People Continued...

PRAYER:  O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below - You who keep Your covenant of love with Your servants who continue wholeheartedly in Your way.  You have kept Your promise (CALL OUT THE PROMISES HE HAS KEPT IN YOUR LIFE), with Your mouth you have promised and with Your hand you have fulfilled it-as it is today.  Now LORD, Heavenly Father, keep for your servant the promises You made (CALL OUT THE PROMISES HE HAS MADE).  And now, O God of all, let Your Word that you promised Your servant come true.  Give Your attention to Your servant's prayer and my plea for mercy, O LORD my God.  Hear the cry and the prayer that Your servant is praying in Your presence this day.  May Your eyes be open toward me night and day.  Here the supplication of Your servant and of Your people when they pray .  Hear from Heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive and act; deal with each of us accordingly, for there is no one who does not sin, and since You know our hearts-for You alone know the hearts of men and women, so that we  will fear You for the rest of our lives.  Continue to teach us the right way to live.  Let the people of this earth continue to hear of Your Great Name and Your Mighty Hand and Your Outstretched Arm. Praise be to the LORD, who has given rest to His people, just as He promised.  Not one word has failed of all the good promises You have made with us.  May You always be with us LORD, may You never leave nor forsake us.  May You turn our hearts to You, to walk in all Your ways and to keep the commands, decrees and regulations found in Your Word.  May these words, prayed by Solomon in the Old Testament, but that still apply to us today, be near to You LORD, our God day and night, that You may uphold the causes of Your servants according to each day's need, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God and that there is no other.  Let our hearts be fully committed to You LORD, our God, to live in obedience to You at all time.  In the mighty name of Jesus, our Savior, amen.  (1 Kings 8:23-61)

MATTHEW 23 part 3

SEVEN WOES:

emphasis on verses 5-12

^{Jesus speaking to the crowds and to his disciples:}   

^{5 Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries (boxes containing Scripture verses, worn on forehead and arm) wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7 they love to be greeted in the marketplace and to have men call them 'Rabbi."}   

^{8 But you are not  be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers.  9 And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.  10 Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ.  11 The greatest among you will be your servant.  12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.}  

Before we get to the "Woes" we have more "people talking" to do.  Ask yourself a question and answer it honesty:  Why do you what you do?  From choosing what you wear, to the kind of job and effort you give at that job everyday, to why you serve God.  Ask yourself; do you do it for people to see you?  Or do you do it to honor God?  We live in a superficial world, but that doesn't mean that we have to fall into it.  Honoring God should always be on each of our minds, in every action and thought.  When we live this way, there's no way people can miss the God in your life ... unless they choose to ignore it.  For me, I'm so blessed when people see through my stupidity, easily irritable nature and attitude — to see the God that lives in me.  That I desire to please Him, to serve Him-in all that I do.  Every day!  That when I slip up-because I do.  As hard as it can be, I fess up to my mistake because I know the power of secrets and hidden guilt.  I rather you think unkind of me, then to think that I am playing it up for God.  My relationship with the LORD is real.  I encourage yours to be as well.

Most people desire to grow.  They desire positions of leadership in areas of their lives, business, home/family, clubs/memberships, and also in the church.  It is dangerous when love for position grows stronger than loyalty to God.  This is what happened to the Pharisees and teachers of religious law.  Jesus is not against leadership-we need God fearing leaders-but He is against leadership that serves itself rather than others.  Jesus challenged society's norms.  To Him, greatness comes from serving-giving of yourself to help others and do God's Will.  Service keeps us aware of others' needs, and it stops us from focusing only on ourselves.  Jesus came as a servant.  What kind of greatness do you seek?

CHECK UP TIME: CHECK YOUR SIDE OF THE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, ARE YOU GIVING IT YOUR ALL?

START WITH WHERE GOD FITS INTO YOUR LIFE & HOW YOU TREAT AND DEAL WITH OTHERS...