Matthew 18:1-6 Reborn and pliable as a child

It is not easy to be humble. We all like to be some one and to accomplish something worthwhile in life.

When leaving our childhood behind the innocence goes with it as well. Most little children are guided from the family and their surroundings and learn the facts of life when passing from one year into an other. Every year people also come up with new good intentions. Every year anew we want to do it better and have it better than the previous year.

From the teachings of Jesus we learn that the Realm of heaven is among those people that are humble. We must know that those people who follow the teachings of the Nazarene master teacher are willing to change their paths. They are feeling to proud not to show their weaknesses and not telling what they did wrong. They are aware of their weaknesses and of their wrong doings or sinful ways. But they are prepared to learn and to follow God’s will.

We should know that humility is the gateway to the heaven realm. When wanting to become a member of that Body of Christ, we should not mind becoming like a child again. Our baptism is not an end point, but just a starting point in our becoming a Christian. It shall take time and we do have to give it time. Patience shall be very important to our growth, to make it a successful growth.

Having been baptised the “newborn” Christian shall have to be willing to learn everything like a child has to learn everything. He or she shall need to read God’s Words, the Bible, and have their faith being strengthened. Luckily they do not have to be alone. Because there is the congregation of brethren and sisters, who should be there to help. We are also not alone, for God has sent the Comforter to lead us to know the truth. That Holy Spirit should be our guide. We may never forget that incredible Power of God, Which is there for every person who wants to have that Power entering his or her spirit.

Being ‘Born again’ means having received an other or new “I”. It is about a “Turning Point” a new and other direction to be taken. When you commit yourself to your baptism and becoming a member of a ‘church’ or ‘ecclesia’ you are indicating your willingness to change your own direction and starting fresh as though you are being born all over again. At that point you want to start a new voyage, being fresh, receptive, and pliable. The metaphor Jesus is using is indicating we have to become like a malleable, receptive child for aligning with the kingdom of God.

When we keep our pride we shall not be enough pliable to adapt to our new community where we shall have to take a place like anybody else, offering to do whatever is needed in the community. We shall have to accept our ageing and sometimes not being able to do certain things, but also the other way round having respect for elder people or for those (young and old) who have more experience in the religious and ecclesial matters.

As newborn one it is important to become feeling like a brother or sister of the others. There also has to be a willingness to be submissive to the religious group as a whole and to be a bringer of peace, unity, and sweet accord. Naturally there must be a willingness to follow the Scriptural process of settling offences and an impartiality in the exercise of discipline.

There is no place in the group for inequality. Everybody should be regarded as equal and having the same rights, but also the same duties. as such one day a person can be the speaker, the next time the listener. By the baptism a person is brought into membership which confers the right to join in taking the emblems, but also to serve in the community. Taking part of the emblems is reserved only for those who are baptised and member of the world-wide community. Our community may be small, because we require that a person who want to be part of the brotherhood has real knowledge of the biblical truth and is willing to be a faithful partaker of the body of Christ. As followers of the early church we too ask the same effort and responsibility as the first Christians. Being part of a church demands willingness for “making church”, spreading the love of Christ, with giving, serving, witnessing and seeking to be a blessing to other.

+

Preceding

Man enticed to long for more

Matthew 7:1-11 – The Nazarene’s Commentary on Neighbor Love Continued 8: Matthew 7:6-11 Giving and neighbor love

Matthew 18:1-6 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Children and Stumbling

++

Additional reading

1. Looking at things, distinctions resolutions and expressions
2. Counting sands and stars
3. A New Year and a New Person
4. Not missing your appointment in 2017
5. Helping each other with prayer to start the new academic year
6. Today’s thought “A New Year” (January 01)
7. Today’s thought “A Perfect World” (January 02)
8. More on Grace and Spiritual Fruit – Abide in Me, and I in you
9. Unless I wash you, you have no part with me
10. the Bible – God’s guide for life #8 Looking to Jesus #1 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus
11. Certain Catholics claiming that the power of the priest is equal to that of Jesus Christ
12. Consecration of the priests
13. Entrance of a king to question our position #2 Who do we want to see and to be
14. Full text of Pope Francis’ Interview with ‘La Vanguardia’
15. Don’t Harden Your Heart
16. It’s not that I’m so smart
17. Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God
18. Humility
19. Willing to be little
20. Humility and the Fear of the Lord
21. Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience
22. A man who cannot forgive others
23. The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands
24. There is no true and constant gentleness without humility
25. Learn how to go out into the world and proclaim the Good News of the coming Kingdom
26. Suffering redemptive because Jesus redeemed us from sin
27. Be kinder than necessary
28. Heed of the Saviour
29. A Ransom for all 3 Seeing Him as He is
30. When believing in God’s existence and His son, possessing a divine legislation
31. Atonement And Fellowship 7/8
32. Praise the New Born
33. Rebirth and belonging to a church
34. Victory in rebirth
35. Get Your Wonderful Disease-proof Human Body
36. Women, conservative evangelicals and their counter-offensive
37. A Living Faith #4 Effort
38. Let us become nothing, and Christ everything
39. The works we have to do according to James

