Rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:4).

Have you; as a Christian; ever felt as though He was being silent to you?  That silence is a motivation to be fervent, to be earnest, to be patient, and bold in your praying.  This is something I must remember.

It does seem when you begin to feel as though He is silent to you that also feel like one whom God will not hear; like those who “Go down to the pit”.  They are those who do not know God; those who have chosen to reject His free gift of grace, and refuse to receive His daily mercies.

You can go to the Rock, and He will hear you.  That Rock is Jesus Christ Son of the Living God, and God of the living.

Rejoicing in GOD Our Salvation

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“The king shall joy in Thy strength, O LORD; and in Thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!” Psalm 21:1 (KJV)

Kings and all leadership ought always rejoice in God’s salvation, and in His strength.He never abandons those who are His.

When king David wrote these words he may have had a deliverance in a battle in mind.  Whether that is what it was or not does not negate the truth of the glorious salvation that GOD provides through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ.

That word “Salvation” is from the Hebrew word “yeshua” which means salvation.  It is also the name that Christian Jews call Jesus.

Join me in rejoicing in GOD’S glorious salvation through the gift of His crucified, buried and resurrected Son.

The LORD My Strength

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“I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.” Psalm 18:1 (KJV)

For us to love GOD is the desire of His heart, and should be the desire of our heart.  The first four of the Ten Commandments have to do with our loving Him.  Yet true love for God cannot be legislated it must come from the heart.

David loved the LORD.  It was due to God’s love for David.  That is why we love God.  He first loved us.

The title of this song is given as,

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: And he said,

We too have been delivered from our enemy; that is sin and death; through the death, burial and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ God’s holy Son.

Charles Spurgeon’s commentary in THE TREASURY OF DAVID of this verse,

“I will love thee, O Lord.” With strong, hearty affection will I cling to thee; as a child to its parent, or a spouse to her husband. The word is intensely forcible, the love is of the deepest kind. “I will love heartily, with my inmost bowels.” Here is a fixed resolution to abide in the nearest and most intimate union with the Most High. Our triune God deserves the warmest love of all our hearts. Father, Son and Spirit have each a claim upon our love. The solemn purpose never to cease loving naturally springs from present fervour of affection. It is wrong to make rash resolutions, but this when made in the strength of God is most wise and fitting. “My strength.” Our God is the strength of our life, our graces, our works, our hopes, our conflicts, our victories. This verse is not found in 1 Sam 22, and is a most precious addition, placed above all and after all to form the pinnacle of the temple, the apex of the pyramid. Love is still the crowning grace.

Remember that we can only love God because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).  He loved us even when we were yet His enemies, and sent His Son to be our payment for our sin.  Now love God.

The One Who Keeps

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“Preserve me, O God: for in Thee do I put my trust.” Psalm 16:1 (KJV)

Of this Psalm it is written in The Treasury of David that it has been called “The Psalm of the Precious Secret” explaining the title “Michtam of David”.  Yet the meaning of the word is not fully known.

However, the secret, even the precious secret is one which is found only in trusting the God to whom David is praying.  He is the living God.  He is the God of the living.  He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all who will trust in Him.

“Preserve me” is request for the keeping hand of God.  Does God hear such requests?  Most definitely.  When God begins a work in you or me He never quits it.  Jesus Christ God’s holy Son went all the way to the cross to finish the work He came to do.

Just as there is grace for salvation; there is grace in sanctification so that we might finish our course.  Trust in Him. Believe Him and live.

Words From the Heart

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“Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: these are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.” Jesus Christ (Matthew 15:17-20 KJV)

The things we easily speak is what is in our hearts. When it flows with confidence and ease – whether it be good, bad, nasty, vulgar – if it comes with ease that is what is in our hearts.

May my heart be filled with the Spirit of Christ, that I may freely and with ease speak of Him, His glory, His passion – the cross – and His coming again.

~T.A.

Theirs Is the Kingdom

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Matthew 5:1-12 conclusion…

 

“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” Matthew 5:10-12 (KJV).

These two have the tendency and practicality of standing together, so I will include them together. What is your position in relation to persecution? If you are a normal, red blooded American, then you probably don’t like it, won’t tolerate it, and would despise wherever it came from. Nobody likes persecution, and most people would seek means of staying away from it. There are however, reasons to stand your ground, and face the trials of persecution. The best reason of all is for the person of Jesus Christ. When you are living by faith in Christ you will suffer persecution; “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12 (KJV).

