Take It To Church

PRAYER (via CCC): Father, continually create in me a heart that hungers to know Your thoughts, desires, and plans for my life so that I will cherish knowing the truth of Your Word more than I cherish my daily bread and everything else that I have placed before You.  Your Word makes me wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 3:15).  Continually show me how to do my best to present myself to You as approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed of anything; especially the God I serve, and who correctly handles the Word of truth in my life (2 Timothy 2:15).  I love You Jesus and in Your name I pray.  Amen.

MATTHEW 18:15-20 part 3

A BROTHER WHO SINS AGAINST YOU: 

(Jesus speaking to His disciples) "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector."

When you have a problem, when you're in trouble-who do you turn to in life?  I haven't always been this way, but as of late-it's been extremely important to turn to those I know will pray to God for me.  Even in times of happiness and good times; those who are committed to prayer and believe in the power of prayer are the ones that come to mind first.  These people are what we call the church-a body of believers who believe in our LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ.  They believe in all that He came to earth to do on our behalf and all that He is still doing.  They believe in the power of His name, the forgiveness of our sins through Him and all that He can do in our lives to keep us in purpose.  This does not make any one of us perfect by any means.  But we're linked together by faith and therefore there's a Godly trust there.  And God leads each one of us to live in wisdom, so that we know who is the real deal and who is not; the Holy Spirit is sensitive to this and will continually guide you in wise counsel as you take time to heed to Him.

As for the verse above, Jesus tells the disciples that they should take it to the church if the brother refuses to listen.  Ideally, the church's decisions should be God-guided and based on discernment of God's Word.  Believers have the responsibility, therefore, to bring their problems to the church, and the church has the responsibility to use God's guidance in seeking to resolve conflicts.  You are the church!  Give people Godly advice, not just personal opinion.  Handling problems God's way will have an impact now and for eternity.

God's Law

PRAYER (via CCC): Father, give me a steadfast and persistent spirit that delights in talking and communing with You all day, every day.  Jesus commanded His disciples to always pray and not to give up in Luke 18:1.  Show me how to pray continually to You (1 Thessalonians 5:17).  In the name of Your loving Son, Jesus.  Amen. 

MATTHEW 18:15-20 part 2

A BROTHER WHO SINS AGAINST YOU: 

(Jesus speaking to His disciples; emphasis on v. 16) "But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' "

It is truly important to know what's in the Bible.  Many people think what was established in the Old Testament doesn't apply to us today.  This is a lie from the enemy.  Why would God do that? Just think about that.  All of God's Word applies to us.  In this verses Jesus reminds His disciples of a law that was established in the Old Testament; that "every matter my be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses."  If you will turn your Bible to Deuteronomy 19:15, the same law was established and it continues to apply to us today.  

For this specific law of the testimony of 2/3 witnessed and in applying it to our lives today; when we're looking to find out the truth about something, we should never rely on the words of one person.  No matter how good of friend they are, they may not have the best intentions for the situation.  You want facts not opinions.  So speaking to 2/3 people who know the facts is good in drawing a sound conclusion.  For example, you find out someone is spreading lies about you behind your back.  It is not wise to just take the word of the one person who told you, it is best to talk to other people, hopefully not close to the person you spoke to, to find out the truth.  Going through this process also helps to come at the situation wisely, instead of emotionally.

Yes, the sacrifices of the Old Testament have been officially fulfilled by the sacrifice of Jesus and His resurrection.  The reason the people in the Old Testament did these things is because Jesus had not been born and fulfilled His purpose on earth.  But now He has.  We no longer have to sacrifice animals on the altar for forgiveness of sins.  We can go start to God and ask for forgiveness in the Name of Jesus.  We can do all things through Christ!  The point is, always look at the context first, when reading the Word.  The situation may not be something you will ever go through.  But the underlying Truth of God's Law will always apply to you and I.  

You may not get this point right now, but continue to think about it as you read the Good News and the Bible on your own.  Pray for understanding and you'll begin to get how to apply God's Law to your life.

GOD'S LAW IS EVERLASTING.

SXSW Memories

pictures-years later:

lots of fun!

Reconciliation

PRAYER: Help me LORD.  I need Your help in (where do you need God's help?  Speak on it).  The only true help comes from You LORD and You are the one I want to turn to.  There so many other places/people that entice me to turn to them.  Forgive me, for going the wrong way.  You should always be first because You're the only one who can do ALL things on my behalf.  Thank You Jesus.  I trust You with the life You have given to me.  In Your name I pray.  Amen.

MATTHEW 18:15-20 part 1

A BROTHER WHO SINS AGAINST YOU: 

(Jesus speaking to His disciples) "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

For those of you who aren't familiar with the Bible, we always have to look for the context by which Jesus words were spoken.  Though Jesus used the word "brother," this does apply to women as well.  The only reason Jesus used "brother" is because He was speaking to His disciples, who were all men at that time.  Many people will lie and say the Bible is anti-women.  So untrue.  It's about being in right relationship with God.

Verses 15-17 are guidelines for dealing with those who sin against us.  They are meant for (1) believers in Christ, not unbelievers, (2) sins committed against you and not others, and (3) conflict resolution in the context of the church, not the community at large.  Jesus' words are not a license for a frontal attack on every person who hurts or slights us.  They are not a license to start a destructive gossip campaign or to call for a church trial.  This isn't The Crucible ladies and gents.  They are designed to reconcile those who disagree so that all believers in Christ can live in harmony.

