Wednesday, August 31, 2011

The Commands of Christ - Matthew 18:15-17


“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.” -Matthew 18:15-17

Who is this command spoken to?

Matthew 18:1 indicates for us that Jesus is addressing His disciples, but verse 2 seems to suggest there are more people present. Nevertheless, Jesus is clearly instructing His disciples here.

What does this command require?

This command requires that we pursue reconciliation between our brothers. We do this by 1) seeking our brother who has sinned against us face to face, 2) taking one or two witnesses if the first meeting was not successful, 3) telling the matter to the church if this is unsuccessful as well, and 4) if all else fails, put the offender out of the church and consider him a heathen.

What truths do we learn from this command?

Reconciliation is important. Jesus gives a detailed plan for pursuing reconciliation. Very few commands of Christ are given with so much detail in carrying them out. The details given make this command one of the easiest to follow, yet this is one of the most neglected of the commands of Christ. Take a quick glance at church life and you will not see this command carried out very much. Perhaps it is because most sin issues are already being solved face to face between brothers. But it is more likely that sin is being swept under the rug and brothers in Christ are ignoring the rift in their relationship, sometimes even for years at a time.

Sin between brothers in Christ is a serious matter. So serious, in fact, that if not resolved, the sinning brother is to be considered a heathen.

Second Corinthians 5:18-21 details for us that each believer has been reconciled to God through Christ and, subsequently, have been given the ministry of reconciliation. That means that you and I are responsible for seeking and promoting reconciliation between men and God. Yes, this does not mention sins between brothers, but when someone is reconciled to God, it follows that they will make things right between brothers also.

What are the consequences for disobeying this command?

Destroyed fellowship between believers and between the sinning brother and God (Psalm 66:18), More people involved in a matter than necessary (if resolved between brothers, it spares the church)

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

The Commands of Christ - Matthew 5:43-45


"You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." -Matthew 5:43-45

Who is this command to?

This command is spoken to the multitudes listening to the Sermon on the Mount. The disciples are in the front row.

What does this command require?

Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, pray for those who spitefully use and persecute you. In short, treat kindly those who don't necessarily deserve it.

What truths do we learn through this command?

How we treat our enemies shows whether or not we are sons of our Father in heaven. God desires that we treat all mankind with the kindness that He shows to all mankind. God brings the sun up every day for the righteous and the unrighteous. God sends rain on the crops of the just and the unjust. So our kindness must be shown to all men without partiality. That includes those who treat us poorly.

A good testimony is invaluable. When you treat even your enemies with love and kindness it shows them the nature of God's love and kindness. You can be a witness to the worst of people by being kind. 

Undoubtedly, this is a difficult command to fulfill. But it is possible. Romans 5:5 tells us, "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." God has given us the tools to show love to the unlovely. This means our responsibility is to use them.

What are the consequences for disobeying this command?

lack of testimony to the unsaved, misuse of the tools God has given, uncertainty of salvation,

Monday, August 29, 2011

The Living God

When I started my internship at SSBC three years ago, I began studying and preaching through the passages in Scripture that mention 'the living God.' I didn't quite get through it all (someday I'd like to finish it) but here are the passages to study:


Deuteronomy 5:26 -  For who is there of all flesh who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?

Joshua 3:10 -  And Joshua said, "By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Hivites and the Perizzites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Jebusites:

1 Samuel 17:26 -  Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?"

1 Samuel 17:36 -  Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God."

2 Kings 19:4 -  It may be that the LORD your God will hear all the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to reproach the living God, and will rebuke the words which the LORD your God has heard. Therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.' "

2 Kings 19:16 -  Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God.

Psalms 42:2 -  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?

Psalms 84:2 -  My soul longs, yes, even faints For the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

Isaiah 37:4 -  It may be that the LORD your God will hear the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to reproach the living God, and will rebuke the words which the LORD your God has heard. Therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.' "

Isaiah 37:17 -  Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God.

Jeremiah 10:10 -  But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth will tremble, And the nations will not be able to endure His indignation.

Jeremiah 23:36 -  And the oracle of the LORD you shall mention no more. For every man's word will be his oracle, for you have perverted the words of the living God, the LORD of hosts, our God.

Daniel 6:20 -  And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?"

Daniel 6:26 -  I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end.

Hosea 1:10 -  "Yet the number of the children of Israel Shall be as the sand of the sea, Which cannot be measured or numbered. And it shall come to pass In the place where it was said to them, 'You are not My people,' There it shall be said to them, 'You are sons of the living God.'

Matthew 16:16 -  Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Matthew 26:63 -  But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, "I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!"

John 6:69 -  Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Acts 14:15 -  and saying, "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them,

Romans 9:26 -  "AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS SAID TO THEM, 'YOU ARE NOT MY PEOPLE,' THERE THEY SHALL BE CALLED SONS OF THE LIVING GOD."

2 Corinthians 3:3 -  clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.

2 Corinthians 6:16 -  And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM. I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE."

