 
# \- Matthew's Gospel -

### Daily Devotional and Study Guide.

### Includes complete KJV text

### and

### Brief comparison with traditional Jewish Wedding

New Testament Series - Book 1

by

sybrand van kwawegen

Copyright 2020 sybrand van kwawegen

Publisher - sybrand van kwawegen

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes.

Thank you for downloading this ebook. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy from their favourite authorized retailer. Thank you for your support.

© King James Version Holy Bible (Authorised Version)

Front page: Painting by sybrand van kwawegen

(Dewing Acrylic Painting)
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FOREWORD:

This "daily devotion" is not intended as a theological exegesis of the Gospel of Matthew. I believe that there are already too many of those in circulation and they are causing sufficient confusion without me adding to that. This book is a daily walk with Jesus through the Gospel of Matthew in a way that makes its meaning and purpose available to the average believer and born again disciple of Jesus.

It is my fervent hope that those who choose to do this walk will grow in the grace and understanding of the Word of God as it affects our own personal lives and relationship with Jesus, our Saviour. I pray that it will inspire all to a deeper personal commitment to and involvement in the Church of Jesus Christ, the Great Commission and the Gospel of salvation of spirit, soul and body. _1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ._

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Acknowledgements:

My first and foremost expression of gratitude for the writing of this book must undoubtedly be to the Lord God, the FATHER, the SON and the HOLY SPIRIT for the revelation of the idea, the inspiration that kept me going and writing without fear or doubt while continuously revealing more and more new insights into the Word of God and developing ever deeper understanding of the need for a return to the fundamentals as revealed in the Word of God and by the Holy Spirit.

I owe a great deal of gratitude to Cynthia my wife for her patience with me while she spends many hours alone while I am writing, researching and listening to the LORD GOD. In addition for her way of always keeping me grounded in the daily reality of this world we are currently living in. Her unshakeable faith that's as innocent of that of a child is an amazing contribution to keeping things so plain that all can understand.

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Suggested way to use this Devotional

Most people that have a regular daily devotional time set aside will adapt their own routine to the use of this book of daily devotions. For those that do not the following is a suggested basis for you to start from. It would be best to stick to the suggested routine for at least three weeks before making your own adaptations to suit your personal lifestyle.

1. Set aside a time each day where you will not be interrupted for at least 30 minutes but preferably an hour

2. Spend a few minutes unwinding and setting the day's activities aside and then enter into a prayer (conversation) time with the Father through Jesus beginning with the adoration of the Father as our creator and head of the Holy Trinity and ask Jesus to set a guard of His angels around you to keep the tempter out and your mind fixed on the Word of God. Ask that God, the Holy Spirit will open your mind to the understanding and absorption of the Word for the day.

3. Read the daily text(s) carefully and relatively slowly (don't rush or speed read).

4. Read the commentaries in the text(s) as if they apply to you personally. Where something touches a nerve in you stop, ask the Holy Spirit what He is telling you and then continue. Make a note if something important comes to mind by highlighting the text and making a note as your app allows.

5. After reading spend some time reflecting on the day's passage(s) and what they are meaning to you. Ask yourself how you can and decide how you will apply that lesson during the next twenty three hours.

6. Close off your time of devotions in conversation with the Lord God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit and ask Jesus and the Holy Spirit to help you in your resolutions for the next day. Note that you can expect satan to tempt you extensively to "forget" or "skip just today" or a thousand other ways to stop you from a regular pattern of daily devotions. Therefore ask Jesus for a discerning mind so that you will know when satan is attacking and to help you 2Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; The attacks will start in your thought life and that is why we need to take every thought captive to the authority of Jesus and He will make it clear what thoughts to throw out with the trash.

7. The best way to imprint the Word of God and its application on our minds is to find someone to share your daily devotion with in the course of the day.

8. On day seven of each week spend your devotion time reviewing the week and making notes that you can come back to in the days and the years ahead.

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Contents:

Week 1. Matthew 1:1 to Matthew 4:22

Week 2. Matthew 4:23 to Matthew 6:9

Week 3. Matthew 6:10 to Matthew 7:14

Week 4. Matthew 7:15 to Matthew 9:13

Week 5. Matthew 9:14 to Matthew 10:39

Week 6. Matthew 10:40 - Matthew 12:50

Week 7. Matthew 13:1 to Matthew 15:9

Week 8. Matthew 15:10 to Matthew 17:21

Week 9. Matthew 17:22 to Matthew 19:30

Week 10. Matthew 19:30 to Matthew 22:14

Week 11. Matthew 22:15 to Matthew 24:22

Week 12. Matthew 22:3 to Matthew 25:46

Week 13. Matthew 26:1 to Matthew 26:68

Week 14. Matthew 26:69 to Matthew 27:66

Week 15. Matthew 28:1 to Matthew 28:20

A very brief summary of a typical Jewish marriage ceremony

Similarities with Marriage ceremony in Matthew's Gospel

About the Author

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Day 1, Week 1.

Matthew.1:1-25

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

Matthew 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; 3 And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; 4 And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; 5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; 6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; 7 And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa; 8 And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; 9 And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias; 10 And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias; 11 And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon: 12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; 13 And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; 14 And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; 15 And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthew; and Matthew begat Jacob; 16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. 17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.

The Birth of Jesus Christ

Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

In a way the choice of Joseph as the husband of Mary, being 26 generations down the direct line of David, is obvious as it fulfils the prophecy that Jesus would come from that line. Yet there must be a more important reason for Matthew tracing the lineage all the way back to Abraham. I believe the relevance of that is due to the importance attached to the promises and laws of God Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It shows that Jesus entered this world amid controversy. Traditionally and in the law Joseph could have withdrawn from his pledge to Mary and have had her stoned! Yet the Father overturned that tradition. That is an important lesson for us to this day.

It spells out that women, life and babies are more important to Jesus than traditions. So much so that Joseph and Mary's marriage was only consumed after Jesus was born. That makes it clear that intimacy in marriage is not the primary purpose. Rather obedience of husband and wife to God, and maturity sufficient for real companionship and nurturing of children is the first priority. How are we preparing ourselves, or our biological children, or our children in the Church of Jesus Christ for taking on responsibility in this day and age?

Today take time to talk to Jesus about the role Joseph and Mary played in nurturing Him so well that at the age of 12 He could take responsibility for His own spiritual relationship with the Father. How do we respond to that in our own lives? Are our children that well educated in the Word of God by the age of twelve and if not why not?

Day 2, Week 1.

Matthew 2:1-23

The Visit of the Wise Men

Matthew 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. 7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. 9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

The only thing I want to mention about this passage is to draw attention to the timing of this incident. Most people have been so mesmerised be the typical Nativity Scenes and the fables around that scene, the typical Sunday school Christmas concerts, that in most people's minds the wise men's visit occurred on the night of the birth of Jesus in the stable. The fact is that the wise men did not visit then but much nearer to two years after the birth. Just as one example that dispels the old Nativity lie remember that Joseph and Mary offered two doves at the Presentation of Jesus to the Father at the temple (Luke 2:24). That was typically a poor man's offering and certainly not the offering that would have been presented had the wise men been there at the birth. the heart sore part of this is what we are, in the majority of cases, teaching the children!

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The Flight to Egypt

Matthew 2:13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. 14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: 15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

This flight to Egypt would, even as in our day, not have been without cost. That aspect is not even mentioned but to me in my personal capacity it does beg the question whether the timing of the wise man was not a deliberate event that the Father ordained to provide the necessary financing for the sojourn in Egypt? I think that is exactly why this happened but that is a personal opinion that i cannot enforce.

Herod Kills the Children

Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, 18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

It seems from this that masses of two year old boy children had to suffer the wrath of Herod (or is it the fear of Herod) because of the "escape" of Jesus and the failure of the wise men to return to Herod. Again i will speculate a little because of all the false tales that have arisen from this. I think the father's probable involvement in the timing of the visit of the Wise men shows that Herod would have resorted to this measure in any event. That kind of action by the Romans was certainly not unusual at the time and their whole regime was based on inspiring fear in their subjects. Let us remember here that Theophilus would probably have known this Roman behaviour in the first instance and that Luke was writing to him about Jesus and not about Herod or the Roman oppression.

The Return to Nazareth

Matthew 2:19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life. 21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: 23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

Even the rumours that Herod heard of Jesus made him fear the child and so Joseph was led to flee to Egypt for the safety of Jesus. Many hundreds of years before that it was prophesied that Jesus would come to the Israelites out of Egypt and so this prophecy too was fulfilled. This fact, that this was prophesied, makes me think even more so that the timing of the wise men was orchestrated specifically for that time as I stated before.

Let us never lose sight of the fact that the first outreach of the New Covenant was to Israel and only when they rejected Jesus did Jesus tell the Disciples to go into all the world. That means that the Jews are still to this day under the Old Covenant and that some of the prophesies concerning Israel still need to be fulfilled. We, i.e. the reborn believers, because of our confession of faith and water baptism, because of what Jesus did for us, are now under the New Covenant.

We also have an Egypt that we came from and an Israel that we look forward to. We were in our Egypt when we were dead in our sin and disobedience. In the New Birth we are set free spiritually so that we can be set free from the diseases of Egypt (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). Our Israel awaits us when Jesus calls His Bride to the heavenly banquet, the Rapture.

In the meantime we are on this earth for a short while, like Jesus in Israel, and like He endured trials so must we. We also endure, with the Love of Jesus in us, in rejection of our present trials to the glory of Jesus and knowing our place is prepared. We will have our own Herod and wise men but we have a Comforter and Protector we know as the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will lead us to safety and lead us forward with the same perfect timing as the leading Joseph received to keep Jesus safe.

Day 3, Week 1.

Matthew 3:1- 4:11

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

Matthew 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, 6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

This part again at first glance seems to be little more than a history lesson with little to guide the modern born again believer. There are however a number of important issues here to note for us as believers. The first point here is that it is in this passage that we see the fulfilment of a host of prophecies from the books of Joshua, Isaiah, Daniel and Malachi and others. As believers it is vital that we both know and understand that every prophecy that came from God to mankind either has already been fulfilled exactly as prophesied. The reason for this is that it helps us to understand the will of God. That means it helps us to know what God expects us to do in response to the Love and mercy, grace and faith that God freely gives to us. It helps us towards a better understanding of how things work in particular that our lives are essentially lived as a response to rather than initiation of. That means that God acts and we react. That is how it should be in the case of born again believers that we should no longer live to ourselves but live in the acknowledgement of our salvation by responding to bring joy to the Father.

Following that the next thing is about the word "repent" or "repentance" that is derived from the Greek word "Metanoeite" in which I am sure that many will recognise the word metamorphose (better known as the word for a larva changing into a butterfly). So many of us grow up thinking that repentance is a simple process of saying sorry and getting on with life much as when we bump someone accidently and say sorry and move on. That is not and never was the intent of the word "repent" in the Word of God. repentance is the process of understanding and accepting our disobedience to the will of God and consciously deciding that we are going to turn away from that type of action. In the case of the born again believer this process then goes hand in hand with the acknowledgement that we, with our corrupted nature cannot do so by ourselves and that we can only do so by giving ourselves to Jesus so that by faith in Jesus and what Jesus did for us at Calvary, we may die to the old self and be raised with Jesus as a new creation - metamorphose from the old to the new. That is what John was calling people to do and what is taught by Jesus and all the New Testament writers. It is only that type of repentance that will lead to the New Birth.

We do not hear a great deal more but we do see that John must have elaborated on this theme extensively. the verses especially from nine to twelve indicate that he taught about the future of the Jews, the baptism of faith by water, the opening of the Gospel to the Gentiles and even the rapture and judgement at the end of the tribulation. that is what would fulfil the prophesy that "one (John) would prepare the way" for Jesus. This becomes an important fact when we see that Jesus begins to teach about the "kingdom of heaven", i.e. the "authority of mankind" almost from the beginning of his ministry. Jesus could do that because the way had been prepared for Jesus to introduce this to mankind.

Day 4, Week 1.

Matthew 3:13 - 17

The Baptism of Jesus

Matthew 3:13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Why would John, the prophesied baptiser, say that he needed to be baptised by Jesus. Certainly not because it would add any more validity to his own ministry. This is where we see the first mention of a second baptism that many today deny and attempt to lump together with the baptism of the faith in water. John here is referring to the baptism in the Holy Spirit, which it is clearly revealed here is a baptism that comes from God only toward mankind. John could baptise Jesus with water by full emersion in the Jordan, but the baptism in the Holy Spirit was given to Jesus by the Father from above.. In the baptism of the Holy Spirit the Father acknowledges Jesus as the Son which is interesting in that as new born believers we become joint heirs with Jesus, the sons and daughters of the Father and in my opinion we can therefore say that when we are baptised in the holy Spirit that we not only receive ALL the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but that we also receive the confirmation of the Father that we are then full heirs with Jesus. That will again become important when we deal with the "authority of mankind".

We see also in this that Jesus at his baptism also clearly received all the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. A very well timed gift in view of the events that followed immediately upon the Baptism of Jesus.

Water Baptism & Holy Spirit:

Zechariah 13:1 Speaks of the fountain Jesus was to open for the water baptism, the symbolic washing away of the sin of mankind by the blood of Jesus. Many denominations teach that baptism is merely an outward symbol of what God has already completed in the spirit of a convert. If that were so then Jesus would surely not have insisted on the water baptism by full immersion. Jesus shows that the full immersion baptism of a person who is mentally aware of turning from sin to Jesus and understanding their own inability to achieve righteousness before God, is an absolute essential.

Note too that Jesus' own baptism in the Holy Spirit was a separate event that followed on the water baptism by the decree of the Father(the dove descending on Jesus). To the reborn believer the baptism in the Holy Spirit is also a separate event (contrary to the practice of a large number of present day denominations) that we can ask for from the Father following immediately on our water baptism or at any time thereafter if it was not done. It is very important that we note that the two are separate events firstly and that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is essential in receiving the "authority" (kingdom) of heaven. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit received at the water baptism is a partial enabling of the reborn believer to be able to hear and be led by the Holy Spirit but the full power of the Holy Spirit is only received when we are baptised in the Holy Spirit as was demonstrated at the baptism of Jesus.

Humility:

Matthew 3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

True humility is not only a hallmark of true repentance but also a fundamental requirement of the "authority" (kingdom) of heaven. Apart from the agape (love) of a reborn believer the two most important behavioural practises of reborn believers is humility and servanthood. It was probably the lack of this that made the Pharisees and sadducees so noticeable to John.

Day 5, Week 1.

Matthew 4:1 - 11

The Temptation of Jesus

Matthew 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

Repentance:

Repentance is a turning away from the ways of the world and preparing the way in our spirit, soul and body for Jesus to come and dwell in us.(Hebrews 12:13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.) Many came to John but few kept up the profession of faith and just as then, we too can now lose our salvation if we do not walk in the ways of Jesus unfalteringly, accepting Jesus as being our righteousness personified by His indwelling.

Note that Jesus was tempted in the flesh (4:2), in the soul (4:6) and the spirit (4:9). So often we simply hear it said that "Jesus was tempted in every way just as we are". Firstly as far as that statement is concerned none of us are tempted to the extreme that Jesus was and nor will we ever be (1 Corinthians 10:13). But the point that is generally not mentioned here is that Jesus was tested in spirit, soul and body. That has far greater significance because it shows that Jesus was tempted in all the areas that He was bringing healing for to mankind and that thereby he was in authority to bring healing in those areas.

This is one of the most significant lessons that we can ever take from the Word of God. The current lack of teaching in churches regarding the ministry of healing of spirit, soul and body is not a true reflection of Jesus' ministry or that of the disciples. I will not elaborate much on the reasons for this here except to say that the healing of soul and body involves a very uncompromising emphasis on disobedience that would see many estranged from their churches where they have been used to prosperity preaching and a general soft soaping of true repentance.

False religion:

For many the different sects of the Hebrew people is a little difficult to follow so herewith just a very brief explanation that will help explain their roles. firstly the Pharisees (they were the largest grouping and were known for their outward spectacle which was just a cover for their inward iniquities), the Sadducees (who denied the resurrection and the spiritual realm) and Assenees (who led a monastic life of separation from the world and were the smallest sect and are seldom mentioned). Thus all three the major religious groupings of Israel at that time were all into "religion" and ritual, but not into sincere personal relationship or obedience. John knew the falseness of their repentance and rejected them and so it is with the Father who also will reject false or emotionally inspired repentance in mankind today. True repentance is a sober decision to turn away from the world and towards Jesus. That is a question that we too must ever keep in front of us. Unless we are in a personal relationship with Jesus we too are simply hooked on ritual.

Day 6, Week 1.

Matthew 4:12 - 5:12

Jesus Begins His Ministry

Matthew 4:12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; 13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: 14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; 16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

"Jesus began to preach" is the beginning of His ministry and is immediately associated with the "kingdom of heaven. (I discuss this subject in detail in my book "the Kingdom of Heaven - the Authority of Mankind" which is freely available on Smashwords). I have mentioned earlier that Jesus was able to start with this teaching because John the Baptist had prepared the way. You may read my book to get the finer details but i will summarise the two essential elements of this statement here. The Kingdom of heaven refers to the authority that Jesus will give to the born again believers that are baptised in the Holy Spirit to be able to carry out the "Great Commission" to which we are summoned, namely the proclamation and practice of the Gospel of salvation by faith through grace of spirit,, soul and body. Our churches may not be proclaiming this ministry any longer but there it is in the Word of God and that we cannot argue against if we are born again believers.

What is of some concern to me in these times that we live is the neglect of the true Gospel while at the same time there is an ever increasing shortage of medical finances available in the hands of the vast majority of the world population. In addition there is a gradual but steady increase in afflictions of soul and body that the medical profession have no answers for and finally the fact that the medical profession as we know it is not in the business of healing but in the business of dealing with symptoms (Dr. MK Strydom). These fact are putting the lives and welfare of the vast majority of the world's population at severe risk in a time when in addition there is scheduled by God to be a falling away from the Church of Jesus Christ. It therefore becomes incumbent on the surviving born again brothers and sisters to return to the full and proper understanding , acceptance and teaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

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Jesus Calls the First Disciples

Matthew 4:18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. 21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. 22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

From the first disciples that Jesus Called they had a specific purpose in this world that remains unchanged. We are seeing very little evidence of that in our society but the fact remains that followers (disciples) of Jesus have a duty to become fishers of men. That is not a choice as many would like to think and it is not something that is reserved for the clergy of our multitude of denominations. What I also find very significant in this section is that Jesus called disciples BEFORE He began to minister on a significant scale. That must send a clear message to us to realise that firstly it is the duty of the full time ministerial staff to train disciples to assist in ministry and it is also pointing an early finger at the follow up ministry that we must engage in which is the "discipling" of new believers.

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Day 7, Week 1.

This week's reading: Matthew 1:1 to Matthew 4:22

Read through the week's portion of scripture again. Then ask yourself the following questions and answer them as objectively as you can:

1.Have I read everything attentively and listened to the Holy Spirit's prompting?

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2. What was new and meaningful to me?

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3. What do I want to learn more about?

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4. What life decisions am I making from this week onward

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5. How do I rate my own;

Personal relationship with Jesus?

Personal relationship with the Holy Spirit?

**Personal** relationship with God the Father?

Humility?

Servanthood?

Agape (love)?

Faith?

Hope?

6. My prayer commitments

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7. Other comments

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Day 1, Week 2.

Matthew 4:23

Jesus ministers to great Crowds

Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. 24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. 25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.

Almost every denominational church has lost sight of the full ministry of Salvation that Jesus brought to mankind. "Healing every sickness and disease", was something not only Jesus did from the beginning of His ministry, but it was also what He sent His early disciples to do, it was part of their mission after the ascension, and nothing in all the Bible has taken that away from us to this very day. Jesus brought salvation of spirit, soul and body, but that is now reduced mostly to the spirit of mankind alone. The healing of soul and body is about the healing of both physical and psychosomatic afflictions including generational diseases. As long as any body of believers denies this fact they are teaching apostasy and this being the end times we can expect to see more and more of it. The neglect of the ministry of healing has led to the most powerful persuasion that Jesus Himself and the early disciples used and that saw great multitudes FOLLOW Jesus whereas today we are, especially in western "civilisation", seeing a great falling away (as in fact is predicted for the end times). Let us not, however, stand in the way of turning to Jesus for healing from the root causes of our diseases because it is still available now just as it was then.

The Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 5:1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

The Beatitudes

Matthew 5:2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

There is a very interesting but not often mentioned similarity between the teaching on the mount and the explanation of the Old Covenant Terms by the Moses to Israel also on a mount. The structure and teaching of Deuteronomy 28 and Matthew 5 & 6 has undeniable similarity. Just as the first 14 verses of Deut. 28 show the blessings that the Father will bestow on the obedient, so the Beatitudes show the blessings that will follow the true disciples of Jesus, those that are obedient to the New Covenant. What is important to notice though about both Deuteronomy and the Beatitudes is that they are both stated in absolute terms. "Blessed are "the poor in spirit", "they that mourn" and "the meek" and so on. The blessing is for those that are 100% humble (meek) or repentant (mourn) and nowhere is the blessing there for half heartedness, the also ran's. We are seen as either obedient or as disobedient with no half way is "good enough" in between. Any serious study of the scripture for the born again believer is about knowing how to please God by knowing what "fully obedient to His will" is all about.

Day 2, Week 2.

Matthew 5:13 - 26

Salt and Light:

Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

All these blessings come with a list of stern warnings just as in Deuteronomy 28:15-68. Here Jesus shows that we are saved for a purpose and blessed for a purpose. Outwardly our salvation may appear to some to place us in a superior position to the unsaved but instead our salvation is there so that we may add flavour to the world by serving them with the undiluted truth. Once we start diluting the truth we will be held in contempt. With Jesus as with the Father we must either be fully committed (all in) or not at all, because half hearted commitment makes us fit only to be stood on.

Christ Came to Fulfil the Law:

Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

There is widespread confusion reigning in society because a vast number of denominations and individual clergy preach a lie that the Old Testament is now irrelevant and does no longer apply to disciples of Jesus. Nothing is further from the truth and anyone that holds this opinion is not of God but indeed a false prophet. In fact the largest group of Jews at the time of Jesus on earth were the Pharisees and their relationship with God was based on ritual and public performance of gestures symbolising holiness but away from the public eye they had no respect for the Law. Jesus teaches that every dot and dash of the law must be a matter of the heart, i.e. it must be lived out in the heart, the mind, in private and in public. Verses 17 to 20 are amongst the most critical commands in my opinion that we have and it is fundamental to retaining our salvation. if we stray from these we WILL lose our salvation (Matthew 5:13).

Anger:

Matthew 5:21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

Here again Jesus is teaching that obedience to the Law is not just a superficial sticking to the exact wording but that it is a matter of understanding and acquiring the heart of God. Murder is the end result of a superior attitude and we must stand against any form of disrespect of anyone else. That includes people of all races, colours, and persuasions. whether we agree with their beliefs or not they are to be loved and respected. if we do not adhere to that type of standard then we are guilty of murder.

Day 3, Week 2.

Matthew 5:27 - 37

Lust:

Matthew 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

The modern day media are filled with "love" stories and "dramas" that are increasingly explicit pornography. Do not for one moment imagine that because you have not slept with anyone outside of your marriage but daily indulge in feasting your eyes on all this pornographic material that you are innocent in the sight of God. That was what the Pharisees were guilty of, outwardly they made appearance of holiness but out of sight they were utterly corrupt. If we behave like them then we are no less a brood of vipers than they were.

Divorce:

Matthew 5:31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

This section is to a point pretty well self explanatory. If we however go into the way marriages took place in the early Hebrew history, how brides were chosen, how the groom went to prepare a place for them, how seriously virginity was taken and how clearly the roles of husband and wife were defined then we will realise that Jesus was here referring to the fact that even in those days people were already treating marriage without the necessary respect and insight. in our present society the biblical standard has all but completely disappeared and yet that is exactly what Jesus expects us to return to. any serious disciple of Jesus would do well to study the Godly norms and standards of the marriage and the family. it is unfortunately far to vast a subject to cover in the context of these daily devotions. we will get some insight later when we deal with Ephesians

Oaths:

Matthew 5:33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole..." "put your hand on the Bible and say...". These very familiar words have become little more than a mockery of the divinity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus himself was falsely accused so mankind swears falsely on the Bible today without so much as a second thought. That is but one of the aspects of this section but Jesus goes a whole lot further than that again and says that we must ALWAYS deal in the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, To the true believer this is not negotiable, their word is their honour and can be utterly depended upon. the integrity of the true believer is absolute and if we are not in that category we cannot call ourselves disciples of Jesus. That sounds harsh but that is the essence of what Jesus is stating here.

Day 4, Week 2.

Matthew 5:38 - 6:4

Retaliation

Matthew 5:38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. 41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

"Resist" from Greek "anthistēmi" which means: to set one's self against, to withstand, resist, opposed to, set against. What Jesus teaches here is that we must not stand up against evil but instead soak it up like a sponge and instead give those who stand against us more than they seek. This is exactly the opposite of the "crusades", so called battles in the honour of God. The Lord's way of resisting that heaps burning coals on the heads of the enemies and still have a chance to bring them to salvation by our love.

Lending

Matthew 5:42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Give instead of lending. Exo 22:25 and Deut 23:19 and to them that borrow do not charge interest. in essence this instruction is about us living a life of generosity as opposed to a life of opportunism. True selfless help is not about getting back more than we have given but rather about giving more than we get back. Please note that while many think that the saying "neither a borrower nor a lender be" is not from Scripture but is from Shakespeare. As much as Jesus will not withhold Himself from His disciples, so He expects us also never to withhold our help wherever we can.

Love Your Enemies

Matthew 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

Jesus advocates love instead of opposing when in this world we are told that the best form of defence is attack. Why? So that our salvation will be secure (children of the Father i.e. brothers and sisters in Jesus) coming back to blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. it is also so that we may realise that our lives are not our own and therefore our protection or otherwise must be left to the faith we have in Jesus. opposing is a form of self defence that belongs to the unsaved as they have not the protection of Jesus, if we act like they do we become like they are.

Perfection

Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.. Matthew 6:1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

There is a great tendency on all levels of our existence towards mediocrity and how often don't we hear people say we "must not become so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good" when all they are demanding is a watered down devotion to Jesus. Jesus, the Word, on the contrary, demands perfection. The Father is perfect, Jesus is perfect, so his heirs must be perfect and that is all those who want to be raptured and escape the tribulation. However this continuous effort we must engage in, must not in any way resemble the way of the Pharisees, i.e. presenting an outward front of false perfection while inwardly being evil. Perfection without humility or meekness is vanity. The disciple's perfection is found in humility and servanthood.

Day 5, Week 2.

Matthew 6:4 - 8.

The Lord's Prayer (1)

Matthew 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

While many of us have a very full and rewarding prayer life I will nevertheless spend a little time on the Lord's Prayer. Prayer is not about a public demonstration of how "good" we are. It is not About fancy strings of poetic composition, it is not worship in the form of hymns or choruses. Prayer is a private, respectful (worship), communication with God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. When Jesus speaks about not being hypocrites like the Pharisees it is a veiled warning that the Father knows what is in the heart and prayers that may impress the public because they sound as if we care will be rejected by God if they do not agree with what is in the heart. Hence also the kind of prayer that Jesus is teaching the disciples here is best kept to a quiet, private space where we are alone with God. Corporate prayers are a different subject which will not be dealt with here.

Let me also just mention here that many may have heard people praying for healing of others and sometimes those prayers are also pretty poetic and full of technical terms. Let us not be scared off by that because it is exactly the same principle that applies here, i.e. that it is what is in the heart that matters and when we cover all the aspects that the Word of God directs us to then the actual poetry is of no relevance,

We will deal with the specifics of the Lord's prayer over the next number of days.

Not like the heathen

Matthew 6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

We seem to so easily get stuck on praying for our personal needs when in fact the Father already knows what we need and He had our purpose determined from long before creation began. We also are very fond of beginning our prayers with our own needs (which He already knows) and lose sight of the eternal cycle that exists between God and mankind. All action between us happens firstly as an input from God down to us and then we respond to that action, God acts and we react! God never stops acting in the lives of mankind but we regularly fail to react to the outstretched hand of God. when we in our prayers lose sight of these two factors then we are in real danger of praying like the heathen or to put it in other words then we are in danger of praying to an unknown god.

Day 6, Week 2.

Matthew 6:8. The Lord's Prayer (2)

After this Manner

Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

It took me, and many people I have met, many years to become aware of the significance of the first word of the Lord's Prayer - "Our". For many years all the talk of having a personal relationship with Jesus made me engage the Lord God as if He was my God alone. On the contrary He is very much "our" God. He is as the Father first of all the God of Israel, then of the Church of Jesus Christ and then of the heathen. God is supreme over all the earth and nothing or no one on earth exists outside of His Authority. God is constantly reaching down to (acting towards) everyone and everything and so when we pray we are responding to that amazing outreach of the Father of the Godhead and we are therefore reacting as part of the chorus of believers that at any one time are responding to God's grace. This is an important fact that we need to come to grips with in that while our salvation is an individual event that takes place between each of us individually and the Lord God, our salvation and life purposes are part of a far greater and indivisible whole. God acts in my individual life so that my purpose in the whole may be achieved for my and your and everyone and everything else's benefit. God is not interested in any selfish motive I may have for approaching His throne of Grace. it is with all this in mind that we need to react to the grace of God.

The very next word that Jesus teaches is "Father". We must understand the we serve and worship a Triune God who exists as Father, Son and Holy Spirit and that when we pray it is important that we pray to the correct Person of the Trinity firstly, and that in the trinity the Father stands at the head so out of respect the Father is the first Person that we speak to and we begin with acknowledging His status as ruler of all. That is the significance of "in Heaven", the Father sits raised way above the humdrum of this world wherefrom he reigns unopposed and glorified at all times in every dimension. Heaven is a place of divine perfection that stands supreme in the mind of the believer as everything that is good and gentle and filled with grace. That is what our salvation makes us aware of and what, from the moment of salvation, we begin to work towards together with the Church of Jesus Christ. When we approach the throne of grace in our prayers it is this image that we strive to behold and that we raise our adoration toward.

When we say "hallowed be Thy name" it is this perfect holiness that we adore, the majesty and perfection of the Father together with the angels and the perfection of the heavenly realm. If it is possible for us to encapsulate all the adoration that the Father's supremacy and glory and the perfection of heaven in one word then so be it but for me I need to speak words and thoughts of adoration in many ways and to join in with the heavenly choir of angels in entering into a prayerful conversation with the Father. This will, when we fully understand this scenario, forever change the way we use the words "God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit" to an attitude of utmost reverence and in so doing will see us forever rejecting the slanderous use of the names of the Godhead so common in our world. It will forever remove from us any frivolous use of prayer and of these names. Finally we will never again be able to remain spiritually tied to this world when we engage with God in prayer.

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Day 7, Week 2.

This week's reading: Matthew 4:23 to Matthew 6:9

Read through the week's portion of scripture again. Then ask yourself the following questions and answer them as objectively as you can:

1.Have I read everything attentively and listened to the Holy Spirit's prompting?

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2. What was new and meaningful to me?

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3. What do I want to learn more about?

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4. What life decisions am I making from this week onward

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5. How do I rate my own;

Personal relationship with Jesus?

Personal relationship with the Holy Spirit?

**Personal** relationship with God the Father?

Humility?