 

+++

Related

1. Be Humble Like A Little Child
2. How Do We Become Part of the Kingdom of God?
3. Make your membership count for something
4. Duties of the Church Member
5. A Vision for our Future
6. Who am I?
7. Jesus Born Anywhere
8. Bethlehem In Us
9. What If Jesus Were Your Dad: You Must Be Raised Again
10. Die First, Then be Church
11. Born of Him: 1st John 2:29
12. Receiving the True Light
13. Life in the spirit realm 2

When a person looks for or has the need to Choose the Right Church

When encountering the article “Tips to Choose the Right Church Inner West Sydney to Visit” we first were surprised that in the region of the article writer all churches seem to

preach the same thing and they are bible based, still there are a few things that you may not find it to be comfortable or you may expect something higher. {Tips to Choose the Right Church Inner West Sydney to Visit}

It would be nice if all those churches are Bible base, but according what we could see at other writings is that perhaps more churches were “Church based” or based on church (read) human doctrines.

The Bible Based Church, Sydney has been formed in Australia. They claim

to lead people in an honest way; {Lead Life to the Way of God with the Bible Based Church Sydney}

and write that they

teach Bible to give the ultimate inspiration to search for the truth. {Lead Life to the Way of God with the Bible Based Church Sydney}

Like us they seem to understand the necessity of a life with God, and as such write

One cannot live life without God; you should keep the faith always in the God.  {Lead Life to the Way of God with the Bible Based Church Sydney}

For choosing the right church they give following advice: (please take note: the bold writing is presented by us)

The church you want to choose should be the place that encourages you for worship. It should make you feel the spirit and enjoy the divineness in you. There are number of churches across the city, which will create a wonderful environment for you to worship and share your love with others.

We would say be careful for choosing for the creation of a wonderful environment and lovely entertainment.

• You should also find about how many people prefer to visit the church you choose. If there are many people showing interest to visit the church, then there should be something interesting and best to offer you. Therefore you can choose to visit that church

It is not the quantity that should count but the quality.

• Check if the church you choose to visit will suit your interest and your family interest. Most importantly, your children should feel comfortable visiting this church. This is crucial to gain the best experience from the church when you visit. Moreover, by visiting the church where there are many families and children visit will enable your children to find good and new friends of their ages. This is an other encouraging factor to ensure before you find the church to visit
• It is not only these factors but you should also check with the church time, which you should also feel comfortable to visit. Some churches will have a specific timing, however, most of the churches will have the prayer time and special events conducted on Sundays. Therefore, you should also ensure your time to visit the church regularly without missing
• Events in the church. Most of the churches will conduct special events to keep the people and members encouraged and entertained. Such activities will motivate you and makes you get freed from the tension filled lifestyle. You will absolutely feel stress free and gain peace of mind by taking part in these events. Besides all this will be an encouraging break from the busy schedule and spend a good time with your friends and known people in the church
It is not only these factors that you need to take into your consideration while selecting a church, but you should also consider other factors like the distance from your home, your possibility to visit often, their praying method, preaching bible and many others.

We may not forget that the praying method is with the method of following the Scriptures the most important factor we should keep in mind, remembering that we should worship God in the way He wants to be worshipped.

These factors can help you easily choose the right church that will fulfil your expectations in best ways. You can also ask your friends to refer the best church to visit with your family and children. {Tips to Choose the Right Church Inner West Sydney to Visit} (emphasis our editorial choice)

To their hints to choose a right church we would like to ad:

First question people should ask themselves is what do I want to follow: Biblical Truth (with the true faith in only One true God) or human doctrines (like the Trinity).

