Matthew 6:15-17Matthew 6:15-17
English: World English Bible - WEB
15 But if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. ¹⁶ “Moreover when you fast, don’t be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen by men to be fasting. Most assuredly I tell you, they have received their reward. ¹⁷ But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face;

WP-Bible plugin sounds basic enough. The deal is that if someone offends you, you tell him.  All’s great if he listens.  But what if he doesn’t, that’s when you bring a friend with you and approach the offender a second time.  But if still doesn’t listen, then you tell the Church. To me that would be the governing board of the Church. It then becomes their problem.

And what is the Church to do? The elders of the Church approach the offender, and if the offender still doesn’t listen, then you treat him as you would a non-believer.  When is the Church released from this issue?  Simple, it’s when they have been successful at the first step or completed the last step.

“If your brother sins, go and show him his fault when the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have regained your brother.  But if he does not listen, take one or two others with you, so that at the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter may be established.  If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. If he refuses to listen to the church, treat him like a Gentile or a tax collector.”

But Church discipline seldom happens today and so we have to beg the question why.  Some Churches will tell you they have conducted Church discipline but when you examine it further, it is usually the person that few people know and you’re confident that they’ll just go away quietly. It is seldom, if ever, the one with power and money.  And so what’s the issue?

We could go into great depth with each item below, but for this article, let’s just stick to the basics.  Why do Churches no longer use Church discipline? In short the answer is in our culture, leadership and our view of sin.

1. Our culture. There’s a lawyer and rights movement behind most any door.  The last thing a church board wants is a lawsuit or to see their picture on the 6:00 news. They do have a valid point.  We live in a culture where the average person is looking out for number one – themselves.  If they are hurt in any way, the first thing they want is redemption and so retaliation is the way to go. Get them where it hurts. Because of this fear, the Church Board will make a hasty decision that is usually based on a now famous goal and the easy way out – “For the sake of the Church”.

    

   In the end of the day we have begun to fear our culture more than God.

2. Our leadership.  And this is a biggie. This has been the era of “leadership”.  Christian book stores have separate sections dedicated to this.  “How to Lead a Church” is the question of the day. I do understand why the shift has taken place.  A big reason is in our defence against the dangers of my first point. What has happened:
   • We have begun to see our need to place accountants, businessmen and lawyers to be decision makers in the Church and so we elect them to be our Elders.  When legal challenges come our way, we are well equipped to deal with them before the threat becomes real. After all, who is better to deal with these issues the individuals that work with these details every day.  Our leadership has begun to reflect the business norm. Makes sense.
   • The problem is that our values changed in the process. Godliness has been replaced with personal skill. Suddenly the Scriptural criteria for leadership have run into conflict with our new view of leadership. “We could really use Joe on the Board.  He would know how to deal with this matter.”  The ramifications of this “new leadership” have paralyzed the Church of spiritual wisdom and power.
   • We have forgotten what an elder actually is. I understand the wisdom of having the expertise of skilled men and women at our disposal.  Their knowledge is invaluable. But their knowledge does not and never will on its own, qualify them to be an elder.  Call them whatever you want. Take advantage of their knowledge. But they are not elders and today’s Church is in desperate need of elders.

      

     In the end we have begun to esteem ability more that godliness.

3. We have forgotten what sin is and its impact on the Church. Throughout every New Testament book, you hardly pass by any chapter without coming face to face with the threat of sin.  It is a cancer that will rip out the spiritual immunity of any Church. Unchallenged, it will cause the greatest Church to become spiritually oblivious to the threat.

   In the end we have begun to choose peace over battle. We have called sin a personality conflict rather than what it really is.  We have called in conflict resolution specialists to deal with the symptoms of sin rather than the elders dealing with the sin.

   As the Laodicean Church, we have become complacent about sin and forgotten Christ’s opinion with us.  The one that stands in the Churches way will suffer the ramifications.

If you are an individual that has been hurt by sin in such a church, you have three choices: First, become subdued. You make the decision to speak no ill of the Church Board’s decisions.  Next, your choice could be to fight and lose again. You won’t win and the hurt will deepen each time. Finally, you can leave quietly and find a place where you can be nurtured spiritually.

What’s needed? Preachers need to become preachers. They need to fight sin at its very core.  We need a reformation back to orthodoxy, power in the pulpit and leadership that is determined to be separate from the world’s culture and to pattern a new kingdom culture.

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Matthew 21:12-16Matthew 21:12-16
English: World English Bible - WEB
12 Jesus entered into the temple of God, and drove out all of those who sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the money-changers’ tables and the seats of those who sold the doves. ¹³ He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers!” ¹⁴ The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. ¹⁵ But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children who were crying in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the son of David!” they were indignant, ¹⁶ and said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” Jesus said to them, “Yes. Did you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing babies you have perfected praise?’”