Servanthood?

Agape (love)?

Faith?

Hope?

6. My prayer commitments

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7. Other comments

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Day 1, Week 3.

The Lord's Prayer (3)

Matthew 6:10- 12

Matthew 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Consider this text: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap". Galatians 6:7. Now what are we doing if we pray *Thy kingdom come" and then sit back watching as the church falls into apostasy and people are misled and backslide en masse? Does it sound reasonable you want the kingdom of God to come and we stand by idly observing how the Laws and discipline of God are being distorted, eroded and falsified? Can we say "Thy kingdom come and we ourselves are failing to be totally obedient? What those words are meant to make us do is to listen to what God wants us to do in this objective and to seek His direction.

How is the will of the Father done in heaven? Gladly, with enthusiasm, with praises and jubilation, immediately and competently, enthusiastically and without hesitation. Now chose between Christmas and not serving any foreign gods. How do we respond as we say on earth as it is in heaven. "And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. Matthew 10:1" we are disciples now and how are we dealing with unclean spirits, sicknesses and diseases? It would be better for us not to pray at all than to pray "as it is in heaven" while we ourselves do not believe in the ministry of healing.

Let us remember that it was the disciples that asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. Jesus was not teaching brain dead fossils to pray but born again Spirit filled disciples. Men that could understand and work out the wider implication of Jesus' words in just the way it is illustrated here. Prayer is not a meaningless ritual like counting beads on a rosary but an intelligent communication between ourselves and God. Thus when I Pray "on earth", it means in my sphere of operation and influence. In that part of the Lord's prayer then we should be communicating about how the will of the Father is going to be done in our space, what I am going to do about it. If I do not do that then that part of my prayer is nothing other than a pharisaical, street corner, exhibition.

"Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven", is not about agreeing with the Father, He does not need my approval, the Father does not need my consent, He is Almighty. It is about our duty as disciples and the purpose for which we were created. About acting on and understanding the will of the Father.

Matthew6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.

Remember that the Father already knows our every need and certainly if "daily bread" was only about food clothing and shelter then it would hardly be necessary for us to ask that on a daily basis. What we do need though is to be helped to live one day at a time to the best of our ability as Spirit filled disciples of Jesus. Our daily bread then is a honest revelation of where we are struggling this day to be fully committed and to seek the Father's help and guidance in letting His will and not my/our will be done. It is a daily request for a reminder and renewal of the infilling of the Holy Spirit and the authority (basileia - kingdom) of God. Lest I forget those are not deserved by me but given to me by the grace of God alone. If I want those things I must humble myself and examine myself and ask the Father to search my heart.

Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

In my school days we would begin each morning by saying the Lord's prayer at the assembly of the whole school. Church services included the Lord's prayer at every service. As far as I am aware this practice has been abandoned in most schools and churches and I am glad. The Lord's prayer became for most a religious ritual with very little substance. It is so easy just to rattle off this line without any thought. There are two types of disobedience involved here. The disobedience of which we are almost immediately aware and then those times we are disobedient when because of our hardened hearts we do not even realise it. First we cannot expect forgiveness of those sins that we consciously commit unless we name them and repent of each and every occasion with a resolve to turn away from such obedience. The other type involves a lack of listening to the Spirit of God and that in itself requires repentance and revised behaviour. However that all is still not enough if there are situations in our lives where we refuse to forgive others. The implication of not forgiving others is that we are placing ourselves higher than God! We believe that God will forgive every sin that we ask for forgiveness of if we truly repent (i.e. truly repent in OUR opinion). If that is the case, who do I think I am not to forgive others? Clearly this line of the Lord's prayer is not just part of a ritual but is a matter that takes time and contemplation, that requires talking to the Father and telling the Father how we feel in our hearts about our disobedience and seeking both pardon and the spiritual growth that will cause us to stop repeating sin.

We will see later in this New Testament Series again that the abuse and or neglect of this line of the prayer has serious consequences that will manifest as sicknesses and diseases. There is a current teaching that these are not the cause of sin but that is a lie from satan and simply not in accordance with the Word of God.

There is yet another aspect of this line that we will deal with tomorrow which is generally referred to as intercessory prayer that arises out of the injunction of Jesus to "love our neighbour as ourselves".

Day 2, Week 3.

The Lord's Prayer (4)

Matthew 6:12 - 13

Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

We continue from yesterday where we saw the importance of conscientious repentance but a crucial part of Christian living is the involvement of the individual disciple in the life of the Body. To simply show concern for my personal needs and neglecting the needs of the rest of the Body of Jesus Christ is contrary to Biblical teaching and therefore it is fitting that at this point in our prayers we take time to intercede for other members of the Body and those out there that still need saving. It is fitting then that at this point we pray for our family and our country and our government, but there are always those that are in further need of being prayed for. Not the least of these are our missionaries and evangelists and others in full time work for the glory of God. There are many that will say here that they do not know enough about any other people to pray for them, that they do not know what it is that "evangelists' do to pray for them. That is simply a sign that I regard my own life as being so important that I cannot make room in my heart for that which others are doing. The people that we pray for are normal men and women just like we are with all the same needs and aspirations. That alone gives us enough to pray for on their behalf but no one is so busy in the eyes of the Lord that they do not have time to find out just what the needs of their fellow members of the Body are.

What is Jesus doing right now? That's right interceding with the Father on our behalf, on behalf of each and every single one of us while also preparing a place for those he will rapture, keeping satan at bay and countless other tasks. Can we expect Jesus to intercede for us if we are "too busy" to do so for others? How did Jesus demonstrate living on earth to His disciples then? Jesus lived his life to the glory of the Father by the completely selfless giving of His life for the benefit of all the people He physically encountered during His life on earth and spiritually for all mankind for all time. How will they know that we are his disciples? By our Love! How will they know our love unless we live for others as much as we live for ourselves

Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation,

Think about that. Would the father lead us into temptation? That brings about the question of the persons of the Trinity again, Who is your and my leader in this life? Jesus is my Lord and Saviour and Jesus dwells in the believer. Jesus sees through my eyes, he hears through my ears and tastes through my mouth. I am his hands and His feet and He eats and drinks with me. Why on earth would Jesus "lead us into temptation"? The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one and therefore not Jesus, or the Father or the Holy Spirit will do so. The only other, and the far more likely, interpretation therefore of the above is that we are appealing that the Father will help us to make the right choices.

Temptation is in the world and of the world. It is all around us. It is in bottle stores, in brothels, in advertising, in the movies and TV serials. In fact temptation is all around us and we cannot avoid it without completely isolating ourselves from the world. So we are in fact asking that the Father will help us to discern right from wrong and to keep us from submitting to the wrong. That is a thought process and because we are not capable of any thoughts ourselves all thoughts are either from the Lord or from satan (2 Corinthians 10:5). Thus what we are asking for is that the Father will help us take every thought captive to the authority of Jesus so that Jesus will help us to reason on the basis of good thoughts from God and so come to make the right decisions. This is not a process by which we avoid and deal with temptation, it is THE process, the only process, and until we understand and accept that we cannot pray this phrase correctly, Our prayer will not be answered because we ask amiss (James 4:3), we are asking the wrong question because of our lack of knowledge of the Word.

Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

Brothers and sisters there are many that think this is just repetition and that temptation and evil are referring to the same thing. They are not! Firstly we could say that temptation is visible and that evil is invisible. The full explanation of this is however in what Paul says that: Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. When we pray for delivery from evil we are praying for protection against the spiritual realm of satan. I have often heard pastors say that satan is already powerless because Jesus overcame satan on the cross and yet they will pray this prayer? Satan is not yet bound and we very much need protection from satan's minions. Especially when our disobedience gives them access to our bodies and we suffer as a result almost every known sickness and disease known to mankind.

Not only do we need protection but it is here in our prayer time that we can ask also of the Father that He will lift from us any curses we may have incurred as a result of our disobedience. What we have not been told very often in the plethora of church denominations is that forgiveness of sins and the lifting of curses are not the same thing and also that the casting out of demons by the authority given to us in Jesus is an act of war that does not form an essential part of our daily prayer. Note that the lifting of curses is something that we pray to the Father for. In Deuteronomy 28 we see the both blessings and curses emanate from the Father and therefore it is to the Father that we appeal for the lifting of them, _"For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen."_

Finally we must also note that in this last phrase there is also tied in an element of adoration and praise. Not even in this world do we think of leaving the office of the CEO, or the President or the court of law without due and proper greetings and acknowledgement of the office or status of the person. In the same way Jesus teaches us here that the proper conclusion of prayer time is in praising God.

We have over just a few days done a very short review of the Lord's prayer that I hope has been enlightening and comforting. Although a book can be written on the subject we will leave it at this.

Day 3, Week 3. The Lord's Prayer (5)

Matthew 6:14 - 15

Matthew 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

I think it would be safe to say that this is not only one of the most poorly comprehended portions of the Word of God but probably also one of the most ignored. What we do not realise is that this stands also in relation to Deuteronomy 28:1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: 2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. We have all been through times where our prayers seem not to reach the Lord God and then we very seldom realise that the cause of it lies in our stubborn unforgiving behaviour. You see the fact is that God hears only those that "hearken diligently to the voice of the Lord" and so that means that if we do not forgive them, then God will not answer our prayers. Not only that, but our opponents remain unforgiven by us, but it will have disastrous consequences not only for them but also for our own lives: Deuteronomy 28:15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: Dear brothers and sisters one of the biggest errors in the present style of ministry in the majority of churches is the tendency to preach the Word of God in bits and pieces. That is not and never was the intention of the Word and it is crucial that when we apply the Word we must apply all of it in every situation.

I know that when we do that we are going to shock congregations all over the world, but would we rather preach truth and shock or half truths (which effectively are then lies) and have deceived congregations? The reality is that our refusal to forgive has a worse effect on ourselves than on the people we do not want to forgive. Unforgiveness has been medically proven to lead us into stage 1 and 2 stress which then after a period converts into stage 3 stress. At that stage the human mind ,i.e. the hypothalamus and pituitary glands begin to secrete hormones (chemicals of negative expectation and fear hormones) that override the effect of adrenalin and cortisol and that damage our bodies resulting in a multitude of sicknesses and diseases (physical and psychosomatic) and altering our cell structures so that we lose our immunity to viruses. This fact has been medically established and proved beyond doubt.

Clearly the unforgiveness that we harbour has a more harmful effect on ourselves than those that trespassed against us. By not forgiving we are losing control and becoming victims of our own disobedience. Forgiveness is not, as satan may try to make us believe, a heart or an emotional matter or does not mean that we need to make the hurt undone that we feel. Forgiving is a matter of the mind taking a decision intellectually to "let it or them go". It is a matter of subjecting our soul (i.e. mind) to our spirit and the Holy Spirit.

The fact is that when we forgive we then restore our relationship with God and, of major importance in our world, it opens the way for the Father to remove the curses we have incurred and to bring about healing of our souls and bodies from over 700 known diseases and illnesses including the restoration of our immunity to viral diseases.

For many the inability to forgive is rooted in the thought that you must avenge yourself. The seeking of vengeance is a completely separate matter that we must firstly not get confused with forgiveness. They are two distinct and separate actions that bear no relationship towards each other but that satan uses very effectively by filling our mind with thoughts that justify our taking revenge. If we however, confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour of our lives then we must be obedient to all His instruction and that includes the fact that vengeance belongs to God alone. Rom 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. There is a simple truth that mankind all too frequently overlooks that is the fact that vengeance begets vengeance just as violence begets violence. Mankind's vengeance results in a never ending spiral that is typical of gang wars and family feuds. Vengeance is certainly not a God idea and the only beneficiary of any and all forms of vengeance is satan. Many may well ask how God will take vengeance? What is that to us? It will not prosper us in any way, it is none of our business and will just get us into trouble again. (Page 178ff "Healing begins with Sanctification of the Heart" M.K. Strydom)

Day 4, Week 3.

Matthew 6:16 - 24

Fasting

Matthew 6:16-18 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

Why do we fast and what do we need to fast of? In many circles the so called period of fasting has become little more than a time of weight reduction and probably for the same reason fasting has become almost entirely associated with staying without food. Biblically there are many instances of fasting that have nothing to do with food and many of these would be more than appropriate in the present age. Isaiah 58:4 Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.

The first and most important lesson about fasting is that is does not stand in isolation. There is absolutely no purpose in fasting while the rest of our behaviour is anything but Godly. Unless we put off all malice and deceit and slander and injustice and in fact any other form of disobedience FIRST, then fasting of any nature is without purpose or effect. Jer 14:10- 12 Thus saith the LORD unto this people, Thus have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet, therefore the LORD doth not accept them; he will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins.11 Then said the LORD unto me, Pray not for this people for their good.12 When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.

Fasting is about a total commitment, a total denial of self and complete submission and obedience to God by doing something in addition to living in total obedience that requires sacrifice on our part. The purpose of fasting is to appeal to God to do something that we have asked for and that because of our normal behaviour we do not deserve. This may be a private or a corporate matter, i.e. it may be something that we do as an individual or as a congregation or as a nation. We see in the Word of God instances of a nation repenting for an appeal for rain and individuals repent for forgiveness of sin and for healing. Whatever the reason and purpose it must be done without any form of boasting or public show. Outwardly we must not let anyone see that we are fasting because then it becomes something that is no longer an appeal to God but becomes a personal boast. Many have wondered whether fasting still has a place in our time? It still is very much applicable and has particular significance in the ministry of healing (Matthew 17:21).

Lay Up Treasures in Heaven

Matthew6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

The implication of this teaching is pretty clear and needs no explanation, the application of this verse is what troubles a major section of the population. Angus Buchan speaks of mission trips into Central Africa with food, clothing and Bibles. The people often surprised them in that though they were starving and dresses in a few old rags, they just about came to blows with each other when the Bibles were handed out. We are so concerned in the circles I move in about financial welfare and earthly comfort that such a desire for the Word seems almost impossible. But that is exactly what the Word of God teaches. It has been muted that there is more love and intimacy between family and neighbour in the squalor and poverty of squatter communities than in the top upmarket suburban areas of the world. That may well be because they have no other distractions and one need only visit a restaurant these days to see how little conversation takes place while couples and families are nailed to games and social media on their cell phones.

There is nothing evil about being well off in itself but the danger of our wealth becoming more important that God and obedience to God's Laws and tenets increases in proportion to our wealth and that is when there comes a danger of serving mammon rather than God. The bottom line of this passage is that we can trust God for all our real needs but anything more than that will not be under the protection of God if it replaces His place in our Lives.

Day 5, Week 3.

Matthew 6:25 - 7:6

Do Not Be Anxious

Matthew6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

What modern man has done by ignoring the Old Testament is that we have lost sight of important facts. One of these is that God created us in His own image and that means that God did not create in us an ability to deal with ongoing or excessive anxiety. Anxiety has the effect of causing the hypothalamus (a gland in the brain) to secret certain hormones that cause the adrenal gland to secrete cortisols and aldosterones that switch off the hormone generating equipment. If the anxiety persists the hormones change type and are not switched off by the adrenal gland's secretions and that leads to a multitude of illnesses and diseases and cancels the human cell's natural resistance to viruses. In short anxiety kill whereas righteousness leads to blessing upon blessings that include excellent physical and mental health.

There is an attitude amongst us that has us thinking that if we do not know the reason for something then that gives us the right to disregard it. The little recognised fact of our time is that medical and other sciences are continuously discovering ever more reasons behind the words of the Bible and showing that they have enormous truths and more than enough facts in them to obey them. The fact though is that that should not be the reason why a true disciple obeys the Word of God. Obedience must flow out of our love and respect for God which should be of such a standard as to make our complete submission and obedience automatic and without question or doubt. That is what righteousness is all about and where all the blessings will begin.

Judging Others

Matthew7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.2For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again 3And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. 6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Judging is a consequence of unforgiveness and I refer you back to the devotion of a few days ago on that subject. Thus we must be aware that judgement is a progressive form of unforgiveness that in turn sets us up for developing emotions of hatred and murderous ideas that can become actions. There is therefore no doubt that judgement will lead us on a destructive path that will see us laden with curses which will translate into illnesses and diseases of every kind and description.

There is an interesting "addendum" that Jesus adds to this warning which we see in verse 6 about casting pearls before swine. Sometimes we will get into conversation with other believers about the meaning of the Word of God and that will in time to come escalate as the apostasy of the church denominations escalates. The only true pearls are the Word(s) of God. All extra biblical doctrine is subject to the Word but that is just where the problem lies. What Jesus is saying here is that when we are stating the truth by sticking to the Word of God and the literal meaning of Scripture and people try to argue about what we are saying then they are not worth wasting our time on. That is we do not judge them or try to struggle against them, we just leave them to suffocate in their own swill. That is exactly what Jesus showed us to do when he left the town of Nazareth to their own beliefs. All Jesus advises us to do is to base everything in the literal Word of God, but to avoid any form of confrontation as confrontation is always unproductive. Added to that there is imminent danger that confrontation will inevitably lead to unforgiveness and judgement.

Day 6, Week 3.

Matthew 7:7 - 7:14

Ask, and It Will Be Given

Matthew7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

How often have we heard it said that we must read every verse in the Word of God in the context of which it is written. On the other hand I am sure that almost everyone has heard it said over and over again that all we need to do is "ask and it shall be given to you". There is no way that an unbeliever can ask God for anything and expect to receive it. This text in fact stands in the context of one continuous sermon from the mouth of Jesus that began in chapter 5. From the outset of the sermon the focus has been on what constitutes obedience to the word of God and what is disobedience and we have seen repeatedly that disobedience separates us from God. Firstly then this asking must be seen as being available only to those that are living in obedience to God.

Secondly do not lose sight of verse 11: If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Not only is it only for those in obedience but it is about asking for good things! What are the good things that Jesus refers to here? To give a specific answer here would be speculation and I do not want to dictate to God there but what we have seen here is that we are to gather for ourselves treasures in heaven and not in this world. That is a very strong indication that the "good things" are things that have to do with righteousness before God. That would be things like insight, repentance, understanding, infilling of the Holy Spirit, forgiveness and that type of thing. I find it very disturbing when people, especially those that profess to be men of God, glibly say to anyone and everyone that they need only ask and they will receive, because it is misleading and only half true and therefore also half lie.

It would do well for us to stop this worldly tendency to treat every Person of the Trinity that is God as we would treat any friendly casual acquaintance on earth. My God is not our "Mate" but a Perfectly Holy and Righteous God that is in all and above all. Part of the problem here is that the churches acceptance of the Christmas lie has given people a fairytale image of the Father that is in itself an apostasy and so people have lost sight of reality.

The Golden Rule

Matthew 7:12 - 14 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

I find it almost amusing that the very people that try to make out that just anyone can ask at any time and they will receive are the first to say "that's what the Bible says", but then will ignore the very next line of the Word of God. Here again we see that Jesus has rules for holy living that we must abide by ("enter YE at the straight gate") because only that gate "leads to life" which can have no other implication on the foregoing section that that it is those on the narrow road only whose prayers will be heard.

There may now be those that are thinking that I am saying that we cannot ask for anything. I would respectfully say to that friend that I am saying nothing but what is written in the Word of God and I have not said anything of that kind. What the Word says, as we saw in the section of fasting, is that God will not listen to the prayers of or the prayers for the disobedient let alone the heathen (Jeremiah 14:11).

What I will say is that we all need to take a long hard look at ourselves and ask ourselves whether in fact we are on the narrow road and where we are falling short so that we can make right with God and then we can ask and receive.

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Day 7, Week 3.

This week's reading: Matthew 6:10 to Matthew 7:14

Read through the week's portion of scripture again. Then ask yourself the following questions and answer them as objectively as you can:

1.Have I read everything attentively and listened to the Holy Spirit's prompting?

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2. What was new and meaningful to me?

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3. What do I want to learn more about?

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4. What life decisions am I making from this week onward

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5. How do I rate my own;

Personal relationship with Jesus?

Personal relationship with the Holy Spirit?

**Personal** relationship with God the Father?

Humility?

Servanthood?

Agape (love)?

Faith?

Hope?

6. My prayer commitments

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7. Other comments

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Day 1, Week 4.

Matthew 7:15 - 23

A Tree and Its Fruit.

Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

We live in times where there are an estimated 34000 church denominations across the world and some 37 million churches. In almost every single church we will find different interpretations of the Word of God and only a very small minority of these are currently accepting the Word of God as found in the King James Version as the literal Word of God. There are probably as many reasons as churches for this but essentially they all amount to twisting the true meaning for personal reasons and gain.

For most of us the immediate question we would tend to ask would be "how do we judge which one to trust"? The fact is that as we saw at the beginning of the chapter it is not for us to judge, that belongs to God and will bring curses on us. We can however "know" whether we can "trust" specific denominations by their fruits. The only thing to beware of there is that "fruits" and numbers are not synonymous. Many denominations are very successful at drawing huge crowds with entertainment and preaching modern psychology that is soft on the ear.

Although Jesus does not mention it here I would respectfully suggest that the best way is to test every word we hear against the Word of God. If it does not correspond with that then it cannot be trusted and we can "know" that it is false. The fact is that the Word, warns that in these last days apostasy will increase and it is therefore necessary for us to be discerning but not judgemental.

I Never Knew You

Matthew 7:21-23 Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

There is a very significant thing about the order or sequence of texts in the Word of God. They are generally in ascending order and one text builds on another just as the New Testament is built on the Old Testament. Note that Jesus points out that we "shall know" in the section above. Then Jesus goes on to warn us that not everyone that calls themselves "believers" are heirs of the Father.

The USA is well known for its fetish with suing for anything and everything and we are not far behind in the stakes of judging or attaching blame. What Jesus is in fact saying in this piece is that the responsibility for proper obedience to the Word of God is everyone's personal responsibility and we must not think that when we die we can say that pastor "so and so" said... and expect heaven to institute a class action against them. We will be personally held accountable for our actions here on earth. there is no such thing as joint liability in heaven, we will be held severally liable.

What Jesus has done with these three verses is to place an undeniable emphasis on the need for each one of us to have a personal, one on one , relationship with Him as our High Priest. It cannot be done for us, we will not be sanctified by a congregation, or a particular pastor or evangelist, or even a mother or father or husband or wife. They may intercede on our behalf that we will open the door to Jesus but the final step is our personal responsibility. That furthermore is not about visible works or even miracles performed in the Name of God, but about the nature of our obedience to every Word of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and our repentance when we fail. It is a matter of what is in the heart and that is known only to God and ourselves, and not any outward demonstration.

Day 2, Week 4.

Matthew 7:24 - 8:13

Build Your House on the Rock - The Authority of Jesus

Matthew7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. 28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

The earthly walk of a disciple of Jesus is not necessarily an "easy" one but it is the only wise way to live. Those that live according to the unaltered Word of God (i.e. the KJV or AOV) have the assurance that they will never be overcome by the "storms of life". Those that do, have their lives on a solid basis that has stood the test of time and Jesus speaks with unquestioned authority when he says that the wise will not perish in the storms of life . They will be the ones to be the heirs of the Father and the sons and daughters that will constitute the Bride that Jesus will Rapture in the relatively near future.

We cannot afford any further delay in preparing for that euphoric event or we will be like the unwise virgins that were shut out because they had no oil in their lamps (they had no substance in their faith).

Jesus Cleanses a Leper

Matthew 8:1-4 When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. 2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

Let me point out again the sequence of events. in the previous three chapters Jesus gave guidelines in clear terms of what constitutes holy or obedient living and Then there is an example of salvation leading to further sanctification. This may sound puzzling in the context of much of the current proclamation but the fact is that Jesus did not come only to restore our spiritual relationship with God. Jesus came to restore mankind spirit, soul and body. We will see more evidence of this fact later when we deal with the crucifixion and the letters of the apostles.

This case concerns "leprosy" which was only one of the "diseases of Egypt" and it is representative of them all. Note that the leper approached Jesus because he believed that Jesus was the Son of God (worshipped Him) and was obedient to all the teaching and that is why he was healed. Then Jesus gives an instruction that does not always follow the healings of salvation but that is vitally important.

The books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy particularly teach us that following on a healing it is to be attested to by a priest and that sacrifice (i.e. thanksgiving) is to be made to God. In our time that would be the equivalent of getting a credible person to witness that the healing is factual and then giving public thanks to God through Jesus Christ our lord and Saviour.

There are two major reasons why the healing ministry is so seldom seen in our time and this is one of them. people have been healed of almost every imaginable disease including every "incurable" disease to this very day, but very few have bothered to have it properly noted and proclaimed. All that just goes to show that with Jesus there are no half measures, every word in the Bible has significance and the Word of God must be obeyed to the letter if we are to continue to share in the blessings.

Let us however take from this the most significant lesson for our time and that is that the healing of spirit, soul (mind) and body are STILL an integral part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and where that is not happening it is an indication that something is wrong there in the person or people's relationship with God.

The Faith of a Centurion

Matthew 8:5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, 6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. 7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. 8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. 9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

The story of the Centurion is well known and again, as with the leper we see that it is about absolute faith and obedience when healing is involved. Just as in the days Jesus walked on earth the Jews would not believe in the healing of God so there are many in our time. Those days Jesus predicted that we (from the East and the West) would take the place of the Jews so even this day's healing will remain available for the true disciples of Jesus while the rest will be cast out into the outer darkness. Healing was given to mankind by Jesus and only Jesus can take it away and there is zero evidence that He has done so.

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Day 3, Week 4.

Matthew 8:14 - 22

Jesus Heals Many

Matthew 8:14-17 And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever. 15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them. 16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: 17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

There are many denominations today that say that the healing ministry is no longer applicable and that it was only for the times of Jesus and the apostles after him. On what basis they make that claim I do not know but it certainly cannot be sustained from the Word of God. The fact is that our salvation includes the fulfilment of a prophesy. By saying that that prophesy now no longer applies is tantamount to saying that salvation by faith in Jesus no longer applies because the iniquities that Jesus took on Himself are part of that same prophesy. What is more these healings clearly include both the physical illnesses (leprosy and all that were sick) and the psychosomatic diseases (spiritual possession i.e. all kinds of mental afflictions) and that includes so called "incurable" diseases.

What it seems to me is that those that try to deny the ministry of healing have a lack of knowledge of the Word of God (Hosea 4:6). There seems to be a small revival of the healing ministry in limited areas but sadly according to the Word of God there will not again be a major revival before the Rapture. That means that if it is not being practiced in your denomination that you need to take personal responsibility for your complete salvation and those in your sphere of influence. I am not advocating that we leave our current denominations. The well known German theologian Karl Bart said that God placed us in specific churches for a reason, and there is a lot of truth in that. What we do need to do is take the Word of God to heart and act on it in faith.

The Cost of Following Jesus

Matthew 8:18- 22 Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side. 19 And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 21 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

It may seem that Jesus is giving the idea here to some that He does not care for People's needs or feelings but then when we read the whole of the Word of God we soon realise that Jesus cares very much about those things. that leaves the question what is the literal meaning of these statements?

The foxes' holes and the birds' nests are like our homes. They are places of safety and security. Places where the unknowns are few and the known's are many. They are part of a predictable lifestyle like most of us live these days with a permanent home and job and interests. Emotions and feelings of warmth, sympathy and love are very much part of our predictable life but many a medical professional will tell you that there's many a night when they think that they can retire that they are called out for emergencies and Covid 19 has certainly shown us that "burying the dead" is something we may not always be able to do.

That then leaves us with only this one literal conclusion that Jesus says to His disciples that if we want to follow Him we must be prepared for the unexpected and that we have to be ready to respond to His direction without hesitation. For example if the Holy Spirit prompts us to be instrumental in the healing of a person then we have to respond without hesitation or uncertainty. That is what it means to have faith in Jesus.

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Day 4, Week 4.

Matthew 8:23 - 34

Jesus Calms a Storm

Matthew 8:23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. 24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. 25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. 26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. 27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

This portion talks about the "storms of life" and "fear in mankind" on the one hand and the Almighty power of God on the other. The storms of life are not going to disappear for the disciples of Jesus. In fact the evidence of both the Word of God and the history concerning disciples of Jesus from that time up to the present would suggest that it is far more likely that the dedicated and true disciples will encounter more storms than the unbelievers. For one thing the devil has no problem with the unbeliever and will focus his attention on the believer to attempt to take them away from their faith and their salvation. In these end times it is likely that the true disciple will incur the most vehement and derisive opposition from within the "Christian" community. Storms will always be a part of the believers' lives.

Fear in itself is a vast subject even in the Word of God and the believer is warned over and over in the Word not to have any fear. We will in due course deal again in more detail with fear so suffice it for now to say that God prohibits us to fear because it can, and if allowed to last will, result in illnesses and diseases. A little instant fear is good to serve as a warning but then it is to handed to God in faith so that we can move on fearlessly.

From this we see that fear is a test of or faith. If we have faith and believe that "God has the whole world in His hands", then fear will give way to faith. If we do not have faith then Fear will result in illnesses and disease.

Jesus Heals Two Men with Demons

Matthew 8:28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. 29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? 30 And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. 31 So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. 32 And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters. 33 And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told everything, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils. 34 And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.

Contrary to what is proclaimed in many churches these days devils and demonic possession is still very much present in our times. Many of the so called psychosomatic diseases are attributable to people being possessed. Modern medical doctors may well have all sorts of unpronounceable names for these conditions but when they describe them they are clearly only describing and therefore treating the symptoms but doing nothing about the root causes which are often made up of more than one. That is there may be destroyed nerve paths and demonic or spiritual possession.

These facts are adequately testified to in the Word of God. In our society however the facts are not readily believed and or accepted and in many circles they are rejected out of hand just as in the case of these two men. Dear friends please realise that by rejecting the facts you are placing yourselves in the same position as the Gergesenes; Jesus will withdraw his presence and power of sanctification of soul and body.

What is desperately needed in our time is that we need to proclaim the complete Word of God. For all sorts of reasons we are hearing only a portion of the truth and that has resulted in people having a completely false impression of the power of God. As in the case of the Gergesenes much of this is simple "fear" of the unknown and it is therefore particularly interesting that this healing takes place immediately after Jesus taught the disciples about fear. Another reason for the modern rejection of the facts is that those in the ministry have so often tried unsuccessfully to be instruments of healing that they have become afraid of it. That is simply because of a lack of understanding of the requirements that God places on healing and healing is very often simply withheld by God because of unforgiveness and similar unrepented sins.

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Day 5, Week 4.

Matthew 9:1 - 8

Jesus Heals a Paralytic

Matthew 9:1-8 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. 2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. 3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. 4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? 5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? 6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. 7 And he arose, and departed to his house. 8 But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

Palsy is a term covering a multitude of problems that manifest themselves in different forms of paralysis of both the soul (mind) and the body or a combination of both. In most instances nowadays we will be told that there is as yet no cure for "palsy". Once again the real problem is that allopathic medicine is bent on dealing with symptoms and under the control of Pharmaceuticals with vested interests in NOT curing. This passage tells us two things. Just as in the Old Testament we see that illness and disease is the result of sin. Once again much of today's preaching is denying this fact which I find difficult to understand because it is a teaching that contradicts the Word of God.

This paragraph teaches exactly what I listed as the reason why often healing does not take place. Unforgiveness or in fact unrepented sin, will stand in the way of healing. As long as there is unforgiveness in the heart there will be no healing in answer to prayer. The late pastor Henry W Wright recounts an episode of five ladies severely crippled by arthritis that asked him to pray for them for healing. He refused but led them to repent of deep seated unforgiveness in their hearts that they had been harbouring for years. When they had finished letting go of the unforgiveness by repenting and handing it over to the Lord, Henry asked them how their arthritis felt and all five were free of the arthritis miraculously and immediately (this happened in our time).