Secondly then they should ask in which way they want to follow Jesus, who put his own will away to do the will of God, and also would love to do God’s Will.

Then they should wonder how far they would like to go in following Jesus and going to worship the Only One True God of Jesus, the God of Israel, Who is an eternal Spirit God no man can see.

When knowing that Jesus is the way to God, and that he asked his followers to gather and to spread the Word of God and the Good News of the Kingdom of God a person should ask himself in which way he or she would like to take up that task given by Christ Jesus.

When that person does not find a right church nearby he or she should think about creating a home-church or something like that in his own neighbourhood. And to gather with others a real believer should not mind to go now-and-then far away (if physically and materially possible) to find and meet with like minded people to worship the Divine Creator The Almighty Lord God of gods King above all gods.

++

Additional reading

1. 2020 years ago, the road was opened
2. Getting out of the dark corners of this world
3. Where to learn the truth
4. Willing to do and we willing to learn everything that the Elohim has spoken
5. Priest, scribes and others with authority
6. Church sent into the world
7. Biblical Yeshua/ Jesus or Another European Greco- Roman Jesus ??
8. Ability (part 7) Thought about the ability to grow as a member of the Body of Christ
9. Jewish and Gentile Disciples
10. The Field is the World #4 Many who leave the church
11. This fighting world, Zionism and Israel #6
12. This fighting world, Zionism and Israel #7
13. Christian fundamentalists feeding Into the Toxic Partisanship and driving countries into the Dark Ages… #1
14. The Reformation shows us why we need expository preaching
15. When believing in God’s existence and His son, possessing a divine legislation
16. That brotherly love may continue and have people join hands

+++

Related

1. Review of ‘A Nearly Infallible History of Christianity’
2. Book Review: A History of the Church in 100 Objects
3. Strengthening the Community of Kingdom Citizens, An Excerpt from My New Book
4. Theia koinoonia from sacred koinon, community
5. The Resurrected Jesus at Work!
6. The set apart life….for a Most Holy God
7. On Individual Responsibility
8. Christian Church
9. Praise is Not the Same as Applause
10. The Art of Ending Church Apostasy: Let’s talk about confrontation
11. Introduction to the Church Community In Contemporary Culture
12. Crosstalk “Our Pastor Said …” | Who Should We Listen to as We Believe in God? (English Dubbed)
13. Short Sketch From the Christian Church | “The Police Pay a New Year Visit” (English Dubbed) | The Church of Almighty God
14. A classic documentary from the Christian Church “The One Who Holds Sovereignty Over Everything”| Eastern Lightning
15. Who’s your favorite preacher?
16. A Review of Scot McKnight’s Kingdom Conspiracy
17. Can I Ban Remember When?
18. The Gathering at the Table
19. 3 Steps to Re-Writing Your Church Story
20. A Review of Thomas Bergler’s The Juvenilization of American Christianity
21. When Knowing Jesus Is Depressing #christianityanddepression
22. How I Met Jesus in High School: A Personal Testimony
23. Growing Up Black in America, A Conversation with my Son-in-Law #blacklivesmatter #policeshootings
24. Positive and Negative Sides of Multicultural Church Sydney Benefits
25. Approach An Holistic Way While Visiting Multicultural Church Sydney
26. The Growth of Church Services in Church Sydney Helps Develop Society Effectively
27. Holy Fortune Cookie
28. Standing For Your Faith Will Cost You
29. We can All chip in and help our students!
30. The Morning the Elders Walked Out on Me
31. Love in a Time of War
32. I Want You to Want Me
33. Trump and Jesus
34. Two Characteristics of Christian Identity
35. Christians Behaving Badly and How to Change That
36. Listening intently to Truth>

Matthew 13:10-15 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Why Speak in Parables?