WP-Bible plugin, Exodus 12:1-51Exodus 12:1-51
English: World English Bible - WEB
12 ¹ Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, ² “This month shall be to you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year to you. ³ Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, ‘On the tenth day of this month, they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to their fathers’ houses, a lamb for a household; ⁴ and if the household be too little for a lamb, then he and his neighbor next to his house shall take one according to the number of the souls; according to what everyone can eat you shall make your count for the lamb. ⁵ Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You shall take it from the sheep, or from the goats: ⁶ and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month; and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at evening. ⁷ They shall take some of the blood, and put it on the two side-posts and on the lintel, on the houses in which they shall eat it. ⁸ They shall eat the flesh in that night, roasted with fire, and unleavened bread. They shall eat it with bitter herbs. ⁹ Don’t eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted with fire; with its head, its legs and its inner parts. ¹⁰ You shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; but that which remains of it until the morning you shall burn with fire. ¹¹ This is how you shall eat it: with your waist girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste: it is Yahweh’s Passover. ¹² For I will go through the land of Egypt in that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and animal. Against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am Yahweh. ¹³ The blood shall be to you for a token on the houses where you are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and there shall no plague be on you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt. ¹⁴ This day shall be to you for a memorial, and you shall keep it a feast to Yahweh: throughout your generations you shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever. ¹⁵ Seven days shall you eat unleavened bread; even the first day you shall put away yeast out of your houses, for whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. ¹⁶ In the first day there shall be to you a holy convocation, and in the seventh day a holy convocation; no manner of work shall be done in them, except that which every man must eat, that only may be done by you. ¹⁷ You shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this same day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall you observe this day throughout your generations by an ordinance forever. ¹⁸ In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty first day of the month at evening. ¹⁹ Seven days shall there be no yeast found in your houses, for whoever eats that which is leavened, that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a foreigner, or one who is born in the land. ²⁰ You shall eat nothing leavened. In all your habitations you shall eat unleavened bread.’” ²¹ Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said to them, “Draw out, and take lambs according to your families, and kill the Passover. ²² You shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side-posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. ²³ For Yahweh will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when he sees the blood on the lintel, and on the two side-posts, Yahweh will pass over the door, and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to strike you. ²⁴ You shall observe this thing for an ordinance to you and to your sons forever. ²⁵ It shall happen when you have come to the land which Yahweh will give you, according as he has promised, that you shall keep this service. ²⁶ It will happen, when your children ask you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ ²⁷ that you shall say, ‘It is the sacrifice of Yahweh’s Passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians, and spared our houses.’” The people bowed their heads and worshiped. ²⁸ The children of Israel went and did so; as Yahweh had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did. ²⁹ It happened at midnight, that Yahweh struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. ³⁰ Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not one dead. ³¹ He called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, “Rise up, get out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel; and go, serve Yahweh, as you have said! ³² Take both your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone; and bless me also!” ³³ The Egyptians were urgent with the people, to send them out of the land in haste, for they said, “We are all dead men.” ³⁴ The people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading-troughs being bound up in their clothes on their shoulders. ³⁵ The children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they asked of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothing. ³⁶ Yahweh gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. They despoiled the Egyptians. ³⁷ The children of Israel traveled from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot who were men, besides children. ³⁸ A mixed multitude went up also with them, with flocks, herds, and even very much cattle. ³⁹ They baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt; for it wasn’t leavened, because they were thrust out of Egypt, and couldn’t wait, neither had they prepared for themselves any food. ⁴⁰ Now the time that the children of Israel lived in Egypt was four hundred thirty years. ⁴¹ It happened at the end of four hundred thirty years, even the same day it happened, that all the armies of Yahweh went out from the land of Egypt. ⁴² It is a night to be much observed to Yahweh for bringing them out from the land of Egypt. This is that night of Yahweh, to be much observed of all the children of Israel throughout their generations. ⁴³ Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the ordinance of the Passover. There shall no foreigner eat of it, ⁴⁴ but every man’s servant who is bought for money, when you have circumcised him, then shall he eat of it. ⁴⁵ A foreigner and a hired servant shall not eat of it. ⁴⁶ In one house shall it be eaten; you shall not carry forth anything of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall you break a bone of it. ⁴⁷ All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. ⁴⁸ When a stranger shall live as a foreigner with you, and will keep the Passover to Yahweh, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one who is born in the land: but no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. ⁴⁹ One law shall be to him who is born at home, and to the stranger who lives as a foreigner among you.” ⁵⁰ Thus did all the children of Israel. As Yahweh commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did. ⁵¹ It happened the same day, that Yahweh brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.

