PLUCK YOUR EYE OUT - NYOBS 36.02

CRAZY OR WHAT

PLUCK YOUR EYE OUT

According to Scripture, when you become a Christian you receive the indwelling of

the Holy Spirit who will lead you into all truths; and literally if you ask anything

in the name of Jesus Christ, you will have it. - If that’s the case, it would seem that

you certainly would know as much about Spiritual things as your Pastor or

anybody else for that matter.  This study is to explore the LITERAL words of Christ.

First Word

·         As Christians we believe in the inerrancy of the Bible; in other words we believe that there are NO ERRORS in the Bible; all the words are from God, therefore they ALL carry the same weight. – However, some of the things Christ said seem pretty FAR OUT.

·         Ask anything in my name and you will have it. – Well, how’s that working for you?

·         Sell everything you have and give it to the poor; then you can go to Heaven.

·         Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body or what you will wear.

·         Get yourself a cross and take it wherever you go. WHAT !

·         BE PERFECT just as God is perfect - That’s what the scripture says. -  How can that be?

·         If you have faith as small as a mustard seed you can tell a mountain to go jump into the lake and it will. – Nothing will be impossible to you. – WHAT !

·         Pluck out your Eye and Cut off your Hand – Is this extreme or what.

·         Drink my Blood and Eat my Body – HANG ON... We will get to all of this shortly.

The Deep Stuff

·         This study begins in Matthew, the First Book of the four Gospels; and starts with the First words out of the mouth of Jesus when He said that we should not live by just some of the words of God, but by ALL of them. – Right off the “bat”, Jesus hits a HOMERUN right out of the ballpark. – The path of a “CURVE BALL” travels different than expected; so do the words of Christ.

·         The bottom line is, we should study and LIVE by ALL the words of God, Precept upon precept and Line upon line. - To do this we need the help of the HOLY SPIRIT to be able to discern what’s going on; and Praise God, He already lives within us and His job is to TEACH, LEAD and to REVEAL the DEEP THINGS of God to us. - NYOBS 20.19 HOLY SPIRIT

·         If we are being taught and led by the Spirit, then that means we do not have it all down yet.

·         For me, I have a library of some 100 commentaries, which here and there, most disagree on something; but armed with their scriptures, the Holy Spirit speaks to my Spirit and that’s what I embrace. – That means that my belief system changes as the Holy Spirit brings me along; verse upon verse and precept upon precept. – Today there are no new Revelations, only new Enlightenment.

·         Tradition – What we grew up with; our TRADITIONS and what we have always been told becomes our “World View” and it’s hard to let go of what we have always thought. – In fact it seasons everything we read and think.  – Scripture says that all the gifts of the Spirit are within the body of Christ.  That’s why I need to read the commentaries of others. – I can stand on their shoulders and see further that I otherwise ever could have.

Matthew 4:4 Live by EVERY word that God speaks
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.' "(NKJV)
Isaiah 28:10 - Precept upon precept, Line upon line
¹⁰ For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little." (NKJV)

John 14:26 – Teach you all things

26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. NIV

John 16:12-13 – Guide you into all truth

12 "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But

13 when the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.

1 Cor 2:10-11 – Knowledge – Knows the thoughts of God

10 God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. NIV

Neh 9:20 – Intelligence - Goodness

20 You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them . NIV

Rom 8:27 – He intercedes for us

27 He that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to (the will of) God. ASV

The Paraklete

• First of all the coming of The Holy Spirit was a promise by Jesus Christ to the believers. -He said He would not leave us as orphans.
• The Followers were told to wait for the promise of the Holy Spirit – They did; and He came.  
• The Greek word occurring five times in the NT is parakletos meaning “Helper”- “One who comes along side”. – The Divine Paraklete.  NYOBS 20.19 – HOLY SPIRIT
• The Good News is that we are no longer waiting for the Holy Spirit – He is waiting for us.
• We have the Seal of God’s ownership, powered by the Promise of the Holy Spirit who made a Deposit that guaranteed our inheritance with the Son.  THE SEAL  - THE PROMISE - THE DEPOSIT

John 16:7 – The Holy Spirit was promised

7 It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

John 14:18 – Jesus will not leave us as orphans.

18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. NIV

Acts 2:1 – They waited and The Holy Spirit came

1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place… All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit.  NIV

2 Cor 1:22 – His seal of ownership is a deposit on what is to come

22 He set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.  NIV

2 Cor 5:5 – The Spirit is a deposit guaranteeing our redemption.

5 Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. NIV

Eph 1:13-14 – We are marked by Him with a seal of the promise

13 you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,

14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-to the praise of his glory. NIV

Name it and Claim it – Blab it and Grab it

·         This brings us up to the Prosperity Message – Jesus said if we ask for anything in His name that He hears us and we will have what we have asked for. – Ask for it; You’ve got it

·         Well, that’s sort of what He said… I left out a small part; Ask “according to His Will” and we will have it. - So it’s imperative that we know the “Will of God”, or we ask in vain.