Matthew 13:10-15 – Why Speak in Parables?

|| Mark 4:10-12, 25; Luke 8:9-10, 18

MT13:10 And the disciples approached and asked Jesus: “Why do you speak by means of parables?” MT13:11 Jesus responded by saying, “You [disciples] have been permitted[1] to know the mysteries[2] of the Realm of Heaven,[3] but to those [people] it has not been granted.[4] MT13:12 For whoever possesses[5] will be made to abound even more;[6] and whoever possesses nothing, even that will be removed. MT13:13 For this reason I speak to them in parables: because though looking they do not see; and, though hearing, they do not comprehend.[7] MT13:14 Thus is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah,[8] which says, ‘Hearing you will hear but not comprehend; and observing you will look but not see. MT13:15 The heart of this people is become thick,[9] and with their ears heard with irritation.[10] They closed their eyes, so they would never [really] see; and their ears would never hear, and their hearts never comprehend – and they turn around[11] and I heal them.’[12] [Isaiah 6:9, 10]

*

[1] You [disciples] have been permitted: Or, KJV: it is given unto you; PME: you have been given the chance. By means of their discipleship to the Nazarene they have been granted a favored position to hear and understand.

[2] Know the mysteries: The Greek is GNONAI TA MYSTERIA. Or, TCNT: the knowledge of the hidden truths; PME: to understand he secrets of. This is the only context where Jesus’ translators use “mystery.” (Luke 8:10) Paul uses the word 1 Corinthians 4:1; 13:2; 14:2; Ephesians 3:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:7. The word also appears in Revelation 10:7; 17:5, 7.

[3] Realm of Heaven: Or, Kingdom of the Heavens. In Luke this is “kingdom of God.” Some would apply this term to the celestial realm where God resides. It is strongly possible, however, that the phrase refers to the realm, domain, or territory over which Messiah reigns. Some have called this “the realm of profession.” Jesus is talking about that “congregation” (church) he will build and the opportunities of gaining membership with all its rights and privileges (Matthew 16:18). Jesus is about to give several parables that explain truths about the development and evolution of his Church and those members within it.

[4] To those [people] it has not been granted: Did Jesus gesture toward the beach crowd? Perhaps the disciples were so arranged only they heard this statement. Likely the crowd included the enemies of the Lord and what follows applies to them.

[5] Whoever possesses: Or, KJV: whoever hath; MON: whoever holds; NOR: if a man has possessions.

[6] Made to abound even more: Or, KJV: have more abundance; MON: more shall be given; NOR: he will get more until he has more than enough. The Nazarene’s disciples possess a privilege and responsibility within the group of his disciples. This is only the beginning, for according to their proper use of what they have, they will receive even more.

[7] They do not comprehend: The crowd has no taken the step of following the Lord as one of his disciples. They will hear the parables but not understand without an explanation by Jesus. Or, KJV: neither do they understand; BAS: the sense is not clear.

[8] The prophecy of Isaiah: This is a quotation of Isaiah 6:9, 10. This portion of Isaiah is also quoted at Acts 28:26, 27 and John 12:40. Some scholars believe Matthew and John are quoting from different original texts. Matthew adhering to the Greek text and John to the consonantal Hebrew text.

[9] Heart of this people is become thick: Or, KJV: heart is waxed gross; WEY: this people’s mind is stupefied; GDSP: this nations mind has grown dull. Jesus has already laid a heavy burden on his generation, calling it adulterous (apostate) and destined for a difficult judgment (Matthew 12:39). The Jewish hierarchy is particularly close-minded and their conscience (or, heart) will surely harden more and more until that fateful day when they scream, “Crucify him!”

[10] Heard with irritation: Or, KJV: dull of hearing; GDSP: hear faintly.

[11] They turn around: Or, KJV: be converted.

[12] I heal them: The Nazarene does not mean himself. The “I” is Yehowah in Isaiah 6. “Them” is the nation of Israel. This is a judgment on the generation or the entire nation, not individuals.

+

Preceding

Matthew 13 – Parables on Kingdom mysteries

Matthew 13:1-9 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Parable: the Soil and the Seed

++

Additional reading

1. Congregation – Congregatie
2. The Question is this…

+++

Related

1. The mysterious journey towards God
2. Of Sheep and Parables
3. Cultivating Your Heart for a Spiritual Harvest
   Matthew 13: Parables
4. Class: Parables of Jesus, Matthew 13
5. Upside Down Kingdom Parables: No Cost Too Great
6. Parables of Jesus
7. Understanding Parables
8. Where is Your Heart?
9. Opening up to the Reign of God
10. God’s Kingdom: the Word
11. The Parable of the Sower, Part 1
12. Jesus Didn’t Tell Parables for the Reason You Think

Matthew 13:1-9 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Parable: the Soil and the Seed