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The Passover Celebration began the day that the children of Israel were preparing to escape from their life of slavery in Egypt. God instructed each family to take a perfect male lamb and on the 14th day of the month, at sundown, they were to kill the lamb publicly, so that all could witness it.  Then they were to personally take some of the blood to smear it on the door post of their home.  On the two sides and then the top.  When the Lord passed over the land to judge them, he would see the blood and pass over that home, withhold judgment.

Here’s where it becomes fascinating.

We all know the story of placing the blood on the doorposts. What we don’t know is that as the blood was applied the blood, it symbolized a letter of the Hebrew alphabet, the letter “chet” – and means “life”. It’s amazing to me to know that God would instruct the families to put “life” above them.

Death cannot come to where God has placed life.

Here’s my point: As the children of Israel publicly and personally applied “life” upon themselves, is there not a better time for each of us to reaffirm our devotion to our Lamb of God that has come to give life to all that call him Lord. To apply the blood of Christ over the doorpost of our marriage, family, your church and upon those you know and love. We want to tell our Lord that all that we are and have belongs to Him, the perfect Lamb of God.

Today there are many necklaces that spell the Hebrew word (chai). The reasoning behind this is that the word itself somewhat resembles a lamb, and from this we can say that the “Lamb gives life” when applied to the “doorway of our heart.”

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Matthew 21:1-11Matthew 21:1-11
English: World English Bible - WEB
21 ¹ When they drew near to Jerusalem, and came to Bethsphage, TR reads “Bethphage” instead of “Bethsphage” to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, ² saying to them, “Go into the village that is opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them, and bring them to me. ³ If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and immediately he will send them.” ⁴ All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, ⁵ “Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, your King comes to you, Humble, and riding on a donkey, On a colt, the foal of a donkey.” ⁶ The disciples went, and did just as Jesus commanded them, ⁷ and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their clothes on them; and he sat on them. ⁸ A very great multitude spread their clothes on the road. Others cut branches from the trees, and spread them on the road. ⁹ The multitudes who went before him, and who followed kept shouting, “Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” ¹⁰ When he had come into Jerusalem, all the city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” ¹¹ The multitudes said, “This is the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

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This day was just as it had happened many times before. And yet it was very different.

It was the practice of the High Priest to go to Bethlehem and return to Jerusalem with a perfect lamb on the 4th day before Passover. All the Passover lambs came from Bethlehem. After finding the spotless lamb, the High Priest would enter Jerusalem through the Eastern Gate. As the Priest was nearing the city, people would line the streets with Palm branches and recite or shout the words they had learned as children,

Hosanna to the Lamb of God who has come to save us from our sins” (Psalm 118:25-26Psalm 118:25-26
English: World English Bible - WEB
25 Save us now, we beg you, Yahweh; Yahweh, we beg you, now send prosperity. ²⁶ Blessed is he who comes in the name of Yahweh! We have blessed you out of the house of Yahweh.

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It was a Jewish Passover custom.  Everything was happening as it had happened many years before. And yet this day was going to be very different.

Jesus, the Son of God is being carried on a donkey, probably moments behind the High Priest.  Just days before, Word has spread throughout the region that Jesus had performed his final test required for the one they would declare their Messiah.  The Messiah was to raise a person, that had been in the grave 4 days, from the dead. Lazarus.

The word was out. News spreads that Jesus is coming to Jerusalem, upon a donkey, on the road from Bethany which brings you directly through the Eastern Gate. The words suddenly bring new life and meaning.  The shouts are louder than just moments before,

Shout, daughter of Jerusalem!
Look! Your king is coming to you:
he is legitimate and victorious,
humble and riding on a donkey  (Zechariah 9:9Zechariah 9:9
English: World English Bible - WEB
9 Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion! Shout, daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king comes to you! He is righteous, and having salvation; Lowly, and riding on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

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Jesus of Nazareth, the perfect lamb of God born in Bethlehem, hears the cries of people running toward him,  “Hosanna to the Son of God who has come to save us from our sins”.  Palm branches in their hand they run to line the streets to welcome the final sacrificial lamb and the One that will save them from their sins.

My Point: The Eastern Gate was shut by Muslims in 1530AD, supposedly to deter the Jewish Messiah from entering.  Yet we do know that Jesus will come again, this time upon a white horse and a few bricks will not stop him.  My question is this, if you knew he was coming again, let’s say today, would you line the streets to shout and sing?

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Matthew 21:1Matthew 21:1
English: World English Bible - WEB
21 ¹ When they drew near to Jerusalem, and came to Bethsphage, TR reads “Bethphage” instead of “Bethsphage” to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,

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It seems easy enough.  Just add Jesus to the equation of my life.  My interests + my friends + Jesus + my family + going to Church + my career = a Christian life made easy. That way I get my life and heaven too.

