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Matthew 10:8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
When Jesus sent His disciples back “into the world”, it was not to go into the whole world as we know it, but to reach as far into the Israelites as they could.
God had a focus on the people of Israel and Jesus was carrying that out first, just as God wanted.
But God also wants everyone in the world to be shown the truth and to be given the chance to know Him.
It is our time to reach out to everyone and do just as Jesus said!
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John 15:25 But this is to fulfil what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’
We can look back into the Old Testament and see so many places where things were written down as prophecies – things which were yet to happen.
Now, we can look back from the New Testament and see when they did happen or even those which are yet to happen still; it is all written down for us!
What reason do people have to not follow Christ? I fear it all boils down to pride, greed and lust…
Its not all “about me, me, me!”
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John 15:18 If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.
Sometimes we feel like the whole world is against us – or at least what we can see of the world!
It may well be true to some extent – the world is not interested in us and what we do unless it is going to interfere with what the world wants!
People are just the same – they don’t care for us unless we work against them, then they do anything to stop us.
A lot of this showed up in Jesus’ life; the reality of what had been going on against God for many years, and what continues to happen!
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Mark 15:21 A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.
Simon showed a moment of compassion and the Romans took full advantage of it by then forcing Simon to continue carrying the cross from that point onward.
The world does not care for us and will take full advantage of us when we do show compassion; it does not have scruples or compassion like we do!
The Romans did not care for his position in any church or how he was known in the church, they just used him. Don’t expect anything else from the world!
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Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
Jesus did not talk literally of people giving themselves up to be hung on crosses just so they could get to heaven, but of giving up what was trapping them in this world.
Jesus can see what is holding us back, what is trapping us and what is going on in our lives; He wants us to be able to let go of all those desires which keep us from having a full and open relationship with Him.
When we can focus on Him rather than the world, we can live better for Him than give in to the world all the time!
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Matthew 18:17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
And if all fails, then finally take it to the church – not public gossip, but the church body you trust!
Gossip breaks apart churches and communities. Re-telling things you have heard from others does nothing but spread gossip.
If you are not willing to do things according to God’s ways, then just being quiet is going to be your best option!
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Matthew 18:16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
“But what if they don’t listen to me?”
There is still no reason to make things public by passing your own judgement over someone else who is doing things wrong – take along someone else you trust and confront them in person again.
Going around telling other people what you think someone is doing wrong is going to do nothing but make people angry and achieve nothing!
Be patient and do it according to God’s Word!
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Matthew 18:15 If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.
When someone does something wrong – how do you deal with it?
Do you tell everyone and blame them for doing things wrong?
Have you tried taking them aside, just you and them, and try to show them they are at fault?
We do tend to jump in with both feet and judge people far too quickly; that is not the way God teaches us to handle things!
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Romans 16:17 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.
How many times did your parents tell you to keep away from certain people? They were trying to protect you and allow you to learn the truth…
Jesus came to share the truth and give us the chance to avoid the evil and corrupt people in our lives – take that chance with Him!
There are going to be more and more people who go up against the gospel just so they can live their own lives; you don’t have to follow them!
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2 Thessalonians 2:15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.
How many times have you gone back to your old ways just because it is easier to do? This verse does not teach that!
What is being said here is we should always try to do what the gospel teaches us – going back to what Jesus said we should do and not go off on our own ways.
Does it matter where we hear the gospel from? No; as long as it is the gospel and not someone else’s version of the truth. Stick to God’s Word!
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2 Thessalonians 2:4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
No matter how much people talk about predicting the day Christ will return, the fact remains, He has not told anyone when that day will come.
Now, there will be people who declare they know the date. There will be people who say God told them personally; but Christ told the disciples this would not happen until someone big and powerful declares they are God!
It may seem like we are pretty close to this, but we simply don’t know when. Stay trusting and believing and living in hope with Christ!
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2 Thessalonians 2:2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come.
Words of encouragement to the church at Thessalonica at the time to try and persuade them not to give up on things when the going gets tough.
Jesus made no excuses about life being tough as a Christian: but He did promise us comfort and joy, even during those tough times.
Christ has promised us He will return. That is our hope and what we have to look forward to. Don’t allow the smaller things in life to get you down.
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John 14:1 Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.
The disciples knew the scriptures taught that God would love and care for them; Jesus now re-iterated those same sentiments in words.
Jesus came as a human being to be amongst us and to teach us how much He loves us – He wanted us to see God in person, or at least allow the disciples to see Him in person.
But this wording shows Jesus as being subservient to God in heaven at all times – even when being made equal to God! Look and learn.
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John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Jesus’ words to the disciples were words of encouragement and hope even though He was about to face death on the cross.
He was about to undergo cruel and lasting punishment for our sakes, to take on the sins of the whole world so we could enjoy the peace He was leaving with us.
But, a word of warning too; the world will still dish out horrible things and we must face trial ourselves – but without eternal death hanging over us any more!
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John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Jesus was telling the disciples they would have a whole lot more than a man come to live with them. Although He was about to give His life on the cross, He would be able to leave behind His love and peace which would go further than just words.
The world can promise many things and can even deliver on many things, but nothing will come close to the peace we have in Jesus Christ; a peace which goes beyond our mortal understanding!
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Ezekiel 37:26 I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever.
This promise He has with us is not something we thought of after Jesus was hung on the cross, but something He promised many years before Christ even came to earth!
This is a promise which has stood the test of time and one which we can look back into history and verify!
God has many more promises which He has made and patiently waits for us to accept each and every one of them to live out our lives with Him!
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2 Corinthians 6:16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
When people prefer a ‘relationship’ with a small statue or other idol, ask them what agreement they have with the status!
God has an actual agreement with us so we can have a goal and a way forward.
We do have a God who cares and who would like a full loving two-way relationship with Him; and that comes from His mouth!
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Exodus 29:45 Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God.
Just as God promised the people of Israel that He would come and live with them in a tent they built, so too did Jesus come and live amongst us as a Human man.
Why limit God’s power to our understanding when we have proof already He is willing and able to come down to our level and be with us – just so we can be with Him for eternity!
Learn to trust God in all His ways and He will never disappoint you – trust in your own limitations and you will always be disappointed by your lack of power in the end.
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2 Chronicles 6:18 But will God really dwell on earth with humans? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!
How is God going to come down to earth? How can He, who encompasses all, come to this tiny spec in the universe and live with us?
He allowed His Son Jesus Christ to come down in human form and live amongst us as we live.
God’s love goes beyond our thinking and beyond our imaginations – don’t try to limit Him just because we cannot find a solution. He already has for the solution!
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Matthew 12:5 Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent?
Are you more partial to religious acts or to Christ’s words? I think we would all like to say we try to do what Christ says, but in reality, we do often follow the law of the ‘church’ or ‘religion’ rather than Christ’s words.
Just as man has always got caught up in laws and stuff, we too get caught up in following the letter of the law than thinking about what Christ is teaching and then following that!
Listen closer, think more and wait on the Holy Spirit for guidance!