JESUS SPEAKING

                “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’  But I say to you do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.  Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black.  But let your ‘Yes,’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’  For whatever is more than these is from the evil one” (Mathew 5: 33-37.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

                There are two types of oaths; a person can testify about the past, or they can testify about the future.  One is a testimony, the other is a prophecy of sorts.  In this scripture Jesus is referring to testimonies about the future.  God’s truth is revealed when what he has said comes to pass.  In a more limited way, God’s children make future plans, and fulfill them, and to do anything less would be lying.  In order to make an oath more permanent, and of greater importance, often times a person would invoke the name of God, and still others would swear by some other honorable thing.  For instance, sometimes when a person wants to affirm that they are telling the truth they might say, “I swear to God.”  They may also say, “I swear on my mother’s grave.”  Others might say, “If I’m lying then may lightning strike me dead,” in which case they would be using their lives as collateral to bolster their believability.

                Jesus was doing something in this scripture that sent shockwaves through the Jewish communities.  God had said that a person should ‘perform their oaths to the Lord.’  Jesus made his own words equal to God’s words, saying, “But I say to you do not swear at all.”  There was no disagreement between what Jesus was saying and what God had said.  He agreed with God that oaths made to the LORD were binding.  He knew how serious an offense it was to break such an oath; in turn, he urged his listeners to refrain from even make such an oath to begin with.  He went on to denounce four things that were commonly sworn by.  Swearing by heaven was to desecrate the Holy dwelling place of God.  Swearing by the earth was outlawed as well.  To swear by Jerusalem wasn’t right either, because it was the city in which Jesus was going to be king, and in which God Himself dwelled.  Lastly, Jesus forbade swearing by one’s own life.  In reference to using our own lives as collateral, Jesus made it clear that no one knew the time or hour that God had appointed for them to die.  How then could a person who didn’t know if they would be alive the next day make an oath to fulfill an obligation a month from then?  Oaths to God were eternal, and binding.  Since God required them to abide by their oaths there were very few instances when oaths were appropriate [It was better to not swear at all.] (Marriage may have been an exception, as it was an eternal covenant between a man and his wife before God.)  Anyone who needed to use God or some other Holy thing in an oath lacked integrity.  Many who have had trouble keeping their word have used God as a tool; something to motivate themselves to keep their word.  Making oaths can indicate that a person isn’t truly submitted to God.  Today, Jesus requires that when we say we are going to do something we do it.  When we say, “Yes,” God requires us to do what we have agreed to do.

                In our culture, tattoos are on the rise.  People have found them to be somewhat permanent modes of expression.  Recently I spoke with a girl who had numerous scriptures tattooed on her body.  She had been struggling to stay on task and live a life that was pleasing to God.  At some point, she felt the need to get His words put on her body.  When an eternal relationship with God isn’t present (or is weak) inside of a person, they make external reminders for themselves of something that is missing inside of them (this is not always the case.)  The same thing is true of those who say they are going to do something and don’t do it.  Many times, they feel that making an oath to the Lord will ‘seal the deal,’ but it very rarely changes anything.  The person is trying to exploit God for their own purposes, and this is why Jesus says that making oaths to the Lord is from the evil one.  God is not a thing to be used selfishly.  Instead, we are to simply keep our own word, and by doing so, God is pleased.

                Today, many have difficulties keeping their word.  If we are fickle, if we are given to saying one thing, and doing another, we are not followers of Jesus Christ.  There are cases where we may be sick, or an emergency arises, but aside from situations such as these, there is no excuse for missing appointments, letting others down, or cancelling at the last minute.  The Lord will not tolerate this type of behavior; it is lying in advance.  If a person who is not a Christian can be counted on to do what they say more than you or I, then we are not Christians.  Don’t make plans you can’t keep; in fact, the bible tells us that it is often better to replace ‘yes’ or ‘no’ with, “God willing, I will be there.”  As much as is possible, focus on the things you can accomplish today.  Don’t be a people pleaser, taking on more than you can possibly do because you want the approval of others; this will lead to broken promises; it’s okay to tell others no; it’s not okay to tell others yes, and then no.  When someone asks you for a favor, and you don’t have time, lovingly tell them no.  Don’t say yes and then not show up because you’re overwhelmed.  Be on time for things you’ve agreed to be on time for, and if you are going to be late, then call ahead to let them know.  [P.S.  The enemy will very often throw obstacles in your way that will test you…Perhaps that person you really wanted to go out with calls you last minute, and your group function interferes with a possible date.  Do you cancel on your group, thinking, “I’m sure they won’t mind?”  No; it is not pleasing to God to forgo your commitment to indulge in some selfish pursuit?  What you have agreed too, complete.]

                “Lord Heavenly Father, we come before You now, and we ask and pray that You would give us the strength to complete everything that we commit ourselves too; we desire to be like You, and bring glory to You.  Lord, help us to be men and women of integrity; people who don’t need oaths, since our words can be trusted, because You are living in us.  Give us the conviction to complete whatever we have committed too.  We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, in Jesus Christ’s name.  Amen.”  God bless all of you. 

JESUS SPEAKING

             Then they brought him to Him.  And when he saw him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground.  So he asked his Father, “How long has this been happening to him?”  And he said, “From childhood.  And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him.  But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”  Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”  Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”  When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it:  “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!”  Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him.  And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.”  But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose (Mark 9: 20-28.)            