• Scripture bears out that the Holy Spirit not only helps us to understand truth, but “Knows” truth Himself – He has knowledge and will guide us and instruct us in all things as well as make intercession for things that are “THE WILL OF GOD”.
• This is pretty clear that I need to know the will of God in order to know how to pray and make decisions in my life. – The Bible contains the WILL of God. - NYOS 08.31 – GOD’S WILL
• I don’t mean to drag this subject out, but…. the asking, seeking and knocking is actually about prayer petitioning God on how we should react to OTHERS in our life.
• The verse just before this quoted “popular verse” is about our testimony to those that we meet.  – Some of them will be dogs and pigs and won’t know what to do with the spiritual PEARLS of wisdom that we share and they may even attack us; that’s why we need to; ask, seek and knock so that the deficiencies in our relationship with others may be met.
• The very next verse after the “popular verse” is the GOLDEN RULE; it’s about treating others like we want to be treated.  
• This “popular scripture” is sandwiched between two scriptures about OTHERS; it’s not about getting STUFF, it’s about seeking God’s face so you will know how to treat others who have probably heard the Gospel, but have rejected it. - NYOBS 27.02 – PROSPERITY MESSAGE REVISITED
• Ask, Seek and knock can be translated; Pray, Pray and Pray. – ASK as a traveler seeking direction; SEEK for the spiritual things of value; KNOCK on the door of Mercy and Grace.

1 John 5:14-15 - Ask according to the Will of God
¹⁴ This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
¹⁵ And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. (NIV2011)

The Sandwich Matthew 7:6 – Careful of the pigs and dogs – They will attack 6 Do not give DOGS what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to PIGS. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. (NIV2011) Matthew 7:7-11 Prayer - Ask – Seek - Knock 7 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7: 12 - Do to others as you would have them do to you 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (NIV2011)

Get Stuff

·         I really like the scripture that says if you give, MEN will give back to you pressed down, shaken together and running over and poured into your lap – God often uses MEN to not only be His instrument of vengeance, but also to reward Justice.

·         The theme of this section is actually addressing MERCY and FORGIVENESS. - Jesus is painting a picture of the oriental grain merchant with his “Measuring Basket” of Corn that’s pressed down and shaken to fill every crack and then adding more to overflow the edges.

·         The part of this scripture that’s often overlooked is that “the measure” that you use to give or sow will be the same measure you receive back; did you use a teaspoon or a shovel?

·         This scripture is actually a Universal Principal that can be applied to anything you give out; not just money.  If you give your co-workers “Hell” or spew hate for a race of people, or put down your spouse; get ready; it’s coming back. – You REAP what you SPEAK. - If you lie, cheat and steal, mistreat, rumor monger and sow discord; that’s what you are going to reap.

·         In your youth if you sow your seeds to the “wind”, you are going to reap the “whirlwind”.

·         Charles Stanley says that you will reap what you sow; more than you sow and for longer than you sow. - It might not happen right away; but good or bad, it’s coming back. – Some folks might just want to pray for a “Crop Failure”. 

·         Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
If we sow to the flesh, it will reap corruption; if we sow to the Spirit it will reap everlasting life. – The measure we use to extend our love to others will be the same measure that will be extended back to us; PLUS SOME. – If we use a shovel; God will use a wheel barrow.

Luke 6:38– The measure you use; will be measured back to you
³⁸ Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall MEN give into your bosom (lap). For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. (KJV)

2 Corinthians 9:6 – Cheap giving – Cheap receiving
⁶ Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. (NIV2011)

Luke 12:34 – Your heart is where you put your money
³⁴ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (NIV2011)

Proverbs 18:21 – You reap what you SPEAK
²¹ The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences. (NLT)

Job 13:26 – You will reap the sins of your youth
²⁶ For you write down bitter things against me and make me reap the sins of my youth. (NIV2011)

Hosea 8:7 – Sow to the “WIND”, you will reap the “Whirlwind”
⁷ For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up. (KJV)

Ecclesiastes 11:1 – What you sow will come back later on
¹ Cast your bread upon the waters, For you will find it after many days. (NKJV)

Job 4:8 - You reap what you sow; those who sow trouble reap it
⁸ As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it. (NIV2011)

Galatians 6:7-8 – Sow to the Spirit – Reap everlasting life
⁷ Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
⁸ For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

Test God

·         Jesus said, DON’T Test God.  - Further scripture calls those that Test God; Hypocrites.   Then in another verse it says that we SHOULD Test God… 

·         Which is it; both statements cannot be TRUE, or can they?

·         When we put God to the Test, we are actually saying that we do not trust Him to do what He has promised. – For a Christian who lives by FAITH, Testing God is a sure sign of DOUBT

·         Gideon doubted God’s promise to save Israel and purposed a TEST to verify what God had told him; he did this with a fleece, not once; but twice. – If you only read this verse, you would understand that you were supposed to test God in everything that He says in order to be sure and to make certain He really said it; maybe even test Him twice. 

·         Gideon had doubt in HIMSELF, that he could lead 300 men to defeat the enemy of thousands upon thousands. - Should YOU choose to throw out a fleece concerning God’s Word; you might just be the one that gets fleeced. - SELAH ponder that.

