January 9, 2014: Astonishing!!!

Matthew 7

Amplified Bible (AMP)

7 Do not judge and criticize and condemn others, so that you may not be judged and criticized andcondemned yourselves.

2 For just as you judge and criticize and condemn others, you will be judged and criticized andcondemned, and in accordance with the measure you [use to] deal out to others, it will be dealt out again to you.

3 Why do you stare from without at the very small particle that is in your brother’s eye but do not become aware of and consider the beam [c]of timber that is in your own eye?

4 Or how can you say to your brother, Let me get the tiny particle out of your eye, when there is the beam [d]of timber in your own eye?

5 You hypocrite, first get the beam of timber out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the tiny particle out of your brother’s eye.

6 Do not give that which is holy (the sacred thing) to the dogs, and do not throw your pearls before hogs, lest they trample upon them with their feet and turn and tear you in pieces.

7 Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you.

8 For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened.

9 Or what man is there of you, if his son asks him for a loaf of bread, will hand him a stone?

10 Or if he asks for a fish, will hand him a serpent?

11 If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good and [h]advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father Who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give good and advantageous things to those who [j]keep on asking Him!

12 So then, whatever you desire that others would do to and for you, even so do also to and for them, for this is (sums up) the Law and the Prophets.

13 Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it.

14 But the gate is narrow (contracted by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it.

15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you dressed as sheep, but inside they are devouring wolves.

16 You will [l]fully recognize them by their fruits. Do people pick grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?

17 Even so, every healthy (sound) tree bears good fruit [worthy of admiration], but the sickly (decaying, worthless) tree bears bad (worthless) fruit.

18 A good (healthy) tree cannot bear bad (worthless) fruit, nor can a bad (diseased) tree bear excellent fruit [worthy of admiration].

19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.

20 Therefore, you will fully know them by their fruits.

21 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven.

22 Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name?

23 And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands].

24 So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them [obeying them] will be like a sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who built his house upon the rock.

25 And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.

26 And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a stupid (foolish) man who built his house upon the sand.

27 And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great and complete was the fall of it.

28 When Jesus had finished these sayings [the Sermon on the Mount], the crowds were astonished and overwhelmed with bewildered wonder at His teaching,

29 For He was teaching as One Who had [and was] authority, and not as [did] the scribes.

I keep repeating myself here, but I gotta say it again! The Word of God is so rich. 

If a person lived by this chapter alone, she would be very happy and blessed.

Don't judge! Why is this in the Bible? Because judging comes straight from hell. 

Revelation 12:10

Amplified Bible (AMP)

10 Then I heard a strong (loud) voice in heaven, saying, Now it has come—the salvation and the power and the kingdom (the dominion, the reign) of our God, and the power (the sovereignty, the authority) of His Christ (the Messiah); for the accuser of our brethren, he who keeps bringing before our God charges against them day and night, has been cast out!

But judging others comes easily and naturally. So every time we judge, let it be a reminder to turn our eyes right back to ourselves. And clean up our own life. 

Verse 6 is urging us to show discernment when we minister to others. I've poured time and energy into those who twisted my words, and spread lies around about the counsel I gave them. I've learned the hard way to let go when someone seems like they're not hearing me. I simply move on to someone who appreciates my counsel. 

I once mentored someone who suddenly, out of the blue, picked a fight with me. I don't know how else to say it. Nothing she said made any sense. I would try to be reasonable with her and she twisted everything I said. Our conversations just went around in circles. To be honest, it hurt. I really thought we had a good thing going and I enjoyed spending time with her. Well, I had to let go, painful as it was. A year later, she apologized. She explained that she had made a decision to go against my counsel, and didn't want me in her life at the time! Of course I forgave her and we became friends again.

Sometimes we gotta let go of people. If they're meant to be in our lives, they'll come back.

Oh how I love verse 7. I like the Amplified Bible version. KEEP ON asking and it shall be given you, KEEP ON seeking and ye shall find, KEEP ON knocking and it shall be opened to you! I choose to believe this scripture. Even when it seems nothing is happening. I just keep on asking. And believing. 

Verse 12 brings it home. This is the Christ-like lifestyle in a nutshell. Treat others the way you'd like to be treated. Whether you think they deserve kindness or not. Just be consistently kind. And it works. The treatment you hand out always comes back. 

Verse 13 basically means do the hard thing. In my fifty four years of living, I have finally learned this. In the past, I chose the easier thing. Not necessarily the wrong thing, just easier. I have noticed when I do the harder thing, I am rewarded. Try it. The next time you have a choice, choose the harder thing. 

Verse 15 teaches us that there are people sitting right in church beside us who are wolves pretending to be saints in the church. Find another place to sit. Stay away from these people. They talk a nice talk, but something's not right. Go with your gut. This is an example of doing the harder thing. They may be fun to talk to, but their intentions are evil. One clue that they're a wolf is if they criticize the leadership. Even one time. It's only downhill from there. Find someone who may not seem so fun, but has a pure heart for God. 

Oh and check out their fruit (verse 20). The fruit will tell all.

In verses 21 through 23 we learn that we can "pray" hours a day, go around doing good, lay hands on the sick and they are healed, and prophesy, even! But in the end, we can still be lost. Why? Maybe we never developed a relationship with Jesus. Maybe there was something in our heart that we swept under the rug and never took care of. In the midst of all of our work for God our motives must be pure, or we will be lost. Plain and simple. Paul said it very well.

1 Corinthians 9:27

Amplified Bible (AMP)

27 But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships] and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [not stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit].

Jesus winds everything up by giving examples of two men, one wise and one foolish. Which reiterates my earlier statement. In the long run you will be sooooo glad you did the hard thing. Just like the wise man.

The people were astonished and filled with wonder at His amazing teaching (verse 28)! Just like I am right now! 

"Thank You, my dear precious Jesus! (I can say that! Because You are MINE! This alone astonishes me. That You would love someone like me. That You would actually speak to someone like me is truly astonishing.) Thank You for Your astonishing word of truth for me today. Jason Sciscoe said one time that You have a fresh word for us every morning. He is certainly right. How I love You. How I love Your word. Specifically for me. And anyone who dares to seek. We WILL find. Yes, You ARE astonishing. And the fact that You love little old me is the most astonishing part of all! Thanks for loving me, Jesus. My one desire is to love You back. AMEN."