Obviously that power still rests in Jesus and in us, just as he gave it to His disciples when he was here with them, because nothing in the Word of God tells me that it has been removed. That it is blocked by the increase of sinfulness in our age is the real stumbling block and therefore the real issue that we must understand and proclaim. Who must proclaim? You and me and every disciple of Jesus and not only our clergy.

However one last thing about healing that surfaces in this passage is that in the healing it is God that must be glorified and given all the credit. If anyone is blessed with a "healing ministry" it must be clearly understood that the healing does not come from that person but is invoked by that person, on behalf of the afflicted, from Jesus. It is always done in the Name of Jesus and as is clearly stated in the last verse the glory must be given openly and publicly immediately or as soon as possible after the healing.

(Note: Some healing is "simple" in that it simply involves forgiveness following repentance of the heart, others may need that and the lifting of curses and still others may need both and a miracle of restoration of destroyed organs or body parts. this will become clear as we progress through the Gospel of Matthew.)

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Day 6, Week 4.

Matthew 9:9 - 13

Jesus Calls Matthew

Matthew 9:9- 13 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. 10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? 12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. 13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

I think that tax collectors in those days were even more despised by the masses than in our days because they were working for the oppressors, the enemy, and even in our day such an invitation would raise questions. That means that Jesus did this with a purpose and the rest of this passage gives us a clear reason why Jesus did this.

In the first place it is a mockery of everything the Pharisees stood for. Jesus firstly associated with a class of people that the Pharisees very much not only looked down on but in fact despised because they felt they were so much holier and had real status. These tax collectors and "publicans" were lowly people that did what they had to, to survive and would not hesitate to fleece the Pharisees when they could. They may have been corrupt, but they had no illusions about it and that is more important in the salvation of mankind than being self righteous and thinking you have nothing to repent for.

It is very important to understand from this that Jesus saw something in these Publicans that is not visible to the naked eye. You and I can never hide anything from Jesus because Jesus sees what is in the heart of mankind. Jesus knew full well that the self righteous Pharisees had much to repent for but by describing them as "whole' and "righteous" Jesus was forcing them to consider both the cause of their own afflictions and their ongoing sins as well as the fact that they had placed themselves in a place where the High Priest was unwilling to make sacrifice on their behalf. We must note very carefully that this "slight" does not stop with the Pharisees but still applies to everyone that thinks they are without sin and walk in pride.

So too we see that Jesus says that the Pharisees have made a mockery of sacrifices and that therefore it would help them nothing. For us that is all about repentance of the mind and repentance of the heart. Repentance of the mind is ritualistic repenting much like the Pharisees that went through all the right motions making sacrificial offerings but that saw no change of heart or behaviour. In our era the overemphasis on the Spiritual salvation of mankind at the expense of the salvation of spirit, soul and body is causing a very similar behaviour where we see people "repenting" of something today only to repeat it again the next day and seldom if ever these days do we see that repentance brings about a complete change in any person's behaviour. So those "sacrifices" will be ignored by Jesus and He would far rather have mercy on those that repent in the heart, where their repentance is such that it leads to a turning away from wrong towards God.

it is particularly in this context that we need to hear what Paul says "for all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
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Day 7, Week 4.

This week's reading: Matthew 7:15 to Matthew 9:13

Read through the week's portion of scripture again. Then ask yourself the following questions and answer them as objectively as you can:

1.Have I read everything attentively and listened to the Holy Spirit's prompting?

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2. What was new and meaningful to me?

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3. What do I want to learn more about?

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4. What life decisions am I making from this week onward

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5. How do I rate my own;

Personal relationship with Jesus?

Personal relationship with the Holy Spirit?

**Personal** relationship with God the Father?

Humility?

Servanthood?

Agape (love)?

Faith?

Hope?

6. My prayer commitments

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7. Other comments

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Day 1, Week 5.

Matthew 9:14 - 31

A Question About Fasting

Matthew 9:14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? 15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. 16 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. 17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

Where does fasting fit in terms of the New Covenant? this text does not yet give all the answers but it does draw our attention to a few salient points that we must take note of. The first of these is again about ritual. The Oxford dictionary defines ritual as "a religious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order". The point you see is that there is no spontaneity involved, it does not come from the heart but is simply applying a predetermined formula (like a tango in the ballroom). So when the Pharisees adhere to a fast from sunrise to sunset as they were wont to do and thereafter gorge themselves in luxuries and delicacies, then it is only ritual and has no value.

Furthermore Jesus shows that we must get our priorities right. Jesus does not say that fasting is unnecessary but the disciples were out on the road and working hard and needed to sustain their bodies so that they were ready for the next round. We will achieve nothing but human piety if we seek to fast in seclusion while there are hungry mouths to feed and other more important matters.

The old garments and new wine skins also accommodate the teaching that when, like the disciples, there had been proper repentance and salvation that then for a time anyway they were in no need of fasting or going back to the past but that there were now new and more effective ways to deal with the same issues. We must know that the fasting was a form of self denial due to sins committed. The disciples were under the umbrella of Jesus and their daily heartfelt repentance was the new way to maintain open communication between them and God so that no time would be lost for the urgent work at hand.

A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed

Matthew 9:1-26 While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. 19 And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples. 20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: 21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. 22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. 23 And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, 24 He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. 25 But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. 26 And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.

We can safely keep this passage short in that the teaching here from the dead girl's parents and the woman with the twelve year issue of blood is all about faith. So much faith had the parents that even though their daughter was already dead they believed Jesus could bring her back to life. The woman's faith was so great in Jesus that she believed if she could just touch his garment healing would flow towards her. Faith like a mustard seed can move mountains, but without faith we won't even move a grain of sand. So too with healing, where faith is not present, real tangible faith and not ritual or lip service, there also can be no healing.

This is yet another reason why the majority of the clergy of our times stay away from the complete Gospel. They are afraid that their prayers for healing will be of no effect and that they may have to tell the victims that they have no faith. By doing that they are ignoring that firstly God will have mercy on whom He chooses, and secondly that by doing so they are themselves guilty of the sin of fear and of preaching a false gospel, and finally they may well be withholding healing and standing in the way of the glory of God in a case where there is faith. The real problem is that these clergy are forgetting that they are only vehicles and that the healing is not done by them but by Jesus.

Again in the passage that follows the teaching about the faith is emphasised even further. The sight of the two blind men was restored to the extent of their faith. That means that they had faith or they would not have been healed.

Day 2, Week 5.

Matthew 9:32 - 38

Jesus Heals a Man Unable to Speak

Matthew 9:32 As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil. 33 And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel. 34 But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.

As we progress through the Word of God we will see that this dumb spirit is also referred to as a deaf spirit, a foul spirit, an unclean spirit and a devil. We will also see that this and other "devils" can have multiple effects on the person that they inhabit and that people may be inhabited (possessed) by one or many devils or fallen angels or satan.

In this instance the man's dumbness is the result of being possessed by a devil which when it was cast out by Jesus resulted in the man immediately being able to speak. This tells us that dumbness is the result of a lack of intelligence and we must always know that unintelligence is not of necessity associated with or part of being possessed or inhabited.

What I find significant is that the Pharisees, the most numerous branch of the Jewish faith and in their own minds the most zealous, immediately denied the healing as being from God and accused Jesus of working through satan. I find it interesting because we see a very similar trend in today's churches where there is a large scale denial both of devil possession and of the power to heal people of possession in the authority of Jesus Christ.

Devils have no "bodies" of their own and they have to find a body that will grant them entrance (human or unclean animal) and once they have found it they are free to come and go from there as they please. In mankind they will reside in the Soul (mind) or in the body. That is very important for us to grasp and understand because it is from this that we have the undeniable evidence so neglected in our time that the salvation that Jesus brought to us was and is a salvation of spirit, soul and body. This is directly from the Word of God and therefore irrefutable and I plead that we believe this rather that the Pharisaical denial of many in our current churches. The fact is that their denial and or rejection of this teaching is a rejection of the Word of God and if anyone can do that then they cannot be trusted.

The Harvest Is Plentiful, the Labourers Few

Matthew 9:35-38 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

This text describes a pitiful situation that existed within the nation of God (you will be my people and I will be your God), right under the noses of the Pharisees and the scribes i.e. the clergy of that time. The need amongst the public and their response to this message of healing was clearly enormous and clearly these people were so devoid of spiritual leadership that they moved from pillar to post without purpose or hope (like sheep without a shepherd).

This description is perfect for what is happening in our societies. People are searching and lost, turning to drugs, prostitution, fornication, gambling or suffering in squalor and impoverishment with illnesses and diseases, curses and possession by evil spirits and all with very little hope or purpose. Indeed our harvest fields are as ready for the harvest as they were in Jesus' day. Only we will never see another revival so the need for labourers that the Lord can send out is huge and every single one is needed.

Day 3, Week 5.

Matthew 10:1 - 4

The Twelve Apostles

Matthew 10:1-4 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. 2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

Matthew does not say much about the times of the calling of the disciples except for his own but it would seem fair to say that most if not all of them had been following Jesus since His baptism in the Jordan by John the Baptist. They had all therefore already been exposed to much of Jesus' teaching and it was time for them to put into practice the faith that they had acquired. Certainly they would not have "known it all" yet but this shows that even Jesus supports in service training above a load of theory without experience. There is no way that I can think of that will build our faith quicker and stronger than to put it into practice in the first place and furthermore "faith without works is dead" (James 2:17, 26).

There is no doubt in my mind that the disciples must initially have made many technical "mistakes" but the point is they were operating in faith and by faith they were successful in all but one case that we know of and we will see that had a specific purpose. We have to jump now to present day disciples and the "Great Commission" (Matthew 28:16 \- 20). The instruction to us ("He gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease"), is the same but why are there so few that are obedient to this call.

What is this passage calling you and me to? Are we prepared to lay all on the altar of sacrifice, or will we be critical bystanders like the Pharisees. This, our own home ground, is that harvest field that Jesus spoke about in the previous passage. As the church we have become grossly negligent of doing what we are called to do. I can give many reasons for this state of affairs but that is a subject on its own. The point is that the church denominations will not again witness another great revival and that means that the need for labourers to bring in the harvest has become more critical and those of us that claim to be saved need urgently to repent for the slackness of our obedience to the Great Commission (with a small number of exceptions) and to get out there and preach salvation, heal the sick and cast out the evil spirits and teach the full Gospel message and we'll see later that includes asking the Father to lift curses from the repentant. Where are our names on the list of disciples, are they with the obedient or with the betrayer? Each one of us will need to ask that question for themselves to answer whether they belong in a vacant plot bought for thirty pieces of silver, or at the Bridal feast after the rapture.

The whole state of affairs where the bulk of Christians are not involved in active ministry of any kind is not the salvation that Jesus sought to bring to mankind. How can I say that? Jesus taught us to pray "Thy kingdom come" to the Father. That means getting involved, it is not going to come if Christians remain in disobedience to their Great Commission, not before the rapture and that means that the number of souls that will be at the Bridal banquet will continue to diminish and everyone that goes to hell because of my/your apathy will be laid at our door.

These are harsh words but I say again I "write none other things to you, than what you read or acknowledge, and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end: (2 Cor 1:13). The truth is that it is not that I am being so harsh as that we all have become complacent and comfortable with the status quo, and we suffocate in disease and evil spirits because we do not know the Word (Hosea 4:6)

Day 4, Week 5.

Matthew 10:5 - 15

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles

Matthew 10:5 - 15 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. 9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, 10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. 11 And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. 12 And when ye come into an house, salute it. 13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. 15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.

We can divide this passage into four sections; the mission, the logistics, the accommodation and the consequences.

In the first portion the important thing is to note that they were sent first to the house of Israel exclusively. That must dispel any notion that anyone may have that the Church of Jesus Christ has replaced the nation of Israel. that is untrue and is not substantiated anywhere in the Bible. Then look very carefully at the message that they were to proclaim; the kingdom (i.e. basileia = authority) of heaven is at hand. They were to proclaim that heaven's authority was available on earth to mankind. In addition again they were to go out and heal soul and body as well. By the authority of heaven they could ask for the forgiveness of sins and that brings renewal of the spirit. We see again that the message of Jesus is salvation of the complete being of mankind.

As far as the logistics of the mission is concerned they were told to travel light and without wasting time on preparations. Again we see the sense of urgency that Jesus has and that He will provide all their needs but they must just get going. What has happened to us? Where is the full Gospel message and where is the urgency. It is going to have to come from you and me and a handful of obedient disciples because the Bible states that in the last days there will be no revival but a falling away only. That tells me that the future is in the hands of dedicated disciples and not the vast array of denominational and independent churches. The future proclamation on earth is in the hands of the Church of Jesus Christ, the few remaining dedicated disciples. Our Calling is universal and has been made, we must respond or turn our backs.

So where do we begin our mission? not with counting the cost. Not with looking for opportunity. Not to the house of Israel, as the Word tells us their destiny is on hold until the rapture, but yes to the individual Jews and all the world. That is: Begin in our homes and places of work and individuals in our assemblies. I believe that once we start the Holy Spirit will lead us where the Father had it planned and we need only to hear and obey.

And then the last and important passage regarding the consequences. Many are afraid to go out and evangelise because people may reject us, laugh at us , scorn us and persecute us. Then let us remember that we begin this obedience to the call because of the hope of glory that Jesus has given us and that is not of this world. Furthermore if we have proclaimed the full Gospel message with signs and wonders and we are rejected, i.e. they reject the message we bring, we need not take it personally and we will not be held accountable for their descent into hell by tribulations worse than the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. When people reject the message we then are given every right to remove even their dust from ourselves, i.e. we are then allowed to stop reaching out to them in agape love and rather than waste time move on to others that will be saved.

It is my fervent hope and prayer that as you have read this portion you would have sensed the urgency that Jesus was passing on to the disciples then and that Jesus has for us now.

Day 5, Week 5.

Matthew 10:16 - 33

Persecution Will Come

Matthew 10:16-25 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. 17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; 18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. 19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. 21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. 22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. 23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man become. 24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?

**Have** No **Fear**

Mat 10:26-33 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. 27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. 28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. 32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

As the disciples were warned that they would face persecution from every level of society including the clergy of Israel and the Gentiles (unbelievers), so dear brother and sister in Christ, are things going to be in these last days. The true disciple that engages in the proclamation of the Full Gospel of healing of spirit, soul and body, will encounter determined resistance from especially the church that is sliding ever deeper into apostasy. Jesus does not want us to have any illusions about that and if anyone has promised you that the Christian walk is a bed of roses they are liars.

There is only one consolation for us and that is that when we are acting in faith and in obedience to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we need not have any fear that we will not have the words or the courage to face our foes in the outreach. That does not mean that we are bound to win any kind of popularity contest because the Word of God still states that we will be hated. The fact is that the world church has strayed so far from the truth that they are like the Pharisees blinded to the truth because of the falsehoods that they proclaim and exhibit by their behaviour. It appears here though that Jesus does not agree with what I recently stated that Karl Bart said we must stay in our present churches because God placed us there for a reason. Here Jesus clearly states that when they Persecute You "flee to another city". That does not mean that we must run at the first sign of opposition but when the "persecution" becomes really nasty, then we can leave. Remember that Paul stood up to being stoned before he left some of the cities. In the final analysis the true Church of Jesus Christ is anywhere that two or three born again disciples meet in His Name so that means me and my wife form the Church when we meet together in His name.

The reality is that in these end times the need is so great, the harvest so plentiful, and the labourers to bring in the harvest so few that we are not likely to exhaust all the avenues that the Holy Spirit will lead us into before the soon coming rapture. It will do us well to remember when we face opposition just how they opposed Jesus and the Disciples and the price that they paid for us . If they had not persevered where would we have been now. They accused even Jesus of being the devil so they can do no worse to us and when our outreach costs us our lives then again that is the price that Jesus and the disciples paid for us. Their taking our lives only means that the moment they "kill" us we will be with Jesus so they are blessing us and therefore we must always remain loving to our "enemies". They cannot harm us in fact, they can only bring us closer to Jesus.

Once again all this may seem very tough and scary and to many it is very unfamiliar teaching but the fact is that is what the word states and it is not something I made up. Yes for those that remain faithful and obedient we are promised all the blessings of the sermon on the mount and Deuteronomy 28: 1 - 14, but we may well only receive those in eternity. We have though seen many true disciples in the present even blessed beyond their wildest dreams even now. That is likely to be the reality for many but whatever the future holds this passage assures the dedicated disciple that they will not be left without the presence of God for even a moment.

Day 6, Week 5.

Matthew 10:34 - 39

Not Peace, but a Sword

Matthew 10:34-39 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. 37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Has Jesus come to cause war and strife? That is what these verses seem to be intimating but that is not quite what the meaning of this passage is. For some, like me that grew up with unbelieving parents, this may still seem a little understandable but that has nothing to do with this passage either. Jesus came into a society where the Law of God had been twisted out of all recognition and where complacency in matters of faith was the order of the day. We may be surprised then that from this passage we can say that Jesus realised that to a large extent that situation would not change much in time.

Much of the answer lies in understanding the "sword and that we get clarified in Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. The Word of God is none other than Jesus himself and those that take Jesus into their hearts and surrender their lives to Jesus will not be able to be a part of this mediocrity and misrepresentation, they will not be able to continue in living a lie and they will not be able to stand by while the Word of God is being withheld or only partly applied.

It is that fact that may and often will set children against their parents and so on in that they will disagree with each other on what it means to be a true follower of Jesus. That is when we have to chose. Not chose to dishonour our parents, but chose to be obedient to the Will of God in how we live our lives. As an example of that it could mean not partaking in gossip, not imbibing alcoholic drink, not swearing or cursing, not celebrating false festivals and the like and that may well bring on a measure of separation. That separation is what is mentioned here and we must not confuse that with dishonouring parents or disobeying any other command of God.

What Jesus here refers to as taking up our cross has nothing to do with the crucifixion but is about standing up and being counted. It is about integrity and obedience to God even when others refuse to do so and or even mock or reject us because of it. That will result in Jesus staying with us but those who chose the world and their ways will not be considered worthy of the love and salvation that Jesus came to offer.

What may not be so clear to some in this passage is the consequences of mediocrity and twisting of the Word. twisting and mediocrity are none other than disobedience and disobedience results in curses and all the diseases of Egypt. Just last night my wife and I were struggling with the fact that she had severe arthritic pains in her shoulders, arms, wrists and chest that had become increasingly worse over the previous week or two. After I spent some time separated to Jesus I was led to pray for healing. That prayer led to confession of unforgiveness in a particularly unpleasant incident in which she was cruelly insulted, and forgiveness for increasing anxiety and fear. Then we prayed for the Lord to lift any unconfessed sins that we had forgotten about and for a miracle in neutralising the chemical build up that had caused the pain and Inflammation. The result was the first good night's sleep in many days without pain killers and hot compresses and only very mild residual pains the next morning. That is then shows that she was healed completely.

You see the point of that is mediocrity does not hold water. We cannot pray "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespassed against us" and then hold on to unforgiveness. Neither can we be anxious and fearful when the Word of God tells us not to, and in these cases expect to have no ill effect. That is where the Sword will divide the chaff from the wheat. If we are truly saved, born again and obedient to God we will be saved in spirit, soul and body; but any compromise or mediocrity has consequences. If we want to remain "worthy of" Jesus then there will come the separation that the Sword will bring.
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Day 7, Week 5.

This week's reading: Matthew 9:14 to Matthew 10:39

Read through the week's portion of scripture again. Then ask yourself the following questions and answer them as objectively as you can:

1.Have I read everything attentively and listened to the Holy Spirit's prompting?

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2. What was new and meaningful to me?

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3. What do I want to learn more about?

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4. What life decisions am I making from this week onward

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5. How do I rate my own;

Personal relationship with Jesus?

Personal relationship with the Holy Spirit?

**Personal** relationship with God the Father?

Humility?

Servanthood?

Agape (love)?

Faith?

Hope?

6. My prayer commitments

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7. Other comments

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Day 1, Week 6.

Matthew 10:40 - 11: 1 - 24

Rewards

Matthew 10:40-42 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. 41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. 42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

Most of us by nature expect rewards (i.e. a thank you or some form of grateful response) when we do good to others. The good deed may range from something small, like recognising a person's authority, or something much bigger. We are generally also at least disappointed if no gratitude is shown or even angry. Jesus says that we need not expect this show of gratitude, in fact that it is better not to expect it at all. Our "reward" will not go lost and the disciples of Jesus will receive their rewards for even the most menial deeds when we are raptured.

Messengers from John the Baptist

Matthew 11:1-19 And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities. 2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? 4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: 5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. 7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. 15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 16 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, 17 And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. 19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

Where are we in this day and age in relation to this message. We have heard the proclamation of John the Baptist, heard the Lord Jesus and the apostles. We have proclamations, testimonies and the written Word of God and still there are relatively few that have responded to the call of Jesus in spirit and in truth. Those days they accused Jesus of being a drunkard and a socialite which we know was a distortion of the truth. Bad as that was we find that after all that has taken place we are surrounded by church denominations and independent churches that deny the full Gospel of salvation. The message has been "piped" to us also but we still show little remorse and even less repentance. We have become experts at praying "Lord forgive me for..." and five minutes later repeating the same offence. That is because we have made the suffering of Jesus cheap.

Oh that we would seek wisdom and understanding and become familiar with the whole Word of God. Brothers and sisters in Jesus we have to understand that in our relationship with Jesus the terms and conditions are set by God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They are as spelt out in the Word of God (KJV or AOV) and they are not negotiable. When the Word tells us to forgive, that means we must forgive. Not withhold if we, in our minds, can justify not forgiving, because Jesus says our obedience must be complete or He will be deaf to our pleas. The frustration that is evident in the last two verses above in Jesus' teaching is precisely for this reason. We persist in compromising the standards of Jesus by being anxious, worrying, quick tempered, judging and many other forms of disobedience to the commands of God. Ultimately what Jesus wants from us is the type of self sacrifice that John the Baptist ("Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist") because unlike John we have been Born Again, we are born of the Holy Spirit so there is no reason why you and I cannot show at least the same obedience as John did.

Brothers and sisters let us ask ourselves this question: "What went ye out into the wilderness to see?".

Woe to Unrepentant Cities

Matthew 11:20-24 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: 21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. 23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

There is no need for us to repeat the foregoing but let me lay some emphasis on the Hebrew meaning of "woe"; trouble, misfortune, sorrow, woe, evil, spot, wailing, sorrow, wrong, evil, maleficence, harm, wickedness. When Jesus warns against disobedience it is not like saying to a child "don't do that", But rather "if you do that you will get the hiding of your life. read the foregoing again if you think I am exaggerating.

Day 2, Week 6.

Matthew 11: 25 - 30

Come to Me, and I Will Give You Rest

Matthew 11:25-29 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. 27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

I think that what we have been through over the past few passages has been tough going for many of us but again I say that is what the Word states and there is no purpose in denying it or trying to compromise on the harsh reality. We get enough gentle words in the average church sermons these days and where has that got us? Are we free of curses or illnesses or diseases or are we yet spiritually so alive that our whole lives are lived to glorify Jesus?

But there is truly a compassionate side to God. Yes to God because if we accept Jesus he has opened the door to the Father for us and given us the Holy Spirit. And now Jesus says that He knows that what He and the Father have commanded seems like a mountain in front of our natural man and even to the New Born infants, i.e. the recently saved.

First Jesus says to our natural man that if all this seems to be a thing that is tiring, burdening us physically and mentally to exhaustion, then we must accept that it is not up to you and me on our own. As long as we try to live as natural man (that is what Paul calls the unsaved of mankind) and think that we must do what God requires in our own strength we will be exhausted. When we "come to Jesus", when we let Jesus into our lives by "yielding our lives an atonement to Jesus" He will "give us rest. When Jesus is given residence in me, He becomes my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my hands and feet and He is in every part of me. When I can't go on He will walk for me while I rest, Talk for me while I think, Fill me with living waters when I am hungry.

When we read this passage let us not loose sight of Deuteronomy 28: 1 - 14 or the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount. By taking the "yoke of Jesus on me, i.e. by living my life in accordance with the commandments and the will of God, we will find that life will in fact not be as difficult as we think but because of the blessings that follow obedience we will find that obedience is lighter than the alternative. Ask anyone with severe arthritis or rheumatism what they would give for healing. Ask those with terminal diseases what they would do. Ask those that are mentally afflicted. If we take the yoke of Jesus on us then we can indeed be free of all those problems i.e. rest for your souls.

Just a last note on this passage in the attention that Jesus focuses on the Father. Many of our brothers and sisters struggle with who to pray to in the Holy Trinity. That is an issue that is difficult and that will become more clear as we progress through the New Testament. For now remember that the curses we incur for disobedience are from the Father and only the Father can lift them when we appeal to Him through Jesus. Jesus is our mediator and He tells us to ask the Father for anything in His, (i.e. Jesus') name and Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit as teacher, guide and protector. When we are at a loss for words to pray what is in our hearts, then also we can ask the Holy Spirit to pray for us. If we get these few basic issues right the rest will be shown to us as we grow in our knowledge and understanding of the Word of God.

next time we will consider another type of rest that Jesus gives us when we deal with the Sabbath. The rest that we dealt with today is the rest that results from certainty and security in Jesus and is the rest away from tiring frustration and powerlessness.

Day 3, Week 6.

Matthew 12:1-8

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

Matthew 12:1-8 At that time Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. 2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the Sabbath day. 3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; 4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the Sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? 6 But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. 7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day.

Let us first understand when the Sabbath of the Lord is in terms of the Word of God. The Sabbath is the seventh day of the Biblical week which corresponds with our Friday and Saturday. Bible days begin at sunset and end at sunset so the Sabbath begins at sunset on Friday evening and ends at sunset on Saturday evening. It is important that we grasp this as it becomes very relevant when we look at later Bible events and when we come to discuss the one occasion on which the word easter is used in the Word of God.

Exodus 20:8 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. In the minds of many people the priority of the Sabbath day is "rest" but the very first instruction about the Sabbath to Israel concerned keeping it "holy", that is to keep it consecrated, sanctified, prepared, dedicated to, be hallowed for, be holy unto, be sanctified to, be separated to. It is only in the next verse of Exodus that the injunction not to work is added and that therefore qualifies the things that are "work" related in this Command.

The reason then for Jesus opposing the Pharisees was that the Pharisees were observing ritual rather than the essence of the Sabbath. The disciples were in fact not harvesting wheat but getting something to eat after having witnessed and proclaimed the Gospel. As Jesus pointed out even the Levites ate on the Sabbath day the portions of sacrifices set aside for the priests. So the issue of not working on the Sabbath is about not doing any "servile" work, i.e. work for earning a wage or for gathering of income. That and allowing those in our service or even forcing those in our service to work for capital gains is what is not allowed. What is more it is not allowed for the reason that it takes away from the time we need to spend with God in Holy Communion. That is also why emergencies (like an ox stuck in a ditch) are not seen as work.

The fact is that in our modern society we are no better than the Pharisees in that there are very few that call themselves Christians that observe the Sabbath rest of no work. Even when we "just" go to the shop to buy a loaf of bread we are approving the shopkeeper working and making his employees work. But that is not the worst part. Remember that the first Call of the Sabbath is to keep it holy. Then consider that Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath. Jesus is holiness in person so by desecrating the Sabbath we are denying the holiness of Jesus. How then can we hope to enter into the "rest" of the Sabbath day if we do that to Jesus.

We are getting back to the whole thing of how the world has compromised the Laws and disciplines of God. In turn we sit with a multitude of new diseases that are commonly described as burn-out, depression stress syndromes. To rest in God was a process which, after mankind had been created with specific abilities, was the amount of time God knew that mankind would need to spend in communion with Him and do normal things like eating and sleeping and going to church, in order to get the rest needed to function properly for the following six days.

Let us reconsider how we ought to spend the Sabbath in future. Are we seeking the face of God. Are we getting enough new energy to work for six days? What do we have to do while in Holy Communion with God to empty ourselves of every and any disobedience so that we can have curses and diseases lifted and healed so that we can really have relationship with the Word and so that we can keep the day holy to the glory of Jesus, Lord of the Sabbath.

Day 4, Week 6.

Matthew 12:9-21

A Man with a Withered Hand

Matthew 12:9-14 And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue: 10 And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. 11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? 12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. 13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other. 14 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.

The primary message of this passage is about the Sabbath day and keeping it holy. The question that the Pharisees are trying to trap Jesus with is about what constitutes work, or if you like whether healing and therefore salvation can be seen as being work. Jesus' answer is very clever and very complete. The issue arises out of that which a person does six days a week in the normal course of earning a living, and then still does on the Sabbath, whether that is work. Let us compare this with a medical doctor that routinely does normal consultations from his surgery on six days of the week and is confronted with a sick person on the Sabbath. Does he attend to him or does he ignore him because he does not work on the sabbath. The bottom line of this issue is a matter of either mercy or opportunism. If the doctor attends to the sick man because he has mercy on him and then lets him go that cannot take away from the holiness of the day. If the doctor attends to the man and then sends him a double bill because he was called on to work on the Sabbath, that is opportunism and does detract from the holiness of the day.

That is what Jesus is letting us understand here. Preaching on a Sunday in a church service is adding holiness to the day. Doing the same thing during the other six days adds holiness to those days as well. The "healing" that a doctor administers during the six week days is the doctor's normal business and they charge for it . If they do the same on a Sunday it is work for the same reason, but if he does the same work on a Sunday for the love of God and does not charge then that is work that is as acceptable as preaching. It all amounts to the motive behind the act that we engage in.

The point that is made by Jesus is that like His teaching and preaching ministry was something he did out of his love for and mercy towards mankind all week. It was not the way that Jesus earned a living as the doctors do so by granting healing on the Sabbath he was adding holiness to the Sabbath as much as he was adding holiness to the other days of the week. In essence also by adding holiness to the Sabbath, or any other day, we will be bringing glory and honour to God.

What we can say about this passage, or what may be seen as a present day application of this passage is that in every avenue of employment, whatever work we do to earn our living, we can and must look for every opportunity to use the skills we were given to the glory of God whenever the opportunity arises.

God's Chosen Servant

Matthew 12:15-21 But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all; 16 And charged them that they should not make him known: 17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 18 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. 19 He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. 20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. 21 And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

There is a clear turning point in the proclamation of Jesus here in that we see His focus shifting to the healing, the salvation, of the Gentiles or what we would call the unbelievers. Their sins are now being judged by Jesus and they are receiving His pardon.

Note too the humility of Jesus. He asks that people do not make his name known and yet Jesus will not stop judging and pardoning sinners until the victory has been won, until they have been saved from death unto eternal life. This is why we are called the Body of Jesus Christ, The Church of Jesus Christ and the disciples of Jesus Christ.

Day 5, Week 6.

Matthew 12:33 - 42

A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit

Matthew 12:33-37 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. 34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. 36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

On an occasion Luke quotes Jesus as saying _"...for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh". (Luke 6:45)_. There are multitudes that have tried unsuccessfully to get away with this one but apart from bluffing themselves in the long run none have ever been able to hide what they truly believe and hold in their heart. Yes in this instance we see how that Jesus says that the Pharisees have become so inherently corrupt that there is no chance of anything good coming out of their mouths. But here's the thing my brothers and sisters in Jesus. If we too are allowing our understanding and knowledge of the Word of God to be compromised, we too will become corrupted. As long as there is any corruption in our own hearts then we are like the Pharisees incapable of yielding good fruit. Do not let us throw stones at the Pharisees while we have unconfessed sin and impurities in our own hearts because we too will then be held accountable for every word that proceeds from our own moths.