·         The Gideon’s Organization today, does not teach Testing God, but instead they teach the results of Gideon’s petition; just as Gideon went out from his camp and broke his jar to reveal the light, so do the Gideon’s today with the Bibles to light up the world around them with the light of God’s Word. – Gideon was far from perfect, but was willing and made himself available. – We too are far from perfect, we just need to be willing and available.

·         In a teaching moment, particularly in our Giving, God has said to TEST HIM by giving away some of our goods to see what will happen. – This is the only time God has said to Test Him or “Prove Him”.   The purpose in mind for “proving God” was the “building up of OUR faith”; not for the TRADING OUT of something so we can GET something.

·         Bottom Line – Whenever good comes to us, we are to turn it into an overt testimony of PRAISE to God and then unbelievers will take note and be drawn to Him.

Matthew 4:7 – Don’t TEST God
⁷ Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”(NIV2011)

Matthew 22:17-18 - Why do you test Me, you hypocrites
¹⁷ Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"
¹⁸ But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? (NKJV)

Malachi 3:10 – PROVE ME - TEST ME
¹⁰ Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. TEST ME in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. (NIV2011)

Judges 6:37 – Make the fleece WET and the ground dry
³⁷ look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.” (NIV2011)

Judges 6:39 – Make the fleece DRY and the ground wet
³⁹ Then Gideon said, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.” - NIV

Tithe NOT

·         Well, I want to talk about The Tithe since it’s tied in with Testing God.  I don’t know if you can handle this or not, but the truth is; we DO NOT have to TITHE today. - Jesus Christ FULFILLED the Old Covenant and now today we live under the New Covenant.  The 630 Old laws have been reduced to just two laws of Love…   

·         For the Jews who have not accepted Jesus as the Son of God; the Messiah, they are still under the Old Covenant Laws. – NYOBS 30.09 – CIRCUMCISION - NEW COVENANT

·         When I discovered I did not have to tithe anymore, I continued to do so because my giving changed from Compulsion to Compassion.  Nothing has changed for me, except I’m FREE; I give because it’s in my heart to give.  It actually proves to me that my money is not my master.

·         Not only that – Malachi (who was under the Law) wrote about giving what you had into the store house of God. - I found out there were MANY STORE HOUSES to give into. – The Church - Strangers – Orphans – Widows and especially your FAMILY. – NYOBS 27.02 PROSPERITY MESSAGE REVISITED

·         Tithing is a concept that teaches and trains us to be compassionate and think of others.  Jesus teaches us to Raise the Bar of excellence. - Whatever is required; do more than is expected.  - NYOBS 04.30- TITHE

·         The concept of compassion is to loose the chains of injustice and untie and break the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free; to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter and when you see the naked, to clothe them, and to not turn away from your own flesh and blood; to take care of your family.  - It’s in the Book.

Malachi 3:10 – Bring the tithe into the storehouse
¹⁰ Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.(NIV2011)

Neh 12:44 – Many storerooms – Many overseers.

44 At that time men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms for the contributions, first fruits and tithes NIV

Deut 26:12 – You should give to the stranger, orphan and widow.

12 When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. NIV

Matt 5:40 – Give him your cloak, raise the bar.

40 And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. NIV

Matt 5:41 – Go the second mile, raise the bar.

41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. NIV

Matt 5:42 – Give to one who asks, raise the bar.

42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. NIV

Mark 12:28-31 – Two Commandments of Love

28 Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"

29 "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this:

30 LOVE the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 

31 The second is this: `LOVE your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." NIV

Isaiah 58:6-7 – Tithing – Giving- The concept of Compassion
⁶ To loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
⁷ Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

(NIV2011)

Mark 7:9-13 - You should help your FAMILY first
⁹ And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!
¹⁰ For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’
¹¹ But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God) —
¹² then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother.
¹³ Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.” (NIV2011)

Sell Everything

·         Sell everything and give it to the poor, then you will inherit the Kingdom of God; that’s what the scriptures say – If you read only this scripture, you would come away believing that only a poor person could be saved.

·         There was a co-worker of mine that appeared on “Talk Radio”, taking about how he sold everything that he owned and gave it to his church.  He then relocated and expected things to unfold good for him in the same manner in which he gave; but it didn’t, and he was mad at God. – Where was God in all of this? – He had spontaneously given and expected spontaneous help.

·         The passage to sell everything and give it to the poor was addressed to a very young and rich ruler who was a follower of the Laws of Moses. – The rich man’s life reflected his desire to have a right relationship with men, but his relationship with God was limited. - He saw his riches as WHO he was and WHAT his riches had achieved. – His trust and SECURITY was in his money.

·         Jesus perceived that he thought that works of charity and human achievement would gain eternal life. -  It’s not so much our good WORKS as it is our INTENTIONS that Christ looks at. - To be wealthy was considered a sure sign of Devine Favor and evidence of having been blessed by God. – This begged the question; if a rich man blessed of God can hardly be saved, then who can?

·         J. Vernon McGee says; “Not many rich, not many noble, not many of the great ones on earth are Christians”. - You are truly saved when you realize you can’t offer God anything for your salvation and come to Him as a beggar would with empty hands - The love of money is the root of all kinds of Evil; the rich young ruler loved his money more than he loved God and he went away very sad. – Every commentary concluded by saying; Jesus loved this man.

