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Daniel 1:1-21; 2 Kings 24:1-20

Many young christians seem to lose their faith when they go off to university and are confronted with new temptations and new ideas contrary to  the ways of God. They may even turn completely away from the Lord.

Daniel Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah on the other hand, when removed from Jerusalem amongst the first captives and were taken to Babylon for re education at a young age, resolved to remain faithful and loyal to the God of Israel even though it appeared as though the Babylonian gods had defeated Israel’s God.

The Lord God greatly blessed Daniel and his friends. Daniel remained in a high position through successive governments in that land, lived through the entire exile and saw the eventual return of his people to the promised land.

Let us remain faithful to our great God who is Lord over all kings and governments., and may we hold fast to the gospel which we have received and by which we are being saved: without wavering, until he comes again.

The Beatitudes Part 8

Readings Matthew 5:1-12; Jeremiah 20:1-18

Do we love God and his word so much that we can’t contain it or do we try to bottle it up so we avoid persecution?

Even if we are the most gracious and wise person it is likely we will be reviled for speaking the truth of God’s word to unbelievers.

Are you willing to suffer for something you care for?

Luke 6:26
“Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.

John 15:20
Remember the word that I said to you: A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

The Beatitudes Part 7

Readings Psalm 85; Matthew 5:1-12

Joseph was a great example of a peacemaker.
His brothers treated him badly and sold him into slavery. When Joseph’s position put him above them, he tested and then forgave his brothers and restored peace to the household of Jacob. Joseph had every reason to be angry, but he chose to be merciful.
Read Genesis 50, Psalm 105:17-22

We are God’s enemies by nature. He is our peacemaker. 

God takes the initiative. He makes peace with us. He provides the sacrifice for our sins. The death of Christ Jesus His Son was the punishment for our sins. Jesus bore the wrath of God on our behalf and his righteousness is transferred to us through repentance and faith in him alone. He transforms us from within by the power of His Spirit and adopts us into His family.

May we be peacemakers like our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ.

The Beatitudes Part 6

Readings Psalm 24:1-10; Matthew 5:1-12

On what grounds can anyone hope to approach God?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. 

The problem is, we all have unclean hands and an impure heart and we can’t just show up in that condition and expect admittance.

We don’t want to approach God when our hearts are unclean and not pure because we will be exposed for who we truly are.

Matthew 15:11
it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”

Isaiah 6:5
And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

The only way anyone can dwell in God’s presence is to have purified hearts; cleansed by Jesus.

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus Christ, my righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
In Him, my righteousness, alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

Thank God that we can be made clean so that we can approach God through Jesus Christ his Son.

The Beatitudes Part 5

Matthew 5:7
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Read also Hosea 5:11-6:11a

God desires that we be merciful, even to those who may have made bad choices and appear to be reaping what they have sown. If we don’t show mercy to them, why should we expect God to grant us mercy? Do we want and expect God to give justice to others, but be merciful to ourselves? 

[But] God [is] merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Psalm 84:15

 

The Beatitudes Part 4

Matthew 5:6
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Hunger and thirst are powerful drives. Have you ever been desperately thirsty for a drink of water? How about righteousness?

Are you opposed to God’s righteousness and trying to satisfy your spiritual needs through idolatry?

The day is coming when all opponents to God’s righteousness will be gone and the new Jerusalem will be on earth; those who seek it will be satisfied and nourished in fulfilment of all God’s promises.

 

 

The Beatitudes – Part 3

Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.

Is it worthwhile living a righteous life when the wicked appear to flourish?

It is definitely better to have little and live righteously than to gain much through wicked means.

Mark 8:36 (ESV)
For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?

Part 2 in the series on The Beatitudes.

Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

Listen in today as Ray explains Jesus’ words from Matthew 5 and expounds the context in which Jesus utters these words and their relationship to
Isaiah 40:1-11; who these mourners were and how we can be comforted in view of our sinfulness, our salvation, and our future place in the kingdom of God.

Why do we focus on Jesus’ crucifixion when so many others were crucified too?

The Roman’s used the tortuous and humiliating method of crucifixion to quell insurrection, sometimes crucifying thousands at a time.

What was so unique about Jesus being crucified and why do we continue to observe this brutal event?

 

Today is the start of a new season with Ray Patchett as Pastor and also the start of a new series looking at the beatitudes.

Listen in today as Ray ties Jesus’ words from Matthew 5 to the old testament  scriptures in Isaiah 61 and who the inheritors of God’s Kingdom will be…