JESUS SPEAKING

            “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’  But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of judgment.  And whoever says to his brother ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council.  But whoever says, ‘You Fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.  Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way.  First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift?” (Mathew 5: 21-24.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

            The focus of evil no longer resided only in the actions, but also within the human heart.  Hatred within the heart and murder were now made equals.  The hate-filled religious leaders despised Jesus because he pronounced judgment upon their hearts.  They were called “hypocrites” by the Lord, because their actions did not match what was in their hearts; he saw into a place that no man could hide from him, and he saw evil.  This Scripture is broken in to two parts.  The first part addresses the person who feels hatred toward a brother or sister.  The second portion addresses the person who refuses to be reconciled to the one they have harmed.  Any hatred for another without a cause is murder.  Any person who refuses to apologize for a wrong they have committed can be causing a person to hate them, and therefore they are guilty of causing another to commit murder.

            Jesus also breaks contempt in to two different categories or courts.  The first is the Sanhedrin, or Jewish Council.  The second is the court of ‘The Almighty God.’  The Jewish council judges the action; God judges the heart, and the one that judges the heart is able to punish to a far greater extent.  The earthly court judges matters that are petty, but the heavenly court, judges matters that are very serious.  The term ‘Raca’ was a verbal show of contempt; if used, the user was liable to be hauled in to court as a result.  The term ‘you fool’ referred to a person’s level of Godliness, rather than to the persons own poor character, implied by ‘Raca.’  Today, to say ‘Raca’ could be compared to calling someone ‘a liar.’  To call someone ‘Godless’ could be compared to calling someone ‘a fool.’  In first century Jewish culture, saying ‘Raca’ could result in a fine, but saying, ‘you fool’ was punishable by having the tongue cut out, or by having red hot mettle pushed into the mouth.  Worldly things and Godly things are being compared here for our benefit.  God’s judgment will be far greater than man’s judgment.

            Another truth in this scripture addresses the common practice of separating one’s relationship with God and relationship with others in to two distinct categories.  Sacrifices and gifts brought to the altar were to atone for sins against God, in order to bring one back in to right standing with the Lord.  However, many of these people who brought large sacrifices to the altar, were guilty of refusing to seek restoration and forgiveness with their friends and neighbors.  Here Jesus reminds them to make sure they are first reconciled with those they have harmed, before they can expect to be reconciled to their God.  Also, anyone who has harmed someone without an amends is causing that person to sin if that person hates them as a result.  Jesus wants everyone to be reconciled to their earthly brothers before coming to their heavenly Father for forgiveness.
            A man named Zachaeus was a common thief and tax collector, and had been stealing from the people for many years before he met Jesus Christ.  Yet, he had an experience with Jesus that changed him.  The Lord went to be a guest in his home, and he received Jesus joyfully, and he gave his life back to God.  The scripture reads, ‘Then Zachaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”  And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house.”’

            Often times many of us seek to give things to God before we have finished making amends to those we owe.  For instance, many people tithe, but have refused to pay back delinquencies on their credit reports.  Many people attend church for years, and are active in the ministry but refuse to forgive a loved one for some past harm suffered.  Often, there are those who consider themselves to be more Holy than another person in action, but inside of their hearts, they are even more wicked than those they look down upon.  Today, if we are seeking to please God, we should replace hatred with forgiveness.  We should seek to restore anything we’ve stolen, and to ask for forgiveness where ever possible and whenever appropriate.  We should refrain from making any form of ugly statement about a person’s level of Godliness; but most of all, we should focus on our hearts, and make sure that they are free from hate, and filled with love for God, and love for others.

            “Lord Heavenly Father, we come before You now and we ask and pray that You would remove any hatred from our hearts, and help us to forgive others.  Lord, we also would like You to reveal areas of our lives where we need to make restitution and reconciliation for past harms.  Bring to our remembrance anyone who has something against us, and help us to be reconciled to them.  We love You Father, we thank You, and we praise You; and we ask and pray all of these things in Jesus Christ’s name.  Amen.”  God bless all of you.