·         The rich young ruler’s stumbling block to salvation was his money – For me and you it would probably be something completely different. – This story is not about money or riches; it’s about whatever it is that’s keeping us from following Jesus Christ.

·         The Ten Commandments can be divided into two parts.  The first five are man’s relationship with God and the last five is man’s relationship with other men.  Jesus only quoted the last section to get the young man to realize that his relationship was with man, and not with God. He had missed the whole first section – Thou shall have no other Gods before me – His god was WEALTH - It could have just as easy been LAND or SEX or PLEASURES or FOOD, and the list goes on.

Mark 10:17-27 – Sell what you have – give it to the poor
¹⁷ what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
¹⁹ You know the commandments, And he said to Him, "Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up."
²¹ One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
²² But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.
²³And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, "How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!"
²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
²⁶ Then who can be saved?"
²⁷ Jesus said, "With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God." (NASB)

1 Timothy 6:10 – LOVE of money is the root of all sorts of evil
¹⁰  For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (NASB)

Side Bar

·         The Camel Gate - Jesus said that it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. – The camel was the largest animal in Palestine and the eye of a needle contained the smallest portal.

·         There is a legend that says that there was a small gate in the wall of the city of Jerusalem that after the main gates were closed; a wayfarer could still get in by unloading his camel and then it could pass through on its knees.  The gate was called the eye of the needle.
This is myth; no such gate has ever been found nor documented.

·         But, the concept is an excellent analogy of man’s salvation – We must strip off all the things of the world and on our knees enter through the narrow gate. – A rich man is compared to a camel, a beast of burden – As the camel has the burden of his load so does the rich man have the burden of his riches.

·         Jesus was speaking literally and the Disciples figured it out. – No one can save themselves.

Matthew 19:24-26 – Eye of a needle – Who then can be saved?
²⁴ Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
²⁵ When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
²⁶ Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (NIV2011)

Matthew 7:13 - Enter God’s Kingdom only by the NARROW GATE
¹³ You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. (NLT)

Forget about Food and Clothes

·         Don’t make any plans for the future, don’t worry about life; what you eat or drink or about your body or your clothes.

·         If you read only this scripture you would come away with the notion that everything is going to work out all right for you.  You don’t have to make any plans in life, just let it unfold before you; whatever will be, will be.

·         The subject of the scriptures just before this one was about a RICH FOOL who was living his COVETOUS life as if this life was all there was. – Eat, Drink and be Merry; for tomorrow he might die.

·         The entire passage teaches the FOUR PROHIBITION; Do not covet – Do not worry – Do not set your heart on worldly things - Do not be afraid.

·         Jesus is NOT telling his Disciples to be negligent or NOT make plans, but that their personal needs should not be of their greatest concern; that God knows their needs. – This was about “traveling lite” as they moved from city to city preaching the Gospel; that their “needs” would be met. The issue being addressed was not about making plans, but about WORRY. – The root cause of Worry is lack of faith; Doubt.

·         Scripture teaches that we should be prudent and make plans, to be as shrewd as snakes and as harmless as doves. – To work so we can pay for what we eat lest we become a BURDEN on others; this certainly applies to us today as followers of Christ.

·         As a young man, I knew the Methodist Pastor who owned the local plumbing supply store and I was asking him about his business.  He shrugged his shoulders and said he rarely went in there; it only existed to pay his Salary so he could preach; the small church could not afford THE BURDEN of a pastor’s salary.

Luke 12:22 – Don’t worry about life, what you eat; or clothes

²² Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. (NIV2011)

Luke 12:29 - Don’t worry about what you will eat or drink
²⁹ And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. (NIV2011)

Proverbs 6:6 – Consider how the ant stores up for the winter.
⁶ Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! (NIV2011)

2 Thessalonians 3:10 - Not willing to work; then not eat
¹⁰ If anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. (NASB)

2 Thessalonians 3:8 – Pay your way; do not be a burden
⁸ We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you. (NLT)

Luke 12:30 - God knows that you need these things
³⁰ For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. (NASB)

Matthew 10:16 - Be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves
¹⁶ Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves. (NLT)

Be Perfect

·         The Sermon on the Mount is a description of the relationship of man to the Kingdom of God and you hear it referred to as The Beatitudes. - NYOBS 04.02 BE ATTITUDES

·         The Teachings of Jesus were the same as the Laws of Moses except the standards were higher.  Jesus RAISED THE BAR on what is required of a man to inherit the kingdom of God. – The underlying message is whatever you are doing; it’s not enough.  This begs the question; HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH?

·         As part of this sermon He said that IF they expected to see the kingdom of God they had to be more righteous than their religious leaders; the Scribes and Pharisees.

·         PERFECTION –To make it even more discouraging, He said to BE PERFECT just as God is perfect. -  How can that be?

·         The Scribes and Pharisees were the most righteous men that followed the Law; how could anyone be more righteous or perfect than them…WE CAN’T – We are all DIRTY, ROTTEN, LOW DOWN, SCUMBAG, SINNERS and we need help, we need mercy, we need a Messiah.