Our motivation should always be reconciliation.  When someone wrongs us, we often do the opposite of what Jesus recommends.  We turn away in hatred or resentment, seek revenge, or engage in gossip.  I admit, I have turned away from individuals in my life for more than one of these reasons in the past, but I'm ready to operate differently.  By contrast, we should go to that person first, as difficult as that may be.  Then we should forgive that person as often as he or she needs it (we will read more about forgiving others in verses 21,22).  This will create a much better chance of restoring the relationship.  I've learned that COMMUNICATION IS THE KEY TO LIFE.  Once you break communication with anyone, including God-you kill the relationship.

STOP!  THINK ABOUT IT.

Your Example...

It was so hard to get up this morning.  Maybe it's this gray weather outside...  I need sunshine in my life :)

PRAYER: Dear Father, show me how to rely on Your strength and not my own today and every day of my life. Lead me to take the pauses I need to just hear from You before I make any type of decision or action.  You are a God that I can trust completely.  I trust You LORD.  In Jesus' name I pray.  Amen.

MATTHEW 18:1o-14 

THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SHEEP: 

(Jesus- :4 "Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven) 

:10 "See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost."

Just as a shepherd is concerned enough about one lost sheep to go search the hills for it, so God is concerned about every human being He has created (He "does not want anyone to perish," 2 Peter 3:9).  When you come across children in your life who need Christ, don't scare them into coming to Him.  Don't fill their heads with opinion and fallacies, so that God's true message is missing.  Instead steer them toward our loving God by example, your words, your acts of kindness and obedience.  People learn more about you and what you truly believe by just being in your presence than they do from directly speaking to you.

LIVE HONESTLY FOR GOD.

Layout

I'm playing around with different layouts.  I'm not sure I like this one.  What do you think?

Children & Accountability

Please keep me accountable.  If I'm lacking in sending The Good News, check up with me.  Knowing that you're looking out for the Word encourages me not to slack off.

If you stopped receiving The Good News and are wondering why you're receiving The Good News again-it's because you've inquired about it personally and haven't signed up on mac.groups.com or checked out the blog where The Good News is also available; and it was placed on my heart to make sure you get it.  Be encouraged!

PRAYER: Today is a good day LORD!  I believe that there is way more good to be on the look out for, instead of all the things that we instantly see that annoys, irritates, sets us on edge, or brings us low.  Thank You LORD, for providing that good.  I pray that we don't miss it.  That we earnestly seek it.  That we don't wait for it to be brought to us, but that we seek You in everything that we do.  As I've asked before show each one of us how to experience this day and every day with full expectancy of what You have set out for us.  Show us how to remove the fear from our heart and operate in full boldness and on the security of Your Word.  Let us see and act on the opportunities to be a blessing to others, strangers-friends-family members alike.  You are an able God.  You are a faithful God.  And You will do everything You have promised.  I trust You with my heart, my soul, my life, with everything.  Thank You LORD for caring about each and every one of Your children.  How good you are!  In Jesus' name, amen.

MATTHEW 18:1-9 part 3

THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN: 

(Jesus) And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!  If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands and two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell."

Everyone doesn't want children.  I am one of those people who does, and I am looking forward to the day that journey and responsibility begins.  But as stated in The Good News from March 19th, this responsibility has already begun.  It doesn't matter that I don't have children of my own.  I'm definitely in the presence of children from time to time.  Children are trusting by nature.  Because they trust adults, they are easily led to faith in Christ.  God holds parents and other adults accountable for how they influence these little ones.  Jesus warned that anyone who tuns little children away from faith in Him will receive severe punishment.

It is important to rebuke sin.  We must remove stumbling blocks in our lives that cause us to sin.  This does not mean to cut off part of the body.  For the church (believers in Christ: you and me-not the building) it means that any person, program, or teaching that threatens the spiritual growth of the body (believers in Christ: you and me-not the physical body) must be removed.  For the individual, any relationship, practice, or activity that leads to sin should be stopped.  Jesus says it would be better to go to heaven with one hand than to hell with both.  Sin, of course, affects more than our hands; it affects our mind and heart.  Trust me, at this exact moment in life, I needed to be reminded of this principle.  As a friend encouraged me earlier this week, don't let your emotions fool you into accepting actions that are against God; not in His timing or of His law.  Whew!  I seriously needed to "hear" that again.

To revisit responsibility again, it's not only important to avoid sin but it's crucial not to lead other people into temptation.  Jesus warned the disciples about two ways to cause others to sin; tempting them and neglecting or demeaning them.  As leaders, we are to help young people, new believers and one another avoid anything or anyone that could cause them to stumble in their faith and lead them to sin.  Don't take your faith lightly.  Remember YOUR faith is vital to YOUR relationship with God.  Satan is after YOUR faith for that very reason.  We must never take lightly the spiritual education and protection of those young in age or faith; and even those that seem to be spiritually mature.  We absolutely need God but we also need one another in this journey-don't try to do it alone.

LETS BE THERE FOR ONE ANOTHER AND HOLD EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE. 

 IT IS THAT SERIOUS!

I still owe you a post about SXSW.  I wanted to just post some pictures of the scene in Austin.  I will do that soon.  Have a great day!