Posts Tagged ‘church’


Under Gods Command

Proverbs 9:7-09 Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse. Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.

Are you a mocker or a wise person? You can tell by the way you respond to criticism. Instead of tossing back a quick put down or clever retort when rebuked. Listen to what is being said. Learn from your critics; this is the path to wisdom. Wisdom begins with knowing God. He gives insight into living because he created life. To know God is not just to know the facts about him, but to stand in awe of him and have a relationship with him. Do you really want to be wise? Get to know God better and better.


Under Gods Command
This goes out to all the people who place scriptural base statements on the Internet to include myself, others and Preachers / Teachers of Gods Word.

Some of us are experts at telling others what to do, but they missed the central point of God’s law’s themselves, Jesus made it clear, however, that obeying God’s law is more important than explaining it. It’s much easier to study God’s laws and tell others to obey them than to put them into practice. How are we doing at obeying God ourselves?

Matthew 5:19-20 Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the Kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the Kingdom of heaven.

The Pharisees were demanding and scrupulous in their attempts to follow their laws. So how could Jesus reasonably call us to a greater righteousness then theirs? The Pharisees weakness was that they were content to obey the laws outwardly without allowing God to change their hearts (or attitudes). They looked spiritual as some of us do on the Internet, but they were far from the Kingdom of God. God judges our hearts as well as our deeds, for it is in the heart that our real allegiance lies.

Jesus was saying that his listeners needed a different kind of righteousness altogether (love and obedience), not just a more intense version of the Pharisees’ righteousness (legal compliance). Our righteousness must

1. Come from what God does in us, not what we can do by ourselves
2. Be God-centered, not self-centered
3. Be based on reverence for God, not approval from people
4. Go beyond keeping the law to living by the principles behind the law.

We should be just as concerned about our attitudes that people don’t see as about our actions that are seen by all.


Under Gods Command
(Love of Money)

1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

You’ve heard it said that money is the root of all evil, right? Wrong! Turn with me to one of the most misquoted verses in the Bible. Paul was addressing Timothy, as he was preparing him for public ministry. I will read it to you from the Amplifying Bible, Tim. 6: 10 “For the love of money (and all it buys) placed before the love of God (in reality) is the root of all kinds of evil.”
Did you catch that? Let me reread it. A clear distinction must be made between THE LOVE of money and money itself. Let this truth sink deep into your spirit. God is not anti-money, or anti-wealth, He is anti-money WORSHIP. He has helped us to identify that moneylove (worship) is the root of all kinds of evil.


Under Gods Command
Jesus Challenges Peter

John 21:20-23 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him!” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

Peter asked Jesus how John would die. Jesus replied that Peter should not concern himself with that. We tend to compare our lives to others, whether to rationalize our own level of devotion to Christ or to question God’s justice. Jesus responds to us as he did to Peter: “What is that to you? You must follow me.”


Under Gods Command
Jesus Challenges Peter

John 21:18-19 I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

This was a prediction of Peter’s death by crucifixion. Tradition indicates that Peter was crucified for his faith-upside down because he did not feel worthy of dying as his Lord did. Despite what Peter’s future held, Jesus told him to follow him. We may be uncertain and fearful about our future. But if we know God is in control, we can confidently follow Christ.


Under Gods Command

Proverbs 26:20 Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.

Talking about every little irritation or piece of gossip only keeps the fires of anger going. Refusing to discuss them cuts the fuel line and makes the fires die out. Does someone continually irritate you? Decide not to complain about the person and see if your irritation dies from lack of fuel.


Under Gods Command

To understand the life and mission of Jesus more fully, all we need to do is study the Gospels. John tells us that his Gospel records only a few of the many events in Jesus’s life on earth. But the gospel includes everything we need to know to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, through whom we receive eternal life.

John 20:30-31 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.


Under Gods Command

Proverbs 22:10 Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended.

This Proverbs speaks for itself. Another word for mocker is ridiculer. I know when certain people don’t show up for work or miss meeting or gatherings, it changes the entire temperature or atmosphere. It just takes one person to stir up strife. I think we all can relate to this, Just make sure that person is not you.


Under Gods Command
Jesus Appears to His Disciples

John 20:19-21 On the evening of the first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were over joyed when they saw the Lord. As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

Jesus again identified himself with his Father. He told the disciples by whose authority he did his work. Then he passed the job to his disciples of spreading the gospel of salvation around the world. Whatever God has asked you to do, remember:

(1) Your authority comes from God, and
(2) Jesus has demonstrated by words and actions how to accomplish the job he has given you.

As the Father sent Jesus, Jesus sends his followers….and you.


Under Gods Command
Proverbs 14:31 He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.

God has a special concern for the poor. He insists that people who have material goods should be generous with those who are needy. Providing for the poor is not just a suggestion in the Bible; it is a command that may require a change of attitude.