·         The whole point was NOT to show the Disciples and us that we could have unqualified perfection; but to teach us they we are SPIRITUALLY BANKRUPT and that we should live our life in holy, mature, full-grown, blameless, PERFECT OBEDIENCE pursuing Christ.

·         The excellence of following the Divine Model of Jesus Christ is to be the characteristics that distinguish His Disciples from the world.

·         Old Covenant - Jesus said that not even a comma or a period of the Old laws would pass away until they are fulfilled - BUT THEN, He says pretty plainly that he did not come to do away with the laws, but to FULFILL them. – The Old Covenant prophesized about a Messiah. - Jesus Christ fulfilled those prophecies.  NYOBS 07.14  & 18.18 – PROPHECIES OF JESUS

·         New Covenant - So the Old Covenant Laws were NOT done away with, but FULFILLED by Jesus Christ and so now we have a new covenant, a better covenant AND… The Messiah. - NYOBS 30.09 CIRCUMCISION - NEW COVENANT

·         Without this understanding that we are operating under a set of new guidelines; a new covenant, our GPS compass is looking at where we’ve been and not where we are now, let alone where we are going.

·         I would be amiss if I didn’t also point out that the previous scripture verses talk about LOVE.  God’s love is PERFECT or complete for all ethnic groups; so must a believer strive and press forward in grace, holiness and maturity in this same regard. -  PERFECT LOVE

·         The Three Pillars of Jewish Piety; Almsgiving, Prayer and fasting – The question is How and Why they practice them; without LOVE they are just a clanging cymbal.  – Although un-realized, it is God that brings us along in our growth towards His perfection. – We must dare to believe that God will perfect what concerns us.

·         Condemned - Good News; there is NOW no condemnation for those who are in Christ; we were made PERFECT by the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross.

Matthew 5:17-19 – The Law will not pass away till fulfilled
¹⁷ “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
¹⁸ For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
¹⁹ Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:20 – Righteousness; Greater than Scribes & Pharisees
²⁰ For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. (NIV2011)

Matthew 5:48 - Be PERFECT, as your heavenly Father is perfect
⁴⁸ "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (NASB)

Heb 8:7 – Man could not keep the Old Covenant Laws

7 For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. NIV

Heb 8:8-9 – Prophecy – God made a new covenant with Israel

8 But God found fault with the people and said: "The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.

9 It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord. NIV

Jer 31:31-33 – The Covenant - Written on their hearts & mind

31 "The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.

32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt

33 "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.

Hebrews 8:6 – A new Covenant – A BETTER Covenant
⁶ But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. (NKJV)

Romans 8:1 - There is no condemnation for those in Christ
¹ So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ

Hebrews 10:14 – We have been made PERFECT forever
¹⁴ For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. (NIV2011)

Hosea 11:3 - They didn’t realize it was God that perfected them
³ It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. (NIV2011)

1 Corinthians 13:1 – Without Love; just a clanging cymbal.
¹ If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. (NLT)

Real Tiny Faith

·         Jesus told His disciples that if they had FAITH only as small as a mustard seed they would be able to tell a mountain to go jump into the lake, and it would; nothing would be impossible for them. – We pray about the weather, then in DOUBT we go look outside to see if it worked; we are of LITTLE FAITH.

·         The Disciples of Jesus, of all people, should have had the faith of at least a mustard seed, but according to scripture; THEY DIDN’T and I don’t think we do either. - My reasoning is that multiple scriptures indicate that they had” little faith” which was obviously smaller than that of a mustard seed. 

·         The Mountain Moving Faith was a proverbial expression and nothing more; it meant that nothing would be impossible to them because of the virtue of the Divine power engaged by a Divine promise. – Faith to remove a mountain can be exercised only when God reveals that to be HIS WILL – A PILE of bruised and damaged seeds produces little or nothing; but just ONE quality seed will move a mountain. – I look at my broken and uneven driveway and see the power that is unlashed in just the root of a tree.

·         The Disciples did not even understand the parables that Jesus taught. - He had to take them aside in private to explain the meaning.

·         NOTE: When the Holy Spirit was poured out and baptized the Believers, they were given “Gifts of the Spirit” which includes a special gift called “FAITH”; indicating most of us must be of “little faith” and need some extra.

·         Billy Graham says there is a difference between the Gift of Faith and the Grace of Faith.

·         The Grace of Faith means that we have been given the ability to believe God will do what He has promised. – We are saved through this Faith and we walk by this Faith.

·         The Gift of Faith is a very special gift given by the Holy Spirit at His good pleasure to whom He chooses to accomplish the Will of God. - Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. . – We are encouraged to earnestly seek the best gifts; “The Top Three” are Wisdom, Knowledge and Faith. - NYOBS 20.36 - GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

·         The Prayer of Agreement of many combines their FAITH and multiplies it.  Peter was in jail and his friends had gathered and committed to pray all night for him and an Angel was dispatched to set him free and Peter walked to Mary’s house and found them still praying. – Most folks see this as the power of prayer and I agree, I also see it as the principal of multiplied Faith.