1 Timothy 3:15 -  but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

1 Timothy 4:10 -  For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.

1 Timothy 6:17 -  Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.

Hebrews 3:12 -  Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;

Hebrews 9:14 -  how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Hebrews 10:31 -  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Hebrews 12:22 -  But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels,

Revelation 7:2 -  Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea,

The Skinny on Fasting


The other day a friend asked me about fasting. I knew that Jesus had a few words to say about fasting, but other than that, I wasn't really sure what the rest of the Bible had to say about it. One of the best ways to find out what the Bible has to say about a topic like fasting is to look up all the verses that mention it. So I ran a quick search on ‘fasting, fast, fasted’ in my Bible software and the following verse are what it found. Be prepared, there are around 60 verses, and it would take some time to study each in context, but just reading through the verses will give you an idea of what the Bible has to say about fasting.

Judges 20:26 - Then all the children of Israel, that is, all the people, went up and came to the house of God and wept. They sat there before the LORD and fasted that day until evening; and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

1 Samuel 7:6 - So they gathered together at Mizpah, drew water, and poured it out before the LORD. And they fasted that day, and said there, "We have sinned against the LORD." And Samuel judged the children of Israel at Mizpah.

1 Samuel 31:13 - Then they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

2 Samuel 1:12 - And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, for the people of the LORD and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

2 Samuel 12:16 - David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.

2 Samuel 12:21 - Then his servants said to him, "What is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive, but when the child died, you arose and ate food."

2 Samuel 12:22 - And he said, "While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, 'Who can tell whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?'

2 Samuel 12:23 - But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me."

1 Kings 21:9 - She wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth with high honor among the people;

1 Kings 21:12 - They proclaimed a fast, and seated Naboth with high honor among the people.

1 Kings 21:27 - So it was, when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his body, and fasted and lay in sackcloth, and went about mourning.

1 Chronicles 10:12 - all the valiant men arose and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons; and they brought them to Jabesh, and buried their bones under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

2 Chronicles 20:3 - And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

Ezra 8:21 - Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions.

Ezra 8:23 - So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer.

Ezra 9:5 - At the evening sacrifice I arose from my fasting; and having torn my garment and my robe, I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to the LORD my God.

Nehemiah 1:4 - So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

Nehemiah 9:1 - Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, in sackcloth, and with dust on their heads.

Esther 4:3 - And in every province where the king's command and decree arrived, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

Esther 4:16 - "Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!"

Esther 9:31 - to confirm these days of Purim at their appointed time, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had prescribed for them, and as they had decreed for themselves and their descendants concerning matters of their fasting and lamenting.

Psalm 35:13 - But as for me, when they were sick, My clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting; And my prayer would return to my own heart.

Psalm 69:10 - When I wept and chastened my soul with fasting, That became my reproach.

Psa_109:24 - My knees are weak through fasting, And my flesh is feeble from lack of fatness.

Isaiah 58:3 - 'Why have we fasted,' they say, 'and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?' "In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, And exploit all your laborers.

Isaiah 58:4 - Indeed you fast for strife and debate, And to strike with the fist of wickedness. You will not fast as you do this day, To make your voice heard on high.

Isaiah 58:5 - Is it a fast that I have chosen, A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, And to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, And an acceptable day to the LORD?

Isaiah 58:6 - "Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?

Jeremiah 14:12 - When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence."

Jeremiah 36:6 - You go, therefore, and read from the scroll which you have written at my instruction, the words of the LORD, in the hearing of the people in the LORD's house on the day of fasting. And you shall also read them in the hearing of all Judah who come from their cities.

Jeremiah 36:9 - Now it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, in the ninth month, that they proclaimed a fast before the LORD to all the people in Jerusalem, and to all the people who came from the cities of Judah to Jerusalem.

Daniel 6:18 - Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him.

Daniel 9:3 - Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.

Joel 1:14 - Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly; Gather the elders And all the inhabitants of the land Into the house of the LORD your God, And cry out to the LORD.

Joel 2:12 - "Now, therefore," says the LORD, "Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning."

Joel 2:15 - Blow the trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly;

Jonah 3:5 - So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them.

Zechariah 7:3 - and to ask the priests who were in the house of the LORD of hosts, and the prophets, saying, "Should I weep in the fifth month and fast as I have done for so many years?"

Zechariah 7:5 - "Say to all the people of the land, and to the priests: 'When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months during those seventy years, did you really fast for Me—for Me?

Zechariah 8:19 - "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'The fast of the fourth month, The fast of the fifth, The fast of the seventh, And the fast of the tenth, Shall be joy and gladness and cheerful feasts For the house of Judah. Therefore love truth and peace.'

Matthew 4:2 - And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.

Matthew 6:16 - "Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

Matthew 6:17 - But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,

Matthew 6:18 - so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Matthew 9:14 - Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?"

Matthew 9:15 - And Jesus said to them, "Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

Matthew 17:21 - However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."

Mark 2:18 - The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him, "Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?"

Mark 2:19 - And Jesus said to them, "Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.

Mark 2:20 - But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.

Mark 9:29 - So He said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting."

Luke 5:33 - Then they said to Him, "Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?"

Luke 5:34 - And He said to them, "Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them?

Luke 5:35 - But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days."

Luke 18:12 - I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.'

Acts 10:30 - So Cornelius said, "Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

Acts 13:2 - As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."

Acts 13:3 - Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

Acts 14:23 - So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Acts 27:9 - Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them,

1 Corinthians 7:5 - Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

The Commands of Christ - Matthew 5:38-42

"You have heard that it was said, 'AN EYE FOR AN EYE AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.' But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away." -Matthew 5:38-42

Who is this command spoken to?

