JESUS SPEAKING

                At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.  Even so, Father, for it seemed good in Your sight.  All things have been delivered to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father.  Nor does anyone know the Father except the son, and the one to whom the son wills to reveal him” (Mathew 11: 25-27.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

                Jesus thanked God the Father for hiding the truth from the wise and prudent.  Instead, it pleased God to make the truth known to the simple minded.  The hidden truth was the identity of Jesus, and his relationship to God.  All that God had made and all that existed had been given to Jesus.  Youth was something that the Jews equated with stupidity and weakness.  In fact, in a group of Jewish men, they often spoke in order of age; the oldest spoke first and the youngest spoke last.  The very old were held up as more honorable than the youth.  Here Jesus was flipping Jewish culture on its head.  They believed that with age came wisdom; wisdom was seen as something that could be attained, discovered, sought after and grasped.  Jesus made it clear that true wisdom could not be attained, but rather, it could only be received from God.  God was truth; a person’s closeness to God indicated how much truth they had attained.  The only one who had ever truly known God was him, and so, the knowledge of God could only be revealed to others through Him.  Sin separated a person from the knowledge of God, because God’s spirit did not fellowship with evil; Jesus, being sinless and the son of God had perfect knowledge of his Father, and he delighted in revealing that knowledge to those who were simple.  The truth was given to the ignorant and unintelligent.

                Young children are often better at recognizing evil than are adults.  As a child, we once had a teen age baby sitter come over to watch my sister and brother and I.  He got in to the liquor cabinet.  He began to drink; I was curious and so he handed me a shot glass full of liquor.  As soon as I tasted it, I spit it out.  The liquor tasted so horrible, I couldn’t imagine why anyone would drink it.  Children are often far better at discovering who a person is by what they do, not by what they say.  Adults are often blinded enough to trust a person’s words without seeing congruent actions.  [Words turn in to lies when they don’t match up with actions; actions are always the true, and kids know it.]  Children can often identify the sin in other people’s lives without needing to see it, or understand its nature; they intuitively know things, because God’s spirit is a voice they hear from within.  Growing up there was a local child molester that made my friends and I uncomfortable; each of us intuitively new that there was something strange about him, and later our suspicions were confirmed; yet the adults in the community were more than happy to trust him with their children; after all, he was a lawyer and a prominent citizen.  As many children grow, they stop hearing that voice.  When a person receives the Holy Spirit, that internal voice returns; they again become able to sense good and evil with ever greater accuracy.  I believe this was what Jesus was talking about when he said, ‘You must become as a little child.’  Physical age is no longer the indicator of purity, goodness, and an understanding of God’s simple truths; a 50 year old can again be as a little child, on the inside.  God’s truth returns, and the simple are restored [but immediately God’s truth is at war with the intelligence of this world.]  Intellectualism is man’s attempt to master knowledge without God.  Intellectuals look down upon those who believe God is the answer for ‘how’ and ‘why’ instead of their beliefs in ‘time’ and ‘chance.’  They laugh when a person without a high school diploma seeks to tell them about the truth.  They live in their minds and their hearts are completely empty.  They search the stars for an answer they cannot know with their minds, but must comprehend in the deepest parts of themselves.  They look under every rock for an understanding that doesn’t include God, and when they observe something new, they believe they are getting closer to an answer; but they have only discovered new questions [They never arrive at any true meaning or purpose.]  Those who have found Jesus Christ don’t need to search any longer; those who have looked to him, now know the truth; they have received the truth from God, and have come to understand that no one can ever discover the answer unless God himself gives it to them.

                Today, intellectualism, and rationalism are duking it out with ‘faithfulism.’  Our truth comes from God, and apart from Him, understanding is dark and deceitful.  When we read an author, we have to ask ourselves the question, “Are they a believer?”  If they are not, then we must read carefully and critically [the same is true of television programs.]  We must begin our day upon the unchanging truth we have in Jesus Christ, and if, in order to learn something new we need to depart from the teachings of the Lord, it isn’t worth learning.  The truth is not in some text-book, it isn’t expressed in an equation, but it resides in our hearts, as God himself lives within the believer.  This knowledge cannot be acquired or attained; you cannot earn a PHD in truth; it comes from a growing relationship with God.  As you move closer to Him, your vision will become clearer, and clearer.  Reading the bible is a very good way to continue your journey with God.  Prayer is another way; pray for wisdom and knowledge specifically.  Most importantly, doing what God has asked you to do, will bring you closer to Him.  Lastly, you never have to be afraid of the truth; never be embarrassed that you believe in something the intellectuals of the world thinks is archaic and narrow minded, but rather rejoice, knowing that you have truly found the answer that has, and will continually allude them unless they give themselves over to the creator of all things.  If you don’t know the truth, ask God to give you the truth; ask him for his Holy Spirit in prayer in His Son’s name, and you will receive what you ask for.

                “Lord Heavenly Father, we come before You and we ask and pray that You would give us more of Your truth, and more of Your goodness, and help us desire to be simple and reliant upon Your word.  We pray for those who are lost, those who are intelligent in their own thinking, and those who trust in the achievements of men.  Help us to be as little children, to look to You in all that we do, and to desire the knowledge of Your Holy Spirit.  We love You Father, we thank You, we praise You, and we love You, and we ask and pray all of these things, in Jesus Christ’s name.  Amen.”  God bless all of you. 

 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.