·         The Enemy is operating FULL FORCE to stop the PROMISES OF GOD from reaching us, therefore we need the faith of other hooked to our faith to fight the good fight.  Scripture supports that five believers will put to flight one hundred of the enemies of God.

·         We fight against Principalities, Powers, and Rulers of the Darkness. – NYOBS 01.15 – THE FOURTH DIMENSION – NYOBS 11.15 – DEMONS – NYOBS 34.17 – FALLEN ANGELS

·         Nothing is impossible that is according to the WILL OF GOD.  NYOBS 08.31 - GOD’S WILL

·         As our Faith seed is planted in the soil of our Spirit and watered with His Word, the seed will push the roots downward deeper and the green shoot upward without limit of effect.

·         NOTE; The Disciples had healed many before - Having the FAITH to heal does not make us autonomous or automatic dispensers of healing – Continued effectiveness demands an ongoing dependence on God. We need to continually be RE-FILLED with the Holy Spirit. – We leak, and should be in prayer much of the time – Scripture says to pray without ceasing.

Hebrews 11:1 - Faith is the substance of things hoped for

¹ Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

(NKJV)

Matthew 17:20 – Mustard Seed Faith – Moves Mountains
²⁰ Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (NIV2011)

Matthew 6:30 - LITTLE FAITH
³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? (NIV2011)

Matthew 8:26 - LITTLE FAITH
²⁶ He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. (NIV2011)

Matthew14:31 - LITTLE FAITH
³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” (NIV2011)

Matthew 16:8 - LITTLE FAITH
⁸ Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread?

(NIV2011)

Matthew 17:19-20 - LITTLE FAITH
¹⁹ Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
²⁰ He replied, “Because you have so little faith. (NIV2011)

James 2:26 – Faith without Works is a DEAD FAITH
²⁶ For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. (NASB)

Ephesians 2:8 – Saved by Faith
⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

 (NASB)

2Corinthians 5:7 – We walk by Faith
⁷ For we walk by faith, not by sight. (NKJV)

Joshua 23:10 – The Enemy tries to stop the promises of God
¹⁰ Each one of you will put to flight a thousand of the enemy, for the LORD your God fights for you, just as he has promised.

(NLT)

Dan 10:12-13 - WAR IN ANOTHER DIMENSION

12 Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.

13 But the “prince” of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. NIV

Ephesians 6:12 - Principalities, Powers, Rulers of the Darkness
¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (NKJV)

Leviticus 26:8-9 – Faith is multiplied when in agreement
⁸ And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.
⁹ For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you. (KJV)

Matthew 18:19 – Combine your FAITH with others (God’s Will)
¹⁹ “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. (NIV2011)

Acts 12:5-17 – The prayer of agreement multiplies FAITH
⁵ So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.
⁶ The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.
⁷ Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.
⁸ Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him.
⁹ Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision.
¹⁰ They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.
¹¹ Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”
¹² When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.
¹³ Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door.
¹⁴ When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!”
¹⁵ “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”
¹⁶ But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.
¹⁷ Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,” he said, and then he left for another place.

(NIV2011)

Ephesians 5:17-18 - Be filled with the Spirit
¹⁷ Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
¹⁸ And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, (NKJV)

1 Thessalonians 5:17 – Pray without ceasing.
¹⁷ Pray without ceasing, (NKJV)

Get Gifts

·         Definition; a Gift is the capacity for service. – It is given to build up the church; to give spiritual help to Believers. – It is the Holy Spirit doing a particular service using the Believer to do it.  – Every Believer has been given a gift; EVERY BELIEVER -

·         A word about Gifts – In order to have unity in the church, there is a diversity of gifts with different administrations and diversities of operation, but it’s the same God that is working in all of them. - They are temporary to be used as they are needed in His plan.  You may be able to interpret your own dreams for a period of time and then it just stops. – For a while People may be systematically placed in your life for help and then it just stops.

·         For a period of a year, I watched for people on the side of the expressway and picked them up and shared the gospel with them; then it just stopped. – For a year I was allowed time off to visit hospitals to pray for the sick and then it just stopped. – For another year I had signed checks in my shirt pocket waiting for who would be placed in front of me that had a financial need; then it just stopped. – I don’t know how it all works; I just know I need to be obedient, whether it’s convenient or not.

·         Sometimes our gifts start pointing toward US instead of toward HIM. – My gift today is to study and dig up nuggets of truth and share them. – Even a pig can root up an acorn from time to time; it’s still an acorn no matter how it got dug up.

·         Another Word – If you will notice the Gifts are a “WORD” of knowledge and a “WORD” of Wisdom… - A page was not given, nor a paragraph, or even a sentence; it was only a “Word”. -  Not ALL knowledge, nor ALL wisdom… but just some; the gifts are partial. NYOBS20.36 – THE HOY SPIRIT – NYOBS 08.12-  GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

·         Have the gifts ceased? – NO - According to God; though few seek them, the Gifts and Calling of God are irrevocable; they will be in effect until Jesus the Christ returns.