This command is given in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is preaching to multitudes and his disciples are in the front row.

What does this command require?

Turn the other cheek when struck by an enemy; give freely to those who sue you and ask to borrow your things; go two miles with the one who asks you to go one.

What truths do we learn from this command?

There is much to say here. To wrap what Jesus is teaching here in one statement: Do the unexpected. The world expects a person to retaliate when struck by an enemy. The world expects a person to fight in court and withhold payment when sued. The world expects a person to not fulfill his promise of going the whole mile. The world expects a person to have a tight grip on their things and not to share with them. Jesus commands you to do the unexpected. Don't retaliate, share freely with even your enemies in court, and go beyond what is required.

The world will respond with surprise when you obey this command. They expect you to do one evil thing, and you do something completely good and opposite of what they expected. In essence, by responding in obedience to this command, you will show the world that you are different from them. This is the power of a Christian testimony. A verse comes to mind: "For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men--as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king." -1 Peter 2:15-27

What are the consequences of disobeying this command?

poor Christian testimony, living just like the world, broken relationships

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

The Commands of Christ - Matthew 5:34-37

"But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes, and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than this is from the evil one."


Who is this command to?

This command is spoken to the multitudes listening to Jesus' Sermon on the Mount and it serves as a general principle for all mankind.

What does this command require?


This command requires that a person 1) not swear by anything and 2) do what he promises. Let your 'Yes' actually mean what it says and be a  'Yes.' Also, let your 'No' actually mean what it says and be a 'No.'

What truths do we learn from this?


Jesus asks us to speak plainly and decisively. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Words are important. Words are how we communicate to each other, and how we communicate to God in prayer. Jesus simply asks us to speak plainly.

A verse comes to mind here: "That which has gone from your lips you shall keep and perform, for you voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God what you have promised with your mouth." -Deuteronomy 23:23

In this day and age, it could not be more important to have people speak plainly to each other. There never has been a greater need for the type of man whose word is his bond. Much confusion could be saved, and light shed on many a situation if people would just speak plainly.

What are the consequences for disobeying this command?


Lying, failed promises, letting people down, confusion, distrust

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Consider Your Ways!

"Thus says the LORD of Hosts: "Consider your ways! Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified," says the LORD." -Haggai 1:7-8


God's people returned from captivity in Babylon. The rebuilding process had begun. Yet for sixteen years since returning and starting the work of rebuilding the temple, the people have not completed the work. They let their own personal problems and projects get in the way of what was really important. God raised up Haggai to preach to these lackadaisical people.

"Consider your ways!" said the Lord to these lazy people. Evaluate what your are doing. Look at the way you live. Is that acceptable? Is it pleasing to God? These people were sixteen years working on a project that should have been completed in a matter of a just a couple years. They had lost sight of the important and focused on the secondary. So God commanded these people, through Haggai, to go get the necessary materials and to start building the temple. The motivation? So that God might take pleasure in it and be glorified.

These verses remind us to consider our own ways. It motivates us to evaluate the course of our lives. Do our lives reveal that pleasing God is of utmost importance to us or do our lives show that our own purposes and projects have gotten in the way of what is really important? Believer, consider your ways! Build a life that is pleasing to the Lord and brings Him glory. This ought to be the aim of life. All other matters are secondary to bringing God glory.

Friday, August 19, 2011

The Commands of Christ - Matthew 5:29-30

"If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell." -Matthew 5:29-30


Let us first be clear on this command: Jesus is not advocating or commanding self-mutilation as a requirement to avoiding hell.

Who is this command to?


Spoken to the multitudes in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.

What does this command require? What truths do we learn through this command?


At first glance, as noted above, it would seem that Jesus is teaching self-mutilation in order to avoid being cast into hell. The principle requirement, however, is to rid yourself of all things that might cause you to sin--no matter how important. Avoiding sin is important and ridding yourself of the things that cause you to sin is part of that process.

A person's eyes and hands are incredibly valuable. Without eyes and hands, we would find it very difficult to function in this world. Not many people would be willing to gauge out an eye or cut off a hand, even to avoid hell, but Jesus teaches that avoiding hell is much more important than these things.

I find it interesting that Jesus does not mention heaven in these two verses. Jesus could have said, "if your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast if from you; for it is better that one of your members perish and the rest of you get into heaven, than for your whole body to be cast into hell." I believe that if He did say this, there would be a host of people that would pluck out their eyes and cut off their right hands in order to gain access to heaven. But we know that there is nothing man can do to gain access into heaven except trusting Christ's finished work on the cross as the satisfactory payment for our sin.

What are the consequences for disobeying this command?


Being cast into hell, living with wrong priorities, a lifestyle of sin,

Thursday, August 18, 2011

The Commands of Christ - Matthew 5:25

"Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny." -Matthew 5:25-26


Who is this command to?


This command is spoken to the multitude that is listening to the Sermon on the Mount, and it serves as a general command for mankind.

What does this command require?


Like Matthew 5:23-24, this command is talking about reconciliation. While the previous command spoke of reconciliation between offended brothers, verse 26 seems to indicate that this is in regard to some sort of financial disagreement. Jesus commands that we are to settle things right away between our adversaries. The word adversary here does not mean an enemy that wishes ill will towards you, but rather it means that a brother has something against you because of a financial debt. Jesus says that before you get to court with your brother, settle the matter between yourselves.