Anyone who has heard of “The Voice of the Martyrs” knows that there are many cases of persecution going on in the world today. There are many instances of Christians suffering because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Many of them have turned from Islam to face angry parents, employers, city leaders, and supposed defenders of peace and placed on trial, rejected by their families, fired from their jobs, and treated ruthlessly by the police. Let me be clear that it is not only Islam which persecutes those who turn to Christ. It is also Hindus, and various other religions of men. Stand firm in the faith; stand firm.

The “Blessed(s)” in these two statements are not just toward anyone who stands firm in what they believe. The object of their belief is of utmost importance. If one is to receive these “Blessed”, then it will be because of their stand for “Righteousness” and that only comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Righteousness – simply put; means being right with God. No one – man, woman, boy or girl; and no matter what the color of their skin – is right with God except through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

If you are being persecuted because of your faith in Jesus, then, be assured that there will be a day of reward in Heaven. You are in good company. They also persecuted the prophets. Jeremiah was thrown into a pit; he was beaten and mocked by his own people. It is said by tradition that it was Isaiah the prophet who is mentioned in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews as being “Sawn asunder”, and some say it was while he was stuffed into a hollowed out tree. When it comes to Jesus Christ; in Him alone you have reason to “Rejoice and be exceeding glad”, but also in knowing that you are in a great company of others who suffered for righteousness sake through Jesus.

After looking at these “Beatitudes” can you see that this is not a thing attainable by human desire? There is deffinitely fulfillment in the lives of those who live the life of the “Beatitudes”, but it is only possible by grace through faith in Jesus.

Early Reappearance

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I am making an early reappearance to blogging here on “Broken Pieces”.  It has been about six months since I posted anything here, and I really believe it is time to come back to it.  I had intended on staying out through the month of December, but it is time to return.

My prayer is that the things which I post will first of all glorify my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the Son of God and God the Son.  Secondly that those reading these posts will be drawn nearer the Lord as a Christian; and if you are without God in your life come to realize that God loves you so much that He sent His only begotten Son that if you will believe in Him you will not perish, but have everlasting life.

For the glory of Christ our Lord

~T.A.

The Faith of Sacrifice

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The Faith of Sacrifice

Genesis 22:1-19

1. The Person of the Sacrifice and the Sacrificial Offering (vv. 1-2).

2. The Place of the Sacrifice (vv. 3-4).

3. The Pertinence of the Sacrifice (vv. 5-8).
This was a journey only the father and son could do together.
This was a journey only God the Father, and Jesus God the Son could do together.

4. The Power of Sin and the Necessary Sacrifice (vv. 9-14).

5. The Promise of the Sacrifice (vv. 15-19).

Preached in the Evening Worship @ Shiloah Baptist Church July 20, 2014

Jesus Through the Bible – The Scapegoat

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Scapegoat “A person or group made to bear the blame for others or to suffer in their place.”  From Dictionary.com  We hear the word “Scapegoat” many times.  Someone was a scapegoat for an evil political action that was done, or something of that order.  Someone was a scapegoat for a bad business decision, etc.

There is, however, a certain “Scapegoat” mentioned in Scripture.  This scapegoat gives us a picture of Jesus Christ; at least a picture of His work on the cross, and His burial.  In Leviticus we read…

And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.  And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering.  But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.”  Leviticus 16:7-10

The first goat was to be a sin offering which would bear the sins of the sins of Aaron and his house (Leviticus 16:6), and they were to “cast lots” to determine which goat was to be the sin offering, and which was to be the scapegoat.  I want us to deal with the scapegoat, though we must understand they are both necessary for this part of redemption.  We do not often picture a goat as having redeeming qualities; but let us see the goat as representing the sin which our Saviour bore on the cross.

The sin offering died, thus through Christ sin was put to death (Also read Romans 6:1-16), it has no more power over those who are the redeemed.  Sin also lays on us death, sin, guilt, condemnation, and O, such sorrows.  The scapegoat was taken alive into the wilderness to never be seen again.

When the child of God has laid on her or him these condemnations; then we must remember that all our sins were laid on Him who died, was buried; and in His burial He carried all our sin, death, shame, guilt and condemnation away, and He arose bodily alive, victorious over all of death’s vices.

Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, God incarnate became on the cross the very thing which He and His Father hated: Sin (2 Corinthians 5:21); was judged by the Father; the Father resurrected Him, and by His resurrection we are raised with Him.  Cleansed, forgiven, and in fellowship with God for now and all eternity.

Jesus Through the Bible – What is it?