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 – The Gift of FAITH
⁴ Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.
⁵ And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.
⁶ There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.
⁷ But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
⁸ For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;
⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
¹⁰ and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.
¹¹ But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.  (NASB)

1 Corinthians 12:31 - Desire earnestly the greater gifts
³¹ But desire earnestly the greater gifts. And moreover a most excellent way show I unto you. (ASV)

1 Cor 14:1 – Eagerly desire spiritual gifts

1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. NIV

1 Cor 13:8-10 – Gifts only partial – Cease with return of Jesus

8 But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part,

10 but when perfection (Jesus) comes, the imperfect (gifts) disappears NIV

James 5:15 – We lay hands on the SICK, but it’s God that heals

15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. NIV

Romans 11:29 - The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable
²⁹ for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. (NASB)

2 Timothy 4:2 Respond – convenient or not
² Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. (NIV2011)

Gouge your Eye out

·         Gouge your Eye out and Cut your Hand off are some of the things that Jesus said that are hard to swallow.  This seems like CRAZY TALK; did He literally mean it? - I think YES.

·         He is talking to the Disciples about the Seriousness of Sin and the Seriousness of damnation to Hell fire. - He is teaching that a man is better off living deformed but without sin than a sinful whole person walking around that is damned to HELL. – That’s where we get the term; ‘DEAD MAN WALKING”.

·         Mind set – it’s not me that sins; it’s my eye that made me do it. - If there is no other way to restrain your eye, then it would be better to pluck it out than to indulge in sin to the ruin of your soul. – The first act in the religious life is to detect right and wrong in the THOUGHT or INTENTION. – (We are to Kill the snake in the egg)

·         Jesus takes it a step further when He uses the word “RIGHT” eye or hand – The right hand or eye was considered the most important. – Honor and Blessings were dispensed on the Right, and they understood the extreme significance of this; cutting off of the most important part.

·         Note:  All sin begins with the imagination and it’s the EYE that feeds the imagination. – Just as we would amputate diseased organs to save a life, so the same with an eye or hand.

·          Should we gouge out our eye or cut off our hand to keep from sinning?  NO, it still would not stop us from sinning. – When Jesus was teaching this, the Holy Spirit; the helper had not yet been poured out on the disciples. – The New Covenant had not yet been completed – Christ had not made the final sacrifice for our sins. – But He did.

·          We are to SUBMIT ourselves to the Holy Spirit; READ the Word of God and PRACTICE His concepts.  When we do that; when SIN presents itself; and it will, we will turn away and walk on the other side of the street.  - A Believer may stumble and sin, but he will not live in Sin – If he does, he is a MAKE BELIEVER. - NYOBS 30.16 – SINLESS – NYOBS 16.13 SAVED-MAYBE

Matthew 5:29-30 – STOP – The moment you consider Sin
²⁹ "Let's not pretend this is easier than it really is. If you want to live a morally pure life, here's what you have to do: You have to blind your right eye the moment you catch it in a lustful leer. You have to choose to live one-eyed or else be dumped on a moral trash pile.
³⁰ And you have to chop off your right hand the moment you notice it raised threateningly. Better a bloody stump than your entire being discarded for good in the dump. (MSG)

Matthew 5:29-30 – Gouge out your eye – Cut off your hand
²⁹ If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
³⁰ And if your right hand causes you to stumble (sin), cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. (NIV2011)

Matthew 18:8 - Cut off your foot or hand
⁸ If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble (sin), cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire.
(NIV2011)

Genesis 48:17-18 – The RIGHT HAND of blessings
¹⁷  When Joseph saw his father placing his RIGHT HAND on Ephraim’s head he was displeased; so he took hold of his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head.
¹⁸ Joseph said to him, “No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your RIGHT HAND on his head.” (NIV2011)

Hebrews 10:12 – The RIGHT HAND – place of honor
¹²  But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s RIGHT HAND. (NLT)

Revelation 13:16  - The RIGHT HAND - Mark of the beast
¹⁶ It forced all people, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to have a mark on the RIGHT HAND or forehead. (MSG)

Eat my Flesh – Drink my Blood

·         Eat my Flesh and Drink my Blood was certainly a confounding statement and without doubt it was designed to be so, - The OT prohibited consuming blood and must have heightened their rejection of His Words – (Medically speaking, the life is in the blood of the body.)

·         FAR OUT - If you picked up on this scripture without reading the whole discourse you would probably have thought that this man was CRAZY and walked away.

·         Penetrating the mysteries of God is a Divine Gift; the deeper realities offend some and in this story MANY disciples walked away and abandoned Christ. (Although not the inner circle of the twelve).

·         Spiritual Truths can seem like utter nonsense unless you have spiritual perception.

·         Jesus was speaking of a spiritual partaking of His body which was more REAL that partaking of His physical body. It literally implies an appetite; a hunger and thirsting for the nourishment of Christ’s words. – Man does not live by bread alone, but by EVERY word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

·         Jesus is actually preparing them for the institution of the LORD’S SUPPER. – He would literally be with them taking part in the symbolism of the giving of His life on the Cross. – The Torah says; “For it is the blood (by reason of the life) that makes atonement for sin”.