What truths do we learn from this command?


We learn that it is not good to have financial debts and issues between brothers. Money can divide a friendship very quickly.

We also learn that financial matters can be settled before litigation occurs. Jesus commands us to do this. While often the debt is accompanied by hostility between friends, it is better for everyone if you settle the matter privately.

What are the consequences for disobeying this command?


Jail time, poor testimony, loss of friendship, financial strain

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

The Commands of Christ - Matthew 5:23-24

"Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." -Matthew 5:23-24


Who is this command to?


Spoken to the multitudes, this command serves as a general principle to all mankind. However, this command is especially those who are God's people because it is in reference to offering gifts to God on the altar.


What does this command require?


This command requires reconciliation with a brother whom I have offended. Christ commands us to leave the holy, solemn act of worship to restore a broken relationship. Only after we have made things right are we to return to our worship.


What truths do we learn from this command?


We learn that restoring broken relationships is a priority to God, even above worship.


“The interruption of so solemn an act (worship) emphasizes the importance of reconciliation….He must take whatever steps are needed to restore harmony, and only when this is done may he come back and resume his offering.” -Leon Morris


Your worship is of no value to God if you have a broken relationship with a brother. This is a hard concept to grasp when you are completely focused on yourself in worship. Though hard to admit, most of us would have to say we have a hard time keeping our worship focused on God. It’s nothing new. The Israelites lost 
sight of their worship of God (Malachi, for example) and so do we.


We also learn that the offending brother has the responsibility to make things right with the offended brother. This is a hard pill to swallow. Often, we want to sit back and put the responsibility upon the offended brother to make things right. While that is true (Matthew 18:15), Jesus says that if you have offended your brother your responsibility is to go to him.


What are the consequences for disobeying this command?


Useless worship, broken relationships, unconfessed sin, interrupted prayer

Monday, August 15, 2011

Last Day

Well, it's my last day in Ecuador. I'm leaving tonight. It has been a very diverse summer, full of firsts for me, though I've lived here many years. The Lord blessed me with more opportunities that I expected.

I have been taught many things, learned many lessons, and grown spiritually through all of the experiences here. God allowed me to teach children, young people, and adults, on various occasions. I can tell you honestly that there is absolutely nothing better than sharing the Word of God with others. It is what I truly enjoy doing, and I can't imagine doing anything else. I love the Lord with all my heart, and my life is His to do what He wants with it.

The time has come for me to return to North America, where soon I will return to New Brunswick Bible Institute to begin my senior year. This school year I know will be full of opportunities for me to be involved in the Lord's work there. This year I will be an RA, and I very much am looking forward to being a leader among others.

I ask for your prayers as I continue my training. Please pray that I will remain humble, submitted to the Lord's will, and that I will follow where He directs. I am going to continue my studies into the 4th year once I graduate, but I have no clue where I'll be doing that. Thank you for your prayers, and thank you for supporting me during this summer. I am sure the Lord used your prayers to accomplish His work. These three months have truly been a blessing to me, and to many others. May God bless you all, and may you ever be drawing closer to Him.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

The Commands of Christ - Matthew 5:16

"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives lights to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16


Who is this command to?

Spoken in the Sermon on the Mount to a vast multitude, but it seems that the context of the verses shows that Jesus command here is directed specifically to those who believe in Him.

What does this command require?


This command requires that we allow our good works to be seen so that the Father may be glorified.


What truths do we learn through this command?


We learn that each believer is light to the world. Each believer shines light to their neighbors through doing good works for God. In essence, the world sees God through us. This truth is foundational to Christianity. Think about what would happen if believers merely congregated in church buildings once a week for worship and forsook showing their lives in the secular world (sounds a lot like Christianity today, eh?). The church would become a monastery and each believer would become nothing more than a monk, separated from the world. Christianity would be contained within the walls of the church, unable to spread in the world as Christ intended. Jesus commands here that we are to be out there in the world, shining the light of heaven in this dark and barren world.

Your testimony in the world is of great value to God. It is a key tool in the hands of God to reach the lost. People can see God through your life. This is a great motivator to do good works, not for self-benefit, but for God. Your good works are important. Ephesians 2:10 tells us that your were created for good works. So don't hide in a corner alone or huddle with a group of believers inside a building. Get out there and shine your light so that men may see your good works and glorify God the Father in heaven.


What are the consequences for disobeying this command?


Separatist religion; no witness to the world; others cannot glorify the Father; disobedience to what you were created for (Ephesians 2:10);

Friday, August 12, 2011

Book Review: Stop Loving the World

By William Greenhill
Puritan Treasures for Today - Reformation Heritage Books
73 pages

I got this short little book during a deal posted by Tim Challies. I figured it would be good reading, and a good chance to read something written a long time ago. Turns out I was right.

This booklet is essentially a biblical case for why we need to stop loving the world. Often when you read Puritan books about such topics, your mind will think, "way over the top" or "those Puritans went too far with that." This book does an excellent job explaining from Scripture why we must stop loving the world. It is compelling and convicting. I recommend it.

The Commands of Christ - Matthew 5:12


"Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." -Matthew 5:11-12

Who is this command to?