There was a day in Jesus life when he entered the temple courts in Jerusalem and saw people that were continuing their lives as usual. The only difference was that they had added religion to their lives but even this was for their own gain. “Being part of this crowd can only be to my benefit” was likely on some of their minds.

Not much has changed over the years.  We are content to be part of the Christian crowd for lots of reasons.  Our friends might be there, it’s a good things for the kids, I’ve done it all my life and why change now.  I like the music and even the Pastor has some good things to say about life.  Basically, my life + Jesus.

(more…)

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Blessed are the poor
Matthew 5:1-12Matthew 5:1-12
English: World English Bible - WEB
5 ¹ Seeing the multitudes, he went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him. ² He opened his mouth and taught them, saying, ³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. ⁴ Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. ⁵ Blessed are the gentle, For they shall inherit the earth. ⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, For they shall be filled. ⁷ Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. ⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. ⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called children of God. ¹⁰ Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. ¹¹ “Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. ¹² Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

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“When Jesus saw the crowds” 
In Matthew 4:23-26Matthew 4:23-26
English: World English Bible - WEB
23 Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people. ²⁴ The report about him went out into all Syria. They brought to him all who were sick, afflicted with various diseases and torments, possessed with demons, epileptics, and paralytics; and he healed them. ²⁵ Great multitudes from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and from beyond the Jordan followed him.

WP-Bible plugin, Matthew describes the crowds. A mass of people. When Jesus saw them, He was heartbroken.  Hungry? He fed them. Sick? Healed them. Spiritually hungry? Fulfilled them.

“went up on a mountainside”  North of the Sea of Galilee, gentle slopes. That’s where he goes to teach.  It is very interesting to me that when Jesus saw the multitudes, no doubt had compassion. Interesting what he did in response. Went aside and taught a few. Jesus had a clique, an inner circle.   These few needed to be equipped to minister to the multitudes.

Translate this event into our homes.  The challenges & demands are all around us.  What do we do?

First word that came out of his mouth was “Blessed”

Meaning of Blessed? Greek word (makarios) means “happy” or “blissful.”   If you find the blissfulness that Jesus is giving, your happiness will not be affected by circumstances.  It is an inward peace and joy that is not produced by one’s situations (co-dependent). He’s not telling you how to live, but what attitude to have that would bring about proper behavior.  Life Principles for Parents.

Blessed are the poor in spirit (3)

Can you imagine Jesus going door to door to the homes in Beverly Hills / Bel Air.  “A Happy Home is Poverty Stricken Home!” – In 1996, Burt Reynolds just filed bankruptcy. $11 mill debt.
What benefit is there for the people that are poor in Spirit? Simply, they go to heaven.  It’s yours now.  Citizenship is there. You don’t have to wait. It will be realized fully some day but the blessedness can be experienced now.  Our King is Jesus Christ, we are His subjects. He takes care of you, fulfills all your needs. He keeps you full of grace, mercy, and strength.  No greater joy than children bound for heaven.  Family walking together knowing where their citizenship is…heaven.What I must be. Be poor in the spirit
Jesus was bothered by self-righteous people.  They felt they had it all together. Religious people were listening to Jesus. Fasted Mon & Thurs. They had 250 commands and 365 prohibitions to observe.  Thinking that with their morality, their determination, sacrifice, that they could please God.
Blessed are the poor in spirit. Admitting that you are spiritually bankrupt.  Isaiah found it when he said, “Woe is me.”  Paul found it when he said, “I am the worst of sinners”. 
Jesus wants to fill your tank, but it need to first be emptied.
How can you know if you are poor in Spirit?

1. You will be weaned from self. (Ps.131:2)Your thoughts are consumed with God &  helping others.  We are selfless
2. You will be lost in Christ (Ps.17:15) You look forward to waking up with Christ
3. You will never complain. Why? You deserve nothing. Every need is provided as a result of his grace.  Bigger the need, the more abundantly he provides.
4. You will see good in others. You will see excellencies of others and your needs.  In humility you look up to everyone else.
5. You will spend time in prayer.  A beggar is always begging.
6. You will take Christ on his terms.  A Proud sinner adds Christ to his pleasures, immorality, greed…  Seeing yourself in spiritual poverty, sees himself as damned without Christ. Seeing yourself in poverty you eagerly rid yourself of sin and cling to the cross of Christ.
7. You will praise and thank God.  If you are poor in spirit you will express overwhelming  gratitude toward God because you know that everything you have is a gift from Him.  (1Tim.1:14).

If you want true happiness, you must be poor in spirit.

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