CHAPTER THIRTEEN:
PARABLES ON KINGDOM MYSTERIES

Matthew 13:1-9 – Parable: the Soil and the Seed

|| Mark 4:1-9; Luke 8:4-8

MT13:1 After leaving the house that day Jesus was sitting by the sea. MT13:2 A large crowd approached Jesus so he moved into a boat and sat down. The large crowd was standing upon the beach. MT13:3 Jesus began to speak to them about many things in parables,[1] saying: “Look! A sower[2] went out to sow [seed]. MT13:4 In the process of sowing, some [seeds] fell beside the roadway,[3] and the birds came and swallowed them.[4] MT13:5 Other seeds fell upon roadside gravel where there was little dirt.[5] Right away the seed sprouted though the dirt was so meager. MT13:6 But, when the sun rose the sprouts were scorched, and since there was no root, they shriveled up. MT13:7 Other seeds fell upon thorn-weeds[6] and they sprouted and choked out the sprouts. MT13:8 And yet still other seeds fell upon good dirt[7] and fruitage was produced – some a hundred times, another sixty times, and another thirty times. MT13:9 Let the one with ears, hear.”[8]

*

[1] Parables: Or, GDSP: figures; BAS: in the form of a story; AMP: illustration. The Greek is PARABOLAIS. The word occurs in Matthew 17 times, Mark 13 times, Luke 18 times, but not in John. Many of the Nazarene’s teachings are in the form of parables.

[2] Sower: Farmers and herdsmen are familiar object lessons by the Nazarene. The Greek is SPEIRON (from SPERMA).

[3] Fell beside the roadway: Or, KJV: fell by the way side; TCNT: along the path.

[4] Swallowed them: Or, KJV: devoured them; PME: swooped down and gobbled them up.

[5] Roadside gravel where there was little dirt: Or, KJV: stony places; TCNT: rocky places; KJV: no deepness of earth; PME: shallow soil; KNX: because they had not sunk deep in the ground.

[6] Thorn-weeds: Or, NEB: thistles.

[7] Good dirt: Or, KJV: good ground; WMS: rich soil.

[8] Let the one with ears, hear: Compare the notes on Matthew 11:15; 13:43.

+

Preceding

Matthew 12:46-50 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The True Family of Messiah

Matthew 13 – Parables on Kingdom mysteries

++

Additional reading

1. How long to wait before bringing religiousness and spirituality in practice
2. Looking for True Spirituality 5 Fruitage of the Spirit
3. A Living Faith #3 Faith put into action
4. A Living Faith #9 Our Manner of Life
5. Apple of Gods eye
6. Sow and harvests in the garden of your heart
7. You cannot change anything in your life with intention alone
8. Bearing fruit
9. Picking Stones
10. Seeds and weeds for being the greatest nation
11. Seeds, weeds and kingdoms

 

+++

Related reading

1. Matthew 13:1-12 Jan 18 (KJV/NKJV Comparison)
2. Bible Study Notes on Matthew 13:1-23 – 20180110
3. Matthew 13丨C. H. Spurgeon
4. Matthew 13丨John Calvin
5. Where is Your Heart?
6. Nothing Could Possibly Go Wrong
7. Two Witnesses: heart and mind
8. The Importance of Weed Control
9. Keep Racing!
10. Losing Ground in a Post-Christian America

Beware that you do not fall or be carried away by false teachings

Having looked at what false teachers may do, we must be very conscious about what for teachings we want to follow.

Let the one who thinks he is standing beware that he does not fall.—1 Cor. 10:12.

Jehovah gives us His powerful holy Spirit, which can strengthen us and help us to resist temptation. God also forewarns us through his Word and the congregation about situations that we must avoid, such as spending excessive time, money, and energy on non-essential material things.

When looking at this world we may see that lots of people are carried away by the false stories of this world. Lots of people also present themselves differently than they are, on Facebook or other social media and let themselves being carried away by those social media. Lots of people spend a lot of time at such media and reduce their time reading the Bible.

Lots of people are afraid when they would join a small church or a small community of believers they would loose possibilities. Lots of people do think they do need theologians or those main churches, instead of trusting in God Himself.

The apostle Paul acknowledged that he had not been entirely without help. He trusted that Jehovah would fortify him to endure his present trials and any future difficulties that might arise. In fact, he immediately went on to say:

“The Lord will rescue me from every wicked work.” (2 Tim. 4:18)

The Apostle Paul (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Yes, Paul had learned that even when human assistance is limited, the help that Jehovah and his Son provide is real!