This command is in the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 5:1 suggests that there is a great crowd listening to Jesus teach and He is teaching His disciples.

What does this command require?

Jesus commands that those who are persecuted must rejoice and be happy for their reward in heaven. Even though on earth all things might be taken away in persecution, the disciples would be gaining treasure in heaven because of their persecution.

What truths do we learn through this command?

We learn that all disciples of Christ will be persecuted for His sake. We know, often from experience, that persecution is not a fun thing. Persecution is painful. Often persecution means the loss of things that we hold dear.

But we also learn that persecution on earth is not the end. Heaven is the end. Heaven is the goal of life and if we are persecuted here on earth for Christ's sake, we will receive great reward in heaven. Christ commands us to rejoice and be glad for our reward.

This is a command that the disciples learned to follow well. Acts 5:41-42 - "So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ."

So take this command to heart and rejoice when you are persecuted for His name's sake. Great is your reward in heaven.

What are the consequences for disobeying this command?

Loss of reward in heaven; bitterness of spirit; no Christlike testimony for your persecutors;

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Book Review: 5 Things Every Christian Needs To Grow

by R. C. Sproul
Reformation Trust Publishing
135 pages

I don't have much to say about this book. It is a simple little book explaining five important aspects of the Christian life. While most books for new Christians focus on the nuts and bolts of growing in Christ, this book covers five general things that every Christian must include in their daily life in order to grow in Christ. It covers the topics of Bible Study, Prayer, Worship, Service, and Stewardship. Sproul does a great job explaining what Scripture says about each of these topics and then illustrates these truths from his own life experience. Again, it is a great little book for explaining these foundational aspects of the Christian life.

Take Possession of the LORD

“I will love you, O LORD, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.” –Psalm 18:1-3

These verses are a prayer of commitment—a prayer to take possession of the Lord in life. David realized his greatest need was the Lord. He knew that the Lord provided so many things for him—strength, salvation, and security. He realized that without God, life would be completely useless and totally dangerous.

Look at these verses again, and then think about what David wouldn’t have if he didn’t take possession of the Lord. He wouldn’t have strength, a solid rock to stand on, a fortress to rest in, a deliverer, a shield, the strength of salvation, a stronghold, or salvation from his enemies. A life without those things is a life of insecurity. It is a life without power, resources, or salvation. It is a hopeless life.

Consider the following commentary by Matthew Henry:

“The Lord Jehovah is my God; and then he is my rock, my fortress, all that I need and can desire in my present distress.” For there is that in God which is suited to all the [urgencies] and occasions of his people that trust in him. “He is my rock, and strength, and fortress;” that is, 1. “I have found him so in the greatest dangers and difficulties.” 2. “I have chosen him to be so, disclaiming all others, and depending upon him alone to protect me.” Those that truly love God may thus triumph in him as theirs, and may with confidence call upon him”

Consider this as well:

“All we want in Christ, we shall find in Christ. If we want little, we shall find little. If we want much, we shall find much; but if, in utter helplessness, we cast our all on Christ, he will be to us the whole treasury of God.” – Henry Benjamin Whipple (1822-1901)

Christian, take possession of the Lord. Love Him with all your strength and you will find that He is everything that you need in every circumstance that life will throw at you.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

The Commands of Christ - Matthew 4:17

"From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." -Matthew 4:17


Who is this command to?

This is a general command for all mankind. Jesus preached to all who would listen. (Matthew 9:13)

What does this command require?


It requires that each person must repent. To repent is to feel deep regret for sin so that you turn from sin and towards God. (2 Corinthians 7:9-10)

What truths do we learn from this command?


Because Christ issued this command to all who would listen, we learn that everyone needs to repent. Often, this is the hardest truth for an unbeliever to grasp. Most people believe themselves to be pretty good people. Scripture teaches otherwise. The Bible shows us that all men have sinned and fallen short of God's glory (Romans 3:23; Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 14:20).

We also learn that 'the kingdom of heaven is at hand.' There is much debate as to what this means, but suffice it to say that the reign of Christ is drawing near. The time is fast approaching when Christ will return to establish His eternal kingdom. If Christ preached repentance because of the nearness of the kingdom of heaven, how much more these words should sting our hearts now, two thousand years later. The kingdom of heaven is at hand, therefore repent and believe the gospel!

What are the consequences for disobeying this command?


Eternal death--separation from God forever; no life-transformation; no participation in the kingdom of heaven

Romans 6:23 - "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

The Commands of Christ - Matthew 4:19

"Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."" - Matthew 4:19


Who is this command to?

This command is given to Simon Peter and Andrew, his brother.

What does this command require?

Follow Jesus

What truths do we learn from this command?

Following Christ will result in a changed life. Simon and Andrew were fishermen. Their life consisted of casting nets and hauling them in again, hopefully filled with fish. When they forsook all of that life to follow Christ, they would never be the same. Jesus followed through on His promise to make them fishers of men. In fact, every time we read about Andrew in the gospels, we see him bringing someone to Jesus. And Peter became that great man of God who preached on Pentecost and saw thousands come to Christ.

We also learn that to be a disciple of Christ you must follow Him. That sounds simplistic and shallow, but it is surprising how many people that claim to be Christ's disciples actually don't follow Him. To be a disciple, you must be around Jesus. You must listen closely to what He says. You must do the things that he tells you. You must strive to be like Him.