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And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.”  Exodus 16:15

The question above is the meaning for the word “Manna”.  It means “What is it?”  This was a new thing for the delivered children of Israel.  This “Manna” is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ.  At the time Moses and the children of Israel experienced this wonder from heaven it was an actual substance which the LORD provided to satisfy the needs of His people.  It only appeared six days of the week – Sunday through Friday – with none of the seventy day; the Sabbath for Israel.  They were to gather plenty on the sixth day for the Sabbath day.

And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.” 16:31

The name manna stuck.  Even after 4000 years or so it is still called by that name.  It was to supply a means of sustenance for the children all forty years of their journey through the wilderness, until they reached the Promised Land of Canaan.

Jesus Himself refers to this and calls Himself the bread come down from heaven.

“I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.  This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”  John 6:48-51

For all who will follow Him there is sustenance and strength through our life’s journey until we reach heaven, the abode of our Saviour and Lord.

Jesus Through the Bible – The Lamb of God

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“Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: and ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.  And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.”  Exodus 12:5-7

The final plague was coming upon Egypt.  Moses had received instruction from the LORD for the deliverance from this final form of judgment on Egypt; it would affect all in the land of Egypt, even Israel.  None can stand before the final judgment without the redemptive power of the blood of the lamb.

Note in the above verse the placing of the blood on the “two side posts”, and on the “upper door post” of their homes.  Within that alone we have the sign of the cross.  It was on the cross of Calvary where our blessed Saviour bled out His life’s blood for our redemption.  The perfect Lamb of God who willingly gave His life for my sin and yours.

John the apostle wrote of John the Baptist as he said,

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, ‘Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”  John 1:29

Your sins and mine have been paid for by the blood of the perfect, sinless Lamb of God Jesus Christ.  You are lost and condemned without Him.  Repent, believe Him, and be saved, today.

Jesus Through the Bible – Isaac the Promised Seed

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“And God said, ‘Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.”  Genesis 17:19 (KJV)

Yes!  Abraham had other children.  His first was Ishmael; due to the impatience of Sarah and himself, thinking to take things concerning the promise of God into their own hands.  God had better things in mind.  Sarah was to have a son of promise.  It was and is through God’s promise of a Saviour that the covenant was made with Isaac as the son of promise.

Just at the time you think it cannot happen; with God nothing shall be impossible.  Jesus is the Son of the covenant of promise and grace.  Paul the apostle has written by inspiration of the Holy Spirit…

“Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.”  Romans 9:6-7

It is by the promise of Jesus, and no other way that one will be forgiven all sin, cleansed, and imputed all righteousness and have fellowship with God.

-T.A.

Evidence of Greater Things to Come

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“Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto Him, saying, ‘Have mercy on me, O Lord, Thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.’ But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and besought Him, saying, ‘Send her away; for she crieth after us.’ But He answered and said, ‘I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ Then came she and worshipped Him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.’ But He answered and said, ‘It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.’ And she said, ‘Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.’ Then Jesus answered and said unto her, ‘O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt.’ And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.”  ~Jesus healing a Gentile (Matthew 15:21-28)

The Things Which Defile Humankind

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“And He called the multitude, and said unto them, ‘Hear, and understand: Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. Then came His disciples, and said unto Him, ‘Knowest Thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?’ But He answered and said, ‘Every plant, which My heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.’  Then answered Peter and said unto Him, ‘Declare unto us this parable.’ And Jesus said, ‘Are ye also yet without understanding? Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: these are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.’”  ~Jesus (Matthew 15:10-20)

Commandments of God – Traditions of Men

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“Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, ‘Honour thy father and mother:’ and, ‘He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.’ But ye say, ‘Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, ‘It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;’ and honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, ‘This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoureth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me. But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.'”  ~Jesus  (Matthew 15:1-9)

The House that will Endure the Trials, Tremors, and Troubles of Life

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“And why call ye Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to Me, and heareth My sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: he is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.”  ~Jesus (Luke 6:46-49)

Making Judgments, Bearing Fruit, From the Heart

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“Can the blind lead the blind? Shall they not both fall into the ditch?  The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.  And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Either how canst thou say to thy brother, ‘Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye,’ when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye. For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”   ~Jesus (Luke 6:39-45)

Jesus On the Matter of Judging

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“Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”  ~Jesus  (Luke 6:37-38)

When You Love Your Enemies

/ Tim A. / 1 Comment

“But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? For sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? For sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? For sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”  ~Jesus (Luke 6:27-36)