JESUS SPEAKING

            “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to my Father.  And whatever you ask in my name, that I will do, that the Father be glorified in the Son.  If you ask anything in my name, I will do it” (John 14: 12-14.)

 INSPIRED THOUGHTS

            Jesus begins this scripture with a declarative statement, saying “most assuredly.”   Perhaps a more modern translation is, ‘without a doubt;’ whatever the translation, the underlying meaning is ‘what I am about to say to you is unquestionably true.’  This declaration is however dependent upon the next statement he makes; “he who believes in me.”  The focus of miraculous works does not come from human ability, but from a belief in Jesus Christ.  He states that the faithful believers will not only do the works he had been doing, but that their works would exceed those he performed while on the earth.

            Jesus was resurrected, and he ascended in to heaven, but his body remains upon the earth to this today.  The tomb was empty and it still is; there are those who are searching tombs in Jerusalem hoping to find the eroded remains of a man named Jesus.  They won’t find what they are looking for.  If they were to take their eyes off looking for the living among the dead, they would see ‘the body of Christ’ working all around them.  All those who call Jesus Christ their Lord are members of this body.  There is a portion of the resurrected Lord in South America running an orphanage, and another portion is planting a church in a Muslim Nation.  In Ghana, when a group of Christians dig a well and bring life giving water to a village that is dry, it is easy to see that Christ rose from the dead.  When those who do not believe in God see the church bringing food and relief to Haiti, then they see His Son, working today in this world; all so that “the Father may be glorified in the Son.”  When we pray to God, He uses His believers to accomplish His miracles; Jesus Christ gets the glory, and in turn, God is glorified.  All power, all direction, and all good works come from the Father, and Jesus Christ, the head of our body who is seated in heaven at the right hand of God.

            Trees are one of God’s most beautiful creations.  A tree is made up of two parts really.  The visible part, consisting of the trunk and the crown (with its tender leaves), and the roots which dig down deep in to the soil.  Only half of a tree is visible to the human eye; interestingly enough, trees are not securely fastened in place by their branches, leaves, or trunks, no matter how beautiful they appear to be.  They remain in place because of what exists beneath the earth.  Nearly all trees absorb life sustaining water only through their roots, deep down, in places that are hidden from the human eye.  Today, the body of Christ is made up of two parts just like the tree.  I cannot see Jesus Christ as he sits at the right hand of God, much like I don’t see the roots of a tree as they anchor it and bring it life; but no tree can spread its branches and thrive unless what is unseen exists.  Today, each person who has faith in the unseen, risen Lord, becomes a part of the visible, and very real body of Jesus Christ that wasn’t found in the tomb.  The Son of God is the head of the body, directing us, speaking to us, moving us in the directions he wants us to go, so that he can continue doing his miracles in this place.  Jesus says, “What ever you ask for in My name, that I will do.”  “That I will do.”  In another wonderful scripture Paul writes, “it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”  We, as Christians no longer live, as we lay down our lives so he can use us to complete his works in this place, and more powerful works than even those accomplished by Jesus when he was walking the earth as one individual.  We today, are millions, and with so many believers there are so many more works that can be done, if we believe in him. 

            Today, if you have Faith in Jesus Christ you are a part of his body.  And as a part of his body, all the good works that you do, he does through you.  Jesus Christ, and God the Father, get the credit for the miracles and the healings; every orphanage built, every hospital constructed in his name, every life that is transformed, is a continuing work of Jesus Christ upon this earth.  One way that we can practice this is to pray to him daily, and lift up our requests, no matter how small they seem, and no matter how large they seem.  The God of the universe has made us a promise that if we ask we shall receive.  So ask in expectation of receiving, and be mindful to ask according to His will, and you’ll find this scripture fulfilled in your life.  Miracles will occur in you, and in the lives of those around you, as He uses you to do His work.

            “Lord heavenly Father, we ask now in faith that You will give us more of Your Holy Spirit.  Also, increase our faith, and bring us closer to You and Your Son.  Father, we want to see Your Glory; we want to believe as little children, and we want to be members of Your Body, here in this place.  Guide us, direct us, and use us, for Your Glory.  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.