What are the consequences of disobeying this command?

No heart-change. No life-change. Life without Jesus. No reward.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Obeying the Word of the Lord

The other day I continued my reading through the Old Testament, and I came across Deuteronomy 4:5-9, which says,

Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons.

Moses is here speaking to the people of Israel, but I also see it as a direct message to the Church, the people of God in this dispensation. As I read, I also read it as a personal message to myself.

We are believers. We are God's people. Perhaps, as I, you have been taught "statutes and judgments" of God by various people throughout your life. Were we taught the precious commands of the Lord in vain? Certainly not. What must we do? "...the Lord [our] God commanded [us], that [we] should do so..." We were taught the Word of God to obey it! We are not to simply let it pass through one ear and out the other, so to speak. As James put it, "Be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." We must hear God's Word, and do it. Loving children will gladly obey their loving father.

So, as God has shown us the epitome of His love with the work of His Son, we should gladly obey our Father. "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins...We love Him, because He first loved us." (1 John 4:10,19) In Colossians 3:23 we read, "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men." Also, Ephesians 6:5-6 says, "Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart."

God is not up in heaven, ready to zap us when we do not obey His commands. He is patient with us, and waits for us to obey Him out of love. When we think of all that Christ has done for us, we should be compelled to love the Lord the most we can, and we do that by being obedient.

Keeping and doing the Lord's statutes and judgments is our "wisdom" and our "understanding." Wise people, and people with understanding will obey the Lord. They will gladly serve Him.

What is wisdom? We may look to many verses in the Bible:
"The fear of the Lord is wisdom," (Job 28:28) "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments," (Psalm 111:10) and what better book of the Bible to look for wisdom than the book of Proverbs. It is full of wisdom, and words about wisdom. Let's look at just a few of the many verses:
Proverbs 1:7 ~ "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Proverbs 2:1-6 ~ "My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding."

I could go on and on, but I'll let you read the rest of the book of Proverbs for yourself. Over and over again the Lord tells us the wisdom is obeying God's Word, and obeying God's Word is wisdom. I have heard it said that wisdom is knowledge in action. It is when you take what you know, and put it into practice, in this case, with the Word of God.

Continuing in Deuteronomy 4, in verse 6:

"Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.'"

The world is watching. We must be ever mindful of this fact. We are Christians, little Christs. We bear His name and we represent Him in this world. As 2 Corinthians 5:20 says, "We are ambassadors for Christ..." In this age, we speak for Jesus. The way the world is going to hear about Him is through us. Not just by our words, but by our actions. John 13:35 says, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." People are watching us. If we are different from them, as we should be, they are going to notice. If we are obeying the statutes and the judgments of the Lord, people are going to say, either out loud or in their heads, "Surely this [person] is a wise and understanding [person]." They're going to begin to ask why we're different. And what better opportunity to share the Gospel with them!

"For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?" (Deuteronomy 4:7)

Who, besides us believers, have God so near us? No one! The LORD, Jehovah, the creator of the universe, is above us (Joshua 2:11), around us (Psalm 34:7), before us (Exodus 13:21), behind us (Exodus 14:19), beneath us (Deuteronomy 33:27), with us (Isaiah 41:10), and within us (John 14:16-17). Our Lord has promised, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13:5) No one else in the world, apart from believers, has this blessing. Even Israel, although the LORD was with them at all times, did not have the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

"In all things that we call upon Him for," God is always right there with us, and right there for us. No matter what the case, when we call upon the Lord, He is there, ready to listen and ready to act. But notice, God doesn't just throw out blessings all over the earth. We must call upon Him. In Matthew 7:7 Jesus says, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." James tells us in chapter 1 verse 6, "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering..." We have a loving Heavenly Father who watches over us. He guides us, protects us, and provides all of our needs. Sometimes we think we know what we need. But we really don't. Who is wiser? An infinite, omniscient God who inhabits eternity, or a puny, finite, simple human being? I think the answer is quite clear. He knows our needs. And as we can read in Matthew 7, what loving Father will not care for his child and give good gifts? The Lord will always provide for His children. If any of us lack anything, we must simply ask Him in faith.

Prayer is a crucial element in our spiritual life. It is our breath. When spiritual decline begins, the first thing to go is our prayer life. We become distant from God, we don't feel like talking to Him, and that creates more distance. It is necessary to maintain our relationship with Him. He's our Father, our Friend. Thinking of the love that He has for us, the precious gift of salvation through His Son Jesus Christ, how can we not love Him and desire to strengthen our relationship with Him? We must maintain communication with Him.

"And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?" (Deuteronomy 4:8)

The Israelites were blessed to have the law given to them directly from the Lord. How much more blessed are we, having the full canon of scripture, "given by inspiration of God, and profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16)?