Unless we confess and repent of our own iniquities and by allowing God to search our own hearts we cannot speak any good. Why? Because the Holy Spirit when He resides in us resides in the heart of man and as He is Holy He cannot reside in a foul place and protect us from further corruption.

The Sign of Jonah

Matthew 12:38-42 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. 39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. 42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

Just as people in our time are born sceptics, so they were then and what they were asking Jesus is the age old question to the things unseen and unknown, "how can we believe you" or the favourite way of mankind; "prove it". Jesus answered them but in a way that in their corruption they could not understand.

In our own time there are two things that arise from this text that are important for every believer to know and hold fast to.

The first is that we believe that Jesus is the son of God the Father, that he died for our sins and disobedience and that He rose again on the third day and that He now sits at the right hand of the Father interceding on our behalf and preparing a place for us, by faith. That faith is not of our own doing but it is the gift that we received from God by His grace (Ephesians 2:8). Without that gift we too would be asking "how can I believe it?"

The second is that the time will come when you also speak out about your faith and there will be those that will attack you, especially from inside the churches, and say to you as many have and still will say to me; "prove it!" Brothers and sisters you and I have to prove nothing, but all we must do is speak the Word of God and refer any opposition to the Word of God. If they believe not the Word of God, how will they ever believe me?

Day 6, Week 6.

Matthew 12:43 - 50

Return of an Unclean Spirit

Matthew 12:43-45 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. 45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

This passage contains a double teaching of which the first is that wickedness begets wickedness. Jesus says that "so shall it be also unto this generation". he was talking to the Pharisees and their cohorts and that they had become so corrupted in their knowledge and understanding of God that they were so heavily laden with the Curses of Deuteronomy 28:15 - 68 that there was only wickedness in their hearts. When an evil or demonic or wicked spirit takes up residence in a man, that man is cut off from all that is good and will only find fulfilment in amongst others of his kind. One wicked attracts the other and through the spirit of lust that then takes hold of them they end up with blood ties that give access to still more demonic possession and so it becomes an endless spiral that just gets worse. Without the help of Jesus such a person is lost and helpless. That is why "this wicked generation" will just get worse.

In my humble opinion all this wickedness begins with one thing and that is compromise. In the history of God with the Israelites there were no sudden or overnight changes that saw them becoming increasingly corrupt. It all happened with "little" compromises one at a time. They may have started observing false festivals, or married into gentile nations, they may have skipped an ordained festival occasionally or just left out one of the requirements of an ordained festival. Slowly these build up, almost without being noticed until they gradually combine into a mass of confusion and humanism where people loose their way. Just as one example let us consider the 25th December celebrations. That was never the day of Jesus' birth but is the birthdates of at least 13 Roman gods as well as Nimrod, Semiramus and Tammuz. The Roman Catholic heresy brought it in and it was perpetuated falsely through the ages. In turn it has led to a whole host of festivals today that are inherently heretical such as Valentines, Easter and Halloween.

The second lesson from this passage is of critical importance in the ministry of healing. When We are healed by Jesus then He will clean out our souls and bodies , His temple, to create a dwelling place fit for the Holy Spirit and the Lord Jesus. If that empty space where the evil dwelt is left vacant then there is an open invitation for that Spirit and all his friends to return. To leave that space "vacant" means that we allow the healed person to carry on living as they did before. To fill that space means to fill it with the knowledge and understanding of the Word of God, coming to full obedience in Jesus Christ and to love God with our whole heart and soul and body and our neighbour as ourselves.

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Jesus' Mother and Brothers

Matthew 12:46-50 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. 47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. 48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? 49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

It is amazing how quickly things move from one lesson to another but what we must always bear in mind is that the Gospels are a record of every little bit of important information about three years in the life of Jesus Christ. Every morsel is there for a purpose and that is to teach and equip us for life as disciples of Jesus Christ.

That then means that when we read any passage in the Word of God we should seek what the literal meaning of the passage is (that's the easy part) and then apply it to our own lives. Throughout this New Testament Series therefore when I apply a passage I apply it to my life as a general guideline so as to enable you to more readily apply it to your life. The one golden rule is that the Word of God literally means what it says and is not allegorical or anything else.

Jesus Christ was born of Mary and as Joseph was her husband Jesus the man grew up with Joseph as His father and the other children of the marriage as his siblings. Why would Jesus deny his kin and instead point to his disciples as his kin? In normal circumstances that would be seen as extremely unkind at the least, and even rude and disobedient of the Law.

But that is something we know by faith that Jesus would not even dream of doing – just remember how on the cross he instructed John to take care of His mother for instance.

I believe that the clue is in the last verse where Jesus speaks of doing the "will of His Father in heaven". That has an eternal quality and as Jesus is eternal, i.e. all God, even as then He was all man, Jesus has clearly switched from teaching using present realities (the corruption of the Pharisees) to the eternal reality and is therefore saying that if I want to escape from all the evil and corruption of my generation then I must become obedient to the Law of God. When I do that I will become an heir and co-heir with Jesus and then I will become an eternal brother of Jesus.

Now we see how this literal application of the Word of God also helps to confirm a great deal of what I said in and about chapter 12 and the corruption that begins with compromise. In this chapter we saw Jesus consistently condemning the Pharisees and never seeing them as brothers yet He says that by obedience to the same Law they had, we all can become His brothers and sisters.

Then we also understand that because Mary and Joseph were obedient to the Law Jesus had in fact not denied them at all but they had been adopted into the eternal family.

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Day 7, Week 6.

This week's reading: Matthew 10:40 - Matthew 12:50

Read through the week's portion of scripture again. Then ask yourself the following questions and answer them as objectively as you can:

1.Have I read everything attentively and listened to the Holy Spirit's prompting?

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2. What was new and meaningful to me?

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3. What do I want to learn more about?

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4. What life decisions am I making from this week onward

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5. How do I rate my own;

Personal relationship with Jesus?

Personal relationship with the Holy Spirit?

**Personal** relationship with God the Father?

Humility?

Servanthood?

Agape (love)?

Faith?

Hope?

6. My prayer commitments

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7. Other comments

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Day 1, Week 7.

Matthew 13:1 - 30

The Parable of the Sower

Matthew 13:1-23 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. 2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: 5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: 6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: 8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. 9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

The Purpose of the Parables

Matthew 13:10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

The Parable of the Sower Explained

Matthew 13:18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. 20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. 22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

As this particular parable is clearly explained by Jesus himself that then obviates any need for me to do so again. Jesus also explains the reason for speaking in parables to the disciples. There is a relevance for us in our day to both the explanation Jesus gave the disciples and the meaning of the parable.

Note that Jesus refers to the prophesy of Isaiah that they would not hear or see the meanings and that this would affect even righteous men. What then did the disciples have that enabled them to understand but not everyone else? There are two things that stand out to me. They had faith in Jesus Christ and had the Holy Spirit. The significance of this lies in the things that happen when we proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in this world and how that the message we bring will be heard, understood, accepted and acted on. In amongst those to whom we proclaim there is every likelihood of all the types that Jesus mentions will be present.

If you've ever listened to Angus Buchan then you would probably have heard that when he is invited to preach anywhere that his first question is always; "how is the prayer ministry for the occasion going?' Jesus says that if we ask for anything in his Name we will receive it ( _Matthew 21:22; John 16:24_ ). What we can therefore learn from this is to do just that, pray for the presence of the Holy Spirit in the hearts and minds of all the hearers and ask Jesus that they will understand and accept that which is inspired by Jesus in our teaching. That is the point that Angus is making when he makes sure that the invitation for him to speak is the will of Jesus and that people will respond.

As a last word on this passage there is also advice for each of us in our own lives in this passage. All of us have sometimes sat down to read the Word of God and found that nothing much makes sense. This lesson tells us that unless we to start of reading consciously acknowledging Jesus and asking the Holy Spirit to guide and teach us then the Word will not have its full meaning and effect on us.

The Parable of the Weeds.

Matthew 13:24-30 Another parable put He forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

The First and possibly most important point to note here is what Jesus is talking about, what is the kingdom of heaven? The word for kingdom was originally "basileia" which translated correctly should be "authority" and then the statement becomes "authority of heaven". (I will not delve deeply into this but you can read about it in my book "the Kingdom of Heaven - the Authority of Mankind").

The important thing briefly is that the authority of heaven is given to mankind upon the baptism in the Holy Spirit and gives us enormous power and authority for the purpose of bringing glory and honour to Jesus. Jesus was talking to "them" which from the preceding verses we know to be the disciples who had been given this authority when they were sent out to proclaim the Gospel. Now there is in this parable a warning to them and the present day disciples.

Just as then the true disciples of Jesus are still out there preaching good news, healing the sick and casting out spirits, healing spirit, soul and body of many. But now as then there are many wolves roaming around and satan himself is very busy lying and deceiving the sheep. I have also previously in this book shown that the Word of God tells us that there will be no more revivals before the rapture. Therefore we too are like the workers and in a position to ask whether it is worth proclaiming the full Gospel at all still. The answer is still the same as then. We must not, cannot and will not stop proclaiming the full truth just for the sake of the good fruit that survives between the weeds.

Day 2, Week 7.

Matthew 13:31 - 43

The Mustard Seed and the Leaven

Matthew 13:31-33 Another parable put He forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: 32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. 33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

In describing the authority that mankind can have Jesus makes a very important comparison here. The fact is that we are generally unfamiliar with such vast authority even when we have been a member of one of the many churches for a considerable length of time. The reason being that we have seen so little over the years of mankind actually taking up this authority is that we have little or no example to go by. Now that was exactly the same position that the twelve disciples were in. But here is the point. After having said what he did about the danger of weeds growing and that the weeds should not put us off, it seems to me that Jesus acknowledges that we may be hesitant to enter into a ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ including the ministry of healing. Not least of the reason for this is that the impression has been given to us that such a ministry is a specialised one and only given to very few.

That is not the case and the explanation of the mustard tree, how it begins with the tiniest of seeds but when allowed to grow that it continues to produce endless amounts will help us here. That is how it is for the authorised use of the authority of heaven that Jesus gives to us. The more we use it, the more familiar we become with it and the more will flow from our use of the authority of heaven as time goes forward ( _and that is not just healing but everything stated in Matthew 10:7,8._ ). Furthermore the knowledge and understanding of a few of us in the application of that authority will then be seen by others and that will spread through our society like leaven. That which to us is now unfamiliar will not be unfamiliar as more see it and the more that see it and use it will have that ripple effect of leaven. Note that this is not about revival but about the proper understanding of and application of the Word of God amongst the faithful born again disciples of Jesus.

That then leaves me and you in a very responsible position. Now that you and I have this knowledge we are responsible for spreading it and all those that do not hear about that because of any neglect on our part will have to be accounted for by us to God.

The Parable of the Weeds Explained

Matthew 13:36-43 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. 37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; 39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

What follow here is in addition to that which I have previously and elsewhere mentioned about this parable.

First we must realise that the parable is a description of end times. When we progress through the New Testament we will see that we are in those times now and that the time for harvesting is at hand and then it is that there will be a very definite and severe separation of the righteous and the unrighteous. But there is a difference between the end times we are in and that Jesus is referring to here, Jesus states a few things here that point us elsewhere. He says that his angels will gather, He says that all things that offend will be put in the furnace, i.e. that then includes satan, and Jesus speaks of His Kingdom.

We will see that the present "end times will end with the rapture, that that will be followed by seven years of tribulation and that only then will Jesus establish his kingdom on earth. Then will follow the thousand years of peace when satan will be bound but only at the end of that is satan cast into the eternal lake of fire (together with the weeds). Jesus is then saying that evil will still be there even at the beginning of the millennial reign but that they will lose their mentality of war and change their swords into sickles and pruning shears (Isaiah 2:4) because they will live in peace with each other, because evil (satan) will be bound for the 1000 years. That final "weeding" will then take place during the 1000 year reign of Jesus.

The lessons from these parables is therefore a clear instruction to take up the authority held out to mankind by Jesus, to bring as many as possible still to full salvation while we still have time, to heal the sick and drive out demons and spirits in Jesus name and to implore the Father to lift off the curses from those that are saved. We need these overcomers to reign with Jesus those 1000 years.

Day 3, Week 7.

Matthew 13:44 - 52

The Parable of the Hidden Treasure

Matthew 13:44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

After a few fairly intense lessons from the Mouth of Jesus a little bit easier lesson but no less important. In fact because of the gift that Jesus speaks about in this parable it is as important as any other. Remember the when Jesus speaks of the Kingdom of Heaven he is referring to the Authority given to mankind by Himself after or upon the baptism in the Holy Spirit. That authority is something that is so precious that it is something that those who understand what it gives us will give everything to have it.

That also therefore implies that Jesus will not lightly give it to us and certainly will not give it to us unless we meet all the requirements. That subject is covered in my previously mentioned book.

The Parable of the Pearl of Great Value

Matthew 13:45-46 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Just think for a moment what does a merchantman or an entrepreneurial salesman, do with their goods. They certainly do not hoard it up in storage. They get out there and wheel and deal (Afrikaans - woeker) with their goods to make a sale as fast as they can. That way they amass great fortunes and then to spend all that they have made on the Authority that Jesus can give us, shows that it is more precious and more useable than all the wheeling and dealing that he has ever done. It also shows us that again it is not for hibernating on but to be used continuously in the winning of souls.

The Parable of the Net

Matthew 13:47-50 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: 48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. 49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Here is an important lesson that Jesus in this instance applies to the Authority of mankind, but that apply universally in the lives of true disciples of Jesus Christ. The salvation that Jesus purchased for us with His life is for everyone without any prejudice. There is no priority other than the Jews first and then the Gentiles. All the Gentiles, irrespective of race, colour, status, past record or any other filter that select groups may try to apply.

The implication here is that as disciples of Jesus we are called to go out into all the world and not just where we like or where we feel comfortable or at home. It matters not if the man is lying in the gutter or sitting on a throne. We must be aware of this in obedience to the Holy Spirit's leading. It is not only possible but in fact most likely that the Holy Spirit will lead us well beyond our comfort zone and it is not for you and me to decide who to draw nearer. That weeding out is reserved for the angels and not for you and I, and we are not in that time zone where the weeding will take place either.

The Word of God teaches that one sin leads to the next, begin to compromise and we only start down a slippery road. So it is with prejudice and militant protest. Prejudice is alien to true disciples and militant action is a denial of everything that Jesus stands for. Quiet, orderly, disciplined and dignified protest is something altogether different from militant action. It has become a common site for church leaders to be seen at the head of militant action groups that after a while get so hyped up that they break down to uncontrolled looting and violence. That does no good to the name of Jesus and the Father will not be pleased with such involvement. We must beware that our irresponsible behaviour does not result in us being amongst the number that the angels will weed out.

New and Old Treasures

Matthew 13:51-52 Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. 52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

And to end this teaching of the disciples Jesus just confirms all that we have said before about the responsible application of the Authority of mankind or the "basileia of heaven". It requires from us to be responsible housekeepers applying all the teaching of both Old and New Testaments.

Day 4, Week 7.

Matthew 13:53 - 58

Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

Matthew 13:53 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence. 54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? 55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? 56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? 57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. 58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

One of the greatest mysteries that confronts many a new disciple of Jesus is the immediate resistance to their enthusiasm and conversion in their own circle of influence. To me it is not an accident that this particular event stands in this gospel immediately after the teaching against prejudice. Having just concluded a teaching session of the disciples Jesus goes to Nazareth and is rejected because of prejudice. How amazing is that.

I recall my first testimony to the Methodist Church District Conference. It included being the son of an artisan and parents that denied Christ and the affect on the conference was tangible and the vote in my favour was by a majority of a mere two votes.

Watch what happens when a retired minister moves away from his parish to a new church. Nine out of ten times he is viewed with scepticism and suspicion and generally is excluded. There is unbelievable prejudice within our churches specifically against their own. Just the same in most of our churches across the racial divides there is unhidden contempt for the "man from the gutter" or the known "gang leader".

When, and not if, that happens to us then we must remember that it even happened to Jesus Christ Himself. Why then should it not happen to us? Jesus was the son of an artisan and had been known to work as an artisan himself and was classed as an artisan by his own for the rest of his life. As a young eighth grader going to a schools and varsity camp we met a conductor on the night train that many of the kids treated very poorly. A few of us were talking to this uniformed railway conductor (clippie as they were derogatively known) and found out that he was a final year medical student doing that work during vacation to earn some pocket money.

Now I know that some will read this and say that they cannot, like Jesus, just move away to the next town when rejected and that may be so. What we must remember is that the population of Nazareth at the time of Jesus was about 400 people and that the general mode of transport was by foot. Most of our churches in South African metropolitan areas are made up of more members than 400 and our mode of transport is vastly different. In our day the number of churches in informal settlement areas and low income areas are very few and you only have to travel a maximum of 10 kilometres to find an area where the gospel is not being effectively proclaimed.

Therefore I would then say that the example of Jesus still very much applies to us. if we are proclaiming the Word of God (as per the King James Version of the Bible literally and teaching salvation of spirit, soul and body and being rejected by the authorities of one congregation it is as good as a sign for us to move on to where we are truly needed outside of our homes.

Beware though that the same argument cannot be said to be relevant in our own homes because of the teachings in other places of the Word that we will still deal with. Certainly there is no justification from the Word of God to move out of the home when we meet opposition due to our beliefs in the Word of God.

The opposition that Jesus faced may have seen him move on with his ministry a half a day's walk away from his home town but the important thing that He did and we must also do is that Jesus never stopped proclaiming the Word. It is not a number game but it is a matter of persistent and truthful proclamation in word and deed.

Day 5, Week 7.

Matthew 14:1 - 36

The Death of John the Baptist

Matthew 14:1-12 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, 2 And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him. 3 For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife. 4 For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. 5 And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. 6 But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. 7 Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. 8 And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger. 9 And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. 10 And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. 11 And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother. 12 And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

It is an impossibly gory idea that the telling of the truth and jealousy can lead to such a despicable death and disrespectful display. That because John was preparing the way for Jesus. But wait, what is happening in our day? Are we doing any better? We do not always behead people but we slander and gossip, we ignore and ostracise, we exclude and reject and in all those things we destroy people emotionally. If any of us are without sin in this regard then we ought to be praising and thanking God without ceasing.

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

Matthew 14:13-21 When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities. 14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. 15 And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. 16 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. 17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. 18 He said, Bring them hither to me. 19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. 21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children

I always read the Word of God with an eye on opportunities to put myself in the sentence or to apply it to the present day. Does the Lord still do miracles? Well yes, ask "The Ark" in Durban (a shelter for the rejected and homeless) and they will tell you how often enough food for what appears like ten people fed a few hundred and the pot still ended up full, there are numerous testimonies of similar events.

My wife and I augment a government pension with home baking to keep our heads above water. During the Covid shut down that was of course a non starter but what did the Lord do? On three occasions an employer of a customer gave us a cash donation that helped us survive debt free. We still have never laid eyes on the man but that is the way the Lord still works. If we like those five thousand listen to and obey the Lord then he will "feed" us. The modern application then of this parable is that we must stop praying so much for our own personal daily needs. Clearly the Lord Jesus is well aware of them and has that Matter well in hand. We would spend such prayer time far better in intercessory prayer and show Jesus that our faith in His provision is sufficient. As a final observation regarding this miracle it just goes to show that unlike the lie that many proclaim that the miracles were for those days only, they are still as much relevant now as they ever were.

Jesus Walks on the Water

Matthew 14:22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. 24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? 32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. 33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

The story line of this parable is well known and it has been used in many ways to teach about the faith that God gave us and the application of that faith. One aspect that I have not heard considers the process of our thoughts. Our thoughts, all our thoughts, have only two sources ( _2 Corinthians 3:5_ ), they either come from God or from satan and the Word tells us to take every thought captive to the authority of Jesus Christ ( _2 Corinthians 10:5_ ).

The problem is that negative thoughts, i.e. thoughts from satan, will cause us to stray away from Jesus when they are allowed to take hold. Satan might say "what if you suddenly sink now" and if I do not take that thought captive to Jesus immediately I will lose my focus on the power of Jesus and then I will sink. This war that satan wages against us is particularly severe specifically when we are doing something in the power of God and not our own and so I/we must be aware of this and as soon as any thought enters our mind we must take it to Jesus to enlist His help in discerning the origin and the appropriate reaction

Jesus Heals the Sick in Gennesaret

Matthew 14:34-36 And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased; 36 And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.

There is one thing about mission trips that acquaintances have made into Africa North of the RSA that never ceases to amaze me and that is the intrinsic faith of the ordinary tribal Africans in the healing ministry of Jesus. Many times have I heard from collaborators in AICM how they were swamped with locals in Zambia and other countries seeking healing of every imaginable disease. And they leave there healed completely. That proves not only that the healing ministry is as much for our time as it was 2000 years ago, but also says a great deal about childlike faith. Perhaps we have been so highly educated that our faith is seated in our education rather that in Jesus?

Day 6, Week 7.

Matthew 15:1 - 9

Traditions and Commandments

Matthew 15:1-9 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, 2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. 5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightiest be profited by me; 6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. 7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

This may be one of the most vital passages in the Word of God that we may ever read, understand, accept and act upon. In this incident the Pharisees are trying to trap Jesus by asking Him why His disciples are disobeying tradition. Webster says about "tradition that it is "That which is handed down from age to age by oral communication" In other words it is nothing more than a popular common practice but it has no basis in Law or legislature.

The reply that Jesus gives is essentially a much stronger allegation. He accuses the Pharisees of wilfully breaking the Law (Commandment of God) by replacing it with tradition. I may be wrong in my estimation of just how vast this practice is in our society these days when I say that this single passage of scripture ultimately condemns thousands of fellow church goers to hell! Yes you read that correctly.

In the first instance the Law that applies to the followers of Jesus to this day ordains the celebration of seven and only seven festivals of which four have been fulfilled and three still have to be fulfilled. Because of the first coming of Jesus and the sacrifice He made of Himself for us that method of celebrating the ordained festivals has to change but they are still as valid as ever in their adapted form and they are still the only festivals that we are allowed to celebrate.

These festivals do not include Easter or Christmas, they do not include Valentine's day, or Halloween or St Patricks day to name but a few. Yet churches and church goers are intrinsically bound to all these festivals. What is that? That is the substitution of tradition for the Law, exactly what Jesus accuses the Pharisees of. The result is that for centuries the church's prayers have been largely unheard and so the church authorities now excuse their disobedience by saying that miracles and healings belong to a bygone age. Jesus told the Pharisees that "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men". The wages of sin is death and those that continue to follow in the "tradition" of the Pharisees are facing not only unheard prayers but curses, death and eternal damnation.

When you read this and if this is the first time ever that you have faced these truths then let me tell you that Easter is an Eastern feast that celebrates the Eastern Goddess of fertility called Ishtar". Jesus was not born on the 25th of December but Nimrod, his wife and son, Semiramus and Tammuz, and at least 13 other Roman gods were born on that day. Valentine's and Halloween are absolutely pagan traditions and to "celebrate St Patrick is contrary to every instruction of the Word of God about who must get all the glory and honour. There is ample material on this subject on the AICM website (www.oicb.co.za) and on many others. We, like the Pharisees, have a choice to make but we must remember that with Jesus there are no half measures. We are either all in or all out (Rev 3:16)
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Day 7, Week 7.

This week's reading: Matthew 13:1 to Matthew 15:9

Read through the week's portion of scripture again. Then ask yourself the following questions and answer them as objectively as you can:

1.Have I read everything attentively and listened to the Holy Spirit's prompting?

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2. What was new and meaningful to me?

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3. What do I want to learn more about?

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4. What life decisions am I making from this week onward

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5. How do I rate my own;

Personal relationship with Jesus?

Personal relationship with the Holy Spirit?

**Personal** relationship with God the Father?

Humility?

Servanthood?

Agape (love)?

Faith?

Hope?

6. My prayer commitments

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7. Other comments

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Day 1, Week 8.

Matthew 15:10 - 20

What Defiles a Person

Matthew 15:10-20 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: 11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. 12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? 13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. 14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. 15 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. 16 And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? 17 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

It seems Jesus was so frustrated by the traditionalism of the Pharisees that He immediately calls all the bystanders together and explains to them what is really important. Washing of hands and eating with unwashed hands has nothing to do with righteousness before God. they are earthly and practical measures that are adhered to whenever practicable and possible but ultimately will have no influence on the obedient soul or body.

Modern medical science has reached agreement that there is a brain in the heart that is the source of primary input to the brain in the head, i.e. the soul. We also know that the heart is the seat of the Holy Spirit in the case of a born again believer and disciple of Jesus and is the residence of the devil in the case of the Gentile or unbeliever.

That tells us in no uncertain terms that we know what a person truly stands for by what comes out of their mouth. I know of no genuine disciple of Jesus that will replace the Commands of God with tradition. I do know a lot of people that claim to be followers, have even partaken in short term missions and teaching in churches, that will do so and they are what I call "intellectual believers", they are the ones that believe everything about God but they do not believe in God and they will be held accountable for that. Dear reader, remember this one fact "God is not mocked" (Galatians 6:7) so do not be deceived by apparent sincerity that is in contradiction to the Word of God. Unlike much of the teaching by word and by conduct of the present day churches, we do not get to decide on what is right or wrong or on what we must or must not obey. That right belongs exclusively to God the Father and is respected by the Son and the Holy Spirit. If mankind wants to usurp this authority then they cannot expect God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit to remain with and in them.

Ah but, you say, you know many that keep these pagan traditions and are regarded by their churches and the community as prosperous Christians. Then remember this. God prospered Egypt when it suited Him to be the most powerful nation in the world but utterly destroyed them when the time came. The same happened with Babylon and the Roman Empire. Prosperity is not necessarily a sign of Godliness and the successful application of Christian principles (i.e. works) does not constitute salvation. The assurance of salvation is not in what we see; it is in what God sees that is hidden in the heart. Can our hearts defile the Passover with Ishtar or the birth of the Saviour of the world with pagan tradition?

Day 2, Week 8.

Matthew 15:21 - 28

The Faith of a Canaanite Woman

Matthew 15:21-28 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

The Israel country that was established in Joshua's time became to be divided by internal rivalry and pride into Judah in the South and Israel in the North and the Northern tribes especially became intermingled with the Gentiles far more than the South and that saw a religious separation develop between North and South where the prejudice of the one against the other had reached epic proportions and the South regarded the North as being gentiles and no longer part of the Chosen People.

That makes this journey of Jesus then a very significant one and the first clear sign of a major shift in the approach of God to mankind. This is the first clear sign of the setting aside of the Nation of Israel and a new approach towards the "gentiles". That includes you and me unless you were born a Jew. It is a significant thing too that the Canaanite woman recognises Jesus for who He is. In the Letter to the Romans we'll see that Paul makes it clear that everyone has an intrinsic knowledge of the existence of God and this also indicates that Jesus' reputation had gone ahead of Him. This much we still see in this day and age and we still see how that the Word of God is spreading far and wide.

Having said that it is noteworthy that Jesus' first reaction to the women is to ignore her and then secondly He diplomatically tests her. The significance of that is that knowing about Jesus and believing in Jesus are two very different things. Only when Jesus tests her does it become apparent that not only is she a humble person (prepared to compare herself to a dog) but that she confesses that she has faith even though that faith may be as small as a crumb under the table. Then only does Jesus "welcome" the woman. We have often heard people, especially those who are not saved; "accuse" God of not answering their prayers and this is the reason. The grace of God is reserved for the saved and the Nation of Israel but not for the unbelievers.

A further lesson for us from this is that in the eyes of Jesus faith is faith. Jesus talks about faith like a mustard seed and like a crumb being enough. We tend to have everything in life quantified for effect, more money, bigger house, smarter car, more faith and then it is better. Jesus has no such illusions because ultimately faith is a gift from Him. We must not confuse faith with confidence. What we tend to overlook is that for all of us there is a first time of doing something and the umpteenth time of doing the same. All of us grow in confidence the more we do the same thing. The first brick I lay I will need a spirit level top and sides to get it right but in time I will draw up a whole corner and only use the spirit level on completion. Practice brings not only accuracy but also builds confidence and that is something that Jesus fully acknowledges.

Sometimes new converts may feel themselves separated and even rejected by the "experienced believers", who sometimes have a haughty and condescending attitude towards the newly converted. What I feel to say to anyone in that position is that they must remember that nothing in their walk with Jesus is about pleasing me or any other man or woman. It is all about your personal relationship with Jesus and Jesus knows exactly what is in the heart of the believer now that He is risen and seated at the right hand of the Father. I would add to that that the churches of our day are in desperate need of the enthusiasm of the average new convert and they must not allow the "more mature" believers to dampen that because as long as they do that they will eventually loose it altogether. If your enthusiasm is not taken up in one place then ask the Lord Jesus to show you where you can live out that enthusiasm to His glory and honour and the Holy Spirit will lead you there. May the crumb of faith of this Canaanite woman inspire us all to show or faith by our works to the honour and glory of our God.

Day 3, Week 8.

Matthew 15:29 - 39

Jesus Heals Many

Matthew 15:29-31 And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there. 30 And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them: 31 Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.

For many years I wondered why this passage which seems so much like a repeat of a previous passage was recorded. Then I realised that the context was different. This was now on the Gentile leg of Jesus' ministry and we see there too great multitudes (of whom many would have travelled more than a day's journey) came to him. Then as now, whether we are aware of it or not, there is an enormous hunger and desire for the literal Word of God.

Then we see that here Jesus heals the physically and mentally diseased again. performs miracles to heal the "maimed" and cast out demons. Have we seen this before or is there a new element here?

I believe that there is a new element here in that it seems clear to me that in these multitudes there would have been many "gentiles" or unbelievers and yet they were healed of divers afflictions. It is on such occasions that Jesus speaks about doing things "that you may believe". It is possibly this type of healing that is causing many of our present clergymen to say that that type of healing belongs to the past and it does no longer apply to their churches. They would be correct only in the sense that in their churches we are supposedly dealing with believers and unless they are then obedient believers they will not be healed as were these multitudes. They can however, if they truly believe and are obedient still be healed. Neither has this type of healing and miracle passed away and it is still possible that in our time God may choose to heal "unbelievers" at mass outreaches so that they may believe. Please let us not be confused by the healing that can take place to this day for both sets of conditions.

What is abundantly clear from these gospel teachings of the ministry of Jesus and the disciples is that the ministry of healing ( both physical and psychosomatic diseases) and casting out of demons and miracle bodily restoration is an integral part of the Gospel. Jesus' ministry was for the healing of the complete man and mankind is made up of spirit, soul and body and the healing is never confined to the spiritual only. Do not be persuaded otherwise and even more important do not allow it to be neglected. It must be an integral and every day part of any Church of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand

Matthew 15:32-39 Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way. 33 And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude? 34 And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes. 35 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. 36 And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 37 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full. 38 And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children. 39 And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala.