·         The Catholic Church embraces a doctrine of “Transubstantiation” which says that the wine and bread actually becomes the blood and flesh of Christ when you eat it.  If you think Eat my flesh and Drink by blood is crazy then how about the doctrine of “Cannibalism”. This is NOT what Jesus taught in any form, shape or fashion.

·         This is more than a ritual; J. Vernon McGee says, “It’s bread in your mouth, but Christ in your heart” Jesus is speaking of an intimate relationship – In Him is Life and is the Light of the world. – There is a spiritual blessing that comes with observing the Lord’s Supper.

·         The body; The bread - The manna that came down from heaven was temporary, the bread of His word is eternal. - Jesus said “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The WORDS I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.

John 6:52-53 – Eat my flesh and Drink my blood.
⁵²  Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, "How can this man give us His flesh to eat?"
⁵³  So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. (NASB)

Leviticus 7:26 - Don't eat blood
²⁶ And don't eat blood, whether of birds or animals, no matter where you end up living. (MSG)

John 6:66 – Many walked away and abandoned Christ
⁶⁶ As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. (NASB)

Luke 22:19 – This bread is my body – Eat it.
¹⁹ And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” (NIV2011)

Matthew 26:27-28 – This wine is my blood – Drink it
²⁷ Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you.
²⁸ For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (NKJV)

John 6:48-50 – I am the bread of life
⁴⁸ I am the bread of life.
⁴⁹ Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.
⁵⁰ This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. (NASB)

Matthew 4:4 - Live by every word from the mouth of God
⁴ But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Leviticus 17:11 - Blood by reason of the life - makes atonement
¹¹ For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.'(NASB)

John 1:4 - In him was life; that life was the light of all mankind
⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. (NIV2011)

John 6:63 – My words are full of Spirit and Life
⁶³ The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. (NIV2011)

John 6:67-68 -Whom would we go? You have the words of life
⁶⁷ Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”
⁶⁸ Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. (NLT)

 Take up your Cross

·         Take up your cross - What’s that all about? – Every Jew knew that the man condemned to crucifixion was often forced to carry a part of his own cross; a burden and a sign of death.

·         I had a friend that made a large cross and put a little wheel on the bottom of it and pulled it around Myrtle Beach, S.C. and as you would might suspect, he got a lot of “ribbing” about his little wheel and the padding on his shoulder.

·         Well for him, this was a way he felt he would have the opportunity to tell people about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  He did it for years and in many cities with his wife driving ahead of him in their van to meet him with food, drink and rest.

·         But what did Jesus mean? This is NOT about taking up the Cross of Christ, this is about taking up YOUR cross. – This is recognizing your own spiritual poverty. - The cross that you are bearing is denying yourself; denying your wants and desires and following His example. – To DAILY put Christ in the place of yourself.

·         As a kid, I remember our church giving out elastic bracelets with the letters WWJD on it… WHAT WOULD JESUS DO – In a nutshell, that’s our Cross; Do what Jesus would do. – Now that’s a cross to bear. – We are to Acknowledge, Serve and Glorify God in everything we do.

·         The hurdles and barricades in our life that we bear are in common with Christ and we bear them because, it is working for our own good according to His purpose.

·         Well, for me, my religion is inward, private and personal – That’s a COP OUT - You are embarrassed that you are a Christian - If we are ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ before other men, then Jesus the Christ will be ashamed of us when He returns.

You are either a Believer or a MAKE BELEIVER.

Matthew 16:24 – Take up YOUR cross
²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me (NIV2011)

Luke 9:23 – Take up your cross DAILY
²³  And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross DAILY and follow Me.

Mark 8:34-38 Take up your cross UNASHAMEDLY
³⁴ If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.
³⁸ For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." (NASB)

Romans 8:27-28 – All things work together for good.
²⁷ Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (NKJV)

One Foundation

The person who hears the words of God and puts them into practice is like building a house

on a foundation of rock that CANNOT BE SHAKEN - There is only ONE foundation;

the ONE that Jesus Christ has already laid.

Luke 6:47-49 – Hear my words and practice them
⁴⁷ As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like.
⁴⁸ They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.
⁴⁹ But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.” (NIV2011)

1 Corinthians 3:11 - There is only one foundation
¹¹ Remember, there is only one foundation, the one already laid: Jesus Christ. (MSG)

IT’S NOT ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR GOD

IT’S ABOUT WHAT HE HAS ALREADY DONE FOR YOU.

In the multitude of counselors,

 there is wisdom.

Prov 11:14

I am grateful to those that went before me providing concepts, ideas, historical information, and scripture verses.  Because of them I can stand on their shoulders and see further that I otherwise ever could have.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

A Commentary; Critical, Experimental, Practical - Eerdmans

Baker’s Commentary on the Bible – Walter A. Elwell

Bible Commentary – F.B. Meyer

Expositor’s Bible Commentary; The – Frank E. Gaebelein

Gospels Interwoven; The – Kermit Zarley

Holy Spirit; The – Billy Graham

Master Study Bible – KJV

Matthew Henry’s Commentary - Zondervan

Thru the Bible Commentary – J. Vernon McGee

Wycliffe Bible commentary; The – Charles F. Pfeiffer