Today there are a lot of false teachers who try to get real followers of Christ on their track, for worshipping a three-headed god. Those who do not worship their god Jesus they make afraid with stories of eternal torture by hellfire.

We must be aware that the adversary of God loves to use traps. They are: (1) uncontrolled speech, (2) giving in to fear and pressure, and (3) feeling too much guilt. But there are also two other traps they bring to the general public. They are materialism and the temptation to commit adultery.

In one of his illustrations, Jesus spoke about seed sown in between thorny plants. He explained that someone may hear the Kingdom message,

“but the anxiety of this system of things and the deceptive power of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.” (Matthew 13:22)

Materialism is a trap that our enemy ‘Satan’ uses. The audiovisual media tries to bring a picture of a better world which supposedly we would not be able to have without all those material gadgets. But it can well be that people are also made too afraid about the possibilities to live. The worries about making a living can make us not spending enough time reading the Word of God. Lots of people got blinded by people who promise richness. The Bible says that “money is for a protection.” (Ecclesiastes 7:12) This means that money can help us to have the things we need. But it is not wise to try to become rich. Many people have learned that the harder they work to become rich, the more they get caught in the trap of materialism. Some even become slaves of their possessions.—Matthew 6:24.

Problem with man is that he seems never satisfied. We are always looking for the next-best thing. False teachers tell the world we need to progress and have the newest modern things to make our life easy. By the advertisements in the magazines and on television our eyes are taken away from the biblical hope of that precious world of God.  Instead of concentrating on that what is needed for the day we often are seeking more, but not in the good sense.  We should be seeking to be satisfied by what Jehovah God offers us.  We’ve all read that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God (Mark 10:25), and verse 9 of Proverbs 30 reinforces that someone who is “full” is quick to deny the Most High God.

Proverbs 30: 8-9:  8 Remove untruth and lies far from me.+ Give me neither poverty nor riches. Just let me consume my portion of food,+ 9 So that I do not become satisfied and deny you and say, “Who is Jehovah?”+ Nor let me become poor and steal and dishonor* the name of my God.

All the false teachings we should put away. We should concentrate on what the Bible has to tell us. Also we should try to become happy with what we receive, or what is allowed by God that we have.

And that brings us to an other aspect of happiness. Namely our sex life or our relationship with others. False teachers want  us to believe we should just enjoy life and feel free, because Jesus brought  salvation to us and we do not have to worry any-more what we do because we do not need any works any more to bring us into heavenly places. some people may tell you that it does not harm to have a romantic relationship with someone to whom you are not married.

An improper romantic relationship could start with someone at your workplace or even with with someone in the congregation. There are many ways Christians could be in danger of committing adultery, by seeing how loose others goon with their relationships and with ‘enjoying life’ having sex with more than one person. In the media many series and new coverage wants to give the impression nothing is wrong with having sex with the same gender or with having sex just for fun with as many people as you like.

To avoid adultery, you need to think deeply about what it means to be loyal to your marriage mate. Jesus said:

“What God has yoked together let no man put apart.” (Matthew 19:6)

You should never think that your work in the congregation is more important than your marriage mate. If you are away from your mate for unnecessary reasons, your marriage may become weak. You or your mate could be tempted to commit adultery. for those working in the congregation they always should remember that you cannot be a good husband when work and earning money gets priority. Also does it not make sense to help the brothers and sisters in the congregation as elder and to neglect your wife at home. That would put your marriage in danger. Daniel says,

‘You should never be so busy caring for responsibilities that you neglect your own family.’

At work and in the group of friends there may be people who say just a flirt does not harm. If you are tempted to start an improper romantic relationship, think about the damage caused by fornication and adultery. (Proverbs 7:22, 23; Galatians 6:7) People who commit immorality do not please Jehovah. They hurt their marriage mate and themselves. (Read Malachi 2:13, 14.) Instead, think about the benefits you will get if you keep your conduct chaste, or clean. You have the hope of living forever, and you also enjoy the best life now, including a clean conscience. — Read Proverbs 3:1, 2.

The many people who try to get you looking at God His Will as something which we should not bother too much, you should avoid.