Another repeated episode? Yes and this time it shows not only that Jesus knows our every need but that he knows every need of all mankind, Jew and Gentile, Saved or unsaved and chosen or saved, Jesus has no favourites. Favourites, the seat at the head of the table and the like are the things of mankind. In Jesus' eyes the least will be the greatest, humility weighs more than status or position. So again when we are new believers it does not matter what the world does or says, it only matters that in Jesus' eyes we are all either disciples of His or unbelievers and He even cares for the salvation of unbelievers.

Just to give you an idea how far Jesus went into the domain of unbelievers, Consider that from Sidon to Capernaum where they likely would have boarded the ship, is 80 kilometres as the crow flies so you can easily double that in walking distance so you are readily talking of three days of very brisk walking at least. Are we willing to go that far in this day and age to proclaim the Good News? Now also consider this. Having been up North, associated with "sinners", Jesus is heading back towards the strongholds of the Pharisees that hate the Canaanites. Would we do that?

Day 4, Week 8.

Matthew 16:1 - 12

The Pharisees and Sadducees Demand Signs

Matthew 16:1-4 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. 3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather today: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? 4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

As we saw Jesus came from Sidon straight back into the jealous hypocrisy that saw two factions that normally rejected each other, unite in hypocritical opposition to Jesus' ministry. Not satisfied with what signs Jesus had already given they wanted one of their own and Jesus knew well that even if he did that, then they would misinterpret that too just as they lied and twisted the known truths and indisputable facts of their day, just as they bent and twisted and denied the Law and past revelations to the Chosen Nation.

Jesus responds by facing them head on calling them an adulterous generation because they had gotten into bed with heathen traditions and twisted teachings of the Word of God for their personal gain.

We cannot argue that these acts of Jesus were unusually confrontational and completely out of character. That must cause us to take note and to ask why? What was the reason that Jesus changed from the caring act of feeding 4000 to being confrontational and non-compliant towards the Pharisees.

The answer lies in the manner of the hypocritical Pharisees. They had seen enough signs by any standard to be able to discern without any doubt that Jesus was the promised Messiah, but they denied that, they denied The Truth, they were guilty of lying and deceiving. Blatant disobedience like that is what Jesus was reacting to and when we see it that way then we can see that Jesus was still being very diplomatic in the circumstances and that is what we must learn from this.

When we go out to proclaim the full Gospel in the present church world we will find masses of pharisaical opposition. Firstly the Roman Catholic Church that purports to be part of the Church of Jesus Christ is an abomination that by its own heretical practices cannot be seen as such. (Note that refers to the institution and not individual exceptions that are ignorant and negligent in getting to the truth). Even in the Protestant tradition the full Gospel message is largely forgotten and we will create fear and tension that will result in stern opposition from much of the current clergy. How we deal with that is what is illustrated here by Jesus. We must be firm, call a spade a spade, but we must not become personally insulting. Generalities get the message home just as effectively and allow us to maintain a balanced position. Pointing out to our opposition that, that which they deny will be given to others (the sign of Jonas), is another truth that will make much of our opposition rethink their stance.

The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees

Matthew 16:5-12 And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. 6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. 7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread. 8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? 9 Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? 10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? 11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? 12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

What lesson is there for us in bewaring the doctrine of the Pharisees? I believe it is this: The doctrine of the Pharisees were man made statements that did not reflect the word of God, and they were living proof that they were destroying people and themselves because they adhered to doctrines and not the Word of God ( _Hosea 4:6_ )

In our churches we are faced with false Bible translations where words and whole sections have been omitted (64000 words in the NIV) that work together to deny the Deity of Jesus and to support false doctrine. No doctrine and no theology is of any value unless it reflects the literal meaning of the original Word of God. How can we beware the false doctrines? By knowing Jesus, the Truth. How do we do that? By reading and understanding and accepting and acting on the Original Word of God. When we are and if we are confronted we must be able to talk with authority by knowing the Word and insist on using the KJV (or the AOV) and be able to justify the reason for that.

I would like just briefly to add here that although some may think from my writing that I am advocating conflict, that is the last thing I want and would prefer the keeping of the peace and brotherly love above almost all else. I will not however accept quietly any perversion of the Word of God or any false "doctrine" or teaching and that includes raising the status of "doctrine" above that of the Word of God.

Day 5, Week 8.

Matthew 16:13 - 23

Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ

Matthew 16:13-20 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

Jesus having put the Pharisees' hypocrisy down, moved way up to almost the Northern tip of Israel again. Far removed from the Pharisees He officially reveals to His inner circle that He is indeed the promised Messiah. Then Jesus also tells them that they only knew that because it had been revealed to them by the Father through the Holy Spirit.

Then Jesus "renames" Simon as Peter (Greek; petros which means a large rock) and proceeds to state that "upon this rock I will build my Church". That statement has been misunderstood and abused amongst others by the RCC and many of the Protestant churches. Many have maintained that this means that the Church of Jesus would be built on Simon Peter.

Jesus had just explained that Peter had come to knowledge of something that had not been known by mortal mankind up until that time but that he had come to know that by a revelation from the Holy Spirit on the authority of the Father. The third person of the Trinity had come down to be with Peter and communicated with Peter's spirit. At that time that was an unusual event and that event is what the Church of Jesus Christ would be built on. This was more than the guidance and leading of the Holy Spirit that we already know was given to us upon repentance and the water baptism. It is the specific infilling of the power of the Holy Spirit that the disciples would receive at Pentecost and that you and I receive upon the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.

The Church is not built on Peter, who was a man and would leave this world upon his death but on a "Rock" that would be forever available to mankind. It therefore has nothing to do with Peter the man or the so called direct "descendants" of Peter that the RCC claim their popes are. The world has yet to see any pope do what the Spirit filled Apostles did in Jesus name but we have seen many men of God baptised in the Holy Spirit do what Jesus' disciples, the Apostles, did. A spirit filled natural leader, like Peter became, and that is baptised in the Holy Spirit is steady as a large immovable rock.

Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

Matthew 16:21-23 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

In this piece we see the reason why Jesus had revealed to the disciples who He really was. We have the fortunate position of being knowledgeable about all the events of that time from the recorded history of the Word of God. They however, did not have that knowledge or the understanding and their baptism in the Holy Spirit would only take place after the resurrection. This then places us in a position of even greater responsibility than that which was laid upon the Apostles. Are we reasoning like gentiles or are we reasoning like born again, Spirit Filled disciples?

Day 6, Week 8.

Matthew 16:24 - 17:21

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

Matthew 16:24-28 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. 28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

I know that you have probably heard quite a few versions of just what Jesus means by making this statement and many I know are still confused by it and are choosing to ignore it as a result. Unfortunately theologians are fond of complicating things (even Paul is accused of it at times) and that only results in losing the real benefit. I am therefore going to keep this as simple as possible and begin with saying that we must not see this as an instruction to enter a life of suffering.

The essence of the statement is about the person we were before our salvation and after our salvation. Jesus is saying that we must leave the old self behind and that from the ashes of the old self allow the Born Again self to arise with a new vision and particularly a new and undivided loyalty to Jesus Christ. How badly do many of us need to do that, how often do we ask the Lord to forgive us of the same past disobedience? Oh that we would grasp the full meaning of giving our lives to Jesus, repenting and being baptised in water so that the old is put down and the new born again us arises from the ash.

Then that much abused passage especially by the Preterists about those present seeing Jesus come into His Kingdom. That has nothing to do with the rapture or the second coming or the establishment of the thousand year reign of peace or the Lord's final rejection of the Jews in 70 AD. Do not get waylaid in any of that because it will only complicate our lives.

The simple truth is that when Jesus, after the resurrection appeared to the disciples again in the upper room, when Jesus literally walked through a solid wall or door, it was clear that Jesus had then received again His heavenly body, that He had arrived in His kingdom and those in the upper room were many of those that were standing there at that time. You see my brothers and sisters, read the word literally and it becomes clear to even a child.

The Transfiguration

Matthew 17:1-13 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. 4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. 7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. 8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. 9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead. 10 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? 11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. 12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. 13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

I think few have ever commented on the amazing grace that is associated with this event. God the Father saw fit to call Jesus the Son and three of the disciples to a special meeting on the mountain and there confirmed that what Jesus had confided to the disciples, i.e. that Jesus is the Son, that Jesus is God. God did not have any need to do that and only the Father's lovingkindness made that He confirmed this to the three disciples. And now we have an eternal record of that event kept for us in the first three Gospels.

It also reveals to us the importance of seeking isolation from the world when we need to get especially close to Jesus and that should be a regular event in all our lives. We all need to have that "isolated mountain" place of meeting.

Jesus Heals a Boy with a Demon

Matthew 17:14-21 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, 15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. 16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. 17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. 18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. 19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

There are two important lessons for us to take note of in this passage. Jesus came to bring salvation of spirit AND soul AND body. Secondly the healing ministry is a ministry that needs to be studied to be able to deal with every illness and disease.

There are many instances in our lives where faith like a mustard seed will be enough for us to ask Jesus for personal healing and for healing of others. That is an indisputable fact that many can and will attest to. There is however also a more difficult element to the healing ministry that concerns factors like understanding the type of demonic possession, understanding that there are certain preconditions to healing and understanding the actual diseases and their root causes. However these do not mean that the salvation that Jesus brought for the soul and the body belong to a bygone era. What has largely stayed in a bygone era is our knowledge and understanding of the Word of God (Hosea 4:6)

We are however very blessed that a few pioneers have been hard at work and have documented the root cause of over 700 illnesses and diseases that cover almost the full spectrum of known diseases. If we arm ourselves with that research and study of the occult we will know what God requires for healing every known illness, disease or spiritual affliction.

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Day 7, Week 8.

This week's reading: Matthew 15:10 to Matthew 17:21

Read through the week's portion of scripture again. Then ask yourself the following questions and answer them as objectively as you can:

1.Have I read everything attentively and listened to the Holy Spirit's prompting?

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2. What was new and meaningful to me?

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3. What do I want to learn more about?

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4. What life decisions am I making from this week onward

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5. How do I rate my own;

Personal relationship with Jesus?

Personal relationship with the Holy Spirit?

**Personal** relationship with God the Father?

Humility?

Servanthood?

Agape (love)?

Faith?

Hope?

6. My prayer commitments

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7. Other comments

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Day 1, Week 9.

Matthew 17:22 - 27

Jesus Again Foretells Death, Resurrection

Matthew 17:22-23 And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: 23 And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.

For many years I wondered how I could apply this to my life and to that of other people. We can hardly all go through a process of betrayal and murder. But there is an important message in this recording of what Jesus told the disciples. Part of that is that Jesus literally had to die for my and our sins to be pardoned and He knew exactly what was coming his way. Jesus was under no illusions and even though Jesus, as being God, could have opted out at any time he suffered all the humiliation and physical pain for us so that we could be saved from the wrath that WILL come.

We must understand about coming to conversion, what repentance means and what should happen to us. That is that we must die to self. that I/we no longer live for our own desires but that we yield our lives to Jesus as He yielded His life an atonement for sin for our lives. That means that I/we must almost literally bury ourselves, or literally bury our old selves so deeply and so permanently that only the new born again me is left to rise again with a new vision and understanding of my purpose in this world.

" _... they were exceeding sorry"_. that parting with the old self, the self that I knew so well, whose desires I had lived to fulfil and with whom I was intimately familiar must die, I must part with what up until then was my most loved and best friend and deny that self forever. there can be no hanging on, no keepsakes, no mementoes because the born again me is a new and different person.

The Temple Tax

Matthew 17:24-27 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? 25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? 26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. 27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

A lesson in simple everyday behaviour. As sons of the Most High, as brothers and sisters of Jesus, we certainly have a position and status that few mortal men can understand. But that does not give us boasting rights or a special privilege in this world.

In fact what Jesus teaches here is that we need to take extra care to be obedient even to earthly authority. Our manner must be impeccable even if that then requires as much extra preparation as going on a fishing trip. We are the representatives of Jesus and that is something that gives us a very important privilege of being inoffensive and in perfect behaviour at all times and places.

Day 2, Week 9.

Matthew 18:1 - 9

Who Is the Greatest?

Matthew 18:1-6 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. 6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

So their real question was then about whom of them would take the place of JESUS CHRIST as the leader (sit at His right hand) of the apostles. As it turned out JESUS CHRIST did not make any appointments but used the occasion to put some important teaching in place about His successor or successors.

The first was that they had to become like little children and then that the "little children" where to be specially protected from injury. What did that say about the authority of heaven? Two very vital things. Firstly that matter of the little child. Show a lively little boy a movie of a superhero and watch what he does. It is a documented fact and I have personally seen friends jumping off roofs thinking they can fly. They don't question. You say it, they believe it. The same applies to this authority of heaven. It was (and still is) something so huge that the normal adult mind cannot comprehend it. Most adults are very quick to say "it cannot be done" when they have to use existing resources to do something that has never been done with them before. So that's what JESUS CHRIST was saying. They would be told what the "authority" meant in full, they would be appointed to their roles but the effects and implications were so completely different from the familiar that they would have to start off by simply believing without understanding in full. They would, for example, have to believe that the authority they had would enable them to perform miracles, cast out demons...withstand the pains of martyrdom. Now I know this sounds strange to our ears. Take however, as an example, yourself immediately after your baptism in the Holy Spirit and asking for the authority of heaven. An hour or so later somebody asks you to pray for the life of a young child that has just drowned. What would you do and feel? I can clearly remember the first time I prayed for the casting out of demonic spirits from another person. I also remember being terrified of being asked to do it again. But if I had been the little boy I would have "jumped off the roof" without a second thought. That was the point JESUS CHRIST was making. The greater their and our ability to accept and believe without necessarily understanding, the greater will be our use and the effect we have on the world with this authority. The second was about the protection of the little children. We've all I'm sure heard by now that a millstone weighed on average about five ton. With that tied around my neck and then being thrown in the "deep end" I don't have two chances, I definitely have only one, I WILL drown? The thing that strikes me that Jesus Christ knew was that this authority would on the one hand require a lot of gentle encouragement and nursing to unleash its full potential and on the other it would, just as in His own case; result in terrible persecution from certain quarters (and not all of them human). In the light of this JESUS CHRIST sought to give them the assurance that they would not only not stand alone against these odds, but they would receive unwavering support and the opposition would not get away with it. What would make us quicker to pray for the little drowned child than this kind of reassurance?

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Temptations to Sin

Matthew 18:7-9 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! 8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. 9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

That word "woe" conjures up an image of unspeakable misery that will come upon the world because of worldly disobedience. In particular in the one that is responsible for this disobedience. So much more severe will be the indescribable misery that will come upon them that promote or cause the disobedience that if that person or people were compared with our body parts we would suffer less if we cut off that arm or leg or ripped out that eye.

We must note here that the offences that we commit because of false teaching will not be overlooked. We cannot hide behind the false teaching of others irrespective of their position. Each of us is individually responsible for our transgressions, for our personal repentance and our personal knowledge and understanding of the Word of God and our personal relationship with Jesus. At the same time we must be aware that if we teach or proclaim the Word of God in any way then we have an enormous responsibility to be faithful to every dot and dash in the original Word of God or we will surely suffer doubly as much as those we lead astray.

Day 3, Week 9.

Matthew 18:10 - 20

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

Matthew 18:10-14 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. 11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. 12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? 13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

Note that "these little ones" are here compared with sheep and not with Lambs. This is a reference to those that are new followers, new to the Gospel or recent converts and those that have "converted and become as little children". Jesus draws a distinction between those that are mature in the faith and those that are still spiritual infants or "little ones".

Then he tells us that the Guardian angels of those immature in the faith look to God the Father constantly and see that to the Father they are like his very own children and that he loves and knows every hair on the heads of every one of them. These angels therefore watch over these little ones with so much care and devotion because they do not want to incur the wrath of their Father.

I have seen these "little ones" for the most part being shunned in our churches. People stick to their clicks and their body language sends out a clear message of "do not enter" to any newcomer and foreigner. The elders are for the most part inattentive or even haughty and the clergy generally will not grant the "little ones' any place of even the least responsibility. Jesus here is speaking out vehemently against this kind of behaviour and warning us to take care of the little ones until they too can graduate from milk to meat.

Consider just how many of the young people in our churches are lost as soon as they get an opportunity to decide for themselves whether to continue in the church or not. The same turnover is seen in new converts that are enthusiastic for a season and then simply fade away into oblivion. We have been given here by Jesus the same responsibility for the "little ones" on earth as their guardian angels have in heaven but we do not seem to be in any awe of what the Father thinks of our negligence. We should stop this comfortable focus that the Father rejoices over every "lost sheep" that is brought into the fold (true as that is) and focus on the commission given to the more mature in the way.

If Your Brother Sins Against You

Matthew 18:15-20 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. 18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

How do we settle our differences in our churches? Perhaps the more relevant question is; "how should we settle our differences in the Church of Jesus Christ". In our churches the amount of slander, jealousy, criticism and retribution that goes on between those who profess to be born again believers baptised in the Holy Spirit is frightening. Not the least of the reasons for this is that very few if any of our churches can truly claim to be the Church of Jesus because they do not practice and believe the original Word of God.

Having said that let me remind you that in terms of our own salvation we cannot hide behind others or the church and so the second question becomes more relevant. That means that in the first instance when a brother (or sister) offends us in any way that then the matter is between the two people concerned to take their disagreement to each other and the Word of God. The simple fact is that if both parties are living in compliance with the Word of God then there cannot readily arise a situation that is not covered in the Bible. When both sincerely search for the will of the Lord God in their quarrel then they will find an answer and also a prescription for how both should react to the other in the settlement. If needs be as a last resort they can call on the help of other more mature brothers and sisters but the aim is that ultimately there needs to be consensus, restoration, forgiveness and healing. Are we living that command or invoking the wrath of God?

Day 4, Week 9.

Matthew 18:21 - 35

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

Matthew 18:21-35 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. 23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. 24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. 29 And his fellow servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee? 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not everyone his brother their trespasses.

This is possibly one of the most miscomprehended passages in the whole Bible. Why do I say that? Because the evidence is there for all to see. This passage is all about you and me forgiving those that trespassed against us. You see the fact is that the disobedience of that command is sin and sin is the primary cause of all illnesses and diseases.

I have said several times already that Jesus came to heal spirit, soul and body. The vast majority of churches either flatly reject that this fact still applies today or have stopped proclaiming the full Gospel of salvation. To those that acknowledge the fact that the full healing of mankind is still the will of Jesus it is no secret that probably the major reason for the neglect of this ministry is the apparent lack of success that the clergy have had in trying to apply this ministry. Then, because they find that people are not miraculously healed they either blame themselves and become depressed or they begin to deny the ministry by saying it was only relevant in the apostolic times.

The simple fact and reason for the many times that we do not see the healings that are asked for lie in the fact that there are certain prerequisites that must be met before the Father will heal the soul and the body of a believer. This includes repentance of our sins. That is where this passage's relevance lies. Most people will readily confess and repent the majority of their sins but, and here's the point, but they will hang on to their unforgiveness. So deeply entrenched has that lack of forgiving become in most of us that we live on almost without the awareness of the people we have not forgiven. That happens in spite of the fact that Jesus paid a price beyond our comprehension for the forgiveness of our sins. That means that every time we fail to forgive others we are in fact putting Jesus through all the events of His ridiculous "trail" and torment and crucifixion.

Pastor Henry W Wright who visited South Africa and had one of the most successful healing ministries but sadly passed away last year (2019). records a multitude of healings that people experienced (particularly from arthritis and rheumatism), simple by forgiving people that they had refused to forgive for years and years and they were often healed without him even asking specifically for the healing. This just takes me back again to that verse I have quoted many time before; "Hos 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children."

Brothers and sisters in Jesus, please, please believe that the Lord Jesus wants you to be well in spirit, soul and body. Please know the Word of God and understand that we are often our own worst enemies and that frequently through the sin of unforgiveness and allied to that is fear and anxiety and stress. These are things that the Word tells us to put aside and for good reason.

Day 5, Week 9.

Matthew 19:1 - 15

Teaching About Divorce

Matthew 19:1-12 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan; 2 And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there. 3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? 4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? 8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso married her which is put away doth commit adultery. 10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry. 11 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. 12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

We are living in a "Moses world"? Like in the times of Moses there were reasons why couples wanted the right to divorce, so it is in today's world and perhaps it is even worse in our world. The first and foremost lesson in this passage is that we must know that in the sight of God the institution of marriage is to be a joining together of a husband to a wife for as long as they live. The New Testament makes it clear that Jesus, God the Son, deems the marriage of one husband to one wife as the only justified marriage. That is the Law and that is what we must be obedient to if we want to be without sin in this regard.

Having said that I want to immediately add to that the fact that this is the case for the born again disciple of Jesus and his or her children. Allow me to explain. There are those amongst us that got married with all the best will in the world before our salvation and rebirth and only found out the error of our ways when it was too late. Those marriages may have ended in divorce for any number of reasons other than fornication (infidelity) and many live in fear that they will not be pardoned. The fact is that if we truly have deep remorse for our failure and repent of our past with the full intention to never again default, then God is faithful and just to forgive us our trespasses (1 John 1:19). We must understand that by this God does not justify divorce, but He justifies the sinner that truly repents.

There is another very important lesson to be attached to this passage about marriage that is based on the lessons contained in the Old Testament about marriage. They are important both for the sake of the children of a marriage and for our proper understanding of the Marriage feast of Jesus and the rapture.

This is the responsibility that belongs to us as the parents in a marriage to properly educate our children in the Word of God and what the Word of God teaches young men and women about the preparation for and institution of the marriage. As parents the failure of the marriage of our children because of their own lack of knowledge in good time will be laid at the door of the parents because we have failed to obey the commands of God, Failed to properly care for and nurture a child of the Father that was graciously given to us as a gift to care for even as the Father Himself would have done. Failure to do so is a breach of that confidence that the Father placed in us. Again when this does go wrong we do not have to live with that burden of disobedience forever, but remorse and repentance is essential if we want to have salvation of spirit, soul and body and if we want to prevent the sins of the fathers from being visited on the third and fourth generation (Deuteronomy 28).

Jesus concludes this with a warning that celibacy is not desirable. Man was created to be married to a woman, not to be celibate, and so to remain celibate requires a specific gifting and consent from the lord our God. Note further that there is no justification in the word of God for same sex marriages irrespective of what the common law may say about this and the obedience to that law is incumbent on each individual believer.

Let the Children Come to Me

Matthew 19:13-15 Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. 15 And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.

Isn't it remarkable that this passage should follow immediately on the passage about marriage and considering all I said about the responsibility of parents for their children making the right choices. In our time the instruction of our children in the knowledge and understanding of the Word of God has become a responsibility parents have abdicated from and passed onto the "Sunday school" knowing full well that in the vast majority of cases the children will learn little more than a few twisted and perverted fables by the time they are twelve and should be able to decide on their own salvation.

That is the real point of what Jesus is teaching here and we as born again parents can no longer abdicate our responsibility when we are born again. If our salvation and new birth came too late for the sakes of our children then this passage places a responsibility on us again to repent remorsefully of our failure and to at least inform our children of what we failed to teach them when they were still teachable. We must understand clearly how all these things work together for the good of us all and how it is only when we are obedient to the whole that we can receive the healing of the whole man or woman that God made us to be.

Day 6, Week 9.

Matthew 19:16 - 30

The Rich Young Man

Matthew 19:16-30 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. 23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. 27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. 30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

By the fact that the Young man called Jesus "Good" Master already we see something of the man's thinking and Jesus understands that immediately. The young man was "works" orientated, i.e. he was a man that did deeds that he considered to be good and by them he was hoping to be saved. Being therefore a rich man he thought that he would be able to buy his salvation. The fact is that whether we are rich or not there is no way that mankind can "buy" their salvation either with money or with deeds. We must understand that whatever good there is in us and whatever that enabled us to gather in this world we have only by the grace of God. We cannot give to God what comes from God in the first place and expect anything in return for it. That would be like returning something we borrowed and expecting payment for it.

The only thing that we have that we can give to God is our obedience and that only because God gives us the freedom of choice. We have the freedom to chose, but we also have to understand that whatever choices we make there are consequences to those choices. We cannot worship Mammon (money) and God; we cannot place our earthly parents above our heavenly Father. There is nothing in this world that we can allow to take priority over our relationship and obedience to God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Knowing therefore that I was created with the freedom to choose and that mankind is corrupt and incapable of any good thought or deed, how on earth are we ever going to be able to do what God expects, not only as the Father but also as the Son and the Holy Spirit?

You see it is not just the rich man that will not give away his riches that is in trouble but that kind of obedience that Jesus tells us that is required here is a problem for everyone. For all mankind this is impossible! It is only WITH god that it becomes possible, only by the power of the indwelling Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. That is where it is important for the Born Again believer to understand that the indwelling Jesus wants to be and is in our eyes, our ears, our moths, our hand and feet and in every part of us and He will take control of every part of us that we by our free choice yield to Jesus' authority. Only when we by our free choice submit our spirit completely to the obedience and guidance of the Holy Spirit, can we be what God expects us to be. Study these words until your all is on the altar of sacrifice laid:

" _With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26_

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Day 7, Week 9.

This week's reading: Matthew 17:22 to Matthew 19:30

Read through the week's portion of scripture again. Then ask yourself the following questions and answer them as objectively as you can:

1.Have I read everything attentively and listened to the Holy Spirit's prompting?

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2. What was new and meaningful to me?

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3. What do I want to learn more about?

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4. What life decisions am I making from this week onward

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5. How do I rate my own;

Personal relationship with Jesus?

Personal relationship with the Holy Spirit?

**Personal** relationship with God the Father?

Humility?

Servanthood?

Agape (love)?

Faith?

Hope?

6. My prayer commitments

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7. Other comments

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Day 1, Week 10.

Matthew 20:1 - 16

Labourers in the Vineyard

Matthew 20:1-16 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. 2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. 8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. 9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. 11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, 12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. 13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? 14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? 16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

The householder is the head if the house or the owner of the house and its property. When he hires people to do work for him he will generally pay the least amount he can. That's just the simple law of supply and demand. In this parable there is no indication that the "penny" wage was below par so let's first take it that the wage was the minimum that was required for a day's reasonable survival with reasonable food and clothing. We also have seen that the term householder is applied to those who run their households and properties effectively and so we can assume that the first group of men hired would have been enough to accomplish the task at hand after a fair days work and even the second may have been necessary due to some mishap or unforeseen circumstance. But then clearly the rest were people that the householder saw that were in need. Just look on the street corners of our suburbs in South Africa these days and in every town and village you'll see them waiting in anticipation till well after midday.

The common practice here is to hire a casual worker (year 2020) for around R150.00 a day in the Westrand area. However as the day progresses this "minimum" wage would generally be reduced in proportion to the portion of the day worked and few, very few care whether that means that those getting less will probably go without a decent meal or starve.

So we see then that in the first instance it is a parable about minimum standards and a minimum amount of giving based on what the minimum is that something effective can be achieved with.

Jesus Christ describes the kingdom of heaven as being like that. That means that when this authority acts it will firstly do nothing less than provide that which is necessary for an effective completion of the task at hand. Secondly it means that that authority will not act differently towards different people or groups i.e. it won't be biased. As I have previously explained the Kingdom of Heaven is the Authority that Jesus gives to mankind when they ask for it after being baptised in the Holy Spirit and that then means that Jesus is teaching us here that this is how the "authority of mankind" is to be applied by those to whom it will be given

Day 2, Week 10.

Matthew 20:20 - 34

A Mother's Request

Matthew 20:20-27 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. 21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. 22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. 23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. 24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. 25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

It is clear here that the mother of James and John was in the first place probably thinking still like many of the Jews that the Messiah would establish some earthly like kingdom where they would throw off the yoke of the Romans and in that context probably is why she asked for the favoured positions for her sons. That is not as strange as we are sometimes led to believe. I am quite certain it is exactly what my wife and most other mothers would do for their sons. That is the undeniable bond that exists between a mother and child and those of us that are of more advanced years will attest that even when their sons turn 50 like our twins the motherly instinct is still just as strong.

What we see here though is that we must be careful what we ask for on behalf of our children. In this instance Jesus pardoned the mother and told them that she did not realise what that would entail. We have a great advantage over that mother in that we have seen the events that followed and how many disciples are still persecuted to this day. Even to this day those that are engaged in evangelistic outreaches of the full Gospel (of spirit, soul and body) all have a circle of intercessors that are constantly praying and warring against the spiritual realm on their behalf. As parents we must be wary of what we ask for our children because in all of life's blessings there are also consequences.

Having said that Jesus returns to the other aspect of the Kingdom of Heaven, i.e. the Authority of mankind. Seldom in the Word of God do we find a more categorically clear statement relating to the status of those that will receive the Authority of heaven/mankind. Throughout the Gospels and the rest of the New Testament we come across this theme of humility or servant leadership. I far prefer humility as a description because so much has been said about servant leadership by a number of clergy that have not lived up to the norms of servant leadership themselves and have therefore undermined the term.

Allied to this misconception is the modern day image of much of the ministry that the clergy are very well remunerated and it is only when we look at some evangelists and missionaries that we see men and women with commitment in spite of what they earn in finances. It is stunning how often we hear men say that they are "going to go into ministry" when ..., but the when never comes. That is because they, like the mother of James and John, say things before they fully understand the consequences. Beware of this kind of brash action though because many men go on even to make promises to God that they never fulfil and that will cost them. We cannot break a promise, least of all one made to God. Before we then become critical of the mothers, let us beware the glass houses we are living in.

There remains one last application of this teaching of Jesus in my/your own lives. In the end we all that are born again share in the same commission that was given to the apostles. Every one of us is called to evangelism and ministry and the proclamation of the Gospel of salvation of Spirit, soul and body. How is my/your ministry doing? Will we start when ..., or are we busy? You see the fact is that this statement of Jesus is addressed to everyone the elects to give their life to Jesus and to be saved by His Blood and healed by His stripes and who desire to be raptured soon when Jesus calls the faithful. That "when" is rapidly running out of time. It is not about waiting until we have all the logistics (Matthew 10:5 \- 15).

Jesus Heals Two Blind Men

Matthew 20:29-34 And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. 30 And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. 31 And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. 32 And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? 33 They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. 34 So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

Let us ask ourselves this question: What will we do when on a Sunday morning seated in church the service is interrupted by two men coming in and shouting "have mercy on us you disciples of Jesus? Will we react like the crowd or will we react as Jesus did? Unfair question I hear some say! No dear friends it is not an unfair question, Jesus has said you too have received much so give freely (Matthew 10:8). We must be as ready to give as Jesus is and that means that we must live in faith every moment of our lives. If we are sitting in that church and not ready to give to those two men what they need, then by rights we should not even have bothered being there.

Day 3, Week 10.

Matthew 21:1 - 11

The Triumphal Entry

Matthew 21:1-11 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. 3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. 4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. 6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, 7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. 8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. :9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. 10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? 11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

First thing that we must take note of here is that all the Old Testament prophecies that were scheduled to be fulfilled by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus have in fact been fulfilled. There is not a single one that is missing. As sure as that is, so sure can we be that all the prophesies that are yet to be fulfilled will also be fulfilled exactly as they were prophesied. That then also means that unlike the Preterists, for example, proclaim that God has finished with the Jews, that is not so because there are still prophecies to be fulfilled and in the same way the Church of Jesus Christ has not replaced the Jews and even less so have any of the multitude of churches that exist today.