The Word of God should be our most prized possession. As prayer is our spiritual breath, the Word is our spiritual food that we must have daily, or else we will starve for certain. Perhaps the greatest chapter in God's Word, about God's Word, is Psalm 119. With the exception of 2 verses, every verse mentions the Word of the Lord in some form. Let us look at a few verses:

Verse 11: Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Verse 16: I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy Word.
Verse 28: My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy Word.
Verse 47: I will delight myself in thy Commandments, which I have loved.
Verse 59: I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy Testimonies.
Verse 89: For ever, O LORD, thy Word is settled in Heaven.
Verse 97: O how love I thy Law! It is my meditation all the day.
Verse 105: Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Verse 133: Order my steps in thy Word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
Verse 140: Thy Word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.
Verse 160: Thy Word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
Verse 165: Great peace have they which love thy Law: and nothing shall offend them.
Verse 172: My tongue shall speak of thy Word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.

This is just a small portion of scripture, and we can see the God's Word is many things. It is our shield, our strength, a lamp to guide us, it is pure, true, everlasting, righteous, and our source of true peace. As children need proper nutrition to grow, so must we feed ourselves spiritually to grow spiritually.

The last verse of the passage we are examining in Deuteronomy chapter 4 is verse 9:

"Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons."

We must always examine ourselves, and guard ourselves, 'lest we forget.' We must constantly be in the Word, filling our mind with the things of God, reminding ourselves of the things which we have been taught. We've got to keep what we have learned fresh in our minds. When we neglect our time studying God's Word, we distance ourselves greatly from our Lord. If we are not careful, we will forget what we've learned, and they will 'depart from thy heart all the days of thy life.'

Lastly, it is not only important to 'take heed' to ourselves 'lest we forget,' but we have a responsibility to teach God's Word to our children, and our grandchildren. This is a command! "Teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons." We are the example for our children to follow, and we must give them a good example. There is no guarantee that our children will not depart from the ways of the Lord, but we must do our part.

Proverbs 4:1-7
"Hear, ye children the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding..."

We see here the very process of teaching that must go on. Solomon speaks to his children the things that his father, David, taught him. Now we know that David had a few sons that didn't turn out too well, but Solomon was a bit different from them. Perhaps David taught all his sons the same, perhaps not. But he taught Solomon and Solomon remembered. Not only did Solomon keep that wisdom for himself, he taught it to his children. So David was obedient to the command, "Teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons." He taught his son Solomon, and through Solomon he taught his grandchildren.

The responsibility starts with you, at home. You can't just think, oh I'll just send my kids to Sunday school and youth group and they'll get their Bible teaching there. No! It doesn't work that way! YOU are the example. Children look to adults for their example, and more specifically, their parents! If they do not see their own parents following the Lord, why should they follow the Lord? If you truly love your children, be a godly example, and teach them the Word of God!
"My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: for length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee." (Proverbs 3:1-2)

My parents have always been a godly example for me. Did I always follow that example? No, but it was and is their influence that guided me to the right path. I desire nothing more than to serve God with my life, and if I didn't have the example of my parents, who knows where I might be?

We have a great God! The only God. He is the Creator of all things, and yet He loves us. He loves us so much that before He even created the earth, He planned to send His Son, Christ Jesus, to save us from sin. (Revelation 13:8) He knew we would sin, but He still created us, knowing what lies in eternity for those who love Him, and who seek Him with all their heart.

Therefore, let us keep His commandments, out of LOVE for Him. Commune with Him, talk with Him, for that is our spiritual breath. Rejoice and give Him thanks that He has given us His written Word, for it is our spiritual food, and in it, we have eternal life. It is our shield, our strength, a lamp to guide us, it is pure, true, everlasting, righteous, and our source of true peace. Let us learn from it, to gain wisdom and understanding, and let us keep what we have learned fresh in our hearts and in our minds, lest we forget. And let us share that wisdom and understanding, teaching our children, and our grandchildren, that it may go well with them all the days of their lives.

The Commands of Christ - Matthew 4:10

“Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”” –Matthew 4:10

Who is the command to?

Spoken to Satan, but it is a general command for all mankind, repeated from Deuteronomy 6:13

What does the command require?

Worship and serve God only. This means all other things are not to become objects of worship. It doesn’t mean that God just receives most of our worship—it means He receives all of our worship. Matthew 6:24. To worship is to express reverence to and give worth to God. Worship of God is the chief purpose of mankind. It is the highest achievement of mankind.

Following this command requires that every attention of our mind, every action of our hands, and every word spoken by our mouths be in worship and service of God.

What truths do we learn through this command?

God alone is worthy of our worship. All things, no matter what it is or how important it seems to be, pale in comparison to who God is. That means that jobs, money, possessions, human relationships, prestige, power, etc. all are of no value and do not deserve or require any worship.

What are the consequences for not following this command?

spiritual adultery, the pursuit of worldly ambitions, 

Sunday, August 7, 2011

The Commands of Christ - Why Bother?