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

                The Disciples were unable to cure this boy; Jesus arrived on the scene, and the boy’s Father was so desperate to have his son healed he begged Jesus to help him.  The Father had lived his entire life in fear; his son was being attacked by a demon, and the Man was helpless to do anything for his Son.  His tears revealed his level of desperation.  Faith is often revealed in moments of desperation.  The Father believed in his moment of despair that Jesus Christ could heal his son.  He had faith in the Lord.

                My journey with God didn’t begin with a strong faith in Jesus Christ.  Instead, it began when I realized that I needed a miracle.  There was an impassible and immovable obstacle which stood in my way.  I knew that many people had had their lives changed by Jesus Christ; I had heard so many testimonies of others being healed that in my time of desperation, I chose to go to the one person who could do the impossible.  So I began to read the bible, and to attend church, and to pray, and you know what…?  I found my miracle, and far more than that, I found the truth, and eternal life.  That obstacle that was in my way has been removed by the Lord Jesus Christ.  Today, when I go through some sort of trial, or I’m afraid, and anxious, my first course of action isn’t to call a friend, or to reach out to someone for advice or comfort.  Instead, I go off alone, often times for a walk, and I pray to God.  I let God know about my worries, and my struggles, and I look to him for comfort, guidance, and direction before I look to others.

                Today, many people are facing some impossible obstacle and they need a miracle.  Jesus Christ can give them that miracle, if they are desperate enough to believe that for God, “All things are possible to him who believes.”  When you struggle, when trials come your way, might I suggest that the first thing you do is take some time to pray, and to talk with God.  Go to him first in those moments of desperation, and if you believe, he will do the impossible for you.

                “Lord Heavenly Father, first we lift You up; You are an awesome and mighty God.  You are so full of truth and wisdom and we love You.  Help us Lord to make You the first person we turn to in times of trouble.  Give us a heart to believe; help us with our unbelief.  Also, give us a heart of love for others, and a compassion for those who are looking for the miracle that You might have in store for them.  Make us the kind of people that are not condemning of the lost, or those who are desperate, but fill us with Your love for them Father.  We love You Lord, we thank You, and we praise You, and we ask all of these things, in Jesus Christ’s name.  Amen.”  God bless all of you. 

JESUS SPEAKING

             “No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light.  The lamp of the body is the eye.  The lamp of the body is the eye.  Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light.  But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness.  Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness.  If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light” (Luke 11:  33-36.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

             Lamps in the days of Jesus were nothing like our lamps today.  Most lamps were round, hollow clay containers which were filled with oil.  One end of the wick was plunged in to the oil, while the lit end of the wick hung out of the side of the clay vessel.  The wick that came out from the oil was not the source of the flame; the source of the flame was the oil hidden inside of the lamp.  The body is like the hollow basin of the lamp, and the Holy Spirit is the oil that fills that basin. The flaming wick is visible, as are the eyes of every person.  The Holy Spirit fills up the body and pours out through the eyes, shining for the entire world to see.  God’s purpose is that others who see that light will be drawn toward it (sadly, many will choose to remain in darkness; they will be repulsed by the light.)

             When I first became a Christian, I remember looking in to certain people’s eyes and seeing something different; it was like looking in to crystal clear water; there was no turmoil, no waves of any kind; just a peace and a stillness.  Their eyes also seemed wider, and didn’t dart back and forth like other people’s eyes (and they blinked less.)  On the other side, I knew a man who was filled with evil; who was doing horrible things; his eyes were dull, and covered in a yellowish film (it wasn’t caused by anything biological, but spiritual.)  As he began to grow closer to God, that yellowish film began to fade away.  His eyes began to clear, his face began to warm, and a dead man began to live.  (If you have ever seen someone have a seizure, you’ll notice that their eyes go blank; the lights go out so to speak, even when their eyes are wide open.  This same type of thing happens to those who walk in darkness.  They might be walking around, working, saving money, shopping, etc. but they are not alive on the inside; they are hollow.  The eyes reveal whether or not a person is alive or dead on the inside.

             Today, some are full of The Spirit, and some are partially full, and others are completely empty.  How can we be filled?  We need only ask God daily for His Holy Spirit.  We can also take time to pray and to speak to God, by ourselves, or with others.  Reading the bible is another way to fill up our tanks so that the light of God shines out from us in to the lives of others.  Also, acting and behaving according to the teachings of the Lord is another necessity for our internal spiritual growth.  Every time you act selflessly, every time you give, every time you share with a stranger, every time you love others with a pure heart, you are being filled with more of His Spirit.  As God continues to fill you, others will see will see something different in your eyes.  They will see a peace, a clarity, a purity, and a hope welling up within you, and pouring out from you.  Be filled, and be a light for the Lord in this place.

             “Lord Heavenly Father, we lift You up as an awesome and mighty God, full of grace and peace, and mercy.  We ask that You fill us with those things as well.  Come in to our hearts and push out the darkness and fill us with Your light.  Help us to have eyes that are beacons of hope to others; eyes through which You can draw the lost to Yourself and to Your Son.  May our eyes show all of Your glory, and all of Your goodness.  Send the darkness out of hearts Lord for Your glory.  We love You Lord, we thank You, and we praise You, and we ask and pray all of these things, in Jesus Christ’s name.  Amen.”