The next lesson is again the reminder of humility. On that particular day there was also a Roman ruler due to enter the city and he was preceded by a guard of honour and rode in a fancy coach. Rather like our times where a man's status in government or in industry is often determined by the size and make of vehicle that he drives and where some of our missionaries are reduced to riding on bicycles or walking on foot. Mankind is so fond of building up treasures on earth that our treasures eventually own us and become idols. Wealth is not evil but we will see what the church ought to be doing with it when we study the book of Acts - sharing everything they had!

In many of our "Christian Churches" this event is remembered as "Ash Wednesday". In most instances they keep the palm branches that their churches were decorated with the previous year and then burn them on the Wednesday and will wipe a patch of ash on the foreheads of their members at this year's Ash Wednesday festival. That "feast" is never ordained in the Word of God and has in fact got pagan origins and comes from the pagan religious practices of the Romans. What the Word of God does say about that festival is that we celebrate false festivals at our peril. The tradition was brought into the church when the Roman authorities combined their worship of pagan gods with the Christian teaching to form the Roman State Religion that became the Roman Catholic Church. It never was and never can or will be acceptable in the Church of Jesus Christ. I must warn you, my brothers and sisters, that we need to be discerning about the feasts that our churches are so fond of keeping as many of those are completely unacceptable to the Body of Jesus Christ. By continuing to partake in them we are blocking our own road to complete healing of soul and body and incurring the wrath of God ( _Deuteronomy 28_ )

Perhaps the most urgent warning in this passage is the implied one. This entry saw the Lord Jesus coming as the Saviour, the Humble Servant of the world. Make no mistake my dear friend in Jesus, that will never happen again. When the rapture comes Jesus will not even set foot on this disobedient and corrupt world but will cause the faithful to ascend and meet Him in the sky on the way to the wedding feast. Seven years after that Jesus will return in triumph leading His army on white horses to his palace in Jerusalem and all will be subjected to His authority. Let this be a wakeup call, playtime is over and we are in the final lap.

Day 4, Week 10.

Matthew 21:12 - 22

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

Matthew 21:12-17 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. 14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. 15 And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased, 16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? 17 And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.

I have heard this incident interpreted as describing the patience of Jesus and as righteous anger and pointing to the defilement of the "temple" and relating that to our church buildings.

The Temple as given by God originally to Moses is indeed a Holy place and worthy of the most rigorous rules and regulations regarding its orderliness, neatness and uses. But my dear Brother and sister the point here is not so much about the church buildings in which we assemble. The temple has been replaced, from the time of the resurrection and ascension of Jesus and is no longer composed of brick and mortar. The temple of the disciples of Jesus is now our bodies and the money changers and those that sell and buy are the whoring and abuses of our human bodies.

Against all of these there are repeated warnings in the Word of God about how we ought to dress, be meticulously neat and clean on our bodies, and respect not only our own bodies but also those of everyone else.

I cannot plead innocence in this regard, not by a long shot. I was a heavy smoker until fairly recently and drank alcohol in access in my younger days and kept that up until not so long ago. There was much else some consciously and some without a second thought... What on earth was I thinking is what is now in my thinking. You see the fact is that my body is now the temple and when we say that Jesus lives in us that means that every part of me, every limb and organ, every aperture and sensory organ is occupied by Jesus. Can you imagine what He must have said when I poured yet another beer or whisky down His throat, or smothered Him with yet another drag on the cigarette? Each of us can take that further in every aspect of our deeds and actions.

When we realise that the body is now the Temple and that Jesus lives in us and the Holy Spirit resides in the heart, then the purity of the Temple takes on a whole new meaning. If we continue to defile the temple of God we too must not be surprised at the chastisement that will follow, chastisement like that which we saw regarding the Tabernacle that will lead to us being cursed and laden with all the diseases of Egypt.

Next time we dress inappropriately or provocatively then let us think about what we are doing to the temple of the Lord and stop wondering why there is so much rape and abuse and disrespect for the human body.

Even Little children can understand that respect and unless we as parents can teach our children the truth about their bodies this current state of disrespect for the Temples of God will continue and get worse... "Repent for the rapture is now at hand" and turn from our wicked ways.

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Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

Matthew 21:18-22 Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. 19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. 20 And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! 21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. 22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Who is the fig tree in this story? Who has faith to move mountains? This message is addressed to all born again believers. As born again believers we have been set free from sin and the curses of sin, we have been set free from self and false gods. We have been empowered by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and can be baptised in the Holy Spirit whenever we ask for it and we have Jesus Christ indwelling our human frame. Like the fig tree we have more than we need to fulfil our purpose here on earth and that purpose is to bear fruit and our season is a continuous, never ending one. We are to be like a fig tree that bears good fruit all year round and the fact is that by sitting back and not bearing good fruit we anger God and he will cast us aside.

A fair question now is "how do we bear good fruit". The answer to that is to study and know the Word of God and to be obedient to the Laws and statutes therein and to follow in obedience the leading of the Holy Spirit. The Lord God has a purpose for each of us and that is the only way we can know our own purpose. There is no other guide but this.

Day 5, Week 10.

Matthew 21:23 - 32

The Authority of Jesus Challenged

Matthew 21:23-27 And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? 24 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? 26 But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet. 27 And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

There are two ways in which to apply this teaching. First let me ask you if you were led by the Holy Spirit to go and invite some people off the street into the church and started preaching to them, what would the reaction of the pastor and leaders be?" perhaps the more pertinent question is how would you deal with the reaction of those people? The Holy Spirit is constantly leading us into opportunities to bear fruit, in our churches, in the streets, in the shops and on the road in our cars. Are we listening to and hearing the Holy Spirit, are we obedient to the Holy Spirit? The answer is sadly that most of the time IF we hear the Spirit we are very quick to find all sorts of reasons to be disobedient and that is not the example that Jesus sets here for us to follow.

The second way concerns our respect for the Authority of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is easy and we are very quick to criticise the Pharisees but how often do we hear and read a word from God and question its hold on us. Are we living in full and complete obedience to every word from the Word of God? You see the fact is that every single incident of disobedience in our lives, every sin, is no different from the Pharisees questioning the authority of God. As the old adage goes "remember that when you point a finger at anyone there are three fingers pointing back at us." The fact is that full obedience to, and respect for, the authority of God is not always easy and also involves a complete and thorough knowledge and understanding of the Word of God. We all fail in some measure every day and so rather than point fingers let us be aware of our own disobedience and daily seek forgiveness and help in improving in our obedience.

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The Parable of the Two Sons

Matthew 21:28-32 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard. 29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. 30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. 31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

I wonder how many Pharisees are sitting on our church benches and rubbing shoulders with us while claiming to be our brothers and sisters in Jesus. How many of us have heard the Gospel, seen that Jesus is the only way and go to church every Sunday and perform all the visible rituals, but have not committed their lives to Jesus, have not sincerely repented and therefore have not been born again.

This parable is not about it being more honourable to change your mind and do what you were told by an earthly father or employer. It is about letting what is in your head sink down to your heart. Yes our old life may have been attractive to us and have paid the bills but when we hear the Gospel and the Holy Spirit persuades us that there is a better way, which is when we must act. That is when we can pretend to do the right thing or actually do it even though it may not be easy. Jesus likens the second son to the Pharisees because they are the more intellectual of the people and the fact is that this is not so with the publicans and harlots. There is a similar situation in our world today where the intellectual seem to find it more difficult to fully yield their lives to Jesus than the more simple minded. The fact is that we cannot maintain the upper ground and expect Jesus to come into our lives. We can therefore rather admit our struggle in the beginning and come to a point of sincere repentance and the new birth, than pretend and seek an intellectual assent to a lie.

Day 6, Week 10.

Matthew 21:33 - 46

The Parable of the Tenants

Matthew 21:33-46 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: 34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. 35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. 37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. 38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. 39 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. 40 When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? 41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. 42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? 43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. 44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. 45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. 46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.

Many denominations and particularly the Preterists love to use this passage to justify the false teaching that the church has taken the place of Israel and that whatever first applied to Israel has been taken away from them and is now given to the church. Certainly this church that they claim this for is not the Church of Jesus Christ and therefore it cannot be any other church that claims that they belong to Jesus Christ.

What this is about is the fact that the salvation that Jesus brought was indeed first offered to Israel ( _Matthew 10:5 & 6),_ both those in Judah and in the north in Israel, and only after the ascension did it move out on any sort of scale to the Gentiles. It is then salvation by faith through the grace of God that is withheld from the Jews, but again not from all Jews. Salvation by faith is now freely available to all mankind including the Jews. What now remains as far as Israel is concerned is as they are still, as they were from the beginning, a nat6ion of salvation by works, by perfect obedience to the Law and the promises of God the Father to His Chosen Nation. The unfulfilled prophecies concerning the chosen nation are still very much applicable to the Jews. They are and remain the chosen nation of God the Father and we deny and or forget that at our peril.

I do not therefore want to examine here what the capstone will cause to the Jews because I prefer to keep my focus on the born again believer's relationship with Jesus and through Jesus with God. To us Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith, Jesus is indispensable and without Jesus we are nothing and our faith is nothing, and without Jesus our faith would be the laughing stock of the world, with Jesus our faith cannot be overcome by satan and all his mignons.

Brothers and sisters read and know this piece of Scripture very carefully and thoroughly. There is an ever increasing number of churches that that are saying that God has rejected Israel. That is a lie straight from satan and those that subscribe to it are exposing themselves to all the curses and diseases that God undertook to punish those with that disrespect His chosen people. Whatever we may experience at the hands of Jews in our societies, we cannot get away from the fact that they are still God's chosen people.

The condemnation that Jesus therefore spoke over the Jews is that they will continue to be judged on their works and they will pay the price for their failure of completely perfect obedience and works. For that their only judge by His own command is God and not you and I. In confirmation of this just see in revelations what will happen to Babylon towards the end if the tribulation. Their fate will make the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah look like a picnic and that too will be similar for all those that think they are wise by rejecting and disrespecting the Chosen people of God.

Day 7, Week 10.

Matthew 22:1-14

The Parable of the Wedding Feast

Matthew 22:1-14 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, 2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. 5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. 7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. 11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

Jesus addressed this parable about the authority of heaven to the Pharisees. With a play on the history of Israel, JESUS CHRIST explains here that there are three things to keep in mind about this authority.

Firstly there is a specific invitation to a chosen nation but they rejected it. Then the invitation was sent out to them again by sending the promised Messiah but again most ignored it and the rest killed the "servant". Finally it was sent out to all who they came across and there were a lot of takers. Some of these were sincere and would celebrate with their king. Others were wolves in sheep's clothing but the King saw through their guise and their fate was eternal damnation. In the end only a few were left.

That is in short the narrative and what it teaches is that this authority of heaven is:

a. Patient as the Lord God had been since He chose Israel as "My people and I will be your God".

b. It is forgiving up to 70 times 7 but there will come an end to its patience and forgiving.

c. When the authority is rejected by one there will be others to whom it will be given. An awesome thought is that in the end "few" will accept it in truth and few will ultimately attend the "wedding feast" but I will elaborate on that in part two.

d. The authority cannot be acquired under false pretence; the "King" will detect it.

From this Jesus moves on with the parable to describe the events that follow on the resurrection. As the Gospel moves out to the Gentiles, i.e. moves throughout the world there will always be that element that hears but are not saved by the gift of faith through the grace of God. But God will not be patient forever and God will avenge the killing and slaying of His disciples and apostles by burning up their cities and we saw that beginning in AD 70 with the destruction of Jerusalem and since then through the continued wars and conflict many more have been destroyed.

Then there will come a time when the wedding feast can be postponed no longer and there will be a sweeping of the street and pastures and those so chosen will be given entrance to the marriage festival and no imposters will be able to slip in. What is that? This my dear brother and sister is nothing other than a direct reference to the rapture of the saints which is now clearly an imminent event. Note here that there is no mention of the King again sending his Son. This event has nothing to do with the second coming but in fact precedes the second coming. This is the event that is spoken of when Jesus will "come like a thief in the night" and that he will take one out of the bed and leave the other. It is the event where those that are true born again believers will suddenly be seen no more in this world but will be seated at the banqueting table of the wedding feast that Jesus the Groom presents to His Bride, the Church of Jesus Christ.

This is where we will see the revelation of the fact that the Gospel was spread to every corner of the world but few have responded in truth and many will be left; cast out to face a weeping and a gnashing of teeth. That weeping and gnashing of teeth is a description of the seven years of tribulation that is detailed in Revelation chapters four to nineteen revealing its full horror and suffering that will be for all that are not raptured to the wedding feast.

Where will we be, at the feast or in the weeping and gnashing of teeth?

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Day 7, Week 10.

This week's reading: Matthew 19:30 to Matthew 22:14

Read through the week's portion of scripture again. Then ask yourself the following questions and answer them as objectively as you can:

1.Have I read everything attentively and listened to the Holy Spirit's prompting?

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2. What was new and meaningful to me?

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3. What do I want to learn more about?

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4. What life decisions am I making from this week onward

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5. How do I rate my own;

Personal relationship with Jesus?

Personal relationship with the Holy Spirit?

**Personal** relationship with God the Father?

Humility?

Servanthood?

Agape (love)?

Faith?

Hope?

6. My prayer commitments

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7. Other comments

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Day 1, Week 11.

Matthew 22:15-45

Paying Taxes to Caesar

Mat 22:15-22 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. 16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. 17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? 19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. 20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? 21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. 22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

This makes me think of those men that refused to do military training on the grounds of it being against their religion. That is not what Jesus expects from us as believers. If the Government decides that we must do military service then Jesus tells us that we must obey the civil authorities. Christians must not use their religion to oppose the state because that is not God's way or God's will

Sadducees Ask About the Resurrection

Mat 22:23-33 The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, 24 Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 25 Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: 26 Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. 27 And last of all the woman died also. 28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. 31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. An when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.

There comes a time or times in everyone's life when the death and the resurrection of mankind puzzles us all and the simple fact of it is that complete understanding of the resurrection is not given to mankind. What we do know is that our spirit and soul does not die but when our mortal body dies they, our spirits and souls, either ascend to heaven or fade into eternal damnation. We also know that at the rapture all the spirits and souls that have already gone to Jesus and those still here will all be raised and presented at the wedding feast of Jesus in their new and heavenly bodies. Now we know in part, but then we shall know in full ( _1 Corinthians 13:12_ )

The Great Commandment

Matthew 22:34-40 But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. 35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

The passage here is simple enough to understand and is heard frequently and therefore is well known. I believe though that the implication of this passage is less clear to believers especially with regard to those who question their own salvation. The fact is that under the Old Covenant the obedience to the law was a duty and is described as works. Under the New Covenant however that situation changes dramatically and the born again believers, being indwelt by Jesus who is love, no longer act in obedience to the Law out of duty, but do so out of love. Because through Jesus the Father has restored us and Jesus now indwells us, our gratitude, which in the case of the born again believer is so great, our gratitude compels us to do that which pleases God and brings Him joy and happiness.

We can therefore know that we are saved, or born again, by the dramatic change in that attitude to obedience to God and furthermore in our love for all mankind. A born again believer cannot be racist or prejudiced toward any other human being in any way. We may disagree with another's behaviour and disobedience, but we separate that from who that person has the potential to be in Jesus. That is the result of experiencing the healing forgiveness of God in our own lives and knowing where we would have been but for that.

Whose Son Is the Christ?

Matthew 22:41-46 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. 43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? 46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

The Pharisees where trapped here in their own falsehoods. Jesus knew full well that they could not answer by saying that Christ is the Son of God because then they were admitting all the lies and accusations that they had levelled against Jesus. They thought that they were very clever but by the doctrine that they themselves were teaching Jesus shows them how false they are. It was precisely this kind of denial of the truth by the Pharisees and their lies that their followers believed, that resulted in the Gospel being opened to all mankind leaving the chosen nation to struggle on in salvation by works.

Day 2, Week 11.

Matthew 23:1 - 12

The Falseness of the Scribes and Pharisees

Matthew 23:1-12 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: 3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. 4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. 8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. 11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

As we speak about the chair of medicine or the chair of engineering at a university so Jesus refers here to the Pharisees that sit in Moses' seat. They are teaching the books of Moses, the Pentateuch or the first five books of the Bible as we know it. By that Jesus is raising them to the same expert status in their field as we regard the university professors with. Based on that Jesus then says that whatever they teach from the Books of Moses is what the people must observe.

If you've ever been told and or been confused by anyone telling you that the Old Testament is irrelevant and or has been replaced by the New Testament, then here is where Jesus shows us that such teaching is a lie. Jesus here emphatically tells us that the Old is still relevant and is still to be obeyed. Only then does Jesus depart from the teaching of the Pharisees in that he equally clearly tells us that the way that the Pharisees observe the Law is false and unacceptable.

Then Jesus describes what the Pharisees do wrong. Jesus says that they tell others to perform all kinds of near impossible rituals that they themselves do not even carry out. Instead they present external and highly visible things like the "verse boxes" (phylacteries) that they wear prominently on their heads and the shawls and tails and leather bands tied around their arms all of which do little more than make them highly visible in public places where they thrive on the public accolades. They always seek the prominent seats and the uppermost rooms and desire that men almost worship them with titles that they are not worthy of.

Then Jesus warns that the people, and that includes us, must not allow anyone to address them as "Rabbi" because that is a title that belongs exclusively to the Son of God, the risen Jesus. Brothers and sisters take very careful note of this one liner from the Word of God. I have myself in the past thought I was being respectful by addressing another as "Rabbi" and it was always fondly accepted until a close friend pointed out this teaching and asked me never to address him as such again. Let this one liner make us all aware of the fact that every word in the Word of God is important and often crucial facts are not necessarily brought across by lengthy statements. We all are brothers and sisters and in the sight of God there is no distinction.

We all have one Creator and therefore we all are children of the one Father, God, we are all co-heirs and there is one common path for us as prodigals to return. Let us therefore not allow anyone to call us "master" either for just as we all have one common Creator, Father God, so we all have but one "Master" and that is Jesus Christ, God the Son. We are warned quite bluntly that the proud and arrogant behaviour of the Pharisees will lead to us being reduced to nothing, made level with the ground. Again as on a number of previous occasions Jesus draws our attention to the absolute need for us to be humble and to live a life of service to others not ruling over others. For some this seems so easy but then I must warn that this applies equally to every born again leader, manager, business owner, entrepreneur and church leader. There is a very definite and serious instruction here from Jesus about our style of leadership, a style that is almost nonexistent in our world today.

If any leader thinks that they can ignore this instruction then I want to encourage you to read tomorrow's section very, very carefully for that kind of attitude is exactly what the Pharisees were guilty of and what every military style leadership is guilty of. Our society is structured like the military and we are all prone to dictatorship, but the leaders and "socially advantaged" are in even greater danger than the poor and workers. Yet everyone's ultimate salvation very much hangs in the balance of our capacity for servanthood.

Day 3, Week 11.

Matthew 23:13-15

Seven Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees (This portion is spread over a few days)

Matthew 23:13-15 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. 14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. 15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

Let me begin with explaining the meaning of the original Greek word ("ouai") that is translated as woe in the Word of God. It means; pronouncing someone or something as blameworthy and evil. It is used to express a severe calamity, a severe distress or affliction. It is used to express great grief. All that is what we must read into the warnings of Jesus and in fact every time we read the word "woe" or "alas" in the Word of God. When Jesus therefore says "woe" to the Pharisees it is a very serious condemnation and warning of the severe grief and punishment that their actions will result in. We must also understand that although here this is addressed to the Pharisees, the same warning applies to any that are guilty of the offences of the Pharisees and as we move on then it is in that sense that we will look at the seven "woes".

The first woe is against hypocrisy. I know that almost anyone that is in the service of Jesus will or has been called a hypocrite because their actions do not match their teachings. What Jesus is referring to here is not the inadvertent slip that as mankind we are all inclined to, but which we remorsefully repent of. In this case Jesus is teaching about the negligent and conscious hypocrisy. As an example I may teach that smoking is defiling the temple of Jesus but walk out of the classroom and smoke for everyone to see. I may warn against alcohol abuse and then tell everyone that a glass of wine with my supper is in order and even healthy. I may teach that we may not celebrate pagan festivals and then publically celebrate Christmas and Easter, Valentines and so on. I may preach love your neighbour and then judge people by the colour of their skin. Then the next issue; is it only the teachers that are in the spotlight here? No it is all of us, every one of us is called to be a witness for Jesus, only the teachers will be judged doubly for their faults. We will go to hell; they will go to hell twice!?

The next warning is one that has always surprised me in that I was under the impression that this was a relatively modern behaviour. The fact is that there are those men in the ministry that not only do not control their lust but in fact abuse their positions as clergy to gain entrance to the bodies of their victims. If you are shocked by this then I offer my sympathy but I assure you that this is still happening and is happening on an unprecedented scale. Again it is also not an offence that only pertains to clergymen. In many cases it is the parishioner that abuses the pastor's nature and leads them into temptation by their irresistible temptations, again under a smoke screen of religious piety. I was one that was blind to this and fortunately have a wife who is very perceptive and is always able to warn me in time (because I take her advice seriously and do not brush it off. The point is that either way this will end in the undoing of our salvation if we do not turn away from it in remorse and repentance.

The next warning is about the corruption of "proselytes". In some of the religious sects of the Jews the practise was to go beyond the chosen nation and entice targeted individuals to convert with false promises and then to teach them to practice and proclaim the same perversions of the faith that they themselves were guilty of. This is happening to this day in our churches. Not so much with targeted converts perhaps but with impressing false teachings on the young and the young in the faith. Take for instance the issue of celebrating Easter and Christmas. Very few if any pastors these days can claim that they do not know the lie of these and other pagan festivals. But let a born again believer approach them on the issue and they will not only justify their actions by lie upon lie, but they will even boot people out of their churches or at least out of office in their churches if they dare persist. Why will they be so severely condemned? People will accept their word because of their position and because they do not know the Word of God. Thereby they become the instigator of the loss of salvation of their members who will also be judged because their ignorance of the Word is an act of disobedience in itself.

Day 4, Week 11.

Matthew 23:16 - 28

Seven Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees (This portion is spread over a few days)

Matthew 23: 16-28 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! 17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? 18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. 19 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? 20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. 21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. 22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon. 23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier Matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. 25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. 26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. 27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity

The next "woe is for the "blind Guides". Today we are more familiar with the terminology of "splitting hairs" or even "twisting the facts". Some things are just not divisible. Like the Holy Trinity, God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one and indivisible, so there are Laws and tenets of the Word of God that are indivisible. What they were doing was saying that a glass of wine for health reasons could be accepted even if it was prohibited for other reasons. Weather I swear on the Holy Bible, The word of God, the name of the Father or of the Son or of the Holy Spirit, all of them amount to swearing on the name of God and when God tells us not to swear on the one it automatically includes all the others. But mankind thinks he is very clever when he finds ways to split hairs and thereby make acceptable certain actions that would otherwise be forbidden. It is this kind of teaching that has led to the denominational and plethora of independent churches and none of it is acceptable to God. Another example of this kind of approach in the churches is when they claim that they are celebrating the birth of Jesus on the twenty fifth of December and not the pagan gods. Then they think that by saying that they can justify the disobedience of the specific commands of God not to worship foreign gods?? If God says do not ...then it means do not and we cannot undermine that by weak and false excuses to participate in pagan festivals. If you have read this and still keep celebrating these false festivals then read again what we explained yesterday about the meaning of "woe".

Then we get to the issue of them paying their tithes. There is a vast component of the church membership, quite apart from the RCC, that still think that they can buy their way to heaven by their tithes and offerings. Some will give massive sums of money to their church in the mistaken belief that God will bless them for it. Blessings and offerings do not necessarily go together and that ever since Cain and Abel. Money does not buy heartfelt remorse or tears of repentance and giving masses more than the average from an excess means less than anyone that gives in spite of the fact that their giving means hardship for themselves. Yet even that kind of tithing means nothing more than the other unless it is accompanied by the right attitude and "and have (kept) the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done". We do the same in our own relationships when we hurt a wife or a husband and want to make it right with a bunch of flowers without a change of heart. Jesus makes it clear that tithing does not give us carte blanche to "swallow camels" or in other words continue sinning.

Cemeteries with every grave marked by a traditional white cross may look clean and pure but underneath it all is nothing but a mass of rotting bodies. Harsh but true! That is what the Pharisees are like but they are not alone. There are masses that sit in churches every Sunday and when they are with the members of the church act holy and pious but when they go home then from the Monday to the next Sunday they behave as if they have zero ties with Jesus. The fact remains that we may be able to hide the truth from people, but we cannot hide it from the Lord God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. That does not mean that the way we appear to the world is unimportant, but what we must present must be the truth. What we do not seem to understand is that when we present a false front in the name of God then we are insulting God and that will result in severe repercussions.

So how do each of us weigh up against these same accusations and what are we doing about it. For the sake of our own salvation there is only one way to deal with them and that is to understand and accept our faults, understand that they are hurtful to God in the extreme and in deep remorse sincerely repent and then ask God as the Holy Spirit to lead us into new and approved ways. What we must never do is to point fingers at others and accuse them behind their backs of ungodly behaviour because that is not our place. Rather get rid of the beams in our own eyes first, they are there.

Day 5, Week 11.

Matthew 23:29 - 36

Seven Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees (This portion is spread over a few days)

Matthew 23:29-36 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, 30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. 31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. 32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. 33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? 34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: 35 That upon you may come all the righteous bloodshed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. 36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.

The last of the woes may even to many be the most serious. The Pharisees claimed to be the religious examples and leaders of the nation of God, they claimed that they would have listened to the prophets of old that the nation ignored and saw them taken into captivity. They claimed to be above reproach and they claimed that they knew it all. In spite of all that they vehemently opposed John the Baptist and were now planning to get rid of Jesus which fact Jesus was clearly aware of as he describes what they would do to Him.

There is a very deep message in this passage for every born again believer that points directly at each one of us and from which there is no escape. We too are prone to criticise the nation of Israel for their disobedience and straying from the terms of God, knowing the consequences. Yet we too are often in the place of the Pharisees, claiming that we are holier than Israel and holier than the pagans. We also go a step further and point fingers at the validity of the practices of other churches and we decide that we have the only right practice and behaviour. Jesus said that by their actions the Pharisees had in fact already mocked and scourged and crucified our Lord. Brothers and sisters every time we do these things that is what we too are being pharisees; only we have the advantage of hindsight so we are in fact daily causing heartache that causes Jesus to sweat blood as He has to be reminded by us of His suffering that we cast aside.

Dear family in Jesus let us be very careful of what we do and say and practice. Up until the First Coming the Jews were judged and held accountable as a nation. You and I will not ever have that advantage because we are not part of that nation (unless you were born a Jew), and we will be held accountable individually. There is only one sure way ahead and that is to look after our own personal salvation. That is not to say that we must become self centred. But each of us needs to make it our business to read and study the Word of God until we are given complete understanding of every word, then to personalise the word and accept the salvation of Jesus by surrendering our lives to Jesus. Note, surrendering our lives, that is not the same as giving part of our lives to Jesus which is what many of us have done in the past. In the eyes of the public the Pharisees also gave part of their lives to God the Father and see where that got them, we do not want to go the same way and we will not get a second chance.

As long as we attach a measure of Christianity to our daily lives we are going to go to hell. It is only when we attach the necessary and God approved parts of our daily lives to our Christianity that we stand a chance of being part of the rapture. Just as we have seen a number of the tribulations that Jesus said would come upon that generation of the nation of God and there are still some terrible ordeals to be fulfilled regarding their suffering and the killing of a third of the remnant during the tribulation, so those of us that do not form part of the rapture will see the disaster of the seven years of tribulation. We know and understand all these things far better than the Pharisees of old and we hold the key in our own individual hands. Your and my salvation is not in the hands of clergy and false doctrines or false practices but is in the hand of each of us simply doing and obeying every word that is written in the Word of God and obeying the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

There is no better time than right now to get the rest of our lives on the right path.

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Day 6, Week 11.

Matthew 23: 37-39

Lament over Jerusalem

Matthew 23:37-39 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! 38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. 39 for I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

It is not long since I myself began to understand the Full salvation that the Gospel of Jesus Christ offers to all mankind. The fact that the Word of God makes it categorically clear that there is no need for a born again believer to ever suffer from any illness or disease or curse or demonic possession and that we all can live a full and joyous life of safety and security in the arms of Jesus is an absolute fact that cannot be denied. As born again believers if we had all understood this we would not be susceptible to any virus including this current world wide Covid 19 virus because in the sanctified body the absorption mechanism of the human cell is so shaped that it will not give access to a virus and that is a medically substantiated fact ("Healing begins with Sanctification of the Heart "No Disease Is Incurable"" Dr. MK Strydom, Eagles Wings Ministry, Fourth Edition 2013, PDF Version)

As my knowledge and understanding of this fact grew I set out to try and see how we could bring about such a revival of the Church of Jesus Christ that this fact could become a universal reality. Eventually I realised that the Word of God also makes it quite clear that this will never happen but that in fact in these last days there will be an ever increasing falling away from the Church of Jesus Christ. That understanding and knowledge nearly broke my heart and I am sure that you can see why.

I have described this because it is the nearest I have ever come to understanding just how Jesus feels and felt when he stood gazing over Jerusalem. The only good news both then and now is that individually the door is still open to the Full Gospel of salvation for anyone that will surrender their lives to Jesus, anyone that will "their all on the altar of sacrifice lay" and turn from our wicked ways, humble ourselves and pray.

Jesus Foretells The Destruction of the Temple

Matthew 24:1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

The proper understanding of this verse, or of its meaning for the Nation of God, is important because there are so many lies circulating about its meaning. I must begin therefore by stating clearly and without any doubt that the destruction of the temple has nothing to do with God (YHVH) breaking his covenant or promises with the Israelites or Jews as we now call them. It has absolutely no foundation for those doctrines that claim that the church has replaced the nation of Israel or that the Body of Christ, The Church of Jesus Christ has replaced the Nation of Israel. Those that believe and proclaim that lie will incur the wrath of God and the curses that He promised to place on those people or nations that oppose His chosen people. Do not be deceived in this regard because you do so at your own peril.

That this prophecy of Jesus has already been realised in 70 AD when the Romans destroyed the temple and literally levelled it with ground leaving not a stone untouched. That was not, however, where God withdrew his presence on earth from Israel either. That event had already taken place nearly forty years earlier at the moment when Jesus cried "it is finished" and the veil to the Holy of Holies in the temple was torn down from top to bottom and Jesus became our High Priest. The destruction of the temple was the fulfilment of prophecy and the result of the chosen people having rejected the promised Messiah and saw them as a nation in exile again up until 1948 when their country was partially returned to them but they are still not at peace because of several prophesies that still need to be fulfilled before that can happen. These prophecies concern Israel specifically and excludes the born again believers and the unbelievers.
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Day 7, Week 11.

This week's reading: Matthew 22:15 to Matthew 24:22

Read through the week's portion of scripture again. Then ask yourself the following questions and answer them as objectively as you can:

1.Have I read everything attentively and listened to the Holy Spirit's prompting?

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2. What was new and meaningful to me?

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3. What do I want to learn more about?

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4. What life decisions am I making from this week onward

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5. How do I rate my own;

Personal relationship with Jesus?

Personal relationship with the Holy Spirit?

**Personal** relationship with God the Father?

Humility?

Servanthood?

Agape (love)?

Faith?

Hope?

6. My prayer commitments

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7. Other comments

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Day 1, Week 12.