I've come up with a list of biblical reasons why we should follow Christ's commands:


  1. We follow Christ’s commands because He is Lord – Matthew 28:18; Philippians 2:9-12
  2. We follow Christ’s commands because we are His slaves – Romans 6:15-23; 1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:22-23
  3. We follow Christ’s commands because He lives in us and we live in Him – Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 1:3-14, 2:8-10; Romans 6:11
  4. We follow Christ’s commands because it proves our love for Christ and our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ – John 14:21; 15:10; 1 John 4:21; 5:2-3; 2 John 1:6
  5. We follow Christ’s commands because it proves our salvation – Luke 6:46-49; 1 John 2:3-4; 1 John 3:24; Revelation 22:14
  6. We follow Christ’s commands because it is necessary for sanctification – Philippians 2:12-15;
  7. We follow Christ’s commands because the disciples told us to – 1 Thessalonians 4:2; 1 Corinthians 14:37
  8. We follow Christ's commands so that we can live without fear. Romans 8:15; 1 John 4:17-19
  9. We follow Christ's commands because of all that He's done for us. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
  10. We follow Christ's commands as a witness to others. 2 Corinthians 5:10
  11. We follow Christ's commands to receive blessings and avoid consequences. 2 Corinthians 5:9-10
  12. We follow Christ's commands to be led by Him. Romans 8:14
  13. We follow Christ's commands to prove our friendship with Him. John 15:14

Saturday, August 6, 2011

The Commands of Christ - Matthew 4:7

“Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God.’”” –Matthew 4:7

Who is the command to?

Spoken to Satan, but it is a general command for all mankind, repeated from Deuteronomy 6:16

What does the command require?

Do not tempt the Lord. To tempt God means to try His power, goodness, or the will of God. It means don’t throw yourself into voluntary dangers and then appeal to God for protection.

“To claim a promise in an act of disobedience would be tempting God.” –The Believer’s Bible Commentary

“It is true, indeed, that God aids those of his people who are placed by him in trial or danger; but it is not true that the promise was meant to extend to those who wantonly provoke him and trifle with the promised help.” – Albert Barnes

So, by committing to obeying this command, we commit to not acting unless God leads us.

What truths do we learn through this command?

We learn that we can tempt God with our rash actions. It sounds very similar to Paul’s warning in Romans 6:1-4.

We learn an important truth about the character of Satan and the methods of Satan and how to combat both. Satan stands in direct opposition to God. He questions all that God has said. Satan twists God’s words and he manipulates the Bible to say whatever he wants it to. In these few verses, we see that Satan manipulates the promises of God to try to put Christ in an unnecessary danger. Satan is called the tempter for a reason. We must combat Satan through speaking the truth of Scripture and obeying Christ’s commands.

What are the consequences for not following this command?

Unnecessary risks and dangers. We provoke God. Disobedience to this is, in effect, living outside the will of God.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

The Commands of Christ - Matthew 4:4

“But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”” –Matthew 4:4

Who is the command to?

Spoken to Satan, but it is a general command for all mankind, repeated from Deuteronomy 8:3

What does the command require?

To live, not by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Jesus, no doubt hungry, avoids the temptation from Satan to turn rocks into bread to eat by acknowledging that mankind has spiritual hunger as well as physical hunger.

What truths do we learn through this command?

Physical food is important, but it is not the most important nourishment. “Since Jesus had received no instructions from the Father to turn stones into bread, He would not act on His own and thus obey Satan, no matter how intense His hunger.” – The Believer’s Bible Commentary

We have a spiritual ‘appetite.’ 1 Peter 2:2; Hebrews 5:12-14; Psalm 119:103.

God is the source of our spiritual sustenance and His words are our spiritual sustenance. Job 23:12; Psalm 119:25, 40, 77, 81, 93, 116, 144, 175; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:3;

God’s Words provide all that is necessary to live life. 

What are the consequences for not following this command?



And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? -1 Corinthians 3:1-3


Spiritual starvation; Spiritual immaturity; Death; no discernment in spiritual truths; wrong focus in life; no joy in life; damaged testimony; no spiritual power; no peace in life; we must struggle to meet our own needs; backsliding; no tools for ministry; lack of spiritual transformation; carnality; no defense in temptation; no transparency.


Wednesday, August 3, 2011

The Commands of Christ - Preliminaries

There are a couple things we must realize before we get started on this study in the commands of Christ.


First off, this is a bigger task than I anticipated. I figured that I would have enough verses to cover a couple of months at best. I'm nearly through reading Matthew and finding the commands of Christ and I've counted roughly 80 commands. It would take a lifetime to teach through all of these commands. Perhaps that is why no Christian every really 'arrives' until heaven. Christ has given us plenty to attain for, that's for certain!


Secondly, right now before we begin, each one of us must make a commitment to obeying whatever we find. If you wait to evaluate what we find before you commit to obeying it, you will never choose to obey it. Some of the commands that we find will seem too extreme to our American minds. And some of the commands that we find will go completely against our logic. Some of them just won’t make sense. But Christ has given us these commands to follow.


Third, we must understand that there are different kinds of commands given by Christ. Let me explain:


  1. Direct commands – These are commands from Jesus to a specific person for a specific time. For example, “Rise up and walk.” Or “You give them something to eat.” We won’t be looking too deeply at many of these commands. There are a few, however, that teach us valuable principles about Christian living, such as: "go and sell all you have and give it to the poor. Then come and follow Me."
  2. General commands – These are commands perhaps repeated from the Old Testament Law, and they are given as commands for all people for all time. For example, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, strength” and “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” We will take time to look at some of these commands.
  3. Disciple commands – These are commands given specifically to Christ’s disciples. These are the commands that we are most interested in, for they are the commands that the disciples were to pass down and be faithful to teach their own disciples to observe. For example, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees" and "if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother."
So in the days, weeks, and months to come, we'll dive into the commands of Christ. Be prepared to be confronted by these commands, and to evaluate whether or not your life matches up with them.