The apostle Paul warned of a falling away from genuine Christianity. He said that after his death, “oppressive wolves” from among professed Christians would

“speak twisted things to draw away the disciples after themselves.” (Acts 20:29, 30)

They would “publicly declare they know God,” but in reality they would “disown him by their works.” (Titus 1:16)

The apostle Peter likewise warned that false teachers would

“quietly bring in destructive sects and [would] disown even the owner that bought them.”

Their bad conduct, he said, would cause people to speak “abusively” about “the way of the truth.” (2 Peter 2:1, 2) To disown Christ in this way, says Greek scholar W. E. Vine, means to

“deny the Father and the Son, by apostatizing and by disseminating pernicious teachings.”

How would Jesus react if professed disciples deliberately failed to “remain in [his] word” and to meet other requirements that he set out? He warned:

“Whoever disowns me before men, I will also disown him before my Father who is in the heavens.” (Matthew 10:33)

Of course, Jesus does not disown someone who makes a mistake despite his earnest desire to be faithful. For example, although the apostle Peter denied Jesus three times, Peter repented and was forgiven. (Matthew 26:69-75) However, Jesus disowns individuals or institutions that turn out to be wolves in sheep’s clothing — pretending to follow Christ but willfully and persistently rejecting his teachings. Of such false teachers, Jesus said:

“By their fruits you will recognize those men.” — Matthew 7:15-20.

Please therefore be always on the lookout. See what teachers do and compare it with what they say. Compare always the sayings of those teachers or preachers with what is really written in the Bible. do not allow differences like “son of God” and “god the son” to be equal. They are totally different. Also is it very different to have “the sent one from God” and “God having come to earth”. That are both totally different things. so pleas come to see what is really written in the Bible and compare that with what a preacher tells you.

+

Preceding articles

Man enticed to long for more

A look at materialism

The Nazarene master teacher learning people how they should behave

Matthew 5:38-42 – 5. The Nazarene’s Commentary on Exodus 21:24

Matthew 6:1-34 – The Nazarene’s Commentary on Leviticus 19:18 Continued 5 Matthew 6: 24-34: e) Anxiety and neighbor love

Matthew 7:13-14 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The True Disciple #1 The Narrow Gate and the way to destruction

Matthew 7:15-20 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The True Disciple #2 False prophets and fruitage

Matthew 7:13-23 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The True Disciple #3 Matthew 7:21-23 The ones Jesus never knew

Paul’s warning about false stories and his call to quit touching the unclean thing

False teachers and false prophets still around

Good or bad preacher

Teachings, prophets, wolves in sheep’s covering and a narrow gate

++

Additional reading

1. Just be yourself…
2. The Cares of Life
3. Less for more
4. Material wealth, Submission and Heaven on earth
5. Materialism, would be life, and aspirations
6. Looking at a conservative review of Shop Class As Soul Craft
7. Message of Pope Francis I for the 48th World Communications Day
8. The Proper Place of Excess
9. Heaven and hell still high on the believers list showing a religion gender gap
10. Engagement in an actual two-way conversation with your deities
11. How to Find the Meaning of Life and Reach a State of Peace
12. The World framed by the Word of God
13. With the gift of Jesus comes an awesome responsibility
14. Reflect on how much idolizing happens
15. Looking to the East and the West for Truth
16. Four Pressing Needs in Rural Communities, and How the Church Should Respond
17. Preparing for the Kingdom
18. A way to prepare for the Kingdom

+++

Further related reading

1. The Internet Is Having a Hilarious Time With These iPhone 8 vs. iPhone X Memes
2. Eta : Keeps You Connected to Those Who Matter The Most
3. It’s not the “gold” that makes a gold digger. It’s the “digging”
4. The beat vs. the meaning…
5. Money Matters
6. Serious Money
7. The Big List of Existing Things
8. Don’t worry
9. Telling the Truth
10. Your Wants Are Out of Control
11. Still Seeking the Next Big Thing?

+++

Related articles

• Ask the Lord to remember you
• TODD STARNES: Teacher: Dear parents, tell your kids to stop talking about God
• Jesus battles the Buddha in fighting game hellbent on offending
• Daily Mass: Compassion, Mercy and Forgiveness. Catholic Inspiration
• His revelation now comes through a person’s life
• Congregations team up to offer sanctuary to undocumented immigrants
• Occult Paris Revealed – Artists, Mystics & the Revival of the Arcane Tradition: An Interview with Tobias Churton