Matthew 24: 3 - 14

Signs of the End of the Age

Matthew 24:3-14 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

I want to take you back to the previous devotion briefly. Nothing in the Word of God is in a certain sequence by accident. Here we again see that Jesus first talks of the destruction of the Temple and thereafter of the end of the age. When Preterists and nation usurpers try to use the destruction of the temple to prove that God has rejected Israel they are placing events out of sequence and completely misinterpreting the book of Revelation.

Furthermore we must note that what Jesus describes initially are the signs that will herald (forewarn) the end of the age. The age that will end that Jesus refers to is the age that Jesus brought to the world that I like to describe as the age of salvation by faith and I prefer to reserve the term Church Age for the 1000 year rule of Jesus Christ and peace. That age's dawning is something that we can know is imminent by the signs of verses 3 to 8.

The signs of these twelve verses are clearly evident at the moment and they are appearing in ever increasing numbers and intensity and we are hearing more and more people now correctly stating that the rapture is imminent. These verses by Jesus prove that fact and are further emphasised later by the Apostolic writings.

Now brothers and sisters in Jesus allow me to highlight a few pieces that bring home the present relevance for us of this passage. First is the growing global animosity towards the born again believers. In the Middle East we are already seeing Muslim relatives of those that have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour giving them up to be murdered but the Muslim radicals. The warring nations of our time are using this to promote more wars and racial conflict for selfish economic reasons. That is a betrayal of our civil rights which many are blind to but the fact is that this provides a smokescreen for a lot of the false teaching that is emerging. False Prophets of faith are using this increasing world of social injustice as a smokescreen to promote firstly a multitude of false teachings in the name of Jesus and secondly to deny a number of the true teachings of Jesus. We also see an exponential increase in lasciviousness, infidelity, divorce and fornication. All of these can be summed up in saying we are witnessing the complete destruction of the family and that is a deliberate ploy of satan because that in turn undermines the Gospel teaching.

So now what are we to do? Firstly in the West certainly and I cannot really comment on the East, we need to get back to knowing, yes knowing the Word of God from beginning to end. Many will tell me that they do know the Word of God because they have read it. That is exactly the problem. We live in a culture where we read and forget, read advert after advert, novel after novel, Read (watch) story after story on TV and forget. Our salvation lies not in knowing about the Word of God but living in the Word of God. That means really knowing what is written, where it is written, and how to apply it. That is the only way that we will be able to survive through these end times until the soon coming rapture of the saints. In addition ensure that we understand that the Gospel of salvation is about complete salvation of spirit, soul and body. That means healing of our relationship with God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, AND healing of all demonic and evil spiritual possessions and all illnesses and diseases. That is a fact and that is what the "false prophets" have already destroyed in the teachings of most denominations and independent churches. That is exactly why I say our survival depends on living IN the Word of God and not just knowing about the Word of God.

Day 2, Week 12.

Matthew 24: 15 - 31

The Abomination of Desolation

Matthew 24:15-28 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house: 18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. 23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25 Behold, I have told you before. 26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

If any were at variance with me on the previous passage having nothing to do with the tribulation then this passage is the proof thereof. As a final sign that the end of the age of salvation by faith has come will be the occupation of Jerusalem by the forces of the anti-Christ. That will be the sign to them that are left behind to leave all else and a final opportunity to repent and accept Christ as Lord and Saviour. That will be the sign that all will come to an end that no one can be trusted, that false Christs will appear and be announced all over.

Then the important statement that for the elect the time will be shortened, i.e. the seven years of tribulation will be shortened. The elect here are the "chosen" nation and it is explained in Revelation that they will be hidden the last three and a half years and will be provided for. Revelation also shows us that first a third of them will be killed by the forces of the antichrist and the natural disasters. This goes to show that those that claim the church has taken the place of Israel are telling a lie.

We know that the second coming of Jesus will take place after the tribulation but we must beware especially in view of the severity of the seven years of tribulation and mankind's craving for a suspension of these times that there will be a great many false sightings of the second coming. Then Jesus makes a statement about the place of His True second coming that can only be understood by understanding the link in the book of Revelation. The place where the "carcase" is, is the place where the two witnesses will be killed and left in the streets for all to see and that place is Jerusalem. Thus just like lightning can be seen from all over, the second coming will be visible all over the world, the actual place where Jesus will set foot on the earth a second time will be in Jerusalem.

This revelation of Jesus of the end times probably seems incomplete in terms of what we as born again believers have heard, but that is because Jesus later reveals the events of the rapture, tribulation and second coming in far more detail in the vision to His beloved disciple John on the Isle of Patmos.

The Coming of the Son of Man

Matthew 24:29-31 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

And here we see the final nail in the lie of the Preterists and the lie of those that say that the church has replaced the chosen people of the Father. The Preterists that claim that the fact that certain people saw Jesus in the sky over Jerusalem after its destruction in 70 AD are calling Jesus a liar because Jesus himself here states that he will only come again after the tribulation. That tribulation, described in detail in the book of Revelation, has not yet happened. They cannot in any way substantiate that argument to anyone that truly lives in the Word of God. Only at the second coming will His angels gather again the chosen of the Father from every corner of the earth and those that gave their lives to Jesus during the tribulation.

These are facts dear family and I pray let no one deceive you.

Day 3, Week 12.

Matthew 24: 32 - 51

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

Matthew 24:32-35 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. 35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

To clear up a lot of misunderstanding let us first look at two Greek words; "genos" and "genea". The first refers to one generation, as in the current generation, where the second refers to a string of generations that we more commonly express as an "age". In the passage above it is the second word that is used and so the term generation would have been better translated in today's use of the English language as "age".

Jesus makes it clear that when these signs appear we can regard them as a certainty that the time is at hand, as sure as the first leaves on the fig tree are an indication that summer is here, so these signs that we discussed in the previous few days are the surety of the dawning of the rapture, the tribulation and the second coming.

If you remember a few days ago where I expressed my sadness at the fact that there will be no more revivals but only a falling away can now be seen more clearly than before and when we study further it will become increasingly so.

No One Knows That Day and Hour

Matthew 24:36-51 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. 45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

I think that after having explained the passages of the past few days that this passage becomes reasonably self explanatory so I will only draw attention to the urgent call that Jesus makes here to all mankind.

When we look around then we see that indeed the increasing majority of mankind is indulging in evermore revelry, corruption, lasciviousness, whoring and fornication and living as if there will be no end to this age. Instead of taking head of the budding fig tree they have every and any conceivable excuse for living further and further away from the Word of God with only small pools of true commitment to be perceived in few places.

I do not have to preach doom and gloom, we do not have to say that there is still time, we cannot hope that we will change our minds when...because corruption is only increasing and false gospels are abounding. The "doom and gloom" does not need to come from my pen; it is clearly spelt out in the Word of God and visible all around.

All I can say is that people have to chose and do so now, born again brothers and sisters, we need to obey our Great Commission as the Holy Spirit directs now and not when. If any fall by the wayside through our failure to testify then they will be put against our account. Can any of us afford to delay or procrastinate any longer?

Day 4, Week 12.

Matthew 25:1 - 13

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

Matthew 25:1-13 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

I know not of any more clear warning to the people of this world, not with all the eloquence of Paul or passion of John or directness of Peter that the time is running out. Ah yes I hear many saying that such has been said for the past two thousand years and so there could well still be another and yet another two thousand years. Sorry to those that think that way because the fig tree has got its new leaves. The question is "are we ready for the rapture of the saints?' How certain are you, is there "oil" in our lamps. Jesus said we must be a light to the world and that reminds me of the chorus "let me be a shining light to the nations". How do we become a shining light? Where does that analogy come from? In Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. The oil in our lamp is the Word of God that we have lived in. Lived in and not known about. If it was the latter the wise would have been able to give it to the foolish. The oil is the Word that we, personally have lived in. It is not something we can buy at the local book shop where there may be heaps of books called the "Bible" or the "Word of God" but those books do not become oil for the wick until they have been lived in!

That is a Word not only for the gentiles, but believe me I plead with all, that it is a Word for every pew warmer and one hour on Sunday "believer". That is what Jesus refers to as the foolish virgins, i.e. the pew warmers and one hour on Sunday "believers" Jesus calls them foolish because they especially are the ones that think there is still time. They are the ones that live in disobedience and still believe in the salvation by works. They are the ones that have heard and seen all the warnings and signs and heard the interpretations of them all but have failed to live in the word 24/7.

We all know them by the testimony of their lives and they know the born again believers in the same way, but rate us as being overzealous and or religious freaks. Anyone that rates me as such is doing me a favour because it is an indication that we are on the right track, but it really does not do anything for the "oil in my lamp". The only thing that puts that oil in my lamp is me living in the Word, and you living in the Word and each one living in the Word of God. That way we can be sure that when that moment of the Rapture comes we will be taken up to the Bridal Feast prepared for the saints of Jesus.

Finally we have a choice. We have it in our hands to be at the wedding feast or to face a shut door. None of us knows anything other than that the rapture is imminent and that it will happen in the twinkling of an eye. Does it really matter one little bit what anyone other than Jesus thinks of us? It is literally a matter of life or death so if that matters to us at all, and no one that is not born again and not living in the Word of God will ever convince me that that decision does not concern them. We are literally choosing life or death by the way we live the rest of our lives until the soon coming rapture.

Day 5, Week 12.

Matthew 25:1 - 13

The Parable of the Talents

Matthew 25:14-30 For The Kingdom Of Heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The final verse in Matthew referring to the Kingdom of Heaven makes me get goose bumps all over... this time the parable is about a man, not a king or a Pharisees or a householder but a man, any man, you and me. It's only when we read on that we realise that this "man" here is JESUS CHRIST that addresses Himself as "a man". A man going into a far country, what does that mean? All that the Greek helps here is to bring in the word foreign but that's useful enough as the very word implies the unknown. The second part just confirms again that he/we will go into the unknown to serve and not be served.

I firmly believe that JESUS CHRIST referring to himself as "a man" is done with a specific purpose and that is to show and explain to us that when we qualify for the authority of heaven and ask for it, that we must realise and expect to walk the road the He did. It will be required of us to do much that is foreign to human traditional thought and behavioural patterns. To illustrate this let us just take the issue of celebrating false traditions and worshipping idols and relate that to the twenty fifth of December. In the world churches there can hardly be a clergyman left that can claim to be ignorant of the pagan implications of keeping that festival. Yet very few have eliminated if from their churches and some openly support it and prohibit teaching against it. The resistance to that teaching alone is overbearing so imagine when one endowed with the authority of heaven comes to town and begins to show that this authority is not limited to the clergy but is there for all mankind, for everyone, for you and even for me.

Then the important implication of the rest of the parable is firstly that the authority is not to be served but to serve, i.e. it's not for those who "put it in safe hiding place under our mattresses (or in the ground), but is to be used to bring salvation to mankind, healing, casting out of demonic forces, teaching and the bread of life. The urgent and imperative need for this is illustrated by the fact that current prayers for healing in churches are only successful in a maximum of 5% of cases even when the most invalid adjustments are made to raise the figure. Now some may do so very effectively and even receive a good deal of media coverage while others may operate largely "under cover" in their local communities and groups and JESUS CHRIST will be pleased with both and reward both, but woe (see "woe" above) to those who are given the authority and hide it under a bush or restrict its power. From them even their salvation will be taken away (Matthew 25:30): you are surprised? You've been told that once saved always saved, you CANNOT lose your salvation!? My friend that is not from the Word of God, you will not find anything in it to support that argument. It is a lie from satan himself to deceive you and lull you into a false sense of security and specifically to "bury your salvation, your authority and to disobey the great commission we are given by JESUS CHRIST after the resurrection". This parable is confirmation from JESUS CHRIST'S own mouth.

Day 6, Week 12.

Matthew 25:31 - 46

The Final Judgment

Matthew 25:31-46 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

This somewhat strange parable appears only in the Gospel of Matthew with something similar in Luke 19 that some believe to be the same teaching. I have seen many interpretations of this text that are all viable. Some say that this is the judgement of the nations that opposed Israel and considering that Matthew's mission was chiefly to the Jews that is a strong possibility.

My own understanding is also drawn from the fact that Matthew's mission was chiefly to the Jews. Much of the emphasis of the Gospel, I.e. all four of the Gospels, focuses on the spiritual and the personal relationship with Jesus and repentance. The Jews were used to a religion that was based on works. Here I see that Jesus is saying that "faith without works is dead". That is not something that Jesus places much emphasis on in His teachings because the kind of works that Jesus is referring to here is not the works of piety as was all too much part of the religion of the time. This emphasis on works here is a life of works that is born of, i.e. the result of faith.

Jesus here speaks of a faith that is visible by the things that are in the heart. That will not allow us to walk past anyone in need without doing something about it and that is what will divide people into two groups. Dear brothers and sisters in Jesus, it is simply not possible to be born again and continue in a self centred lifestyle. That does not mean necessarily living irresponsibly. Jesus places a great deal of emphasis on good stewardship and taking the proper care of our own house, but it means having as big a heart for others as we have for ourselves. A born again believer does not pass by the traveller that was robbed and beaten without helping to the best of their abilities. If that means that we can hospitalise and care for a patient at our own expense then we do so but if our means only empower us to sit with and care for a person until better help arrives then that is what we do.

No born again believer can be heartless towards other people. I have often heard people wonder whether they are really saved and here is one sure sign of true salvation.

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Day 7, Week 12.

This week's reading: Matthew 22:3 to Matthew 25:46

Read through the week's portion of scripture again. Then ask yourself the following questions and answer them as objectively as you can:

1.Have I read everything attentively and listened to the Holy Spirit's prompting?

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2. What was new and meaningful to me?

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3. What do I want to learn more about?

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4. What life decisions am I making from this week onward

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5. How do I rate my own;

Personal relationship with Jesus?

Personal relationship with the Holy Spirit?

**Personal** relationship with God the Father?

Humility?

Servanthood?

Agape (love)?

Faith?

Hope?

6. My prayer commitments

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7. Other comments

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Day 1, Week 13.

Matthew 26:1-13

The Plot to Kill Jesus

Matthew 26:1-5 And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples, 2 Ye know that after two days is the feast of the Passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified. 3 Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, 4 And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him. 5 But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.

First let me explain the timing that applies here in terms of our weekdays. Jesus made this statement on the Wednesday Probably just after six in the evening. The two days were the Wednesday night through Thursday daytime (day one and the Thursday night and the Friday daytime. The Passover would then start on the Friday evening (Jewish calendar days start at six in the evening).

What the Priests, scribes and elders were then plotting was that they had to kill Jesus before the Friday evening at six so that they could not be accused of desecrating the Passover. They were planning to kill him by subtilty which is from the Greek word meaning by "deceit".

Most readers will agree that there is No way Jesus can ever be deceived. But what most say and what really happens are far removed. Why does a major portion of people that label themselves as believers or Christians continue to celebrate Valentine's Day, Halloween, St Patrick's Day, Easter and the 25th December? Most know all too well that they are pagan and unauthorised festivals. But most say they "are not celebrating the day in that way". That is the exact same thing, that is the deceit of the Jewish council, that is what Jesus is not fooled by.

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

Matthew 26:6-13 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, 7 There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. 8 But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? 9 For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. 10 When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. 11 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. 12 For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. 13 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

I do not want to be drawn into a controversy over the exact times and hours that these different events actually took place. I can only say that I personally adhere to the dates and hours and times as described in John's Gospel. It seems to me that the event at Simon the Leper's house would have taken place on the Wednesday evening and that Jesus ate the Last Supper with the disciples on the Thursday night. We can deal with the justification of that when we study John's Gospel except to say that by doing it this way, the way Jesus did, then means that Jesus was actually slain at the time that the Pascal lamb for the Passover would have been slain.

The anointing of Jesus at the house of Simon is symbolic of the embalming of the Body thus making the Final offering of the Lamb of God a sweet smelling flavour in the sight of the Father. Far from being a waste of precious and sweet smelling oils it was one of the last acts of adoration that Jesus would receive before he gave his life for every one of us. It is therefore no wonder that this act and this woman is never forgotten.

Day 2, Week 13.

Matthew 26:14- 25

Judas to Betray Jesus

Matthew 26:14-16 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, 15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

"What will ye give me?' In view of the history we know it is easy to be judgemental about Judas. What about me and you, are we innocent of that offence? I know loads of people who will not stop celebrating the 25th December because of what they will get. There are countless decisions that all of us make on a daily basis as to whether we will do what Jesus asks or what the world asks and every time they are based on the same question; "what will I get out of it and what do I prefer?" It may not even be thirty pieces of silver, it may be as little as a drink with friends or going to a rugby match and we will sell our souls for that. Judge not friends for as we judge others so will we be judged ourselves.

The Passover with the Disciples

Matthew 26:17-25 Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the Passover? 18 And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at thy house with my disciples. 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the Passover. 20 Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. 21 And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. 22 And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? 23 And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. 24 The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. 25 Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.

As I said before the controversy around this being before the actual Passover will be dealt with when I study John's Gospel.

The first important point here is the statement by Jesus that "My time is at hand". In fact the betrayal agreement with Judas had already been made and events were beginning to unfold even as Jesus Spoke. Now Jesus uses that same statement when he repeatedly said "the kingdom of heaven is at hand and yet many still think that Jesus was talking about heaven, i.e. that heaven of heaven was at hand. The only interpretation of that "kingdom" that makes sense and is in strict accordance with the Greek word "basileia" is "authority", and from the beginning of His ministry we saw that indeed the "authority of Heaven" was there and we know that at and since Pentecost that authority was here. Jesus says that His time is near in the same way, not near in terms of time in the understanding of the Father, but near in the understanding of time with mankind.

Then we see an important event taking place. At the supper table Jesus announces that the one that will betray him is eating with Him and the others. Again this is a stern warning to us. We are told that when we participate of the Lord's Supper and we "have aught against a brother" then we should first go and make that right. At every occasion where I have served or partaken of the Lord's Supper I have seldom seen anyone heed that call. Do we imagine that Jesus does not know what is in our heart and what unrepented sins we carry? Do we imagine that it is only to Judas that the betrayal will mean that he would wish he had never been born?

I think that is exactly what the majority do think otherwise they would not put their future in such jeopardy. The whole point here is the Holiness, the divine nature of the Lord's Supper. We may only see a tiny morsel of bread and a little glass of "wine", but it is what they represent. They represent a Holy sacrifice, the Paschal lamb of Egypt that was replaced by the divinely perfect Lamb of God. They serve to remind us that the sacrifice that was once made annually only by the High Priest on the people's behalf, was now made once for all for all time. This event is probably the most holy event that any of us can be a part of. Let us not be Judas' and come with hearts of unforgiveness and disobedience to that celebration ever.

Day 3, Week 13.

Matthew 26:26 - 29

Institution of the Lord's Supper

Matthew 26:26-29 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

As stated we will deal with the timing in detail with John's Gospel. But here is one point that I want to make known. This famous event, the "Last Supper", is the institution of a New Covenant between God and mankind. In it the blood sacrifice of the Paschal Lamb is substituted by the imminent sacrifice of the Lamb of God. This institution of the symbolic sacrifice therefore supersedes the need for the Paschal Lamb and that is why this had to take place before the slaying of another Paschal Lamb.

Jesus was instituting this means of grace with his born again disciples, men that followed Him and believed in Him as being the promised Messiah. It is to such that Jesus says "drink ye all of it". That all is not an open invitation to "every Tom, Dick and Harry". Remember again the holiness of this celebration. When we partake it is a reminder to us that we are saved by grace, by the blood of the Lamb Of God from our transgressions, our disobedience and all that separated us from fellowship with God and that because of the gift of faith ( _Ephesians 2:8_ ).

Jesus however precedes that spiritual healing with the words; "take, eat; this is My Body". In the way that the churches currently teach and observe the Lord's Supper this seems to be little more than part of the same thing, a symbol of the restitution of the fellowship. Here we see why Hosea said "my people perish for lack of knowledge" (Hosea 4:6) Brothers and Sisters, this first part of the institution of the new covenant is symbolic of the promise that Jesus can and will heal mankind in soul and body too! Can we for one moment imagine that the Love that Jesus has for mankind would leave us sick, possessed, diseased and cursed? More than that, when we are born again Jesus comes to live in us and the Holy Spirit takes up residence in the heart. Do we think they want to live in diseased, possessed and cursed bodies as long as we live?

That is in practical terms what the vast majority of believers have been led to believe because our multitude of churches do not know the Word, do not proclaim the full Gospel and do so because they fear exposure of disobedience and sin. Brother and sister do not let anything from man keep the healing, the salvation, of our spirits AND our souls AND our bodies away from us or inhibit the healing miracles that may be required in addition to bring us to wholeness.

My one desire would be that all mankind may examine every Word in the Word of God to know and understand, to accept and appropriate the salvation that the institution of the New Covenant has brought to everyone that will hear the call.

Then the closing words of Jesus that open up something of a wonder and a beauty that words cannot describe. "I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom". Not only is Jesus waiting to celebrate the grace of God with His church at the rapture, but every time that we celebrate the Lord's Supper, Jesus, now seated in the Father's kingdom at His right hand side and interceding for us, every time Jesus is celebrating this means of grace with us. Do we even faintly understand the enormous wonder of that which we are a part of when we share in the Lord's Supper? Can we be in that intimate fellowship under false pretences? Can we be part of that intimacy and not arise renewed and strengthened in spirit, soul and body. Oh that we would proclaim the full Gospel of salvation!

See also at the end of the gospel the comparison with the typical Jewish marriage ceremony and the end time events that explains exactly why Jesus made this statement in Galilee.

Day 4, Week 13.

Matthew 26:30 - 35

Jesus Foretells Peter's Denial

Matthew 26:30-35 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. 31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. 32 But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. 33 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. 34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. 35 Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

The Greek Word used here for "offended" is "skandalizo" which means "cause to offend" and we could translate that as "ye shall be severely tested". One would think that after all the years spent in the presence of Jesus that the disciples would have known better how to deal with this warning. But let us pause and ask ourselves what we do when we know that we are going to be tested or are being tested? Will we do any better than the disciples? Most of us would probably walk straight into the "trap" as "brave soldiers of Jesus because we are born again and can face anything that the world throws at us". Really?

How will you behave when you too are blindfolded, on your knees on the sandy beach, ten heads have already been chopped off and now it is our turn to profess or deny Jesus, keep our heads or lose them? That brave and yet impetuous boast will then become for us what it was to the disciples. Note it was Peter for whom the cock would crow, but all the disciples were in agreement with Peter's exact sentiments. It was the final lesson that the disciples had to learn, but oh what a lesson,

It is a lesson that most of mankind has still to learn and I am probably the most in need of that lesson. How we love to be in control, how we love to do things our way, how we love to rush into the service of God with whatever we decide is the way. If only! If only we would also learn, just like the disciples, to stop acting in our own strength and to take every thought captive to the authority of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). Instead we worry, become anxious, fearful and stressed and make ourselves physically sick because we want to be brave and do it our way. We will not forgive but we pray to be forgiven as we forgive because we think (satan places that thought in the mind) that we cannot because of some dreamt up fable. In these and many other ways we are still all like Peter and the disciples and we all need to bow the knee and humble ourselves and pray that Jesus in His mercy will make us obedient to the better way. I hope that all my brothers and sisters will never again read Peter's name in this incident without first putting our own name in that place.

Day 5, Week 13.

Matthew 26:36 - 46

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

Matthew 26:36-46 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. 37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. 39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. 40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. 42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. 43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. 44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.

Moving on from the outward bravery of the disciples, Jesus uses His own torment to illustrate to them a better way, to teach them how to enter into combat. If anyone could have faced the things the world will throw at a faithful disciple it would have been Jesus. Yet even Jesus does not try to face the world alone. What does that tell us? It is surely the clearest warning to always approach every situation with care and the forethought to seek the help of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Not only that but as Jesus here shows us when it comes to any major issues in life then we should enlist the help of those closest to us to also pray on our behalf.

Then also Jesus teaches us here that there are times when it is advisable to pray together with close confidants. Sometimes there is a need for our perceptions to be confirmed by others so that they can more effectively support us in the future.

We live in times where everything around us promotes and teaches independence. We are supposed to know it all and understand it all and yet that is very seldom the case for most people. Ask any councillor or medical practitioner what the most frequent reaction is when they tell people they are stressing too much and that they must stop that. Nine out of ten people do not even know when the thing they are doing becomes stressful even when it progresses to stage two or three. More often than not we need to teach how worry leads to anxiety and then to stress. Tell people to stop stressing by asking God to help and they do not know how to pray and leave it with God, they will ask but they will still try to do it in their own strength.

I describe this situation because unlike Jesus many of us need to learn how to pray and that is where it becomes good to have others praying with you. Jesus also prayed three times which is a lesson to us to persist in prayer as long as it takes. Prayer on the one hand requires a complete emptying of self, clearing of our hearts and minds of everything and anything, of all disobedience and hurts. Emptying of all that may be in any way an obstacle to hearing from the Lord God. The way that we are treated in this world has the potential to cause us to keep things to ourselves and when we do that it becomes difficult to hear and see when and how God is answering us.

We see from Jesus that His perseverance to the point of sweating blood eventually enabled him to get up and face His entire ordeal with such grace that it leaves us speechless. When we pray we need to be like Jesus, trusting that firstly God hears every word we pray, secondly He wants to help us and do so in the best way He can and finally we must remove every obstacle we place in the way of our healing whether it be spirit, soul or body.

Day 6, Week 13.

Matthew 26:47 - 56

Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

Matthew 26:47-56 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. 49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. 50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. 51 And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear. 52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. 53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? 55 In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me. 56 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

It never fails to amaze me how passage after passage of the Word of God is filled with examples and lessons that teach us of Jesus' love and healing ministry and how we must react and behave in response. Here again, after Jesus has just sweated blood for fear of what lay ahead, He is confronted by an angry, out of control mob. Do you know what that is like? Late in 1976, not long after the shootings in the SOWETO protests, about a thousand of my workers were unexpectedly holed up in their hostels and the police had lined up facing them with mounted arms ready to shoot if they moved another step. I was led to just walk into the gap and call the police to order while I spoke to my workers. To be caught between two angry mobs, or surrounded by one that is baying for blood, is probably the most frightening thing I ever had to do and that includes the fighting of the border wars and counter insurgency operations. I can assure you I was shaking like a leaf.

But look carefully at how Jesus reacted to the angry mob. Jesus was in full control; He showed no fear and in fact still showed His typical compassion and held his own emotions in check completely.

How did the betrayal come; with a kiss! Brothers and sisters in Jesus that is the nature of all betrayal. Those preaching false gospels to us, teaching the observation of false festivals to us and misleading us with incorrect teachings are doing so the same way, with a kiss. They are sweeter than honey in our faces, have wonderfully persuasive illustrations and cleverly put together logic to lead us astray. Never think that satan is going to face us head on and warn us that he is going to lead you into betrayal. The devil will always attack under the guise of a kiss or the exact opposite, i.e. by excessive force that drives us to fear. In the case of Jesus we see that satan will even combine these two. These are the reasons why we must not enter into any action, and that includes where possible even those actions inspired by the Holy Spirit, without first praying about it. Do not make the excuse that we do not have time, God will make the time even if that means that He has to make time stand still, it will not be the first time that has happened.

Finally this passage teaches something important about our reactions. Do not meet violence with violence or any kind of attack with a counter attack. Yes that is what we see all day every day in this world and that is precisely what satan is hoping for and will whisper in your and my ear. The fact is that the moment we do that we have blotted our witness for Jesus. As Jesus said he could have invoked all the forces of heaven against this quarrelsome band of hoods and pulverised them instantly, but what would that have done for the prophecies and for our salvation. Firstly we must know and believe that Jesus as the commander of the angelic hosts will use that host to protect all and any of His disciples when it is necessary and I can witness to that. Without that intervention in 1976 I would either have been shot to pieces by the police or ripped to pieces by the angry workers, instead I could talk first to one side and then to the other and the situation ended peacefully to the glory of God.

Day 7, Week 13.

Matthew 26:57 - 68

Jesus Before Caiaphas and the Council

Matthew 26:57-68 And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. 58 But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end. 59 Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; 60 But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, 61 And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. 62 And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? 63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. 64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. 65 Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. 66 What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death. 67 Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands, 68 Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?

Those who want to accuse, who want to bear false witness are always the same, not surprising because it is always the same demonic spirit that instigates such action. They will slander behind our backs but run a mile rather than accuse us to our face with very few exceptions. Those exceptions also however act predictably and again because it is the same demonic possession that is behind them all. They will use your own words and twist them. That is where one of the lessons of this passage comes in. Especially in this instant society that we are part of where mostly people speak before they consider what they want to say and how best to say it. We are also in a society where almost anything goes, people believe everything they see and hear in the media or from selected sources , but only until you force them to change. Then they will argue and fight to maintain their own opinions. They will then use your own words twisted and out of context, to try and prove you wrong. The point here is that we must learn to consider before we speak what we say. An old plumber friend of mine back in the 1960's used to say "measure twice, cut once", and that would be wisdom in speaking too. Much of our witness for Jesus is controversial even in our times so measure what we say and remember in what context we said what words and be people of few words.

Then Jesus shows us the wisdom of the well known Afrikaans language saying that "silence is also an answer". Rather sometimes say nothing than get drawn into futile arguments by those who will not hear the truth. Sooner or later they themselves will say something that will prove to be their own undoing and then we too can, as Jesus did, say "thou has said". When their own words in the correct context proves to be their own undoing and we have then not compromised our own witness. Even prepare our words when we have the opportunity to. I have a mentor that qualified as a lawyer before going into full time evangelism that shows me over and over how a choice of words can influence what we say and one of the best ways from his teachings that I have learnt is to ask myself as I consider what I am saying, "where in the Word of God does it say that". We won't always find it but we will spot weaknesses in our arguments that way as well as inaccuracies in them.

These are the things that Jesus was doing here with Caiaphas till it got to the point that Caiaphas was so embarrassed by his own ineptness that in utter frustration with himself he lost all perspective and condemns Jesus to death by the words that Caiaphas himself spoke. Some arguments we will not win because satan will never admit defeat. Those that are "hell bent" on destroying us, that are under the influence of satan, will persist and do what they will do. If they want to insult and attack us at any cost then they will not be deterred. By following the teaching of Jesus however we still maintain the upper ground because we have not muddied our own witness and we have not disobeyed Jesus and they will know that they are liars and cheaters.
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Day 7, Week 13.

This week's reading: Matthew 26:1 to Matthew 26:68

Read through the week's portion of scripture again. Then ask yourself the following questions and answer them as objectively as you can:

1.Have I read everything attentively and listened to the Holy Spirit's prompting?

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2. What was new and meaningful to me?

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3. What do I want to learn more about?

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4. What life decisions am I making from this week onward

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5. How do I rate my own;

Personal relationship with Jesus?

Personal relationship with the Holy Spirit?

**Personal** relationship with God the Father?

Humility?

Servanthood?

Agape (love)?

Faith?

Hope?

6. My prayer commitments

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7. Other comments

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Day 1, Week 14.

Matthew 26:69 - 75

Peter Denies Jesus

Matthew 26:69-75 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. 70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. 71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. 72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. 73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. 74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. 75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

The Afrikaans speaking South Africans say "spyt kom te laat", (regret comes too late) and that is the simple but important lesson and example for us. Jesus warned Peter at the supper table but he was arrogant. Jesus asks Peter to pray with Him, but he falls asleep. Brother and sister we do exactly the same!

When we are born again believers Jesus and the Holy Spirit are our constant companions and they see, feel and experience our every move and contact and they are constantly guiding us and warning us, but do we listen for them or hear them? On the occasions when we do hear Jesus and or the Holy Spirit, do we obey, do we seek clarity, do we believe or do we just pass over it and go to sleep? Unless we believe the Gospel message, unless we know that we are born again and believe that Jesus indwells us and that the Holy Spirit resides in our hearts, we will not hear the guidance from above. Believing it is not a matter of the head, the brain or the mind, it is not a purely spiritual matter that is true in some imaginary world only.

The indwelling of Jesus and the Holy Spirit living in our heart is a physical and very present reality that we must know, feel, understand and accept as a living reality. They are there for every born again believer but not every born again believer has accepted the fact and lives their lives accordingly. I too did not for many years so I know what I am saying and I see it every day around me. Do you understand the tears that Peter wept after "denying Jesus three times?" I do now because I now live the presence of Jesus and the Holy Spirit and I still weep for all the time when He was there and I lived without him, looking where I should not, hearing what I should not, saying what I should not and sleeping when they were watching over me and not knowing it. Living in my abilities and not the power of God. I can never have those years back or undo those things. I faced many anxious moment that I did not have to and worried, feared and stressed where there was no need and was punished with ulcers for it.

Peter's denial was a believer's denial. As believers we can all fall victim to that denial and believe me when we accept the reality we will all weep as much if not more than Peter did.

Day 2, Week 14.

Matthew 27:1 - 10.

Jesus Delivered to Pilate

Matthew 27:1-2 When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: 2 And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

Judas Hangs Himself

Matthew 27:3-10 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. 5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. 6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. 7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. 8 Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day. 9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; 10 And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.

Evil will do what it will do and there are times where the Holy Spirit will take us away from it and there are times when we will have to face the full might of it. Sometimes we do not understand the reasons why they happen that way, but where would we be if God had prevented the Pharisaical Jews from killing him.

Judas here is to me an example of every one of those that accused Jesus, lied about Jesus, spat in his face and slapped and mocked and beat and crucified Jesus. There is very little condemnation in this world that is more unbearable to mankind than self condemnation. When we sin against God, Jesus is faithful and just and will forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespassed against us when we remorsefully repent and confess our sins to Him. But when we condemn ourselves there is very little chance of escape. Self condemnation is the same as sentencing ourselves to death because by judging ourselves we have closed the door. "Judge not lest ye be judged" means that when we judge self we close the door. There lies the potter's field, bare and vacant, desolate to this day for all those who by their own deceit and lies and disobedience condemn themselves because they have no way out of their shame and disgust of self.

Brother and sister in Jesus, beware lest we fall into this the most despairing and pitiful state that mankind can fall into. "Watch and pray", "be vigilant my soul", lead me not into temptation Lord God, lest I fall in the potter's field.

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Day 3, Week 14.

Matthew 27:11 - 26.

Jesus Before Pilate

Matthew 27:11-14 And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. 12 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. 13 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? 14 And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.

In years gone by I too was puzzled by this and similar passages of the Word of God that seemed to have no worthwhile teaching. We have already seen in this case that Jesus' silence is probably the best answer in these circumstances so what additional teaching is here. Jesus impresses and amazes Pilot but all in vain. All it shows is the weakness of even mighty rulers of mankind against mass social pressure.

But eventually it dawned on me that we are given all these details for two very important reasons. Firstly we are often faced with injustice ourselves and this tells me that I cannot expect to be spared any treatment that even my Saviour Jesus had to suffer so that I will be saved in spirit, soul and body.

Secondly and this is the most important lesson for me, It is when we read these passages over and over and visualise them that we begin to understand a little of what Jesus did for us. The more we understand that, feel that, live that, own that kind of treatment, the more it strengthens my resolve to use the new birth, the me that arose from the ashes of sin and disobedience, to the glory of Jesus. The more we accept this the greater becomes the resolve to know Jesus in us and the Holy Spirit in us so intimately that I cannot but hear their guidance and leading under pressure.

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The Crowd Chooses Barabbas

Matthew 27:15-23 Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. 16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. 17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? 18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. 19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. 20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. 22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.

As insult is added to injury over and over, I hear thousands of us crying out "it's not fair"! Who said that because we are born again believers that the world would treat us fairly? Where did we ever see that we are in any way exalted above Jesus? We complain at the sentences that criminals receive and bemoan the injustice of light sentences compared with the suffering of the victims and even get all hot under the collar about it instead of recognising that is how they treated our Saviour. The justice and judgement of this world is seldom "fair" in the eyes of all concerned and to us as born again believers we are not entitled to judge because that is the domain of God the Father alone (Matthew 7:1)

Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified

Matthew 27:24-26 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. 25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. 26 Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

Another typical action of mankind that Jesus tolerated on our behalf is the tendency mankind has to make judgement calls and then walk away and wash our hands of the matter. Very few if any of us go through life without being at the receiving end of this action but how many of us suffer it with the dignity that Jesus did it on our behalf?

Day 4, Week 14.

Matthew 27:27 - 44.

Jesus Is Mocked

Matthew 27:27-31 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. 28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. 29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! 30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. 31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

Here we must add to what Jesus did for us, what Jesus suffered on our behalf, the fact that many today are no better than those who mocked him then. Only then they were doing it openly whereas today many do it and think that God does not see it or that they have greater authority than God and can overrule God. I am talking again about the false and heretical festivals that so many "Christians" freely and openly engage in, in spite of the warning against such mockery and vanity (Galatians 6:7). When will we ever learn? We cannot expect to get away with disobedience; just read again the warnings of Deuteronomy 28:15 - 68 and the seven "woes" Jesus addressed to the Pharisees. The chief reason for all our diseases of mind (soul) and body is our disobedience and the only "medication" that can deal with the root causes of all of them is through repentance and the grace of God, Father son and Holy Spirit.

The Crucifixion

Matthew 27:32-44 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. 33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, 34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. 35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. 36 And sitting down they watched him there; 37 And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. 39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, 40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. 41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, 42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. 43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. 44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.

I find it difficult to place myself anywhere in this passage. The entire scene is sickening and humiliating beyond description. And for me personally it underscores that what Jesus did in becoming the propitiation for our sins (1 John 2:2) was no light matter. Can we even imagine vaguely what the Father must have felt through all these torments? How can I go on with my life as if nothing has changed after the new birth? To me that, in view of these horrors is simply impossible. We can go through all the mockers in turn but that serves little purpose in our own salvation.

There is controversy here to about the words of the two criminals crucified with Jesus. My only and final comment on that is that the accuracy and matching details of the events in the Gospels is remarkable if I consider that I can hardly face every detail on paper, how much more difficult must it have been for those that were there and recorded this for us even under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Day 5, Week 14.

Matthew 27:45 - 56

The Death of Jesus

Matthew 27:45-56 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? 47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. 48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. 49 The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him. 50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. 54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. 55 And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: 56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.

In our days and times this means that from twelve midday until three in the afternoon it was dark in spite of the fact that it was day time. Secular historians record that this darkness was intense, blacker than the normal night. They describe it as a darkness that had substance, which could be felt physically. Then as the light returned we see what I mentioned, the Father could not bring Himself to look at such suffering, suffering that was the presentation of my sin and the sin of all mankind. So foul was my sin that at the hour of the greatest need the Father could not be made to look at it.

Then Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, at the same hour, at the hour that the Paschal lamb would have been slain, and as Jesus gave up his Spirit the temple curtain was rent from top, from the Father, to the bottom, to mankind. Therein lies the Father heart of God, at the cruellest moment in all of creation, when mankind's disobedience caused His Son to be the Divine Sacrificial Lamb of God, the Father removes the barrier of the worldly priesthood between God and mankind. Symbolic Of the fact that Jesus is now our High Priest forever and that through Jesus we now have direct access to God moment by moment, the curtain was rent from top to bottom.

In something that is not so often spoken of in our churches is the record of Matthew that speaks of the resurrection of many of the dead that were seen in the city on that day which is complete and final proof that the Sacrifice made by Jesus was accepted by the Father as sufficient for all mankind forever, including you and I. No wonder that then even the centurion, a worshipper of Roman gods, was then convinced that Jesus is the Son of God.

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Day 6, Week 14.

Matthew 27: 7- 66.

Jesus Is Buried

Matthew 27:57-61 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: 58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. 59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. 61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

The striking thing about this event is the bravery of this "secret" disciple. It is a rare thing even in our times to see men stand up so emphatically for Jesus. Most men will run at the first sign of opposition against the norms and standards of our faith. Whether it be about the celebration of false festivals, doctrinal heresies, false witness, or anything else the trend is that we do not buck the system. Buck the system is exactly what Joseph of Arimathaea did. Jesus had been condemned as a common criminal by the Roman governor and as a blasphemer by the high priest of the Jewish faith. For anyone to take a stand in favour of Jesus was almost unthinkable in normal terms and can only mean that Joseph had accepted without any doubt who Jesus was and that therefore he would be safe.

Now we know with far greater certainty than Joseph that Jesus is the Son Of God but where is the witness of the masses? Year after year the Christmas lie is presented as truth, celebrated with the full approval of the vast majority of church members and the clergy. Clergy vehemently support the lie to the extent of threatening members with expulsion and rejection. There is no difference between that and the lies and the mockery and the lashes that Jesus was given then and what is happening now, but there seems to be a very serious lack of the Josephs of Arimathaea. One well known evangelist states his denial of the Word of God openly and without excuse by saying "As believers I believe that we celebrate the birth of Christ, because it is important that we acknowledge his birth and that we remember what His birth means to us as believers. The actual date is not important." That is simply saying that this evangelist places his opinion above that of the Word of God, that he assumes that he somehow has got the authority to decide to hold a festival that has been specifically forbidden by the Lord God (because it is not among the seven exclusive festivals He did ordain), and to make matters worse to celebrate it not only on the completely wrong date but a date that stands out in history as the date of Nimrod, Semiramus and Tammuz and at least thirteen Roman false gods! I will not mention the evangelist by name ( although I am in possession of an email addressed to me personally to prove that he made this statement, because he is actually only verbalising what the majority of modern day clergy are teaching. I refer you again to the previous comment about the diseases of mind (soul) and body.

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The Guard at the Tomb

Matthew 27:62-66 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, 63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. 64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. 65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. 66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

We do not need to be highly schooled theologians to know that the priests and the Pharisees of that day were condemned by their own declarations and even described as a "brood of vipers" for the way that they poisoned the minds of the people and that they will pay a very high price for that. Here we see that they actually realised that Jesus was in fact the Son of God. You see if they truly believed that He was an imposter then why would they have worried that he would be raised on the third day. But to add insult to injury they attempt to even deny God that event - as if that would be even remotely possible for mankind. It is however not as strange an event as it may seem! Continuing with the apostasies above we see that the ostrich behaviour of the scribes and the Pharisees is exactly what the promoters of false festivals and heretical teachings are doing today. perhaps now we can begin to understand the words of Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

This passage again reminds us that the final responsibility for our complete obedience to the Word of God is not in the hands of our clergy but it is in our own hands. We can never, no not here in my words or the words of any other clergy or laity, trust and pass the responsibility to another. In Jesus we are each responsible for personally knowing the Word of God because if you or I "forget" the Word of God, then God will reject us.

This is not a scare tactic brother and sister. This is the plain and simple truth and is what is written in the Word of God. Either we believe the whole Word of God without leaving out any or altering any literal meaning, or it makes no sense to believe any of it. You cannot lock some of the word away behind armed guards and say that you believe in God, Father Son and Holy Spirit because you are then being as much a mocker as those scribes and Pharisees.
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Day 7, Week 14.

This week's reading: Matthew 26:69 to Matthew 27:66

Read through the week's portion of scripture again. Then ask yourself the following questions and answer them as objectively as you can:

1.Have I read everything attentively and listened to the Holy Spirit's prompting?

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2. What was new and meaningful to me?

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3. What do I want to learn more about?

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4. What life decisions am I making from this week onward

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5. How do I rate my own;

Personal relationship with Jesus?

Personal relationship with the Holy Spirit?

**Personal** relationship with God the Father?

Humility?

Servanthood?

Agape (love)?

Faith?

Hope?

6. My prayer commitments

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7. Other comments

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Day 1, Week 15.

Matthew 28:1 - 10.

The Resurrection

Matthew 28:1-10 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. 2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. 8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. 9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. 10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

Two women, heartbroken and lost get up on the morning after the Passover to go to a grave. Many years previous to this the Israelites must have greeted this morning with great jubilation and anticipation. In their homes all had been spared while in Egypt every other home had lost all their firstborn but this day for the disciples had a very different beginning. They had reached the point that every sinner needs to come to. Broken by our own sin, all control out of our hands and that place where all seems lost, dark and doomed, even the elements are disturbed and shaking.

But wait, the elements are shaking in an annunciation. At that point it is about to be revealed to mankind that the First Born Son of God was also still alive, had in fact risen and there was only an empty grave. As much as a grave with a body in it is a symbol of the grip of death, so the empty grave has become a symbol for all time of the resurrection and of hope. Yes we first need to fall to the depth of misery of Martha and Mary Magdalene, we have to die to this life and to this world so that we can leave the old self and rise in the new birth as Jesus did on that wonderful morning. Just as Moses then rounded up Israel to a new birth, a new chapter of the nation that God had elected as His own, So Jesus is risen on that morning to dwell in and with the Holy Spirit guide His elect, the new born disciples of Jesus Christ., Though Martha and Mary were the first to witness the resurrection, see the empty grave and receive the new birth in themselves, many have followed in the two thousand years since then.

The next event Matthew records was the appearance of Jesus to them and they fell down at His feet to touch him so that they could feel that what they were seeing was for real and then they worshipped him leaving for us the testimony that Jesus had risen, was alive and real. There is now no more doubt. They had received a new power, a living hope and I can believe that they must have made the journey to where the other disciples were in record time to break the news to them and to lead the way to Galilee. Can we ever fully imagine the transformation of those men and women in those moments? Can we imagine them charging headlong down the road to Galilee jumping and shouting and praising God and can we imagine the puzzlement on the bystander's faces? Can we imagine the awful fear that would have dawned on any of the scribes and Pharisees that saw them wondering what had happened to their armed guard and what would they do now?

All that happened in those early hours on the morning after the Passover is what needs to happen and will follow in us and that is when we will also experience the new birth, when we to will leave old dead bones behind and arise out of the ashes as brother and sisters of Jesus, heirs of the Father, filled with the Holy Spirit.

Day 2, Week 15.

Matthew 28:11 - 15

The Report of the Guard

Matthew 28:11-15 Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. 12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, 13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. 14 And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. 15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

In typical fashion the corrupt are very good and very quick to cover their tracks and that with the typical abuse of power and threats to the lives of others. We should know these sign well by now because in the present times we are surrounded by this type of behaviour. A very large portion of mankind have become very well rehearsed liars and cheats and well versed with the abuse of power. The Word of God stops us from being Judgemental but that does not mean that we cannot for a moment consider what we think about the actions of these scribes and Pharisees.

I will not be far off the mark if I say that they fill us with distaste, anger and disgust. That is because they were disobedient, dishonest and corrupt. Have we ever stopped to look hard at our own personal sins? they are made up of those exact same elements and yet Jesus died for us out of love. I love the Afrikaans expression; "kan jy dit oorvertel" which loosely translated means that that action of Jesus is indescribable.

Day 3, Week 15.

Matthew 28:16 - 20

The Great Commission

Matthew 28:16-20 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

The ending of the Gospel of Matthew seems somewhat abrupt especially when compared with that of Luke who even goes on into the first two chapters of Acts to describe the events up to Pentecost. I can only surmise in my personal capacity that this may have been because the urgency of leading the Jews to Jesus and repentance was so uppermost in the heart and mind of Matthew that he made that issue his priority. Matthew as a tax collector would have known firsthand what it was to be rejected and he probably realised immediately that the only present hope for the Jews was to accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Saviour. These are the Jews that we now refer to as the Messianic Jews and there are men and women being added to that number to this day.

I mention these Jews here because of what it means to us, i.e. to non-Jews. It does not mean, as many would like us to believe, that the Father has rejected the nation of Israel. It does mean that the Messianic Jews are immediately saved and born again disciples of Jesus just like we are. It does mean that the "unsaved" Jews are still living under the Old Covenant, that their salvation remains dependent on works and that will only change after the rapture and the first part of the tribulation. Then the remnant will be separated and hidden from sight of the nations until the second coming. We must not therefore buy into the lie that the church has taken the place of the chosen nation and we must remain respectful towards the chosen or face the consequences.

By far the most important lesson for every born again believer in this text is the fact that the "Great Commission" is applicable to every one of us. It is a general command that is part and parcel of accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour; it is as binding as any of the Ten Commandments or the commandments of love for God and neighbour. It is arguably the most neglected of all the commandments in the normal run of the lives of most "believers". In our time the general opinion is that the Great Commission is for the clergy and the evangelists and the missionaries to keep and as long as the rest pay their dues they are absolved of any responsibility for evangelisation.

Nothing can be further from reality. The Great Commission is everyone's duty and the failure to be involved is an act of disobedience and therefore is sin and therefore will be an impediment to our complete sanctification. In my opinion (and only in that), it is along with unforgiveness, worry and anxiety, the most common cause of the lack of healing and casting out of spirits and lifting of curses that exists among the born again believers. There are some now that will say "but must all else then come to a standstill"? I could say much about that but in the hope that there are few sincere objectors that truly need guidance I will explain.

The first thing to point to is the ministry of Paul. Paul was a "tentmaker" or what is more common amongst us nowadays we might say that he was a builder. That is how Paul financed the larger part of his personal ministry, i.e. by "working for a living". There is therefore no reason why anyone that is doing secular work cannot see themselves as being in the business of evangelism at the same time, in fact not only that, but this is exactly what is called for here by the Great Commission. Unfortunately the world now teaches that church and work are separate environments each with their own rules but that is a lie from satan. Whether our living is earned making tents, laying bricks, or owning a construction company or any other secular trade or venture, the truly born again believer may have only one standard by which to live. That standard is to live as an evangelist, proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus, by every word we speak, every brick we lay and every interaction that we are part of in the course of our daily lives. If we are not doing that then we are not born again believers but simply involved in an outward show of religion. That may seem harsh, may seem abrupt, but it is no more so than the short and sweet way that Matthew ends his inspired record of the Good News (and may even have been what he was doing).

Day 4, Week 15.

A very brief summary of a typical Jewish marriage ceremony in Galilee at the time of Jesus on earth

Note that this summary may be the cause of some controversy in certain quarters. That is simply because by 30AD there had already developed a number of variations on the standard procedure. The procedure as briefly summarised here is as close as I can establish what the tradition was in the province of Galilee where a great deal of the events in the times of Jesus on earth took place and particularly those events that are based on the image of this feast. I am therefore briefly summarising the ceremonies as they were then and then i will point out the similarities that we find in the Gospel of Matthew and throughout the Word of God.

When a man decided that he wanted to merry, he and his father and their retinue would go to the city gate nearest the home of the chosen bride where they would meet with the bride's father and the bridal retinue.

Then, when both groups have assembled the groom's father announces his son and takes out and reads the proposed bridal contract out loudly to the assembly and then presents it to the Bridal group where it is accepted by the father of the proposed bride.

Then the father of the groom would hand over a large bridal price over to the family of the bride. That prize is almost a guarantee that the Groom and his family will be able to properly support the Bride. Then the groom will hand over a very valuable gift to the bride which is her to keep, i.e. it does not go to her father or her family.

Then the groom will take a jug of wine and pour out a cup of wine from it and offer it to the bride. Then something unique happens in the Galilean tradition in that there the bride has the right to accept or reject the cup of wine as a symbol of her acceptance of the marriage proposal or the rejection of it. (in most other eastern traditions both then and now the brides in "arranged" marriages have no choice in the matter but in Galilee they had that choice. If the bride then takes the cup from the groom she will then by drinking from it signify to everyone that she accepts the offer of marriage.

The next thing that happens is that the groom will then also take the cup and he will also drink from it and then he will say the words; "I will not drink of this cup again until we go to my father's house together."

The groups would then part. From that time on the couple are regarded as being legally married and that can only be ended if the groom gives the bride a "bill of divorce".

After the two groups part both the bride and the groom will undergo a ritual bathing where they are completely submerged in water that can freely run out of the "bath" and drain away out of sight. They will emerge from the "bath" and put on a new pure white "gown" and dance with their respective bridal parties in celebration of that readiness and that white garment would only be worn again when next the were seated together at the wedding feast. This step symbolises the ceremonial washing away of all sins so that they both are made pure for the time when they arise together as one and it was incumbent on both the groom and the bride to keep themselves clean and holy for the homecoming of the bride.

When the groom then gets back to the house of his father he and his friends will build on and furnish a room or rooms (depending on the welfare of the family) where the groom will bring his wife to live with him when he goes to fetch her. The groom will not be allowed to fetch the bride until the father has inspected and is satisfied with the preparations made by his son.

The bride in the mean time would also have prepared her wedding outfit and have ensured that everything on her side was ready for the time when her groom would come to "capture" her so that she could be fully ready within a moment's notice.

When the father of the groom feels that the preparations are in order, a decision that only he can make and only he will announce, he will let the son know and the son will then go in the middle of the night and "capture" stealthily his bride and take her to his father's house where their arrival would be announced with much jubilation and blowing of shofars that would be a sign for the wedding guests to get ready with the wedding feast that would signify the "homecoming" of the bride.

After the typical wedding feast the bride and groom would then go to the prepared Dwelling where the marriage would be consummated and there is a tradition that states that they would remain there isolated for seven days. There is a further tradition that says that immediately after the consummation of the marriage the groom would toss the first bloodstained sheet out of the door of their dwelling to signify th virginity of the bride and the two becoming one in the sight of God

Day 5, Week 15.

The Similarities

The announcement and the contract:

Look first at the similarity to the meeting of the two families that begins the marriage ceremony. At the first meeting the father announces the son that will be the groom. Jesus began his ministry after being baptised in the Jordan by John the Baptist and then the Father that dwells in heaven announced "this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased". Just as the groom and the bride are identified at the outset of the first step of the marriage ceremony, so Jesus as the Groom and the people in the desert, at the Jordan, who would have been both Jews and Gentiles, and would be the Bride of the Groom, are identified from the beginning.

From there the preparation work of Jesus under the auspices of the Father and with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (that was to Jesus the Helper that the traditional groom's friends were) began with His temptation and teaching ministry. That is all recorded for us in the New Testament and that together with the Old Testament is the image of the wedding contract. The Word of God is the guarantee that is written out for us from God the Father to the entire family of the bride (i.e. including you and I) given to mankind under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Word of God is offered to us as the binding contract between us and the Father, son and Holy Spirit which we, like the traditional bride can either accept or reject.

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The Bridal price and Gift to the bride:

The significance of the Bridal price was huge. It was not necessarily very valuable but without it they could not move a single step forward. The bridal price in the case of the New Covenant, the forming of a new family unit was not, as in the traditional ceremony, made up of money or live stock or precious stones or property. In the New Covenant family unit the Bridal Price is the Groom, in fact the very life of the Groom. Without that Life the New Covenant family unit would and could not have been established.

The Gift to the traditional bride is an individual gift that is given specifically to the bride alone for the sole benefit and use of the bride alone. This is an image of the gift of the Holy Spirit that is given by the Groom, Jesus, to every believer that accepts His offer and yields their lives to Jesus as the traditional Jewish bride yielded to the authority of her husband.

Repentance and baptism

We can see that from the teaching of John the Baptist and Jesus that the acceptance of the marriage offer here is symbolised firstly by the act of repentance. In that act the "bride" comes to recognise and accept their own impurity and acknowledge their acceptance of the offer by the ceremonial bath where the "dirty" water runs away, or as in the case of Jesus in a river. That ceremonial bath, The "water baptism" is symbolic of the initial purification of the new born believer just as it symbolised the initial purification of the bride in the traditional marriage ceremony. Note here that thereafter both husband and wife were regarded as already being legally married firstly, and secondly there existed from that moment a contractual responsibility on both parties to always remain pure and ready for the moment when the father would give the word. So in the case of the New Born believer the water baptism is symbolic both of the initial forgiveness of sins and the washing away of them out of site, and is also an undertaking to remain pure, to continue in sanctification so as to be ready for...yes that's it, ready for the rapture!

Just as in the traditional marriage husband and wife were regarded as legally married from the moment of the bride's acceptance of the offer, so the new born believer becomes part of the family of Jesus upon being baptised in water and having all their sins washed away by the full submersion in water. Just as the earthly contract can only be set aside by the sin of denial of the bond, so the new born believer's bond with Jesus will remain forever or until it is broken by the sin of the denial of the relationship which is found in the act of disobedience to the Law of God which is the Word of God that formed the contractual basis of the marriage.

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The Lord's Supper.

By this time I am confident that all can see the similarities between the institution and the symbolisms that Jesus used to institute the New Covenant agreement with mankind and to distinguish it from the Old Covenant. I would like to state here that it makes it probably more clear than any other thing or event what a monumental shift in relationship is offered to us from that which still applies to the Jew that does not accept Jesus Christ as the Messiah. We in the New Covenant become family, married to rather than subject to, brothers and sisters rather than a people even though they are "My (God's) people".

Jesus clearly uses the cup symbolism in line with the traditional marriage festival and while most understand that the "Cup" that Jesus instituted symbolises His blood and thereby the forgiveness of sins, not many realise that it also symbolises the promise of the rapture. No new Born believer that understands this properly can ever again deny the rapture and jump directly to the second coming. Jesus himself says in Matthew 26:29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. That is an undeniable reference to the groom in the traditional ceremony going to do what Jesus Himself says in John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. Like the traditional groom Jesus has gone to prepare a place for His Bride in His Father's House, and likewise Jesus will only drink from the New Covenant Cup again after Jesus has "come like a thief in the night" to take His Bride home. This is something that Preterism tries to deny and has all kinds of false explanations for and that all churches that attempt to ignore the rapture must accept as absolute. This similarity , this likeness in the teachings of Jesus and the New Testament is made and used far too often to ignore or set aside with any other devilish argument.

Now what about the bread that was also part of the symbols that Jesus gave for the institution of the New Covenant? Allow me to remind you about the undertaking of the husband and wife to remain in absolute purity for each other until the consummation of the marriage? Then also remember the words of Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. This is then the part where our sanctification is made part of the New Covenant. First our Spiritual relationship with God is restored by the Blood of Jesus, and then our spirits, souls and bodies will be purified by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The contract that the Father gave to the Bride of Jesus Christ, The Word of God contains a promise that the Bride of Jesus Christ will be completely purified before the consummation of the marriage. The bread then is a symbol of Matthew 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.

There is a pitiful movement away in almost all churches from the ministry of healing of soul and body and that in spite of the fact that when in most Christian churches the Lord's Supper is celebrated they do so using both the elements. It leaves me baffled as to how these two scenarios can run in parallel. Clearly the one is a complete contradiction of the other. Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

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The Rapture

For some the Rapture and the second coming of Jesus poses a problem of understanding partly because even amongst the clergy they do not all seem to fully understand these things. Remember how the husband will go to fetch his wife when the father gives the word. Firstly it is only the father that knows when that will be. Then remember the words of Jesus; Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. Just as only the father of the husband can give the go ahead to him to bring his bride to the home that has been prepared for her, So it is only our heavenly Father that can give his Son, our Lord Jesus, the go ahead to fetch His Bride to the Heavenly Home that Jesus has prepared that we read about in John 14:3. This is where it then becomes clear that this is not about the second coming because this is the occasion when Jesus will come like a "thief in the night 1Thesalonians 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. Jesus will not set foot on the earth but will appear; Matthew24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. When we understand the Jewish wedding ceremony then it becomes easier to see that this event is separate from the second coming and that is what we refer to as the rapture where Jesus "raptures" his Bride (the Church of Jesus Christ) in similar fashion to the husband "capturing" his wife to bring her home.

We know too that the husband on earth then. after the wedding feast was said in some of the Jewish traditions to spend seven days alone with his bride consummating the marriage. Here on earth we also know that after the rapture of the Church of Jesus there will be seven years of tribulation. Daniel speaks of one week divided into two halves of three and a half days each and so we see again in several books of the Word of God that there are times where days represent years. So Jesus will be spending the seven years of the tribulation in heaven with His Bride, consummating that marriage. I believe that in those seven years the time will be spent with Jesus preparing His Bride to rule with Him after the second coming during the thousand year reign of peace.

Now remember the earthly tradition of the husband tossing out the white bloodstained sheet from the door where he and his wife were closed up for the seven days. Then compare that with the Revelation of Jesus to John of the second coming and remember also the white robes that the husband and wife would wear after their purification ceremonies and again at the wedding feast and that would be the garment they would be wearing going to be alone. Then read the Revelation passage that ties in with that part of the wedding ceremony; Revelations 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. You see again the "vesture dipped in blood" like we saw the blood stained sheet being tossed out signifying that the wedding had been consumed as in this case it signifies that the raptured church will have been prepared for the thousand year reign.

That concludes this very abbreviated description of the traditional Jewish wedding ceremony as it would have still been kept in Galilee in the time of Jesus. I really hope that if anyone reading this previously had any doubt and or misunderstanding about the rapture, the Tribulation and the second coming of Jesus that this will help you to place everything in order and to understand their own position with regard to their future in Jesus Christ.

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Day 6, Week 15.

This week's reading: Matthew 28:1 to 20 & The Traditional Marriage Ceremony

Read through the week's portion of scripture again. Then ask yourself the following questions and answer them as objectively as you can:

1.Have I read everything attentively and listened to the Holy Spirit's prompting?

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2. What was new and meaningful to me?

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3. What do I want to learn more about?

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4. What life decisions am I making from this week onward

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5. How do I rate my own;

Personal relationship with Jesus?

Personal relationship with the Holy Spirit?

**Personal** relationship with God the Father?

Humility?

Servanthood?

Agape (love)?

Faith?

Hope?

6. My prayer commitments

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7. Other comments

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Thank you for reading my book. If you enjoyed it, won't you please take a moment to leave me a review at your favourite retailer?

Thank you very much

sybrand van kwawegen

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Discover other titles by sybrand van kwawegen

the Kingdom of Heaven - the Authority of Mankind.

Salvation - the Lost Message of Redemption.

About the Author:

I was born 21 August 1950 and grew up in a home best described as atheist. I knew nothing about Christianity until my high school years and even then a much clouded picture was mine. After school I qualified in the trade of bricklaying before doing a BSc degree in Building Science at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). I worked in construction progressing to Construction manager and managing contracts in what is currently known as the provinces of Gauteng, North-west, Limpopo, Mpumalanga Free State and Kwa Zulu Natal. I moved on into full time ministry in the Methodist Church of South Africa and studied for a B.Th. through the University of South Africa (UNISA). During this time I also served as vice chair and chair of the West Rand Local Peace Committee as well as serving on the Regional Peace committee before and during the first democratic elections in South Africa and served as chair of Hospice in the West. I left full time ministry after a divorce and returned to construction and allied industries until my retirement two years ago. I then started acrylic painting as a hobby and doing further Bible studies that led to this publication.

The copyright of this book was stated at the beginning but you are free to quote or refer to it with due accreditation at any time without further request but that does not include my accepting responsibility for any conclusions drawn from it unless expressly agreed to by me in writing by email.

For any further information please feel free to contact me at sybrand191@gmail.co.za

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